Re: XPT timetable feedback II

[Dion Williams <onamission@start.com.au>]

Roderick Smith wrote:
 
> I was asked to post a less-jumbled version of my proposal: here is one done
> with spaces, and not tabs (use a fixed font).
> 
>  7.30  11.40         20.40  Melbourne                17.30  21.00   7.50
> 10.35  14.45         23.45  Albury                   14.25  17.55   4.45
> 12.05  16.15          1.15  Junee                    12.55  16.25   3.15
> 17.05  21.15          6.15  Campbelltown              7.55  11.25  22.15
> 17.35  21.45          6.45  Lidcombe                  7.25  10.55  21.45
>        22.00  23.15         Sydney             6.00   7.10
> 18.00         23.45   7.10  Hornsby            5.30         10.30  21.20
> 22.40          4.40  11.50  Taree              0.35          5.50  16.40
>  0.20          6.20  13.30  Kempsey           22.55          4.10  15.00
>  1.45          7.45  14.55  Coffs Harbour     21.30          2.45  13.35
>  3.00          9.00  16.10  Grafton           20.15          1.30  12.20
>               12.30         Murwillumbah      16.45
>  7.00                20.10  Brisbane                        21.30   8.20

It's a noble idea IMO but I think in practice services that aim for
Brisbane-Melbourne patronage on a speed issue would create more problems
than they solve. The total time for a through trip is 24 hours, 3 to 4
hours slower than the direct coach service operating via Tamworth,
Parkes and Cootamundra. As a few others have said using Lidcombe is
problematic. It doesn't have the capacity to handle transferring country
and interstate passengers at the same time as peak hour commuters.
Travel to the Illawarra amd North Shore loaded down with luggage and
children would be especially difficult.

Having said that, IMO any timetable should provide as many options to as
many types of traveller as possible. A 30-45 minute turnaround at Sydney
Terminal allows through passengers to stretch their legs, business
travellers to join without taking a train to Lidcombe and leisure
travellers to be centrally located for taking a train home. With
on-platform refuelling facilities installed on platforms 1-4, it would
enable a better compromise between convenience, passenger comfort and
speed. Providing customers with options and covering as many bases as
possible for all travellers, rather than concentrating on just the
leisure or business markets, is a key part of customer service for the
airlines and rail IMO should follow suit.

Dion