Rail Observations 2023

[tonyp]

Something not behind a paywall:

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-u ... 52975fd7e9

[Glen]

I think SMH allows 5 "free" views per week for general news articles. I've not had any negative responses to previous links I have posted here regularly.

5 per month, I think.

[alleve]

Unfortunately this article is for subscribers only.

Yes, exactly. Not everybody can afford to subscribe to all news outlets and, in light of that, I've always copied and pasted the content of any news item I post, which is allowed under copyright law as long as it's acknowledged and not used for commercial purposes. I follow Jo Haylen's social media and I found it quite amusing that, instead of publishing her own media release about her review of Sydney Trains, she simply posted a link to the SMH article that boronia referenced above, obviously assuming in her little inner west bubble (not the working class obviously) that everybody must read the Herald. She will get far in politics if she places all her announcements behind paywalls.

So, in short, I'm none the wiser about this review!

I very much doubt she runs 100%, or really any amount of her own social media. So much more likely it's her social media team limiting their career progression, not her limiting her own.

Of course not all Aussie politicians have people screening and publishing things for them, as we've unfortunately seen this week.

[jpp42]

I noticed that the Bathurst bullet 15:05 departure was running from platform 1 today, despite all other Mountains services curtailed at Penrith, with first stop tabled as St Mary's (next stop Katoomba). I assume it also picks up at Paramatta, Penrith, Springwood as normal but interesting that St Mary's was listed. Anyone know details of why this train can get through while others not?

Note - diesels are the only departures from Sydney Terminal this afternoon. CCN trains are starting at Strathfield and South Coast from platform 25. Moss Vale direct services and XPL/CPT are also running.

[Scott4570]

This Weekend, April 1 & 2, there is a four (4) Track Possession between Granville and St Marys, with the Power Off.

One of these Tracks, either the Up or the Down West Main / Main, will have a number of Windows, or various times, when that particular track will be open to allow Freight, the Dubbo XPT, and the Bathurst Bullet, to traverse the Section under Pilot Staff Working.
The Bathurst Bullet will usually run under these conditions to/from Sydney, and when the Main Lines between Illawarra Junction and Homebush are open.

Also, there is a Possession between Wells Street and Illawarra Junction (Main Lines) which limits the number of Services entering/exiting Sydney Yard. As a consequence, CCN Services commence/finish Strathfield.

[jpp42]

Thanks Scott, that's helpful! I suppose extra timetabled stop at St. Mary's must have to do with the Pilot Staff Working. I notice that Tripview showed the stop as "skipped" - perhaps that was their way of indicating the stop was not for passengers to board or alight.

[boronia]

Note - diesels are the only departures from Sydney Terminal this afternoon. CCN trains are starting at Strathfield and South Coast from platform 25. Moss Vale direct services and XPL/CPT are also running.

Don't all SCO weekend services start from Bondi Junction anyway?

[pgt]

Note - diesels are the only departures from Sydney Terminal this afternoon. CCN trains are starting at Strathfield and South Coast from platform 25. Moss Vale direct services and XPL/CPT are also running.

Don't all SCO weekend services start from Bondi Junction anyway?

There is one service on weekends from Sydney Terminal at 0519 to Kiama, and one arriving in from Port Kembla to Sydney Terminal at 0119 according to the PDF timetable.

[Scott4570]

Thanks Scott, that's helpful! I suppose extra timetabled stop at St. Mary's must have to do with the Pilot Staff Working. I notice that Tripview showed the stop as "skipped" - perhaps that was their way of indicating the stop was not for passengers to board or alight.

When a Train is to traverse a Pilot Staff Section, the Driver is given 10 minutes to read the paperwork to ascertain:-
1/ where the Trackgangs are located in the Section and other track conditions.
2/ whether the Train is to run on Signals, when running in the right running direction.
3/ when the Last Train traversed the Section.
4/ receive the Staff or Token for the Section.

After traversing the Section, the Driver is given 5 minutes to surrender the Staff or Token and complete the paperwork as evidence the trip is complete.

[jpp42]

Note - diesels are the only departures from Sydney Terminal this afternoon. CCN trains are starting at Strathfield and South Coast from platform 25. Moss Vale direct services and XPL/CPT are also running.

Don't all SCO weekend services start from Bondi Junction anyway?

Yes, most do, but it's also not uncommon for them to go to Sydney Terminal during trackwork (esp. if Eastern Suburbs Line is closed), so I was just emphasising that there were no electric intercity services at Sydney Terminal at all.

[Stu]

The contractor named Transport for Tomorrow has a contract to deliver work for the More Trains, More Services 2 South project for TfNSW. In the list of construction work and locations is 'Kingsgrove Turnout Removal'. Is this a typo or did TfT remove the Kingsgrove Turnout in another project?

https://www.supplychainschool.org.au/mtms-south/

[Aurora]

Turnouts part of the original ending of the line duplication before/after Beverly Hills are no longer used. I am not sure if they are still there as the planned removal dates have changed a few times.

[boxythingy]

Why would they want to remove the extra track at Kingsgrove when that provides the opportunity for trains to turn around rather than waiting for the first opportunity at Revesby, East Hills or even Ingleburn?

[Aurora]

The turnback is not impacted.

[Scott4570]

The contractor named Transport for Tomorrow has a contract to deliver work for the More Trains, More Services 2 South project for TfNSW. In the list of construction work and locations is 'Kingsgrove Turnout Removal'. Is this a typo or did TfT remove the Kingsgrove Turnout in another project?

https://www.supplychainschool.org.au/mtms-south/

Turnouts part of the original ending of the line duplication before/after Beverly Hills are no longer used. I am not sure if they are still there as the planned removal dates have changed a few times.

The Crossovers that were located between Kingsgrove and Beverley Hills, Down Main to Down Local, and Up Local to Up Main, were removed last year 2022 on the Weekend of August 27 and 28.

[Stonesourscotty]

Waratah A47 is currently running around as a Waratah 2 on tripview.

[Aurora]

Apps show planned consist types for trains, they do not update for live changes.

[Stonesourscotty]

it's been doing it for a few days so i was wondering if its a glitch.

[BAMBAM]

Waratah A47 is currently running around as a Waratah 2 on tripview.

it's been doing it for a few days so i was wondering if its a glitch.

No difference in terms of operational use, both A and B Sets are the same Waratah with few little differences, but in operational use both are same, Same prep and stable time allowances. It could be running all day however it will have no impact on crewing or passengers. Waratahs get swapped out depending on their allocations, failures or presentation all time in yards or maintenance centres as well side by side set swaps at stations when time permitted.

[Qantas94Heavy]

A bit out of the loop, but since when did Oscars have digital LCD displays?

[Randomness]

Only since recently (March maybe?). Presumably in prep for Suburban service.

[Aurora]

There is a program in place to replace the original dot screens. The claim is that they are out of date.

[Campbelltown busboy]

There is a program in place to replace the original dot screens. The claim is that they are out of date.

Both the OSCAR and millennium sets need a PID screen update as both trains would have outdated PID displays

[alleve]

A bit out of the loop, but since when did Oscars have digital LCD displays?

Very recent. Most of them don't have it yet

[Stonesourscotty]

Tannoy on A67 just said can the vandals on the train please stop as your being reported to police. Also A45 is a 7 car usable set on T7 tonight carriage 6 is out of use due to I think faulty doors.