Macarthur train commuters look like they may have won the battle against non-air-conditioned S-Set carriages, but there’s a way to go before they get their way on direct services to Parramatta and car parking.
From Monday, May 27 through to Friday May, 31, there was not one non-air-conditioned S-Set scheduled to run on the T8 Campbelltown line during the morning (6am-9am) or afternoon (4pm6:30pm) peak periods.
Campbelltown MP Greg Warren has praised long suffering local commuters and their unwavering stance to secure better train services.
Mr Warren has advocated for the removal of the S-Sets from the Campbelltown line before he first entered the Parliament of NSW in 2015.
He points out that a year earlier Gladys Berejiklian, who was transport minister, had promised that “the days of sitting in a hot train in winter and a cold train in winter are over”.
However S-Sets have continued to run on the Campbelltown line ever since.
Mr Warren says passengers have suffered from heat exhaustion while on board an S-Set during hot summer days, some even getting sick.
“The Premier may not have caught an S-Set from Campbelltown in the last five years, but I and thousands of other commuters certainly have,’’ Mr Warren said earlier today.
“Make no mistake, the fact that no S-Sets are running during peak periods on the T8 line this week is not just a huge victory for Campbelltown commuters.
“It’s also an enormous concession from the Premier.
“I have written to the Minister for Transport urging him to ensure there won’t be a return of the dreaded S-Sets on the T8 line during the morning and afternoon peaks,’’ Mr Warren said.
“We may have won the battle regarding S-Sets, but make no mistake, the war for a fairer train services for Campbelltown commuters is a long way from over.
“There is a still an urgent need for much more commuter car parking while I will continue to advocate for direct services from Campbelltown to Parramatta to be restored.’’
