Timetable changes: Shake-up puts Sydney commuters to the test
SYDNEY’S commuters had to deal with the first day of the new public transport timetable this morning and so far reaction to the changes has been mixed.
NSW
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SYDNEY’S commuters are being advised to allow plenty of time to get to work today on the first day of the new public transport timetable.
Transport for NSW has added more than 1,500 extra weekly train services, including 750 new weekend train services, along with almost 7,000 new weekly bus services and more than 140 new weekly ferry services across the Sydney network.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian called the overhaul “the biggest single increase in Sydney’s history”.
“This is a huge shift in the way in which people can move around our greater city and what this means is that, chances are in more than two-thirds of our stations you’ll cut your waiting time by half,” she said.
But the Opposition said the changes would mean increased travel time for some commuters and some lines that skip stations.
“The Blue Mountains’ trains no longer stop at Redfern, we know that the western line for instance from Auburn to Central will take 11 minutes longer,” Opposition transport spokeswoman Jodi McKay said.
Public reaction to the changes was mixed today. “A four minute wait to catch an express train with available seats to the city! Unheard of! New train timetable gets the thumbs up so far,” tweeted Glenn Reilly.
But then this from Clelsea Wilson: “Thank you #sydneytrains for once again being such a disappointment. New timetable? Every train is now packed and no one can fit in the carriages. How about thinking about commuters who aren’t just situated in the city for once?”
Northern beaches residents were cautiously optimistic about the new services promised by the state government.
“I don’t really know how it’s going to be much quicker,” said Dee Why resident Simon French.
Confusion ruled the northern beaches as the Bline services commenced.
The pink-shirted bus information employees at Brookevale’s Warringah Mall didn’t know the answer when asked how frequently the Bline buses would arrive, nor how much time it would cut off the commute.
Wait for the big reveal on #SydneyHarbourBridge. 😠First #Bline trip on brand new #DoubleDeckerBus @TransportforNSW #LoveMyRide #Sydney #â¤ï¸ pic.twitter.com/W8BywW6LbM
— Jessica Amir (@Jessica_Danelle) November 26, 2017
Tahlia Bangle, who commutes every Monday to TAFE in this city which can take between 30 minutes and more than an hour, the buses might make no difference at all.
“I hope they do, because otherwise what’s the point?” said the Brookevale resident.
Between 7:45 and 8:10 on Monday morning, the Daily Telegraph counted five of the 32 peak-hour Bline buses picking up passengers at Warringah Mall.
While some buses were standing-room only, others had plenty of spare seats up the top.
“I don’t really know how it’s going to be much quicker,” said Simon French.
“Its meant to fly along, but with other buses stopping in front how can the Bline keep going?” said the Dee Why resident who takes on average an hour to commute the 18 kilometre journey to Wynyard.
Ooh yeh. A four minute wait to catch an express train with available seats to the city! Unheard of! New train timetable gets the thumbs up so far..#sydneytrains
— Glenn Reilly (@glennReilly) November 26, 2017
If people vote with their feet.. this @T1SydneyTrains is clearly not a winner. Too many stops for people to want to catch it #sydneytrains pic.twitter.com/M14W7QYcpo
— Kylie (@eels4ever) November 26, 2017
My take on today's train timetable changes #sydneytrains pic.twitter.com/htub8q6NzD
— Vic Thor (@flowlikeyolo) November 26, 2017
New Timetable is 👌🼠empty trains with AC. Yasss. Good work #sydneytrains pic.twitter.com/24QZxCx9yS
— timmspeaks (@timmspeaks) November 26, 2017
He wasn’t alone in his scepticism.
“There will be many more buses, so there will be much more traffic,” said Dee Why resident Annabel Franks.
She said she expected some serious teething problems.
One Bline bus driver was caught short when a commuter asked him where he first stopped and he didn’t have the answer.
“You don’t know your own stops? That’s a bit of a worry,” said Franks.
“I caught it yesterday and it was fantastic, but today will be the real test.”
Visit transportnsw.info for information on the new timetable.
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