More Sydney Trains Services for Airport Line due to increasing patronage

[kamchatsky]

Despite the high station access fee ($13.8 for adults), more and more people are catching the trains to the airport. Sydney Trains needs to add more services to meet the demand.

I prefer to catch the train to airport from city over taxi for work purposes, even though I got CabCharge vouchers from my work anyway, as it is faster and much more guaranteed service. The Sydney traffic is getting worse and worse, and train is so much better.

I think Melbourne really should have a train line as well even if you need to have station access fee. It surely beats the horrendous traffic at Tullamarine Freeway .....


From the SMH: Extra million catching trains to Sydney Airport prompts need for more services

[h=1]Extra million catching trains to Sydney Airport prompts need for more services[/h]
An extra 1 million people catching trains to Sydney Airport last year has spurred the state government to put on an additional 200 services a week in an attempt to cope with the unprecedented demand.
Underscoring the pressure on Sydney's transport network, train patronage to and from the airport has risen by 32 per cent over the past two years to 8.2 million passengers in 2016.

 

[kpc]

Despite the high station access fee ($13.8 for adults), more and more people are catching the trains to the airport. Sydney Trains needs to add more services to meet the demand.

I prefer to catch the train to airport from city over taxi for work purposes, even though I got CabCharge vouchers from my work anyway, as it is faster and much more guaranteed service. The Sydney traffic is getting worse and worse, and train is so much better.

Without traffic, it takes about 20 mins to the Domestic and 25 mins to the International from my home; the last 2x, it took 1 hour, and 50 mins respectively to get to the International airport due to traffic . If I took the train, it takes just under an hour from home, including the time to walk to the train station....so if work is paying or i have a lot of luggage, I go by taxi / Uber, otherwise i take the train.

 

[gaz0303]

I've been catching the train more regularly from domestic in am peak hour to North Ryde (~$17 vs $100). Also started doing a few extra returns as it enables me to leave later with a little more certainty of arriving at the airport on time. But I do dislike the squeeze to get on a packed train with even just a cabin sized case. I do wonder what international visitors think and how they cope with larger bags. It would be nice to have an airport only train that only serviced the airport stations and the inner city loop (at least not continuing past Wooli). I would pay a premium for that.

 

[kamchatsky]

I've been catching the train more regularly from domestic in am peak hour to North Ryde (~$17 vs $100). Also started doing a few extra returns as it enables me to leave later with a little more certainty of arriving at the airport on time. But I do dislike the squeeze to get on a packed train with even just a cabin sized case. I do wonder what international visitors think and how they cope with larger bags. It would be nice to have an airport only train that only serviced the airport stations and the inner city loop (at least not continuing past Wooli). I would pay a premium for that.

Right now they cannot do that because of the city circle line being almost full capacity. Hence NSW Government is building the Sydney Metro through city to connect to Bankstown Line. Once that is complete, the City Circle will be freed up for more trains ...

 

[Viridianne]

If someone can't drop me, I catch the 400 bus (5min walk from home) to avoid the station access fee I didn't know station access fee was capped at $25! Even for early am flights the traffic closer to the Cooks River is horrendous by bus/car despite the bus lane, you really have to give yourself time. Generally I catch Uber hom

 

[NZflygirl]

Generally I've taken the train FROM the airport and taxi back or shuttle of some sort although I did take the train recently into the airport.
The train recently from Syd airport was held up due to some medical emergency so people were directed to platform 2 for a while. Watched 2-3 trains pass as jam packed and couldn't get on with my bags. Then we got directed back to platform 1. PITA and made me a bit nervous about catching the train back to the airport but there are no guarantees with traffic either. Just takes one accident and you're stuffed.

Always used to think BNE's train was expensive to the CBD but Syd's is not much different to the CBD.

In general I do like public transport as opposed to finding parking and paying for that as well.

 

[Mattg]

I still can't justify paying the station access fee, so I don't. I either take the 400 bus, or walk from Wolli Creek (for T1) or Mascot (for domestic terminals). Luckily I do live near a 400 bus stop.

With the amount I'm travelling to the airport, I've already saved at least enough for 3 trips to New Zealand over the last couple of years by doing this.

I read that when they removed the station access fee at Green Square in 2011 (which was only $2.60), patronage at that station increased by 114%. I can only imagine how many more people would take the train if they removed the much larger fee for the airport stations.

 

[clifford]

I do not want to continue to clog the streets with more buses if I can avoid it – that's the reality.

Just love this one. Perhaps more buses might unclog the streets a bit (ie fewer cars)?

 

[Melburnian1]

Just love this one. Perhaps more buses might unclog the streets a bit (ie fewer cars)?

In fairness to the Minister, he may have been - clumsily - trying to answer a question about the train v buses, not buses v other road vehicles.

However, yes, in general, parliamentarians sadly do not understand that mass transit is far more efficient than one person or not much more per vehicle in moving people. In contrast, decision makers in Japan do - because they use trains and other public transport.

I largely use the Sydney Airport train either in the counter-peak direction during peak hours, or offpeak. I have never had a problem travelling with a suitcase and backpack. Far easier than being caught in traffic in a taxi or ridesharing vehicle.

 

[ozmille]

traffic around the airport is just stupid at the moment, train is so much easier despite the high cost (9 times out of 10 aork is paying so I don't pay attention but when I pay out of my own pocket I notice )

 

[kevrosmith]

I don't know for certain, but from some things I've seen, I suspect there's a contractual arrangement for the train such that no public bus services are allowed directly between the airport and CBD.

 

[PMHI]

On two separate occasions recently I checked in with minutes to spare for a once a day international flight, even though I had scheduled over an hour in the FLounge. Both times the traffic on the weekend to Sydney airport was at a standstill for the last few km's and added an hour in travel time and added unnecessary stress before a business trip.
Have used the train a few times since then and while the train is not as good as the FLounge at least I have time to get to the FLounge.

 

[Cryptarcadian]

What time of day is the traffic typically that bad on a weekend in to SYD? Are there "peak" periods? I'm guessing Saturday morning is bad... what about the afternoons?

I will admit I have little first hand experience because... I've been catching the train almost every time. The last time I tried an Uber to SYD, we got stuck in traffic and I had to ask the driver to drop me off at Green Square station instead to finish the journey by train. (Probably would've missed the flight otherwise!)

 

[N860CR]

I regularly fly from international on Saturdays (arriving at about 8:30am and allow at least 1 hour for the trip from the Brighton Novotel (which is only 5ish minutes without traffic)

 

[kamchatsky]

I normally take the 7am SYD-CBR flight. I take taxi at 5:20am from my home at far north shore, and should arrive just before 6am.

If I take taxi at say 5:40am, because of all the traffic at around airport at 6am ish, I could miss the 7am flight. Hence the train will become more and more important for Sydneysiders.

To me, it is worth paying the station access fee if it means on time arrival and checkin at airport.

 

[ajw373]

Never understood why they never had a premium train running on the line rather than just integrate with the standard suburban trains.

Actually better clarify what I mean. I know the airport line was built to increase capacity on the East Hills Suburban line rather than to service the airport. But why not also have a premium service every 15 minutes or so using single deck trains designed for airport services. The station use fee is high enough to justify it.

 

[CaptJCool]

I still can't justify paying the station access fee, so I don't. I either take the 400 bus, or walk from Wolli Creek (for T1) or Mascot (for domestic terminals). Luckily I do live near a 400 bus stop.

With the amount I'm travelling to the airport, I've already saved at least enough for 3 trips to New Zealand over the last couple of years by doing this.

I read that when they removed the station access fee at Green Square in 2011 (which was only $2.60), patronage at that station increased by 114%. I can only imagine how many more people would take the train if they removed the much larger fee for the airport stations.

Great effort!
ive done the walk a few times
the opal card hack which is on here somewhere actually saves the $ you would save by walking over from Mascot (or hopping the 400 bus from just outside mascot station) Or grab a card when you arrive with $20 and that'll get you there and back.

PS The green square and mascot station access fee was switched to the Govt paying for it. The premier of the time was the local MP at the time .... coincidental

edit. Found the link
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....national-airport-domestic-mascot-77962-4.html