Railway Stations Audit

Railway Stations Audit A Park & Ride and Kiss & Ride Commuter Facilities Audit May 2012

About NRMA Motoring & Services The National Roads & Motorists Association Limited (NRMA Motoring & Services) comprises almost 2.4 million Members in NSW and the ACT. For more than 90 years, NRMA has represented the interests of motorists in relation to road funding, road safety and other relevant public policy issues. NRMA began in 1920 when there were 20,000 motor vehicles on the road. One of the first services NRMA offered was car minding in 1924, when it was against the law to leave a motor vehicle unattended in the centre of Sydney. Throughout the years, NRMA has fought for seat belts in cars, road safety, drink driving education programs, better road funding and fairer petrol prices. Today NRMA has grown and in addition to providing roadside assistance, it has diversified to offer a range of motoring, travel, lifestyle and advocacy services. NRMA remains a Membership organisation with a focus on Member benefits and roadside assistance. Comments and Queries Comments and queries on this document may be directed to: Amy Houston, Policy Researcher NRMA Motoring & Services PO Box 1026, Strathfield NSW 2135 T: +612 8741 6000 W: www.mynrma.com.au E: Amy.Houston@mynrma.com.au 2

Recommendations NRMA recommends the NSW Government: 1. Consider building Park & Ride facilities at all major transport interchanges (including, for example, Burwood, Strathfield, Epping, Hurstville, and Chatswood). 2. Increase the capacity of existing Park & Ride facilities to meet current and future demand. 3. Increase commuter safety by installing better lighting, CCTV, and enabling passive surveillance of both new and existing Park & Ride facilities. 4. Formalise and standardise Kiss & Ride at every station on the network, enabling legal and safe dropoff and pick-up of passengers. 5. Update Transport Interchange information on the CityRail.info website to reflect actual facilities at railway stations, including how many Park & Ride spaces there are and their location(s). 6. Improve and standardise signage, especially directional signage to stations and commuter facilities (including Park & Ride and Kiss & Ride signage). 7. Consider building Park & Ride infrastructure at strategic locations where motorists could interchange with buses (including, for example, on the Northern Beaches, and adjacent to motorways such as the M5 East, the M4 and the M2). 8. Allocate all of the Parking Space Levy collected to Park & Ride infrastructure and remove barriers to the construnction of Park & Ride facilities. The confusing array of signs designating Kiss & Ride zones at stations around the CityRail network. 3

Report In 2010, after crowding on carriages, the availability (or lack thereof) of secure car parking had the highest percentage of dissatisfied train users. 1 In the Survey of CityRail Customers 2010, 54 per cent of respondents said the availability of secure car parking is important or very important, 2 but only 20 per cent said that the actual availability of secure car parking was good or very good. 3 NRMA s previous Park & Ride report, released in February 2008, clearly established that: Commuters want a choice of transport modes (i.e. private vehicle and/or public transport); and There are major problems with the provision of Park & Ride facilities (including their location, existing facilities, and a lack of strategic planning and policy involving all stake holders including local and state government, business and transport providers). 4 Since the release of NRMA s 2008 report, the NSW Government has introduced a Commuter Car Park Program, to rapidly expand and enhance commuter car parking supply in key areas of Greater Sydney with a view to easing congestion on roads and encouraging more commuters onto public transport. 5 This program has been primarily funded through the Parking Space Levy, which is collected by the NSW Government with a two-fold strategy - firstly, to discourage car use in major commercial centres, encourage the use of public transport and improve air quality, and secondly, to fund projects that also contribute to reducing traffic congestion and facilitating access to public transport. The Parking Space Levy is collected in Sydney s CBD, North Sydney, Milsons Point, Bondi Junction, Chatswood, Parramatta and St Leonards. The Parking Space Levy has then been spent on commuter facilities, including Park & Ride, in places such as Berowra, Blacktown, Campbelltown, Emu Plains, Glenfield, Helensburgh, Holsworthy, Katoomba, Macarthur, Morisset, Ourimbah, Quakers Hill, Revesby, Seven Hills, St Marys, Tuggerah, Warwick Farm, Waterfall, Wentworthville, Werrington, Windsor, Wollongong, Woonona, Woy Woy and Wyong. Since the beginning of the Commuter Car Park and Interchange Program in 2009-2010, 30 railway stations have either had their existing commuter facilities upgraded, or new facilities built. The upgrades varied from station to station, but most included Park & Ride, Kiss & Ride, bicycle parking, CCTV installations, lighting upgrades, and new bus and taxi zones. Not all of the upgrades included Park & Ride, but a substantial number did, including: Berowra (134 spaces, completed December 2010) Emu Plains (275 spaces, completed February 2011) Glenfield (117 additional spaces in existing car park, completed October 2009 and 700 spaces in new multi-storey car park, completed September 2010) Helensburgh (70 spaces, completed September 2009) Katoomba (85 spaces, completed July 2010) Macarthur (750 spaces in three car parks, final stage completed November 2011) Ourimbah (50 additional spaces in existing car park, completed June 2010) Quakers Hill (211 spaces, completed September 2010) Revesby (580 spaces, completed April 2011) Seven Hills (747 spaces, completed March 2011) St Marys (500 spaces, completed December 2010) Warwick Farm (500 spaces, completed March 2011) Waterfall (200 spaces, completed December 2010) Werrington (existing car park expanded to 189 spaces, completed June 2010) Wollongong (356 spaces, completed October 2010) Woy Woy (300 spaces, completed April 2011) Wyong (211 spaces, completed March 2011) 1 Transport NSW. (2010). Survey of CityRail Customers 2010. Sydney: Transport NSW: 3. 2 Ibid.: 33. 3 Ibid.: 34. 4 NRMA Motoring & Services. (2008). Park & Ride. Sydney: NRMA Motoring & Services: 1. 5 Rail Corporation New South Wales. (2011). RailCorp Annual Report 2010-2011. Sydney: Rail Corporation New South Wales: 29. 4

These new car parks built or upgraded under the Commuter Car Park and Interchange Program are incorporating better lighting, fencing and CCTV to improve security for commuters. 6 Additionally, in 2010-2011 improved directional signage was installed at 35 stations. The new signage provides up-to-date information on directions to station facilities, interchanges, car parks and suburban landmarks. 7 NRMA commends the huge amount of progress made on improving commuter facilities since our last report in 2008, however, there is still work to be done. This report is an update of our 2008 report, highlighting deficiencies in commuter facilities and identifying some simple solutions, as well as the more intensive development required at many stations. NRMA re-audited commuter facilities at the 36 railway stations from our previous report, but also audited an additional 88 stations, and conducted a desktop review of the remainder of the network. This means that NRMA has physically audited commuter facilities on 40% of the CityRail network. According to the CityRail.info website, of the 307 stations on the network: 72 per cent have Park & Ride 39 per cent have Kiss & Ride 42 per cent have Bike Lockers or Racks 52 per cent have Taxi Ranks 79 per cent have Bus Stops Of the 124 stations NRMA audited: 75 per cent have Park & Ride 50 per cent have Kiss & Ride 65 per cent have Bike Lockers or Racks 77 per cent have Taxi Ranks 98 per cent have Bus Stops The most obvious common issue at each and every station physically audited was signage. Almost every railway station lacked directional signage, both to the station itself and to its associated commuter facilities. Whilst many stations had legal Kiss & Ride facilities, they were not consistently signposted some were no parking zones, others were 5 minute parking, and a very few were clearly signposted Kiss & Ride (however, the style of these Kiss & Ride signs varied dramatically). Directional signage to Park & Ride was also lacking at most stations, even at new facilities such as the multi-storey car park at Wollongong station (pictured below). 6 Ibid.:20. 7 Ibid. 5

Audit Summary by Railway Line For information on individual stations, please see the Appendix (available as a separate document at www.mynrma.com.au). Airport Line The stations on the Airport Line are Domestic Airport, Green Square, International Airport, and Mascot. On the Airport Line, NRMA did not audit any of the stations, due to the lack of available data and their operational arrangements. Bankstown Line The stations on the Bankstown Line are Bankstown, Belmore, Birrong, Campsie, Canterbury, Dulwich Hill, Erskineville, Hurlstone Park, Lakemba, Marrickville, Punchbowl, St Peters, Sydenham, Wiley Park, and Yagoona. On the Bankstown Line, NRMA audited 60% of the stations, and found that of the stations audited: 67% have Park & Ride None have Kiss & Ride 33% have Bike Lockers or Racks 67% have Taxi Ranks Blue Mountains Line The stations on the Blue Mountains Line are Bell, Blackheath, Blaxland, Bullaburra, Faulconbridge, Glenbrook, Hazelbrook, Katoomba, Lapstone, Lawson, Leura, Linden, Lithgow, Medlow Bath, Mount Victoria, Springwood, Valley Heights, Warrimoo, Wentworth Falls, Woodford, and Zig Zag. On the Blue Mountains Line, NRMA audited 24% of the stations, and found that of the stations audited: All have Park & Ride 60% have Kiss & Ride 80% have Bike Lockers or Racks 80% have Taxi Ranks Carlingford Line The stations on the Carlingford Line are Camellia, Carlingford, Dundas, Rosehill, Rydalmere, and Telopea. On the Carlingford Line, NRMA audited one of the stations (Carlingford), and found that it had: Park & Ride No Kiss & Ride No Bike Lockers or Racks No Taxi Rank A Bus Stop CBD Line The stations on the CBD Line are Central, Circular Quay, Martin Place, Museum, St James, Town Hall, and Wynyard. On the CBD Line, NRMA did not audit any of the stations as they are all Destination Stations (i.e. the stations have more than 50% of passengers exiting the station during the morning peak). 6

Central Coast Line The stations on the Central Coast Line are Awaba, Cowan, Dora Creek, Gosford, Hawkesbury River, Koolewong, Lisarow, Morisset, Narara, Niagara Park, Ourimbah, Point Clare, Tascott, Tuggerah, Warnervale, Wondabyne, Woy Woy, Wyee, and Wyong. On the Central Coast Line, NRMA audited 63% of the stations, and found that of the stations audited: All have Park & Ride 50% have Kiss & Ride 67% have Bike Lockers or Racks 33% have Taxi Ranks East Hills Line The stations on the East Hills Line are Bardwell Park, Beverly Hills, Bexley North, East Hills, Holsworthy, Kingsgrove, Narwee, Padstow, Panania, Revesby, Riverwood, and Turrella. On the East Hills Line, NRMA audited 50% of the stations, and found that of the stations audited: 50% have Park & Ride 17% have Kiss & Ride 67% have Bike Lockers or Racks All have Taxi Ranks Eastern Suburbs Line The stations on the Eastern Suburbs Line are Bondi Junction, Edgecliff, and Kings Cross. On the Eastern Suburbs Line, NRMA audited all of the stations, and found that: 33% have Park & Ride 33% have Kiss & Ride All have Bike Lockers or Racks All have Taxi Ranks Hunter Line The stations on the Hunter Line are Aberdeen, Beresfield, Branxton, Dungog, East Maitland, Greta, Hexham, High Street, Hilldale, Lochinvar, Maitland, Martins Creek, Metford, Mindaribba, Muswellbrook, Paterson, Sandgate, Scone, Singleton, Tarro, Telarah, Thornton, Victoria Street, Wallarobba, Warabrook, Waratah, Wirragulla. On the Hunter Line, NRMA did not audit any of the stations. Illawarra Line The stations on the Illawarra Line are Allawah, Arncliffe, Banksia, Caringbah, Carlton, Como, Cronulla, Engadine, Gymea, Heathcote, Hurstville, Jannali, Kirrawee, Kogarah, Loftus, Miranda, Mortdale, Oatley, Penshurst, Rockdale, Sutherland, Tempe, Waterfall, Wolli Creek, and Woolooware. On the Illawarra Line, NRMA audited 48% of the stations, and found that of the stations audited: 67% have Park & Ride 75% have Kiss & Ride 67% have Bike Lockers or Racks 83% have Taxi Ranks 7

Inner West Line The stations on the Inner West Line are Ashfield, Burwood, Croyden, Lewisham, Macdonaldtown, Newtown, Petersham, Redfern, Stanmore, Strathfield, and Summer Hill. On the Inner West Line, NRMA audited 73% of the stations, and found that of the stations audited: 13% have Park & Ride 13% have Kiss & Ride 25% have Bike Lockers or Racks 88% have Taxi Ranks Newcastle Line The stations on the Newcastle Line are Adamstown, Booragul, Broadmeadow, Cardiff, Civic, Cockle Creek, Fassifern, Hamilton, Kotara, Newcastle, Teralba, and Wickham. On the Newcastle Line, NRMA audited 72% of the stations, and found that of the stations audited: 40% have Park & Ride None have Kiss & Ride 60% have Bike Lockers or Racks 80% have Taxi Ranks North Shore Line The stations on the North Shore Line are Artarmon, Asquith, Berowra, Chatswood, Gordon, Hornsby, Killara, Lindfield, Milsons Point, Mount Colah, Mount Kuring-gai, North Sydney, Pymble, Roseville, St Leonards, Turramurra, Wahroonga, Waitara, Warrawee, Waverton, and Wollstonecraft. On the North Shore Line, NRMA audited 67% of the stations, and found that of the stations audited: 79% have Park & Ride 64% have Kiss & Ride 71% have Bike Lockers or Racks 79% have Taxi Ranks Northern Line The stations on the Northern Line are Beecroft, Cheltenham, Concord West, Denistone, Eastwood, Epping, Macquarie Park, Macquarie University, Meadowbank, Normanhurst, North Ryde, North Strathfield, Pennant Hills, Rhodes, Thornleigh, and West Ryde. On the Northern Line, NRMA audited 75% of the stations, and found that of the stations audited: 42% have Park & Ride 50% have Kiss & Ride 58% have Bike Lockers or Racks 50% have Taxi Ranks 92% have Bus Stops Olympic Park Line The only station on the Olympic Park Line is Olympic Park and NRMA did not audit the station. 8

Richmond Line The stations on the Richmond Line are Clarendon, East Richmond, Marayong, Mulgrave, Quakers Hill, Richmond, Riverstone, Schofields, Vineyard, and Windsor. On the Richmond Line, NRMA audited 20% of the stations, and found that of the stations audited: All have Park & Ride All have Kiss & Ride 50% have Bike Lockers or Racks All have Taxi Ranks South Line The stations on the South Line are Berala, Cabramatta, Campbelltown, Canley Vale, Carramar, Casula, Chester Hill, Fairfield, Flemington, Glenfield, Guildford, Homebush, Ingleburn, Leightonfield, Leumeah, Lidcombe, Liverpool, Macarthur, Macquarie Fields, Merrylands, Minto, Regents Park, Sefton, Villawood, Warwick Farm, and Yennora. On the South Line, NRMA audited 62% of the stations, and found that of the stations audited: 94% have Park & Ride 69% have Kiss & Ride 75% have Bike Lockers or Racks All have Taxi Ranks South Coast Line The stations on the South Coast Line are Albion Park, Austinmer, Bellambi, Berry, Bomaderry (Nowra), Bombo, Bulli, Coalcliff, Coledale, Coniston, Corrimal, Cringila, Dapto, Dunmore (Shellharbour), Fairy Meadow, Gerringong, Helensburgh, Kembla Grange Racecourse, Kiama, Lysaghts, Minnamurra, North Wollongong, Oak Flats, Otford, Port Kembla, Port Kembla North, Scarborough, Stanwell Park, Thirroul, Towradgi, Unanderra, Wollongong, Wombarra, and Woonona. On the South Coast Line, NRMA audited 18% of the stations, and found that of the stations audited: None lack Park & Ride 50% lack Kiss & Ride None lack Bike Lockers or Racks 33% lack Taxi Ranks 33% lack Bus Stops Southern Highlands Line The stations on the Southern Highlands Line are Bargo, Bowral, Bundanoon, Burradoo, Douglas Park, Exeter, Goulburn, Marulan, Menangle, Menangle Park, Mittagong, Moss Vale, Penrose, Picton, Tahmoor, Tallong, Wingello, and Yerrinbool. On the Southern Highlands Line, NRMA did not audit any of the stations. West Line The stations on the West Line are Auburn, Blacktown, Clyde, Doonside, Emu Plains, Granville, Harris Park, Kingswood, Mount Druitt, Parramatta, Pendle Hill, Penrith, Rooty Hill, Seven Hills, St Marys, Toongabbie, Wentworthville, Werrington, and Westmead. On the West Line, NRMA audited 68% of the stations, and found that of the stations audited: 8% lack Park & Ride 23% lack Kiss & Ride 8% lack Bike Lockers or Racks 8% lack Taxi Ranks None lack Bus Stops 9