Regarding train sounds. The Tangara train sounds are my favourite. Not just the motor, but the door sounds, both the buzzers and the actual hissing and rollers of the opening/closing doors. Out of all the fleet, they are the most distinctive to me. EDIT: Oh yeah, and their distinctive electric hum as well.
Hi Phil, if I ever get back up there, I will definitely have to find that place where you buy your coffee at Central. Heading across the Sydney Harbour Bridge is always a real treat for me. i have actually crossed the Harbour Bridge also by double deck bus in 1983 and tram during the 1950's. I have even walked across the Harbour Bridge years ago. It is great that the trains up there still have the directional seats. Incidentally, why is there such a big gap between Cherrybrook and Epping? Have they considered adding a station in between? Epping certainly has a long escalator. Anyway, take care. Rob in Melbourne Australia.
The “DOORS CLOSING, PLEASE STAND CLEAR” announcement is actually controlled by a seperate yellow button in the cab of the Waratah A and B sets and then a seperate red button closes the doors, I’m not a Sydney Trains driver, guard or maintenance worker but I have seen videos publicly accessible on RU-vid that shows what these buttons do
They are platform screen doors (PSDs) and they are used to reduce the risk of passengers falling onto the tracks, and in some instances to help ventilation. I believe they are possible because of the automation and signalling of the Metro. Some automated systems run without PSDs, however generally they do have them. My assumption is that there is some technological incompatibility with the conventional Sydney Trains network and PSDs, maybe it has to do with signalling/ATO that is present on other systems with drivers and PSDs, but still. I'm not a professional.
It's to stop people getting onto the tracks accidently, the Metro trains have no driver so it's safer for the train in case someone fell in front of it
Safety and Cooling reasons. Imagine having the AC on in the stations without the platform doors and the cool air goes into the tunnel system, its a drain on energy.