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Old 23rd June 2020, 04:04
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aussiesteve aussiesteve is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Bathurst
Posts: 577
Social Distancing on public transport

G'day,
Having not been outside of Bathurst in FIVE months, I was kinda looking forward to me trek down to smog hollow yesterday.
BUT, I was concerned about the Social Distancing rules currently applied to all public transport.
Since railway repairs prompted by the november through december bush fire devastation are finally completed, both of our Bathurst Bullet services have resumed.
I chose the first Bullet departure of 0546, and motored down to the station to ensure that I beat the omnibus arrival from Orange.
I had calculated that our two car dmu Endeavors would permit a certain number of socially distanced cattle.
Well, I was WRONG with that calculation.
The two car dmu, capable of 177 seated cattle plus standees as is the norm for the Bullet.
Upon arrival, I discovered that each car ONLY possessed a total of 21 green dots.
Cattle required to plant their backsides on a green dot, OR NOT journey.
Yes, I beat the omnibus and snagged a seat.
The omnibus normally carting 50 cattle can now only cart a total of 12.
We blasted off with only a couple of them green dots unoccupied.
The Bullet is normally standing room only after departure from Lithgow.
I was surprised to espy only two additional cattle attempt to jump on.
SO, what was missing from the norm.
AH, the Old Farts.
I don't regard meself as an old fart, as I am not officially a pensioner until december.
But, with pensioners able to ride the Bullet for $2.50, they normally cram it up.
As we rattled over the top of the Blue Mountains, I got to squiz the extent of the bush fire devastation.
Newnes Junction signal box burnt down to the bottom row of concrete.
Numerous newbie section huts and some catenary.
Endless swathes of black trees.
Once lobbing into smog hollow, I had the choice of alighting at Parramatta as I normally do when trekking to Alcoworld at Ingleburn suburb.
BUT, that squirt (suburban emu) is only a four car job, and normally chockers.
OR, continue into Central station and sprint to the Airport Line and catch a south squirt, they being 8 car jobs.
Some cattle were perched on the various suburban platforms along the west Speedway.
But, definitely NOT the usual hordes of cattle.
The roads by contrast were traffic jams, as most commuters were doing it the SAFE way in their cars.
I continued into town and sprinted to platform 23.
While there were some cattle waiting, definitely not the normal hordes.
I managed to snag a green dot to perch on.
NOBODY alighted at Mascot International Airport station.
And, NOBODY got on.
I lobbed into Ingleburn suburb about 15 minutes later than had I attempted the normal route from Parramatta.
I didn't loiter long at the shop, just chatted with owner Russell for about 90 minutes and searching his shelves.
I repeated my voyage back to the city with ample time to miss one or two squirts if they had no green dots available.
But, departing well before the school brat crush period, I was safe.
Back into Central I had 90 minutes to wait for the early return Bullet service, departing at 1505.
Striding along the concourse, I encountered no less than TWO ex cohorts who recognized me.
I was uncertain about them, as I had not encountered either in a goodly 17 years.
Both still toiling on the railway as drivers, but now on the interurban system.
I had planned to visit the Railway Hysterical mob book shop on the concourse, but found it SHUT.
The broom closet sized shop NOT being able to correctly social distance customers, I presumed, could not be open.
After chatting I didn't have long to await the Bullet to slink in from the Acdep service centre.
By departure time, all green dots were occupied, PLUS a couple of green dot avoiders had snuck in.
Though, my 4 square metres was still intact.
We blasted off, and passed numerous suburban platforms crammed with school brats.
NO social distancing going on there.
The only hiccup on the return voyage being a LATE running UP Rocket from Dubbo.
We were tabled to cross WT28 at the newbie Rydal crossing loop.
But, we were progressed down to the newbie crossing loop at Sodwalls where we sat waiting.
WT28 running about 25 late flashed past.
We then continued west lobbing into Bathurst about 3 minutes late.
I was happy to be back home and SAFE.
While I didn't get kicked off any trains due to them being overcrowded in compliance with social distancing.
I did see it as being a potential drama for cattle still attempting to utilize public transport.
Especially now that all school brats are back where they belong, in the classroom and consequently cramming up platforms.
And, while the Bullet guard did not say anything to the couple of green dot avoiders when he hoofed through counting heads.
I could see the coppers, who are required to frequently ride suburban cattle trains to check for social distancing, whipping out the fine book.
One wonders at the future and the return to normalcy.
When we can finally get rid of this virus.
Steve.
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