Inner West Light Rail observations

[boronia]

What train and ferry services do they expect people to use instead of the LR?

[Free Lance]

Ferry from Pyrmont Bay (Maritime Museum) to CQ, but I won't do that again, to much of a walk for my old legs

[boronia]

I'm not sure how that helps someone travelling from The Star to Lilyfield?

[Gusbus]

I'm not sure how that helps someone travelling from The Star to Lilyfield?

This is a very unlikely scenario but someone who lives in Balmain that usually gets a 445 of 433 to connect to the light rail which takes them to Pyrmont can now just get a ferry from Balmain East to Pyrmont Bay Wharf.

Remember the there are very few light rail commuters who will have light rail only tickets with them before boarding (light rail weeklies and TramLink tickets) so most people will just get a MyBus ticket if they don't already have a MyMulti or PET instead and get the bus which in most cases is quicker and cheaper anyway.

[Rclasstramcar]

This is kind of off topic, but the Light Rail extension to Dulwich Hill is progressing very well. The second platform, complete with LICS screens, is now in operation at Lilyfield. The perway and wiring have been extended beyond the station, and on Sunday trams were short shunting. All very pleasing signs .

Ben

[willb2107]

Does anyone have recent photos of new stations or station infrastructure that is currently under construction?

[abesty]

Photos of the changes at Lilyfield station: http://www.flickr.com/photos/abesty92/s ... 867864793/

The previously fenced off platform is now in use. Trains arriving from Central set down on this platform, then proceed empty towards the extension area, past Catherine Street. The driver then changes ends and drives forward, through the pedestrian crossing to the other platform to pick up, the one that has always been in use.

The new electronic indicators are also in use.

[Bedford-29]

Trams not trains arriving from Central.But its a good use of a former goods railway line.

[The Inspector]

The 4th and final CAF Urbos2 has arrived from Spain, although the same as the first 3 which came from Velez, Malaga this unit is ex TUSSAM "Metro Centro" #105 from Seville.

I have been informed by a fellow enthusiast that testing is to commence next Monday night. Also informed by Metro staff that these trams will not enter service until the new year.

[Tallewang]

What train and ferry services do they expect people to use instead of the LR?

Bankstown line to Dulwich Hill ?

Inner West line to Lewisham ? or Summer Hill ?

[willb2107]

Any construction photos of the new stations, particularly Lewisham West? I read somewhere they will brand that station as able to interchange with Lewisham...will they construct signage/walkway to the rail station?

[boxythingy]

John Cowper has taken lots of photos, Not sure if this set has all the latest pics though:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/johncowper ... 399897882/

[moa999]

Not much action here.

Revised fares announced today. All the extension is in the (correctly named) Zone 2.
http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/media-r ... a-benefits

Drop in Concession prices and expansion to the more normal list as well, but kids 4-6 now need to pay.

Opening date "in coming months". Opal Card still 2015.

I am surprised that they haven't brought forward Opal Card to Light Rail given the limited number of stations, and the amount of double issuance that presently occurs (eg. extra ticket when you are on MyMulti etc)

[mandonov]

They're probably still deciding if the readers should be platform or vehicle based.

[boxythingy]

Why would it be vehicle based, unless they are thinking of having as many bus stops as light rail stops?

[willb2107]

It would be so simple to just place two Opal readers at every light rail station. One for each platform. Especially strange we haven't seen any on any of the new stations.

[moa999]

Exactly, Would have thought the wiring should have been part of construction.

That said, knowing how construction works I suspect the Opal team cant get access to the platforms until they are turned over by the main contractor

[willb2107]

Also interesting is how there is absolutely no signage at ANY new light rail station, no 'lollipop' (L) like the Martin Place (T), no station names like at Milsons Point. Weird. No 'Hop' branding either at any old MLR station. Wonder whether this will change.

When's opening date scheduled to be?

[moa999]

Per my post above on the new fare arrangements
in the "coming months"

Not exactly specific

--

Its not like there a lot of hop branding about yet.

[Fleet Lists]

When's opening date scheduled to be?

From the Transdev website

WEEKEND SHUTDOWN AND ESSENTIAL TRACKWORK 14-17 FEB 2014

Between midnight Friday 14 and 6am Monday 17 February, Transport for NSW and Transdev Sydney will undertake essential upgrades and maintenance of the light rail track and infrastructure between Central and Lilyfield. This is in preparation for the Inner West Extension which is scheduled to open early 2014.

At the same time, the monorail removal team will complete the final removal works for the pedestrian footbridge that crosses Darling Drive between Harbourside Car Park and Convention Centre. The pedestrian footbridge is being removed permanently to make way for the new convention, exhibiton and entertainment facilities. Pedestrians will be able to cross Darling Harbour 150 m north via the pedestrian footbridge into the Harbourside Shopping Centre.

So early 2014 obviously is not before 17th February.

[Fleet Lists]

And from the PDF attached to where I got the original info from http://www.transdevsydney.com.au/index. ... turnid=101 :-

The light rail will not operate during this time and buses will replace the light rail service.
Customers can check network updates on transportnsw.info or by phoning 131 500.

[Bus_fellow]

It would be so simple to just place two Opal readers at every light rail station. One for each platform. Especially strange we haven't seen any on any of the new stations.

I agree it is an odd choice, but the rationale might be to prioritise the train roll out. If they already have everyone working on that, shifting any staff over to light rail stations instead would have probably delayed some train stations opening with Opal. If they are trying to expand Opal to as many people as possible fast, it might make sense to do trains stations with higher numbers of passengers per day first.

[Fleet Lists]

Also keep in mind that when the plans were drawn up Light Rail was not part of the Opal system. It is an addon and as the Opal website states the Light Rail part is still in the planning stage. Also from whispers that are around, Light Rail will be treated as bus and not train as far as the mode of transport is concerned. Something else that the software needs to be aware of whichever way that goes. So it not just a matter of installing a few posts.

[stupid_girl]

Also keep in mind that when the plans were drawn up Light Rail was not part of the Opal system. It is an addon and as the Opal website states the Light Rail part is still in the planning stage. Also from whispers that are around, Light Rail will be treated as bus and not train as far as the mode of transport is concerned. Something else that the software needs to be aware of whichever way that goes. So it not just a matter of installing a few posts.

I think it makes sense to treat light rail as bus in view of the future development of Southeast Light Rail.
Also, calculation would be easier because only GPS location at the tap on and tap off needs to be recorded.
(For trains, a database needs to be set up for the distance of each combination.)

[Roga]

How are the new stations coming along, are there any images around?