Three CityRail questions

["Bradley Torr" <truenorth@one.net.au.NOSPAM>]

(1) Why are many down trains on the Bankstown line that are scheduled to
proceed to the City Circle via Lidcombe timetabled to stand at Bankstown
station for around twelve minutes, while trains scheduled to proceed to
Liverpool don't have such a lengthy standing time?

(2) At Parramatta station, is there a pattern to which train uses which
platforms, e.g. which down trains use Platform 2 and which use Platform 4;
and which up trains use Platform 1 and which use Platform 3? Or is it
random?

(3) Why is it that, while travelling along in a train (particularly the
pre-Tangara sets), ocasionally most of the lights and the air conditioning
will cut out for a short period, and then suddenly start back up again?

Thanks in advance for taking the time to answer.

Regards
BT