Robert Schwandl Blog

[#Metro]

http://schwandl.blogspot.com/

Robert has just spewed all over CityRail, Sydney.

Train not on time- easy. Simply make ALL trains slow!
Keep fighting timetable obesity Somebody!

CityRail can without doubt be classified as a MASS transit system, but it is certainly not a RAPID transit system. It is indeed one of the slowest rail systems I have ever been on. This must have been different some 6 years ago, before a new timetable was introduced in 2005, due to the regular delays registered prior to that. The new timetable, however, was so stretched that delays are virtually impossible, as speeds were reduced and time buffers were built into the timetable.

As usual, public transport after 6pm... whodda wanna useaa that?

Instead one relies on the hundreds of bus routes, which like in most places are difficult to understand and many finish service at ridiculous times in the early evening. Even the newly introduced Metrobuses don't even run until midnight.

So once again I have to say that the bus system is far below from what one might expect from a world-class system.

Government bumbling

Apparently there have been steps towards introducing a smartcard system, but this somehow failed and now there are useless posts at station entrances which were supposed to carry the card readers.

Apparently staffed by people who don't seem to care:

Like in Melbourne or Brisbane, the CityRail system is an open system with proper ticket barriers only at major stations. I observed many people jumping the low gates and no staff did anything about it. So fare evasion must be a major problem, and during my two weeks my ticket was never checked by any inspector.