Latest news with #SydneyTrains
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.
Sky News AU
11-07-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Residents in Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong and the Central Coast to pay more as public transport fares increase
Residents living in the Greater Sydney, Wollongong, Central Coast and Newcastle areas are set to be impacted by a fresh cost of living squeeze when the price of public transport goes up on Monday. The increase by 2.5 per cent is, according to Transport for NSW, linked to the annual Consumer Price Index. However, weekly fares will still be capped at $50 for adults and $25 for youth travel. The daily fare cap for an adult riding public transport across Sydney, the Central Coast, Newcastle and Wollongong will be $19.30 on weekdays and $9.65 on Fridays, weekends and public holidays. For children and those on concession cards, weekday travel will be capped at $9.65 whilst weekend travel will be capped at $4.80. Pensioners on Gold Opal Cards will be capped at $2.50. The fees will apply to Sydney Trains, metro lines, InterCity line services to the Central Coast, Hunter and Illawarra, ferry services and Light Rail Services in Sydney and Newcastle. People travelling to Sydney Airport will also be slugged with an increased fee, with the fare to access the domestic and international terminals going up to $17.92 for adults and $16.03 for children. Unlike other services on the network, the Airport Line is operated under license from Sydney Trains by the Airport Link Company which is owned by the British-based Universities Superannuation Scheme. Discounts for switching transport modes in an hour will not change, nor will fares for travelling to regional areas of NSW or the ACT on TrainLink services. The cost of living squeeze on residents comes after months of industrial disruption crippled the Sydney Train network over Christmas and the New Year. Earlier this week, union members accepted an offer of a 12 per cent pay increase over three years with an extra four per cent backdated to May 2024. This was down from their original ask of a 32 per cent increase over four years and a 35-hour working week. If approved by the Fair Work Commission, it will cost the NSW taxpayer $17 million. A 48-hour fare-free day on Sydney Trains and Metro will start on July 31 as compensation for the disruption caused by the industrial dispute.
7NEWS
07-07-2025
- Business
- 7NEWS
Commuters to receive 48 hours free train travel as Minns government celebrates new deal with rail workers
Residents and those visiting New South Wales will soon enjoy 48 hours of free travel on all trains within the state as the Minns Government celebrates the successful rail Enterprise Agreement. More than a million metro and regional train passengers across NSW will travel free for two days on Thursday, July 31 and Friday, August 1, the NSW government announced on Sunday. The move, however, is not just an altruistic gesture, with the government using the opportunity to apologise to local business who were 'strained to breaking point' during a 'period of protected industrial action'. Transport Minister John Graham said the government is urging passengers to use the free fare to support local business and offer them a 'shot in the arm'. 'We want to acknowledge the period of protected industrial action took its toll on rail passengers,' he said. 'Today, we also look forward with optimism to a train system that will benefit from the entire workforce and management pulling in the same direction and the introduction of new technology to improve reliability and recovery times when disruption occurs. 'We will continue to invest record amounts into improved maintenance and work to our plan to lift the level of reliability.' The rail Enterprise Agreement received the overwhelming support of the rail workforce in a ballot that closed on Saturday, the government said. More than 11,700 employees participated in the vote, with 92 per cent supporting the Enterprise Agreement, which will now be lodged with the Fair Work Commission for formal approval. The decision comes after months of fighting between the state government and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union NSW over pay. The government said resolution of the matter will allow Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink and the combined rail workforce to focus solely on improving reliability and services for passengers. Win for rail staff The fare-free 48 hours is an 'invitation to workers' to travel into the Sydney or Parramatta CBDs, or other work and commercial centres across the state, to support the food and hospitality businesses that took a hit during months of disruption. Sydney Trains Chief Executive, Matt Longland, said the new agreement was a win for rail staff. 'This is a win for our staff, but an even bigger win for the travelling public,' he said. '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.' From 12.01am Thursday, July 31 to 11.59pm on Friday, August 1, travel will be free on all Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink, Airport Link, and Sydney Metro services. Opal gates and readers will be turned off during the fare free period, and passengers will not need to tap on and tap off. People who have bought tickets on NSW TrainLink services during the fare free period will be refunded. Minister for Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said recent disruption hit parts of rural and regional NSW hard. 'Regional passengers deserve this relief, and I encourage everyone to take full advantage of these two days by hopping aboard and seeing what our regional areas have to offer,' She said. 'These fare-free days are just the beginning of getting our regional rail network back on track, ensuring regional commuters get the reliable services they deserve.'
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.
