I'm writing this - finally - from a train at Macarthur which heads into the CBD - where I start a new job today. It's a little strange, given I will be based at Central where I first started working with the RTA way back in 2001.
It's also quite odd to be able to avoid the mess which is the poor array of trains available from our way into Parramatta. For the last two weeks there were
none - for some reason the standard of track on the South line is so poor that every year it is shut down for two extra weeks in the school holidays. Not so convenient for those of us who don't go to school. I view those two weeks as a nice farewell present from CityRail.
So, instead of getting so sick on the replacement buses I need to take a day off (this happened last week to a work colleague) I drove the whole way every day. I hate peak hour traffic, even more when I'm part of the problem.
When the trains are at "full strength", this just means two trains in the morning to choose from, and three in the afternoon. Not exactly a full service that most people are used to.
So from today, I'm back at my old haunt Menangle, getting the diesel train two stops to Macarthur, then changing for an electric all the way to the city - these run every 10 minutes or so, all day! What a novelty. This one just went past a station without stopping - wow almost an 'express'!
The new job is not a dramatic change. I was actually approached by two separate sections of
Transport for New South Wales within a week to come and work for them. I've selected one and accepted the offer. My role sounds like a challenge - I'll update when I know more.
It was more than a little difficult to decide to leave the RTA (or
Roads and Maritime Services as it's now known) where I have been working in one role or another for eleven years, but the time felt right. I've been getting offers here and there from recruiters so if the current role doesn't work out it seems the market is good enough to take on another role out there somewhere. But I'm determined to give this role my full efforts first - there's the potential to save taxpayers millions, which has always been my goal in public service. Time will tell, but looking back on my work with RTA I can see my and I team actually achieved this.