A hastily-written email to TransAdelaide

[Pseudo]

I catch the train from the Noarlunga line to Elizabeth every weekday. I am used to the homeward train being 5 minutes late. I've even arrived at Adelaide to see the connecting train pull out without waiting. And I take it with a shrug. But today the line has been crossed.

I attended the footy at Elizabeth Oval tonight (27/8/06). I hastened to the train station after the match. I need not have bothered - it was 5 minutes late. Not only that, but it was a SINGLE CARRIAGE - and it was FULL of young people making their way into town. The horde waiting on the platform had to cram into the already-full carriage.

The train ended up being late - 17 minutes late. Late enough that I missed the connecting Noarlunga train.

Firstly, the person responsible for scheduling a single carriage for the 9.15 Elizabeth-Adelaide train, on a night when there was a football match at Elizabeth, should be SACKED for incompetence. How anyone could rationally think a football crowd could comfortably fit into a single carriage is beyond me. There is no excuse; it is sheer incompetence.

Secondly, given that the train was obviously going to be late as it was overfull, is there any reason the connecting trains could not have been held up for 10 minutes to accomodate? I, and several others on that train, had to wait A FULL HOUR for the next train. Would it really have thrown the rail network into disarray if the outgoing trains had been held up for 10 minutes?

As a regular commuter I put up with the nuances of the train network with an understanding shrug. I realise that the train timetables are more of a "good idea" than a hard-and-fast rule; I understand that sometimes trains are late; I understand that there's only so much money pumped into the system by the government. But tonight's debacle is simply not good enough. I pay my fare and I expect reasonable service in return.

[mick]

Well done mate, I got a survey on the bus the other night, one of those ones structured so it is hard to say anything negative about the service. I included a letter containing what I really thought. In 2005 on my way to FP to see North play Eagles in the finals. Guess what ? some genius cancelled the service. F*CKWITS

[MightyEagles]

Which service was that Mick?

And when does the Noarlunga train go to Elizabeth?

[mick]

OK Mr Conlon, it's the one that goes to footy park, leaves from Grenfell st. I only catch it once or twice a year so I don't know the number, but it was cancelled (some services) during SANFL finals last year

[MW]

Be thankful they even send trains to Noarlunga and Elizabeth

[heater31]

OK Mr Conlon, it's the one that goes to footy park, leaves from Grenfell st. I only catch it once or twice a year so I don't know the number, but it was cancelled (some services) during SANFL finals last year

is it the one that goes down Henley Beach Rd to West Lakes Mick??? if its the one they sometimes cancel it before it getting to West Lakes to reduce the congestion around FP but dont they put the AFL footy express on for SANFL finals?

[mick]

They (the bus service) don't do anything for SANFL finals in my experience as far as I know it's just the normal Sunday service

[heater31]

perhaps its only for the GF because in 02 I got the bus from Unley Shopping centre to FP and caught it back there again. To aviod this happening i think it would be a good idea to call them on the Friday before hand and ask them what is the best way to get there

[mick]

I did mate, they cancelled the service only a few minutes before I was due to catch it I stood at the bus stop in Grenfell st for 25-30 minutes, just assuming they are late, almost about to give up and a taxi turns up and says am I waiting for the bus? I say yes, he says I can have a free ride to footy park (paid by the bus company because the service had been cancelled), anyway we pick up a few people along the way, including FP red coat! I don't know how many taxis they ordered but when the one I was in was full he went past heaps of people, still waiting. It was pure luck that I persisted in waiting at that bustop, I'm normally not tht patient. The existing system leaves a lot to be desired and I'm bloody annoyed that the government is going to waste 10s of millions of $ on extending the tram

[heater31]

this looks like another example of Rann and Conlon incompentence again. why did this state forgive labour for what they did
to us in the early nineties its one of lifes great mysterys to me. I was the only person my age who did not fall for this wanker and his mates

[mick]

this looks like another example of Rann and Conlon incompentence again. why did this state forgive labour for what they did
to us in the early nineties its one of lifes great mysterys to me. I was the only person my age who did not fall for this wanker and his mates

I've never forgiven them

[heater31]

I never will as long as I live

[Squawk]

Well done mate, I got a survey on the bus the other night, one of those ones structured so it is hard to say anything negative about the service. I included a letter containing what I really thought. In 2005 on my way to FP to see North play Eagles in the finals. Guess what ? some genius cancelled the service. F*CKWITS

I did the survey on the tram extension. Same compilation - questions are structured so as to achieve a resounding yes vote. Two lines provided to make any other comments - I added half a page more! As far as I am concerned the tram extension is a sham policy that is meant to be some sort of lasting legacy along the lines of "look what the Rann Govt did when it was in office".

I catch the Noarlunga train daily as well and it is a joke of a service. The fleet is old and decrepid. The journey is slow. Problem for govt is that a tram extension is a cheap fix.

I was so pissed off when there was a big protest on in town against the new IR laws. The state Labor govt was so keen to get on board with the protest that it offered extra carriages on trains. I asked how they could do this when it suited them to boost the protest numbers, but couldn't do it at any other time? No answer. WHAT A JOKE PUBLIC TRANSPORT IS IN SA!!!

[ca]

Great letter Pseudo, let us know if you get any kind of response.

[Magpiespower]

Swap you Rann and Conlon for Michael Costa.

Even throw in one of his 'friends.'

[TroyGFC]

Thinking of this, should we get a petition going for the footy express to run on SANFL grand final day in a attempt to try and get more people to the gf?

[Pseudo]

Great letter Pseudo, let us know if you get any kind of response.

None so far. Not really expecting one.

[abber]

You'll get a reply, Pseudo but it will be the usual "thanks for your email. We constantly review our performance to provide the best possible service"

I've complained to Transadelaide on number of occasions about the "Belair Line" where the timetable is more of a "wish list". Some of the reasons I have been given for trains running late are comical.

Rain on the tracks.
Millepedes on the tracks.
Brakes not working correctly
Too many people in wheelchairs
Too many school children

Last week Transadelaide surpassed themselves. I normally catch the 5.13 pm express to Mitcham then Eden Hills from Adelaide. When I got to the station at 5.05 the preceding 4.56 train was still at the station. No announcements were made about changes to schedule. So everybody piled on to the 4.56 thinking that would be quicker to get home. It was packed. Shortly after we headed off and then stopped at Mitcham for 10 minutes where the 5.13 suddenly came into the station, half empty, and then took off in front of the 4.56. No announcements nor apologies made. People missed connecting buses and we had a train full of irate customers.
Transadelaide are a pathetic joke.

[JK]

Too many people in wheelchairs
Too many school children

Surely "Too Many" means that they haven't had the foresight to cater for demand? I don't utilise public transport but I sympathise with those who do and have to deal with the continual inadequecies I always here from regular users!

[heater31]

Millepedes on the tracks.

It really means we are incompetent wankers who are led by an incompetant Government

Brakes not working correctly

It really means our equipment is that friggin old we are too scared to get it fixed as we will have no money left over, but we will still put passengers on it[/quote]