Less than two days of the Baird/Berejiklian bus replacement shuttle service between Broadmeadow and Newcastle Stations have exposed the reality of the second-rate service that many of us feared it would be.
Here’s what the state government promised, followed by what’s really happening.
CLAIM: “This will be a full replacement service”
REALITY: Not true. Cyclists who previously took their bikes on the
train through to Wickham, Civic and Newcastle stations are not allowed on the
replacement shuttle bus service. Angry cyclists have already been turned away
and have missed planned connections. This limitation of the shuttle service is
not mentioned in any signage or government information leaflets at the stations
or the shuttle stops. [see photo 1 – cyclists being turned away from shuttle
bus at Broadmeadow Station on Boxing Day]
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| Photo 1: Cyclists being turned away from shuttle bus at Broadmeadow Station on Boxing Day |
CLAIM: “There will be a bus waiting for every train”
REALITY: Not true. Crowds of rail passengers forced to alight at
Broadmeadow Station have had to wait outside the station for connecting shuttle
buses to arrive. [see photo 2 – crowd waiting for shuttle bus at Broadmeadow Station, 27 December 2014]
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| Photo 2: Crowd of rail passengers waiting for shuttle bus at Broadmeadow Station, 27 December 2014 |
CLAIM: “Every passenger will have a seat on the shuttle buses”
REALITY: Not true. Some shuttle buses have had standing room only,
and full shuttle buses have had to leave passengers to wait for a back-up bus
to arrive, creating significant delays. [see photos 3 and 4 – passengers standing in
shuttle bus at Broadmeadow while others left behind]
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| Photo 3: Standing room only on Gladys's Broadmeadow shuttle bus |
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| Photo 4: No room on the shuttle bus- these passengers were left behind to await a stand-by shuttle bus |
Rail and bus workers involved in these changes are trying to help passengers deal with these problems (not of their making) as best they can.
The confusion and stress of passengers is evident, and rail staff have also reported high levels of workplace stress associated with the changes.
The confusion and stress of passengers is evident, and rail staff have also reported high levels of workplace stress associated with the changes.
These problems have been observed on two relatively quiet
days (Boxing Day and today). What will happen when the system is really tested
on high-use days? And if these problems are evident at Broadmeadow, how much
worse will they be when the shuttle interchange transfers to Hamilton (on 5
January)?
For authorities not to have forseen these problems beggars belief. The cases highlighted occurred on quiet days which were also relatively cool. Wait for the hotter weather in scool holidays when there is an influx of young people going to Newcastle beach with their surfing gear etc. Wont be funny.
ReplyDeleteI did see a couple of people board the shuttle buses with their surfboards.
DeleteOne with a relatively small board in a cover was accommodated reasonably easily, but another with a longer, uncovered board had real difficulties, and it looked pretty dangerous with the fins of his board swishing close to the heads of other passengers as he made his way to his seat.
And watch what happens when all the workers and school kids return after the holidays.
The Minister was well and truly briefed on this potential problem BUT chose the ostrich approach -- Head In The Sand -- Minister this is a dismal failure and you well know it to concede defeat. Appologise and stop the truncation and have the trains again do what they should do that is -- carry people to Newcastle Station.
ReplyDeleteToo true, Milton.
DeleteBut they seem obstinately and contemptuously indifferent to evidence, logic, public opinion and the public interest - and even to their own stated public transport goal of increasing the mode share of peak hour public transport use to and from the Newcastle CBD to 20% by 2016 (see Goal 8.2.3 of the Coalition's NSW 2021 Plan).
With one year to go to do that, it's hard to see how reducing rail patronage into the CBD by 23% (the state government's own estimate of the impact of cutting the Newcastle rail line at Wickham) will help achieve that election promise.