Posts Tagged ‘cityfail’

#CityRail Fail: Communication

CityRail FAILS | Posted by Dean
Aug 31 2010

Last evening CityRail demonstrated their ability to communicate with its clients yet again. I arrived at platform 14 at 16:20 for the train departing at 17:12. Not surprisingly I was the first there, so I took a seat on the platform. For the next 20 minutes I was told of trains leaving for far flung destinations on other platforms. Pointless information for me, but no doubt someone cared, perhaps the high schoolers making out on the platform, though I suspect they were enjoying the deserted platform more than the announcements.

Anyway, generally the train arrives within 20 – 30 minutes and I would board before anyone else arrives. This occasion in true CityRail consistentcy would be different.

After 40 minutes there was still no sign of thee train and a crowd of 100 people had arrived at the platform. The speakers were silent and the crowd left pondering about what was going on.

At that time a CityRail employee appeared handing out information on the new timetable. She handed her book to the 3 others on the bank of seats and completely ignored me. She toddled off and annoyed the remaining patrons. On her way back she finally handed me a booklet.

Upon reading there is SFA changing for my trip. However, CityRail state that we will continue to receive the same service levels as now. This translates to the same inconsistent and unreliable mess the CityRail experience is for an Illawarra line customer.

After the timetable pixie disappeared the train was still not to be seen and the speaker system silent. At this point I abandoned my seat and head up toward where the front of the train should be. On the way to that position I heard comments about us passengers being treated like mushrooms, rather being told what was going on.

A train then appeared and stopped to wait for tracks to be switched. The train though did not seem bound for our platform. At this point the allottef service driver turned to me and said “It’s not looking good”. Low and behold that train was ours and eventually arrived at 17:12 the scheduled depature time. Thankfully we were in motion by 17:14.

Today the same train was listed as coming in on Platform 12. That is unusual, but not the first time I have seen it. After going to Krispy Kreme’s and purchasing a pie for lunch I checked the board. It was then listed as arriving on the usual platform 14. I casually wandered to down to the end of the platform and took a seat. No sooner had I taken my pie out of the paper bag than the train arrived some 40 minutes early.

So CityRail are exceeding at being consistently erratic. The new timetable offers no improvement. I wonder if a ballsy government willing to build infrastructure and reform CityRail operations can, my fear is that in reality there is no such thing as a ballsy government.


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Sydney Buses versus Extension of Light Rail

CityRail FAILS, NSW Public Transport, Sydney Buses FAILS! | Posted by Dean
Aug 19 2010

Sydney currently relies on bus services within the metropolitan area to link the city and inner suburbs. These links rely heavily on Sydney Buses and private bus companies for the transportation of the community on buses that are running on fossil fuel burning buses. There is a cleaner approach to efficient urban transport, and that options is the light rail, be that monorail or trams.

Currently Sydney has very limited runs of both light rail options. The current monorail is limited to inner CBD transportation and thus is more of a gimmick than a truly viable alternative. The tram however has a run between Central Station and Lilyfield. I have used this service on an infrequent basis and have always found the journey to be comfortable and efficient. It is a shame though that the tram network is so limited in Sydney, it has the potential for much bigger things.

Tram services in Sydney are unlikely to ever rival those of Melbourne, just starting from too far behind in terms of infrastructure, however they should be far expanded within Sydney based on Melbournes examples. On my trips to Melbourne over the years I have always traveled using the tram. Only on 1 occasion have I used the tram with the threat of an issue, and that was caused by an ignorant Audi driver and not the network or driver. The tram services in that city are a great example of efficient mass public transport.

In Sydney I would like to see the tram used for runs for inner suburbs to the city and major transport hubs, in much the same way that Lilyfield links to Central. Light rail should also be further installed within the city to allow for those who commute to these hubs to get around the city.

Perhaps a percentage of the proposed dedicated pushbike lanes should be scrapped and become light rail lanes, or alternatively more monorail tracks and stations constructed. An efficient outer suburb to inner city public transport network will do more to get carbon polluting vehicles off the road than a bike lane would anyway.

There is also another advantage to the adoption of more light rail within Sydney, and that is to lessen the reliance on bus services. Reduction on the reliance on fossil fuel burning vehicles, including buses, must be a goal that any government strives for. With the extension of tram services the public would still receive the same transport services on offer today, just with a light rail service not a bus.

Bus services though would not be eliminated totally. Rather buses could service travel within the suburbs with stops aligned with light rail, heavy rail and ferry stops. Thus linking the four public transport options available to Sydney commuters in a truly integrated manner. This would make travel on public transport easier for all NSW residents and encourage them to utilise the services more.

This ofcourse requires a parliament that is committed to a vision and not afraid to take the big decisions to ensure it happens. Unfortunately I doubt that the two major parties, either at federal or state level, have the intestinal fortitude to implement anything like this vision for public transport within NSW. It is time for a visionary to emerge from either of these parties that has the guts to put these nation/state building activities to the forefront of the public mind and improve the current failing services that are strangled by rampant under investment.


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Icons for the “CityRail Fails” and “Sydney Buses Fails” Categories

CityRail FAILS, NSW Public Transport, Sydney Buses FAILS! | Posted by Dean
Aug 17 2010

As it is clear that key categories within the SCHWOIT.COM category list are the two NSW Public Transport failures, “CityRail Fails” and “Sydney Buses Fails”. As a result I decided it was time to introduce some standard icons for these posts. All posts within the categories will now get one of the icons above.

I have to issue a big thanks to Bill Mackey for the expert work performed on these icons.


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#CityRail Fail: Mobility Challenged Travel

CityRail FAILS | Posted by Dean
Aug 16 2010

Firstly, I must say my commute when without a hitch. Ran on time and the guards were quite clearly heard over the loud speaker. The service ran as expected.

Today I have been giving thought to how a person of limited mobility would traverse the lines on which I travel and at the times I travel. The only answer I can come up with is that it is simply not possible for such individuals to travel in the same manner between Oak Flats and North Ryde at 4:30 am. I will now detail why.

The first issue I see is the ability to actually board the train at Oak Flats. At the ungodly hour at which I travel the station is not staffed. This then puts the onus of assisting mobility challenged passengers on and off the train to the guard. This is by no means an insurmountable issue and most guards would be more than happy to assist in the process that usually consists of a metal bridge across the gap, it is though a disruption for both the consumer and the guard.

Now thinking about this it is a simple device that requires manual processes to erect and disassemble. Surely though in this day and age a technically superior and customer friendly solution is possible, or could be innovatively developed by CityRail if investment was not a filthy word. Here is an idea, perhaps a platform that extends from the train to the platform when the doors open, and retracts when the doors close. Such a platform could extend all the way to the yellow line thus preventing over zealous patrons from preventing existing passengers from alighting the service.

A device of this kind would also be proactive in assisting all passengers, in particular the elderly and small children, from having to mind the gap as the gap would be covered. Such a simple device would surely be relatively easily developed, and not cost an arm and a leg. Exactly what would likely be cost if someone did fall through the gap.

CityRail has never been known for investment, especially for innovative matters. They have however invested in station upgrades. That said where those upgrades have been installed could be called into question.

The classic example is Redfern station. Redfern is a core station on the metropolitan leg of the network with services heading toward Central station from the south or west passing through the station. As such it is a thoroughly trafficked station, however most of the platforms do not offer elevators to assist mobility challenged patrons to navigate the station. I know personally I have struggled to scale these long and steep stairs when I had a sore knee at times. As such I am bemused that small metropolitan stations like Mortdale and Carlton received elevator upgrades ahead of this key station.

Having said that, the fact that any station on the entire CityRail network is not mobility friendly simply begs belief. It should be a mandatory requirement that these stations be upgraded so that some of the most public transport reliant citizens can use a basic community service without having to dodge stations that are simply not considerate to their needs.

Another issue that stems from underinvestment is the fact that many old trains frequent the intercity lines. Many have a secondary door on the inside of the carriage that is positioned in a manner that is impossible for wheelchair users to navigate, not to mention mothers with prams. This leaves these passengers the choice to:

  1. Travel in the entranceway that is noisy and prone to the elements, in particular wind chill.
  2. Wait for a modern train that has a friendlier entrance and seating arrangement that allows them to enter the train properly. Such services though are in a minority on most lines, and could lead to lengthy delays for these citizens to travel.

CityRail need to make a firm commitment to retire these antiques and replace them with more modern services.

What New South Wales requires is a government that is not afraid to make clear and strong decisions in relation to public transport generally, and rail specifically. Each service authority should have as part of their contract a minimum commitment to investment within the network to improve the service. Controls then need to be put in place and enforced. Only then can the public transport system have a chance of recovery and development and become a proud infrastructure piece of NSW. Unfortunately it appears that neither side has the intestinal fortitude to take this on.


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The Weekly CityRail Fail!

CityRail FAILS | Posted by Dean
Aug 12 2010

Today I had a productive day and completed all I needed at 3:10pm and so decided that I would take a relaxed approach home. Was early for even the early train to Shellharbour, but decided to get on the one that we normally get as it is typically a push for Bobbie to get the early train due to her reliance on Sydney Buses (who also fail to run to their schedule). Anyway, I was on the platform at 4:00pm for a train departing at 5:12pm. The tale of woe was about to begin!

A train pulled in, completely empty and the usual geriatric model that frequents the long haul runs for NSW residents, itself a disgrace. I thought I will jump on, even though it is mega early, and get out of the cold air. So I had a pick of the seats and settled on a gold seat, or so I thought.

10 minutes later the train went from empty to resembling one those Indian trains you see in B grade movies. You know the ones where the white actor is confronted by a chicken or goat invading their personal space. At this point I thought that perhaps something was up, but decided to wait for the voice over that should occur just before the doors closing and the train embarking on its journey. Foolish me!

Yes, the CityRail driver/guard decided to put standard practice to one side to get the train going. Doors shut and we were off. 2 minutes after the train leaving the station the voice of doom announced the train was going to Mount Victoria, completely and utterly the wrong way for me! I thought perhaps, just perhaps, this experience would have a reasonable end with a stop at Redfern. No such luck, first stop Strathfield.

So after my 20 minute ride in the wrong direction I disembarked a bit more than a tad miffed. Looked up at the board of the adjoining platform and thought oh great salvation is at hand with a train scheduled to head back to Central in 4 minutes. That would give me enough time to get to my desired service. So I found a spot out of the icy breeze and waited.

With less than 2 minutes before this train was to depart the platform (yes depart) a second voice of doom came across announcing that in their “wisdom” the service had changed platforms. Even if I was an Olympic sprinter, not a grand master fat bastard, I would have struggled to make it. So I looked up at the board again and saw the next train was 16 minutes away that would put me on a close intercept course at Redfern if I was lucky.

Well today is not my lucky day with rail travel. As the service I was begrudgingly on pulled in at Redfern my desired service pulled out of the platform opposite! I decided to stay on to Central and am now on an alternative South Coast service, atleast until such time as the incompetents at CityRail decide to cancel this service.

I have now lost yet another hour of my already limited personal time! Thankyou ShittyRail for once again bending me over the table and spreading my cheeks wider than a Hum Vee’s bonnet!


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