More Adventures with CityRail.

[David & Julie Donald <dsjmd@hermes.net.au>]

Every day seems to bring a new adventure with CityRail.

I wandered down to Springwood station yesterday (Friday) morning to catch my
normal train to the City, being W520, "The Fish", tabled to depart Springwood at
0645, stop only at Blaxland, Glenbrook, and Parramatta, with an arrival time at
Sydney Terminal / Central (whatever they are calling it these days) of 0756.

It didn't appear at the designated time, which is nothing terribly unusual,
since it is often a couple of minutes late, though its on-time running has
certainly improved over recent months.  An announcement was made over the PA
system at around 0650, but the system is so poor, and the placement of the
speakers so sparse, that the greater number of passengers would not have heard
what was said.  I was head towards the up end of the platform, so that I can get
in the leading or second car of the eight-car set, but there are only speakers
on the ends of the station building, and, combined with the amount of traffic on
the adjacent Great Western Highway at that time of the morning, means that
anyone not in the immediate vicinity of the station building cannot hear the
announcements made.  However, based on subsequent events, it has to be assumed
that the announcement indicated that the train was ":late".

The train finally arrived about seven minutes late, with smoke billowing from
the bogies (a common event), and the smell of brake dust in the air.  Following
a brief stop, the train departed for Blaxland, but it was a rather slow journey,
and it was slightly obvious that something might have been amiss, despite the
fact that there would appear to be a few drivers on the Blue Mountains run who
tend to be a little more cautious than the average driver.  Stops were made at
both Blaxland and Glenbrook, but transit times were getting longer and longer,
and we were getting later and later.  We slowed at the top of the approach to
Emu Plain, presumably to let a Suburban leave Emu Plains on the up, and then the
announcement was made that the train was to terminate at Penrith due to
"technical problems".  You can interpret that comment in any way you feel so
inclined.  It was indicated that we would arrive on Platform 2 (the Up Main),
and there would be a Suburban training waiting for us on Platform 1 (the Back
Platform), but there was no indication as to whether this was a special train, a
normal Suburban, or the stops to be made.  Arrival in Penrith was at 0726, about
sixteen or seventeen minutes, and a journey time of 33 minutes from Springwood,
about nine over the standard journey train.

We were finally told that the replacement, an eight-car S-set, was only going to
stop at Parramatta and Sydney Terminal, and thus it was a straight replacement
for our train.  However, it already had passengers on board, and there was a
significant number of standees from our train on departure from Penrith.
Departure was at 0729, and it was a very brisk run to Blacktown, where we
slowed, and then through to Parramatta.  A further brisk run was made through to
Strathfield, and then Sydney Terminal, where arrival was at 0817, just on twenty
minutes late.
Why this train could not have been taken through the Underground to North Sydney
is anyone's guess, though naturally I am not aware as to what it did, or was
expected to do, as it next roster.

--

Regards

David Donald
Springwood, NSW

dsjmd@hermes.net.au