Sydney aiport train ripp off

[Devolved1000]

My girlfriend is coming to  sydney Australia, and I'll be meeting her tomorrow at the airport. I decided the only way I can get there is to catch the train (as all my mates will be working, and my car has shit itself)

 

I know from where I live, train to the city is 52 km at a price of around $13 return., and city to airport about 8km.  I check internet to see how much it will cost me for return to airport. $38.80 return!!!! I nearly spat my coffee over my keyboard. Must be a mistake!!! i check other websites, and even call the hotline. No mistake, $38.80. From city to airport they slug an extra $23 for only 8 km (4 stations)

 

I'm so pissed off now, this is criminal. I'm looking at other ways to get to the airport, but I have no choice but to pay it. There is a bus 400 from Burwood to Bondi junction that stops there for $5, but It's out of the way, and cannot carry luggage on it.

[Bear 181]

Isn't there an Airport link bus.

[LRanger]

And as airport trains go, the Sydney one is the most shit one in the universe. 

[Devolved1000]

Isn't there an Airport link bus.

 

From what I have seen there is only 1 bus route 400, that goes from Bondi - Burwood, which is way out of the way for me, as I'm from western Sydney.

 

It costs $23 for a return, to just go to 4 stops (8km) (the train that is)

 

I have $100 that I was going to pick her up, go to Thai town in the city, have some breakfast, walk around a bit. Now I wont be able to afford it. $60 for train (both of us) and a $20 Taxi fair back to my house, i'll be cutting it fine!

[Darvid]

Your 52km line was built a very long time ago

 

The airport line was privately contracted out and costs need to be recouped and investors must get a return

 

Its still quicker and cheaper than a cab but 2x is cutting it close on cost

 

If money is that tight then leave earlier and limp your way there on cheap transport

 

Spring for the train line one way or cab it from the airport

 

I use kiwi express whenever I travel to airport and me and 3 mates costs $120 return which is a bargin from Western Sydney

 

Enjoy your time with your girl and dont stress things you cant control

[ProudAussie]

And as airport trains go, the Sydney one is the most shit one in the universe. 

At least sydney has one :-(

 

Costs me $6 for the train and $17 for the airport bus.

[Devolved1000]

Your 52km line was built a very long time ago

 

The airport line was privately contracted out and costs need to be recouped and investors must get a return

 

Its still quicker and cheaper than a cab but 2x is cutting it close on cost

 

If money is that tight then leave earlier and limp your way there on cheap transport

 

Spring for the train line one way or cab it from the airport

 

I use kiwi express whenever I travel to airport and me and 3 mates costs $120 return which is a bargin from Western Sydney

 

Enjoy your time with your girl and dont stress things you cant control

 

 

Just found out, I can catch a train to Wolli Creek and walk. 22 minute walk to international airport for the price of only $13 return, and $6 one way.

 

Sadly she gets off the plane at 6:30 am, and I don't want to risk getting lost. Also she probably won't be keen on that walk after a 9 hour flight (you know Thai girls hate walking)

[ProudAussie]

How you going to support her if you cant even pay for your return tickets ? 

[jerry]

How you going to support her if you cant even pay for your return tickets ? 

 

You beat me to it ...

[simon46]

how about buying a couple of the brilliant "mybus" (or something like that) 5 day tickets.

Then you can train/ bus it to the airport, meet her, give her a ticket, get on the 400 or whichever out of the expensive extra charges stations.

being a keeniow I am well capable of getting off the plane, down to the station, buying a ticket and up for the buses.

All the trains/buses/ferries up to Newcastle and down to Woolongong are included.

A day on the harbour ferries she will remember for life.

[dave01]

Free for me....

But has been pointed out earlier, it is a really weird set up..  It is an integral part of the southern network, which government trains run over.. but the stations on that line are privately operated, and as such, are immune from IPART. IPART are the mob that set the fares for your 52k round trip for 13 bucks. So they charge what they think the market will bear. See, privatisation doesn't always mean cheaper.... 555

 

 It is cheaper to use the Airport Line from the city, than to use a taxi. The price the OP quoted is either a return fare or 2 x single trips. You won't do a return taxi from the city to the airport for anything like that.

A couple of months ago, I returned from Thailand via KL.  The airfare was 145 AUD..  The taxi fare from The Airport to Quakers Hill, on a Sunday morning with no traffic, was 160 AUD.... Yep that is right, the bloody taxi from the airport was more expensive than the airfare for a 7000 kilometer  plane ticket.. Now that is outrageous!!

 

[GorGuy RIP]

I hope you are joking....

 

If you cannot find the fare from western Sydney to the airport... how are you thinking of supporting her?

 

I am sure she will LOVE western Sydney - opps

[ProudAussie]

How you going to support her if you cant even pay for your return tickets ? 

 

 

You beat me to it ...

 

 

I hope you are joking....

 

If you cannot find the fare from western Sydney to the airport... how are you thinking of supporting her?

 

I am sure she will LOVE western Sydney - opps

[Skepti10]

Privatisation only means cheaper if there's competition, otherwise you get a monopoly and pay out the ass!<br /><br />But I actually quite like the train to the airport. Its the perfect mix of price and convenience. On one end of you want to go all out there's the taxi option, which is ~ 50-60 aud for 20-30km and on the other you can do the whole train + bus option like a cheap charlie.<br /><br />When I go overseas its usually alone so I love the convenience, don't even have to change trains!<br /><br />Op I think you're too spoiled by asia prices 55555

[GorGuy RIP]

 

.  The taxi fare from The Airport to Quakers Hill,

 

 

Now Quakers hill is an interesting place, it has that religious activity center there. Good place.

[dave01]

Now Quakers hill is an interesting place, it has that religious activity center there. Good place.

Nah... I dunno... 555....  I live up the Mid North Coast.... But leave my car at my mate's place out there..... and train it to the airport... usually he will have  it at Sydenham for me when I return, but this one time, things didn't go to plan 555. Shift changes and the like.. and to compound it, it was one of those weekends when they are doing trackwork and there were no trains to the west............  Just one of those things....

[Devolved1000]

It's not the money, it's principle. If everyone gets ripped off like this, they will keep doing it.

 

Before checking the price, I knew airport link was expensive. All up, I assumed that my return ticket would be around $20 (which is still expensive) $38.80 is just ridiculous and outrageous. It's 4 times the value of any other train stops. It's like you guys paying 12,000 baht for a Gogo girl. you just don't do it! 

[FTS]

It's not the money, it's principle. If everyone gets ripped off like this, they will keep doing it.

 

Before checking the price, I knew airport link was expensive. All up, I assumed that my return ticket would be around $20 (which is still expensive) $38.80 is just ridiculous and outrageous. It's 4 times the value of any other train stops. It's like you guys paying 12,000 baht for a Gogo girl. you just don't do it! 

 

$20 is expansive? decent cup of coffee take away cost $4

 

I do not envy your girl at all.

 

4 months ago, one way airport to Central was $16(from memory), so $38.80 is about right.

 

You can always rent a car for one day $30 or  show her good time, by going from train to bus to walk to train, i am sure she would really appreciate the experience after flying for 9 hours

[GorGuy RIP]

I think she will be looking for a flight back to Thailand rather soon   

[Bobdabilda]

This looks like a cheap option http://www.sydneyairport.com.au/go/by-bike.aspx

[FTS]

This looks like a cheap option http://www.sydneyairport.com.au/go/by-bike.aspx

 

I would tell her to make her own way to OP's shack, that would be the cheapest

 

May be also tell her to bring her own food with her, as feeding her might also be expansive

[Devolved1000]

hehe some funny comments

 

 

I'm just ranting about airport line which is 8km being 4 times the price of an ordinary train fare. There is no doubt about it being a rip off. I thought my brothers on PA would give me a bit more sympathy

 

Just got back from flight now. She loves my home. She says Sydney trains look dirty. And outside window around central also looks dirty. She also said she was cold, which was funny, as I was hot. Remember Sydney right now is middle of summer!

 

She will be here for 3 months, therefore plenty of time to show her the harbour... among other places to go.

[ProudAussie]

hehe some funny comments

 

 

I'm just ranting about airport line which is 8km being 4 times the price of an ordinary train fare. There is no doubt about it being a rip off. I thought my brothers on PA would give me a bit more sympathy

 

Just got back from flight now. She loves my home. She says Sydney trains look dirty. And outside window around central also looks dirty. She also said she was cold, which was funny, as I was hot. Remember Sydney right now is middle of summer!

 

She will be here for 3 months, therefore plenty of time to show her the harbour... among other places to go.

Did you tell her to look in her own backyard !

[superroo]

 This might help for next time.

 

 From what i read you can get on the 400 bus at the airport and then get off at mascot station which is two stops later i think.

 

 Then catch the train into Central at the non ripp off rate. I read that this is how airport workers avoid this rort.

 

Also if you have time . Show your girl a look at what's on the other side of the Blue Mountains.

[LRanger]

Of course you realise the cheaper option is not to bring her out at all.  I wish I could rewind the last 10 years and run the strategy differently..... bringing them here is so much more expensive.  The train fare from the airport is the peanuts part.