Re: Tempe - Incorrect Signage?

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

I don't think I would ever ring 131 500 to complain (especially not so
frequently, you probably have a "reputation" with 131 500 staff).  As for
asking 131 500 staff why a train is late, unless caused by a major event I
doubt they'd know.

If you think the on-time problem (timetable problem) is systemic and you don't
get satisfaction in reasonable complaints to CityRail contact your local MP,
they will pursue the matter, both the problem and the lack of CityRail
response.  Don't contact them every time a train is late however, you'll just
piss them off (their staff actually) and rapidly diminish your credibility.

Chris

Optus <ds_ready@usa.net> wrote in message
EbJe6.11317$KY1.32820@news1.rivrw1.nsw.optushome.com.au">news:EbJe6.11317$KY1.32820@news1.rivrw1.nsw.optushome.com.au...
> Hi All,
>
> Right down the south end of platform 2 (Local Illawarra - Down/East Hills
> bound) at Tempe station there is the big station name sign with "Wolli
> Creek" as the "Next Station".
>
> Now, can anybody tell me if there is a crossover that would allow a train to
> get from platform 2 to allow it to stop at Wolli Creek station? If not then
> I would suggest that the "Next Station" should be signed as either Arncliffe
> or Turrella?
>
> I rang the staff at Tempe station and they suggested it is marked as Wolli
> Creek, "because some late running rescheduled trains could use platform 2 to
> get to Wolli Creek".
>
> I am just trying to build up a whole picture here of small examples of
> mis-communication and bad management just to get a "point" across to Carl
> Scully. Other things include very few delay announcements, trains that now
> stop at Tempe and/or Turrella are not still not announced correctly at
> Museum and Redfern stations. All this is building a picture that CityRail
> management are incompetent for the purposes of ramming the point home that
> trains are continually late on the East Hills line by a consistent 7 minutes
> which is enough to miss bus connections and the like.
>
> For the 3rd Jan the on time stats on the web showed 100% :) I was on a
> special timetable train, 08:19 East Hills to the City, on both the 2nd and
> the 3rd both of which arrived at Central 7 mins late. 131500 have my call
> and the reason why on record for both the 2nd and the 3rd. I faxed the Carl
> Scully's office suggesting that him and us were being mislead. I now see the
> figures have been changed to 99.1%  for the 3rd :)
>
> Something funny....... Every time a train has run more than 5 mins late I
> have rung 131500 to ask for a reason why and to have a complaint put on
> record. A few weeks back I was actually called back by a CityRail employee
> to defend CityRail. I allowed her to do this. I then told her that I was
> actually on a train bound for East Hills that was actually running 14 mins
> late. It was a fine day and it was very early afternoon well out of the
> peak. The only thing that she could say was, "well, at least we are
> consistent".
>
> Finally...... after 3 years of phoning 131500 the TVM machine at East Hills
> has finally had its main green LCD display fixed. I have made at least 20
> calls over that time. Up until it was fixed the readout of the price and
> money due was a black shade of black on a not so black black if you know
> what I mean :) During that 3 years we left Australia for 18 months to work
> on contract overseas. I was not surprised to come back to find the TVM still
> faulty. My calls started again to 131500 and then finally to Carl Scully's
> office. On being called back by CityRail to be advised that the TVM was now
> fixed they advised that they never received any 131500 calls previous to the
> year 2000. Yeah Right! :)
>
> My question has to be: "Am I the only one who complains to 131500 and then
> follows it up to the minister's office if I don't get a resolution"?
>
> DavidR
>
>