Over the years I have read, and written, many horror stories about nightmarish journeys on the South Coast trains.
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Like many local residents I have personally experienced delays, unexplained schedule changes, rude, disinterested or non-existent rail staff and spent lonely hours on cold and windy platforms wondering if I would ever get from A to B.
So I feel morally obligated to report my latest experience.
Returning from a weekend in Sydney on Sunday I missed the 4.22pm Wollongong train from Martin Place by about 10 seconds.
The next train was not for another hour.
Witnessing my plight, a staff member told me he would see what he could do.
He made a phone call, then told me that if I jumped on the next train, the 4.22 would wait for me at Sydenham.
Once on the train, there was a special announcement reminding the “South Coast passenger” to change trains at Sydenham where the Wollongong train was being held on platform 4.
When I alighted at Sydenham, a station attendant hurried over and carried my bag for me up the stairs and over to the next platform to the waiting train.
At this point, you’re probably expecting me to say, “and then I woke up and it was all a dream”.
But no.
I am astonished to report that this really happened.
I am very grateful to the CityRail staff members involved, and think they deserve a big pat on the back.
But I wonder, was this just a fluke, or could it be that CityRail’s customer service ethos has finally turned the corner?
K. Sharpe, Terara