Grand Final Transport troubles

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MORE than 100,000 Sydney sports and entertainment fans have been warned that CityRail track work could cause major delays over the October long weekend.

New Transport Minister David Campbell has today admitted that the 80,000 spectators travelling to the NRL Grand Final, 15,000 strong crowd going to the Randwick Races and a number of other sport and theatre events could be inconvenienced.

The Northern line will be shut all weekend and two other lines will be closed or have amended timetables as a result, he said.

“The work planned on the Northern Line requires three consecutive days to be completed and will involve the commissioning of the Epping Junction as part of the Epping to Chatswood rail link,” said Mr Campbell.

“I know its Grand Final weekend but we’ll have buses replacing trains to ensure people can get where they need to be.”

The NRL Grand Final at Homebush on Sunday night is the biggest event over the weekend, followed by the Epsom Race Day at Randwick on Saturday October 4.

[Bourbon Rat]

Can't see it having much impact on the Central - Homebush service unless they don't run the GF specials    Sydney rail - ferry map

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They are saying that the works will effect the NRL and Rosehill racing crowd due to the North line which also runs out past Ashfield (I think it is) as well as two other lines heading out that way being effected.

[Simon the Crowdie]

then we use the Inner West Line...

[mrpc]

They are saying that the works will effect the NRL and Rosehill racing crowd due to the North line which also runs out past Ashfield (I think it is) as well as two other lines heading out that way being effected.

The closure is from Strathfield to Hornsby via Epping.  That will not affect services to the game in any way, shape or form, unless you happen to plan to board a train at stations between North Strathfield and Normanhurst (inclusive).  These people will have to cram into the following three replacement bus routes:

Route 40: All stations Hornsby to Eastwood then West Ryde, Strathfield and return.
Route 41: All stations West Ryde to Strathfield and return.
Route 45: Eastwood, Denistone, West Ryde and return.
Route 47: Express Hornsby to Strathfield.

Fortunately for people in that area, the Route 3 special bus service from Marsfield runs parallel to the line about 1-2km to the east, and it goes directly to the site.

http://www.131500.com.au/pdf/SOP_Bus_Route_2008.pdf

The annoying part is that the advice on the CityRail website suggests they don't plan to stop the Route 40 buses at Rhodes next to the ORTA stop (Routes 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B and 3 - and boy, does that not sound like the Self Destruct code from Star Trek III).

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Edit: It's also worth noting the following two service alterations this weekend, which only affect Intercity trains

Trains are not stopping at the intermediate stations Otford to Austinmer (inclusive) and the trains from Kiama to Sydney will be running to a special timetable and may run up to 15 minutes earlier than usual due to single track running around the work site.

Trains from the Central Coast/Newcastle to Sydney will run from Hornsby to Central via the North Shore line (you'd hope they then continue straight to Homebush Bay on Sunday as that's as good a spot as any to reverse the trains after they arrive at Central).

There are also numerous cancellations on the daily Moree/Armidale Xplorer service - it will not operate between Sydney and Muswellbrook on the day.