Do We Need fast Trains From City To City Or Is A Second Sydney Airport Better?

All of a sudden in a Federal Election, we have policy after policy being thrown in each and every electors front door. This is usual not unusual!

As mentioned before on a previous blog, we even have a Fast Train Policy Party:
http://wsptu.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/just-for-commuters-interested-in-coming.html

Now our recent Prime Minister,  is throwing money into 'PLANES ONLY' from Brisbane to Melbourne Click here for details

Yet, although we all want improvements in public transport for all commuters in Western Sydney, what has to that great time and thinking for all of us is what mode of transport would first all the following criteria:

• would be easy to access and use
• cost effective fares for all the commuters
• cost effective for all levels of Government
• job creating
• efficiency of travel time and journeys
• efficiency in energy used
• better interchangeable public transport connections
• inclusion for improvements for future public transport
• Economical benefits to Australian economy

There has been talk of fast trains for years and years regarding fast trains and also there was talk years ago of a second Sydney Airport, which was  quashed due to public reaction. Times have changed and sometimes people changed lifestyles make people change their mind.

Strangely enough a majority of  Australians living in the Greater Western Sydney, had their up bringing or originally migrated from the northern parts of Sydney  eastern suburbs or southern eastern suburbs. Now enjoying life out West, I hear there could be a positive swing of mood and understanding to accommodate the growing increased population, is a swing to a more acceptable second airport, designated in Western Sydney.

The economical benefit is the most important one. We would need to debate this in communities, with neighbors and even in each tier of government. It appears that it will be cheaper then costings for a fast train from city to city, to engineer and construct as well as  paying for individual fares.

What is your thoughts.? What would be better: fast Train or easier access to airports - then faster planes?

Music on Train for Festival

Dave de Santi and The Con Artists played music on the train for people on the way from Sydney to the Illawarra Folk Festival. The Festival worked with Cityrail to get the train scheduled to stop at Bulli for the weekend and to allow several carriages to have different kinds of music performances.
While it's not Western Sydney, it is interesting and shows what can be done to encourage people to catch the train to an event.
Look here for the full story: http://www.illawarrafolkfestival.com.au/page/MusicTrain/

Will The North West Rail Link Be Operated By The Private Sector?

The Hills Transport Working Group have made a media release regarding the privatisation of the North West Rail Link. Here's an excerpt:

The Hills Transport Working Group today issued a ‘please explain’ to the NSW Minister for Transport, Ms Gladys Berejiklian, after a leaked internal memo from Mr. Rob Mason the CEO of RailCorp reveals that “a private sector entity will design, construct, commission, operate and maintain the North West rail link including rail and tunnel systems, track, structures and stations for a period of 20 to 30 years” under an “access model”.

The Hills Transport Working Group has previously warned that an airport link-style private operator and station access model on the North West Rail Link could see North West residents paying as much as $20 extra per trip.

For the full release click here.

Wrong Report About Rail Crime Stats

This media release is from the Bureau of Crime Statistics. Media release date: 13 December 2011.

Claims last night by Channel Nine that up to 10 per cent of reports of crime on the rail system are simply ‘disappearing’ are completely false, the Director of the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research said today.

“Police are fully entitled to reject a reported crime if they have reason to believe the report is not genuine (e.g. CCTV footage shows the alleged incident did not take place).”

“The Bureau conducts regular audits of all NSW Police crime data, looking for any evidence that police are improperly rejecting crimes reported to them. The results of these audits are always made public. Click here for the most recent audit findings and our audit processes.

“When Channel Nine’s Kelvin Bissett contacted the Bureau seeking information on crimes on the rail system rejected by police, he was provided with data showing that the overall rejection rate for crimes reported on the rail system was just 3.3 percent.”

“The rejection rate for sexual assault was much higher (15 per cent) but the numbers were quite small; three reports being rejected out of a total of 20 for the entire year.”

“Channel Nine ignored all this and proceeded to make completely unfounded
allegations to the effect that records of crime on the rail system reported to police were being hidden or destroyed.”

“There was and is no evidence that police have been hiding or destroying reports of crime to make the problem of crime on the rail system appear less serious than it is. The story on rail violence by Channel Nine was an example of tabloid journalism at its worst.”

Don Weatherburn

North West Rail Link - Updates

There has been some public discussions this week about the North West Rail Link after the Chairman of Infrastructure NSW, Nick Greiner, suggested that maybe the project should be a privately funded project. Click here for the story in the SMH

The local newspaper, The Hills News, then ran local vox-pops (asking people on the street) what they thought of this idea. Click here to see what they said.

The Sydney Business Park development manager Owen Walsh was then quoted by the Hills Shire Times as advocating for the North West Rail Link to be extended out through Schofields to the new Marsden Park industrial development near Mt Druitt (part of the North West Growth Centre). He also suggested the line could then join into the Western Line via Dunheaved and St Marys using the existing old trainline corridor. See that story here.

CityRail First Aid Officers in Western Sydney - Where Are They?

What happened in front me the other day could have happened to you or any other commuters that are waiting for their transport to arrive:

Here I was on Parramatta Train Station heading home in the afternoon, when I was standing near a pole and a young lady was trying to pass between and the pole to get passed, was undecided which way to go as these was 'chock-a-block' standing commuters everywhere,when all of a sudden she collapsed in front of me and fainted. I called out for medical assistance and one man came - knocked on the platform form of the station and made the station assistant aware of the situation. As I have  no first aid experience - people didn't move away from where she was - which was a a common passageway and entrance  way to enter trains.

I then left the area as Station Assistants and suddenly, two Transit Officers came to her aid - I moved away allowing clearance and went speaking to a lady I knew - Later I discovered the lady collapsed as she wanted to relief herself and could find the ladies toilets. She was eventually taken away and carried for better medical attention. My question is if this happens how quick would Cityrail First Aid Officers Arrive?

Ooops. Shunting Crash In Train Yards

Daily Telegraph

Train Timetable Changes 2011!

Here is  a blog that can show you the new Changes to the CityRail Timetable commencing as from 23rd October 2011:

http://mountdruittcommuters.blogspot.com/2011/10/train-timetable-changes-for-2012.html

NSW Budget 2011/12

The NSW Budget was delivered this week and was the first budget since the change of Government last March. Here are the transport highlights taken from the Budget papers:
Rail Services
$314 million to develop the 23-kilometre North West Rail Link
$292 million to continue the $2.1 billion South West Rail Link
$103 million to expand light rail in central Sydney and the inner west, integrating it with other forms of transport
$51 million to start building the Wynyard Walk
$159 million for the Country Regional Network
$198 million for the Rail Clearways Program
$106 million to improve infrastructure to meet the needs of new Waratah trains
$152 million to buy and upgrade rollingstock
$7.5 million for a new program to boost Easy Access upgrades and $22.5 million on programmed Easy Access station upgrades
$16.9 million as part of an increased commitment to spend $40 million over four years for Park and Travel Safety improvements
$102 million over four years to provide more express rail services
$2 million to conduct a study of North Coast rail services.
Bus Services
purchase 261 new buses, worth $118.8 million
$45 million for new bus depots
$7.6 million over four years to increase Nightride bus services
$9.2 million over four years to continue support for free bus services
$3 million for studies into a bus rapid transit system for the northern beaches.
Ferry Services
continuing the Fixing Sydney Ferries program, by franchising Sydney Ferries, restoring and expanding services, upgrading wharves and looking at fleet replacement an additional $7.5 million over four years to improve ferry wharves.
Transport Interchanges and Commuter Car Parks
$76 million on interchanges and car parks.
Ticketing, Concessions and Community Transport
$110 million to deliver a fast, convenient and integrated electronic ticketing system for greater Sydney
providing concession schemes for pensioners, tertiary students, people with disabilities and others using public transport, estimated at $438 million
subsidising travel under the School Student Transport Scheme, estimated at $550 million
an extra $12 million over four years to boost community transport services
$1.6 million over four years to deliver free seniors’ photo cards to eligible Seniors Card holders and older people receiving a disability support pension.
You can find a link to the budget overview here . And for the keen people a link to all the budget papers here.
WSPTU will provide some commentary over the next few weeks.

Last Chance to Register for the Transport Symposium Tomorrow

There are only 5 places left for the WSPTU Transport Symposium which is on tomorrow at the Dooley's Club in Lidcome, tomorrow, Saturday August 13 from 10.30 to 4pm.

Guest Speakers:
Professor Corinne Mulley - Institute of Transport and Logistics
David Borger - Former Minister for Roads and Lord Mayor of Parramatta
Stuart Palmer - Premier Cabs
Amy Williams - Sydney Alliance
Philippa Vale - South West Community Transport

The headline topics are:
Free Shuttle Buses - are they useful and how can people contribute to their evaluation?
Shared Taxis - can shared taxis be used as part of the public transport mix?

Plus the opportunity to meet local people who are interested to improve public transport in their local area. Register now, it's free!

WSPTU - public forum group on Facebook

The WSPTU has created a public forum group you can join and participate in. We're on Facebook here:
Western Sydney Public Transport Users Public Forum

If you've got anything to say, or want to join in with the discussion, please do! It will be great to hear about your public transport experiences. And don't forget to talk about the good things too!

Annoyed Commuter Re Job Seeker Concessions

Posted by an Anonymous WSPTU reader:
Dear Public Transport Folk,
This comment relates to an academic, who was in the paper yesterday, saying unemployed people should not be allowed to have access to free train fares during the peak time. Boy, what planet are these people on? She's probably never been unemployed in her life. The unemployed need access to free transport during peaK times SO THEY CAN GET TO JOB INTERVIEWS.Fares are too much for job seekers who get no concessions. Also they get taken off benefits if they miss too many appointments.

Fun and Entertainment on Train 'Singing Trainees'!

Here is a story that has grabbed the attention of quite a few Western Sydney Commuters  enjoy the  'Singing Trainees!':

http://mountdruittcommuters.blogspot.com/2011/06/western-sydney-has-got-talent-cambridge.html

Trains On The South Line, Cumberland and Inner West Line

We have received this comment from a train user on the South Line:

Just wanted to say that now there are two services from Macquarie Fields to the City via Granville on the South Line between 7am and 8am. There is a 7.23 Cumberland Line to Blacktown but of course it will always be the first to be cancelled. This leaves me either coming to work 30 mins early or 30 mins late! For anyone who lives in south-west Sydney and works further north it is very frustrating.I sent my concerns to CityRail before the new timetable started and never received a response.

There has also been concern about the level of service on the Inner West Line which goes between Cabramatta and Lidcome to the Sydney CBD. This line has very poor accessibility - there are no disability access stations between Carramar and Sefton - and very poor frequency of service. Analysing the timetable for this line compared to others shows the lower level of service for the people wanting to use this line.

See the Action For Public Transport timetable analyser - here

http://www.aptnsw.org.au/cgi-bin/cityrail2009oct.cgi?line=bankstown&station=Chester.Hill&up=+inbound+

IPART Bus Fare Increase Recommendations

IPART have recommended a series of small increases to bus fares of 1.5% per year above the expected rate of inflation over the next three years - a total rise of 14.6% over 3 years.

They have used a very rigorous and transparent process to explain the increases which relates to the 'efficient costs' of running the buses and providing the infrastructure such as buslanes.

IPART also provide the logic of why they have allocated about half of the cost of running the bus system to be paid for by the passengers through ticket sales (excluding concessions) and half to be paid for by taxpayers through the Government; this half share paid by the Government equals the 'external benefits' derived by everybody, including non-bus users, from reduced traffic congestion and reduced air pollution when people use the bus instead of drive a car.

For the full IPART draft report click here: IPART Draft Bus Fare Determination

Critique

It appears that while short distance single tickets on buses will remain fairly good value, even with a rise from $1.90 to $2 in the first year and maybe up to $2.30 over 3 years, the people who travel greater distances of more than 5 sections, and don't have access to multi-trip tickets or flexible time-based tickets, will feel the increases much more. A single 3 - 5 section ticket is likely to increase from $3.20 to $4.50 and the 6 - 9 section tickets are likely to increase to more than $5.50. These are large increases and make regular return trips very expensive - particularly if you are trying to combine this with other train or bus trips.

Some of the main issues that have been pointed to by various transport advocates have been largely ignored. In particular IPART has disagreed that it is worth considering a shift to a zone/time-based integrated ticketing, which offers discounts for trip bundling.

It appears that we are going to be stuck with a flag-fall / distanced based ticketing system, even if we achieve an integrated ticket: ie the ticket will be integrated but many of the fares will not. This has the potential to be very bad for people in Western Sydney because of the greater reliance on the private bus system and the greater distances travelled. It is also not very 'family-friendly' because of the multiple transport needs of people trying to manage a family.

As an example, using the current fares, one return off-peak trip between St Clair and Castle Hill is likely to be $19.00. There is no potential for any integrated fares or multi-trip discounts (although you could get separate discounts for weekly bus tickets and train tickets if you are a regular commuter). A Cityrail day tripper ticket, however, which allows you unlimited, all-day travel on all STA buses, CityRail trains and Sydney Ferries is $17 (ie $2 less to travel from St Marys to Brookvale and return via the Manly Ferry and unlimited travel in the Sydney CBD).

This is an example of how an 'integrated fare' (the day tripper) compares to simply an 'integrated ticket' (several fares combined on a single ticket). The integrated fare provides additional discounts and the flexibility to travel multiple trips and stops whereas the integrated ticket simply makes it easier to pay the fare (even though they are expensive). It seems less likely that public transport will effectively compete with private cars, and the flexibility that they offer, without this kind of change. It is like having a toll on every road - it would be interesting to see how road users would react to that ....

Train Connection at Clyde from Carlingford

This week I changed from the Carlingford train for the first time in several years. I was surprised to find none of the new indicator boards had been installed at Clyde and that no old fashioned indicators were in use on any platform.

Many years ago I recollect the guard on the branch train informing passengers of the platforms they could catch various trains. Guards today should have access to much more data but on this occasion we were not even told to change platform despite the fact out of town visitors would be among those from the bus show at Rosehill.

One old practice could be resurrected to overcome some of these problems. This is stopping the next express on the Western Up Main at platform 2 whenever a crowd has just alighted from the branch train.

The WSPTU Met on August 22

The new WSPTU representative committee met for the second time on Saturday August 22. We had representatives from Liverpool, Bankstown, Penrith, Blue Mountains, The Hills and Camden. We recieved reports from transport activities that are happening in each local area.

The WSPTU saw the call for submissions from the Sydney Morning Herald for an inquiry into transport issues in Sydney and decided to put a team of people together to make a submission for the inquiry. If you have any ideas for this submission, please make a comment on this blog below this message or email us as wsbustop@gmail.com .

The meeting decided to create a small Governance Team to work on building the administrative structures of the WSPTU and to keep the representative group of the WSPTU as the main engine of ideas and policy.

If you are part of a local transport action group, or some other group like a resident's action group that is working on local transport issues in your area, and you would like to be part of the WSPTU please contact us so we can include you.

WSPTU Umbrella Meets For The First Time

People representing public transport users in Penrith, the Hills, Oatlands, Bankstown, Chester Hill, Liverpool and the Blue Mountains met for the first time last week to discuss the creation of the WSPTU umbrella group.

This meeting was to follow-up from the Transport Symposium where people clearly said that they wanted an 'umbrella group' to support the work of people working in local groups. We wrestled with how this could work and decided to develop the idea further. We want something that can give Western Sydney public transport users a more powerful voice.

The idea of the Umbrella is to be able to identify issues which are common to many Western Sydney public transport users and to try and gather support to advocate for solutions to these issues. The issue which is most strongly represented to us is that of 'local transport'.

Older people, and people living with mobility difficulties, who have been badly effected by the Bus Network Review are looking for people to support them to get transport services in their local area that better suit their needs. People repeatedly, and with great passion, say that they want their independence and don't want to be confined to their house.

Of course other issues, such as a better mass transit system into the Hills and the need for an integrated ticketing system are also issues likely to be important to the WSPTU. We also did a brainstorm about why Community Transport isn't working as an effective local transport system for older people. Most of the WSPTU participants (many in their 80s) are too young and healthy to qualify for community transport!!

We also decided to pick up on some local issues in between meetings to see if we could progress them.

Watch this space!

Transport Symposium Creates a Western Sydney Umbrella for Local Transport Action Groups

Western Sydney Transport Symposium 2009
MEDIA RELEASE
20 June 2009

Western Sydney transport users join forces to fight for a better transport system

Over 50 individuals and representatives from community organizations from across Greater Western Sydney met in Granville today to discuss how to improve the liveability of the region.

People came from Campbelltown, Camden, East Hills, the Blue Mountains, Liverpool, Bankstown, Parramatta, Penrith and the Hills District.

The meeting expressed its grave concerns about rising petrol prices and the burden it places on people living in Western Sydney due to the long distances to travel and the inadequate public transport, walking and cycling facilities. They were also concerned about greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.

The meeting heard tales of bus services cut, lack of bus shelters, people with prams walking on the road because of the lack of footpaths, poor or non-existing toilet facilities at transport interchanges, overcrowding and fears of using night time services. One senior citizen was forced to sit on an electrical meter box because there wasn’t a seat at a bus stop. The meeting also heard that people are forced to catch three different buses to get to hospital and health services.

Transport is an essential service for all people. Older people are voicing their concerns about their growing loss of independence.

‘This group will be able to represent transport disadvantaged people in Western Sydney and advocate for better public transport for people who live, work and study in Western Sydney" said Paul Falzon, one of the organisers.

The organizations decided to keep working together. They plan to make Western Sydney a better place to live by improving the transport and planning systems to overcome the problems of social isolation, environmental degradation and the financial burden that have become a fact of life in Western Sydney.

For more information
Email: wsbustop@gmail.com