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    The 420 bus from SYD International Airport to Rockdale Station is a horrible experience & it's by design
    Australia

    The 420 bus from SYD International Airport to Rockdale Station is a horrible experience & it’s by design


    Catching a train from SYD International Airport to Rockdale Station costs $20.95: https://i.imgur.com/MrZmSvY.png

    Catching the 420 bus from SYD International Airport to Rockdale Station costs $3.14: https://i.imgur.com/GD4Jf6f.png

    As a result, the 420 gets overloaded to the brim. Some cost-savvy tourists with their luggage take this route, but the heart-breaking truth is that it's mostly taken by Airport staff.

    As soon as the 420 reaches Rockdale Station, 75% of the bus empties.

    Its sad that people who just completed 8 to 10 hour shifts have to then squeeze themselves into a metal box like abused livestock. It'd be particularly horrible during hot Summer afternoons. I'm told this happens at all hours of the day, for every 420 bus that arrives.

    I can't imagine this not having an effect on worker's mental well being..

    It's not right. The 420 was not meant for this. Airport staff should have special Opal Cards that exempt them from the $20.95 tourist fee.

    Posted by Diligent_Comfort_928

    View 31 Comments

    31 Comments

    2. karLcx on

      i mean yeah, you said it. the cheap option is over used by lots of cheap people.

      you need to decide for yourself if this counts as ‘savvy’, or controversially simply not worth the time, faff, and absolute lack of comfort.

    5. ChriSV650x on

      Do we expect any different from a country built off Polly bribes and commercial racketeering

    6. Lissica on

      I mean yes, the 420 bus was meant for that. Thats why it still runs, to give the airport workers a bus home.

      Trust me, if you feel that’s bad, you should have tried the original 400 bus that went from Bondi Junction to Burwood

    7. pleski on

      Yes, it’s by design. I suppose they could give staff a special discount, but that train to the city is a very roundabout way of getting to Rockdale, which is close by physically.

    8. corgiboba on

      My dad works at the airport and he gets off at Wolli Creek station and walks to work over the bridge twice a day for 30 years so far.

    9. Bob_Spud on

      There should be a direct bus link between the airports and Sydenham Station to meet up with Metro and train services.

    10. Meng_Fei on

      Let’s charge a station access fee to Sydney Airport which drives more people to use cars, then spend a few billion on the airport gateway because there’s so much traffic at the airport – NSW Government logic.

    11. Frankenclyde on

      I don’t disagree that airport staff shouldn’t pay the access fee at all, but it’s worth noting there is a weekly cap on it of $32

    13. percyflinders on

      This is not in the 420 tradition. Should be free bongs on that bus and chill vibes.

    14. Temporary-Zombie-931 on

      It pains me to say this but if you don’t like it, lobby for change or move out of Sydney!

    15. Pogichin0y on

      $3.14 for that bus route is a bargain.

      Why should airport staff treated with special consideration?

    17. myThrowAwayForIphone on

      The govt gets most of the gate fee atm, as per the public private partnership contract. 

      I suspect the gate fee these days is to prevent overcrowding on the T8 train line, as it doesn’t just serve the airport… People at Mascot are going to be annoyed if they can’t get a train at 8am because it’s packed from the airport. Realistically not that many people are actually changing to the bus at Mascot and catching it to the airport. 

      The only real solution is adding capacity to the train system… which is expensive and lacking support cause carbrain. 

      In the interim maybe they should remove the gate fee during off peak and run bendy bus 420s and 350s at greater frequencies. 

    19. LastChance22 on

      The airport train’s fee is such a rort. Sydney already has a reputation as being an expensive city and the train is often the first part of Sydney a tourist sees. IMO it’s a bad first impression.

    20. fa_alt on

      85% of the revenue raised already goes to the state government so I don’t see them changing anything once they ownership in 2030.

    21. Mysterious-Vast-2133 on

      Sydney is not alone in charging extra for using an Airport Station, just have a look at Brisbane , or globally Newark,NJ and the cost to go one station on the LIRR (not to mention service frequencies)

    22. R_W0bz on

      There are a lot of people around Sydney that do 8-10 hour shifts that are then crammed into metal boxes? Some would say all of us do.

    23. Botswanaboy on

      Some workers get off at Tempe and then ride along cooks river to the airport. For travelers looking to save and do some sight seeing I recommend getting off at Tempe and walking 20-25min to SYD international airport. Worth it lol

    24. mulimulix on

      I’ve caught the 420 between Mascot station and the airport (and return) a few times and it’s never been busy enough that people have needed to stand. Not sure if I’ve just been lucky but why would people not also be taking it to Mascot if there’s that many commuters?

    25. schottgun93 on

      I live in Campsie, a short walk away from the train station so the 420 bus is great for me. I have started carefully choosing flights to avoid peak time where possible though because the overcrowding is really quite bad.

    27. aussiechap1 on

      The station fee is $2 for staff, but’s it takes longer to get to Rockdale by train.

      The fees are also due to expire in 2030. but it looks like the government will extend them for another 30 years to pay for toll relief out west (same with Southern Cross Drive).

      Currently almost all of the station fee goes into government coffers, so they could reduce it for the next few years if they wished, but they would rather maximise return.

    28. exobiologickitten on

      I used to have to catch that thing to work. I guess I can credit it for forcing me to finally learn to stomach driving in Sydney. Absolutely sucked having to drive to work knowing I had a direct bus route IN THEORY though.

    30. calstanfordboye on

      I’m sorry but if the 420 is full to the brim at all hours of the day just increase the frequency. Very easy problem to solve.

    31. ScruffyPeter on

      Get on Wolli Creek train station. Pass International, Domestic. Get off at Mascot train station. A 3 train station trip: $4.33.

      But getting off before Mascot, for 1 or 2 train station trip on the exact same train line, it’s $22.25.

      Every Sydneysider I explain this to, their minds are blown!