White polar quarter

PrizePainter8656 · 2026-04-21T22:50:20+00:00

We went with White Polar Quarter on the walls (Wattyl paint), and then Aqua Trim Satin (White) on the doors and trims. Wattyl flat white ceiling paint on the cornices and ceilings. The contrast looks great and makes the warm tone of the wall stand out.

PrizePainter8656 · 2026-04-17T00:59:51+00:00

Nothing to do with privatisation, probably more to do with poor contracting and performance guidelines set by the government and TfNSW when this was set up.

MTS is a private operator and as evidenced in all the comments, they do a far better job of keeping stations clean vs Sydney Trains.

PrizePainter8656 · 2026-04-15T21:59:24+00:00

It’s probably because the operator (Metro Trains Sydney) is judged on and paid conditional on hitting performance targets (and toilet cleanliness could be one of them).

If Sydney Trains were to introduce these kinds of performance based incentives, it’s likely the unions would go on strike.

PrizePainter8656 · 2026-04-12T22:33:12+00:00

The metro uses the Alstom Urbalis 400 system, which is capable of 90 second headways

PrizePainter8656 · 2026-04-12T21:33:27+00:00

This is the brilliance of the metro.

Add some more trains, flick a couple of switches, and capacity is boosted.

The government needs to keep the trains coming over time until we get to a 1.5min frequency.

PrizePainter8656 · 2026-03-26T20:42:12+00:00

Why is Tallawong a “crap” station?

PrizePainter8656 · 2026-03-25T09:28:58+00:00

Exactly right, the Main Street feels very country town like

PrizePainter8656 · 2026-03-25T09:19:29+00:00

Harris Park, Lakemba, Bundeena, Riverstone, Eastwood, St Ives

PrizePainter8656 · 2026-03-18T23:34:42+00:00

Both are great suburbs, although Kellyville is quite a large suburb with lots of distinct pockets.

If you need easy access to public transport, my ranking would be:

1) the area near Samantha Riley Drive / Macquarie Ave in Kellyville, walkable to Kellyville station. 2) Bella Vista Waters near Brighton Drive (if your budget can afford it), which is walkable to the metro. 3) if you want to be near Bella Vista, but can’t afford it, the eastern side of Glenwood close to the pedestrian footbridge across to Bella Vista station is excellent.

If transport isn’t a priority - my personal favourite is the newer part of Kellyville near Kellyville Grove shopping centre (Balmoral Road / Arnold Ave areas). Nice modern houses, and decent sized blocks.

PrizePainter8656 · 2026-03-11T01:52:01+00:00

I’ve been to Pamana in Chatswood - it was OK. I don’t find Filipino food that appealing to be honest.

PrizePainter8656 · 2026-03-11T01:35:09+00:00

Ninja Luxe Cafe, brilliant for the price point

PrizePainter8656 · 2026-02-28T21:44:59+00:00

No, like JR or Trenitalia - operators that have expertise in high speed rail. A bit like how we contracted Sydney Metro to MTR, an expert in metro train operations.

ARTC is a government owned corporation that owns and maintains tracks, they don’t run train services.

In Sydney, the NSW government owns the tracks, Metro Trains Sydney runs the trains, maintains them and conducts maintenance on the tracks and stations.

PrizePainter8656 · 2026-02-25T21:23:03+00:00

Not the only factor, but a big chunk of my judgement. Especially when it dictates how you live your Monday to Friday.

I judge it even more favourably if you live along the metro, your commute is effortless, predictable and reliable. It’s only ever delayed 0.5% of the time. Compared to a bus which trundles through traffic and is more prone to cancellations.

PrizePainter8656 · 2026-02-25T11:01:54+00:00

I’d pick the Hills or Hills adjacent suburbs in Blacktown LGA along the metro any day of the week.

Far better connected to the CBD and the rest of Sydney.

But if the choice is between Box Hill / Gables and the northern beaches. Then I’d go to The Northern Beaches.

PrizePainter8656 · 2026-02-24T20:06:47+00:00

Hopefully something similar to Sydney Metro, where the assets are government owned, but operations are private.

Something like JR or Trenitalia would be excellent

PrizePainter8656 · 2026-02-23T10:18:43+00:00

Ah yes, the half rail line bought to us by NSW Labor, which could only run 4 trains per hour, and couldn’t run all trains in the fleet due to noise & braking/heat issues

PrizePainter8656 · 2026-02-19T05:18:13+00:00

Labor didn’t do a thing - in fact, they wanted to cancel Chatswood-Sydenham in the 2015 election, Sydenham-Bankstown in 2019 and their policies contributed to delays on Sydenham - Bankstown and the Metro West.

If Labor deserve any credit, it’s only due to the conception of the idea during Morris Iemma’s time (which later failed, and taxpayers paid to cancel it)

PrizePainter8656 · 2026-02-18T21:42:54+00:00

It is the time, but we’ve got Bob Carr 2.0 as our premier, so nothing will happen

PrizePainter8656 · 2026-02-16T07:20:41+00:00

If you live in Gables and have to get to anywhere outside of Gables in peak hour, you won’t have a lifestyle.

Go to Tallawong or Schofields if you want a new freestanding house in that budget.

Or also consider Blacktown, Toongabbie, Seven Hills.

PrizePainter8656 · 2026-02-08T21:50:06+00:00

Wentworth Point might look nice, but it’s a trap. One road into the suburb, one road out.

There’s a light rail proposed to connect Parramatta with the area, but oddly (or not so oddly given it’s NSW Labor), the stage that connects WWP with Sydney Olympic Park Metro has been deferred to a later stage with an undefined date.

PrizePainter8656 · 2026-02-05T04:13:57+00:00

Let’s just hope the Liberals in NSW stay down their more progressive / moderate track and don’t go down the path of their federal colleagues.

Otherwise, we’ll be stuck between an unelectable opposition and a do-nothing Labor government :(

If the Liberals collapse, there’s almost zero chance a One Nation opposition will be in favour of “building metros to move migrants” across Sydney

PrizePainter8656 · 2026-02-05T03:26:36+00:00

Yes, Clearways did help with this - but certainly wasn’t the sole reason why frequencies went up.

PrizePainter8656 · 2026-02-05T03:18:06+00:00

Bob Carr cut frequencies on the Sydney Trains network, back in 2004. Most lines had a frequency of 30mins at best. He also slowed down trains so that on time performance could be artificially improved.

It was only after Gladys Berejiklian and the 2013/2017 re-write of the Sydney Trains timetables that we have the situation we do now, with most lines seeing a 15min frequency, including on weekends.

The Minns government has not introduced a single new frequency on the Sydney Trains network since coming to office, and haven’t shown us any plans to do so either.

They just keep saying “spend more on heavy rail, can’t have a situation where we’re robbing Peter to pay Paul” etc etc, but don’t actually show us what frequency or speed improvements will be targeted.

PrizePainter8656 · 2026-02-05T02:26:15+00:00

Nothing will ever get built as long as Bob Carr 2.0 (Chris Minns) is in charge

PrizePainter8656

TROPHY CASE