1990: Train Skipping

In 2024, one may find that a timetable service may not stop at your station or you are on the train and then find out that the service will not stop at your destination.

Sometimes on the T4 line, a South Coast Line service that is meant to terminate at either Martin Place or Bondi Junction ends up terminating at the interurban platforms at Central forcing "all out, all change".

Usually, this happens when a train is delayed. It is done to assist in maintaining on-time running or to aid in getting the broader timetable on time following a major delay, e.g., signal failure.

In 1990, The Sunday Telegraph interviewed Rob Schwarzer (CityRail Chief) about the situation after NSW Shadow Transport Minister Brian Langton (ALP, Kogarah) had revealed to Parliament the previous week that drivers had been ordered to skip stations. He cited one example where a train from Sutherland bound for the city skipped 14 stations. The driver was directed to run it express to Redfern. 

Source: Grimshaw, P. 1990. "Trains told to skip stations". The Daily Telegraph Mirror, November 29: 1 & 4.

The interview gave us answers. Schwarzer was asked whether or not train skipping was acceptable. He responded with "it is a standard operating practice" and that is necessary to do so. Either cancel the train and "get it out of the road" or return it to the regular timetable. Another element considered, according to Schwarzer, was whether there was a suitable alternate service after the now-altered service. Another question arose - What if commuters are already on the train and want to get off if stations were to be skipped? He stated it was "very rare" as stopping patterns were not generally changed once the run began. The second part of the interview focused on reforms to CityRail and even one question about a new North Shore line (likely a reference to what is now the Epping-Chatswood line, originally heavy rail, now a section of the M1 metro line). 

  

Source: Quinn, S. 1990. "Train Skipping". The Sunday Telegraph, December 2: 16-17.

What is the reality in 2024?

My introduction to this entry would sum up the reality. It does happen, but the concern is whether this will receive the same coverage in the media as in 1990? The state of the rail network was under scrutiny, particularly with job losses, ageing infrastructure, timetabling and overcrowding. Even today, there is scrutiny; though the challenges that face the network are more complex, some of the issues confronting the rail network in 1990 still linger. The question has to be asked - What do commuters value as most important to them when accessing Sydney Trains? 

As a commuter, it is annoying that trains sometimes skip stations, whether I am left stranded on the platform or forced to change trains to complete my journey.

Hopefully, this entry and article will make commuters aware of the situation, whether from the perspective of those operating our network or from a commuter's perspective.