Train services to return to pre-pandemic timetables
The government has announced big changes coming to train timetables from the end of the month.
NSW
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Train services will increase to the regular weekday timetable at the end of the month after an increase in people going back to the city.
The regular timetable will be reinstated from Monday February 28 in time for a planned easing of restrictions that the government hopes will get more people back into the office to increase activity in the CBD.
The plan to run more services — compared to a reduced Covid schedule — comes after a spike in rail patronage.
The number of people on trains jumped seven per cent last week compared to the week before, with 541,905 average daily weekday trips on Sydney Trains services.
“This is a great sign, it shows customers have confidence to jump on public transport as more people get back to major centres like Sydney’s CBD and Parramatta,” Transport Minister David Elliott said.
The spike in rail patronage comes after Premier Dominic Perrottet told the Sydney CBD summit last week that he wants more people to come back to the city and work in the office.
More than 200 additional train services that are supplementing the current timetable in peak periods will continue until the regular weekday timetable is reinstated.
Other modes of public transport will continue running to timetables currently in place.
Masks will remain mandatory and other Covid safety measures will continue, including the green dots which encourage social distancing.
“We will continue to implement our Covid-safe Transport Plan to ensure frontline workers and customers who rely on public transport stay safe,” Transport for NSW Chief Operating Officer Howard Collins said.
Transport for NSW will work with Sydney Trains and the union to plan for the return to a normal weekday roster.
Originally published as Train services to return to pre-pandemic timetables
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