Agree with Raichase completely. As an aside, the Cumberland Line will be all 4S, no A sets.
October 2013 Timetable
bernerd
Junior Train Controller
Watson374
Chief Commissioner
Location: Fully reclined at the pointy end.
Once again, a thread about the new timetable (I think this is the third) has gone from idle speculation and discussion to "this is what should happen" and all that nonsense. I wandered in here interested in reading about some of the supposed changes (and to hopefully figure out fact from fiction), but sorry to see this has once again fallen long by the wayside.I do apologise, and I hope it's not too late to create a diversionary thread.
Raichase
Captain Rant!
Location: Sydney, NSW
If this thread can get back on topic (I've said it a thousand times, there's nothing wrong with expressing an opinion about a fact, but threads consistently derail when everyone offers their "solution" to "problems", most of which exist purely in their own minds), then I'll add/confirm a few things.
Richmond will still have a 30 minute frequency to the city.
Cumberland Line will be 0700-1900 service in both directions, ostensibly between Schofields and Liverpool/Campbelltown/Glenfield (I was told which one, but I've forgotten).
Southern CountryLink services will run via East Hills.
Illawarra stopping patterns will change significantly, in the peak hours, to better use the quad tracks.
Richmond will still have a 30 minute frequency to the city.
Cumberland Line will be 0700-1900 service in both directions, ostensibly between Schofields and Liverpool/Campbelltown/Glenfield (I was told which one, but I've forgotten).
Southern CountryLink services will run via East Hills.
Illawarra stopping patterns will change significantly, in the peak hours, to better use the quad tracks.
simonl
Chief Commissioner
Location: Brisbane
Illawarra stopping patterns will change significantly, in the peak hours, to better use the quad tracks.I thought they had this one pretty much right. Sounds like a retrograde step.
Raichase
Captain Rant!
Location: Sydney, NSW
I thought they had this one pretty much right. Sounds like a retrograde step.Sounds like Railpage! You've not even heard what it is, seen it in action, or spent one minute working with the timetabling people, and already it's "wrong". How unsurprising.
craigfitz1
Train Controller
Yes, like a few others I am eager for hard facts about what's being planned. I, for one, am cautiously optimistic about the changes, but admit that my fact base is limited.
A few questions (from an outsider, so please forgive my ignorance):
Is the timetable to be presented as a fait accompli in, say, September, or will there be a community consultation period? (Not that I can really see much use of such as thing at such a late stage in the timetable development, apart from maybe a tweak here and there)
Are there any significant changes to CountryLink times being planned for the new timetable? (apart from the running of southern trains via East Hills)?
Is anyone aware of any plans to speed up running times on, say, the Canberra line (now that train orders are used)? or on the Newcastle service, with perhaps a dedicated and named 'flyer' being put into the timetable as some sort of flagship run?
A few questions (from an outsider, so please forgive my ignorance):
Is the timetable to be presented as a fait accompli in, say, September, or will there be a community consultation period? (Not that I can really see much use of such as thing at such a late stage in the timetable development, apart from maybe a tweak here and there)
Are there any significant changes to CountryLink times being planned for the new timetable? (apart from the running of southern trains via East Hills)?
Is anyone aware of any plans to speed up running times on, say, the Canberra line (now that train orders are used)? or on the Newcastle service, with perhaps a dedicated and named 'flyer' being put into the timetable as some sort of flagship run?
simonl
Chief Commissioner
Location: Brisbane
Sounds like Railpage! You've not even heard what it is, seen it in action, or spent one minute working with the timetabling people, and already it's "wrong". How unsurprising.Well we'll see.
bernerd
Junior Train Controller
Craig:
- No community consultation
- No real changes for CountryLink that I recall
- No speeding up (Newcastle services are about 5 min quicker and about 1 min quicker ex Gosford which is frankly an insult given the dwells forced upon commuters at the moment by running early)
- There's one Newcastle train that's a bit quicker (ex Central(i), Stratty, Woy Woy) but in this day and age the call for consistent stopping patterns has taken hold (and rightly so imho)
craigfitz1
Train Controller
Thanks for this!
Always good to have hard info'
-Craig
Always good to have hard info'
-Craig
simonl
Chief Commissioner
Location: Brisbane
So when do we see it?
Watson374
Chief Commissioner
Location: Fully reclined at the pointy end.
Bolding is mine.There's one Newcastle train that's a bit quicker (ex Central(i), Stratty, Woy Woy) but in this day and age the call for consistent stopping patterns has taken hold (and rightly so imho)
I'm hearing rumours that services will be standardised on the Gosford-centric pattern (as opposed to the a mixture including the Gosford/Wyong-Morisset split); apparently, there is a push for going back to the nineties.
maestro
Junior Train Controller
Illawarra stopping patterns will change significantly, in the peak hours, to better use the quad tracks.Well, there'd be extra services from the K2RQ sharing the quad up to Erskineville. With the Clearways Sextup from Sydenham to Erskineville cancelled there will be a need to find room for them. So I am guessing that this is what you are referring to. Unfortunately I can't see this having a positive impact on Illawarra & South Coast service frequencies.
My guess is that these extra services would be future SWRL trains which would start/terminate at Glenfield and would later extend to Leppington (either that, or the Glenfield starters would run up the south line and the C-Town trains would take the K2RQ). By October there would probably be sufficient track to the west of the Glenfield south flyover to turn around trains (or even stable a few).
Watson374
Chief Commissioner
Location: Fully reclined at the pointy end.
Well, there'd be extra services from the K2RQ sharing the quad up to Erskineville.How many additional Sector 2 services will run via Sydenham, though? Surely the Illawarra Locals can cope?
I initially understood that Raichase was referring to the quad between Wolli Creek and Hurstville...
stupid_girl
Assistant Commissioner
Agree with Raichase completely. As an aside, the Cumberland Line will be all 4S, no A sets.Currently, Cumberland Line trains are rostered as 4S but I frequently see 4C.
I wonder if it will still be the case in the future.
Watson374
Chief Commissioner
Location: Fully reclined at the pointy end.
Currently, Cumberland Line trains are rostered as 4S but I frequently see 4C.I suspect we will continue to see that for the 4C-able future.
I wonder if it will still be the case in the future.
s3_gunzel
Not a gunzel developer
Location: Western Sydney, AU
I suspect we will continue to see that for the 4C-able future.Oh
I tend to prefer a 4C over a 4S on that run (I get the schofields trip religiously on the Campbelltown leg, home) - Why, because it's air-conditioned. Nothing lie sweaty TAFE and Uni students from Quakers Hill to make your trip home hell.
maestro
Junior Train Controller
How many additional Sector 2 services will run via Sydenham, though? Surely the Illawarra Locals can cope?No idea... However since they put all that work into the quad I would assume that they would increase the number of services on that line. Plus the future SWRL services (the assumption being that when doing their once-in-a-decade complete overhaul they would make provision for future SWRL services)
I initially understood that Raichase was referring to the quad between Wolli Creek and Hurstville...Yes, but these all continue into the quad to Erskineville where services from the East Hills and Bankstown lines are also competing for space. If there were a need to optimise the quad, it probably wouldn't be on the more lightly loaded section south of Wolli Ck.
I could be completely wrong, though. These are just educated guesses based on the limited information available.
Raichase
Captain Rant!
Location: Sydney, NSW
What we need is for someone with access to it to leak us the timetable!...or you people could just wait a couple of months and see it at the same time as everyone else. It won't change how "wrong" it is or how "much better" the armchair experts would have done with it.
How many additional Sector 2 services will run via Sydenham, though? Surely the Illawarra Locals can cope?Correct!
I initially understood that Raichase was referring to the quad between Wolli Creek and Hurstville...
rrroLLa
Chief Train Controller
Just saw a16 travel through Blacktown platform 1 with Campbeltown on the indicator. Assuming the indicator is correct, it's testing Schofields-Campbeltown (the line near Riverstone currently has no overhead wiring). Is this a sign of things to come?
Raichase
Captain Rant!
Location: Sydney, NSW
Just saw a16 travel through Blacktown platform 1 with Campbeltown on the indicator. Assuming the indicator is correct, it's testing Schofields-Campbeltown (the line near Riverstone currently has no overhead wiring). Is this a sign of things to come?Can't confirm the exact reasoning for this set at this location at that time, although it could also be a test/shakedown run after modifications, or crew training. As I understand it, RailCorp are training drivers/guards at Blacktown and Penrith on the Waratah, perhaps this could also be to train them for the road between Harris Park and Campbelltown via the Y.
Watson374
Chief Commissioner
Location: Fully reclined at the pointy end.
...or you people could just wait a couple of months and see it at the same time as everyone else. It won't change how "wrong" it is or how "much better" the armchair experts would have done with it.On top of this, bernerd's already confirmed the strong rumour I'd heard that there will be no real community consultation period, so once it's out, it's out.
dthead
Site Admin
Location: Melbourne, Australia
[edit]
OK guys either post on topic, and not at each other. Also a strong word of caution - to advocate a illegal action is not a good idea,
asking a employee to violate a employment condition which could get someone fired or facing legal action. Management read the threads looking for such people and information. We would all love to know a lot of info that only employees know. But we(railfans and members of the public) cannot unless public released. And those who do hold infrimation have to determine if a few seconds of fame on internet forums is more important then their jobs. I prefer to protect their jobs.
[/edit]
I am sure the timetable info will eventually be officially launched, talk about it then.
OK guys either post on topic, and not at each other. Also a strong word of caution - to advocate a illegal action is not a good idea,
asking a employee to violate a employment condition which could get someone fired or facing legal action. Management read the threads looking for such people and information. We would all love to know a lot of info that only employees know. But we(railfans and members of the public) cannot unless public released. And those who do hold infrimation have to determine if a few seconds of fame on internet forums is more important then their jobs. I prefer to protect their jobs.
[/edit]
I am sure the timetable info will eventually be officially launched, talk about it then.
simonl
Chief Commissioner
Location: Brisbane
Whoever it was that argued that I don't live in Sydney, that is a really stupid argument. If that makes me not worth reading, it should be easy enough to knock down my argument. The point is, is what I was saying true. I hope there isn't a rule against replying to a deleted post, if it was deleted for another reason.
bowralcommuter
Chief Commissioner
Location: Asleep on a Manly Ferry
A Countrylink attendant told me from October Southern Countrylinks will be going via East Hills, I was very tempted to celebrate on the train . I think its best if we wait 141 days (or as close to that as possible) than be impatient and wait for a staff leak or next press release from Gladys about the timetable.
. I think its best if we wait 141 days (or as close to that as possible) than be impatient and wait for a staff leak or next press release from Gladys about the timetable.
Kurmudgeon
Junior Train Controller
Today's mX had a short mention of the new timetable... the Opposition's Penny Sharpe wants it released to the public. Gladys B is to have said it needs to undergo "thorough testing" (mX quoting Gladys) and the public will have "plenty of warning" (quoting the mX article) before October.
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