THINGS were largely back to normal this morning for Hawkesbury commuters, after many experienced major delays in both directions on the T1 Western Line yesterday.
One service was cancelled this morning, because the train was not at the location it needed to be to start the journey because, thanks to yesterday’s problems.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance today said there would be no refunds for passengers caught up in the delays.
Sydney Trains blamed staff availability – the CEO Howard Collins said 65 to 70 staff called in sick – as well as lightning strikes requiring track work for the massive delays, which saw city platforms blocked off because of overcrowding.
For the Hawkesbury, commuters were forced to catch buses between Richmond and Blacktown, and many took to the Gazette’s Facebook page to vent their frustration.
The huge delays on Tuesday, January 9, followed up more delays – although less severe on Monday – on the train line.
Kurmond man Nathan Cox, who least year created an online petition to have the train timetable reversed, said he was livid yesterday during his afternoon commute.
“I started at Wynyard station by catching the 2.56pm train to Richmond. It didn't arrive,” he told the Gazette.
“I ended up getting on a Emu Plains train (old S Set type - NO A/C) which left Wynyard at 3.13pm. Had to get off at Parramatta due to the heat at 3.48pm.
“I was able to secure a lift from a friend. I needed to wait around for half an hour but I had a nice air conditioned journey back to Richmond and arrived just before 6pm and then drove home, another 20 minutes.”
Cox said the afternoon delays on January 9 was the third issue he had with the trains just this week, but said he had experienced delays about six times, since the new timetable was implemented in late November.
“I have been fortunate to have driven to work on several occasions were other commuters were severely impacted. With tolls costing just over $30 a day to get into town plus parking this is not a financially viable option,” he said.
“If we continue to be impacted by the poor service of the trains I will need to look at getting a job closer to home and that will mean a pay cut.”
Cox added his friend, Stuart Gill, who runs Facebook page called Improve the Richmond Line Train Services, gave another person a lift after dropping him off.
The Gazette has contacted Member for Hawkesbury Dominic Perrottet but he had not responded by deadline.
