Sydney - Canberra - Melbourne July 2019

[ozbob]

Going to spend a few days in Sydney before going on to Melbourne (XPT Sleeper).

North West Metro.

Head to Newcastle for a day and do some tramming ..

[SurfRail]

I'll be doing something similar in August.  Was planning on a quick trip down to NTL because I knew the trams would be up and running by end of Feb, but my travel costs for the year are starting to bite fiercely.

[ozbob]

Yo. Be good to see the North West Metro.  Due to open in May, so hopefully no issues and will be running normally July.

I will stay near Sydney Central station, so that is handy.  Day trip to Newcastle for trams, and should be able to work in a local rail trip.

I have done quite a few overnight rail trips Sydney <> Melbourne, but not in an XPT sleeper, so that should be fun.

https://transportnsw.info/regional-bookings/  I can get a fare reduction (Senior)

Opal for interstate seniors  https://www.opal.com.au/en/about-opal/opal_for_interstate_seniors/

$2.50 a day capped fares

[ozbob]

Change of plans.  Still plan to go to Sydney. Still check out Newcastle, North West Metro etc.  but then I will get the train to Canberra for a ride on the light rail.  Then fly Canberra to Melbourne. 

[ozbob]

Booked! 

Brisbane 0905 > Sydney 29th June (QANTAS).

Will be doing a trip to Newcastle as well as the North West Metro and what ever else I can fit in.

Sydney > Canberra  3rd July CLK631 Southern XPLORER TRAIN depart Central 7.12am Canberra (Kingston) 11.20am

I am staying at the end of the tram line at Gungahlin    will have to pack the cold weather gear though.

Canberra (0900) > Melbourne 5th July (QANTAS)

Check out the latest LX works etc.  Day trip to Bendigo probably on the 9th July.

Melbourne  (0910) > Brisbane 10th July (QANTAS)

[ozbob]

https://www.transport.act.gov.au/tickets-and-myway/get-myway

Interstate Seniors MyWay Card

Seniors Card holders from other states and territories in Australia can apply for an Interstate Seniors MyWay card.

Interstate MyWay card holders receive the same concession fare as ACT Seniors and MyWay pension card holders and are able to travel for free during off peak times as part of an ACT Government trial. Interstate card holders are not eligible for the over 70s free travel.

Interstate Seniors Card holders can also show the bus driver their Seniors Card and purchase a cash concession fare.

Interstate Seniors MyWay cards can be applied for in advance from COTA ACT.

To apply, please email seniorscard@cotaact.org.au or myway@act.gov.au with your name, date of birth and address, and include a scanned copy of your Seniors Card and Drivers Licence / Proof of Identity card. An Interstate Seniors MyWay card will then be mailed to you.
Please allow up to 10 business days to receive your card.


For Seniors Card holders already in Canberra, Interstate Seniors MyWay Cards can be obtained from:

Canberra and Region Visitors Centre, National Exhibition Centre, Regatta Point
COTA ACT office (Hughes Community Centre, 2 Wisdom St Hughes)
Access Canberra Service Centres

Free off-peak MyWay travel trial

As part of an off-peak trial, eligible senior and concession MyWay card holders travel for free between 9am and 4.30pm and after 6pm weekdays, plus all day Saturday, Sunday and on public holidays



Ed: MyWay card applied for 29 April 2019.

[verbatim9]

Booked! 

Brisbane 0905 > Sydney 29th June (QANTAS).

Will be doing a trip to Newcastle as well as the North West Metro and what ever else I can fit in.

Sydney > Canberra  3rd July CLK631 Southern XPLORER TRAIN depart Central 7.12am Canberra (Kingston) 11.20am

I am staying at the end of the tram line at Gungahlin    will have to pack the cold weather gear though.

Canberra (0900) > Melbourne 5th July (QANTAS)

Check out the latest LX works etc.  Day trip to Bendigo probably on the 9th July.

Melbourne  (0910) > Brisbane 10th July (QANTAS)

Looks like a great itinerary to test out all the new services and infrastructure that have recently come online in those States and Territories.

[Stillwater]

It's interesting that Queensland recognises Seniors from interstate who are able to access travel/fare concessions in the Sunshine State from age 60 by virtue of their home-state Seniors Card, yet Queenslanders have to wait until the age of 65 to get a Seniors Card that offers the same concessions.

[ozbob]

Ha.  Ordered my Gold Opal online.  As I already have an Opal card very easy process.

Capped fares at $2.50 daily.  I think I will get good value ...   

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1124138400548675584

[ozbob]

Sydney Ferry

G&#39;day Robin. I will be visiting Sydney late June / early July for a few days. What do reckon would be the best ferry runs to do? Thanks. Bob

— ozbob13 (@ozbob13) May 4, 2019

https://twitter.com/UrbanFerryist/status/1124829854849875969

[ozbob]

Received my Opal and MyWay cards.  Ready to go!

[ozbob]

I am going to replicate this journey of Robin!

https://twitter.com/UrbanFerryist/status/1133195729042722816

https://twitter.com/UrbanFerryist/status/1133200826502017025

[Cazza]

^I would recommend not getting the 442 to East Balmain in peak hour... Unless your dream has always been to become one with the sardines

Anyway, East Balmain Wharf is pretty cool. It has an amazing view across the harbour to the City and bridge. I haven't been to the area since the upgrade but before hand, it was always exciting watching the buses try and 3-point-turn and narrowly avoiding the harbour (https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.8570457,151.1955131,3a,75y,124.59h,70.41t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTbZAZPFENBBMmgAgn5-Dmg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656).

Just bring some earplugs for any of the old 0405NHs trying to get up the hill. They love to screech!

[ozbob]

Thanks Cazza!  Looking forward to the trip so much, me and my Gold Opal Card will go well !!

[ozbob]

Two weeks today to go!  Start doing some planning.

Arrive Sydney Saturday 29th June > NW Metro

15:23 Central Station, Platform 16 T1  Lindfield
Arrival time15:49 Chatswood Station, Platform 4

15:55 Chatswood Station, Platform 3
arrival time16:32 Tallawong Station, Platform 3



Sunday 30th June  Newcastle

09:18 Central Station, Platform 9 > 11:54 Newcastle Interchange, Platform 2, Wickham

14:53 Newcastle Interchange, Platform 3 > 17:29 Central Station, Platform 11, Sydney

or

16:56 Newcastle Interchange, Platform 1 > 19:29 Central Station, Platform 11, Sydney

  https://newcastletransport.info/light-rail  Turn-up-and-go service operates from 5am to 1am, seven days a week.

Note: The NSW Rail Museum will be operating 1-hour steam train rides from Gosford for two days only on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 June 2019. Beyer-Garratt 6029, from Gosford Station to Hawkesbury River and return taking in the Brisbane Waters and historic Hawkesbury River Bridge along the way.  https://www.nswrailmuseum.com.au/gosford

Will pass it somewhere!   

Monday 1st July

Sydney Trains and NW Metro, trams. Bus. Ferry.

09:38 QVB, York St, Stand B
Sydney (Stop ID 200042)
route number 442  Balmain East Wharf
City QVB to Balmain East Wharf (Loop Service) 9:53

10:29 Balmain East Wharf
Balmain East (Stop ID 20414)
route number F4  Watsons Bay
Pyrmont Bay to Watsons Bay via Barangaroo and Circular Quay

At low tide ramp gradients increase. Wheelchair assistance may be required.
Arrival time10:37 Milsons Point Wharf

10:45 Milsons Point Station, Platform 2
City to Berowra via Gordon

arrival time11:00 Chatswood Station, Platform 4

====

13:10 Chatswood Station, Platform 1
Chatswood (Stop ID 2067141)
T1 
Arrival time 13:26 Wynyard Station, Platform 3
13:30 Wynyard Station, Platform 6
T3
Arrival time13:33 Circular Quay Station, Platform 2

13:47 Circular Quay, Wharf 2
F4  Watsons Bay
Pyrmont Bay to Watsons Bay via Barangaroo and Circular Quay
arrival time14:10 Watsons Bay Wharf

15:19 Watsons Bay Wharf
F4  Pyrmont Bay
Watsons Bay to Pyrmont Bay via Circular Quay and Barangaroo
arrival time 15:42 Quay, Wharf 5


Tuesday 2nd July

Wollongong

10:10 Central Station, Platform 25, arrival time 11:37 Wollongong Station, Platform 2

15:37 Wollongong Station, Platform 1, arrival 17:04 Central Station, Platform 9
(or 16:07, Central 17:33))

Wednesday 3rd July

Sydney > Canberra  CLK631 Southern XPLORER TRAIN depart Central 7.12am Canberra (Kingston) 11.20am

[ozbob]

https://www.transport.act.gov.au/about-us/public-transport-options/light-rail/using-light-rail

[ozbob]

Australian War Memorial Visitor information

https://www.awm.gov.au/visit/visitor-information

10am to 5pm daily

[ozbob]

5th July > Melbourne

>> https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=13530.0

[SurfRail]

The voice announcements on Sydney Metro are horrid (seemingly text to speech).  Other than that and the ongoing issues with getting the things to stop in exactly the right spot, it's top notch.

[ozbob]

Slight change of plans.  My mother is not well so I am flying to Melbourne this morning to visit her, then will fly to Sydney tomorrow.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1144814470004277249

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1144836861765906432

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1144878712619327488

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1144882706146197504

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1144883128428720128

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1145094483303755776

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1145107159312556033


https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1145129986338119681

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1145153620695846913

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1145196025805623297

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1145488202288910336

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1145493119409905664

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1145521351739842561

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1145857983911354368

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1145885016112504832

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1146135340639383552

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1146159829456523264

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1146243861997428736

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1146252122461093890

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1146275459975569408

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1146557640031346689

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1146565659976802304

[ozbob]

The Canberra light rail is very well done. Fast, direct and not too many stops, a good balance in fact. Extending it is no-brainer stuff.

No problems navigating around on the network, tram and bus.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1146587753062096896

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1146588714761539584

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1146589820027727872

[ozbob]

Facebook ...