TRANSPORT & POPULATION DATA CENTRE
Train users in Sydney
November 2003
Introduction
This brochure presents some of
the latest information on train
travel and travellers living in the
Sydney Statistical Division
(population 4.1 million), which
includes the Central Coast and
Blue Mountains (see map). The
information presented includes
the role of trains in Sydney’s
transport system, some
characteristics of train trips and
some analysis of how train
users differ between peak and
off-peak periods.
Pennant Hills
Chatswood
Parramatta
Bondi Junction
Bankstown
Wyong
Kogarah
Gosford
Mount
Victoria
Richmond
Berowra
Hornsby
Penrith
Katoomba
Train services in Sydney
Passenger train services in
Sydney are operated by
CityRail and cover an extensive
area. They extend beyond the
suburban areas of Sydney to
Scone/Dungog in the north,
Lithgow in the west, Goulburn in
the southwest and Bomaderry
(Nowra) in the south. The
network covering Sydney is
illustrated in the map.
Wisemans
Ferry
Parramatta
Sydney
Liverpool
Campbelltown
Picton
Waterfall
CityRail Network
Sydney Statistical Division
Summary of findings
• In 2001 4.9% of all weekday trips by Sydney
residents were by train. On weekend days 1.8%
of trips were by train.
• Train is an important mode for commuters in
Sydney, with 49% of all Sydney train users
during the peak travelling to and from work.
• 61% of all train trips by Sydney residents are
made during the “peak” – defined as train trips
arriving at their destination between 6.00am and
9.30am or departing between 3.00pm and
6.30pm on an average weekday.
• Train users in the peak are more likely to either
get a lift or drive themselves to the station, than
off-peak train users.
• The share of trips by train varies by destination,
with almost half of all trips to the Sydney CBD
in the morning peak by train (47%).
• Train’s mode share also increases with the
length of the trip - only 2% of of trips under
10km are by train, compared to 18% of all trips
over 40km.
• The average distance of train trips has fallen
slightly since 1991, while the average duration
of train trips has remained stable.
Train users in Sydney
• 59% of train users travelling in the peak are fulltime workers, compared to 35% of train users in
the off-peak.
Source of data
This publication reports on train travel in 2001, with
some comparisons made with 1991. The analysis
presented for 2001 is based on the combined data
collected in the Household Travel Survey (HTS) for
1999/2000, 2000/01 and 2001/02, while the 1991
data is from the 1991/92 Home Interview Survey
(HIS).
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Train travel in Sydney
Proportion of trips by mode, 2001
• In 2001 4.9% of all weekday trips
by Sydney residents were by train.
On weekend days 1.8% of trips
were by train.
• Since 1991 the share of train trips
on weekdays and weekends has
remained stable.
• 61% of all train trips are made
during the “peak” (arriving 6.00am9.30am or departing 3.00pm6.30pm on an average weekday).
The other 39% of train trips are
made during the “off-peak” (rest of
an average weekday & weekends).
60%
Average weekday
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Train
Vehicle driver
Train trips to the Sydney CBD*
• The share of trips by train varies by
destination, with almost half of all
trips to the Sydney CBD in the
morning peak (6.00am-9.30am) on
weekdays by train (47%),
compared to 27% by private
vehicle (driver & passenger).
• However, the later in the day
people travel to the Sydney CBD
the more likely they are to travel by
vehicle over train.
• Excluding the morning peak, on an
average weekday, 27% of all trips
to the CBD are by train, while 44%
are by vehicle.
Average weekend day
50%
Vehicle passenger
Bus
Walk only
Other modes
Mode share to Sydney CBD during morning peak
& rest of average weekday**, 2001
100%
90%
80%
70%
Other
60%
Bus
50%
40%
Vehicle
30%
Train
20%
10%
0%
6.00-9.30am arrival time
Rest of average weekday
* Sydney CBD Commercial Centre, not Sydney Local Govt Area
Distance* of train passenger trips
Average trip length (kms) by mode, average weekday
• The share of trips by train also
increases with the length of the trip.
Only 2% of of trips under 10km are
by train, compared to 18% of all
trips over 40km.
• On weekdays the average distance
of train trips by Sydney’s residents
is 18.4km, down slightly from
19.5km in 1991.
• By comparison the average
distance of both vehicle driver and
bus trips has increased since 1991.
25
1991
2001
20
15
10
5
0
Train
Vehicle driver
Vehicle passenger
Bus
* Road network distance on each mode
Duration* of train passenger trips
• As well as having the longest
average distance of the modes,
train trips have the longest average
duration at 29 minutes on
weekdays.
• Since 1991 the average duration of
train trips has remained stable,
while the average duration of trips
by the other modes has increased.
Average duration (in minutes) of trips by mode, average weekday
35
1991
2001
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Train
Bus
Vehicle driver
Vehicle passenger
* Duration is the time reported by respondents
Train users in Sydney
2
Why people travel by train*
• Around 8% of Sydney’s residents
use train on an average day.
• Train is an important mode for
commuters in Sydney, with 49% of
all Sydney train users during the
peak travelling to and from work.
The next most common reason for
travelling by train during the peak is
for education (16%).
• During the off-peak most train
users are travelling for social
recreational purposes (31%),
followed by work (21%).
Purpose of train users' trips during peak & off-peak*, 2001
60%
Peak users
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Work
Work related
Education
Shopping
Personal
business
* Peak = arriving 6.00-9.30am or departing 3.00-6.30pm on weekdays
How do people get from home to
the train station?
• Most people walk from home to the
train station for travel in both the
morning peak (55%) and the offpeak (64%).
• During the morning peak 27% of
train users starting their trip at
home either drove to the station or
got a lift, compared to 17% of train
users in the off-peak.
• The use of buses from home to
access train is similar during the
morning peak and the off-peak.
Social
recreation
Serve
passenger
Other
Off-peak = rest of a weekday & on weekends
Mode used from home to access train during morning peak & off-peak*, 2001
70%
Peak users
Off-peak users
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Walk
Vehicle passenger
Vehicle driver
* Morning Peak = arriving 6.00-9.30am on weekdays
Ticket type
• Most peak train users travel with a
weekly ticket (43%), followed by a
return ticket (21%).
• The opposite pattern occurs for offpeak train travellers, with most
using a return ticket (38%),
followed by a weekly (20%).
• 9% of train travellers in the peak
use a school pass.
Off-peak users
50%
Bus
Train
Other
Off-peak = rest of a weekday & on weekends
Ticket type of train users during peak & off-peak*, 2001
45%
Peak users
Off-peak users
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Single ticket Return ticket
Full day
Weekly
Quarterly/
Yearly
* Peak = arriving 6.00-9.30am or departing 3.00-6.30pm on weekdays
Age & gender of train users
• The average age of train travellers
in the peak is 34 years, while
during the off-peak it is 37 years.
• Overall, train passengers are
equally distributed between males
and females both during the peak
and off-peak.
School pass
No fare
required
Other
Unknown
Off-peak = rest of a weekday & on weekends
Age of train users travelling during peak & off-peak*, 2001
25%
Peak users
Off-peak users
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Under 18
18 to 24
25 to 34
35 to 44
* Peak = arriving 6.00-9.30am or departing 3.00-6.30pm on weekdays
Train users in Sydney
45 to 54
55 to 64
65 and over
Off-peak = rest of a weekday & on weekends
3
Labour force status of train users
• Full-time workers are the largest
proportion of train users in both the
peak (59%) and off-peak (35%).
• The second largest group of peak
train users are school children
(14%).
• 19% of off-peak train users are
pensioners.
Labour force status of train users during peak and off-peak*, 2001
70%
Peak users
Off-peak users
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Full-time work
Part-time/casual
work
Adult studying
full/part-time
Pensioner
* Peak = arriving 6.00-9.30am or departing 3.00-6.30pm on weekdays
Personal income of train users
• On average train users in the peak
have higher incomes than off-peak
train users, reflecting that a much
larger proportion of peak train
users are full-time workers.
• The average peak train user has
an annual income of between
$20,800 and $31,199, while the
average off-peak train user is a
person with an income of between
$10,400 and $15,599 per annum.
• Overall, train users have a higher
median income than bus users and
vehicle passengers, and similar to
vehicle drivers.
School child
Other
Off-peak = rest of a weekday & on weekends
Annual personal income of train users aged 15 years & over
during peak and off-peak*, 2001
25%
Peak users
Off-peak users
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
$0 - $4,159
$4,160 $10,399
$10,400 $15,599
$15,600 $20,799
$20,800 $31,199
* Peak = arriving 6.00-9.30am or departing 3.00-6.30pm on weekdays
$31,200 $41,599
$41,600 $51,999
$52,000 $77,999
$78,000 or
more
Off-peak = rest of a weekday & on weekends
The Household Travel Survey
For further information
The Household Travel Survey (HTS) is
the only large scale, comprehensive and
continuous survey of the travel patterns
of residents of the Greater Metropolitan
Region.
Contact the Transport & Population Data Centre at of the
Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources:
Every year approximately 3,500
households (or 10,000 individuals) are
interviewed about their travel on a
particular day, with interviews spread
across the whole year. Information on all
travel and activities undertaken by all
household members over a given 24
hour period are collected via face to face
interview.
To maximise the statistical reliability of
HTS results for a given year, each annual
HTS estimate consists of three years of
pooled HTS data weighted to the
Estimated Resident Population from the
Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The 2001 estimates in this paper are
based on data from waves 3 to 5 of the
HTS (1999/2000, 2000/01 and 2001/02)
pooled together and weighted to
represent travel by the 2001 Estimated
Resident Population of Sydney.
Train users in Sydney
Level 5, Henry Deane Building, 20 Lee Street, Sydney
GPO Box 3927, Sydney 2001
Telephone (02) 9762 8511 Facsimile (02) 9762 8514
Email [email protected]
Website www.dipnr.nsw.gov.au
Acknowledgements
This publication was produced by the Transport & Population
Data Centre of the Department of Infrastructure, Planning
and Natural Resources, with assistance from StateRail.
2003 Crown Copyright
Subject to copyright. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the
Copyright Act 1968, no part covered by copyright may be reproduced or copied
by any means, electronically or otherwise without written permission of the
copyright owner.
Disclaimer
While all care is taken in producing and publishing this work, no
responsibility is taken or warranty made with respect to the accuracy of any
information, data or representation. The authors (including copyright
owners) and publishers expressly disclaim all liability in respect of anything
done or omitted to be done and the consequences upon the reliance of the
contents of this information.
Released November 2003
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