Infrastructure go BOOM

[stephbg]

I spent some time pouring over city maps last night trying to identify the most efficient pedestrian path from my office to Leederville station. I'd thought I'd give that walk a go one day, but there are severe traps for the unwary (such as the limited crossing options for the railway and freeway).

It never occurred to me that I wouldn't make it in to the city at all.



I got to the train station bright and early (about 6:15) but the new system had collapsed already. Large angry crowds. I don't know when the previous train had come through but the next was not expected for 30-35 minutes (I'd already waited 15), no rail-replacement buses from this station at all, and only one meandering suburban bus due in 15 minutes and expected to take well over an hour.

Most of the mob left, visibly steaming.

Oh, and the freeway was a total carpark by 6:30, but that's not unusual.

I understand some people take hours to commute daily, but I am accustomed to a 45 minute drive-train-walk routine, and was prepared for a 1 hour 15 minute drive-train-bus-walk, but not today. I'll see if the internet infratructure can handle another person trying to telecommute.


I'd be very interested to hear other commuters' tales.

EDIT: Local wireless did not cope with another telecommuter.

Comments

[krjalk.livejournal.com]

It wasn't that bad for me. Admittedly, I got to the station a lot later than I had hoped, about 7:50, but the crowd on the platform was only slightly larger than usual. I got off at Stirling, and the crowd for the cirle route bus was maybe three times larger than normal, but we all fit on the (admittedly about 10 minutes late) bus. I got to the office maybe 20 minutes later than I would normally. I'll be getting there much earlier tomorrow, so we'll see how we go.

I heard horror stories from someone who was there about an hour earlier - the platform completely packed, and staff asking people who weren't going straight through to Glendalough to get off and wait for the next train. Much unhappiness which I'm glad I missed.