MPs should take a train trip

Last March, the constituents of five Central Coast electorates helped get rid of a Labor government which was no longer delivering services, particularly in the area of public transport.

Labor had introduced a new timetable in 2009, adding stops at Eastwood and West Ryde in an attempt to win back the seat of Ryde which was lost to the Liberal Party in the by-election of October 2008.

The timetable change also saw our trains stuck every morning at Hornsby for at least five minutes, resulting in commuters missing connecting services at Strathfield and Central.

Five minute stops at Hornsby of an afternoon have seen commuters missing connecting buses on their way home

Labor's timetable has added between 30 to 45 minutes extra travel for commuters, time that could be spent recreationally.

Newcastle and Central Coast commuters are now the most disadvantaged of inter-urban travelers.

Blue Mountains commuters enjoy at least five morning peak hour services where trains only stop at major centres (Penrith, Parramatta and Strathfield).

Likewise, South Coast commuters also get to travel express on five services that only stop at Sutherland and Hurstville.

During the afternoon peak, Blue Mountains commuters have two express services that first set down at Emu Plains or Penrith, plus three additional services that also set down at Strathfield and Parramatta.

South coast commuters enjoy four afternoon peak express services that first set down at Helensburgh, and one that sets down at Hurstville and Sutherland.

On the other hand, Newcastle and Central Coast trains pick up thousands of Sydney commuters at Eastwood and West Ryde of a morning, resulting in further delays and missed connections, while Epping Line suburban trains have empty seats.

It gets worse of an afternoon, when hundreds of students overcrowd Central Coast-Newcastle trains in order to enjoy the convenience of an express ride to Eastwood and West Ryde, completely filling trains.

I have increasingly seen Central Coast-Newcastle families stuck at Central or Strathfield unable to even get onto a train home because of overcrowding.

It has been nearly six months now since the State election.

Why aren't our five new Liberal MPs lobbying Transport Minister Berejiklian to get our express services back?

I challenge them to take a trip on a peak hour train to find out for themselves.

Email, 29 Aug 2011 Jim Bendfeldt, Woy Woy