Re: [NSW] quality of trains on airport line

["Chris Downs" <cvdowns@ozemail.com.au>]

David Johnson <trainman@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
3A2105A0.7972E208@ozemail.com.au">news:3A2105A0.7972E208@ozemail.com.au...
> Chris Downs wrote:
>
> > That's remarkably naive.  People want a clean, punctual, airconditioned
> > train with a seat and so on.  If they don't get this or can't be sure
they
> > will then that becomes a reason tp not travel.
>
> So why not C sets?

Nice clean C sets sound fine to me.  There are other services on weekends
that would benefit more from 6 cars than the AL though.  I've seen plenty of
crowded (ie lots of standees) on 4 car T-set runs in the later afternoon.
I have less of a problem with clean R sets but they are rareish on Sector 2.

> > The workings of peoples' minds are clearly more subtle than you give
credit
> > for.  They will weigh up the factors and then decide.  Why would
CityRail
> > add an extra handicap of grotty trains when they don't have to
(CityRail's
> > recent action running Tangaras on weekends indicates like thinking).
>
> Um...  What have tangaras and grotty trains got to do with each other?
All
> trains get grotty, regardless of type.   Tonight, I saw three young men
empty
> their Coke bottles all over the floor of a tangara.  Tangaras are not
immune to
> grottiness!   CityRail has bowed to pressure and is now running tangaras
on the
> Boeing runs.   This is going to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars a
year.
> Empty trains are now being moved around the system at stupid hours of the
> morning.  Taxis are ferrying drivers and guards all over the system to
work
> these empty trains.  Extra crews need to be rostered up, etc, etc.

I can only go from what I've seen of sector 2 trains at several runs a week.
I think
sector two R sets are usually the dirtiest/least presentable trains on the
network (and
Sector 1 cars and V-sets/G-sets generally are the best).  Tangaras are
usually far
less dirty for reasons I can't readily explain, probably part design, part
seat pattern
(hides more) and maybe most passengers treat better trains in a better way
(very
much Clyde's view in designing the Millenium trains).

As for costs associated with shuttling staff either CityRail had the correct
weekend
strategy from day one of the AL (which I don't believe) and should have
stuck with it
or they got it wrong and incur those costs now.  Major cost is only borne
now
because the measure is a band aid and not part of a considered strategy.
The next
timetable (which a reputable source has advised will be introduced in the
NEAR
future) will of course rectify the problem and minimise the extra expense.

> > Actually CityRail can use them for whatever they like (such as
> > Sydney-Olympic Park services).  Passenger perception of V-sets is better
> > than for most rolling stock - think laterally and cover all travelling
> > issues, not just fares.
>
> So are you suggesting they use V sets on Boeing runs?   That should be fun
> getting all the luggage through those narrow doors.

I agree it's a compromise, so are older less presentable trains, three sets
of
escalators/lifts at airport stations etc. (not to mention every second Boing
run
starting from/terminating at Central on weekends).  My original suggestion
was that V-sets be considered for a trial (why not try a little market
testing
with the travellers so see what they prefer).  There are plenty of people
travelling long distances on V-sets every day with plenty of luggage.  But
as
you say their disadvantages (narrower doorways, doors that don't open
automatically may well outweight a better/quiter ride and more comfortable
seats.

Chris

> David Johnson
> trainman@ozemail.com.au
> http://www.ozemail.com.au/~trainman/
> ------------------------------------
> These comments are made in a private
> capacity and do not represent the
> official view of State Rail.
> C.O.W.S. Page 11.
>
>