SECOND EDITION OF RAIL PLAN
22 Apr 2010FROGS RAIL PLAN EDITION 2
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
No other city in the world runs their entire metropolitan services with double-deck trains – either the whole world is wrong or Sydney is. FROGS is calling for the introduction of modern single-deck metro-style trains on existing tracks.
KEY POINTS
- MORE TRAINS: Up to 40 single-deck trains can run per hour per track. Currently, the maximum number of trains that can be reliably operated is 20.
- MORE DOORS: Single-deck trains have more doors and this means more passengers can get on and off the train quickly.
- QUICKER: On busy lines, the large numbers of passengers getting on and off dictates that the only effective train type is that with the maximum number of doors.
- ENERGY EFFICIENT: Single-deck trains are smaller and lighter consuming significantly less energy than the soon-to-be implemented Waratahs, which will consume 40% more energy than the trains they are replacing.
- COST EFFECTIVE: The cost of an 8-car equivalent single-deck train is about $8 million less than a new 8-car double-deck set.
- MODERN: Single-deck trains have come a long way since the “red rattlers” of the past. They have the same amenities as the latest double-deck trains including large windows, zonal climate control and more discrete lighting.
- GETTING A SEAT: Critics say with metro-style trains, passengers won’t get seats. This is incorrect: our proposed plan means that if you travel for 25 minutes or more the probability of obtaining a seat will be the same as the existing double decker trains.
- SAFER: In case of an emergency, it is easier to escape from a single-deck train.
Images courtesy of Integral Energy, Sinclair Knight Merz, Camden Council, John Holland Group, Creative HQ, Julie Nimmo and Sutherland Shire Council.