Re: Extra Blacktown platform (was: St Leonards, NSW)

["Garry Hoddinett" <hoddos@netspace.net.au>]

> > WhaleOilBeefHooked <daproc@spambait.umpires.com> wrote in message There
are a lot of things they would *like* to have (given an infinite supply of
money) but in the overall scheme of things, an extra platform at Hornsby is
not high on the list of priorities.

>> As I previously said, Hornsby is adequate for current and anticipated
needs - although expansion would be nice. Blacktown is inadequate for
current and anticipated needs. They might as well expand it while there is
Olympic money available.

> DaveProctor
> thadocta AT dingoblue.net.au

If Blacktown is inadequate for current and future needs then Hornsby is to!
A look at the current August 1999 CityRail timetables reveals the following
in the peak hours 7:00am to 8:00am:

- Blacktown has 17 train departures to points east (City & Cumberland Lines)
and 2 through trains (The Fish and The Chips).
- Blacktown has 9 trains arriving from points east, 2 starting services for
the Richmond line and 2 through (non stopping trains).

- Hornsby has 18 train departures to points south (9 shore, 9 mainline)
- Hornsby has 13 train arrivals from points south (6 mainline - including
the XPT, and 7 from the north shore).

It terms of trains services both stations are generally equal but Hornsby
has more onerous to handle terminating services.  Hornsby handles its
services with four platforms but Blacktown has six platforms with another
one being built.  Even if you add say, six additional Olympic Park services
then Hornsby Station still handles more trains per platform.

At Blacktown,If you assumed a typical off peak type arrangement with say
nine trains per hour from points east and nine trains per hour to points
east  and overlaid a 12 Olympic Park services per hour then Hornsby, at its
peak, still handles more trains per Platform even with only six platforms at
Blacktown.

The inadequacy of Hornsby is seen by the fact that trains are regularly
delayed getting into Hornsby.  Suburban trains and Outer Urban Tangaras are
regularly held up in Hornsby station waiting for late running Interurban
trains.  When this happens trains bank up along the North Shore line, trains
arrive late into the station and people miss train and bus connections.
Delays at Hornsby also impact on the whole of Sector 3 as has already
happened a number of times this year.

The inadequacy of Hornsby to provide for the future was clearly foreshadowed
in the failed 1996 timetable when more trains were tabled through Hornsby
and the station couldn't cope.

Besides you miss the point - Hornsby is an illustration, there are probably
a number of other stations that have an inadequate number of platforms but
Blacktown should not be one of them.