 Cityrail guards are history - it's only a matter of time now...
On Wed, 11 Jun 2008 04:40:28 +1000, Uncle Joe wrote:
> "Andrew Price" <ajprice@free.fr> wrote in message
> news:2aet44hr7jmknevkf6n4cacgre9aqtdaaq@...
>> On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 05:11:35 GMT, x@x.x (Fish Womper) wrote:
>>>If it were feasible to remove guards it would have been done many years
>>>ago.
>> It's already been done, in some countries.
> Yes, but the Sydney system is unique in the world.
Doesn't look that unique to me... We have more in common with a number
of other Urban railways I've ridden than we are different. Many of them
are now DOO.
Claiming something can be done as 'we are unique' is just 'not invented
here' syndrome repackaged. Every rail system can claim it's unique, as
each has some historical or geographical reason for being different. But
far to often it's used as an argument for keeping to status quo or re-
inventing something at great cost (Tcard).
> Are trains are
> longer, carry more people and the bright sparks who built it put curved
> platforms everywhere.
None of these are true. I've seen other urban systems with longer trains
(12 cars), and many have curved platforms as well.
Passenger numbers are more difficult - but in terms of people moved per
hour we are probably only average. Some of the metro systems that run 8
car single deckers probably have far more people on the move at any one
time than Sydney ever could. Sydney just has them clumped more than
normal due to 8 car DD trains at relatively low frequency.
And most places where I have noticed 'guards' they are more conductors
than guards, they patrol the trains and often collect fares as well.
Sydney had to employ a whole new extra 'class' of people to 'patrol' our
trains, so now we have 4 or more staff on trains at times.
|