Epping to Chatswood rail closure: Your guide to survive the ‘chaos’
THE long-dreaded Epping to Chatswood rail shutdown starts on Sunday as 20,000 commuters are forced onto buses and into their cars and many are thought to be still unaware of the disruption.
THERE are fears of mass confusion and chaos next week as thousands of rail passengers in the northwest work out how they will get to work and university.
The long-dreaded Epping to Chatswood rail shutdown starts on Sunday as 20,000 commuters are forced onto buses and into their cars and many are thought to be still unaware of the disruption.
Ryde Mayor Jerome Laxale said residents were “bracing for the worst” after the long weekend, when local roads become even more clogged as 120 Station Link buses replace trains for the next seven months.
“The government has botched the rollout of road upgrades, failed to deliver on their promises and cannot tell us with certainty how long the rail line will be closed for,” Cr Laxale, who will challenge Ryde MP Victor Dominello at next year’s state election, said.
“School drop-offs, going to the shops and travelling across our city will take longer than needed because the government didn’t get their act together in time.”
The government expects the upgrade period will add at least 10 minutes to the journey of commuters. However, the Opposition said some commuters could face delays of up to an hour at peak times.
To prove his point that residents were unaware of the changes, Cr Laxale and Opposition transport spokeswoman Jodi McKay hit the streets of Macquarie Park.
In a video posted on Facebook, several rail passengers they spoke to were in the dark about the disruption and how they were going to cope.
“I have no idea how things are going to work,” one man said.
A woman said: “Tell them (the government) it’s going to create chaos.”
And another man said: “It’s going to be a jam-up; a real bugger.”
Cr Laxale said the “worst of the chaos” was likely to come after the school holidays, which start on Friday.
“Locals in Ryde will pay for the government’s mismanagement,” he said.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance conceded there would be disruptions but said it was sometimes necessary to “crack a couple of eggs to make an omelet”.
“We have a challenge here, we’re not hiding from it,” he said. “We know there will be disruption but once Sydney Metro opens in the second quarter of next year there will be a new, world-class metro service between Sydney’s fast-growing northwest and Chatswood.”
Sydney Business Chamber executive director Patricia Forsythe urged residents and workers to “reset the clock” during the upgrade.
“Instead of starting work at 9am, people should be seeing if they can start at 10am,” she said. “This is part of how we can reset the clock, as it were, and a way of getting cars off the road during the morning peak.”
The shutdown’s impacts will be felt through Sydney’s broader public transport network. More trains will start or end at Central Station during peak periods.
The rail upgrade between Epping and Chatswood is the last major piece of construction before the $8.3 billion Sydney Metro Northwest line is up and running.
IT’S ACTION STATIONS FOR BIG CHANGE
TRANSPORT commanders, police and precinct managers are running through final checks to prepare for the rail upgrade between Epping and Chatswood.
Transport for NSW co-ordinator-general Marg Prendergast said network operators were ready for the temporary closure of Macquarie Park, Macquarie University and North Ryde stations from Sunday.
“There’s been a lot of hard work done by our network managers, who’ll work hell for leather over the next seven months to keep people moving during the upgrade,” she said.
“Earlier this year we put additional cameras and other equipment in place that will improve the way staff manage traffic and ease pinch points on roads in and around Macquarie Park. There’ll be a large presence of network operators to manage pedestrian flows, ensure new parking arrangements are followed and respond to incidents.”
To improve the reliability of bus services during the rail upgrade, bus priority and capacity infrastructure improvements are being completed including intersection upgrades, a new bus lane and adjustments to traffic islands, footpaths and road pavements.
Parking changes and tow-away zones are being implemented to improve bus reliability and ensure a smooth operation. Drivers are urged to follow signage and traffic controllers’ directions. A $188 charge will apply to towed vehicles.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
● From Sunday, September 30, Station Link buses will be turn-up-and-go with connecting services running every six minutes at peak commuter times.
● There will be seven bus routes; SL1 is the main, all-stops route running frequently every day.
● Other six routes to run from Monday to Friday.
● Five Station Link routes stop at Macquarie University Station.
● Customers will need an Opal card to travel on buses. A standard train fare will be charged.
● The average customer’s daily commute is set to be at least 10 minutes longer on a Station Link bus.
● On-demand services operate on weekdays from 6am-10am and 3pm-7pm. Fares from $2.60.
● Visit the online ‘Trip Planner’ at transportnsw.info
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