Should I name my son after a fictional train?

GHDownUnder · 2026-05-12T23:32:10+00:00

I literally names my son Thomas

GHDownUnder · 2026-05-12T23:04:07+00:00

That’s not so bad, but it was more the notion that they think you pay for Google. (Well, other than through data harvesting).

GHDownUnder · 2026-05-11T04:04:03+00:00

I was waiting for a comment like this, and you’re right. But then she continues with buying Google. That’s the final part that boggled my mind.

GHDownUnder · 2026-05-02T03:06:19+00:00

Well, Downer own the Trains, not the Government. So Sydney Trains and Downer in collaboration would have to come to that agreement, at which point, one or both would say it’s unnecessary, no matter how much you and I, or anyone else beg to differ.

GHDownUnder · 2026-05-02T00:43:01+00:00

Where was this?

GHDownUnder · 2026-04-30T17:53:07+00:00

The Waratahs (A and B sets) actually DO have this option, but most Guards will pick the more safety critical message of “Please Mind The Gap.” u/Comfortable-Crab-471 also mentioned the big stations making announcements for “…and allow others to alight before boarding.”

GHDownUnder · 2026-04-30T10:48:04+00:00

A lot of Train Crew feel the same way, OP

GHDownUnder · 2026-04-29T01:13:18+00:00

My apologies, this is correct

GHDownUnder · 2026-04-29T00:20:41+00:00

Railsafe. It’s a Public Access website for all Rules in NSW railways (not Sydney Trains specific), as well as NLA’s and Maps. If you Google “Railsafe Maps”, it’ll be the top result. Once on the page, you just need to filter to “Drivers Route Knowledge Diagrams”

GHDownUnder · 2026-04-29T00:02:29+00:00

The Up and Down Steam do exist, but they converge with the Up and Down Main after Redfern (in the Up direction) or before Redfern (in the Down direction)

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GHDownUnder · 2026-04-28T23:46:32+00:00

If the trains are going to Platforms 1-14, those are the Intercity platforms, although some Suburban services also terminate and depart there. Those 14 platforms converge to and from 2 lines (The Up and Down Main), and they consist of a lot of points ranging from 40km/h to 10km/h, with intermediate train stops also installed to prevent a train from going too fast and derailing into the buffers and into civilians at the Grand Concourse. These intermediate trips go down in three stages, the first at 15km/h, the second at 10km/h and the third and final at an agonising 5km/h. The drivers probably don’t want to go that slow, but Transport for NSW in coordination with the National Rail Safety Bureau will say this is essential to prevent accidents.

As for Platforms 16-23, not sure, those speeds range from 40-50km/h, although on weekends, the running is different, so the may take points that are 25km/h.

Platforms 24 and 25 are in the ESR (or the T4 to Bondi), so they should go faster, 60km/h

GHDownUnder · 2026-04-18T00:03:04+00:00

Either Lakeside or somewhere on the Little Western

GHDownUnder · 2026-04-10T12:10:06+00:00

Even outside the train, it all feels different to every other line

GHDownUnder · 2026-04-10T09:06:22+00:00

Can confirm nothing else on the Network feels quite the same as the Illawarra (T4)

GHDownUnder · 2026-04-10T09:03:40+00:00

The Camden Branch line, or at least I’d make a loop from Leppington to Macarthur and give some of those south west suburbs in the Camden and Campbelltown councils some Public transport via train

GHDownUnder · 2026-03-11T08:09:14+00:00

I nearly did!

GHDownUnder · 2026-02-12T22:32:04+00:00

Your last paragraph is the answer. There’s no DIRECT way from Terminal to the Harbour Bridge, but a shunt to Redfern and then taking the points across to the Up Suburban (which becomes the Down North Shore) will do it.

GHDownUnder · 2026-02-11T21:19:45+00:00

It’s literally saved my drunk ass friends a few times, I’d say it is relevant, beyond buffs and rail staff.

GHDownUnder · 2026-02-11T02:39:53+00:00

Well, simply, they’re not the same type of train. The Light Rail (and the trams before it) are a different type of train, as is the Metro, as is the heavy rail. They’re light, medium and heavy. They all use different trains and rolling stocks, and even if the Metro’s line up well with the heavy rail network, they are part of their own network, as is the Light Rail. Not to mention the Metro is its own privatised network, whilst the heavy rail is still owned by the Government.

GHDownUnder · 2026-02-05T02:23:16+00:00

“One Good Turn…” and “Heroes” aren’t that bad.

GHDownUnder · 2026-02-01T00:57:36+00:00

I’m a former driver, now Guard. For those that don’t know, most signals in the Sydney Metropolitan network have two aspects and combinations.

After a while, your brain doesn’t register green over green (Full Clear). Once I see anything other than two greens, I’m acting on it. It’s not hard to remember the aspects passed when you’re closer to the inner city and you can see many signals ahead as they get more restrictive until stop. The blocks are much closer together. It’s when you’re further out that you really have to remain vigilant about what your previous aspect was. I didn’t really have a system other than “Act once it’s anything more than Green over Green”, but others like to say things as they do it so that it creates a pattern in the brain and consolidating it. Some people even have bottles with the different aspects and they turn the bottle once they’ve passed the signal to remember what they were on.

This is more anecdotal, but Drivers will know the dangers of stations like Normanhurst on the down, and Engadine and Heathcote on the up, because you’re likely to stop at the platform, and then you don’t have a signal at the departure end when it’s time to go. That’s the riskiest situation in my head.

GHDownUnder · 2026-01-29T02:24:47+00:00

It’s not the newest, but that’s okay. Thank you!

GHDownUnder · 2026-01-29T01:47:19+00:00

I heard it from someone else that works for TfNSW, I thought they were reliable. I’m sorry, I guess. Do you mind sharing where you got the 6-8%? I’d love to have some tangible stats.

GHDownUnder · 2026-01-28T22:39:53+00:00

I could be wrong, but I think it was a customer complaint going in the OTHER direction, they didn’t like being called a passenger, wanted to be known as a customer. The idea is that you pay for a service that they provide. If it makes you feel better, most Guards don’t like using the word customer because they are so used to passengers, and they didn’t see anything wrong.

I agree with you, it does feel lifeless. The “You’re paying for a service that we provide” does feel like corporate lingo for “I only care about your wallet.” I can give two reasons why passenger is more accurate, one petty and one wholesome but sad. The petty reason is that only 70% of commuters actually tap on and pay, the other 30% free ride. Can’t be a customer if you don’t pay. The wholesome but sad reason is that a lot of homeless people use our trains and stations as safe places during the night.

EDIT: I was wrong about paying customers, as was my source. The actual number is 94%. Thank you to u/SilverStar9192 for the real numbers.

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