Re: [NSW] Olympic Timetable Day 4, Saturday 16/9/2000

["Michael Lewis" <mdlewis@bigpond.net.au>]

I travelled from Edgecliff to Liverpool and on to the Equestrian 3 day today and  found that the train component was
faultless. There also seemed to be an almost continuous supply of trains (and station helpers). Travel was "slow and
steady wins the race". On return, Liverpool to Redfern and particularly, Redfern to Edgecliff, there was a lot of slack
in the timetable, the train waiting at both Central and Martin Place for over a minute each, because it was too early!

However the Olympic spectator buses at Liverpool - Horsley Park were more "interesting". The rail "connection" to the
buses was handled well, but the bus signage was deficient - did the bus go to the shooting as well as to the horses? -
No Signs - Our driver was a cranky, pea brained nasty character - at 10:00am .
Nerveless we finally got there - it is a long way.

The return was an Olympic shambles - strangely ignored by the media.

1. The Equestrian Event - Day 1 - 3 day - dressage was half full - because of the ticket fiasco - more later and the
policy of reserving hundreds of seats for non-existent,  Olympic Family (bludger) visitors - all remaining empty.

2. The event appeared to finish after only 1/2 of the program - at approximately 3:00pm,  WITHOUT WARNING.

3. The transport people (and every spectator) thought that it would finish at around 5:00 pm or later.

4. When the event finished - everyone proceeded towards the buses.

5. There was ZERO signage as to where to catch the return bus - just volunteers with megaphones (trying to do the right
thing) directing. At the kerb there were small bus stops with Liverpool, Blacktown etc signs.

6. There were NO buses.

7. After frantic radio and telephone calls, buses started to dribble in. Luckily the Liverpool queues  (mine), had the
best service. Pity those poor people waiting for
Blacktown and the many other destinations.

8. After 5-10 minutes buses came ( I was near the front of a queue) and the return journey was then smooth.

The only real mess-up was made by SOCOG / Equestrian Organisers.

1. We applied for seats in the original (dud - useless - stupid - "Richardson" ballot)
2. They sold us seats B, which did not exist at the time $19 - not $48.
3. They gave us nearly all our money back (eventually), because everything was "booked out"
4. When we arrived, the seats were great, except the scoreboard had been placed where some 10-15% of the patrons could
not see it!
5. More than half of the possible seats, had not been sold - thousands - "booked out"
6. The day 1 program - as published - was really the program for both day 1 and 2. - but no one bothered to tell the
spectators OR the  bus organisers, hence the bus schemozzle at the end of day.

However, thanks to Richardson, my wife and I had the best value (and cheapest) and entertaining day for a long time.

Return travel from Edgecliff to Liverpool to Horsley Park , a day at the Olympics, fantastic horse/rider performance,
super smooth (if a tad slow) train performance, all for $19 each!!  A great day at a Super bargain price!

Michael Lewis
Hubert Lam <hubert@imap4.com> wrote in message 39c37d54$0$26546$7f31c96c@news01.syd.optusnet.com.au">news:39c37d54$0$26546$7f31c96c@news01.syd.optusnet.com.au...
> * The additional standing times at major stations was well used today,
> either for catching up with time lost, or at places like Town Hall, high
> passenger loads.
>
> * However some trains still depart one to two minutes early (according to
> plasma screens or precise time clocks). At Concord West almost ALL trains
> leave early, as there are no plasma screens or precise time clocks
> anywhere!!!
>
> * Tonight at around 10pm, the Down West (Blue Mountains) trains were being
> diverted to the down suburban and trains from Newcastle were departing from
> the North Suburban platform (number 5) at Strathfield. Is there an
> explanation for such diversions? The Olympic Park Metro trains were still
> running on the main lines
>
>
>
>