St Marys Option For Rail Link To Proposed Badgerys Creek 2nd Sydney International Airport - Sydney Morning Herald

This is another  rail proposal that has been introduced by the NSW Government, since their office of election between Mount Druitt and St Marys train stations that makes these 2 areas important hubs.

The one good thing is  there is plans for new rail infrastructure and services out west, creating ample job opportunity and a further transport link to the  Federal Government's announcement of the 2nd Sydney International Airport based in Badgerys Creek.

I support a recommendation by one of our group members. George Nicolaides OAM, recommendation to seek extension of train services from St Marys, Dunheved, Ropes Crossing and to Riverstone- providing another rail Loop. Maybe, in future this could be considered.

Click Here for Sydney Morning Herald Article

Pick The Difference Of the Oscar Train Carriages On These 2 Photos!

Check out  the 2 pictures that we provide on this blog. Besides being the Oscar train carriage is on different angles. Can you notice something that stands out out in front of your eyes?


One difference not known to you, is the left picture is  the Oscar Train carriage is at Mount Druitt train station platform.


The second right picture you will not pick up is that this Oscar train carriage is at Parramatta train station platform!

Okay do you give up? 

The landings at the doorway entrances are at different heights. At Mount Druitt this could be a safety issue for commuter if not properly addressed. At a  last local meeting , this matter was address by Angie to the NSW Parliamentary Secretary of Transport and Roads, Mr. Ray Williams -  took the suggestion to  ensure Sydney Trains make audible announcements warning commuters of the height difference at specific train stations and its dangers.

This goes back to  the early days of the Sydney's Railway history where some suburban train station built train station platforms to suit country trains and platforms. Country train platforms were built lower then  suburban ones! We will wait for  further advice on the  platforms to suit Oscar Train carriages and what the NSW Government will do.


Click Here for previous blog regarding  previous meeting


NB: Please blog was published referring to Waratah Trains- this has now be altered to Oscar Trains - Thank you for the  comment below to correct myself!

NSW Sydney Trains Ticketing System - Old Tickets Have No Plans To Be Phased Out!

This is an interesting response from Opal Customer care. We understand that in other train network ticketing systems the old ticketing countries or rail network of ticketing processes, old tickets cannot be phased out so quickly and the old ticketing system is still sold. Here is the e-mail received by myself: opalcustomercare@opal.com.au	11:27 (12 hours ago)
to me

Dear John,

Thank you for contacting Opal Customer Care.

Opal card will be available at retailers later this year. The station staff will be available to to help customer use their Opal card and educate commuters.

There are no current plans to cease the sale of paper tickets.

Reference Number: 462459

Yours sincerely

Opal Customer Care

Please do not reply to this email.

Should you need to respond, please do so via the Web Enquiry form

found at Opal.com.au/CustomerCare or by calling Opal Customer Care

on 13 67 25 or (13 OPAL) quoting your reference number.

Check Out Clean Western Sydney Commuter!

Click Here for previous blog!

Faster and Express Sydney Trains Required By Doonside Commuter!

Ravi from Doonside walk ten minutes from his home to Doonside train station and catches Sydney Trains to Town Hall train Station.

One of the improvements he would like to see with Sydney Trains at Doonside train station is more frequent trains required, compared to the new train time tables issued. At present trains arrive in the morning peak hour every 20 minutes, which can present long waiting times  for commuters, thence arriving at work late if missing train.

He would like to see included more express train services to city after Doonside reaching the City of Sydney. More trains immediately added to time table means as well as more faster trains.

Compared to countries like Japan their train services can reach 100 kms in  one hour, where our trains take 1 hour to travel 45 kms to the City of Sydney.

NSW Transport Officer Provides Issues On Intercity Trains

Commuters in the past were fined for travelling on a Sydney Trains intercity train and after many complaints raised The NSW government all commuters to catch these trains.

Inside information from a NSW for Transport Officer advised that the Intercity Trains were only to be used as drop offs at major train stations, allow commuter using the intercity trains to be seated on their long journey to Blue Mountains. Now this has been relaxed commuters who travel the long distance on the intercity trains are complaining about no seating available to them on the T1 Western Line.

What do you think is this fair? Do you think every commuter should travel on these intercity trains?

Spilt Water Raises Striking Conversation On Sydney Trains - St Marys Commuter!

Another amazing commuter can I say!

Sometimes when we travel on Sydney Trains, we either travel empty handed or we are carting with us some sort of bag or in some cases bags. When we are able to take a seat, we then settle ourselves down with bags  that carry our daily needs.

In my case the other day, my bag was rest on my lap as I was about to read a journal and I felt something on the right of my trousers. When I checked with my right hand  there was a  spot of water dripping from my water bottle ( which I realised was not tightened).
Then I also notice a bit of it went on the young man sitting next to me called Jamie, from St Marys.

Thinking to myself I was think how will this commuter react once I tell him - but as I advised him what I did we both laugh and  he was alright. We then started a English Soccer  League  (EPL) conversation as he was reading  a book of a life of one of the Liverpool players from 20-30 years ago. I was happy that he  wasn't negative to my accident that happened. Thank God!

He later was advised of our Group details and  was  very appreciative of what we are doing for the community. We both though there might other commuters who meet on Sydney Trains and  create  other striking conversations.

Have you had or started a striking conversation with someone you haven't met be fore, please tell us. We would like to know!

Checkout What Happens If You Are Caught with 'Fire Alarm' On Train Station!

This happened in Parramatta today, click here for  details:
It happened at Parramatta Train Station - Click here!

RailCorp Employee Offers Assistance To Elderly Couple!

This afternoon as I was heading home to Mount Druitt, I experienced a 'gentleman and a RailCorp Officer' offer his seat to an elderly couple who were sitting down inside the Sydney Trains carriage.

The elderly lady had one of those  walking trolleys that provided her assistance in walking. This was when they entered the carriage at Blacktown.

In fact, the young tall man with glasses was so polite, if you didn't see his 'RailCorp' logo on his business shirt, tou would have thought it is an ordinary person, who has the guts to care for others.  That is what has happened.  The generosity came when he offered  his seat as they sat down (after I stood up and offered my seat)  and he could see the seat near the  exit doors was overcrowded  for them. They politely 'thank him' as you normally do and they remained in their seat. The Railcorp Officer/gentleman sat back down in his seat reluctantly. What a man!

Does anyone see this kind of kindness be carried out during your train commuting day?

Safer & More Air-Conditioned Sydney Train Services

Towards the end of last year (not far away), I met George from Penrith who catches Sydney Trains to and from Penrith to Parramatta and then travels to and from Westmead train station to get to and from work. 

Due to his shift work he will use a private car to get to and from work when he leaves at midnight, due to not have efficient safety measures on Sydney Trains around midnight.

One of the issues which he feels is extremely import to himself and other commuters is air conditioning - especially in the summer time where sometimes he catches hot trains or even no air conditioning on trains,  on the return trip. This important issue requires commuters comfort to be emphasised as matter of priority as this then means for a 30 minutes trip to home he gets hot, sweaty and could lead to not feeling better as he reaches home.

He believes that absolutely trains must have Air conditioning - regular maintenance checks may be required as it appears that may be  they aren't regularly checked not enough. Exceptions are the newer times on the T1 line - suggest having implementing more newer trains will place a greater emphasis in resolving the situation. Thus every one has a better comfort trip  home.

He suggested  that he would prefer to leave his car at night, but as he feels there are enough safety measures at night, he considers this as an important issue that needs to be looked into by the NSW Minister of Transport. This is a high matter of importance to promote more  non-commuters of public transport to willingly catch public trans late at nights, when there is complete safety implemented to cater for safer night time commuters. Then people will catch more public transport, reducing cars off the road and this is really what the NSW Government need to do to reduce congestion on roads point people to catch a most reliable & safer public trains network!

Extra Train Service Required at Doonside Train Station!

From Doonside Issa catches Sydney Trains from Doonside to Town Hall train station.

By  providing a Commuter Car Park at Doonside, there would more people jumping into or using public transport. Train timetables are still a problem. 7.36am trains service from Doonside is completely packed in the morning, leaving standing room only at Seven Hills (if lucky). Maybe add another train service in the middle of the following train services: 7.18am to 7.36am.

This would provide better train service to Donside trains commuters and place more people with comfort.

More Space And Comfort In future Seating!

Bernard from Prospect, parks his car at Blacktown Commuter Car Park and then travels by Sydney Trains from Blacktown City trains station to Wynyard train station and  return - on weekdays.

His main improvement he would like  to see is improvement in carriages and  seating, it is sometimes so squeezy, tight and uncomfortable. In a three seater (In a carriage) he is caught in the middle of the seat, most of the time!

Now whenever there is  a redesign of carriages Transport for NSW  should at configurations of seating arrangement, allowing extra seating to have spacing between seats. This is so everyone feels O.K. with every seat they are sitting, leaving everyone with comfort.

Doonside Commuter Passionate About New Train Time Tables For Doonside & Rooty Hill Train Stations!

The new  Sydney Trains time table, launched last month has made a Doonside commuter so passionate about caring for commuters at Doonside and Rooty Hill. He uses  Sydney Train services from Doonside to Parramatta and North Sydney pending on job requirements. Also his daughter travels to North Sydney Monday to Fridays to work - so he advised the improvement he is seeking for for is also represented by his daughter as well.

New time tables for Doonside/Rooty Hill train stations have not improved and met population  increase over the last 20 years, except than placing back time tables by 5 minutes, whilst  more trains are stopping  at major train stations like Mount Druitt and Blacktown.

Examples are previously 7.07 am train leaving Doonside, now time tabled  to leave 7.12 am or 7.37 and now time tabled 7.37 am. There has been no consultation or survey done to ask commuters or commuters providing suggestions at Doonside or Rooty Hill train stations.

Trains leaving 7.23 am and 7.46 am are not patrolled.

In Doonside the population has tripled in the last twenty years incorporating new suburbs like Glendinning,Woodstock, Dean Park and Bunya, new housing estates. Significantly compared to Marayong area this area has a stable population and they have increased services.

Fast trains in from Mount Druitt are running  half empty and have lots of seats and standing room in peak hour in the weekday mornings.

Patrolling by Safety/ Security Officers show issues are present: children taking seats and not allowing elderly to sit - this needs to be solved by Transport for NSW to provide education programs to children at school so they under of being courteous to others requiring seating.

He has been writing to Blacktown City Council for a Commuter Car Park for Doonside - the only thing hold this up is available land for this improvement to happen this will cater for the increase of future population.

He says if the real time tables are fixed for Doonside and Rooty Hill. 7.42 am from  Doonside to North Sydney is  is 5 minutes late when it reaches Mc Mahons Point. No one is doing  something  in Doonside and he is taking great interest.

Does Sydney Trains Clean Out Light Fitting Covers - Health & Safety Issue!

To myself, a former chairperson of a Work Health & Safety Committee health and safety is an important part of everyone's life, which I am concerned about in all facets of public transport.

Even from tiny cigarette butts on  bus interchange or bus stops to left over foo wrapping on Sydney Trains.

I don't know how often Sydney  Trains conduct a Work Health & Safety  Audit but this  picture shows the light fittings on trains have been neglected. Let's hope that all light from today this is cleaned up appropriately making healthier for all commuters:

Intercity Trains Not Stopping At Blacktown - Blacktown Commuter!

Robert from Blacktown  walks  10 minutes easy pace to Blacktown  train station and catches Sydney Trains to Central station and return Monday to Fridays.

He says back in overseas in his country of origin, there is  no public transport trains, ' We are living  in a country that has good  services but some people are unhappy and complaining in Blacktown that the intercity trains from the Mountains are not stopping at Blacktown train station anymore.

A very good example is his daughter has to travel to Broken Hill and now has to travel from Blacktown to Parramatta to catch the intercity train. For her it is quick and more convenient for her to travel to Parramatta rather than go to Penrith. So he this it important that the intercity trains do stop at Blacktown  to make life easy for  Blacktown commuters.

'It isn't complicated to get improvements back to the way it was before?'

So what do you think if you are living around Blacktown - does this concern you or do you think the new train times are  suited with the new train time tables.  Let us hear from you!

'Commuter Feet-Seaters' - Should Face Strigent Fines - Doonside Commuter!

Local commuters have they say to me, every day I speak to different people - the ones I meet. People are great! People is what makes public transport work.

So today I met Chami from Doonside who shared improvements in public transport he would like  to seek, with quite strong passion. He commutes from Doonside train station to Central train Station and then transfers to Kingsgrove train station on the Revesby Line.

In winter time there  has been no heating on Sydney Train carriages
early in the morning  prior to 6 am, leaving Doonside train station. Mind you he admits it is not all trains and it happens 1 to 2 days per week.. Also he claims the same happens in an opposite manner with Summer, air-conditioners are not working. He would like more post 2000 made train carriages to run on the Western/ North Shore line. He claims the carriages with the open windows and made prior to 2000, they are  train carriages they need to be maintained and serviced properly.

Commuter Feet- Seater

One of his 'Pet hates' is commuters that always opposite place their feet on other seats  known as 'Commuter Feet-Seaters' purposely. He believes that their should be stringent fines applied. He even told myself that a guard made an announcement on a train one day, asking to a commuter to take their feet of the seat.  I was curious to find out how would a guard know somebody's feet are on seats.He cleared the air and reminded myself, that the new train carriages have cameras watch what people are doing.

Here is a current example!

Glenwood Commuter More Frequent Trains On The Sydney Trains T1 Line

Riz from Glenwood  drives his car from home to the Seven Hills Commuter Car Park and then travels via Sydney Trains to Town Hall and return Monday to Fridays.

 He would like to see improvements in frequencies at peak times and allowing for train to speed to destinations. Currently, if he misses a train he has to wait 10-15 minutes in south East Asia train services are single-decker carriages and run every 2 minutes. 

In UK there single-decker trains  providing efficient services with short frequencies and if this happens this reduces safety and security issues on platforms, were muggings could occur while waiting for trains. Thus creating less waiting times and  a safer  public transport community, which is important to him as well.

Beware Of Charity Scammers On The Western Line!

Click here for story on Potential Scammers on public Transport!

More Newer Trains on The T1 Western/North Shore Line - Oakhurst Commuter!

John from Oakhurst travels to Westmead/Parramatta visiting friends twice or three times a week and also Busways 754 to get to Mount Druitt and return.

He uses the application  on the 'I phone' to check when trains and buses are coming and has checked out the new time tables starting as from 20th October 2013, so he thinks this fantastic for Sydney Trains.

 The item he would like to see improved is that either more never trains that have the electronic indicator boards, whilst seeing when the next train station is arriving, provides more comfort to each and every commuter. When he brings his young son with him it does make it that much easier knowing and understanding when his destination is arriving, makes his younger son  travel in better comfort. He would now like to see more newer trains on the T1 Western/North Shore line.

Job Advertising Should Be 'Aloud' On Sydney Trains!

Yes that right, overhearing young people on the train coming back from Parramatta last night, I was so alarmed how they were so excited about speaking about their jobs and even one young lady was a bit disheartened when she lost her  job that day.

Anuja from Blacktown was very inspirational as she comforted her fellow commuter, who lost her job today. Another young male commuter talking with them said, 'Don't worry, you will get another job!' and was supportive to the young lady.

Anuja suggested that young people should talk in groups on the Sydney Trains (not on quiet carriages) aloud indicating that they are  seeking jobs, if there doing so. 

This is so listening potential employers, could offer their services to the people seeking jobs. All they want them to do is listen to them! She didn't suggest to have special areas on the train dedicated to these commuters as some people could take an unfair advantage on these commuters!