What I will concede is that Sydneysiders definitely treat the quiet carriages with the highest dignity and honour.
If a phone call or soft conversation is heard in any of Sydney’s quiet carriages, a member of the public will personally go out of the way - taking bold initiative - to cut down any of the unwanted noise excrements.
They respect the sunflower lanyard. They respect the quiet carriages. They understand that not everyone has the wherewithal to purchase the latest noise-cancellation headphones.
I can’t say much for Queensland Rail though…. as its not uncommon to see commuters blatantly talking aloud inside a quiet carriage.
But to be honest, its pretty easy to being oblivious, as the signage is poor, with a handful of tiny ‘Silent Carriage’ stickers dotted on the outside and interior(s) of the designated carriages. Perhaps QR needs to invest in some huge A3 adverts specifically taunting commuters that they’re within the confines of a Silent Carriage.
I would downright reposition the entirety of the carriage designations to completely different sections.
Quiet Carriages: at the ends of the train. This adds the benefit of giving QR staff (particularly the driver) peace to do their job without nuisances.
Bike/scooter areas: in the accessible carriages. There’s plenty of space for those in the middle of the train and some seats could even be removed at the to install bike racks and whatnot. It’s also more ideal for those passengers as they can get onboard the train without having to step up/down due to the centre carriages stopping at raised station platforms.
If you have a sunflower, you go to the cab cars. Bike? With the wheelchairs in the middle. Phone call? Move to cars 2 and 5.
“Now arriving at Kismet St busway station… Change here for the high frequency 200 City BUZ, for any commuters wishing to disembark at the East Leagues Club in Coorparoo.”
Lol… the 200 actually doesn’t stop at Kismet Street. Only serviced by the 204, 217 and 222.
The quiet carriages are at cars 2 and 5 because they are the trailing cars of the MU. Other carriages are motor cars that are propelled by the traction motors, and the motors do make some noise (especially on older units).
The only exceptions I can think of are the IMU100/SMU200s, due to a loud fan running underneath the trailing carriages. But the traction motors are also fairly noisy as well.
One thing I like about Sydney too is that they have mostly deleted the need for usage of the train horns, which for neurodiverse people who have sensory issues like myself, do like, as they only use them approaching level crossings (and Sydney has very few level crossings), and on approach/exiting the tunnels. I honestly don’t see any real need for the train horns other than the above reasons (and here in Brisbane, we don’t use them for the tunnels like Sydney), so apart from level crossings which makes sense, I would be happy to do way with the train horn on departure from platforms.
The problem with the quiet carriages being designated to the 2nd and 5th cars, is that it’s in the same car as the pantograph, and those can go off like a bang in some sets. Myself, I refuse to sit in those cars, and if a certain set comes along (like NGR 707) where in those sets for some reason, heading through the neutral section, it can sound like a gun going off, which just sends my brain into an uncontrollable panic mode, I just avoid those sets completely.
Makes sense. It also seems like most passengers sit in the middle carriages anyhow so perhaps those who want or need some peace can sit in the end ones.
I thought the quiet carriages were 2 and 5 because they’re the only carriages that are in the same spot no matter whether it’s a 3 car or 6 car train nor whether it’s heading up or down, which makes them the only cars you can put up permanent signs.
IIRC when they first trialled quiet cars they were the end cars (1 and 6) but there were no signs. I vaguely recall people asking about it when the permanent signs went up in cars 2 and 5.
That problem goes away when we move to all 6 car sets, but that’s not for a long time..
QR FB: IPSWICH LINE: Customers, due to significant storm damage sustained to the rail line including overhead line damage from a tree on the track at Wacol, services are suspended between Ipswich and Darra. Rail replacement buses have been arranged …
Nope.
X QR: “Hi Robert, there are currently only two buses operating between Ipswich and Darra stations. Three additional buses are en route and expected to arrive on site within the next 15 to 45 minutes. We’ve requested a total of 20 buses and are working closely with Translink and operators to get more in service as soon as possible.”
No chance of a bus at present then. Will try to get to Darra by other means.
North Coast Line down now too between Nambour and Gympie.
I’m guessing signalling or track issue as opposed to OHLE? Unless they’re able to isolate the section north of Nambour from the rest of the Sunshine Coast Line.
Weird that these are all popping up today as opposed to last night. You’d think any issues would have been detected as or right after the storms, freight has been running all night as well as the Gympielander this morning.
Why do they have stations from Darra to Milton coloured green despite it being served by the green and aqua lines? Makes more sense to colour them grey.
Upwards trip home was seamless on R592 Darra to Goodna, one of the Translink rail replacement buses. Buses every few minutes now. They will need them come the afternoon peak.
