Western Sydney Airport (WSI) Discussion

[justinbrett]

In close to 40 trips to London over the years I still am yet to catch a train to the city. Always a cab or private driver or occasionally relatives if staying with them but I also don’t use trains to/from airports anywhere really and especially not SYD and doubt I’ll ever use the MEL one when completed. Each to their own though, some people swear by them

Hence the caveat "not many sensible people". You're either not sensible, or in the "not many" group.

You need better luggage. Wheel to the platform, wheel on the HEX, wheel off, get taxi. It's not hard and that just saved you an hour of traffic and a hundred pounds.

Speaking of Sydney specifically, I used to live in Bondi Junction. I only made the mistake once or twice in getting a cab to/from SYD airport even with a work cabcharge, it's so much quicker on the train.

Yeah, I do get that but whilst on holiday I want door to door service and happy to pay for the convenience

Unless you're arriving in the middle of the night, I wouldn't call being stuck in traffic a convenience.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Hence the caveat "not many sensible people". You're either not sensible, or in the "not many" group.

I've certainly met people who outright refuse to use public transport even if it's clearly a better option under most reasons, not sure if it's a sense that it's unreliable, or they consdier it unworthy of themselves.

 

[elanshin]

I've been told many times for KUL, if its peak hour, get the train then maybe the last couple of bits by taxi. You could be in a cab for 2h+ whilst a train is guaranteed 35mins.

 

[SYD]

I've been told many times for KUL, if its peak hour, get the train then maybe the last couple of bits by taxi. You could be in a cab for 2h+ whilst a train is guaranteed 35mins.

Jakarta can also be “pick a number” depending on ToD and DoW.

 

[markis10]

You could be in a cab for 2h+ whilst a train is guaranteed 35mins.

Not a guaranteed 35minutes when they modify the service to also operate as the transit service stopping enroute at 5 or so stations which was the case numerous days last month.

 

[dajop]

LGW is one where I think train wins to most locations. I know a couple of years ago it took about 50mins to get to our hotel at West Brompton (near earls court) whilst google maps was showing 1.5 hrs for the 60km journey by car.

 

[RooFlyer]

There’s plenty of city hotels that would have been easier - and don’t have that ghastly “airport feel”.

Not sure why any city hotels should have an airport feel - ghastly or otherwise.

If you are referring to my comment above, I was referring to airport hotels being pretty ordinary.

But I sometimes do choose hotels based on proximity to public transport – trains. Like last night here at Windsor, right next to one of the Windsor train stations. Travelodge. cough hotel.

When I can afford it, and with checked baggage + carry on, I’m with @jase05 - door to door preferred. A station may be close but you still gotta shlep over there, down the escalators wait for the train (and delays are not uncommon) then faff around at the airport station. and of course the Sydney ‘airport train’ was never designed for people with luggage! Very Sydney (I was living in Sydney when it was built - remember the kerfuffle over that!)

Uber that is, with many cities I'm familiar with. Hong Kong and obvious exception and London also; and Stockholm. In places like Jakarta and Bangkok I’ll deal with them on case by case basis but i’ll probably get a private driver if I can get a recommendation.

BTW i’m not sure whether this is old news or not but I heard here that the HEX is going to be or might be abandoned.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Not a guaranteed 35minutes when they modify the service to also operate as the transit service stopping enroute at 5 or so stations which was the case numerous days last month.

That's understandable, a dedicated railway service to an airport is quite a significant cost if it ONLY serves that airport. Bringing the topic back to WSI, the entire premise of the Metro to WSI is mostly about serving the airport, but there are the economic zones that will be developed around the airport precinct and that is certainly part of the justification for building infrastructure.

I think for Australia, Brisbane and Perth are the closest examples we have of railways built ONLY to serve the airport, but even these are just minor extensions to existing networks. WSI is quite more than that, and the existing SYD railway line is well..just another stop during peak hour services.

 

[SYD]

BTW i’m not sure whether this is old news or not but I heard here that the HEX is going to be or might be abandoned.

It’s true that it’s rumoured.

Slightly redundant now the EL is running (except when it’s not).

 

[Aeryn]

HEX was only convenient if staying at Paddington, i never thought it worth the premium over taking Picadilly line, given the back tracking needed to get to a convenient station. Elizabeth line priced in between but then only useful for some parts of the city.

Re trains to SYD if you sit in vestibule area not really any different to picadilly line trains which dont have a dedicated luggage area either. Noting NYC trains from JFK and NJ Transit (2 story like Sydney trains) which you have to take from to NY from EWR also no dedicated luggage area, not a deal breaker.

Of course WSI wont have special trains to city or anywhere else either, have to get on same style Sydney Trains as service SYD from St Mary's just travel for much longer.

 

[justinbrett]

HEX was only convenient if staying at Paddington, i never thought it worth the premium over taking Picadilly line, given the back tracking needed to get to a convenient station. Elizabeth line priced in between but then only useful for some parts of the city.

*Is - it's not gone yet!

For the train + taxi option, HEX is much easier - not only is it quicker but it uses the surface platforms, so you just wheel your suitcases off without having to wait for the lift or use the multiple escalators.

These days you can get pretty good deals if you book ahead - currently 10 pounds (actually cheaper than EL)

BTW i’m not sure whether this is old news or not but I heard here that the HEX is going to be or might be abandoned.

There's a review - but it is profitable, and that can't be taken for granted in the context of British rail. Maybe it will be nationalised - but those pax will have to be added to the EL - which will need more trains - and hey, HEX is already purple, maybe it just gets rebadged the Lizzy Express.

Not sure why any city hotels should have an airport feel - ghastly or otherwise.

If you are referring to my comment above, I was referring to airport hotels being pretty ordinary.

And I was pointing out there are well located hotels that aren't near the airport.

When I can afford it, and with checked baggage + carry on, I’m with @jase05 - door to door preferred. A station may be close but you still gotta shlep over there, down the escalators wait for the train (and delays are not uncommon) then faff around at the airport station. and of course the Sydney ‘airport train’ was never designed for people with luggage! Very Sydney (I was living in Sydney when it was built - remember the kerfuffle over that!)

Get better luggage? On a big trip I have a 4 wheel checked and a 4 wheel carry on, I'm happy to do ~500m m on flat ground (or lifts at stations). I'm not going longer distances or up and down hills / cobblestone streets - that would be shlepping - but short distances or within a train station? I don't agree.

I think Sydney trains are better than most - you can just stay in the level part near the doors, plenty of room for bags and it's only a 10 minute trip. I think far more valid criticism for Brisbane's Air Train on that front.

I actually used the train to self transfer on my last D-I trip (QF to QF). It was great, I wish QF just sponsored that and did away with the buses

 

[serfty]

Not a guaranteed 35minutes when they modify the service to also operate as the transit service stopping enroute at 5 or so stations which was the case numerous days last month.

Basically a guaranteed 36 minutes as the Transit is blocked at that time with the Ekpres being 28 minutes.