| What's happening in our state |
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| $2.8 BILLION INVESTMENT IN NEW INTERCITY TRAINS |
The NSW Government will invest $2.8 billion in a new state-of-the-art fleet of intercity trains, giving long-distance customers a more comfortable ride and for the first time making trains air-conditioned.
Around 65 new intercity trains, including about 520 brand new carriages, will carry passengers to the Central Coast, Newcastle, the Blue Mountains, and the Illawarra. Sydney customers will also benefit from this significant investment, as the new trains will stop at many busy Sydney interchanges such as Central and Strathfield.
In addition, the Oscar intercity fleet - currently operating to outer metropolitan areas – will be reallocated to Sydney suburban services, meaning every train across the State will be air-conditioned. |
New Busways time tables are now being issued for the following bus services in and around Mount Druitt:
721, 722, 724, 725, 726, 727, , 737, 738, 739, 739V, 740, 751, 752, 753, 754, 755, 757, 758, 761, T71, T74 & T75.
Another win for the Mount Druitt Community is the 739V which is now going to be driving down Frank Street, which will cover the southern part of Mount Druitt from Frank Street and surrounding suburbs - resounding win for Peter Kerr from our group that has continually been lobbying for bus service to go down the full length of the street.
Although it is a limited bus service, it will be up to the local community to provide good patronage to this service so that the service will be retained.
It goes to show that Peter had stood very strong for the community with public transport and myself I am so proud of him
Click Here for new time tables to Busways services
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
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!
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(Left to right seated) members Mary, Christina, George,
Mr. Ray Williams, members: Allan, Anne, John,
Dianna, Peter and Joan ( left to right Standing), members: Angie,
Councillor Jacqueline Donaldson, visitor James and member Lester. |
The Hon. Member for Hawkesbury and NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Roads, attended our meeting yesterday as guest speaker.
Mr. Williams has been a member of the NSW Parliament since 24th March 2007, and has a attended a community meeting under Save Our Bus Services, Mount Druitt and Surrounding Suburbs in 2009, when we had lost many bus services across Mount Druitt, under the previous Labor Government and had some partial bus routes returned.
We have approached Local Councillors, Transport officers From Blacktown City Council, The Hon. Richard Amery, NSW Member for Mount Druitt, The Hon. Bart Bassett, NSW Member for Londonderry and made representation to the former NSW Transport Minister, Hon. David Campbell.
Mr. Williams listened to our concerns of still advocating for proper local bus services to be returned in Mount Druitt and surrounding suburbs. All members of the group where allowed to be heard from the 762 Bidwill bus service - not operating on Sunday and limited services provided, 755 partially returned bus service and the 764 bus service that is limited and has gained successful increases in patronage since implemented and how it can be add to the 'Tregear Only' Bus Route.
He was provided by maps and history details of each bus service, indicating how they can link straight back into the community, the way it was before bus services were removed. Mr. Williams agreed and remembered that under the former labor State government bus services had been running perfectly before for so many years and all of a sudden 3 bus services were removed causing havoc and shock within the area.
Mr. Williams heard how it is difficult for local commuters to get to jobs, job interviews, family events on weekend train services services on weekends, when bus services don't start early and allow people to get to events on time. Also that Hoyts Mount Druitt is finding it difficult to employ young people as they can't get home late from this employment.
He also understood that as the 2nd stage of the North West rail link will continue into Mount Druitt in years to come but we need local bus services to have better links, cater for the community not to take us back into the dark ages.
Mr. Williams explained of what has happened with height differences with the new Oscar Trains on different train station platforms. It goes back to the times when some city trains station were constructed as country train stations to take country trains. The NSW Government is looking at ways to attend to this, maybe by immediate audio warning announcements at train stations that have that height difference.
Discussions were raised as to how the new Opal Card is being implemented to reduce fraudulent fare evaders and how once this is fully implemented new technological advances will provide automatic reporting on patronage on all bus, train and ferry trips. Although he understands it will be a slow process to educate the elderly on using and purchasing of this ticket outlets and availability.
Overall the group was really impressed with Mr. Williams attending as a guest speaker: that he listened and heard. Our group, on behalf of the Mount Druitt community, will report back to you any progress that arrives. Mr. Williams will report back to the NSW Minister of Transport. Hon. Gladys Berejiklian and to the the NSW Legislative Assembly.
*First Photo. Courteous of Hon. Ray Williams, NSW Parliamentary Secretary of Transport and Roads
| What's happening in our state |
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| AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST PUBLIC TRANSPORT PROJECT POWERING AHEAD |
NSW Premier Mike Baird has inspected the progress of construction on the North West Rail Link and received a briefing on the $8.3 billion project.
The North West Rail Link is Australia’s biggest public transport project and this vital piece of infrastructure will create thousands of jobs and improve the lives of commuters in Sydney’s North West.
This crucial project is proceeding rapidly and the first of the four massive tunnel boring machines are due in the ground by October this year – ahead of an end-of-year commitment.
At the Cherrybrook railway station site, work is well underway to excavate the “box” area, from which two tunnel boring machines will dig six kilometres to Epping. The tunnelling contract alone will support about 900 jobs. |
OPAL ROLLOUT EXPANDS TO BUSES IN SYDNEY’S EAST
Opal electronic ticketing will start rolling out on State Transit buses, with five bus routes in Sydney’s eastern suburbs to join the Opal network from Monday 28 April.
The NSW Government successfully fast-tracked Opal on all Sydney Ferries services and 308 Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink stations, and is now turning its attention to buses.
Five bus routes, 326, 327, 355, 361 and L24, will go-live with Opal over a two-week period from Monday. Customers can already use their Opal card on route 333, which was the first State Transit bus to go live with Opal as part of a customer trial.
To find ticket sellers, customers should call 131 500 or visit www.transportnsw.info. To order an Adult or Child/Youth card go to www.opal.com.au or call 13 67 25. |
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With the reshuffle of NSW Ministers, following on from the resignation of Premier Barry O'Farrell, last week - we can now announce that Gladys Berejiklian has not been elected as Premier and retains her Ministerial Portfolio of NSW Transport and The Hunter.
We do not know whether the Parliamentary Secretary of Transport, Mr. Ray Williams has kept his job yet as Parliamentary Secretaries have not been provided to the public as yet.
Click here for previous blog
I was shocked the other day noticing that vandals had wrecked the security camera facing the Rooty Hill train station platform. I hope that our local State Member for Mount Druitt and all public transport stake holders can look at replacing immediately, to make it safer for commuters.
You can also see that there are long steps up and down to reach the train station platform and also a long walkway to more outer steps/ramps to get out of the train station on the North side! We are still lobbying for this and have a feeling it may come in before next years State Election.
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
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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
on 13 67 25 or (13 OPAL) quoting your reference number.
Save Our Bus Services
Read our story on how we made it our priority to ensure bus services are re-instated from services taken away in 2009.
