Re: Easter Show Trains - the REAL story.

Matthew Halpin (matthewh@white.aljan.com.au)
7 Apr 1998 11:47:55 GMT

Owning to business in Sydney today, I caught the 8:00am express from
Newcastle to Sydney. Normally it is a four car train, nearly full. Today
it was still only four carriages, though I was lucky I was able to use my
briefcase as a seat, aisles were full with people sitting on the steps,
sitting on the floor and standing in doorways. Not a comfortable trip to
Sydney. Luckily his train does not stop between Morisset and Hornsby, so
there was no one being jammed in at Wyong or Gosford.

I will give CityRail credit due to the excessive crowding on the train they
had arranged for a suburban train, which would have been sitting empty in
Hornsby Yard to run Hornsby to Olympic Park.

On return I caught the 3:12pm train from Central, 8 carriages, divides at
Gosford for an Express and All Stations service. the train was full out of
Central, at Strathfield there was enough people to full another 8
carriages. People were still standing at Wyong. 4 Hours cattle class on
the one day does not leave a good impression.

If this is happening for the Royal Easter Show what are the Olympic Games
going to be like? Appealing to people not to use peak hour services is a
joke. In the long run this will discourage people from catching the train
to and from work.

What is needed is additional carriages, sure it will cost money. If the
amount of money being spent on the Olympics a bit extra for some additional
carriages won't hurt that much.

Alternatively CityRail should be looking at recommissioning some carriages
that sitting ideal, such as the U-boats to be used during periods like the
Royal Easter Show and the Olympics. Any carriage that could possibly be
used should be considered, after all it would be an improvement.

Matthew Halpin

Derek Woodlands <kingpin@magna.com.au> wrote in article
<352bd97f.4369282@news.magna.com.au>...
> The Easter Show is in full swing in Sydney and the State Government is
> describing the public transport to and from the site (which for those
> who don't know, is part of the 2000 Olympics site) as an outstanding
> success.
>
> That is NOT what I have heard. The best they have done so far is to
> transport 13,700 people in an hour. They want to do 50,000 an hour in
> just 29 months time. Trains have been overcrowded, platforms 10 deep
> with people trying to board a train and many trains have been running
> up to 40 minutes late. There have also been delays in emptying trains
>
>
> Appeals have been made on the local media for people to delay their
> trip so as not to coincide with Freak Hour. I cannot see how they can
> have a hope in hell of coping with the Olympic crowds!
>
> Catchya
>
>
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