SYD AP Govt won't cut train fare

[SeatBackForward]

I have no problem with that if paying commuter prices, but everywhere else I can think of (except BNE), they either use commuter trains to services the airport at commuter prices (eg ORD, the underground at LHR, SFO, SIN etc) OR use special trains at premium pricing. I can't think of too many places that have standard commuter trains at premium pricing (the closest I can think of is JFK/EWR where you have to pay $5 on airtrain to get to the standard commuter trains, but that's reasonable)

Not to defend the Gov't as I think te NSW Gov't has a lot to asnwer for these days..however, the premium is not for the trains themselves, but for the station access. You can use the train that goes through the tunnel and out the other end to the "normal" stations and you don't pay any more than you would travelling equivalent distances elsewhere.

The one thing the Train has going for it, is that in Sydney peak hour traffic, the train is more reliable to get you to the Airport.

 

[dajop]

The one thing the Train has going for it, is that in Sydney peak hour traffic, the train is more reliable to get you to the Airport.

The other thing going for it is you don't have to deal with Sydney taxi drivers. On same trip, as two of us were departing Sydney together we returned to airport by taxi, and on arriving at domestic terminal the driver added $6 for eastern distributor tolls Last I looked they only applied on journeys coming from the airport, not to the airport. When challenged he removed the surcharge.

 

[VHOEJ]

I love arriving back into Sydney and having to squeeze on the train with one suitcase...........the crush between 7am and 9am is embarassing.

The train really gets more patronage when the taxi queue is a mile long - arriving back on Friday night, I could see from the aircraft that the domestic terminal was full of lights (at 9:30pm) and there was a log queue on Joyce Drive. I assume during the day there was delays due to the weather. Once I got my bag, I saw the taxi line was at least a hundred deep (probably the same across the road too). It was amazing to see the train station was literally full of pax trying to avoid the taxi.

 

[harvyk]

the premium is not for the trains themselves, but for the station access. You can use the train that goes through the tunnel and out the other end to the "normal" stations and you don't pay any more than you would travelling equivalent distances elsewhere.

I remember the first time I was to use said service, I was quite annoyed that the airport was between the station I was at and the city, I was going right underneath the airport, and yet to actually stop there was going to cost a small fortune it would have been convenient to be able to stop there, run upstairs to the airport itself, sort something out, then head back down and continue onto the city, but not for the premium which was to be charged.

The one thing the Train has going for it, is that in Sydney peak hour traffic, the train is more reliable to get you to the Airport.

You can say that again. There have been a few times where I've been counting down the minutes stuck in Sydney traffic.

The other thing going for it is you don't have to deal with Sydney taxi drivers. On same trip, as two of us were departing Sydney together we returned to airport by taxi, and on arriving at domestic terminal the driver added $6 for eastern distributor tolls Last I looked they only applied on journeys coming from the airport, not to the airport. When challenged he removed the surcharge.

You can say that again, I've lost count of the number of taxi drivers who don't know their way around. Haven't been on too many who have tried to add in extra tolls luckily, but the lack of basic direction is a bit of a worry.

I usually use the airport link if I go to SYD, and it is a competitive price for the solo traveler, and it's certainly not really much more expensive than other airport transfers in this country, and it's been pretty reliable for me thus far. It would be nicer if it was cheaper, I won't argue with that, but then again IMHO most things to do with travel (beyond the daily commute) seem to have a premium added to it. It's probably got a lot to do with the majority of people who use such travel services don't actually vote in the local electorate.

 

[Daver6]

Sure is a rip-off. Took a taxi from the Hilton (wife and I) to QF dom terminal. Cost of the taxi was less than the train for both of us would have cost. Something is wrong if that is the case!

 

[Isochronous]

If they want less traffic around Mascot, dropping train prices is the easiest way. 15.40 to go three stations (Domestic to Central).........what an embarassment. You coud go to Newcastle and back for half that price.

The irony is that if they drop the price, more people use it which would offset the 'loss' of the price drop, and the government would gain more with people travelling beyond the Airport Line

Except that all trains are subsidised to some degree...i.e. a passenger taking a train costs the government money because of all the bureaucratic overstaffing and so forth, or so I read somewhere.

 

[Blinky]

Personally, I've seen an improvement in Sydney taxi drivers in recent years - no doubt because they now all have GPSs - so that's how I will continue to go to the CBD. Any further travel will be by hire car. Way not to run public transport to the airport NSW government.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I usually use the airport link if I go to SYD, and it is a competitive price for the solo traveler, and it's certainly not really much more expensive than other airport transfers in this country, and it's been pretty reliable for me thus far. It would be nicer if it was cheaper, I won't argue with that, but then again IMHO most things to do with travel (beyond the daily commute) seem to have a premium added to it. It's probably got a lot to do with the majority of people who use such travel services don't actually vote in the local electorate.

+1

Compare it to skybus in MEL or airtrain in BNE....

 

[dajop]

Except that all trains are subsidised to some degree...i.e. a passenger taking a train costs the government money because of all the bureaucratic overstaffing and so forth, or so I read somewhere.

Reminds me of the time I was introduced to someone who worked for either CityRail or CountryLink (can't remember) who in the first instance only half in jest said they worked for social security before admitting they worked for railways. To be fair though, some trains wouldn't be subsidised all that much, yet others must be subsidised ridiculous amounts. Crazy that 200km journeys are only a tad over double the price of 2km journeys, and half the price of the 10km journey from the airport to the city.

 

[VHOEJ]

+1

Compare it to skybus in MEL or airtrain in BNE....

I prefer either of those options. Yes the BNE train doesn't run all the hours it should but it is reliable and cheaper than what SYD can offer.

While I agree the Skybus is a bit expensive, it is quick, takes you right into the city and I have never had any issues with its on time performance. It just is getting a bit too popular.

 

[eastwest101]

It's probably got a lot to do with the majority of people who use such travel services don't actually vote in the local electorate.

You have it there in one - travellers and tourists apparently are not on the NSW electoral roll, but they do vote with their wallets. With two people going to the CBD is about even-steven for costs? Once you have 3 or more people going to the same place its more economical to use taxi - is that the consensus?

 

[anat0l]

I prefer either of those options. Yes the BNE train doesn't run all the hours it should but it is reliable and cheaper than what SYD can offer.

Cheaper, how? As in it's further between BNE CBD to airport versus SYD? Or are you taking into account that a small discount can be afforded with an online purchase or a better discount if you buy from some retailers, hotel desks or a bulk book of tickets?

IIRC the airport falls in Translink zone 2, which costs $5.20 one-way using a paper ticket (or $3.58 one-way using a go card). That represents an effective "gate fee" of about $10 - $11.50 (no discount for go card holders on the Airtrain), or less than that if you get the discounted tickets.

The only thing going is that the rolling stock on the Airtrain is usually some of the "best" in the network (also used on the Gold Coast line). The trains to the airport from the Gold Coast line have a higher chance of being delayed for various reasons. Sometimes it's a mere 5-10 minutes, but still...

Reliability is probably as dependable as that in SYD, except that QR are pretty slow to commission buses to replace trains to and from the airport if the Airtrains are heavily delayed or cancelled. I don't know if RailCorp does put buses in if the line goes down, though I was in SYD one time when they were doing track work, and the replacement bus from the airport ended up being a free fare.

 

[anat0l]

You have it there in one - travellers and tourists apparently are not on the NSW electoral roll, but they do vote with their wallets. With two people going to the CBD is about even-steven for costs? Once you have 3 or more people going to the same place its more economical to use taxi - is that the consensus?

I'm not sure if travellers and tourists vote with their wallet on the airport transfer more than the other major expenses. It would make them possibly avoid those forms of transport, but without consulting some sources (e.g. even Wikitravel), many will be lazy and acquiesce to just taking the most convenient option, i.e. the train.

In general, without going via the Eastern Distributor, with 2 people from airport to CBD it's about break even. It's slightly in favour of the train, but for a few dollars (even with the credit card charge), the convenience probably makes it easier to take a taxi. Of course, if the taxi line is a basket case, you may reconsider.

3 or more pax definitely favours the taxi. 3 train fares is $45; a taxi to the CBD is about $35 - $40 without credit card surcharge and Eastern Distributor.

 

[eastwest101]

In general, without going via the Eastern Distributor, with 2 people from airport to CBD it's about break even. It's slightly in favour of the train, but for a few dollars (even with the credit card charge), the convenience probably makes it easier to take a taxi. Of course, if the taxi line is a basket case, you may reconsider.

3 or more pax definitely favours the taxi. 3 train fares is $45; a taxi to the CBD is about $35 - $40 without credit card surcharge and Eastern Distributor.

Thanks very much for the detailed info - I will be doing this with mrs eastwest101 in the near future...

 

[medhead]

While I agree the Skybus is a bit expensive, it is quick, takes you right into the city and I have never had any issues with its on time performance. It just is getting a bit too popular.

There are not going to be on time issues with airport link in Sydney, either. Once you get on a train it is going to take pretty much the same time to arrive at central.

 

[Robert Qld]

I love arriving back into Sydney and having to squeeze on the train with one suitcase...........the crush between 7am and 9am is embarassing.

The train really gets more patronage when the taxi queue is a mile long - arriving back on Friday night, I could see from the aircraft that the domestic terminal was full of lights (at 9:30pm) and there was a log queue on Joyce Drive. I assume during the day there was delays due to the weather. Once I got my bag, I saw the taxi line was at least a hundred deep (probably the same across the road too). It was amazing to see the train station was literally full of pax trying to avoid the taxi.

Ive always found it funny the amount of times I see a huge huge line at the taxi rank outside the QF terminal, only to walk across the carpark and see a near empty one at the DJ terminal!

 

[moa999]

Robert, my regular fri night tactic