Back to the future with CityRail

["Garry Hoddinett" <hoddos@netspace.net.au>]

A lot of words have been written about the merits of CityRail using some of
the principles establised in it's Olympic Timetable possibly being carried
over to a new timetable - fewer (but 8 car trains), fewer express services,
longer dwell times, greater turn around times all with a view for greater
service reliability.  But reliabilty is only one part are of attracting (and
keeping) customers satisfied - service frequency and journey time are no
less important.  There needs to be a balance between these things.  What
some people seem to forget was that CityRail had a fairly reliable service
only a few years ago.  On time running was, if I can recall, above 92%.
CityRail should be looking at what changed over the last few years that may
have affected reliability before looking at unappealing options of longer
journey times and fewer services.  People put up with CityRail's Olympic
timetables because most understood the enormity of the task they faced.
People may not be so gracious with Olympic like timetables running all year.