Hi Paul. The old heritage buildings with the chimneys on some of the stations is really interesting. I remember my mother telling me that men and women were once segregated and in some cases that required two waiting rooms. The stations that were a major terminus included wood fires in each waiting room and the women's waiting room had direct access to the toilets. The men's toilets were in a separate room with no direct access. The men's waiting room was also available for families and usually housed the ticket office. These wonderful waiting rooms were re-purposed over the years and eventually closed off due to vandalism and to prevent the homeless from setting up camp. I am not old enough to remember them when in full use but I do remember the later versions without the active fireplaces. These of course could be found on most lines and particularly on the Blue Mountains. I am looking forward to your Bankstown video. Thanks again Paul for this wonderful presentation and I hope you enjoy your Christmas.
I'm old enough to remember when waiting rooms were open and pretty busy, particularly at Bankstown. A modern version was built at Wolli Creek Station on the T4 platforms.
Yes they certainly are John. They will provide a real contrast to the brand new stations! Yes it was the same in the UK with the “ladies room” having toilets within the waiting room. The Bankstown video is already filmed, so I’ll be editing that early in the new year. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas as well!
There were segregated as ‘safe places’ for woman and children. Even that far back. Not particularly due to safety but more morals. More so for the uncouth language etc men (or it was perceived) could expose woman to. There’s also the belief that men didn’t want to watch what they said in front of woman. Much like a public bar atmosphere. I remember in Victoria some station waiting rooms even in the city still lit their fires on winter day in the early 1980’s. Real cosy
@@andyrob3259 I also remember when women were not permitted in the public bar in hotels but some pubs had a Women's Lounge and a beer garden for families. I remember many visits to the beer garden as a child and spending many hours waiting with my mother and sister for my father to emerge from the public bar. I also remember the odd occasion we would have a "counter" lunch which was a highlight for us children.
Well done Paul, I was a Sydney Trains driver for 26 years, so I drove many a train along the Bankstown line. I have been retired for 15 years so watching your video brought back many memories, keep up the good work.👍
Hi Paul, thanks for sharing another interesting video update. It is good to see lifts being introduced to many of the stations. These have been well needed for many years, especially with stairs on most of the suburban stations. Years ago, we had relatives living at Lakemba. Wishing you the very best. Robert.
Hi Robert, yes it certainly is! There is a big project to add lifts to Redfern station. I'll be covering this shortly. Nice to hear that you had relatives in Lakemba!
The first I ever heard of these suburbs was in the 70s in TV ads for the car dealer Nu-Ford - 'Nu-Ford's Magic Mile of Motors, stretching along Canterbury Road from Belmore to Lakamba, and on to Wiley Park!!!'
I have been watching your videos thanks keep up the good work you're doing, I wondering going to upgrade finishing the line in Lidcombe ,it will be stupid if they finishings it at Bankstown that doesn't makes no sense. Thanks
Hi John, glad you’re enjoying via videos. At the moment Sydney Metro will terminate at Bankstown. However, there are longer term proposals to extend the line to Liverpool, via a new line that is more direct than the current train line.
Thanks Paul. Just as another user mentioned, I’m sure these platforms will be paved. I don’t think asphalt or any rough surface would be suitable for Metro. Bankstown’s metro will become side platforms with a cross corridor plaza separating heavy rail and metro. A canopy will be built to the length of 3 cars with a platform being the length for 6 car trains. Barely any space for the metro trains to stop just after the bridge in between North Tce and South Tce in Bankstown, it will be interesting how they extend to 8 cars. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone, looking forward to the next video. - Given
Thanks Given, hopefully the paved platforms will give the required level access. Yes you’re spot on with the Bankstown station changes! I’ll be covering this all in my Bankstown video. Hope you’re having a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year.
Also Paul, I’m riding the Bankstown line today and I found out that during the NYE shutdown they raised the platform at Lakemba basically level now and that they also put in new grey concrete on the sections excluded from the 6 car sections of the platform. They have already laid the base concrete for the metro platforms at Bankstown, I believe.
Thanks for another great video! At 4:40 or so - the boxed in structures might be support for a canopy over the platform? As mentioned, the steel supports trackside at 9:2312:05 and so on are probably also going to carry the walls / screens to prevent track access
Hi Jim, yes possibly, although I couldn't see them mentioned in the design and precinct plan for Belmore. Yes, the steel supports could be a protective barrier too! - I believe that on the section that runs alongside the freight lines, there will be protective barriers, probably similar to the ones appearing just north of Sydenham Station. I reckon a lot of lineside work will take place during the 2 week shutdown over Xmas and New Year, so I might well do another update in January!
5:50 I think that part of the reason that the platform doesn't appear to meet the height of the train floors is due to the fact that metro platforms are all paved, using pavers that are approx 6cm thick. When these are added to the top of the platform, it reduces the gap between the platform and the train floor. If the train floor is still too high, or too low, they can always adjust the ballast underneath the track to narrow the gap.
That's good to know! - I knew there must be logical reason! It will be interesting to see whether they add the paving before or during the last shutdown before it opens as Sydney Metro.
The platforms would most likely be paved during the last shutdown, paving during shutdowns prior would require the re-installation of benches, tactiles and poles.
Also it seems pretty unclear from what the Station Design and Precinct Plans (SDPPs) say, but from what I can make out of some section I’ve read, I think it might’ve been 35mm instead of 6cm.
Certainly seems these stations (besides Lakemba) need a lot of work to bring them up to Sydney Metro standards, particularly raising the platforms. I also found it interesting how you mentioned that the excess ends of the platforms at these stations would be removed to fit 6 cars of the metro, considering that on the Northwest line they added length to cater for up to 8 cars. Do you know what is happening here? I thought they would have kept the excess length of each platform to future proof for increased capacity. Thank you for this awesome explanation, and I look forward to your Bankstown video.
I doubt they would remove the excess eastern part of Belmore bear in mind the platform being heritage listed along with some artist designs showing the ends as well.
Yes upgrading the platforms for 6 car trains only surprised me too. However, as these stations are all above ground, it would be relatively easy to extend the platforms in the future, compared to a station deep underground (which will all have platforms long enough for 8 cars. I think the non upgraded parts of the platform will be retained, but separated by platform screens to prevent access to the tracks. Glad you enjoyed this video.
@@mark123655 I do think so, extending to 8 is just adding another carriage of doors to each end of the platforms. I would like extending the door configuration first before extending the cars themselves would be an effective idea, that way 6 cars can still operate on the same stopping positions. Or even better extend to 8 right as the Bankstown line starts conversion to Metro. And if not, then extending stations in sections (probably 4-6 stations per disruption) whilst diverting trains to the opposite track can alleviate the chances of further major closures. As an example, if Bankstown to Belmore were to undergo PSD configuration alterations, they could work on the northbound side of the platforms first and have northbound trains run on the southbound line until it can use the crossover junctions to return to the northbound track.
Hi Robin, Yes, I'm sure a lot of this is due to it being an automated metro. On the North West Metro, they could hide all this in the stations, but on the Bankstown Line, the existing platform buildings don't seem to be suitable or large enough.
The Alex, yes some of them look quite big! They will house critical signalling and telecoms equipment. They will also have vehicle access and parking. I think on the Tallawong to Cherrybrook section, the services buildings are within each station, so are not so obvious. I guess they are probably within the stations between Epping and Chatswood as well.
The rail network in Sydney during the 1980s,1990s was notoriously dangerous,gangs and violent crime was rampant,I remember all the old s and r sets,all the red rattlers..blue lights for safety,all the night safe trains,I remember how the rail network once looked..the changes to all these stations,and how they look now,I have not been back to Sydney since 2004...I would feel so out of place..all the security upgrades that now exist,how all the stations have changed..wow!,in those years they did everything they could to make the trains and stations safer..they just didn't have the resources or the advancement of the technology that they now have today..Sydney was a different time and place back then,I have so many fond and wonderfull memories..used to have these little shops on the stations,it seems now that they are all gone..used to have in blue writing nightsafe area where the white edges used to be,with the yellow line behind it..anyway thankyou for your video!.
Hi Donald, yes I heard about that. It was quite unsafe in London during 80s and 90s too. Yes I'm sure CCTV and better lighting has helped, along with more people using trains in the evenings now, probably helped by better frequencies and better lit stations. It's wonderful that things have changed for the better now. I think station shops are starting to make a come back! There are some shops on Sydney Metro North West stations, mainly for coffee and snacks. Glad you enjoyed this video.
Anybody knows the time it takes Syd Metro train to run from Bankstown to Central station ? I remember it took nearly an hour ( all stations , off peak ) for the old time table around 10 years or so ago
Definately not a hour I was in Wiley park would catch the express and be there Jan good time I enjoyed the train ride then Maybe a hour driving from Burwood to central in peak hour traffic
Actually maybe more than a hour back in the past from Burwood Especially in peak hour Good old Burwood When I went to plc it was so fantastic I went to the fruit shop in concord all the time And I ate a sandwich at a cafe in Croydon park It was a phenomenal life That’s where I learnt all my 5 star world class chef skills and why I have sausage rolls and pies for sale on weekends Best ever
Hi Andrew, I'm not sure. The Sydney Metro documentation is saying comms and telecoms equipment only. There are 4 traction substations being built, so they might house the power systems. I'll show you these in a future video.
Hi Paul just a question will there be additional platforms for metro at Belmore? Or will they share the same tracks? I saw a video of a protest of congestion for the Bankstown line because they use the same line, is this true?
Yes the existing Sydney Trains tracks are being converted to Sydney Metro and will be exclusively used by Sydney Metro from 2024 in exactly the same way as the Epping to Chatswood line was converted.
@@trainaddiction6325 No. The whole Bankstown line will be served exclusively by Metro trains, interchanging at Bankstown, Sydenham, Central, Martin Place, Chatswood & Epping
Hi Craig, which metal bars are you referring to? If its the hoop top fencing on the stairs, then I reckon a replacement handrail will be added, which will be in front of the glass protection screen.
The prison bars and the absence of windows in Lakemba are there because it's a bad area or at least it used to be. I've never been there but it's common knowledge.
I can somewhat agree and disagree with this. These security grills are quite unsightly and ruin the character of the heritage building. But then again considering the type of vandalism activity around these southwest stations, don’t be surprised if there is graffiti on the building or the window is scratched. Then again there’s platform screen doors and don’t tell me what’s gonna happen if one of those are damaged.
One day either Labor and Liberal will come to their senses and reconnect Liverpool to the City via Regents Park - again... one day (they say 2024)... If Sutherland, Penrith and Campbelltown deserve fast train services, so does Liverpool. The denigration of train services servicing suburbs between Lidcombe and Cabramatta had no doubt contributed to increased social inequality suffered by the people from that community. Last thing govt want is for isolated ghettos to form. and fester. People been asking for decent services since the noughties, and only now are they willing reinstate better and faster services (mind you, not now, but in 2024) - it's disgraceful and pathetic. Communities in the south west (purportedly poorer on average) are always losing out.
Yes the plan is for direct T3 services from Liverpool to the City to continue after Sydney Metro, with the services rerouted via Regents Park and Lidcombe. There is also a much longer term proposal to extend the metro to Liverpool via a more direct route.
Hi Paul. The old heritage buildings with the chimneys on some of the stations is really interesting. I remember my mother telling me that men and women were once segregated and in some cases that required two waiting rooms. The stations that were a major terminus included wood fires in each waiting room and the women's waiting room had direct access to the toilets. The men's toilets were in a separate room with no direct access. The men's waiting room was also available for families and usually housed the ticket office. These wonderful waiting rooms were re-purposed over the years and eventually closed off due to vandalism and to prevent the homeless from setting up camp. I am not old enough to remember them when in full use but I do remember the later versions without the active fireplaces. These of course could be found on most lines and particularly on the Blue Mountains. I am looking forward to your Bankstown video. Thanks again Paul for this wonderful presentation and I hope you enjoy your Christmas.
I'm old enough to remember when waiting rooms were open and pretty busy, particularly at Bankstown. A modern version was built at Wolli Creek Station on the T4 platforms.
Yes they certainly are John. They will provide a real contrast to the brand new stations! Yes it was the same in the UK with the “ladies room” having toilets within the waiting room. The Bankstown video is already filmed, so I’ll be editing that early in the new year. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas as well!
Hi Sammy, I’ll check out the modern version when I’m next in Wolli Creek.
There were segregated as ‘safe places’ for woman and children. Even that far back. Not particularly due to safety but more morals. More so for the uncouth language etc men (or it was perceived) could expose woman to. There’s also the belief that men didn’t want to watch what they said in front of woman. Much like a public bar atmosphere.
I remember in Victoria some station waiting rooms even in the city still lit their fires on winter day in the early 1980’s. Real cosy
@@andyrob3259 I also remember when women were not permitted in the public bar in hotels but some pubs had a Women's Lounge and a beer garden for families. I remember many visits to the beer garden as a child and spending many hours waiting with my mother and sister for my father to emerge from the public bar. I also remember the odd occasion we would have a "counter" lunch which was a highlight for us children.
Well done Paul, I was a Sydney Trains driver for 26 years, so I drove many a train along the Bankstown line. I have been retired for 15 years so watching your video brought back many memories, keep up the good work.👍
Thanks! yes will do! Great to hear that you used to be a train driver and that this video bought back fond memories.
I worked on the GEC SSI re signalling from canterbury to bankstown in 1995 thanks for posting.
You're very welcome. It probably looks a little different now, compared to 1995.
The decorative supports and awnings at Belmore station remind me of a number of older stations in London...another great and informative Vlog!
Yes they do! Lots of similarities.
Hi Paul, thanks for sharing another interesting video update. It is good to see lifts being introduced to many of the stations. These have been well needed for many years, especially with stairs on most of the suburban stations. Years ago, we had relatives living at Lakemba. Wishing you the very best. Robert.
Hi Robert, yes it certainly is! There is a big project to add lifts to Redfern station. I'll be covering this shortly. Nice to hear that you had relatives in Lakemba!
The first I ever heard of these suburbs was in the 70s in TV ads for the car dealer Nu-Ford - 'Nu-Ford's Magic Mile of Motors, stretching along Canterbury Road from Belmore to Lakamba, and on to Wiley Park!!!'
thanks for all the updates as a old Aussie i like the updates thank you Paul
You’re very welcome Ken
To paul your video are good to watch & interesting about the metro platforms from Michael Smith from Sydney Australia 🇦🇺
Thanks Michael. Glad you’re enjoying my videos.
Thanks for the update Paul
You're very welcome!
Loved the video!
Thanks Nic, Glad you enjoyed it!
I have been watching your videos thanks keep up the good work you're doing, I wondering going to upgrade finishing the line in Lidcombe ,it will be stupid if they finishings it at Bankstown that doesn't makes no sense.
Thanks
Hi John, glad you’re enjoying via videos. At the moment Sydney Metro will terminate at Bankstown. However, there are longer term proposals to extend the line to Liverpool, via a new line that is more direct than the current train line.
Thanks Paul.
Just as another user mentioned, I’m sure these platforms will be paved. I don’t think asphalt or any rough surface would be suitable for Metro.
Bankstown’s metro will become side platforms with a cross corridor plaza separating heavy rail and metro. A canopy will be built to the length of 3 cars with a platform being the length for 6 car trains.
Barely any space for the metro trains to stop just after the bridge in between North Tce and South Tce in Bankstown, it will be interesting how they extend to 8 cars.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone, looking forward to the next video.
- Given
Thanks Given, hopefully the paved platforms will give the required level access. Yes you’re spot on with the Bankstown station changes! I’ll be covering this all in my Bankstown video. Hope you’re having a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year.
Also Paul, I’m riding the Bankstown line today and I found out that during the NYE shutdown they raised the platform at Lakemba basically level now and that they also put in new grey concrete on the sections excluded from the 6 car sections of the platform. They have already laid the base concrete for the metro platforms at Bankstown, I believe.
Thanks for another great video! At 4:40 or so - the boxed in structures might be support for a canopy over the platform? As mentioned, the steel supports trackside at 9:23 12:05 and so on are probably also going to carry the walls / screens to prevent track access
Hi Jim, yes possibly, although I couldn't see them mentioned in the design and precinct plan for Belmore. Yes, the steel supports could be a protective barrier too! - I believe that on the section that runs alongside the freight lines, there will be protective barriers, probably similar to the ones appearing just north of Sydenham Station. I reckon a lot of lineside work will take place during the 2 week shutdown over Xmas and New Year, so I might well do another update in January!
5:50 I think that part of the reason that the platform doesn't appear to meet the height of the train floors is due to the fact that metro platforms are all paved, using pavers that are approx 6cm thick.
When these are added to the top of the platform, it reduces the gap between the platform and the train floor. If the train floor is still too high, or too low, they can always adjust the ballast underneath the track to narrow the gap.
That would all make sense, will these stations have platform edge doors, if so then that system might take up the space required for that equipment.
@@andrewjameson5918 yeah, all Sydney Metro platforms will have screen doors
That's good to know! - I knew there must be logical reason! It will be interesting to see whether they add the paving before or during the last shutdown before it opens as Sydney Metro.
The platforms would most likely be paved during the last shutdown, paving during shutdowns prior would require the re-installation of benches, tactiles and poles.
Also it seems pretty unclear from what the Station Design and Precinct Plans (SDPPs) say, but from what I can make out of some section I’ve read, I think it might’ve been 35mm instead of 6cm.
Keep it up 👏🏻
Will do Brett!
Great video!
Thanks Nick!
Certainly seems these stations (besides Lakemba) need a lot of work to bring them up to Sydney Metro standards, particularly raising the platforms. I also found it interesting how you mentioned that the excess ends of the platforms at these stations would be removed to fit 6 cars of the metro, considering that on the Northwest line they added length to cater for up to 8 cars. Do you know what is happening here? I thought they would have kept the excess length of each platform to future proof for increased capacity. Thank you for this awesome explanation, and I look forward to your Bankstown video.
I doubt they would remove the excess eastern part of Belmore bear in mind the platform being heritage listed along with some artist designs showing the ends as well.
Yes upgrading the platforms for 6 car trains only surprised me too. However, as these stations are all above ground, it would be relatively easy to extend the platforms in the future, compared to a station deep underground (which will all have platforms long enough for 8 cars. I think the non upgraded parts of the platform will be retained, but separated by platform screens to prevent access to the tracks. Glad you enjoyed this video.
Yes that’s right Lil. I reckon they will stay.
Suspect it will stay, but also means a lot of disruption if they ever do decide to extend to 8.
@@mark123655
I do think so, extending to 8 is just adding another carriage of doors to each end of the platforms.
I would like extending the door configuration first before extending the cars themselves would be an effective idea, that way 6 cars can still operate on the same stopping positions.
Or even better extend to 8 right as the Bankstown line starts conversion to Metro.
And if not, then extending stations in sections (probably 4-6 stations per disruption) whilst diverting trains to the opposite track can alleviate the chances of further major closures.
As an example, if Bankstown to Belmore were to undergo PSD configuration alterations, they could work on the northbound side of the platforms first and have northbound trains run on the southbound line until it can use the crossover junctions to return to the northbound track.
There will be an awful lot of service buildings on this line, has this anything to do with it being an automated metro?
Hi Robin, Yes, I'm sure a lot of this is due to it being an automated metro. On the North West Metro, they could hide all this in the stations, but on the Bankstown Line, the existing platform buildings don't seem to be suitable or large enough.
Paul, the service buildings for each station look substantial. Do you know what’s going in them?
The Alex, yes some of them look quite big! They will house critical signalling and telecoms equipment. They will also have vehicle access and parking. I think on the Tallawong to Cherrybrook section, the services buildings are within each station, so are not so obvious. I guess they are probably within the stations between Epping and Chatswood as well.
The rail network in Sydney during the 1980s,1990s was notoriously dangerous,gangs and violent crime was rampant,I remember all the old s and r sets,all the red rattlers..blue lights for safety,all the night safe trains,I remember how the rail network once looked..the changes to all these stations,and how they look now,I have not been back to Sydney since 2004...I would feel so out of place..all the security upgrades that now exist,how all the stations have changed..wow!,in those years they did everything they could to make the trains and stations safer..they just didn't have the resources or the advancement of the technology that they now have today..Sydney was a different time and place back then,I have so many fond and wonderfull memories..used to have these little shops on the stations,it seems now that they are all gone..used to have in blue writing nightsafe area where the white edges used to be,with the yellow line behind it..anyway thankyou for your video!.
Hi Donald, yes I heard about that. It was quite unsafe in London during 80s and 90s too. Yes I'm sure CCTV and better lighting has helped, along with more people using trains in the evenings now, probably helped by better frequencies and better lit stations. It's wonderful that things have changed for the better now. I think station shops are starting to make a come back! There are some shops on Sydney Metro North West stations, mainly for coffee and snacks. Glad you enjoyed this video.
Anybody knows the time it takes Syd Metro train to run from Bankstown to Central station ? I remember it took nearly an hour ( all stations , off peak ) for the old time table around 10 years or so ago
My guess would be 27 mins. This is based on 22 mins from Bankstown to Sydenham (2 mins quicker than now) and then 6 mins to Central.
Definately not a hour
I was in Wiley park would catch the express and be there Jan good time
I enjoyed the train ride then
Maybe a hour driving from Burwood to central in peak hour traffic
Actually maybe more than a hour back in the past from Burwood
Especially in peak hour
Good old Burwood
When I went to plc it was so fantastic
I went to the fruit shop in concord all the time
And I ate a sandwich at a cafe in Croydon park
It was a phenomenal life
That’s where I learnt all my 5 star world class chef skills and why I have sausage rolls and pies for sale on weekends
Best ever
What a cool vlog Paul
Your super interesting
Thanks Marina, glad you enjoyed it.
Belmore Station used to be the Terminus for the Bankstown Line from 1895 to 1909.
yes that's right
good video
Thanks
Will the services building also house power systems as they seem too big for signalling and the other services you mentioned.
Hi Andrew, I'm not sure. The Sydney Metro documentation is saying comms and telecoms equipment only. There are 4 traction substations being built, so they might house the power systems. I'll show you these in a future video.
Hi Paul just a question will there be additional platforms for metro at Belmore? Or will they share the same tracks? I saw a video of a protest of congestion for the Bankstown line because they use the same line, is this true?
The Metro is replacing the current trains and can't by design be integrated with the current Sydney Trains network.?
Yes the existing Sydney Trains tracks are being converted to Sydney Metro and will be exclusively used by Sydney Metro from 2024 in exactly the same way as the Epping to Chatswood line was converted.
Yes that’s right John. The signaling and automated train control mean that you can’t run both Sydney Trains and Metro trains on the same tracks.
So the whole Bankstown line is closed, correct?
@@trainaddiction6325 No. The whole Bankstown line will be served exclusively by Metro trains, interchanging at Bankstown, Sydenham, Central, Martin Place, Chatswood & Epping
Lifts do have bases but also genrally have pits for equipment
Thanks for that Andrew. That's good to know.
Hi Paul will the new Metro line be electrified or battery operated
Electrified. 1500 DC overhead wires.
Removing the metal bars is a bad idea. They are there for a reason.
Hi Craig, which metal bars are you referring to? If its the hoop top fencing on the stairs, then I reckon a replacement handrail will be added, which will be in front of the glass protection screen.
The prison bars and the absence of windows in Lakemba are there because it's a bad area or at least it used to be. I've never been there but it's common knowledge.
I can somewhat agree and disagree with this.
These security grills are quite unsightly and ruin the character of the heritage building.
But then again considering the type of vandalism activity around these southwest stations, don’t be surprised if there is graffiti on the building or the window is scratched.
Then again there’s platform screen doors and don’t tell me what’s gonna happen if one of those are damaged.
One day either Labor and Liberal will come to their senses and reconnect Liverpool to the City via Regents Park - again... one day (they say 2024)... If Sutherland, Penrith and Campbelltown deserve fast train services, so does Liverpool. The denigration of train services servicing suburbs between Lidcombe and Cabramatta had no doubt contributed to increased social inequality suffered by the people from that community. Last thing govt want is for isolated ghettos to form. and fester. People been asking for decent services since the noughties, and only now are they willing reinstate better and faster services (mind you, not now, but in 2024) - it's disgraceful and pathetic. Communities in the south west (purportedly poorer on average) are always losing out.
Yes the plan is for direct T3 services from Liverpool to the City to continue after Sydney Metro, with the services rerouted via Regents Park and Lidcombe. There is also a much longer term proposal to extend the metro to Liverpool via a more direct route.