Latest news with #Longland
The Age
13-07-2025
- The Age
Blue Mountains new trains: Mariyung fleet set to take over in October
Track technology and sensors on the new trains mean that they know which station they are arriving at and how long platforms are. As a result, carriages are automatically allocated to platforms. 'It's a network that's not designed for 10-carriage platforms at every station, but the technology is onboard the train. The technology around selective door opening allows us to have a safe operation at all stations regardless of the length of platform,' Longland said. The decades-old V-set trains are arguably best known by commuters for their purple-coloured seats. Credit: Sam Mooy Blacktown, Linden, Leura and Hazelbrook are among stations on the Blue Mountains line where platforms are not long enough for 10-carriage trains. On the South Coast line, Hurstville, Sutherland, Helensburgh, Otford, Stanwell Park, Coalcliff, Scarborough and Bulli are among those which cannot fit an entire 10-carriage train, government data shows. For years, passengers travelling on eight-car V-sets and Oscar trains have had to move carriages to get off at short platforms. Like those on the Sydney-Newcastle line, Blue Mountains and South Coast rail commuters will have to forgo reversible seats on the old V-set trains for fixed seating on the new Mariyungs, meaning many will face backwards on their journeys. The last of the V-set passenger trains is due to be retired in the second quarter of next year. Credit: Oscar Colman However, the new double-decker Mariyung trains have more legroom, high seat backs, tray tables for laptops, charging ports for mobile devices and extra space for baggage and bikes. Mariyung is the Darug word for emu. Sydney Trains plans to transfer two V-set trains in their original 'blue goose' livery to Transport Heritage NSW when the last is retired from service next year. '[There is] a lot of nostalgia. The Blue Mountains has been exclusively V-sets for a long time,' Longland said. Most of the V-set trains will be turned into scrap metal once parts that can be reused are removed. Under original plans, the Mariyung trains were to start services on lines from Sydney to the Central Coast and Newcastle in late 2019, and to the Blue Mountains and Lithgow the following year. Loading The new fleet became the centre of a long-running dispute between the previous Coalition state government and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union several years ago. The stand-off was settled in late 2022 when the then-government agreed to union demands to modify the trains to allow guards to monitor passengers getting on and off at stations. It included modifications to cameras, screens and emergency doors. Start the day with a summary of the day's most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Sydney Morning Herald
13-07-2025
- Automotive
- Sydney Morning Herald
No more purple seats: Mountains commuters finally get their new trains
Track technology and sensors on the new trains mean that they know which station they are arriving at and how long platforms are. As a result, carriages are automatically allocated to platforms. 'It's a network that's not designed for 10-carriage platforms at every station, but the technology is onboard the train. The technology around selective door opening allows us to have a safe operation at all stations regardless of the length of platform,' Longland said. Blacktown, Linden, Leura and Hazelbrook are among stations on the Blue Mountains line where platforms are not long enough for 10-carriage trains. On the South Coast line, Hurstville, Sutherland, Helensburgh, Otford, Stanwell Park, Coalcliff, Scarborough and Bulli are among those which cannot fit an entire 10-carriage train, government data shows. For years, passengers travelling on eight-car V-sets and Oscar trains have had to move carriages to get off at short platforms. Like those on the Sydney-Newcastle line, Blue Mountains and South Coast rail commuters will have to forgo reversible seats on the old V-set trains for fixed seating on the new Mariyungs, meaning many will face backwards on their journeys. However, the new double-decker Mariyung trains have more legroom, high seat backs, tray tables for laptops, charging ports for mobile devices and extra space for baggage and bikes. Mariyung is the Darug word for emu. Sydney Trains plans to transfer two V-set trains in their original 'blue goose' livery to Transport Heritage NSW when the last is retired from service next year. '[There is] a lot of nostalgia. The Blue Mountains has been exclusively V-sets for a long time,' Longland said. Most of the V-set trains will be turned into scrap metal once parts that can be reused are removed. Under original plans, the Mariyung trains were to start services on lines from Sydney to the Central Coast and Newcastle in late 2019, and to the Blue Mountains and Lithgow the following year. Loading The new fleet became the centre of a long-running dispute between the previous Coalition state government and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union several years ago. The stand-off was settled in late 2022 when the then-government agreed to union demands to modify the trains to allow guards to monitor passengers getting on and off at stations. It included modifications to cameras, screens and emergency doors.
Time Out
06-07-2025
- Business
- Time Out
All metro and train services across Sydney and NSW will be free for two days this month
But there's light at the end of the tunnel, with rail workers agreeing this weekend to a new Enterprise Agreement that should bring the disruptions to an end. As an apology to the people of Sydney for the months of chaos, Transport for NSW is offering two full days of fare-free rail (and metro) travel across the state. Rather than scheduling the fare-free travel days immediately, they've been set for the end of the month to avoid coinciding with school holidays and to allow the maximum number of commuters to benefit. According to Transport for NSW, more than one million passengers are expected to take advantage of free journeys across the two days, with the NSW Government encouraging Sydneysiders to make the most of the network and support both Sydney's hospitality scene and regional businesses – without the travel costs. (NB: For NSW TrainLink journeys, you'll still need to book a ticket to secure your seat, and you'll be refunded on the day.) Free travel for two days is a bonus, but the real win here is the renewed stability expected across the NSW train network. After months of negotiations, 92 per cent of rail workers voted in support of the Enterprise Agreement, which will now be lodged with the Fair Work Commission for formal approval. Sydney Trains Chief Executive Matt Longland said the outcome is 'a win for our staff but an even bigger win for the travelling public.' 'With this certainty, Sydney Trains can resume its focus on delivering a safe, reliable, and disruption-free service. Passengers can have renewed confidence that the trains they rely on will be there when they need them,' said Longland. Fare-free travel on all Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink, Airport Link, and Sydney Metro services will apply from 12.01am on Thursday, July 31, until 11.59pm on Friday, August 1, 2025. Fee travel will not extend to buses, ferries, or light rail services, and passengers using NSW TrainLink services will still need to present a valid ticket to score a refund.
Fashion Network
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Fashion Network
Harrods' top buyer hails Dior, Watanabe, Saint Laurent, and Lemaire menswear at Paris shows
Harrods ' fashion buying director Simon Longland has been pulling together his thoughts on Paris Fashion Week 's menswear and in a week when there was 'a rare sense of cohesion', his favourite collections were from Dior, Junya Watanabe, Saint Laurent, and Lemaire. See catwalk Longland said that 'designers appeared unusually aligned in their vision, with common threads emerging across collections without ever feeling derivative. What struck me most was the optimism. We saw collections rooted in beauty, certainly, but also grounded in real clothes designed for real lives—pieces to covet, wear, and ultimately keep. There was a clarity of purpose that felt both contemporary and human'. The four standout collection he cited delivered 'a distinct narrative' and shared 'a quiet confidence' with Jonathan Anderson's much-anticipated debut for Dior feeling 'particularly assured—elegant, intellectual, and emotionally resonant'. See catwalk He said Saint Laurent 'offered sensuality with precision, while Junya and Lemaire brought effortless elegance through their distinctive laser sharp focus'. And Longland added that his 'most compelling show concept' came from regular headline-grabber Rick Owens who 'unsurprisingly, pushed boundaries—this time quite literally. Models ascended monumental metal scaffolding, walked through cascading fountains in towering Kiss boots, and turned the runway into performance art. It was surreal, primal, and wildly engaging. Only in Paris could such a spectacle unfold without (seemingly) a single health and safety form in sight'. See catwalk But what about the key trends that emerged from the week? Longland called out 'pyjama dressing' with 'fluid, soft silhouettes that nodded to ease but never laziness'. He was also impressed by the stripes that 'were omnipresent: bold, graphic, rooted in tradition but used with fresh energy'. And he noted the language of suiting being rewritten with tailoring for SS26 being 'unstructured, flowing, deeply modern'. Denim 'was everywhere' and shirts and collars were key as they 'grounded and elevated nearly every look'. Shorts were important too, in varying lengths 'from micro to maxi'. Colour was also 'central to the most successful collections: vibrant, purposeful, and mood-enhancing'. See catwalk And in a cohesive season with plenty of ideas, he resisted calling out a key item.'I hesitate to single out a product—because I believe that moment has passed,' Longland said. 'What resonates now is the idea of individual curation: collections designed not to dictate but to invite. The must-have is no longer a singular item, but rather the pieces that reflect each man's personal sensibility and rhythm.'
Fashion Network
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Fashion Network
Harrods' top buyer hails Dior, Watanabe, Saint Laurent, and Lemaire menswear at Paris shows
Harrods ' fashion buying director Simon Longland has been pulling together his thoughts on Paris Fashion Week 's menswear and in a week when there was 'a rare sense of cohesion', his favourite collections were from Dior, Junya Watanabe, Saint Laurent, and Lemaire. See catwalk Longland said that 'designers appeared unusually aligned in their vision, with common threads emerging across collections without ever feeling derivative. What struck me most was the optimism. We saw collections rooted in beauty, certainly, but also grounded in real clothes designed for real lives—pieces to covet, wear, and ultimately keep. There was a clarity of purpose that felt both contemporary and human'. The four standout collection he cited delivered 'a distinct narrative' and shared 'a quiet confidence' with Jonathan Anderson's much-anticipated debut for Dior feeling 'particularly assured—elegant, intellectual, and emotionally resonant'. See catwalk He said Saint Laurent 'offered sensuality with precision, while Junya and Lemaire brought effortless elegance through their distinctive laser sharp focus'. And Longland added that his 'most compelling show concept' came from regular headline-grabber Rick Owens who 'unsurprisingly, pushed boundaries—this time quite literally. Models ascended monumental metal scaffolding, walked through cascading fountains in towering Kiss boots, and turned the runway into performance art. It was surreal, primal, and wildly engaging. Only in Paris could such a spectacle unfold without (seemingly) a single health and safety form in sight'. See catwalk But what about the key trends that emerged from the week? Longland called out 'pyjama dressing' with 'fluid, soft silhouettes that nodded to ease but never laziness'. He was also impressed by the stripes that 'were omnipresent: bold, graphic, rooted in tradition but used with fresh energy'. And he noted the language of suiting being rewritten with tailoring for SS26 being 'unstructured, flowing, deeply modern'. Denim 'was everywhere' and shirts and collars were key as they 'grounded and elevated nearly every look'. Shorts were important too, in varying lengths 'from micro to maxi'. Colour was also 'central to the most successful collections: vibrant, purposeful, and mood-enhancing'. See catwalk And in a cohesive season with plenty of ideas, he resisted calling out a key item.'I hesitate to single out a product—because I believe that moment has passed,' Longland said. 'What resonates now is the idea of individual curation: collections designed not to dictate but to invite. The must-have is no longer a singular item, but rather the pieces that reflect each man's personal sensibility and rhythm.'
