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- 20 September 2001
CityRail Timetable
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Page: 16990
Mr BROWN: My question is to the Minister for Transport. What is the latest information on timetabling for CityRail?
Mr SCULLY: The State Rail Authority proposes to introduce a new timetable for the CityRail network. This month marks the anniversary of the 2000 Olympics. Rail services during the Games were one of the features of the best Olympics ever. The network carried more than 30 million passengers: a great effort by thousands of rail workers and volunteers. CityRail's Olympics timetable achieved a high level of punctuality and reliability. That was done by simplifying the operation of the timetable.
At busy stations extra time was allocated to the timetable to take into account the time needed to load and unload the tens of thousands of extra passengers. Train operations were simplified to minimise the number of times trains moved from one track to another. In addition, a more simple, repetitive stopping pattern was introduced to ease the manner in which trains were operating. Much of the Olympic legacy remains. There has been improved station access, cleaner trains and enhanced security. Millions of dollars have been expended on achieving those things. On-time running has improved but we still have a way to go.
[Interruption]
The honourable member for Davidson would like to know this morning's on-time running. I acknowledge that some improvement is still needed, but I am happy to tell the Opposition that this morning's on-time running was 100 per cent. However, we will not rest on our laurels; we will make sure we continue to improve. I believe that we can best apply the legacy of the Olympics to the general operation of trains, particularly in the Sydney metropolitan area. At my instruction CityRail commenced work on a new timetable some time ago. But the lessons learned from the Olympics are not the only relevant issues. There has been a series of major infrastructure upgrades. Significant work has just been completed on a substantial section of the East Hills line with four new tracks. There is a new track on the Richmond line and the line from Dapto to Kiama has been electrified. These significant changes must be accommodated within the timetable. To take advantage of that new infrastructure the timetable will need to be altered.
The difficulty is that the timetable is based on 1992 patronage and train numbers. In 1992 there were 250 million passenger journeys per year and there are now 285 million passenger journeys per year. Despite that huge increase there has been no major change to the timetable for nearly a decade. There has been substantial new infrastructure so we need to alter the CityRail timetable. During the Games we learned that properly taking into account the time taken for people to get on and off trains will better reflect reliable train running. Because of all the additional people now using our trains CityRail believes, and I agree, that the loading and unloading time at some of our busy stations should be taken into account. The timetable does not reflect the tens of thousands of extra patrons using the trains.
We will apply the Games legacy fewer crossover movements and simpler stopping patterns. We will also reflect the changing needs of passengers. Many people are working later so there will be extra capacity between 6.00 p.m. and 8.00 p.m. on week nights. Weekend capacity will also be increased. I wish to make it clear that every single station in the CityRail network will continue to be served by trains. I should like to deal with the mischievous assertion made by the honourable member for Southern Highlands on her local radio station this morning. I assure the House that CityRail will continue to run trains direct from the Southern Highlands to Central. In fact, the number of carriages will be increased.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Pittwater to order.
Mr SCULLY: As honourable members know, particularly Government members, running CityRail is a complex matter. It involves hundreds of kilometres of track and thousands of daily services carrying almost one million people to work or to school and home again. We will be doing all we can to provide a safe and reliable service. A new timetable is only part of that process, which involves a number of other factors. That is why we are building extra tracks, buying new trains, enhancing the maintenance of both tracks and trains, and undertaking enhanced training and safety initiatives. That is why we have employed scores of extra cleaners.
The new timetable will be a major change for commuters and private and public bus companies, which will need to interact with CityRail services. I expect the timetable to be introduced during the first half of next year. All honourable members who have an interest in CityRail services, and that is probably the majority of this House, should be aware of that. I have emphasised to CityRail it is important as this timetable is developed over the next few months that there be full consultation and communication with all the stakeholders affected by this important proposal.
[Questions without notice interrupted.]
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