50% discount for out of peak travel for west sydney rail commuters

[Mozz]

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24064691-5001021,00.html

COMMUTERS in western Sydney will receive a 50 per cent discount on train tickets if they travel outside of the peak travel times under a NSW government trial.

Travellers on the Western and Carlingford lines will be able to buy the cheaper tickets from August 18, saving commuters from Penrith $36 a week.

Commuters from Parramatta will save $23 a week.

To qualify for the cheaper fares, commuters must arrive at Central Station before 7.15am (AEST) or between 9.15am and 10.15am.

Those travelling in the afternoon will have to leave Central before 4pm or after 6.30pm.

The trial will run between Emu Plains and Auburn on the Western Line, Richmond Line stations and Carlingford Line stations.

It is expected to cost the state government $2 million, and the trial will run until October 31.

[ozbob]

Time Queensland got with it!   

[Mozz]

Oh dear things don't seem too flash in Sydney with their rolling stock:

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24072588-421,00.html

IF COMMUTERS weren't feeling cold enough about the New South Wales Government's appeal to make them catch trains earlier, it really hit home yesterday.

As they sat in graffiti-covered carriages on ageing silver trains, the temperature inside the cars hovered around 11C.

The Daily Telegraph took thermometers aboard the trains as commuters questioned why they should travel earlier to pay a little less.

Despite being earmarked for replacement years ago, early-morning commuters are forced to ride old L-set, K-set and S-set carriages.


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The ageing fleet is used across the Sydney metropolitan and suburban outskirts, mainly as links between services or to bolster trains during peak hour.

Legal secretary Jennifer Hetherington, 57, from Padstow, said the daily commute to the city meant a choice between a packed Tangara with little hope of getting a seat or a service on a frigid older train.

"They should get rid of these obsolete carriages," Ms Hetherington said.

"We had a better service in the '70s and '80s."

Ms Hetherington scoffed at the discounted ticketing offer for off-peak services.

Under the trial, travellers get a 50 per cent discount if they avoid morning and evening peaks.

"Who's going to do that?" Ms Hetherington said.

"Why would I go to work at 7o'clock just to get a cheap fare?

"It's really not the normal time people are travelling."

Padstow landscape designer Lisa Dawson said while she only caught the older trains occasionally, the condition of the carriages was "digusting".

"World Youth Day is over so they have brought these back out," said Ms Dawson, 32, who was commuting to Wynyard.

"They are pretty gross. In this day and age they are a bit prehistoric. They are much colder. I nearly jumped up when I hit the seat."

Ms Dawson was sceptical of the ticketing discounts.

"Who's it really going to apply to - a couple of workaholics who want to get to the office early?" she asked. "And who can leave the office before 4pm - unless you are going to TAFE?"

Australian Medical Association NSW president Dr Brian Morton said commuters should adopt a European dress code and wear heavy overcoats.

Dr Morton said while colds and flu were transmitted by viral infection - mainly through coughing and sneezing - exposure to the elements played a role.

"There's not a lot of (medical) evidence of that really happening, but certainly your grandmother or mother's advice about (not sitting in a draft) probably has a ring of truth to it, but no one knows why," he said.

"I think the best advice really is to rug up."