Re: Weekend Timetables on Weekday

[Stephen Campbell <stecam@ozemail.com.au>]

> There were a large number of people at Parramatta at 0545 who were also
> caught out - CityRail have no alternative if they wish to provide extra
> services on New Years Eve in the evening, but they can certainly do a much
> better job informing customers as to what is happening - this years PR
> effort was pathetic!
> 
Why do Cityrail have no alternative???

In the 'lesser' city of Melbourne, a normal weekday timetable operated
with extra trains on all suburban lines that normally have evening
services. The extra services were timetabled to run direct from Flinders
Street 30 minutes and 60 minutes after the normal last train. (eg on
Hurstbridge / Epping line, the trains would leave as follows:
23.53 Epping (normally last train, via loop)
00.02 Hurstbridge (normally last train, via loop)
00.23 Epping (direct to Jolimont)
00.32 Hurstbridge (maybe Eltham - am not sure) (direct to Jolimont,
Stops All Stations)
00.53 Epping (direct)
01.02 Hurstbridge (direct, SAS)

In terms of staffing, the normal evening staff worked overtime. (eg at
Eltham the shift is normally 15.20 to 01.10 the following morning. The
person rostered on in this case would work until around 02.40 which is
when the last extra train returns from Hurstbridge to go to Flinders
Street. The extra time is when the train has cleared the electric staff
section Eltham-Greensborough.

The extra trains were advertised clearly at all stations (at least the
ones I have been to) and in the print media.

Why can't Cityrail merely do something similar?