Crap respsonse from Connex about bikes on trains. - aus.bicycle

Message from discussion Crap respsonse from Connex about bikes on trains.

ray

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More options Jan 5 2008, 7:40 am

Newsgroups: aus.bicycle

From: ray <ferre...@optusnet.com.au>

Date: Sat, 05 Jan 2008 07:40:43 +1100

Local: Sat, Jan 5 2008 7:40 am

Subject: Re: Crap respsonse from Connex about bikes on trains.

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Vintage wrote:
> Well great to see the cut and past job from Connex that didn't address any
> of the concerns I raised with them over the bike ban on trains in peak hour.

> Lets me just say that if its dark in the arvo, the rain hits hard, the
> roads are REAL nasty I'm telling the wife to get the train still home with
> her bike instead of riding home that night. We will cop any fine they want
> to throw at us or action taking as its still better than the worst case
> scenario of her on the roads in those conditions. And I trust her skills
> on the road, its just all the other nuts I don't trust and see daily.

> I take it when the new trains are here we are allowed back on?

> ,Snip for space reasons>

No, having established the precedent, it will stay. And it would help if
the service they provide was going to be significantly improved. But
it's not. I live in Ferntree Gully. If you caught the 0733 morning
express to the city in 1969, you'll be doing exactly the same in 2009,
as the timetables haven't changed at all, apart from adding ten minutes
for the City Loop.
Here's a nice figure you can quote:

Average speed Melb suburban train, steam, 1885: 30 k/mh
Average speed Melb suburban train, electric, 2008: 37 k/mh

Which speaks for itself. With some minor exceptions (Glen Waverley and
Westona) the entire heavy rail system dates from prior to the 1892
economic crash.
The trains themselves are quite capable of cruising at 115 k/mh.
However, Apart from Watergardens, Pakenham and parts of Werribee, the
trains are normally restricted to 80-100 k/mh due to the indifferent
state of the tracks, hence the average above. Which for Sydneysiders, is
a full 10 k/mh slower than the CityRail equivalent.
The entire system essentially needs rebuilding from the tracks up. But
as one former MP put it recently: `Opening new lines is sexy. Upgrading
existing ones is not'. So this comes down to the egos of politicians,
and on that one we've lost.
Cheers,
Ray

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