Rail Observations 2025

[Aurora]

I would say the cost of the Rosehill proposal not proceeding. More to come you’d expect to cram more housing in.

[Transtopic]

There are plenty of stations on the existing network which could be upzoned. It doesn't all have to rely on the limited number of metro stations.

[rtt_rules]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-24/ ... /105688040

Woollahra's happening, it seems

Rock a few boats and likely to become an election issue but not before time and also not insignificant number of new apartments either.

[rtt_rules]

There are plenty of stations on the existing network which could be upzoned. It doesn't all have to rely on the limited number of metro stations.

Agree, but the lines need to have the capacity and many simply don't or simply not efficently but regardless has happened at many stations over the last 30 years. Also the redevelopment of the areas for the Metro stations is part of the value adding and income generation for the Metro project.

ESR is a no brainer and projects like Woollahra justify the ESR extension not so much for exiting riders, but to allow for redevelopment of some zone to accommodate new traffic.

[rtt_rules]

Woollahra station construction start in 2027 and open in 2029.

Local MP, LNP seems to be in principle supportive of the station project, but questioned the maths on the apartment building numbers but clearly resigned to the fact that densification is coming.

Note the height of the new apartment builds will be set at 21 stories, the same as the current maximum height.

800 m radius of Woollahra and 400 m of Edgecliff.

[Swift]

I’m ultra happy. Shame they sold the site for the proposed Randwick station not too long ago. With modern tunnel building techniques, they should resurrect the Kingsford line and convert it to metro, with a view to extending to Cronulla via LaPerousev and under Botany Bay. Imagine what that will open up.

[rtt_rules]

I’m ultra happy. Shame they sold the site for the proposed Randwick station not too long ago. With modern tunnel building techniques, they should resurrect the Kingsford line and convert it to metro, with a view to extending to Cronulla via LaPerousev and under Botany Bay. Imagine what that will open up.

There are still options and to building the extended ESR and while the land would be ideal, its not a deal breaker and the old site may or may not be the best option for today considering what they are doing at the new metro station sites.

The route under the Botany is much talked about, not sure how practical that is. The depth between Botany Bays heads is around 55m, assume need to dig up to 10m deeper than 60 m x 40:1 = last most southern station no later than Malabar. The problem with terminating at Cronulla is that its not a huge catchment but I suppose they can use the Cronulla line to get to the station.

Bondi Junction to Woolooware (I actually a better location to terminate than Cronulla) is ~23 - 25 km. The last 13 km is to one stop only. I'm not sure there would be enough patronage to justify the cost.

I think what the long-term plan is to convert Cronulla to BJ to high frequency all stoppers (maybe express through some stations) on main line. Also potential for MW to eventually extend SE and then around to the airporta and connect to Kogarah.

[alleve]

https://www.reddit.com/r/SydneyTrains/c ... line_this/

Seems overkill

[boronia]

https://www.reddit.com/r/SydneyTrains/c ... line_this/

Seems overkill

Who's going to get up at 3.30 am to record it?

[Frances]

Not me.

[rtt_rules]

https://www.reddit.com/r/SydneyTrains/c ... line_this/

Seems overkill

For all the people from Bankstown who hate the Metro?

[Aurora]

Only Saturday, where they will only run every 30 minutes.

[rtt_rules]

Only Saturday, where they will only run every 30 minutes.

Is it to test everything, track circuits etc is ok for 8 car sets?

[Swift]

I’m ultra happy. Shame they sold the site for the proposed Randwick station not too long ago. With modern tunnel building techniques, they should resurrect the Kingsford line and convert it to metro, with a view to extending to Cronulla via LaPerousev and under Botany Bay. Imagine what that will open up.

There are still options and to building the extended ESR and while the land would be ideal, its not a deal breaker and the old site may or may not be the best option for today considering what they are doing at the new metro station sites.

The route under the Botany is much talked about, not sure how practical that is. The depth between Botany Bays heads is around 55m, assume need to dig up to 10m deeper than 60 m x 40:1 = last most southern station no later than Malabar. The problem with terminating at Cronulla is that its not a huge catchment but I suppose they can use the Cronulla line to get to the station.

Bondi Junction to Woolooware (I actually a better location to terminate than Cronulla) is ~23 - 25 km. The last 13 km is to one stop only. I'm not sure there would be enough patronage to justify the cost.

I think what the long-term plan is to convert Cronulla to BJ to high frequency all stoppers (maybe express through some stations) on main line. Also potential for MW to eventually extend SE and then around to the airporta and connect to Kogarah.

Imagine let’s say, that the Sultan of Brunei as some thank you gesture, decided, after a visit, to shout the tunnelling work to make this happen, I can guarantee that the development this would attract would lead to it being a boon for Sydney and it’s perception as a functional city by it’s own inhabitants. Patronage would be giant. Two minute headways all day long in ten car consists would not be enough to satisfy how popular the line would be.

[alleve]

https://www.reddit.com/r/SydneyTrains/c ... nsfer_and/



One of the clearer views I've seen of the new OSCar livery. Really hope they end up painting the desto because the blue looks very ugly

[rtt_rules]

https://www.reddit.com/r/SydneyTrains/c ... nsfer_and/

One of the clearer views I've seen of the new OSCar livery. Really hope they end up painting the desto because the blue looks very ugly

Yeah, would be better without

[SthnStarRail]

https://www.reddit.com/r/SydneyTrains/c ... nsfer_and/

One of the clearer views I've seen of the new OSCar livery. Really hope they end up painting the desto because the blue looks very ugly

The problem is that it is behind a pane of glass so they would either have to paint the glass or work out how to remove the glass to paint over the blue area.

[tonyp]

Sydney Trains run red lights nearly 20 times a month, worst lines revealed

Sydney trains have run red lights 224 times in the past year due to human error and technical issues, according to new data that reveals the worst lines and stations for incidents.

Elizabeth Pike
State Political Reporter
Daily Telegraph
August 30, 2025 - 5:30PM

Sydney trains ran through red lights 224 times last year, with Central Coast and Newcastle services the worst offenders, forcing crews off trains for testing and leaving passengers stranded.

Exclusive: Sydney trains are running red lights and holding up services nearly 20 times a month on average, according to new data.

The Sunday Telegraph has obtained a breakdown of where trains failed to stop at a red light signal 224 times in the last financial year across the suburban and intercity network.

Every time a train runs a red light, the service is stopped and the crew is removed for drug and alcohol testing before compliance checks are carried out.

Trains are taken off the network and passengers have to change services if the crew is deemed to be not alert.

The Central Coast and Newcastle line recorded the most breaches with 24 red light incidents, averaging two a month.

After a year of track work, delays and cancellations, the troubled T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra line racked up the second-most incidents with services running 23 red lights.

Behind the pack, the South Coast line service was the third-worst line with 15 incidents followed by the Blue Mountains line with 13 incidents.

Central, Lithgow, Town Hall, Sydenham, Redfern and Flemington were the worst stations for safety breaches.
Train lines with the most incidents

1. Central Coast and Newcastle 24
2. T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra 23
3. South Coast 15
4. Blue Mountains 13
5. T1 North Shore/Western and T9 Northern lines 12

Opposition transport spokeswoman Natalie Ward said red light incidents had increased by 25 per cent in the past year, with an additional 46 incidents recorded compared to 2023-2024.

“Commuters already run a gauntlet to get a train on time,” she said. “They need to have confidence in Sydney Trains for both a safe and reliable service.”

The data, obtained by Davidson MP Matt Cross, shows human error from drivers and crew were responsible for 60 per cent of incidents, while technical issues, such as power outages and equipment failure, accounted for 40 per cent.

Sydney Trains chief executive Matt Longland said the network recorded only one serious incident in the past year when a train derailed on the T1 North Shore Western line at Clarendon Station in January.

He attributed the overall rise in red light incidents to issues with the new Mariyung fleet and bad weather, but noted that Sydney Trains runs more than 1.1 million services each year.

“There is an impact for passengers when we have a signal passed at danger (SPAD) incidents … but they are rare,” Mr Longland said.

“New trains entered service in December and the rollout was completed in June. This involved training crews to understand how to operate the (new system).

“Sometimes replacing a 50-year-old train with new braking and accelerating equipment may be a factor, particularly on the Central Coast and Newcastle line.”

[Randomness]

Not to diminish it, but this story has been making the rounds every now and again.

SMH Article from about the same time last year
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/tra ... 5k0bj.html (Paywall Free: https://archive.md/S8nne)

"eight involved trains entering a potential conflict zone, with a chance of collision or derailment, on freight-only lines. There were none the previous year. Another 24 trains passed the red light signal by more than 100 metres, but remained within a safe distance from trains in front."

ABC Article from 2 weeks ago
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-15/ ... /105654102

The data, which was provided exclusively to the ABC by Sydney Trains, showed the number of SPADs had increased by 46, from 178 in the 2023-24 financial year.
[...]
There were three other incidents last year that were categorised in the second most serious category — where a train could have potentially collided with another train or infrastructure if it passed a red signal.

Another 21 trains stopped more than 100 metres after a red signal, but remained within a safe distance of other trains.

Mr Longland said the rest were classified as less serious incidents, but all were still investigated.
'Momentary lapse in judgement or a distraction'

Mr Longland said the Richmond line derailment was being thoroughly investigated, but it is thought wet weather was largely to blame for the incident, preventing the driver from stopping in time.

To take after your own usage of anecdotal evidence from comment sections, the SETS Facebook page where I first saw these posted featured people discussing the potential risks of these of which I saw explanations/excuses of:
- Possible inclusion of incidents at Yards which are much lower risk due to slower speeds (Driver error)
- Possible inclusion of approved SPADs which can be signed off by the signaller in the event of failed infrastructure keeping a signal at stop (Probably counted as technical)
- Possible inclusion of track machines, freight trains, and restricted trains under test (Of which you'd hope they'd study the efficacy of an emergency stop and should be counted as technical)
- DTRS Emergency Calls about trespassers resulting in all signals in a given area being set back and the driver not being able to stop in time (Not error, but could be counted as such)
The furthest extent of my signalling experience is a simulation of 2017 Strathfield Box inside a video game, so take these as unverifiable and quite the grain of salt.

I believe this isn't done now for safety reasons and the need to wait for the brakes to recharge after being vented but, https://railsafe.org.au/rules-and-proce ... 1723417026

A Driver or track vehicle operator may pass an automatic signal at STOP without speaking to the Signaller, if the Driver or track vehicle operator can see that the whole block ahead to the next signal is unobstructed

So of the 168 driver error incidents, divided by the total number of services, that's 0.015% of services with a SPAD incident.

[Merc1107]

Don't forget "running a red" due to an error in the control room that sees a green signal revert to red when it's too late for the train to stop.

[alleve]

Saw this photo on instagram. New Tangara livery?

[MotorOmnibus8562]

I dare say it would be, saw the same photo on a post on YouTube: http://youtube.com/post/UgkxxXm5xPBQIpo ... CnH_PVw8mm

The Tangara in question is set T76 which is one of the TTU sets. I don't think this livery is final as they need to fit it with the duck beaks.

[Campbelltown busboy]

That livery on a Tangara gives out major G set vibes in that area under the staff cab window

[alleve]

I don't mind it too much. Looks worse than the yellow livery, but it's still good. I just dislike the orange doors.

New OSCar livery on the other hand is gross.

[MotorOmnibus8562]

More photos of T76 with its partner, T128 have emerged on Sets group on Facebook on its way to Flemo to get more work done with the TTU upgrade. Something tells me that the livery doesn't look final as they still have the original "Tangara" lettering on the panels, I wonder if it will be replaced with the NSW Transport logo or if it will be kept.