Mr Collins conceded it was "not very sexy to sell to the public and politicians" an improvement to existing rail lines – even though it could led to a train turning up every 2½ minutes and enhanced safety – compared with cutting a ribbon on a new rail line.A digital upgrade to signalling enables trains to travel closer together, thereby increasing frequency.
Mr Collins said he wanted to focus – if given the funding – on improving signalling on core parts of the network under acute pressure, such as the City Circle and the T1 Western lines. "A train every three minutes through the core of our railway – through Circular Quay, T4 and the T1 Parramatta – would be probably the realistic outcome that we’d get using double-deck technology," he said.
It comes as one of the architects of a major project to boost Sydney's train services told staff last week that he is leaving for a senior consulting role in the private sector next month after almost four years at Transport for NSW. Mark Keogh, who has been head of the state's Rail Service Delivery Office, oversaw a $4 billion-plus project to deliver "more trains, more services".
Mattonews Tells you something about the communication between the Railway Management and our current Government. Non existent. Heads should roll. Ps also what about the stuff up with Western Line Tunnels buying trains which don't fit through the tunnels and have to be widen.
Mattonews GladysB DigbyHughes nswpol
Mattonews Yes, please do it!
Mattonews Why would they do something as logical as that. The wicked witch only does things that benefit developers and investors.
Mattonews So why wasn't this done rather than the wasteful CBD- eastern suburbs light rail?
Mattonews Then do it. What's 3 billion to fix a vital part of this city when people find it acceptable to throw 2 billion at rebuilding a couple of stadiums?