NSW Railway Observations 2021

[Linto63]

Does/will that also apply to the operators taking over from the STA?

Can't see why it won't, the infrastructure is in place and will transfer in full to the new operators. The days of a guaranteed free trip on rail replacement services may be coming to an end, although savvy passengers will still be able to get a freebie on non Opal fitted buses from subcontractors.

When operating Airport Line and Eastern Suburbs rail replacement routes, State Transit buses display the route number and destination on their electronic destination displays with no yellow paper signs behind windscreens.

[ScaniaGrenda]

First trackable Hunter Line rail replacement bus I've seen on Anytrip so far



Yesterday Port Stephens Coaches & Costal Liner were doing rail replacement for 1HU and 2HU + 19HU services, could be why their not showing up currently as they lack tracking equipment onboard their buses / Coaches (I mean the Costal Liner Iveco I was on yesterday lacked opal readers)

[boronia]

Former Victorian Railways' steam loco R766 has been undergoing a very prolonged restoration and conversion to SG at Branxton.

It was due to undertake its first mainline light engine trials last Saturday. It will be part of The Picnic Train fleet.

Should look good coupled to 5917, and maybe even 3801 one day.

[crimsontide]

https://transportnsw.info/news/2021/maj ... e-carousel

Major disruption is expected. People should consider driving tomorrow then.

I seriously hope Transport for NSW announce plans to aggressively convert every Sydney Train line into driverless, guardless Metro, so that staff costs can be reduced and there will be no more strikes.

Been absent from this site for a while , but some things haven't changed.
You really are clueless as to the cost of converting every line to metro, and then then the cost and time to get said rolling stock.

[boronia]

https://transportnsw.info/news/2021/maj ... e-carousel

Major disruption is expected. People should consider driving tomorrow then.

I seriously hope Transport for NSW announce plans to aggressively convert every Sydney Train line into driverless, guardless Metro, so that staff costs can be reduced and there will be no more strikes.

After Bankstown (and maybe Liverpool) is converted, future metros are more likely to be in new corridors.

There are behind the scenes staff "driving" the metro; it is not inconceivable they could go on strike.

[Transtopic]

https://transportnsw.info/news/2021/maj ... e-carousel

Major disruption is expected. People should consider driving tomorrow then.

I seriously hope Transport for NSW announce plans to aggressively convert every Sydney Train line into driverless, guardless Metro, so that staff costs can be reduced and there will be no more strikes.

After Bankstown (and maybe Liverpool) is converted, future metros are more likely to be in new corridors.

There are behind the scenes staff "driving" the metro; it is not inconceivable they could go on strike.

Exactly. It's fantasyland stuff to suggest that any further Sydney Trains' lines will be converted to metro, let alone the whole network. It's already created enough disruption to the efficient operation and expansion in capacity of the existing network by the metro taking over the new CBD rail line and second harbour crossing, which was originally meant to benefit increased services from the Western and South Western Suburbs. The inherent capacity of the metro CBD link of 30tph will now be limited to just Metro Northwest from the north and the Bankstown metro line from the south, neither of which on their own are likely to warrant that level of service. A complete waste, which is why the original Rail Futures study concluded that a stand alone line, metro or otherwise, would only benefit users of that line and was the least recommended. The whole purpose of a new CBD and cross harbour rail link was to address the congestion issues on the existing network, which the current metro doesn't.

It is proposed to upgrade the existing network to ETCS - Level 2 automatic operation over the next decade, which will effectively operate in the same manner as the metro with increased frequency and faster journey times, but with a driver to monitor the system and take over manual control in an emergency. It is also designed to operate without guards, and the current campaign by the RTBU to stifle operation of the New Intercity Fleet will ultimately fail. The Waratah fleet is also designed for conversion to Automated and Driver Only Operation, which will further reduce operating costs of the existing network.

A recent article in the Railway Gazette International commented on how progress has been made in Automatic Train Control on main lines, but highlighted how there is still a long way to go before fully automated driverless control could be feasible on lines with mixed traffic in an urban environment, if ever, such as that which exists in Sydney.

[moa999]

T4 is the most obvious one if you can fully separate the SCO, and is also run with T-sets which probably have at max 10yrs life left.

Everywhere else is pretty difficult with the intermixing of freight, intercity and regional rail.

We will likely get some form of ATO, probably like London where ATO is used in the core enabling Platform Screen Doors at major stations but you still have drivers.

[tonyp]

I note that they are getting ATC on the Perth north-south line which will improve minimum headways from 4 minutes to two minutes, doubling the capacity, though these are already basically high-performance metro trains so that's easier to achieve.

As I''ve said before, converting further Sydney suburban lines is not practical into the foreseeable future. I think people just say that out of frustration with the strikes! At least when the metro system is largely or fully built, there will be an alternative rail system still running when the other system is down.

[Scott4570]

To accommodate the continuation of the Tangara TTU Project, 2 x 8T set Rosters have been deleted from the Timetable commencing November 20, and 2 x 8K set Rosters have been added.

In turn a re-allocation of set-types between Sector 2 and 3 will take place.


Weekday Roster changes Sector 2 (T2, T3, T5 and T8 services) from Monday, November 22:-
8A set Rosters increased from 19 to 20.
8B set Rosters reduced from 37 to 34.
8K set Rosters increased from 8 to 10.
No change to 11 x 8M set Rosters working Sector 2 Services.
No change to 6 x 4M set Rosters working Y-Link Services.
No change to 2 x 4M set Rosters working Olympic Park Sprint Services.

Weekday Roster changes Sector 3 (T1 & T9 services) from Monday, November 22:-
8T set Rosters reduced from 17 to 15.
8A set Rosters reduced from 53 to 52.
8B set Rosters added is 3, total is 3.

Weekend Roster changes Sector 2 (T2, T3, T5 and T8 services) from Saturday, November 20:-
8B set Rosters reduced from 36 to 35.
8A set Rosters increased from 7 to 8.
No change to 1 x 8T set Roster working Sector 2 Services
No change to 4 x 4M set Rosters working Y-Link Services.

No change to Weekend Rosters Sector 3 (T1 & T9 services) from Saturday, November 20:-
5 x 8T set Rosters.
36 x 8A set Rosters.
2 x 8A set Rosters working Olympic Park Sprint Services.

[Transtopic]

T4 is the most obvious one if you can fully separate the SCO, and is also run with T-sets which probably have at max 10yrs life left.

Everywhere else is pretty difficult with the intermixing of freight, intercity and regional rail.

We will likely get some form of ATO, probably like London where ATO is used in the core enabling Platform Screen Doors at major stations but you still have drivers.

I don't think there is any prospect of separating SCO from T4 Cronulla/Waterfall services on the Main, which are express services from Hurstville, but that operating pattern will be reversed with the new Hurstville Crossover project by switching to the Local. The current Hurstville to Bondi Junction services on the Local will be switched to the Main.

Following this changeover, SCO services will instead continue on the Local to Sydney Terminal, crossing over to the Illawarra Dive at Erskineville, and the T4 Cronulla/Waterfall services will cross over from the Local to the Main at Wolli Creek to merge with the Hurstville all stoppers. Had the Hurstville to Bondi Junction all stations service been separated on the Main, then it may have been a candidate for conversion, but with the merging of the Cronulla/Waterfall services at Wolli Creek, that's not an option.

Anyway, you'd have to question whether conversion would even be necessary, when the proposed digital signalling and ATO upgrade will allow for 24tph in an all stations pattern from Wolli Creek to Bondi Junction and might I add with double the number of seats, which seems to have escaped the attention of some commentators. I presume that the Tangara TTU Project will include provision for ATO and Driver Only Operation. I don't know how long this will extend their life cycle, but I suspect it would be more than 10 years.

I may have posted this previously, but the following link confirming the awarding of the digital systems upgrade contracts including ATO to Siemens, demonstrates how the existing DD network will allow 24tph in the peak. It's also worth noting that the system will also allow for up to 30tph to recover from disruptions on the network.

https://press.siemens.com/global/en/pre ... il-network

[boronia]

A current affair had an evening piece on Waverton noise complaint issues. Oddly the majority of trains they showed where C or K Sets with a couple of Oscars and the odd Waratah.

Mentioned on Ch 9 tonight that EPA fined Sydney Trains $15,000 for failing to fix the problem.

[moa999]

Hardly much of a fine.
How much would a single nightshift of a team of track workers cost.

[boxythingy]

May be because I have not caught trains on a regular basis for 3+ months, but the screechy and scrapey noises did seem much more apparent at Arncliffe the other day. Did not stop until the train left the platform

[Stonesourscotty]

M10 appeared to be on some form of Test last night at Seven Hills using Platform 2 to Terminate and Return towards Blacktown. The display board said Not in public use but the front of the train stated Seven Hills.

The driver didn't terminate at the usual 4 carriage marker instead terminated where the Canopy ended on P2 to keep himself dry when he had to go to the other end to drive it.

[BAMBAM]

M10 appeared to be on some form of Test last night at Seven Hills using Platform 2 to Terminate and Return towards Blacktown. The display board said Not in public use but the front of the train stated Seven Hills.

The driver didn't terminate at the usual 4 carriage marker instead terminated where the Canopy ended on P2 to keep himself dry when he had to go to the other end to drive it.

Trains can terminate at Seven Hills P2 and P3 returning in both directions, it could potentially just be a points clean movement and not any actual testing. This happens a lot and points need to be cleaned regularly.

[boronia]

Three-quarters of Sydney’s trains to be affected by strike

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/thr ... 59edu.html

[Randomness]

Proposed industrial action over the next month includes cleaning bans, loud and excessive train-horn blowing across the network, and two days of major disruption.

Absolute wonder who thinks of these
Safe to say the Unions currently are ramping up striking by quite a lot as of recently.

[Aurora]

Nothing new, it should be the same to the Wednesday a few months ago when we had a train every half an hour on most lines. The 7th and 14th are booked in for this.

As for “loud and excessive train-horn blowing”, it was common practice for years when a train departed a station.

As for overseas-built, it is all about privately maintained fleet, where they were built isn’t relevant to the action, although an easy sell to the public at the moment because of the trams and ferry problems.

[Randomness]

A warning for T3 commuters:

Bankstown Line - No Service

Trains are suspended between Sydenham and Regents Park in that direction only due to infrastructure repairs at Punchbowl. Buses requested to operate between Sydenham and Regents Park in that direction only. Utilise local alternative transport and delay non-essential travel where possible. Another option is travel to Lidcombe via Strathfield and change for Bankstown Line trains. Major disruptions to service is expected. Services to the city are operating. Due to bus companies prior commitments buses are not able to be utilised at this stage. Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line services will do additional stops at St Peters and Erskineville

[jpp42]

As for “loud and excessive train-horn blowing”, it was common practice for years when a train departed a station.

Except the train horns have two volumes, city and country, and presumably they'll be using the louder country horns to make themselves heard in this action? I've been in an underground station, I think Wynyard when a T-set used its country horn and it's *very* loud indoors like that.

[Frodo]

A lot of trains on the T1/T9 being cancelled last night and this morning "due to trains being unable to leave the depot".

Anyone know what that's all about? Did they store too many sets at Flemington during the Lidcombe - Strathfield trackwork weekend combined with the Hornsby - Gosford shutdown on Friday night?

[ScaniaGrenda]

This weekend, buses are replacing trains between the Newcastle Interchange & Broadmeadow due to Trackwork from 6AM until 4PM Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

https://transportnsw.info/alerts/details#/ems-203

Trains running on the HUN (Hunter Line) will terminate & start from Waratah during this time.

The issue isn't that the trains start and end at Waratah for the Hunter Line during this trackwork, it is the fact of the matter that they've made it extremely more of a hassle to get into the Newcastle CBD from Maitland. If you want to get into the Newcastle CBD today from Maitland today, you're looking at an hour & maybe half journey total according to trip planner, one might as well just drive in since their not using replacement buses between Waratah station and the Interchange which I think is a bit short sighted.

Of course there is still the occasional route 24 bus that is right outside Waratah but that is only going to Market town and is NOT a replacement bus, if you're not heading to Market town that means jumping on yet another bus to get where you need to go.

Same story goes if you're in the CBD and wanting to go towards Maitland, have to hop on the 11 from wherever in Newcastle, get on the 11 and hop off at 720 Maitland road Mayfield and walk 10 minutes from there to the station.

[Scott4570]

According to that Trackwork Notice in the previous Post https://transportnsw.info/alerts/details#/ems-203, the Trackwork only applies to the Weekend, Saturday and Sunday, December 4 & 5.

Hunter Line Trains will operate to/from Broadmeadow. A replacement Bus, Route 60CN, will operate a return service from Broadmeadow to Newcastle Interchange, stopping at Hamilton.

Trip Planner is not recognising the Train Service going to Broadmeadow.

[boronia]

This weekend, buses are replacing trains between the Newcastle Interchange & Broadmeadow due to Trackwork from 6AM until 4PM Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

https://transportnsw.info/alerts/details#/ems-203

Trains running on the HUN (Hunter Line) will terminate & start from Waratah during this time.

The link no longer states this.

Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 December

Daily from 6am until 4pm, buses replace trains between Newcastle Interchange and Broadmeadow.
Trains run between Broadmeadow, Waratah and Hunter Line stations, some to a changed timetable.

[ScaniaGrenda]

That was my mistake, I've never really seen this before and was thrown off as Trip planner and the map itself were stating two different things, one that the train would continue to Broadmeadow from Waratah however Trip Planner failing to display that the train would continue to Broadmeadow. I guess it's another one of those things that hasn't really been programmed as there is hardly any need for it.

Interestingly the H-Sets at Broadmeadow all had on their Destination boards "Broadmeadow - Rear 6 cars". Any idea why that is? Because Broadmeadow can definitely fit the 8 sets utilised by both the V & H's.