Confession time...
If you're wondering why there's so little commentary on the daily Connex commute, there's a good reason - I'm not doing it any more! That's right, the Connex Whinger has given up on Connex.
It came about after the broken collar bone several weeks ago. Travelling on an overcrowded train is a significant challenge when you're carrying an injury. People bump and jostle you just trying to sqeeze in - it's not their fault but that doesn't make it any less painful (nor any less annoying).
So I'm pretty much a bus convert as things stand today. The morning bus is pretty reliable, although experience suggests it can be more than five minutes EARLY and up to ten minutes late. At 7:00am though the traffic is fairly light so we generally get a good run and I'm in the office a few minutes earlier than if I'd caught the train. Given that I only leave the house five minutes earlier, the door-to-door travel time is about the same. But MUCH less crowded!
Getting home is not so great, as the traffic is so bad after 5:00pm. While the bone's healing, I'm making the effort to get out of the office before then, but that's not really sustainable. I guess I'll try it a few times and inevitably I expect I'll be back to the evening crush with Connex, unless I can convince myself that cycling home in winter is preferable.
Anyway, for now I'll continue to post about the many issues that arise almost daily about Connex and Kosky. Feel free to keep the comments coming.
It came about after the broken collar bone several weeks ago. Travelling on an overcrowded train is a significant challenge when you're carrying an injury. People bump and jostle you just trying to sqeeze in - it's not their fault but that doesn't make it any less painful (nor any less annoying).
So I'm pretty much a bus convert as things stand today. The morning bus is pretty reliable, although experience suggests it can be more than five minutes EARLY and up to ten minutes late. At 7:00am though the traffic is fairly light so we generally get a good run and I'm in the office a few minutes earlier than if I'd caught the train. Given that I only leave the house five minutes earlier, the door-to-door travel time is about the same. But MUCH less crowded!
Getting home is not so great, as the traffic is so bad after 5:00pm. While the bone's healing, I'm making the effort to get out of the office before then, but that's not really sustainable. I guess I'll try it a few times and inevitably I expect I'll be back to the evening crush with Connex, unless I can convince myself that cycling home in winter is preferable.
Anyway, for now I'll continue to post about the many issues that arise almost daily about Connex and Kosky. Feel free to keep the comments coming.
posted by Connex Whinger at 5:53 am
6 Comments:
Thats great that you've found a bus alternative that works for you. I hope your shoulder and collar bone are doing better every day.
Trains should inherently be more useful than buses as they should be able to travel faster and given they run on rails, with a more comfortable ride. Alas, we have Connex.
I agree, in a normal world train travel should be the mode of choice. The concept of a bus providing a better option than a train really makes no sense at all until you take into consideration the fact that it's Connex running the trains!
CW, probably a good call not getting the over crowded trains with an injury.
Last night i was at sth yarra and saw a disabled person in a wheelchair waiting for a frankston train. When the train turned up it was (as usual) full and the driver didn't even bother to get out and try and fit him in... just left him.
Hmmmm, although her attempts to increase frequency have been, by and large, a drop in the ocean of sorts, Lynne Kosky has notwithstanding allowed connex to run an extra 69 services. What her small brain the size of a walnut doesn't realise is that if the transport network was under public control, there would be more accountability.
I persist in my goal to promote people to sign the linkupmelbourne.org.au petition.
Us commuters (except those who love connex) are almost obliged to sign it!
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/build-new-train-lines-state-urged/2007/05/28/1180205160397.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
Well it looks like I'm not alone in thinking that while the State Government is going soft, the Federal Government isn't even interested and only cares about big road projects that help freight.
You're all forgetting... Jeff Kennett is to blame for ALL of this. He started the process and, once in motion, could never be turned back. The blame for ALL problems with the public transport system can be laid SOLELY at his feet!!
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