THE NAKED CITY: NIGHT TRAIN TO LITHGOW

Anybody over fifty who has lived in Sydney for any period of time will remember the somewhat notorious ‘red rattler’ trains that serviced the city in one form or another for something like sixty six years. When they finally stopped running in 1992 they were well beyond their use by date and most commuters were glad to see the end of them. With the NSW election at the end of the month, both major parties are keeping surprisingly quiet about the state of our suburban and regional railways.

Whilst we now have an extensive rail network, staffed by an incredibly hard working and dedicated workforce, it seems when it comes to this form of public transport we are always behind the eight ball. Numerous countries throughout the world have developed far more modern, efficient and commuter-pleasing forms of urban and long distance rail. The recent major stoppages on Sydney Trains have done nothing to improve public confidence.

Whilst the Perrottet government can trumpet advances like the Sydney Metro, other areas of the rail system are begging for modernisation and a service that is reliable seven days a week. For example ancient and outmoded carriages on NSW TrainLink haven’t changed for decades, compared to what is now available throughout Asia, Europe and the US. Great if you are travelling to Parkes for the annual Elvis Festival in the forty year old XPT and long for that bit of nostalgia, not so good if you are heading north to Casino in Northern NSW.

The Blue Mountains line was a major engineering feat that dated back over one hundred and fifty years and, for much of that time, was serviced by steam. Electrification of the line came in the 1950s and these days trains run regularly between Central and Lithgow. Whilst Blue Mountains commuters eagerly await the introduction of the problematic South Korean built carriages and various station modifications, the current service is about as reliable as a two bob watch.

Whilst the carriages have undergone some refurbishment in the past, the policy now seems to be “the new fleet is coming soon, let’s not worry about graffiti, doors that can’t be properly opened and public address systems that don’t work”. Not to mention the total absence of security cameras and emergency buttons that I am reliably told don’t often work.

It could be the scenario for some kind of offbeat Australian film noir or even horror story, but take the 12.18am train out of Central for Lithgow and you may well discover what isolation and paranoia are all about.  There was a time when the only people who actually made the entire 2hour and 47 minute journey were the homeless. With a stopover in Lithgow and an early morning train back to the city, it was a cheap way to spend the night, albeit fraught with a certain danger.

‘Sleepers’, as they were sometimes referred to have now been discouraged by the Rail authorities, even though they seldom bothered regular commuters on the late train services. By the time the 12.18 gets to Leura and Katoomba, there’s seldom more than a dozen people on the entire train.  If you are travelling on to Mount Victoria or Lithgow you could easily be the only person in the carriage with no security cameras to at least provide some reassurance.

There’s a guard on the train but they are well ensconced in their own secure compartment. If there is a drunk or mentally disturbed person on board, and it has happened, the passenger is often at their mercy, particularly if they are a vulnerable woman or elderly person. Maybe Dominic and Chris, who profess they are friends outside of politics, could make the late night trip to Lithgow one night, even bedding down with the sleepers to get the full homeless experience.

Unfortunately, with the current election campaigns, there would also be a full press contingent plus all the usual minders and spin doctors. Hell, you might not even get a seat in the carriage!  Okay, so that’s a bad idea but if you ever need to make that journey in the foreseeable future, a word of advice – don’t!