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picture by Gus Leonisky

A report has recommended the immediate privatisation of sections of the New South Wales rail network, to improve services and drive down costs.

Lobby group Infrastructure Partnerships Australia (IPA) commissioned the report, and is now pushing the State Government to act on its findings.

Earlier this month Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian announced the Government's own review to improve the efficiency of RailCorp, saying the organisation costs about $10 million a day.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-02-13/privatisation-pushed-for-nsw-trains/3826220

Meanwhile at privatisation central:

From the beginning, a major criticism of the line was that it is not served by dedicated rolling stock, as has occurred elsewhere such as in the Hong Kong MTR's dedicated Airport Express line. Travellers entering the line at Domestic and International must compete for space with commuters from the East Hills line, and find that the trains have no special provision for their luggage.

Despite the cancellation of the rival Airport Express bus service, taxi surcharges and expensive airport parking, the Airport Link consistently failed to meet patronage targets. Less than a year after the line opened, the State Rail Authority stated that "patronage has been lower than expected to date", but they remained optimistic, believing "that as airport users become more familiar with this facility and the ingrained habits of many years gradually alter, patronage will continue to increase,"[21] In 2000, the Airport Link Company went into receivership, exposing the government to costs of around $800 million; it was put up for sale in early 2006.[22] State Rail blamed "lower than expected patronage" and stated it was working with the company to increase it.[23]

In October 2005, the Government and the company signed a revised agreement on revenue and patronage, settling the latter's claims against the former. The Government paid $34 million to the company, with another $73 million due as CityRail earns revenue from Airport Line business.[24]

Together with the Cross City Tunnel, the Airport Link served to dampen government and business enthusiasm for further public private partnerships in transport in New South Wales.[25]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airport_and_East_Hills_railway_line

 

 

a brisk walk is good for you...

Sydney commuters were hit with a double whammy of technical failures on the train network as urgent repairs sent services into meltdown.

Key points: 
  • Commuters reported delays of more than an hour due to technical faults hitting the train network on Friday morning
  • A signal failure at Wynyard impacted north shore services, while a faulty train at Central affected services from Bondi Junction
  • Sydney Trains has advised people to allow more time for travel

 

A signal failure at Wynyard caused delays of more than an hour on north shore services, while a broken-down train at Central hit the Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra line.

Passengers reported delays of about 70 minutes to get from Milsons Point to Wynyard with some claiming officials had advised them to walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge instead.

Transport for NSW said urgent signal repairs at Wynyard had taken place and buses were replacing services from North Sydney to Wynyard.

Maarinke van der Meulen was among a group of people who decided to get out and walk over the Harbour Bridge from Milson's Point station after they were told it might be quicker.

"People who were in a hurry were told to it would be quicker to get out and walk into town," she said.

 

Read more:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-11/sydney-train-delays-after-signal-...

 

 

Note: privatisation of the rail network will only make matters worse and more expensive...