Rail strike called for key time in Papal visit to Sydney.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

On the day the Pope actually arrives in Sydney - July 17 - Cityrail (which runs all of Sydney's suburban train network and links to nearby areas) workers have called a strike.

This day is expecting the highest volume of commuter traffic since the Olympics.... the protestant in me finds this kind of funny. I planned my time in Sydney to avoid this.

[12th Doctor]

The only obvious remedy is excommunication.

[Platypus]

naughty.

[2952-0-0]

Last time John Paul II was in Toronto there was a garbage collector's strike.

[Flying Dog]

I hope they like their extended stay in purgatory.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

Thank God it's not in Melbourne. No pun intended of course .

Isn't ironic that it's CityRail's first strike in nine years and of course it clashes with Pope Benedict's much anticipated visit to Australia for the first time. I assume Big Iemm has done something really bad this time to piss off the Rail union, which has caused the strike? If the Pope's visit for Youth Day was held in Melbourne, even if there was no rail strike more than half of his worshippers wouldn't even see him on time, that's Connex for you.

[Albus Dumbledore]

That's the 'joys' of having too powerful of unions for you.

[Smid]

If the Pope's visit for Youth Day was held in Melbourne, even if there was no rail strike more than half of his worshippers wouldn't even see him on time, that's Connex for you.

Putting the "con" into "Connex"... All the inbound trains on the Pakenham line were very delayed this morning due to signal errors or something.

That's the 'joys' of having too powerful of unions for you.

As they boasted before the election... they're coming back...

According to ninemsn, the strike's been called off...

[Robespierre's Jaw]

If the Pope's visit for Youth Day was held in Melbourne, even if there was no rail strike more than half of his worshippers wouldn't even see him on time, that's Connex for you.

Putting the "con" into "Connex"... All the inbound trains on the Pakenham line were very delayed this morning due to signal errors or something.

You think that's bad Smid. I can assure you that more than 90 percent of trains on the Epping and Hurstbridge lines are always late during both morning and afternoon peak. Connex is so bad that the 9.50 train that is supposed to come every weekday morning at Fairfield station now always comes at 10.00 and then you painfully hear the depressing sound of the middle age Connex announcer. "The 9.50 City Loop train has been delayed and is now expected in 10 minutes".

Now the Brumby Government should be investing more money than it currently is in the Victorian public transport system. None of this stupid Myki business nor yet another ring-road this time from Greensbrough to Ringwood. Shame he won't be booted out in 2010, but then again Ted Baillieu wouldn't do wonders as Premier either. We're in a Catch 22 situation Smid.

[Smid]

Problem is, Labor is infrastructure investment-phobic. As long as we have this Government, we'll always get what we've always got.

[Platypus]

Well, basically, people love their cars, especially when the alternative is late trains. Still, the actual basic infrastructure of Melbourne's public transport system is quite strong. More trains and on time, really, is all we need. Also, a ring line wouldn't hurt; maybe a full line with stops in every suburb, but probably an express line connecting each line away from the cbd. Maybe something like Geelong-Werribee-Laverton-Sunshine-Tullamarine Airport-Broadmeadows-Fawkner-Epping-LaTrobe Uni-Heidelburg-Box Hill-Alamein-Holmesglen-Dandenong-Moorabbin-Sandringham?