Would you catch the train if you could Park and Ride?
A new report from NRMA Motoring & Services has found that the main reason motorists don’t catch the train to work is due to a lack of sufficient and secure parking facilities at train stations.
43 per cent of those surveyed said they would use ‘Park and Ride’ facilities if they were provided. But the report found that some of the busiest stations in NSW are severely lacking in adequate parking:
- • Strathfield 23 spaces – 10,700 commuters.
- • Hornsby 350 spaces – 7,290 commuters.
- • Parramatta 780 spaces – 15,190 commuters.
- • Bankstown 170 spaces – 4,720 commuters.
- • Kogarah 330 spaces – 6,770 commuters.
“More than 80 per cent of motorists currently drive to work – we could get that number down considerably if motorists were given the option of driving to the station and parking in a secure, well-lit parking space,” NRMA President Alan Evans said.
He said it would be a great way to get motorists off the road and onto trains, reducing traffic congestion and pollution.
Transport Minister John Watkins said the NSW Government is expanding park and ride facilities at Seven Hills, St Marys, Glenfield, Werrington, Holdsworthy, Blacktown and Wenthworthville.
The report also showed that some of Sydney’s busiest stations don’t have any ‘Kiss and Ride’ areas – legal and safe areas for dropping off and picking up that would allow people to get a lift to the station rather than drive.
Would you catch a train to work if there were proper parking facilities at the train station?
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March 4th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Valley Heights Rail Station has lots of spaces only 10% used because:1 There are no signs indicating there is a parking area (Can’t be seen from Gt West Hwy).
2 It’s easy to drive into but almost impossible to get out and turn right because of the fast moving traffic on the highway and the lack of good visablilty.
March 5th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
I can not begin to tell you what a joke Kogarah Station is. Plenty of trains but can’t park my car anywhere. And got sick of waiting over 25 minutes for a train at adjacent smaller stations. So drive to the CBD instead. It really is a joke, empty streets with 2 hour parking restrtictions just stupid.
March 5th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
It is about time that local and state governments stopped the buck passing and invest in public transport and infrastructure. I would like to catch a train at Epping but since there is no parking I’ll just continue to drive. Why wasn’t parking factored when the station was upgraded we’ll never know but without it the Epping to Chatswood rail link looks like becoming another white elephant for the state.
March 7th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
DRIVE to the train station? Surely, the sensible option would be an INTEGRATED public transport system that includes a regular and reliable means of tranportation to get you from home to the train station and back again. If you think this idea sounds something like catching a bus…go to the head of the queue! Why don’t we get all those buses that currently just add to the vehicle congestion along Victoria Road and the like, to instead drive their passengers to the nearest train station? Then, they can go back again and get some more! Too easy?
March 10th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
I agree there should be more car parking around stations. It’s not just the regular commuters; but off peak users – who have got no chance of a carpark around busy station. I like to consider train for part of the journey – but it simply isn’t worth it. Even cheap (as opposed to free) parking would be great if you could know you’d get a spot.
March 12th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
I’d love to use the train to get to the city. But parking near Burwood Railway Station for any length of time is almost impossible. Why is ist being left to the local shopping centres to provide the (almost) only parking?
Land directly adjacent to Burwood Railway Station has been vacant for years. Now it is being sold as a development site for Home Units! It would have been perfect for an all-day commuter parking station. But who will accept the responsibilty for building it? NSW Rail? Burwood Council? Neither of them seems to be interested. Shame on them!
March 12th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Strathfield station is always busy, has regular trains to the CBD (every few minutes) and has to be one of the worst in Sydney for parking. A dedicated park station for 20 vehicles (that’s full by 6am) and all the surrounding streets with 2 hour parking, or less. Kilometres of empty suburban streets next to big houses where most of the residents are at work anyway. Why do all of these streets have such restricted parking during the day?
Let us park in these streets and hundreds of people like me would use the train everyday.
Even change the station carpark to motorcycles only and I’ll buy a scooter!
March 12th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Glenfield Station I think is a fine example of many car drivers trying to park and ride but the car spaces are lacking. The access road is lined with cars all the way back to the roundabout entrance area on the Hurlstone High School side to the point that cars are parked on the huge grass area ajacent the school grounds. Then what happens…..parking tickets. Well done NSW Govt……again!!
March 12th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
I agree. Burwood Station used to have all day rail commuter parking (pay & display) – fantastic as most mothers I know work so after dropping off the kids to “before school care” at school we then head off to Burwood Station park the car and use the train to get to work .. easy. Then Burwood Council in their infinite wisdom decided to turn that parking lot into .. yes you guessed it .. another development site .. like we don’t have enough!! without providing another area for parking all day. I know heaps of people that now have to drive to work because of this. Imagine how many cars would be off the roads if WE COULD FIND SOMEWHERE TO PARK ALL DAY AT THE TRAIN STATIONS !!!
March 12th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
I am appalled at the lack of forsight that has occured with the construction of the Parramatta to Chatswood rail link. There was only a short distance of extra tunnelling required to take this project through to Carlingford and complete the link. Carlingford station is surrounded by open space that is extremely suitable for a multi storey car parking station that could have been used by commuters. Even if the rail track was not completed, drivers parking at Carlingford could have been transfered by bus to Epping via the tunnel. Why not build parking stations over the railway lines at the railway stations?
March 13th, 2008 at 7:31 am
I agree, at Hurstville, you have to park a distance from the station due to parking time restrictions, yet it is a very busy station. Why not have commuter carparks connected to your ticket – eg you get a parking pass with your ticket or a pass for a small amount more than your ticket?
March 13th, 2008 at 8:00 am
Absoulutely agree, we need more parking at busy stations to encourage public transport usage. One of the problems I experience at Narara station is vandalism. I actually avoid the car park because it is hidden away, and so park on the street for security reasons. What a shame! So it seems to me there are 2 issues. One, not enough adequate off-street parking, and often when there is, it isn’t secure enough.
March 13th, 2008 at 8:14 am
I would like to ride to work if there is a safe and dedicated track for me to get onto M2 from Seven Hills Station. And I don’t feel too safe to be riding my bike alongside motorists on M2. It would be good if there is some sort of safety fence betweent the cyclist lane and the motorist lanes.
March 13th, 2008 at 8:49 am
I think both the state and local governments should resign and let other partys to run the business. They are no work in a co-operative manner to facilitate the commuters. Instead, they work for their own pocket to ensure they have enough funding for the spending they like.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Europe with its relatively poor climate compared with ours use Motor scooters to reach rail heads. You can park 10 scooters in the space of one car. It is sinful that we have not taken to this type of short/intermediate distance transport for 2.
The problem with transport is that everyone is waiting for someone else to come up with a solution. Fact is, unless we all make an effort, it is going to get a lot, lot worse in a hurry. A scheme to import second hand 250cc 4 stroke scooters from Italy and Japan was frustrated by bureaucrats. These vehicles, in good condition, would have sold for $2,500 and run for 100kms on a litre of juice. Serviceable by a lawn mower mechanic and only needing a small tarp for a garage. To get this type of urgently needed vehicle started in this company the market has to be salted with a volume of cheap but reliable units. Low initial cost. low running cost, low insurance, low registration. less space on road. less space in carparks. So start contributing yourself and make a noise with local council and government deadheads.
Oil costs are going to bring countries like USA and ours to their knees unless we realise the huge economic implications. USA is building light rail systems as fast as they can. We must cut the number of cars on the road by 80%. Decentralisation is a must. particulaly for office workers. Training of professioinal and office people should include comprehensive techniques to enable decentralisation through simple electronic communication and conferencing. This matter is a volano about to bust. Do your bit for mittigation, sell the Plasma and buy a VESPA. Think about it!
March 13th, 2008 at 9:51 am
I travel from Bella Vista to North Ryde. This is normally a 20 minute drive but takes me now approx 1.5 hours to get here. There are no park & ride options for me as I have to drop my daughter to the bus stand at 07.50 and there is no bus or train to North Ryde from where we live. The north west sector is the worst the population has grown but the infrastructure has not been developed. Hope one day a Government will look at this problem as this issue is not only wastes lot of time on the road but all our cars waiting in traffic is damaging the environment.
To answer the comment will I use park and ride yes surely I will and that will be my dream at least for my children.
March 13th, 2008 at 10:55 am
State Government missed a great opportunity to win more rail customers from Epping by not including any car parking when constructing the new station. With the new underground rail link to Chatswood imminent, may commuters might have chosen to use the train rather than drive.
March 13th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
At Leumeah station on the western side of the line there is ample parking but if you use the carpark furthest from the station you can almost guarantee that your car will be broken into (smashed window)and vandalised. happened to my son’s partner a few weeks ago and is almost a daily occurance there as any car parked will be there for hours and there are buildings near it to have surveilance
March 13th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
There is little parking at Blacktown – the cars are spilling into parks and streets up to 300 metres from the station. Obviously, more would use the trains from here if more secure parking was available.
Cyclists are completely ignored at all Cityrail stations. There are no facilities – secure or otherwise – to place a bike. Compare this with Beijing or Osaka where bicycle storage is available at all stations – and secure storage at the larger ones.
March 13th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Be thankful your not trying to get on a train at Liverpool, is NO parking available and if you get the bus, you travel through nearly every suburb on the way! your exhausted by the time you get to the station. I now drive 25 minutes to get on at Holsworthy, which at least has a car park, but its sooooo full, you’ve got to leave earlier and eariler to have any sucess at getting a spot. I would like the NRMA to confirm that it’s getting additional parking area.
March 14th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Where are mothers, the aged, business clients to get parking if all available parking is taken by commuters who will not use inconvenient and crowded public transport. Commuters potentially take countless spaces. In the business world no turnover means no business.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:36 am
There is no parking because councils and the state government would rather sell any land it owns for high rise units and make money. If you live within walking distance from a station your house is much more valuable and with the cost of petrol will become more so. We need connecting buses designed specially for short rides to the nearest station – possibly electric. I agree the new rail link could become very underused if there is little parking.
March 26th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
I am stunned at the parking in and around the city. This must be costing railways a lot of money and forcing the motorists to drive to work instead of commuting by train and bus. I watch the traffic conjestion every night on the news and it would be no fun at all to be driving in it. Surely the Fed and State govt can increase parking areas by making carparks multi story and use the heaps of “air space” available. I think this Labor Govt to date has been a lot of talk BUT it needs action. People can then drive to the railway/bus terminals and get to work with ease.
March 26th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Why must everyone always want to park at the busiest stations? Why not drive a bit further and park at minor stations near by? The train service may not be as frequent but you may find it less crowded. There is such a thing as a timetable you can use to time your arrival at the station near the time the train is due to leave.
March 27th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
I have very recently spent 2 months in Perth with relatives, driving at times, I am over 80, the cut off point for motorists licences is 80yrs, when
a licence can not be reissued. The trains travel at high speeds ( 130k ) and people are encouraged to park and ride next to the stations, most surburban stations have in excess of 750 bays, the coaches are a third longer than Sydneys and not a part double decker and carry more passengers. Buses meet the trains and using the same ticket move around
the same suburb as where the station is situated. There are no toll roads,
in WA and great freeways.
March 28th, 2008 at 9:32 am
Few mention how lack luster Sydneys entire public transport system is. Train services become fewer everytime they review the timetable, and this is going to improve efficiency… overhead lines came down at Tempe the other day leaving commuters stranded. Busses tied up with the easter show and school runs. 1000′s waiting at Hurstville, 100′s lining for taxis. In my infrequent use of trains alone, no-way! Over priced tickets, filthy unhealthy trains, infrequent services, inadequate safety. Daily tele described it as 3rd world railnetwork. I think thats right on the mark! I’ve been driving for close to 3 years now. The gov. has a lot of work to do before I set foot on any public transport again. Imagine how clear the message the Gov would get if everyone decided on the same day to catch public transport like they want us to…ensure the riot police are on standby.
August 13th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
tripping from Baulkham Hills to the city is a nighmare as Baulkham hills council says they wont subsidise the motor ways by providing parking. Add to this the stacked to the rafters and 4 on the roof please attitude of the bus provider.
Clearly the people in Baulkham hills woud (do) line up in droves to use park and ride
Its a pity it still isnt being provided even though it has been promised for many years
September 26th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Yes provision of commuter parking would surely be more convenient. However for parramatta, strathfield, hornsby and bankstown there is no need for commuter parking. They are all well serviced by buses. What needs to be done is develop a system of bus networks servicing local areas just like the above stations so there is no need for commuter parking.
It would be difficult to provide commuter parking given the constraints local councils face such as land and costs. If you want to park at strathfield station feel free to park at strathfield plaza and pay for the parking costs.
October 24th, 2008 at 7:25 am
As for the notion of taking a bus to the station instead of parking… forget about purchasing a multi-trip ticket from Cityrail if you live in my area (Baulkham Hills). Hillsbus does not take these tickets and so it’s another $4 each way just to get to the station! There really needs to be a central entity controlling all of these transport services, not just helter-skelter companies doing whatever they want. What is this, the United states?
April 16th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
why are sydney trains so slow???????????????
August 2nd, 2010 at 8:19 am
Alternatively cycle to the station on a folding bike and take it with you on the train so you can use it at the other end? Once you’ve tried it I doubt you’ll want to go back as the easy of use is phenomenal.
Gary the Folder
August 29th, 2010 at 11:16 am
Parking at any major station would be great. I would park at Lidcombe or Strathfield station and catch the train to Wynyard had there been any all-day parking available near by (~2 minutes walk), it’s appalling to see most of the empty streets near by with 2 hour parking limit, what’s the use of that? you’re just making things worse and gaining nothing but maybe some small income from parking fines here and there, maybe local councils don’t care but cityrail could be making multi-million dollar higher profits if there were more available parking near their stations. I don’t mind trains being slow if there’s good parking available. On average, you’d spend about 15-20(or more) minutes looking for parking, plus another 10 minutes waiting for the train and then add that the trains are slow and some of them aren’t even express trains to the city, you’re in a long ride to work every single damn day, this doesn’t appeal to the average 9 to 5 city worker, that just means that more people will just drive to work congesting overall traffic during peak hours.