Train-ing days

 

No, this is not about the latest training classes I am attending. I have been in Sydney for a few months now, and have been enjoying my time on Sydney’s excellent suburban train network. Get it ? Train-ing ? Sydney is a biig city, much more larger than I had expected. And the rail network is the fastest way to get from point to point. The average speed of the trains is still slow, but they are always on time. So if you factor in time to walk to and from the station, you will always be on time. Sydney’s bus system, though, is another story altogether. They are frequently late, the drivers are rough, and the major lines are always crowded. Its only good for last mile connectivity, you really should not use it to show up for an important meeting or interview at some distant place.

But back to the trains. In the field of urban transport, Melbourne beats Sydney by far. The Melbourne system appears much more modern and fast, despite the numerous level crossings. While Melbourne's overall coverage is better, the suburban rail system there is complemented by a huge network of trams, a type of transport almost absent in Sydney.  Ashamed to say, its only after coming here that I saw the double decker carriages. Never had the chance to get on one in India. It is an smart design, two levels of seatings in the space for one ! The coaches are mostly air conditioned, but some of the older coaches are still without them. At least in the mornings, the coaches are spank clean. They have used an innovative seating system, the back support of all seats can be flipped so that you can always sit in the direction of travel.

There are led displays , and regular announcements before all the stops. If you are new in the country, all you need is google maps to navigate your way through the complex network.

Here is something missing on the trains, which really stood out for me. There are no sockets or plug points on any carriage. You know, to charge you cellphone or something. Sockets are now a standard feature on every Indian train. This stands out because for some reason, every on the train is carrying an iPhone ! Also there are only limited seating for people with disabilities or special needs. The standing area is confined near the entrance, that is usually where everyone with big bags end up.

However, the network still holds up to the challenge of daily commuting. Inside, there are no sounds, no jerks. Rides are smooth. I have already fallen asleep twice on the trains and missed my stop. I honestly don’t know why they get so much flak in the media. The new Opal cards for tickets can be used for all buses and trains, just tap on and tap off. Transfers within 60 minutes is considered a single journey. But sometimes I have seen the smallest trips attracting larger charges. It works out cheaper if you travel long distances every day.  The train network also eaves many areas of the metropolitan area without coverage, notably, the entire northwest, the northeast, as well as many parts of the southeast.

I have been a fan of public transport since my younger days. Even after I learned to drive, I tried to take the bus or train as much as possible, except if the place has bad connectivity. That option shutdown in Bangalore where accessible public transport has essentially failed. So its nice to come back to my train-ing roots.