Blue Mountains Commuters and Transport Users Association

BMCTUA Secretary's report

11 February 2008

The Association has been Consistently striving for the following over many years. Unfortunately interruptions with four restructures, Glenbrook Inquiry, ticketing issues, insufficient drivers, lack of rolling stock (i.e. InterCity Cars), Olympics, many plans. The State Government has released two plans in the last few years.

InterCity Cars

We have had pressure from other Commuter Associations from Central and Illawarra to share more of the InterCity Cars with them as they have been serviced with suburban rolling stock Tangara and other types, which we resisted).

At present the Illawarra Line is receiving OSCAR's but, as these are replacing the Tangara Trains and Suburban types, there is no increase of availability of the V set InterCity Cars at present. The Association is waiting on the outcome of Cost Benefit Analysis of the V sets, i.e. full, partial or withdrawal of these cars over time. We must remember there is a loading gauge problem past Springwood that does not allow other types of trains access. We are waiting on advice from RailCorp on this issue.

What does this mean? Well the addition of more services, i.e. a half hour service: the Association has addressed this problem some years ago by having a shuttle to deliver a half hour service to Penrith but all of the hindrances mentioned above have affected the non outcome.

The Association is waiting on the finalisation of the restructure of CityRail hopefully we will see the appointment of an Area Manager for Blue Mountains

One suggestion is to have a supplementary bus service to deliver a service to Penrith but it would take longer on the Highway. I am not sure a limited stop bus would be practical, the fare structure would have to be looked at. The Assoc will look at the present Katoomba –Springwood service illustrates the timing.

Accessible Railway Stations

The Association has targeted this with Upper, Middle and Lower Mountains . Blaxland, Springwood, Katoomba and Blackheath are now accessible. We are waiting on replies from CityRail for Lawson which is not in this year's list. But we are still pressing through the Local Member.

Bus Services

The Local Bus Company has recently nominated 25% of bus services to be accessible. The majority of bus stops have timetables, bus shelters have been installed at some and there will be more as the money becomes available. The Bus Company with the council is looking at what bus stops are in need of a gutter to use the low floor bus this applies to the Highway as well.

Any new services have to be justified to the Dept of Transport.

The Association has been seeking support for bus services from the Mountains to the Penrith Public / Private Hospitals. TAFE and University. We have received support from Penrith Council who has taken up the issue with the Ministry of Transport.

Other issues still to be addressed include IPART, T Card debacle, Ferries Capacity Timetables, Federal Issues e.g Penrith –St Marys

Paul Trevaskis, Secretary