Re: How can we make trains run later?

["Michael Walker" <walker@hotkey.net.au>]

>nice to hear shittyrail have got their act together and followed a QR
>Citytrain initiative (excuse me if theres another in Aus who thought of it
>first), as far as i see it, i dont think this system is a problem with your

Let me see, automatic doors on trains.
QR Citytrain - first trains ran in 1978, presumably with automatic doors.
VicRail - Hitachi trains delivered with automatic doors from December 1972.
Some Harris trains also had automatic doors, presumably just before the
Hitachis were delivered, they were prototypes from memory.

Or are we talking lights in drivers cabs to show doors open? Not sure about
QR but Melbourne has had these since not long after Jeff came in in 1991/2
as part of the SPOT program to remove guards from trains and power from
unions.

>late running trains, as QR have had similiar systems in place for a few
>years now, and majority of services are well on time up here.  So i wouldnt
>go blaming safety systems for NSW incompetance!  I always laugh at the lack
>of times on indicator boards, anouncements, etc. when i go down there.  is
a


I must admit, for all the posturing from Sydneysiders in this group about
how wonderful their trains are, etc, their information on platforms and
station signage in general is crap. Melbourne has had destinations displayed
on the front of electric trains since 1918 (not sure about steam suburban
trains before that but I suspect they may have) and apart from the times
they are incorrectly set (surprisingly rarely) they work quite well and you
can tell fairly quickly where a train is going when it pulls into the
platform.
Sydney on the other hand can't seem to get theirs to work overly well. The
ones retrofitted don't seem to be particularly reliable and the Tangaras
(only ones fitted from birth) don't matter as you can't read them under the
highly reflective glass anyway. And the person who thought dark orange on
black was high contrast enough for commuters to read it from a distance
ought to be taken out and shot.
As for station info, their cute station indicators with the rotating boards
aren't bad, if labour intensive. Presumably if the station isn't staffed, it
is up to you to guess or read the small print on the station timetable in
the perspex poster holders, assuming someone hasn't scribbled all over it
with spray paint or spirit textas.
The Melbourne system with the help point seems like a much better idea, when
the phone line to the Premium station computer isn't busy. At least all you
have to do is press a button and the times for the next 3 trains are read
out to you with how many minutes until departure. And all stations have them
too!