Commutable distance to Sydney
#1
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Joined: Nov 2010
Location: Sydney
Posts: 136
Commutable distance to Sydney
How far out one could go but yet commute to CBD everyday? Could you actually reduce your living costs significantly by going that far? Are people commuting from places like Gosford, Newcastle, Wollongong, Nowra, Kiama etc? Is it a worthwhile proposition at all?
Stunned (and disgusted) by Sydney rental prices, I am really looking at all possible alternatives, but can't get out of NSW being state sponsored.
Stunned (and disgusted) by Sydney rental prices, I am really looking at all possible alternatives, but can't get out of NSW being state sponsored.
#2
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Location: Sydney AUS - Leeds/Selby/York UK - Sydney AUS (April 2011)
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Re: Commutable distance to Sydney
I get the train to work from Epping every day to the city and that is far enough for me.
The express trains from Newcastle / Gosford stop at Epping and you get to see all those commuters under blankets with neck pillows who started out at god knows o'clock, they look half dead. When the train pulls in to Sydney Terminal these life forms slowly evolve back in to something half way towards human, although you still shouldn't approach one, if you have to use caution. They then stagger down the platform and in to the station cafe for a caffeine injection. Then they get to do it all over again the next day, you see the same people every work day
I wouldn't want to do it, but many do.
The express trains from Newcastle / Gosford stop at Epping and you get to see all those commuters under blankets with neck pillows who started out at god knows o'clock, they look half dead. When the train pulls in to Sydney Terminal these life forms slowly evolve back in to something half way towards human, although you still shouldn't approach one, if you have to use caution. They then stagger down the platform and in to the station cafe for a caffeine injection. Then they get to do it all over again the next day, you see the same people every work day
I wouldn't want to do it, but many do.
#3
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Joined: Mar 2004
Location: Sydney
Posts: 1,628
Re: Commutable distance to Sydney
People do, a number of the guys where I work commute from the central coast and are fine with 1 1/2 to 2 hours each way each day. I wouldn't do it myself but different people have different views
#4
Re: Commutable distance to Sydney
We looked into it from Central Coast at one point but it was just too far for us. It might be ok for somebody working regular 9 to 5 hours, but if you anticipate having to do a bit more than that then it would be a real drag to have such a slog home at the end of a long day. I wouldn't do it.
#5
Forum Regular
Re: Commutable distance to Sydney
How far out one could go but yet commute to CBD everyday? Could you actually reduce your living costs significantly by going that far? Are people commuting from places like Gosford, Newcastle, Wollongong, Nowra, Kiama etc? Is it a worthwhile proposition at all?
Stunned (and disgusted) by Sydney rental prices, I am really looking at all possible alternatives, but can't get out of NSW being state sponsored.
Stunned (and disgusted) by Sydney rental prices, I am really looking at all possible alternatives, but can't get out of NSW being state sponsored.
on the other hand would not live in a box in the CBD , pay the Northern
beaches Rip off prices or be in the Hills estates, all depends on your travel needs and lifestyle i guess ,good luck
#6
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Joined: Nov 2010
Location: Sydney
Posts: 136
Re: Commutable distance to Sydney
Well to travel from the central coast you have to think why you moved half way around the world ,i
on the other hand would not live in a box in the CBD , pay the Northern
beaches Rip off prices or be in the Hills estates, all depends on your travel needs and lifestyle i guess ,good luck
on the other hand would not live in a box in the CBD , pay the Northern
beaches Rip off prices or be in the Hills estates, all depends on your travel needs and lifestyle i guess ,good luck
#7
Re: Commutable distance to Sydney
Himself works in Sydney CBD - we live a 90 minutes train commute away in the Blue Mountains. We think its worth it. Quite a few of his colleagues live about the same commute time away up and down the coast, so its certainly do-able. It really depends on what is important to you.
For us, we couldn't do it if the trains didn't run reliably and regularly. On a morning there are about 3-4 trains an hour and the same between 4-6.30pm to come home. During the day though, there's one an hour, which is a bit more of a pain for my two eldest who are in Uni down the mountain.. but the lazy gits should have learned to drive by now and their problems would be sorted
If you're going to look at living well away from the CBD, you really, really need to do lots of research into how you're going to travel in, and how it'll work on a practical, day by day basis. Train tickets are ridiculously cheap - Himself gets a zone 3 MyMulti ticket (the same one covers all this area) which covers you for trains, buses, ferries and the light railway thing - for a month it costs $219 - but you can also buy it quarterly or yearly and it works out even cheaper.
I can't emphasise enough that you have to do your research. Himself moved to NSW a few months before we did (we lived in Qld before) so he got a rental near our chosen area to make sure that the commute wasn't going to be too much of a pain.
For us, we couldn't do it if the trains didn't run reliably and regularly. On a morning there are about 3-4 trains an hour and the same between 4-6.30pm to come home. During the day though, there's one an hour, which is a bit more of a pain for my two eldest who are in Uni down the mountain.. but the lazy gits should have learned to drive by now and their problems would be sorted
If you're going to look at living well away from the CBD, you really, really need to do lots of research into how you're going to travel in, and how it'll work on a practical, day by day basis. Train tickets are ridiculously cheap - Himself gets a zone 3 MyMulti ticket (the same one covers all this area) which covers you for trains, buses, ferries and the light railway thing - for a month it costs $219 - but you can also buy it quarterly or yearly and it works out even cheaper.
I can't emphasise enough that you have to do your research. Himself moved to NSW a few months before we did (we lived in Qld before) so he got a rental near our chosen area to make sure that the commute wasn't going to be too much of a pain.
#8
Simply happy in Sydney!
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Woronora Heights, NSW
Posts: 274
Re: Commutable distance to Sydney
I know that plenty of people commute long distances, but I would think that it depends hugely on your circumstances.
For us, we decided against a long commute, even though really we would have preferred to live somewhere slightly further out. When we moved here our children were still very small (1 and 3), I was a stay at home mum, and hubby was working very long hours, seven days a week etc, and we felt that a long commute on top of that would be too much. I think had the children been older we would have considered it more, but we felt that he and they would be missing out too much on seeing each other.
You just have to weigh up the pros and cons.
For us, we decided against a long commute, even though really we would have preferred to live somewhere slightly further out. When we moved here our children were still very small (1 and 3), I was a stay at home mum, and hubby was working very long hours, seven days a week etc, and we felt that a long commute on top of that would be too much. I think had the children been older we would have considered it more, but we felt that he and they would be missing out too much on seeing each other.
You just have to weigh up the pros and cons.
#9
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,040
Re: Commutable distance to Sydney
Life is too short to spend time on a train. Spend up and have a good life
#10
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Re: Commutable distance to Sydney
I work with one guy who commutes from Wollongong and another who commuts from penrith.
I wouldn't do either.
I live in the inner west just 8 kms from the CBD and it takes me 40 mins to get to work on the bus!!!
The guy who commutes from wollongong, I am sure he told me he leaves the house at 6am or 6.30am the other day and he doesnt even get to work until 9 or 9.15am!!! Stuff that for a joke. (I will check that though as I may be confused)
I find though that it takes long enough to drive to these places when there is no traffic...though I guess the train is probably faster.
OH often works in the Northern Beaches and he can be in traffic aywhere from 1 hour to 2 hours to get back to the inner west.
Traffic in Sydney is ridiculous in my opinion but I guess cummuting really depends on how you plan to do it, I reckon public transport is the best way
I wouldn't do either.
I live in the inner west just 8 kms from the CBD and it takes me 40 mins to get to work on the bus!!!
The guy who commutes from wollongong, I am sure he told me he leaves the house at 6am or 6.30am the other day and he doesnt even get to work until 9 or 9.15am!!! Stuff that for a joke. (I will check that though as I may be confused)
I find though that it takes long enough to drive to these places when there is no traffic...though I guess the train is probably faster.
OH often works in the Northern Beaches and he can be in traffic aywhere from 1 hour to 2 hours to get back to the inner west.
Traffic in Sydney is ridiculous in my opinion but I guess cummuting really depends on how you plan to do it, I reckon public transport is the best way
#11
Re: Commutable distance to Sydney
Just saying, like.
#13
Re: Commutable distance to Sydney
I work with one guy who commutes from Wollongong and another who commuts from penrith.
I wouldn't do either.
I live in the inner west just 8 kms from the CBD and it takes me 40 mins to get to work on the bus!!!
The guy who commutes from wollongong, I am sure he told me he leaves the house at 6am or 6.30am the other day and he doesnt even get to work until 9 or 9.15am!!! Stuff that for a joke. (I will check that though as I may be confused)
I find though that it takes long enough to drive to these places when there is no traffic...though I guess the train is probably faster.
OH often works in the Northern Beaches and he can be in traffic aywhere from 1 hour to 2 hours to get back to the inner west.
Traffic in Sydney is ridiculous in my opinion but I guess cummuting really depends on how you plan to do it, I reckon public transport is the best way
I wouldn't do either.
I live in the inner west just 8 kms from the CBD and it takes me 40 mins to get to work on the bus!!!
The guy who commutes from wollongong, I am sure he told me he leaves the house at 6am or 6.30am the other day and he doesnt even get to work until 9 or 9.15am!!! Stuff that for a joke. (I will check that though as I may be confused)
I find though that it takes long enough to drive to these places when there is no traffic...though I guess the train is probably faster.
OH often works in the Northern Beaches and he can be in traffic aywhere from 1 hour to 2 hours to get back to the inner west.
Traffic in Sydney is ridiculous in my opinion but I guess cummuting really depends on how you plan to do it, I reckon public transport is the best way
#15
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 162
Re: Commutable distance to Sydney
I work with one guy who commutes from Wollongong and another who commuts from penrith.
The guy who commutes from wollongong, I am sure he told me he leaves the house at 6am or 6.30am the other day and he doesnt even get to work until 9 or 9.15am!!! Stuff that for a joke. (I will check that though as I may be confused)
The guy who commutes from wollongong, I am sure he told me he leaves the house at 6am or 6.30am the other day and he doesnt even get to work until 9 or 9.15am!!! Stuff that for a joke. (I will check that though as I may be confused)
17:42 train on the way back got me home by half past seven in the evening.