Media Releases

Media Release | Monday, 20 May 2013

POLICE SHORTAGES ON THE RAIL NETWORK PUTTING COMMUTER SAFETY AT RISK

The safety of commuters is being put in jeopardy following revelations the NSW Police Transport Command has been left below strength and understaffed – despite the O’Farrell Government sacking hundreds of transit officers who previously provided security on the rail network.

New figures show that as of May 3, the NSW Police Transport Command was understaffed by 101 full time police officers – leaving the command operating at only 75 per cent capacity.

There are supposed to be 401 full time police officers patrolling the train network, but currently there are just 300.

Media Release | Friday 17 May, 2013

John Robertson MP | NSW Opposition Leader

O’FARRELL GOVERNMENT SHOULD RELEASE NEW TRAIN TIMETABLE FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION

The NSW Opposition has called on the O’Farrell Government to release the new draft train timetable for public consultation to give commuters the full picture of future services to their local train station and the opportunity to have their say.

The draft timetable – which is set to be implemented in October – will mean huge changes across the entire rail network, yet the full and final draft remains a secret.

“Commuters have a right to know what the new timetable will mean for them,” Opposition Leader John Robertson said.

“The Government shouldn’t be hiding this timetable – it should be released immediately for community consultation.

Media Release | Friday, 10 May 2013

NEW DRAFT TRAIN TIMETABLE SHOULD BE RELEASED FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION

The new draft CityRail timetable should be released for public consultation so commuters can have their say, Shadow Transport Minister Penny Sharpe said today.

The draft timetable – which is set to be implemented in October – has been circulated within Transport NSW, but commuters have been left in the dark.

There are currently 308 stations on the rail network, and some 2800 daily trips between Sydney, the Central Coast, Hunter, Illawarra, Blue Mountains and Goulburn.

“I’m calling on Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian to release the draft train timetable so commuters can provide feedback before it is rolled out,” Ms Sharpe said.

“Commuters have a right to know what the new timetable will mean for them.

Media Release | Monday May 6, 2013

John Robertson MP, NSW Opposition Leader
Penny Sharpe MLC, Shadow Minister for Transport

ANOTHER DAY OF CHAOS FOR CITYRAIL COMMUTERS – BEREJIKLIAN MUST APOLOGISE

Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian should apologise and take responsibility after yet another horrendous delay on the CityRail network this morning resulted in tens of thousands of commuters being late to work.

The system was thrown into chaos following a failure to finish weekend trackwork at Homebush. Trains arrived up to 30 minutes late, skipped stops and were out of timetable order – with commuters affected across the Airport and East Hills, Bankstown, Inner West, North Shore, Northern, South, Western and Blue Mountains lines.

“Minister Berejiklian should apologise and take responsibility for the latest major inconvenience that commuters suffered this morning on the rail network,” Opposition Leader John Robertson said today.

“Today tens of thousands of commuters were late to work, school and university. They missed meetings and medical appointments. They missed flights.

“People are fed up with these system meltdowns – and they’re becoming just as tired of the O’Farrell Government’s excuses.