[LR] Extra tram services to help ease crowding

[swtt]

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/extra-tram-se ... y0rk2.html

An extra 95 weekly services will run on Sydney's inner west light rail line from next Monday as the state government considers buying more trams to help ease crowding in carriages and on station platforms during peak periods.

Patronage has soared since a 5.6-kilometre extension of the line to Dulwich Hill in the inner west was opened three years ago, resulting in an increase in overcrowding on services.

The latest increase in services mean that trams will run every eight minutes on the weekdays between 7am and 8am instead of every 10 minutes. They are already operating every eight minutes at the "core peak time" of 8am to 9am.

So-called inter-peak services on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday will also run more frequently. Those between 10am and 2pm will be every 13 minutes, instead of every 15 minutes, and those between 2pm and 3pm every 12 minutes (changed from 15 minutes).

The latest government data shows almost 10 million trips have been made on the inner west light rail line in the past 12 months. In contrast, the line carried about 4 million passengers a year before it was extended in early 2014.

Transport Minster Andrew Constance said the extra services were in response to customer concerns about crowding during morning and evening peak periods.

"We are currently working on how to best cater for current and future demand for light rail in the inner west," he said.

"Options being considered to further increase services include buying more trams, upgrading infrastructure, and using the existing fleet to insert extra services on parts of the line where the demand is highest."

The increase in capacity will also result in services between 10am and 3pm on Wednesdays running every 12 minutes – instead of every 15 minutes – to cater for greater demand for travel to shows at the Lyric and Capitol theatres.

An extra 30 services will be put on the line on Saturdays, resulting in trams running every 10 minutes between 11am and 5pm (previously 15 minutes) and every 12 minutes between 5pm and 7pm (up from 15 minutes).



Mr Constance said demand from commuters for light rail services had exceeded "all expectations", citing a near 60 per cent increase in journeys between 2013 and 2015.

Early last year an extra 90 services were put on to boost frequency on the 12.8-kilometre line during peak periods, and afternoon peak extended by an hour to 7pm.

ALTRAC, a consortium building a $2.1 billion light rail line from Circular Quay to Randwick and Kensington in the city's south east, operates the inner west light.

[Fleet Lists]

A new timetable is available from 28th August on Transport Info

[boronia]

"Options being considered to further increase services include buying more trams, upgrading infrastructure, and using the existing fleet to insert extra services on parts of the line where the demand is highest."

1. Reinstate the Vario's ??
2. Build a two track terminus at Dulwich Hill ??
3. Shuttles between Lilyfield and Central ??

[Fleet Lists]

The timing is not real good with the weekend before and the weekend after both have bus replacement services while maintenance is being done.

[swtt]

Opal data working its magic. Without the central repository of information, it would have been a guestimate of what patronage was like.

[boronia]

And there is a brand new tram sitting out at Randwick cooling its heels for the next 18-24 months, with another one due next month.

But TfNSW in its infinite wisdom has prevented it from being usable as a stop gap.

[Ben_Daui]

And there is a brand new tram sitting out at Randwick cooling its heels for the next 18-24 months, with another one due next month.

But TfNSW in its infinite wisdom has prevented it from being usable as a stop gap.

Due to choosing a different manufacturer and purchasing off the shelf so they are better leaving those CESLR trams alone then having them slow up the line, it would be nice to see the Vario's back in service but moving them out to Penrith sealed their fate.

[moa999]

They will be used for testing much sooner than that.

Definitely have turnarounds after the Central-Pyrmont peak section would help get more efficiency out of the system

[boronia]

Due to choosing a different manufacturer and purchasing off the shelf so they are better leaving those CESLR trams alone then having them slow up the line, it would be nice to see the Vario's back in service but moving them out to Penrith sealed their fate.

Getting them back and into running condition would be a lot quicker than waiting for new ones to arrive. Maybe even just 2 or 3 would be enough.

[mandonov]

Newcastle Light Rail will be using the same CAF Urbos 3, so they'll probably tack a few more onto that order to beef up the IWLR.

[Frosty]

In the mean time they could just rip out a few more seats a create a bit more standing room. Though not to sure if possible with Urbos 3 IWLR design. What about hiring some trams again from Spain like when the IWLR extension first opened.

[burrumbus]

About half the patronage on this line is simply between Central and the Casino.I would have thought just a turnback facilty at the Casino as a temporary measure to allow more shuttles,with perhaps of thinning of the timetable beyond that to free up a couple of trams to do shuttles.

[Tonymercury]

Newcastle Light Rail will be using the same CAF Urbos 3, so they'll probably tack a few more onto that order to beef up the IWLR.

I still doubt that all six will be required in Newcastle.

[simonl]

Is the tram service that bad! Only every 8 mins in peak and 15 minutes off peak?

Is it really necessary to institute the non clockface frequency of 13 minutes? 12 mins is clockface.

[Daniel]

What difference does it make when the actual arrival times fluctuate anyway?

[boronia]

It is a "turn up and go" service.

You get to go when the tram turns up.

[boronia]

Opal data working its magic. Without the central repository of information, it would have been a guestimate of what patronage was like.

Might be pretty obvious to anyone riding on the trams.

[tonyp]

About half the patronage on this line is simply between Central and the Casino.I would have thought just a turnback facilty at the Casino as a temporary measure to allow more shuttles,with perhaps of thinning of the timetable beyond that to free up a couple of trams to do shuttles.

There's already a turn back at Wentworth Park and others at Lilyfield and Lewisham that would do the job. Unfortunately they would involve conflicting movements as there's not always the ground space to put turn back siding between the tracks.

[tonyp]

Newcastle Light Rail will be using the same CAF Urbos 3, so they'll probably tack a few more onto that order to beef up the IWLR.

I still doubt that all six will be required in Newcastle.

There would be plenty of spare trams from the CSELR fleet too if they achieve the 25 minute journey time they should be achieving rather than the projected 35-40 minutes. (I feel like I'm talking about Sydney Trains again! )

[kypros1992]

Some new shorter services from Exhibition, Convention and Leich Nth
https://transportnsw.info/documents/tim ... 170828.pdf

[boronia]

These appear to be just positioning trips for trams out of the depot, rather than short-working shuttles which the line could use.

[boronia]

About half the patronage on this line is simply between Central and the Casino.I would have thought just a turnback facilty at the Casino as a temporary measure to allow more shuttles,with perhaps of thinning of the timetable beyond that to free up a couple of trams to do shuttles.

There's already a turn back at Wentworth Park and others at Lilyfield and Lewisham that would do the job. Unfortunately they would involve conflicting movements as there's not always the ground space to put turn back siding between the tracks.

The next biggest filler during the daytime would be the Fish Markets.

Would it be possible for each DH departure from Central during busy periods to be preceded by a Lilyfield terminator which could be shunted into the sidings there, and operate back to Central just ahead of the next due up DH service. It then repeats the loop. It wouldn't need to be timetabled as such.

[moa999]

Most efficient would be to use the Wentworth Park turn back.

In the old days youd have a spare driver on the platform during the peak to minimise turnaround time, and a signal on the viaduct to avoid conflicting traffic, but unsure if this meets modern safety regulations

[boronia]

There is already block signalling in place to protect such movements.

If trams are running at 8+ minute headways, that should be plenty of time to turn a tram around.

[Fleet Lists]

https://transportnsw.info/news/2017/mor ... l-services

From Monday August 28, 95 additional services in both directions will be added to the L1 Dulwich Hill Light rail service.

This allows weekday peak services to run a service every 8 minutes between 7am and 9am.

On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday services will run every 13 minutes between 10am and 2pm and every 12 minutes between 2pm and 3pm. On Wednesday services will run every 12 minutes between 10am and 3pm and every 8 minutes between 3pm and 4pm, due to increased demand for Lyric and Capitol theatre shows.

On Saturdays between 11am and 5pm services will run every 10 minutes and every 12 minutes from 5pm until 7pm

Plan a trip on light rail using the Trip Planner, look up the new timetable or download a real-time transport app to help plan your travel.