Transport bosses play down Epping to Chatswood delays
TRANSPORT bosses have played down the wait for buses — saying queuing was 10 minutes “at worst” — after commuters complained of long wait times on the first peak hour following the closure of the Epping-Chatswood line.
NSW
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TRANSPORT bosses have played down the wait for buses — saying queuing was 10 minutes “at worst” — after commuters complained of long wait times on the first peak hour following the closure of the Epping-Chatswood line.
Transport Co-ordinator General Marg Prendergast said that while the first proper weekday test of Station Link buses was a relative success, there was “some queuing” as commuters grappled with the new system.
However, she said commuters were never waiting for long with buses “racked and stacked” ready to move people along.
“We did see when trains pulled up, everyone disembarks and so we did actually get some queuing but our buses came through and swept the people away pretty quick,” she said.
“There was around a 10 minute queuing at worst, but when a train does disengorge we do get queues but the buses just move in like clockwork to actually move the people.”
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Ms Prendergast said Chatswood was the “hotspot” this morning and encouraged commuters to disembark at St Leonards, which has a faster and more frequent service for customers travelling from the south or the city heading into Macquarie Park or Macquarie University.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance announced 52km of cable in the Epping to Chatswood rail link had already been laid in preparation for the Sydney Metro.
“People know the short term pain they’re experiencing, we’re well underway in terms of the work to deliver what will be an incredible, world-class metro which is why we’ve had to make these temporary changes with the Epping to Chatswood rail link,” he said.
However, the real test of the Station Link operation will be when NSW students return from holidays on October 15.
Mr Constance acknowledged there would be “more hurdles along the way” and encouraged people to bed down their travel patterns in advance of school returning over the next fortnight.
“We will continue to monitor and have the transport operations centre up and going very strongly with teams of people there to assist commuters when school goes back,” he said.
HUNDREDS QUEUE AFTER EPPING TO CHATSWOOD SHUTDOWN
LONG queues have frustrated peak-hour travellers this morning as commuters adjust to a suburban line’s seven-month closure.
One woman wrote on Twitter that there were “hundreds” of people waiting for public transport.
“When the Epping to Chatswood line has closed so there’s hundreds of people waiting to go to Macquarie in peak hour. For some context, the bus stop is where the white car is,” she wrote.
When the Epping to Chatswood line has closed so there's hundreds of people waiting to go to Macquarie in peak hour. For some context, the bus stop is where the white car is... 🚗 #sydneymetro #notrains #sydney @T1SydneyTrains @TrainsInfo @GladysB pic.twitter.com/E2oPNPR08C
— Debby Ng å´å˜‰ç‘¶ (@Debby_Ng) October 1, 2018
Another commuter said: “Epping to Chatswood line closure has choked the Epping-Rhodes- Strathfield-City Train line. This can’t fly for long. Either increase frequency to every 5 mins for Rhodes line or direct the customers.”
“First day of no trains after Chatswood on the Epping line. Judging by the queue for buses, I should get to work by lunchtime,” another Twitter user said.
First day of no trains after Chatswood on the Epping line. Judging by the queue for buses, I should get to work by lunchtime.
— Dwayne Lennox (@TheLennoXFiles) October 1, 2018
Buses began replacing trains on Sunday between Chatswood and Epping as the underground rail line is prepared for the new single-deck Metro North West rapid link scheduled to start between March and June 2019.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the Chatswood to Epping line’s temporary closure was a “significant disruption” but it would be worth it. “Ultimately everyone is going to go through some short-term pain for long-term gain in the corridor,” Mr Constance told reporters.
The minister pleaded with commuters to plan their journeys and use the bus replacement service, rather than all pick up their car keys.
“We don’t want car-meggedon on Tuesday so that’s why we’re trying to get everyone to think in advance about how they might get to and from the precincts,” Mr Constance said.
The roads authority has added CCTV cameras, hired more tow trucks, introduced some bus lanes and adjusted some parking restrictions to cope with the extra traffic.
I’m going to give #stationlink SL1 pre-8am commute from #redfern to #macquarieuniversity via #epping 8/10 magenta buses. Which is lucky, because I’m not emotionally ready to be disappointed by @LeeLinChin yet...
— Sophie Calabretto (@sophluidynamics) October 1, 2018
Epping to Chatswood line closure has choked the Epping-Rhodes- Strathfield-City Train line. This can’t fly for long. Either increase frequency to every 5 mins for Rhodes line or direct the customers. #transportnsw #sydney #sydneypublictrasport #sydneytrains
— Fashionblog (@sunniesbar) October 1, 2018