My Train Ride Experience

[Edgar]

After residing in Adelaide for more than 2 years, I finally took the train. It was just out of curiosity in personal interest, and also how people in this forum actually encouraged other people to utilise the public transport that I finally set myself to go for a ride the other day.

First impression, was pretty good. Seeing that our train network system is much more simpler than the interstates (Asians countries have the worse!), it is easy to understand. I came to the railway station in the city with absolutely no idea how to get on board of one. The night before, I had downloaded the map for the route to my area, which is the Outer Harbour route.

Went to the railway station after work, looked at the traffic screen and saw Outer Harbour train set to leave at 5.07p.m. (the one I am catching) from Platform 6. Walked to Platform 6, and walked straight into the first coach. I was wrong, because that particular train were set to leave later, it is just idling, where the correct train were actually parking just behind it. Now I know that I should look at the sign above my head, and should tell you that the spot is designates which train you will be taking.

It would be nice if the railway station would be enclosed in an air-conditioning with glass doors. But hopping into the train, I was less than impress with the quality of the coach. The glass window in particular needs some replacement, infact, the whole coach fleets look tired and needed replacement.

The journey was impressive however, what a 25 minutes drive from my place to the city, only takes less than 10 minutes, how cool is that! I took the 5.07p.m. express, where the first stop would be at Woodville Station, and that station is awesome, with CCTV camera at the carpark, so now I can park my car there and hop on to the train.

The only put off is? The tickets, costing at near $27 is no cheap ride. Equates to around $2.70 per ride and is certainly not good for long term when we expect the fees to increase alongside the interest rates and consumer price index rise.

When my monthly parking at the Convention Centre gets approved @ $100 / month for Optus employee, I am going back to driving to work. It just works out cheaper for me and my partner just to drive to work. $27 for 2 of us, would cost us $216 per month. Compared to $100 parking / month plus petrol would amount to only slightly more than that, but I get the flexibility, not worry about delays, privacy, and so much more advantage over taking the public transport.

So, would I take the public transport as my daily transportation solution? Definitely not, the train is good, but as I said before, not everyone lives 5 minutes walk away from the nearest station, not everyone thinks $2.70 per person per trip is reasonable, especially for people with partners or other members of the family. If petrol prices hits above $2/litre and public transport cost stays the same, probably yes.

Our train system really need some upgrading.

[jk1237]

I think $2.70 is very reasonable. Interesting that companies give a voucher for car-parking. Why dont they give you $100/month for public transport costs.

[Pistol]

This is the reason we have congestion on our roads...

[Norman]

You also need to include the saved fuel

[urban]

The NRMA have a website showing the running costs of almost every car on the market in c/km. This takes into account everything including servicing, tyres, petrol, depreciation, etc. Most people when they work out how much it costs them to drive to work only consider the cost of carparking and sometimes petrol.

Small cars start at about 50c/km with large or sports cars up to $1.50/km (Howie's is probably $2).

If Edgar drives 10km each way in a small car it would cost $10/day plus parking. Monthly bill of $300+.

[trdrz]

[urban]

It was fantastic being a school student in the late 80's & early 90's with free public transport.

[Howie]

It was fantastic being a school student in the late 80's & early 90's with free public transport.

Sure was. I remember when tickets were first introduced.. we'd get like a stack of them at the beginning of the year. Then some entrepreneurial students thought it might be a good idea to sell the unused ones at the end the year...

[monotonehell]

I heard similar stories from my friends who drive into Adelaide. They say that the cost of driving two people into work compared to catching the bus is about the same (some claim it to be cheaper depending on their parking). They'd rather drive and take longer than crowd into the bus/train/eel filled hovercraft that we currently have.

It's a bit sad when we're supposed to be encouraging people onto PT.

[Omicron]

I heard similar stories from my friends who drive into Adelaide. They say that the cost of driving two people into work compared to catching the bus is about the same (some claim it to be cheaper depending on their parking). They'd rather drive and take longer than crowd into the bus/train/eel filled hovercraft that we currently have.

It's a bit sad when we're supposed to be encouraging people onto PT.

It's like the number of people who find it cheaper to park illegally and pay the parking fine than it is to actually pay for parking in the first place.

[Edgar]

I think $2.70 is very reasonable. Interesting that companies give a voucher for car-parking. Why dont they give you $100/month for public transport costs.

We don't get vouchers, it is basically an agreement made between my employer and the Riverbank / Convention Centre carpark management to provide special rate for monthly car parking.

[Edgar]

The NRMA have a website showing the running costs of almost every car on the market in c/km. This takes into account everything including servicing, tyres, petrol, depreciation, etc. Most people when they work out how much it costs them to drive to work only consider the cost of carparking and sometimes petrol.

Small cars start at about 50c/km with large or sports cars up to $1.50/km (Howie's is probably $2).

If Edgar drives 10km each way in a small car it would cost $10/day plus parking. Monthly bill of $300+.

That only really applies for people who DO NOT need a car at all in their everyday life.

For people who do need to have a car not as a luxury asset, but of necessity in life, then to drive to work in my case, is still cheaper and far more reasonable.

You would advice me to sell my car and fully rely on public transport don't you? And don't tell me that you do not have a single car in your house?

[monotonehell]

The NRMA have a website showing the running costs of almost every car on the market in c/km. This takes into account everything including servicing, tyres, petrol, depreciation, etc. Most people when they work out how much it costs them to drive to work only consider the cost of carparking and sometimes petrol.

Small cars start at about 50c/km with large or sports cars up to $1.50/km (Howie's is probably $2).

If Edgar drives 10km each way in a small car it would cost $10/day plus parking. Monthly bill of $300+.

That only really applies for people who DO NOT need a car at all in their everyday life.

For people who do need to have a car not as a luxury asset, but of necessity in life, then to drive to work in my case, is still cheaper and far more reasonable.

You would advice me to sell my car and fully rely on public transport don't you? And don't tell me that you do not have a single car in your house?

I have neither a car nor a drivers licence. Until I can get one of these I wont bother.

[urban]

The NRMA have a website showing the running costs of almost every car on the market in c/km. This takes into account everything including servicing, tyres, petrol, depreciation, etc. Most people when they work out how much it costs them to drive to work only consider the cost of carparking and sometimes petrol.

Small cars start at about 50c/km with large or sports cars up to $1.50/km (Howie's is probably $2).

If Edgar drives 10km each way in a small car it would cost $10/day plus parking. Monthly bill of $300+.

That only really applies for people who DO NOT need a car at all in their everyday life.

For people who do need to have a car not as a luxury asset, but of necessity in life, then to drive to work in my case, is still cheaper and far more reasonable.

You would advice me to sell my car and fully rely on public transport don't you? And don't tell me that you do not have a single car in your house?

True some of the costs of car ownership are fixed such as rego and insurance but depreciation, tyre wear, servicing costs all relate to the distance travelled. I am not saying don't drive to work, all I am doing is trying to point out the true costs of car travel are greater than just parking and petrol so that you can make a fully informed decision.

This is also why I advocate PT that is connected into our urban fabric allowing people to do shopping etc. when they get off the bus, train, tram.

[monotonehell]

This is also why I advocate PT that is connected into our urban fabric allowing people to do shopping etc. when they get off the bus, train, tram.

A lot of it has to do with individuals' attitude to driving. I have a neighbour who drives 50 metres to the local pub and back. How many people do you know like that? Some people take the car to their local shops because they do not wish to carry the groceries for 10 minutes' walk. Some people are so attached to their car that they wont walk the 10 metres from where they park their car down their driveway to pick up the local paper, they just leave it to rot on their driveway.

Both the way PT connects to this 'fabric' urban is so fond of and our attitudes to it need to change. The problem is very chicken and egg.