Sydney Boys High School is proactively taking measures to alleviate overcrowding and prioritise student safety on Sydney’s expanded light rail network.
Recently, the school communicated with parents about a timetable shake-up in response to ongoing capacity issues on the Metro CBD & Southeast Line. Starting from Term 3, the school plans to adjust its start and finish times by five minutes, effectively tackling congestion at the nearby tram stop, Moore Park Station.
Expressing concerns, Principal Kim Jaggar highlighted heavy afternoon congestion at Moore Park Station, especially on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. In a letter to parents, he drew attention to the rush and commotion among students trying to board trains.
Furthermore, a recent near miss involving one of the school’s students emphasised the urgent need to address this safety issue. Thus, the school seeks the support of the Sydney High community to implement this change and enhance student safety.
Compounding the capacity challenges is the fact that Sydney Boys High School students share trams with their counterparts from Sydney Girls High School, which is located nearby. Both schools currently start their day simultaneously.
To mitigate the risk of accidents, the staff at Sydney Boys High School have decided to introduce a warning bell at 8.57 am each day, with lessons starting at 9 am and concluding at 3.10 pm.
These adjustments aim to allow Sydney Boys High School students to catch one or possibly two trams before students from Sydney Girls High School arrive on the platform, considering the latter’s school day finishes at 3.20 pm.
Based on recent figures from the Department of Transport, a significant increase in passenger numbers at Moore Park Station over the past two years. In May alone, 7616 students used Opal Cards to tap on and off at the station, compared to 5130 during the same month the previous year.
Notably, Moore Park Station ranked second in terms of Opal trip passengers across Sydney’s entire light rail network, with only the stop at Central Station surpassing it.
A spokesman from the Department of Education confirmed overwhelming support from teachers and endorsement by the school council for the school’s timetable change.
By implementing these timetable adjustments, Sydney Boys High School aims to alleviate congestion, reduce safety risks, and improve the overall commuting experience for its students. As the new timetable comes into effect in Term 3, it is hoped that the adjustments will result in a safer and more efficient commute for all students using the light rail network.
Published 22-June-2023
