Central Station Metro Platforms Revealed - includes why Sydney Metro has Platform Screen Doors

[@andoru]

Interesting fact I learned recently - the track comes up a little hill to each Metro station, and then goes downhill as it departs. This is to help the train brake into the station and accelerate out.

[@brettyallop6018]

Gotta love the engineering in that! Using the simple fact of gravity to increase accelaration and decelaration rates of moving stock at next to no cost in changing the path of the TBM for a long term benefit in efficiency! Has anyone verified if this is true?

[@TransportVlog]

Yes that's right! I think this is quite common on metro systems around the world, especially the newer ones.

[@KyrilPG]

Very nice! I noticed at the end that there's a bit of mild whistling from the platform screen doors due to the piston effect caused by train movements. There's a lot of whistling, and quite strong, in the new stations of Paris line 14 that also have full height PSD's. Though the opening of both North and South extensions were rushed and stations weren't completely finished and air sealing not fully installed yet. They are currently finishing the stations by night between 11 PM and 5 AM and all day on select Sundays. So the whistling should be substantially reduced in the coming months after the sealing is finished and all remaining upper panels installed over the glass part of the platform screen doors. It's interesting to note how the architecture and structure of stations are driven by the type of soil in which they are built. The large unobstructed volumes in the "pits" or "voids" in this station wouldn't be possible in most of Paris due to the poor soil conditions there : mostly unstable, waterlogged, sandy, full of gypsum or plastic clays and other non-rigid nor self-supporting soils. There would be horizontal piles or buttresses to prevent the walls from caving in that would obstruct the view of the volume. Or the pits would need to be circular, like in some new stations of lines 14 and 15 (Grand Paris Express) that are built under large vertical cylindrical pits. Mainly Villejuif IGR and Saint-Maur Créteil, both fairly deep and cylindrical, to resist the pressure of waterlogged terrain behind the walls. Sadly, even rather shallow stations require buttresses across their volumes to support lateral walls if the "station box" is rectangular. Though they've managed to use internal structures and equipment to act as buttress and unobstruct volumes as much as possible, many still feature horizontal buttresses to support walls with aquifers or marly soil right behind them. Thankfully, most of them have been elegantly designed, are covered in brushed or shiny metal, or are integrated in art installations. The rather sturdy sandstone underground in Sydney allows for nice unobstructed volumes of all shapes. The large open volumes of this station are really beautiful. Greetings from Paris!

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks, and lovely to hear that you're watching this video from Paris! Thanks for sharing your knowledge on the new Paris line 14. Yes we are quite lucky here with our sturdy sandstone!

[@FromtheWindowSeat]

Great stuff Paul! Lots of interesting insights. I may have snuck in a very brief visit to Sydney on the first weekend (it was very rushed - otherwise I would have gotten in touch) and found all the new stations to be incredibly impressive.

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks Adam, glad you enjoyed it, and great to hear that you're impressed with new stations. Yes do reach out when you're in Sydney for longer, and we go and explore the metro together!

[@LachieWappet]

Amazing coverage! Those end of platform shots are great.

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks! Yes I enjoyed filming those!

[@francesconicoletti2547]

I remember when platform screen doors were first making an appearance in Japan an Australian TV channel ( possibly ABC) made a small segment about them. The reporter was in awe at the Japanise train drivers precision at lining up the train doors with the screen doors. We seem to have needed to wait until robots stopped the trains.

[@louiscypher4186]

We couldn't have screen doors on the heavy rail network because there's multiple carriage types in use and the doors aren't in the same place.

[@TransportVlog]

Hi Frances, it is very difficult for drivers to line up trains with platform screen doors without some kind of automation. I believe on Metro Tunnel (Melbourne) and Cross River Rail (Brisbane), some automation will mean that trains will automatically stop at the correct location, even though these trains will have drivers. And as Louis says, its very difficult to add screen doors on the existing rail network, due to different train types, and platform heights.

[@francesconicoletti2547]

@@louiscypher4186 i wonder how platform screen doors were managed in Tokyo with it’s multiple rail systems.

[@louiscypher4186]

@@francesconicoletti2547 precisely because they are different systems. You will not see a 6300 on the Oedo line for example. Even though NSW has now separated Sydney Trains into a separate entity it's still all one system. Shared lines, shared platforms, shared maintenance yards. It is also exceedingly disingenuous to compare dedicated urban subways to our suburban rail network. Stations share lines with both the standard suburban stock, intercity trains and interstate trains and even today we have many suburban stations that have freight cars roll through.

[@nik8888]

@@francesconicoletti2547some of their platform doors are extra wide to accommodate different door positions

[@jaadotech]

Cool vid, always a charming and welcome channel in our home!

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks!

[@-PORK-CHOP-]

Been using the Metro from Epping to Waterloo, it's fantastic so quick compared to regular trains, you can really notice how quick the Metro get's up to speed compared to regular trains that seem quite slow now when you jump back on one.

[@TransportVlog]

Yes, it is so much faster, and regular trains do seem quite a lot slower in comparison!

[@geoffreymoore1510]

Hi Paul, had a wet old day on Monday. Dropped my precious Nikon camera on the Metro. Hope they can fix it again. We didn't do real well with video and photos. I did not do completely as I had planned but we did stop at Waterlooo, Barangaroo and Gadigal for more of a look, coming home. Just disappointingly WET! Have to do it all again on a sunny day. See what I can come up with from the doings.

[@brettyallop6018]

Another great video Paul! I don't know for sure, but my guess for the full height PSD and the GRC panels is part of the Fire Engineered solution to make the whole thing permissible! The upgrade of the whole Central station is nothing short of an architectural and engineering marvel! The full height PSD probably also help mitigate the risk of a train fanning flames in the event of an escalator fire which (happened in the Kings Cross fire in the Underground, albeit old timber escalators). Particularly important, when you we very long escalators!

[@TransportVlog]

Yes I'm sure that has a part to play in the reason for full height PSDs. Lot of lessons were learned from the Kings Cross fire, including tunnel ventilation fans which can extinguish fires in tunnels, along with fire resistant materials within the stations. I remember the old timber escalators in London very well, and the ones that used to be at Wynyard station too!

[@rosscosan6647]

Excellent video . Well done 👌

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks!

[@rahuldravid8723]

Absolutely excellent video... Very beautiful

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks!

[@MartinDuong-y4v]

Hello Paul, my name is Martin you remember I saw you on the lidcome train and I said to you that autograph and then I subscribed to your channel is transport vlog because I'm from the Bankstown line too I'm from punchbowl station and I always go to school with Sydney trains to st james and I go straight to my school and then after school I went to martin place go on the metro go to sydenham and I got off to punchbowl station❤❤

[@TransportVlog]

Hi Martin, yes lovely to meet you yesterday! I had a busy day filming on the Bankstown line and have a few clips from Punchbowl station to include in my next video!

[@drecion1]

Great vid. I’m always interested in the improvements on Central Station. Looks like beautiful work

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@DanielKing-dk5nr]

With the glass door barriers, they need to close the glass barrier first with a 2 second difference so it can stop passengers who are running late for the train to run into the train and force the door to open for them.

[@MatthewSkellett]

Excellent video Paul !! Keep up the good work !!! 😊

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks Matthew. Yes will do!

[@robertcoleman4861]

Thanks Paul for another informative video well done, I hope one day we can get a rail line to Sydney's northern beaches cheers Bob.👍👍👍👍☕🍩

[@TransportVlog]

Hi Bob, glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the feedback. Yes I'd love to see a rail line to the northern beaches. Unfortunately, many residents are against it, so its unlikely to happen until this changes.

[@bahnfanhh]

Great video, thank you very much indeed, Paul! Cheers from Germany, Rick

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks Rick, glad you enjoyed it, and wonderful to hear that you're watching my videos from Germany!

[@sandkipper1]

Great video. Thank you

[@TransportVlog]

You're very welcome!

[@hamishmacintyre4600]

Great vid Paul. Many thanks.

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks! You're very welcome.

[@ec7152]

the information screens have been given a new look across the whole metro network

[@TransportVlog]

Yes they do! Great to see the intermediate stops now displaying.

[@shaungordon9737]

Its really beautiful. All the metro stations are.

[@TransportVlog]

Yes it certainly is!

[@johnhaynes710]

Really enjoyed this and looks like central has changed a lot Circe I was there last in 2009. One question is how do blind people locate the train doors? I couldn’t see any tactile paving which, I would hope, would be a different colour to the normal flooring.

[@lachd2261]

There’s some braille panels next to the screen doors

[@TransportVlog]

Hi John, that's a great question, and it looks like @lachd2261 has answered this for you. I hadn't noticed the braille panels myself, so I'll certainly look out for those when I'm next on the metro.

[@WhiteStickTravel]

@@lachd2261 thanks for this, i guess the braille says which direction the train is going as it is not always easy to tell due to passenger noise. obviously, unless you read braille you wouldn't now this but perhaps someone else does. thanks for the response.

[@sydneyshinshi]

Stunning new stations.

[@TransportVlog]

Absolutely!

[@RGC198]

Hi Paul, thanks for sharing another great video. Central Station has grown quite a lot since I saw it last, which was back in early 2000, when we took a short trip to Sydney to visit relatives. Incidentally, just to let you know that the video indicators to the top right of the screen that you mentioned are not showing up on my computer. Not sure if it is just me or not. How do they manage to always level the train doors with the platform doors? Also, is there any danger of prams or wheelchairs getting stuck in the doors? Where are the Eastern Suburbs underground train platforms in comparison to the Metro platforms? That view through the glass of the Metro trains looks almost like you were actually standing on the emergency walkway. Anyway, take care. Rob in Melbourne Australia.

[@TransportVlog]

Hi Rob, you're very welcome. The top right indicators can be a bit hit and miss, but you'll always find the links in the description too. Because the trains are driverless, they automatically line up with the doors. On busy trains, they occasionally overshoot, and then the train automatically reverses slightly to line up - I've seen this happen 2 or 3 times, but not got it on camera yet! Yes prams or wheelchairs could get stuck in the doors, but the train cannot move until both train and platform screens are closed. Yes I loved getting the footage from the platform ends! Feels like I'm so close to the train!

[@RGC198]

Apparently we are going for a mix down here in Melbourne with our new city underground and stations due to open, I think, next year, which will include platform screen doors, though the trains will all be heavy rail with drivers. It will be interesting to see how all that works out.

[@geoffreymoore1510]

Thanks for this great overview of Central Metro station and all the background. I thought I had been through here, before but obviously not.

[@TransportVlog]

You're very welcome Geoff.

[@erwan2gothere]

I was not in the metro train on the Monday 19 August😢

[@aussiejohn5835]

Hi Paul 👋 you have outdone yourself with this presentation. Central Metro Station is very impressive and is extremely popular with the public. I must caution those with medical conditions such as vertigo to use the lifts and not the escalators, especially when descending as I had a minor experience with vertigo when I first used them. I can't believe the number of moronic people who run for the train and look surprised when they get caught in the doors, especially when the frequency of service is so high. Great presentation, well done Paul 👏 👍

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks John, Yes good tip to use the lifts if you suffer form vertigo. It's funny, I thought it would take ages to get clips of passengers stuck in the doors, but just 10 minutes of the morning peak at Central was sufficient to get all that footage! Some people never learn!

[@ytlurker220]

Some people have to rush to meet a connecting Sydney Trains service with 15/30 minute frequencies

[@erwan2gothere]

I watched the Sydney metro Chatswood to Sydenham first ride with lots of people 😂

[@erwan2gothere]

I’ve missed the Sydney Metro open news

[@TransitSydney]

Great video! It was a pleasure to meet you last week, however we forgot to exchange contacts on the day which i intended to do! Let me know how we can do that :) Hopefully this vid performs well!!

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it, and lovely to meet you too. Email address is at the bottom of the description of any video, so you can use this to get in touch. Yes this video seems to be doing very well!

[@TransitSydney]

​@@TransportVlog already did mate shot you an email, let me know if you got the details! would love to talk to you on chat :) Great to see the momentum back, and yes the video has performed exceptionally well

[@ethans-dk4bk]

Their are Platform Screen doors on London Underground on Parts of the Jubillee Line that opened in 1999 and the Connection of the Elizabeth Line that Opened in 2022

[@TransportVlog]

Thats right Ethan! And on many other systems including the Hong King and Singapore metros. Platform Screen Doors are also being installed at Metro Tunnel underground stations in Melbourne and Cross River Rail underground stations in Brisbane.

[@AustraliaWorldwide]

Did this weeks ago

[@r-labs9357]

Imagine some foreigner came to Sydney and come across this having no idea what on earth is this transport

[@gth042]

It depends on how much sci-fi we've watched 😆. What would really get me is the lack of maps. Not a one to be seen, so one had better know where they're going and the exact name as used by the Metro.

[@jonathanstrainvlogs8477]

I just remembered this is the day I spotted you

[@TransportVlog]

Aaah yes! I actually filmed this on a few different days.

[@jonathanstrainvlogs8477]

@@TransportVlog I see

[@jonathanstrainvlogs8477]

But I’m pretty sure I saw you board a Sydney Metro towards Tallawong

[@Ram84_1]

HI Paul, When you think the rest of Central Walk get a makeover?

[@bvq330]

Isn't Central Walk relatively new? Why would it be getting a makeover?

[@Ram84_1]

@@bvq330 I'm talking about the old sections the ones that has no roof

[@TransportVlog]

Sounds like you're referring to platforms 1 to 11. That's all part of a longer term upgrade to Central Station.

[@Ram84_1]

@@TransportVlog That's correct :)

[@bvq330]

@@Ram84_1 Oh, ok

[@tamworthtrainnut285]

6:46 Denied🤣🤣

[@DanielKing-dk5nr]

I am disappointed with the new trains, sorry but I loved the seatings better in the Tangara. I would rather sit forward or backwards than sideways facing other passengers while trying to look at the window behind them. Doesn't look like many seats either. Having to choose upstairs or downstairs was a lot better. During peak hour this gives you more chances of standing up the whole trip which I hate.

[@goodyearspokane]

All the work that went into this and they couldn't provide access from the western side of Devonshire St tunnel

[@MaxS-hn8we]

I think the long term goal is to extend Central Walk through to the Railway Square side so Devonshire Street tunnel will eventually be redundant.

[@goodyearspokane]

@@MaxS-hn8westill need the tunnel but no need to walk it if catching a train

[@TransportVlog]

Hi @SydneyTrainspotter, lovely to meet you too. My email and social media details are at the bottom of any video description. Yes this video seems to be doing quite well so far!

[@TransportVlog]

Hi @goodyearspokane, as @MaxS-hn8we said, there are plans to extend Central Walk and have a new entrance on the western side. I think the Devonshire tunnel will stay as the "unpaid" link.

[@SydneyTransitVlogs]

Too many people running through the doors Paul

[@TransportVlog]

Yes absolutely! Its a very common sight unfortunately!

[@74_pelicans]

that announcement is so AI and so bad

[@TransportVlog]

I know! Hopefully they will be improved in the future!

[@ulrikezachmann7596]

That air conditioning will not work during a power failure. Also how long before people suffocate in a completely sealed train stalled for hours on a track or tunnel during a power failure? It isn’t like the Metro is fault free and hasn’t had glitches.

[@TransportVlog]

If the power fails, there is a back-up system that will take over. If the air con fails on a station or on a train, people won't suffocate in the same as they wouldn't if the air con stopped working in an office or residential building. No system is perfect, but the metro has been very reliable since the extension opened, with trains arriving every 4 minutes in the peak on the 20 or so times that I've used it since opening. I can only think of one major outage since the extension opened, and that happened on the original NW line.

[@katherinedownover7927]

Looks more like a prison system would hate to be trapped in there if we had a power outage

[@DanielKing-dk5nr]

So Australia is now more in debt lol another 4 billion gone.

[@nicolasblume1046]

10:15 the main reason to use rigid catenary in tunnels is the low profile, which makes it possible to make the tunnel smaller

[@TransportVlog]

Hi Nicolas, according to Hugh Lawson,, the use of the rigid conductor system was to reduce maintenance requirements. It's also being used on Metro Tunnel (Melbourne) and Cross River Rail (Brisbane). However, I think you're right in that it enables the tunnels to be slightly smaller.

[@Roddles]

11:09 those text to voice announcements are appalling

[@TransportVlog]

Lot of people have been saying that! I guess it's an easy thing to change!

[@-PORK-CHOP-]

@@TransportVlog I think they are funny, sounds like she is constipated and needs to go to the toilet 😂😂