Trains, Transport & Infrastructure

[Legionista]

https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/data-and-research/passenger-travel/public-transport-patronage/public-transport-patronage-monthly
 

Great lil tool where you can compare patronage per month. 

For example, I compared November 2019 (just before covid) to November 2022.

It hasn’t rebounded.

That’s a problem.

[Midfielder]

Like wow thread mostly about Sydney trains and its page 20...

[Smoggy]

14 hours ago, Midfielder said:

Like wow thread mostly about Sydney trains and its page 20...

Best thread on the interweb 

[pseudonym]

19 hours ago, Midfielder said:

Like wow thread mostly about Sydney trains and its page 20...

[SBW]

On 6/1/2023 at 6:57 PM, marron said:

Yeah Mountains line is still out till the 21st too.

 

I caught the XPT to Taree many moons ago and still remember how slow it was

The problem is we don’t have a frequent express service to run trains to regional and interstate areas like in Japan, China and Korea and our tracks is limited to 160kph, anything over that runs the risk of derailment.

There were talks for as long as I can remember of building new train tracks that run parallel to the southern highlands, central coast and Newcastle line that is capable of trains running at 250kph.

Edited January 8, 2023 by SBW

[MartinTyler]

4 hours ago, SBW said:

The problem is we don’t have a frequent express service to run trains to regional and interstate areas like in Japan, China and Korea and our tracks is limited to 160kph, anything over that runs the risk of derailment.

There were talks for as long as I can remember of building new train tracks that run parallel to the southern highlands, central coast and Newcastle line that is capable of trains running at 250kph.

Also we don't have the population spread to make such services viable

[Smoggy]

2 hours ago, MartinTyler said:

Also we don't have the population spread to make such services viable

Fast trains to Newcastle, Goulburn and Canberra for example would have major development incentive and help towards a NSW decentralisation process. But NSW won’t build without the population / incentive first.

[MathyouWSW]

Paul from Transport Vlog managed to get an exclusive look into the Parramatta light rail trams and I have to say...I've got mixed vibes about it.

- It's smart to have double doors. at both ends now. I've never got onto the trams into the City but I've seen people come to a halt if they are trying to depart/hop onto the tram near the single doors. So, hopefully that'll help with access on/off the tram.
- It seems there's 14 seats per cabin (which is approximately around 100 seats per cabin) and the tram is supposed to fit 400 people. That's A LOT of people standing. However, the question is "will the trams ever get to max capacity?" maybe during sport events in Parramatta. But, that'll be interesting to see
- They look quite roomy and spacious so it's not like you would 'crammed' inside the tram. 
- They've done a fantastic job on the wheelchair accessible space area. Hats off to them. Especially with the additional seatbelt.
- I'm 50/50 on the bike rake space.
- Good to see they've installed the modern display signs at the dot matrix ones are just old and retro. 
- The cab section looks state of the art with the latest technology. That "micro-sleep" device is a great feature. I think they've also installed them now in the Sydney trains cabs and the cameras near the doors has a good visual of the doors. 
- The OESS (Onboard Energy Storage System is a great feature as well and hopefully into the feature, trams will no longer require the overhead wires. However, that's maybe something in the future. Paul didn't mention during the video, but I would love to know how much storage are kept inside the OESS lithium batteries and how long can the tram last without them

If things go to plan...the trams will be open to public around May 2024. I'm kind of looking forward to them.

[SBW]

18 hours ago, MartinTyler said:

Also we don't have the population spread to make such services viable

Sydney in the next 10-15 years are going to experience populations of around 7m and the city is as crowded as it is, there isn’t  enough land around Sydney to further develop unless Government decides to expand south and get rid of farms and bush lands around Campbelltown build new houses there which isn’t the solution.

Solution is to connect regional towns with high speed and frequent rails. NSW Lib recognise this but they have done nothing in terms of building HSR. Both Gladys and the Parrot travelled to Japan in the last few years to investigate building HSR, all they have spent is $50m on a feasibility study and that’s it. HSR should have been built 50 odd years ago.

Edited January 9, 2023 by SBW

[marron]

It's not just the rail to make it attractive, but the facilties that exist in regional centres, that can't handle bigger populations as they stand - water mains, sewage, all that. Massive investment is needed. It would be better for everyone - Sydney's going to be a nightmare, and we've already ****ed it so that all of our produce has to come from elsewhere more or less. Need to be encouraging people to move, but they won't unless it's attractive. Being able to get back to the big smoke quickly is one part of it, but, there's more to it.

[SBW]

I have seen planned projects from the previous state labor party under Morris Iemma where they wanted to create regional hubs in NSW like in Goulburn, Bathurst, Wagga Wagga, Muswellbrook, Tamworth and the likes.

With these regional hubs, there would have been major infrastructure upgrades like you mentioned above, its not to say these towns should turn into cities, that wasn’t Iemma’s plan.

Look at how the Vic Government is planning to turn Bendigo, Ballarat, Shepparton into regional hubs for Victoria after the 2026 Comm games

[Midfielder]

6 hours ago, marron said:

It's not just the rail to make it attractive, but the facilties that exist in regional centres, that can't handle bigger populations as they stand - water mains, sewage, all that. Massive investment is needed. It would be better for everyone - Sydney's going to be a nightmare, and we've already ****ed it so that all of our produce has to come from elsewhere more or less. Need to be encouraging people to move, but they won't unless it's attractive. Being able to get back to the big smoke quickly is one part of it, but, there's more to it.

Could not agree more... the last two governments who tried to decentralised Australia was the Whitham gov with Albury / Wodonga  and who ever was the NSW leader at the time with Bathurst / Orange....

Both would have made more sense on the Coast ....

But no other gov has made an attempt sense... 

My second son lives in Tamworth and like many other regional centres its so under used for what it could do.... 

[Midfielder]

Article on the new metro line from SMH ...

 

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/sydney-metro-lines-will-spark-economic-renaissance-says-new-york-s-train-daddy-20221216-p5c6x0.html

 

 

[Midfielder]

Great article from smh re the building of new stations and tunnels under Sydney 

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/how-sydney-s-metro-rail-builders-navigated-underground-obstacles-beneath-the-city-20221208-p5c4u7.html

 

[SBW]

Victoria are going to do rail much better than NSW

 

[Smoggy]

 

 

 

[Edinburgh]

54 minutes ago, Smoggy said:

 

 

 

Wow, Bathurst eh, daylight 24 hours a day!

[theguyyouwishyouwere]

18 hours ago, SBW said:

Victoria are going to do rail much better than NSW

 

how so? with the exception of a handful of journeys - everywhere you go you will still end up in Victoria. 

[marron]

https://caportal.com.au/tfnsw/great-western-highway/central/map

Hartley's gonna get smashed by the highway upgrade.

[SBW]

About time I’d say, way long overdue. Getting stuck behind trucks and slow drivers between Victoria pass and Jenolan Caves road on the GWH has recently started to create traffic.

[marron]

Yep. It will still be single lane from k town to blackheath though. 

[SBW]

 

Can’t say I am surprised by this. I think up to Sydenham is fine but converting the whole line to Metro is a total waste.

And I won’t be surprised when the Labor government comes in, they are going to cancel majority of Liberal’s infrastructure projects and re-distribute those money to other things

[Unlimited]

On 27/01/2023 at 10:31 AM, SBW said:

 

Can’t say I am surprised by this. I think up to Sydenham is fine but converting the whole line to Metro is a total waste.

And I won’t be surprised when the Labor government comes in, they are going to cancel majority of Liberal’s infrastructure projects and re-distribute those money to other things

Anyone know why they're ripping up a perfectly usable train line from Bankstown to Sydenham? Same thing with ripping down a perfectly good stadium in Allianz to make a slightly less **** one

[StringerBellend]

2 hours ago, Unlimited said:

Anyone know why they're ripping up a perfectly usable train line from Bankstown to Sydenham? Same thing with ripping down a perfectly good stadium in Allianz to make a slightly less **** one

My guess is the cost to operate the old out of date infrastructure is hugely high also there plan is to outsource to  private operators to run both the trains and the lines, they can't do that while the infrastructure is tied into and share with  the existing lines, as they can't put the operator on the hook for issues. The new metro lines are totally seperated from the old State Rail infra and will be operated independently 

[Smoggy]

5 hours ago, Unlimited said:

Anyone know why they're ripping up a perfectly usable train line from Bankstown to Sydenham? Same thing with ripping down a perfectly good stadium in Allianz to make a slightly less **** one

The old Allianz was really outdated. Compared to the way stadiums are going overseas it was a relic.

Sydney is supposed to be an international city and should have a stadium, perhaps 2, at a world standard level.

What we have now is 2 championship standard grounds and a useless shitehole relic from the 2000 Olympics.

Like I said, Sydney should have a world class stadium, hopefully we get one in the years ahead.

[StillAtMeurantsLane]

On 20/12/2022 at 1:30 PM, MartinTyler said:

You won't get a station at Bondi....the NIMBYs will complain again that Bondi will be swamped by Westies

The f**kw*ts at Bondi Beach actually complained extensively when the Olympic beach volleyball was held there & yes attempts at a station there have been floated before however the idiots starting crying about that idea too.   Ironic that on any given summer day the place has about 25,000 westies there.  Morons.

[StillAtMeurantsLane]

On 04/02/2023 at 11:41 AM, Unlimited said:

Anyone know why they're ripping up a perfectly usable train line from Bankstown to Sydenham? Same thing with ripping down a perfectly good stadium in Allianz to make a slightly less **** one

Development.  It's the only reason they build anything these days.   Those developer donations to all political parties aren't free.

[Wanderboy]

On 04/02/2023 at 11:41 AM, Unlimited said:

Anyone know why they're ripping up a perfectly usable train line from Bankstown to Sydenham? Same thing with ripping down a perfectly good stadium in Allianz to make a slightly less **** one

The Smog Monster has already explained the Allianz situation. The old place was a dump and actually dangerous.

As for the Bankstown Line - it is being replaced for several reasons, but the main reason is that it takes up a slot (line) into the city and through the City Circle/Underground lines.

The line itself is not perfectly useable as you suggested, and is over 100 years old. Like all Sydney Trains lines, it is slow and also vulnerable to disruption because it is linked through other Sydney Trains lines. Metro-fying it is disentangling the Sydney Train System.

By separating it and converting it to Metro, it allows more services through the City Circle from other lines that also have to share, thus providing more services for those lines.

May I ask, have you ever been on the NW Metro? I catch it to the city at times, and seriously, the difference between the Metro and Sydney Trains is embarrassing. 100 km/h to Chatswood, and then a crawl to the City from there on the double deckers.

Don't knock it till you try it. The Bankstown line conversion will convince a whole heap of new people that Metro is the way to go.

The more conversions we can do in the future, the better.

The following map gives you an idea how things will get better.

 

 

[Wanderboy]

8 minutes ago, StillAtMeurantsLane said:

Development.  It's the only reason they build anything these days.   Those developer donations to all political parties aren't free.

The yellow bits are true.

[Wanderboy]

24 minutes ago, StillAtMeurantsLane said:

The f**kw*ts at Bondi Beach actually complained extensively when the Olympic beach volleyball was held there & yes attempts at a station there have been floated before however the idiots starting crying about that idea too.   Ironic that on any given summer day the place has about 25,000 westies there.  Morons.

 

With a railway to Bondi Beach, they are probably worried about 50 000 westies turning up!!

If the stupid Labor govt of the 50's didn't decide to dig up the old tram system, we'd all still have decent access.

Funny that that we are now realising the mistakes of the past and are rebuilding tram lines.

Edited February 5, 2023 by Wanderboy