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Sydney’s train, bus and ferry changes have baptism of fire during first commute

FURIOUS commuters have claimed controversial new timetables have deliberately targeted less affluent areas.

Benedict BrookBenedict Brook
@BenedictBrook
6 min read
November 27, 2017 - 5:29PM
Sydney transport timetable overhaul

THE senior civil servant in charge of NSW’s train system has defended a huge timetable revamp branded, “an abomination,” by one passenger.

On the contrary, said Sydney Trains boss Howard Collins, many customers were “delighted’ with the changes to trains, buses and ferries.

But passengers have told news.com.au they believe the network recast has not been evenly spread and Sydney Trains is guilty of “discriminatory behaviour” in some suburbs.

On Monday, Mr Collins was keen to spruik the more than 1500 extra trains services, 7000 bus trips and 140 new ferry services that had been added to the network.

Sydney Trains boss Howard Collins said customers are “delighted” at the new timetable.
Sydney Trains boss Howard Collins said customers are “delighted” at the new timetable.

The biggest beneficiary has been Parramatta, in Sydney’s west, which now has a train every three minutes during the peak to and from the CBD.

But customers at smaller stations have slammed the changes which have seen many direct expresses cut in favour of lumbering all-stops trains.

Indeed, the complaints have been so numerous, Mr Collins himself has been replying to them.

News.com.au has seen an email conversation between a frustrated passenger and, apparently, the Sydney Trains CEO admitting that the price for more services is that older, previously out of service, non-air conditioned trains have been cascaded onto the network.

Some passengers have accused the organisation of putting older trains on lines that serve less affluent suburbs.

Gordon Tran, who commuters from Chester Hill in Sydney’s west, said one out of five trains on the T3 Bankstown line were now older trains built in the 1970s, far more than were on the line just recently.

Passengers have complained that older non air conditioned trains are now appearing more often since the timetable change.
Passengers have complained that older non air conditioned trains are now appearing more often since the timetable change.

“These old trains have no air conditioning, seats are damaged, lights flicker and there is an abundance of fluttering moths. They are not only a source of discomfort for passengers but also a sure sign of neglect by Transport for NSW.”

Biondi Lay, who commutes from Fairfield in Sydney’s west, told news.com.au only one of the trains on her line during the peak hour was the more modern air conditioned trains built after 2000. The rest were now trains from the ‘70s and ‘80s.

“The lack of air conditioned and newer trains on the T2, T3 and T5 lines is discriminating behaviour.

“With trains in much more affluent suburbs bearing a much more minimal effect, is this a coincidence or is it promoting socio-economic inequality and injustice?”

In a reply to Mr Tran, Mr Collins admitted older trains had been brought back into service.

“With a massive increase in customers we had to run more trains and could not wait for new aircon trains.”

The oldest trains would start to be replaced by newer models during 2019.

He said the older trains were “on most lines” and offered to meet Mr Tran to “sweat out the issue” of hot trains.

News.com.au has contacted Transport for NSW to confirm the email response came from Mr Collins.

Talking to media on Monday, Mr Collins talked up the new timetables.

“We have had a good morning service, lots of people have benefited from extra seats and extra trains. As far as I can see many people are delighted.”

He said that there were “no hiccups” in the morning peak aside from one ill customer and a car in a bus lane on the new double decker B-Line service to the northern beaches.

Almost 99 per cent of trains ran on time.

He said the organisation could yet change the timetable if systematic issues were found.

“We’ll continue to receive feedback on services and adjust where necessary.”

Transport Minister Andrew Constance reiterated that train times could be modified as “wrinkles are ironed out”.

But he pushed back against criticism of longer journeys and more changes.

“It’s unfortunately a global challenge of a growing city — you will need to interchange. In the past people have been used to catching one train across the network but you can’t have 11 per cent patronage increase without encouraging people to interchange.”

While the changes kicked in on Sunday, Monday morning was the first test of a huge shake up of services on trains, buses and ferries in Sydney and as far afield as Wollongong, the Central Coast and Newcastle.

. The changes are so big the Sydney Trains map had to be redesigned.

But at one western Sydney station, the reaction has been so negative that a local MP claims he has already collected “hundreds of signatures” as part of a petition to reverse the changes.

Commuters were advised to leave extra time to get to grips with the new timetables.

Many stations will see more trains, particularly to the city and Parramatta. Indeed, some Monday morning travellers raved at the increased number of trains at their stations.

But at smaller, less busy stations, some expresses have been replaced by slower direct services now stopping at all stations.

In some case, travellers to the CBD may find it faster to travel in the wrong direction to a larger station and then continue their journey on an express service.

There have been suggestions the new all-stops trains are putting passengers off leading to empty carriages.

Hugh McDermott, the state member for Prospect in Sydney’s west, was collecting signatures at Toongabbie station on Monday morning. He tweeted there had been a “massive & angry response to (NSW Premier) Berejiklian’s new train timetable and cuts to our local train services.”

The transport changes have also seen London-style double decker buses return to Sydney’s streets in a big way.

While some of the huge buses had already been operating to the Hills district, a new fleet, branded the B-Line, is the link to the city’s northern beaches.

While some commuters loved their sky high views of Sydney, as the double decker crossed the Harbour Bridge, others complained that scores of local connections had been axed to make way for the new route.

TRANSPORT CHANGES AT A GLANCE

TRAINS

T1 Western line: More express trains between Parramatta and the city but some current stops will be skipped on weekdays and served by other lines instead. Some commuters may have to change trains for the quickest journey to the city. Late night Richmond services will be served solely by the T5 line.

T2 Inner West line: On weekdays, some services are extended to Parramatta replacing the T1 line at some stations. More trains at many inner west stations during weekday peaks.

T2 Leppington line: New name for the T2 South line but with all trains now terminating at Leppington. Services south of Glenfield now served by the new T8 line. Some services will be slower as they will stop at more inner west stations. From Liverpool, it may be quicker to take the T3 line to the city.

T3 Bankstown line: More services. Stopping pattern changes will see some faster services.

T5 Cumberland line: The line connecting southwestern and western Sydney will now operate all week between Leppington and Richmond. The T5 will replace the T1 line at some stations during the evening.

T8 Airport and South line: T2 services via Revesby are now the T8 line. Campbelltown stations are now only served by the T8. Passengers heading between Campbelltown and Parramatta will have to change.

T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra line, T6 and T7 lines: Minor changes.

Intercity trains: Increase to Blue Mountains line services. A new peak fast service between Sydney and Newcastle to be trialled taking 26 minutes off journey times. Newcastle’s new interchange station now open

BUSES

Some route and timetable changes are throughout the Sydney basin but the biggest alterations are on the northern beaches.

Northern beaches: Express B-Line branded double deckers every few minutes between the city and Mona Vale. There will be big changes to existing routes in this area.

FERRIES

A new F4 cross ferry service will link Watsons Bay in the east with Barangaroo and Pyrmont via Circular Quay. Double Bay will be served by the new F7 line; Cockatoo Island and Greenwich by the new F8.

LIGHT RAIL

The L1 line will have no changes.

Transport for NSW has recommend passengers check the organisation’s information website, their travel apps or call the Transport Info Line on 131 500 before they head to work on Monday to check their new commute times.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/sydneys-train-bus-and-ferry-changes-have-baptism-of-fire-during-first-commute/news-story/2bb93101a0569503a3e228df636ead3a