We have seen over the last twenty years or so how station staff are reduced. I must admit not dramatically but in a way that the public commuters wouldn't even notice.
I mean the amount of staff that is required to maintain a City Rail Station is dependant on many criteria, yet mainly budget allocated by the New South Wales Government direct to City Rail, the amount of staff designated to look after train station. Although not in Mount Druitt, Parramatta (from an anonymous source) used to have about 20 odd staff in 1997 to main the station on a turn around roster per week. In our modern times it takes approximately 16 staff (not including management/Station Masters), to run 4 platforms, tow entranced barriers.plus two ticket offices.
So this means that over a period of around 13 years that over every 4 years, there is 1 reduced staff. Now I'm not silly, I know how it works conservative budgets - means conservative amount of staff! I also believe that the more technology comes the less station attendants are needed and also the more the City contracts out jobs, the less station staff is required. Within the last year or so, cleaning contractors have been employed to do exactly that - the constant job of cleaning, this allows station staff to concentrate on the public awareness of safety whilst trains are entering and leaving platforms.
The only thing I think we are not doing by doing this is not having an information desk that could be place on the outside of barriers and these station staff could provide immediate response to questions asked and if complaints or compliments allow the customer to fill in form or submit directly via the 131510 phone number and website. Reason behind this - is promoting a better transport information especially for tourists and the general public.
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