I had a back-and-forth with someone about the systems in Melbourne vs. Sydney a few months back. From that conversation, I learned that I need to go back to Sydney and see how it’s changed (it’s been nearly 11 years since my last visit).
At that point, Sydney’s network was definitely an inferior experience. The network was good, but it was stupidly expensive. It was also not good at getting around the CBD, not sure whether that has changed.
I was last in Sydney about 25 years ago. Apart from their “loop” it was a much more complicated system and I didn’t like it at all and it was confusing.
The only thing I liked about their train system was that it linked in with the airport which was a godsend at the time.
It was expensive and you had to choose a specific station to travel to as well from point to point.
Their colour zones seemed random to me and just unwieldy compared to Melbourne’s centralised 1,2,3 zone with the origin point being the CBD.
I’m not sure what it’s like now but I did not enjoy Sydney’s public transport system back then.
Some investment they did a while back has enabled 10 minute frequencies on their train lines now. It’s paid off for them and it’s something to strive towards.
Melbourne’s train lines need untangling from one another and single track sections need removing to enable 10 minute frequencies everywhere. Projects like the tunnel are part of the untangling effort, but it will take time. Honestly it should’ve been done 20 years ago.
Having said that, a decent timetable rewrite is due when the tunnel opens. I’m expecting better services on weekends now since those days are when the CBD actually gets busy nowadays.
Side observation: I somehow missed the memo that Melbourne had overtaken Sydney as Australia’s biggest city.
@Nath and yet having been in Sydney just recently their PT seems significantly better 😕
I had a back-and-forth with someone about the systems in Melbourne vs. Sydney a few months back. From that conversation, I learned that I need to go back to Sydney and see how it’s changed (it’s been nearly 11 years since my last visit).
At that point, Sydney’s network was definitely an inferior experience. The network was good, but it was stupidly expensive. It was also not good at getting around the CBD, not sure whether that has changed.
I was last in Sydney about 25 years ago. Apart from their “loop” it was a much more complicated system and I didn’t like it at all and it was confusing.
The only thing I liked about their train system was that it linked in with the airport which was a godsend at the time.
It was expensive and you had to choose a specific station to travel to as well from point to point.
Their colour zones seemed random to me and just unwieldy compared to Melbourne’s centralised 1,2,3 zone with the origin point being the CBD.
I’m not sure what it’s like now but I did not enjoy Sydney’s public transport system back then.
Some investment they did a while back has enabled 10 minute frequencies on their train lines now. It’s paid off for them and it’s something to strive towards.
Melbourne’s train lines need untangling from one another and single track sections need removing to enable 10 minute frequencies everywhere. Projects like the tunnel are part of the untangling effort, but it will take time. Honestly it should’ve been done 20 years ago.
Having said that, a decent timetable rewrite is due when the tunnel opens. I’m expecting better services on weekends now since those days are when the CBD actually gets busy nowadays.