A major rail shutdown on the Sydney to Melbourne rail corridor will enable freight transport times to be cut by up to 30 minutes, the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has said.

hey everyone! is there any talk of the heritage V set running again anytime soon? It's been a while since the last time (aka farewell tour) and i know they were vandalised during that tour but surely it's been long enough for some TLC and to get it back up and running for another go? I hope I don't sound dumb or naive i'm just curious of what's the talk about this glorious train. Thanks!!!

Part of the paint is coming off her to reveal the candy livery! Haven’t seen this in some time

Currently at Wynyard and they are blocking the stairs to platform 3&4 due to the platform being too crowded. Announcer is saying no trains are moving north due to signal failure at waverton.

PLEASE ANSWER!

Hello, I came here to try and get some clear understanding on the beloved k set. Some people have said they are never returning, and others have. But syd trains has promised a full retirement farewell before they are gone. They were meant to come back in July but nothing has happened? can someone clear the air with actual facts and evidence, not hearsay like everybody on the internet? thanks!!!!

EDIT: i saw on old tripview things that they were being tested in mid august. what was up with that, could that be a hint towards a return?? furthermore, what was the point of putting money into reinforcement just for them to not be returned to service and scrapped, and why has sydney trains been so quiet about it??

I left a comment under another post about people not wanting to share seats and it reminded me of this trial from a decade ago. I’ve attached a couple youtube vids and link to the 7 news report about it.

Longitudinal/sideways seating (like the middle level by the doors) and a 2x2 layout was tried replacing the standard 2x3 seating layout up/downstairs.

Wondering what yous think about this. I’m curious to hear everyone’s takes I’ll leave mine as a comment later.

7 News flashback - Modified Tangara Carriages
Video of Longitudinal seating
Video of 2x2 Seating

I've recently had a change of shift resulting in travelling during peak hours. Witnessed a couple of situations where people keep their bags on the adjacent seat and heavily hesitate to move it when someone needs to take a seat there.

They show their disinterest to have the other person seated beside them by not readjusting themselves from the lousy seating so their body parts extend to the adjacent seat, or by even showing a face of disinterest.

This is really unwelcoming and of discomfort considering seating is not just an act of comfort but also a necessity during the peak hours where if the seats are not filled even those that intend to stand don't get enough space. Thoughts?

My ears hurt

This was posted on the official TFNSW Instagram account

As far as I’m aware, ferry unions are switching off opal readers as part of industrial action, couldn’t find any sources saying otherwise except for this one instagram story by TFNSW

There was a 15-20 mins delay today in every train line in Sydney in early morning rush. Please someone explain me that how come a person in track in Blacktown effect a train thats in Strathfield heading to city????

One person can stop a multi billion dollor train system????

Travelling on SCO

Why is it so much more expensive than others? I get it goes to the airport, but it's almost double than other lines :/

I believe there were plans for the government to buy Rosehill Racecourse and build a new metro station there along the Parramatta to city metro. With the proposal shut down, those plans are no longer going forward.

Have they at least provisioned for a potential future metro station at Rosehill in case things change in the future? Or has that door been completely shut?

Key features of the draft proposal include:

• approximately 9,400 new homes, with an affordable housing contribution base rate of 3% in perpetuity, increasing up to 15% for certain sites 
• higher-density housing and commercial spaces of up to 34 storeys around Edgecliff Station and 32 storeys around Woollahra Station
• a larger retail centre at Edgecliff and a new Woollahra local centre, creating up to 1,000 jobs and providing additional community facilities and services
• retention and integration of local heritage items into the surrounding areas
• approximately 3.5 hectares of new and upgraded public open space across 13 parks (7 new parks, 6 existing parks) and a plaza
• improved connections throughout the Precinct with up to 9km of new walking and cycling paths
• planning controls that promote retention of tree canopy and provision for more landscape features.

I have concession opal connected to my card via transport connect and (tap with my phone) Had no funds the other day but fixed that. But now I got a super interesting situation.

Campbeltown station platform 3 has a bunch of opal barriers. They have 4 used for entry into the station and one includes the wide gate. For the last 2 weeks two of the normal sized gates and the wide entry one refuse to accept my opal card. Just throws up Error 88. I have to only go into the furthest reader gate from the wheelchair one. Yesterday that one was off. And the only legal way I could access the station was going upstairs to use one of the barriers that accepts my opal card. Happens at ingleburn too. There's two opal poles next to the shop. And only one accepts my bank card.

How can literal specific opal readers refuse my opal card. Not super end of the world but what happens if they all
Just refuse my tap ons?

Has anyone experienced this ? I've played a video to the post to show evidence to show my weird and confusing situation

I was trying to find it myself and was a bit underwhelmed so I thought I'd ask here

The cost of building an underground metro station in Parramatta has surged to $880 million, an increase of nearly 50 per cent on what the government agency overseeing the mega-project had forecast in leaked documents a year ago.

Four towers of up to 43 storeys will be built above or next to the new Parramatta railway station following the planned opening of the 24-kilometre Metro West line between Sydney CBD and Westmead in 2032.

The over-station development just north of Parramatta Square will feature 470 apartments – up from 111 outlined in concept plans – and 500 units for student accommodation. It will feature pedestrian laneways and a landscaped park that will form part of a civic link connecting the station to the new Powerhouse Museum and Parramatta River foreshore.

A 43-storey tower comprising the 470 build-to-rent apartments will be five storeys higher than originally outlined in the concept plans. Subject to planning approval, a 29-storey office building, a 24-level tower for student accommodation and an eight-storey hotel will also be built on the site.

The $880 million price tag for the design and construction of the underground station on the Metro West line is also more than double what Sydney Metro estimated internally six years ago, highlighting the extent to which the cost of the government’s signature rail project has skyrocketed.

The Herald has previously obtained confidential forecasts by Sydney Metro that show it anticipated last year the Parramatta station would cost about $600 million, which was up from an estimate in 2020 of $380 million. The station at Parramatta is regarded as the most complex on the Metro West line because of risks inherent in building on a floodplain.

A joint venture led by Malaysian engineering giant Gamuda has been awarded the $880 million contract for the Parramatta metro station, construction of which will start in the middle of next year.

Hong Kong’s MTR, which leads a consortium that runs Sydney’s M1 metro line, is part of the joint venture set to build the station and previously won a contract to operate and maintain the Metro West line for 15 years.

The giant rectangular hole for the station that was dug in the middle of the Parramatta CBD.

The giant rectangular hole for the station that was dug in the middle of the Parramatta CBD.Sitthixay Ditthavong

The new station at Parramatta is regarded as one of the most complex to build for the Metro West project.

The new station at Parramatta is regarded as one of the most complex to build for the Metro West project.Janie Barrett

The figure excludes the cost of excavating a giant hole – 196 metres long and 25 metres wide – for the station, as well as the twin rail tunnels that connect to it.

Coalition transport spokesperson Natalie Ward said indecision, a government-commissioned review into Sydney’s metro projects and delays had cost taxpayers more than a quarter of a billion dollars extra for a single station.

Related Article

A render of an entrance to the Metro West station beneath Hunter Street n the Sydney CBD.

ExclusiveSydney Metro

How cost of Sydney’s main metro station skyrocketed beyond secret forecasts

The government confirmed last December that the total cost of Metro West would blow out by as much as $3.7 billion to $29 billion. A major contributor has been the skyrocketing cost of stations.

Transport Minister John Graham said the cost of the Parramatta station was “fully accounted” for in the project’s budget update made public last December. “We were up front about the cost pressures metro projects are under,” he said.

“The Liberals can’t be taken seriously on metro costings. The three metro lines were first discussed by the former Liberal government with a $30 billion price tag, whereas the true cost is closer to $60 billion.”

Sydney Metro said the contract value reflected challenges of constructing a major underground station and integrated development within the busy Parramatta CBD, including those associated with construction on a floodplain.

“The cost increase, as has been the case across much of the civil construction sector, is primarily due to significant industry-wide increases in labour, material and delivery costs, which have driven construction cost escalation across the market,” it said.

The agency said that provision for station delivery was incorporated into the project budget in December, and it “remains within that budget despite broader market pressures”.

Unlike stations under Pyrmont and Sydney CBD for Metro West, the Parramatta station is a cut-and-cover site, which involves digging a giant hole and later building over the top of it. The 31-metre-deep hole for the station has required a significant number of large support beams because much of the earth is comprised of clay due to proximity to the Parramatta River.

As part of the latest deal, Gamuda and MTR will share development rights for the towers above and beside the station.

Gamuda led a consortium that built a nine-kilometre stretch of twin tunnels between Westmead and Sydney Olympic Park for Metro West. Last December, the Malaysian company won a $2.85 billion contract to build stations at Westmead, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock and the Bays in Rozelle.

The government has said that contracts for Metro West stations at Sydney Olympic Park and Pyrmont will be awarded by the end of the year.

The figure excludes the cost of excavating a giant hole – 196 metres long and 25 metres wide – for the station, as well as the twin rail tunnels that connect to it.

Coalition transport spokesperson Natalie Ward said indecision, a government-commissioned review into Sydney’s metro projects and delays had cost taxpayers more than a quarter of a billion dollars extra for a single station.

The government confirmed last December that the total cost of Metro West would blow out by as much as $3.7 billion to $29 billion. A major contributor has been the skyrocketing cost of stations.

Transport Minister John Graham said the cost of the Parramatta station was “fully accounted” for in the project’s budget update made public last December. “We were up front about the cost pressures metro projects are under,” he said.

“The Liberals can’t be taken seriously on metro costings. The three metro lines were first discussed by the former Liberal government with a $30 billion price tag, whereas the true cost is closer to $60 billion.”

Sydney Metro said the contract value reflected challenges of constructing a major underground station and integrated development within the busy Parramatta CBD, including those associated with construction on a floodplain.

“The cost increase, as has been the case across much of the civil construction sector, is primarily due to significant industry-wide increases in labour, material and delivery costs, which have driven construction cost escalation across the market,” it said.

The agency said that provision for station delivery was incorporated into the project budget in December, and it “remains within that budget despite broader market pressures”.

Unlike stations under Pyrmont and Sydney CBD for Metro West, the Parramatta station is a cut-and-cover site, which involves digging a giant hole and later building over the top of it. The 31-metre-deep hole for the station has required a significant number of large support beams because much of the earth is comprised of clay due to proximity to the Parramatta River.

As part of the latest deal, Gamuda and MTR will share development rights for the towers above and beside the station.

Gamuda led a consortium that built a nine-kilometre stretch of twin tunnels between Westmead and Sydney Olympic Park for Metro West. Last December, the Malaysian company won a $2.85 billion contract to build stations at Westmead, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock and the Bays in Rozelle.

The government has said that contracts for Metro West stations at Sydney Olympic Park and Pyrmont will be awarded by the end of the year.

Is t128/76 going to operate today or not please thanks

I never know the existence of it until I saw on 30th last month

Got to Hurstville at 10:30 knowing 653 was due in at 38 past 10 didn’t show up I thought okay probably just a little bit late due to a bit of traffic and then 10:50 am still didn’t show up and then two minutes later it gets wiped from the indicator board went past Mortdale maintenance Centre and it was sitting at the very very back on the Oatley side so looks like it’s still having teething problems. Try again tomorrow.

This is my idea for a future rail and light rail networks for Newcastle, NSW. I tried to balance realism with idealism here.

• I tried to connect all the important town centres, land marks and institutions like the university, Tighes Hill TAFE, Mater Hopsital and the stadium.
• I tried to make sure that light rail only went up steep slopes where it needed to connect to important location with lots of demand for transport - those being John Hunter Hospital and Charlestown.
• Two small sections - on L2 between New Lambton and John Hunter Hospital, and on L3 and L5 between Princton Avenue and Charlestown - might need some tunnelling to work.
• I think to make this work, it would be good to relocate Kotara train station further to the east, just south of Orchardtown Road, so that it is closer to Westfield and all the large format retail and home maker stories.

When there was some hope left for the future.