Commuters rack up record 400 million train journeys as MP vows to manage the growth

COMMUTERS have racked up a record 400 million journeys on Sydney’s packed trains in less than a year, prompting Transport Minister Andrew Constance to vow that the government is trying to manage the growth spurt.

COMMUTERS have racked up a record 400 million journeys on Sydney’s packed trains in less than a year, prompting Transport Minister Andrew Constance to vow that the government is trying to manage the growth spurt.

With some train services crammed at 170 per cent capacity, Mr Constance told The Daily Telegraph the government was “playing catch-up”.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance revealed to The Daily Telegraph the government was “playing catch-up” with the growth. Picture: John Grainger

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“The key thing I want everyone to understand is we are catering for a growth spurt in the number of people catching trains that we have never seen before,” he said.

“No one expected growth at this pace, it has been phenomenal.”

Last financial year, there were 385 million journeys on the network. By the start of this month there had already been 400 million for the financial year.

NSW commuters are now making more than 100 million trips a year more than their counterparts in Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia combined.

Mr Constance said the growth explained why the government had “no option” to switch to its controversial new timetable that dramatically ramped up service frequency and, in some instances, put pressure on the network.

Another 24 Waratah trains for the existing network to relieve pressure. Picture: Christian Gilles

A record 400 million train trips have been accumulated by people in NSW. Picture: Christian Gilles

“We are obviously playing catch-up on an old network,” he said.

“We are trying to build a new network. And we are trying to get the most out of our existing arrangements.”

The new North West Metro is due to open early next year.

NSW commuters massively outweigh other states in terms of train journeys. Picture: Liam Kidston

The Sydney train system “would break” without a new timetable, Mr Constance said.

The government has also commissioned another 24 Waratah trains for the existing network to relieve pressure.

“If we hadn’t introduced the new timetable and increased the frequency of trains, the network would break,” Mr Constance said.

“This timetable was designed to ease those growth pains by having more frequency.”