Re: [COTU] Airport Line - first impressions

[Martin Barr-David <mart@tig.com.au>]

I suspect Qantas and Ansett bribed the construction company who built the
Airport Ral link so that their airlines would prominent so that passenger would
only choose them over the new airline. I think this calls for the ACCC to look
into suspicious  over sight.

Dave Proctor wrote:

> Stopped off at all five new stations today, and had a good look around. Time
> to give you some fuel so you can start flaming.
>
> Wolli Creek: Layout appeared very functional and easy to navigate, platforms
> were close together (1&2 close to 3&4) that transferring will not be a
> problem - they are certainly closer together than Blacktown 1&2 are to the
> rest of the platforms.
>
> International: Platforms appear very narrow, and all you will need is a
> reasonably large group, all with baggage (0730 any morning, after the
> morning peak hour of arriving aircraft, springs to mind) and there will not
> be a lot of room. Very little seating as well. The station appears to have
> been designed with commercial considerations rather than customer
> convenience being foremost. The escalators from the concourse to the
> terminal are in two flights, with what I presume will be a retail concourse
> on the first landing. Apart from this, the layout appears very easy to
> navigate, and is well sign-posted (particularly within the terminal, but the
> arrivals level is better than the departures level WRT signposting).
>
> Domestic: Same comments regarding platform width and seating as above WRT
> International. Navigation is also rather easy here, with the directions to
> the Ansett and QANTAS terminals being well signposted. In the actual
> terminals, I only saw one sign on the QF arrivals level directing to trains,
> and in the AN terminal, I only saw one sign, and it was a pictogram. Both
> terminals seem to have ignored that there is now a train service.
>
> The access to the new Domestic Express terminal (which will serve Virgin
> Blue and Impulse) is rather woeful. Stair access only (and the echo as you
> walk up them, they appear to be very lightly built), no lifts or escalators,
> then out into the open and a walk for about 300 metres (okay on a fine day,
> but when it is raining?)
>
> Mascot/Green Square: Both stations appear to be well laid out, although they
> suffer from the normal CityRail mindset that stairs are ok, and let the
> cripples use the lifts (NOT my opinion). Escalators at all of the stations
> would have been much better.
>
> Dave