RateCityRail

Well it was bound to happen.

As mentioned in my earlier post to about IPART and making sure you got your submission in the NSW Government has managed to wrangle some increases in our fares over the next four years, details below.

I’m in two minds on this one, personally being a commuter every day I don’t want to see the fares increase, it’s more money out of my hip pocket, and at the moment more money seems to be leaving my pocket than entering it, and job security certainly isn’t what it used to be.

We all know the appauling state of some of the trains on the network, they really, really need to be replaced, do these fare increases go towards improving the infrastructure? If so, is it worth it?

Sould we, the people be paying for this? Is it a “right” as a resident of Sydney to have access to cheap and reliable public transport? Should the Government be covering these rises in fares instead of the commuters?

For all those questions I find it hard to give a definative answer. The trains need to be fixed, but our State Government is currently $1 Billion in debt. where else is the money going to come from?

I have a bitter taste in my mouth about this increase, and will probably curse buying my 14 day rail pass every week at the start of 2009, I suppose like all things, prices only go up not down, and what can we do about it?

CITYRAIL
2009
Distance: Up to 20 kilometres
Single tickets: 20c to 60c increase
Weeklies: $1 to $3 increase
 
Distance: 20 kilometres to 65 kilometres
Single tickets: 40c increase
Weeklies: $2 to $3 increase
 
Distance: 65 kilometres to 175 kilometres
Single tickets: No change
Weeklies: $3 increase
 
Distance: More than 175 kilometres
Single tickets: $8 decrease
Weeklies: From $2 increase to $25 decrease
 
2010 to 2012
Distance: Up to 20 kilometres
Single tickets: 20c to 80c increase
Weeklies: $3 to $6 increase
 
Distance: 20 kilometres to 65 kilometres
Single tickets: 80c to $1.40 increase
Weeklies: $9 to $9 increase
 
Distance: 65 kilometres to 175 kilometres
Single tickets: 20c to $1.20 increase
Weeklies: $7 to $9 increase
 
Distance: Over 175 kilometres
Single tickets: No change
Weeklies: $13 increas

As we all eagerly await the arrival of the new Epping to Chatswood railway line it has been revealed today that there are large unresolved problems with the project.

1. The projects costs have soared to $2.3 Billion.

2. It’s 2 years overdue.

3. The track is too steep for Tangaras to use, so older K set(silver rattlers) would have to be used.

4. Unfortunately these K set trains are so old they make too much noise in the confines of a concrete tunnel. Noise tests inside the carriage revealed up to 90dB. Workcover recommends not having to work with noise of over 85dB. This would be for 15 minutes!

5. The Intercity trains are appear to be Cityrails only solution to the problem at the moment, which will require a reorganisation of their rolling stock. This should meet Cityrails noise standards, I’d hazard it’s still going to be noisy…

I’m not sure why the Millennium trains can’t be used on the line, although there could be power limitations on the Northern/North Shore lines that held them back from crossing the harbour bridge. That said I have seen a few Millennium trains crawl their way up the North Shore line to at least North Sydney.

I suppose my question here is, would a noise level of 90dB stop you from using a train service? Or would just having your iPod headphones plugged in be enough and you’d ignore it?

Either way the issue remains unresolved and they are still planning on opening the line come February 2009.

Railcorp currently has a document for review with IPART at the moment in regarding it’s fares from 2009-2012. I encourage all of you to view this document and contact IPART with your thoughts on the network, and whether or not there is justification for a fares increase or not. This needs to be received by IPART no later than November 5th, 2008. Contact them here ipart@ipart.nsw.gov.au.

In brief, and I’ve not read this document too much so far, it looks like your average Sydney fare could go up as much as $1.00 for single trips, and as much as $8.00 on a weekly ticket. A welcome part to the document is the big offset for off peak returns to be considerably cheaper, down by as much as 18% for most Sydney fares.

I’ve only had a glance at the document so far, so can’t give you all a full run down, just wanted to get it out there so people had time to write in if they felt they wanted to. Obviously Railcorp hasn’t got this widely published (they didn’t last year either…).

So is this increase a good or a bad thing? Should trains in Sydney be a user pays? Or is it our right as Sydney citizens to have Government subsidesed travel?(Even though our State Government is $1Bil. in debt).

I’ll discuss all these things over the coming days as I read the document more, for the time being, what do you think?

More information on the document referred to can be found at IPART, link below.

http://www.ipart.nsw.gov.au/files/Review%20of%20CityRail%20fares%202009-2012%20-%20Draft%20Report%20and%20Draft%20Determinations%20-%20October%202008.PDF

Apologies for the lack of posts latelly, but sadly I have to work for a living and it’s been keeping me very busy.

Anyway, to business. More and more on my train line in the morning I’m enjoying the comforts of travelling in the “new” Millenium Trains. I find their air-conditioning to always be working, better lighting, more comfortable seats and they always seem to have more room(and things to hold onto) for standing commuters.

I was saddened the other week reading my mX to learn that there is going to be a delay in brining more of these new trains online as the NSW Government struggles to come to terms with it’s $1 Billion Dollar budget defecit.

These silver sets were supposed to start being de-commisioned in 2010, but due to all the extra travellers on the network due to rising petrol prices it seems the silver sets will need to be kept alive just a little longer. That means more long hot summers for years to come.

On other news that’s making the headlines currently. The V8s coming to Sydney Olympic Park. Now those that know me, know I have a very special place in my heard for motorsport and cars in general. I’d also love to see a V8 race at Olympic Park. But…not at the expense of damaging what is a beautiful location, and spending the tax payers money to do it. I would rather see this money spent on schools, hospitals and trains.

If the government is currently in a $1 billion dollar black hole right now, where’s this money coming from anyway?