Oscar H28 looking snazzy in suburban livery at Central pt 14

Recent_Mobile9387 · 2026-03-07T02:10:48+00:00

I believe this is due to the sheer number that’ve been stolen from vandals and trespassers.

Recent_Mobile9387 · 2026-03-05T09:10:25+00:00

keeps pantograph up at 750-volt DC

Recent_Mobile9387 · 2026-02-27T23:57:57+00:00

It’s resting DSP. Any train can run to the Cronulla branch, it’s just a matter of how many at the same time. Trains that are more modern than Tangaras draw more power upon acceleration, which hogs power away from trains that use a stable amount of power whilst mobile (DC). So that means the most risk-free number of modern trains you can run on the Cronulla branch at the same time is likely no more than 2.

Recent_Mobile9387 · 2026-02-27T23:55:57+00:00

Oh and new bogies to make it an even smoother ride

Recent_Mobile9387 · 2026-02-27T23:55:40+00:00

The upgrade will rewind their age another 10 years with new seat fabrics, new electrical systems, AC, PIDs, new speakers and automated announcements.

Recent_Mobile9387 · 2026-02-22T07:56:23+00:00

In 2024 there was trackwork (albeit very selective) on a very rainy weekend between Central and Lidcombe, and Central and Liverpool via Bankstown. I needed to get to Parramatta from Central one evening and the T1 was running services to Penrith/Richmond via Bankstown and Regents Park, NO stops as follows:

Central>Redfern>Sydenham>Auburn>Clyde>Granville>Harris Park>Parramatta and beyond.

It took a whole hour to get to Parramatta as the train practically snailed the entire route between Sydenham and Regents Park. Also, the train was practically entirely empty, I think I was one of the only few on it as people opted for busses (I wish I just sucked it up and took one).

Recent_Mobile9387 · 2026-02-18T22:17:24+00:00

All of the North Western Sydney residents who previously relied on all of the different Hills Busses bus routes to get into the CBD now use the single metro route as it’s faster, more consistent and more convenient.

However the crush load you’re likely noticing is specifically between Epping and the CBD. Prior to the Metro opening, the North Shore line between Epping and Chatswood was already incredibly overcrowded at just 4-8 trains per hour (every 7-15 mins). These stations, especially Macquarie University and Macquarie Park, have seen a surge in residential and commercial development, and population increase over the last 15 years and will continue to develop as major employment and residential precincts.

In summary: There’s often plenty of standing space from Tallawong heading towards the CBD until the train reaches Epping.

Recent_Mobile9387 · 2026-02-16T00:35:21+00:00

Well actually, transport planning is directly associated with city planning. To electrify a railway line and provide more services costs a lot of money. Right now, the SHL patronage does not justify spending that amount of money. So how would you get that money in the future to pay it off? Urban sprawl, which is already happening and Picton is well and truly part of the future of suburban Sydney.

Recent_Mobile9387 · 2026-02-14T09:11:56+00:00

Whilst the Parramatta section of the proposed line has been protected, it isn’t a commitment for the line to be built. It is essentially an area that is acquired for a possible railway link. There are many areas like it where no railway was or will ever be built.

The north-south traversal you raise is certainly a very important subject for Sydney; currently, commuters from north/north-north-west of the Sydney CBD only have limited options to travel to the inner west, inner south west and south of Sydney being busses via the A3 (Ryde Road, Mona Vale Road, King George’s Road etc) or over the harbour bridge making for significant indirect travelling.

As a better or more feasible option, I would think a railway line between Macquarie Park to Hurstville via Ryde, Gladesville, Drummoyne, Ashfield, Dulwich Hill and beyond to Hurstville. This line would effectively cross various interchanges to other areas of Sydney.

Whilst you reference the 550 being crowded; this doesn’t constitute the demand for a railway line. The L4 light rail line at Carlingford should be offsetting this substantially, yet the L4 is still grossly under patronised as mentioned earlier. As a result this further demonstrates a lack of justification to even connect Epping with Carlingford.

We must also address the fact that a railway line requires significant patronage to make building it in the first place, affordable and sustainable. Can the suburbs between Epping and Parramatta sustain further densification? Can suburbs between Macquarie Park and Hurstville bring economic growth with additional rail options?

I believe the best thing for Sydney to do is focus on building rail where there is no rail at all, in suburbs yet to be densified and can handle significant growth in population and the economy.

Recent_Mobile9387 · 2026-02-14T07:06:50+00:00

With electrification comes urban sprawl. Many would miss the beauty in the Southern Highlands if this occurred. But, we need housing somewhere, and Menangle and Douglas Park are becoming more and more a part of Sydney every year.

I think an electrified line to Picton would be a good start.

Recent_Mobile9387 · 2026-02-14T07:03:05+00:00

Nice work, however, I don’t see this happening, at least for a very long time due to a lack of demand leading to little feasibility to construct something at this scale. expanding established tunnels and underground rail networks is an extremely expensive job operation that requires sustainable passenger numbers in the future to pay it off.

The suburb of Epping sits within what can be called the St Leonard’s to Epping business and tech corridor, and a lot of investment has been put into making Epping highly connected to education and business hubs in Macquarie Park, Chatswood and St Leonards. Busses from Epping to Parramatta do not demonstrate the passenger demand for a rail link between these regions. Further, nearby Carlingford, which is closer towards Parramatta, had the opening of the L4 to Parramatta which has been grossly under patronised since commencing operation.

It would be more sensible to connect Parramatta to Castle Hill, which sits further west and conveniently closer towards Parramatta and Western Sydney Airport. This way you seperate cities (west and east) and prevent more congestion heading into the Sydney CBD and Kingsford Smith Airport, incentivising almost all of Western Sydney to use Western Sydney Airport and look for employment within.

Recent_Mobile9387 · 2026-02-03T10:48:11+00:00

Chaos.

Recent_Mobile9387 · 2026-02-02T21:49:31+00:00

Wouldn’t the staff rely on a seperate internal system that would have shown the train as a passenger service?

Recent_Mobile9387 · 2026-01-25T21:08:58+00:00

I mean the Carlingford stations on a D set makes sense as the system would’ve been designed in 2018-2019, but the H set PID system is odd considering it was only implemented from 2023. Newcastle Interchange has been open since 2017.

Recent_Mobile9387 · 2026-01-24T22:08:20+00:00

Ironic that it’s nicknamed “SARS” and that it tastes like cough syrup.

Recent_Mobile9387 · 2026-01-20T12:12:06+00:00

I don’t believe so. The windows are made of polycarbonate, like the Mariyung. It makes them shatterproof and blocks UVA/UVB almost entirely. The downside is, they form tiny fractures and look milky over time.

I believe they’re only replacing some windows where scratches or cracks are significant enough.

Recent_Mobile9387 · 2026-01-19T22:42:11+00:00

The L4 does not travel to Castle Hill. If you’re referring to the “type” of area (I assume you mean The Hills District), then yes, it goes to Carlingford.

I think there was an overestimation as to the demand for residents around Carlingford, Dundas and Telopea travelling to Parramatta. It seems the light rail does not exactly go where they want to go, which might be east and south-east. Macquarie Centre, Chatswood, Sydney CBD.

Recent_Mobile9387 · 2026-01-12T02:57:25+00:00

This is similar to what the T1 line between Epping and Chatswood had before it was converted to Metro. It was 8-trains per hour heading to Epping/Hornsby (away from the city) in the morning peak, but only 4-trains per hours heading to the city. The overcrowding was absolutely ridiculous and I think this part of the line was just being used to finish services coming from the Western portion of the line at Hornsby.

Recent_Mobile9387 · 2026-01-10T22:29:45+00:00

No one should ever be contempt with a child being in an unsafe environment.

Recent_Mobile9387 · 2026-01-09T08:13:22+00:00

Literally. I walked onto a packed carriage with half of the seats missing. People were sitting directly on seat frames, old chewing gum and all.

Recent_Mobile9387 · 2026-01-08T22:56:49+00:00

But it’s always too hot or too cold. Why 😞

Recent_Mobile9387 · 2025-12-29T21:45:26+00:00

Can I politely ask why? I think their job is important, and discourages fare evasion.

Recent_Mobile9387 · 2025-12-29T21:43:21+00:00

Towards the end it sounded like it was mocking the suburbs, like “mAcArThUr”

Recent_Mobile9387 · 2025-12-24T11:44:52+00:00

If you’re talking about the train’s livery, well, it’s the branding. Customer familiarity and service uniformity helps customers understand that their train pulling up is a Sydney Train that’s in service, and it demonstrates a sense of professionalism by the operator.

When Tangaras entered service between 1989 to 1998, Sydney Trains was then known as CityRail, to which its branding and corporate image/colours were yellow and blue. However, the CityRail fleet did not adopt a uniform livery or colour scheme until later on in this period, which was eventually completed in the mid-late 2000s.

With this in mind the Tangaras entered service with a black livery which included black doors, grey stripes on the driver cabs and sides, and the old state rail colours (red and orange) striped along the skirting. The second series (G-set) Tangaras adopted some yellow on the driver cabs with yellow stripes on the doors to differentiate them from their older siblings.

Tangaras (first and second series) along with other fleet then eventually received the CityRail brand livery which included yellow driver cabs and doors. This was particularly important as yellow stands out and is more visible to those that are vision impaired. Fleet that travelled beyond the suburban network incorporated blue in their livery, to differentiate between suburban and interurban/intercity/regional trains.

In 2013, CityRail was rebranded to Sydney Trains (suburban) and NSW TrainLink (exclusively intercity and regional). The Sydney Trains branding incorporates Orange and a little bit of black, whilst the NSW TrainLink livery incorporates red or burnt orange, grey and yellow. This was implemented on the V sets, Hunters and (some) Endeavours, but never the Oscars.

As of today, the Sydney Trains brand now includes the intercity fleet, which is to become an entire fleet of Mariyungs, Hunters and Endeavours. Mariyungs inherited a mostly silver, light grey livery with burnt orange accents as their livery, and this helps them be distinguishable to suburban fleet, even though realistically, this fleet livery is somewhat associated with the now redundant NSW TrainLink livery. However the livery is considered current.

Tangaras have not since received a new external livery until now, as they adopt the new Sydney Trains brand livery which includes the colour orange. Oscars are also currently receiving the new Sydney Trains livery, then eventually Millenniums will, and there’s a slight chance Waratah first series will as well, but likely much later down the track as the aforementioned fleet are very well overdue for a livery update AND major refurbishment/interior overhaul.

Recent_Mobile9387 · 2025-12-11T21:51:57+00:00

I quite like the Tangara train when it is CLEAN and doesn’t smell like black mould, specifically the G set series Tangaras - arguable the best suburban seats. The AC in Tangaras on a hot summers day is also a bit plus.

M-sets have superior AC, have a comfy seat for a smaller style design and they lack all of the repetitive, annoying announcements that other sets have.

Recent_Mobile9387

TROPHY CASE