The long distance train services in New South Wales have "quiet carriages". These are carriages where you are not supposed to make mobile phone calls, have "music" (a term which is sometimes used questionably) leaking out of your earphones so that others can "enjoy" (another term which is sometimes used questionably) your beat, or engage in loud conversations. Or, indeed, in any unnecessary conversations.

These seem to be a magnet for people who are convinced that the entire world wants to hear their conversations or, in the case of mobile calls, their side of them. However with practice you can pick which of the "quiet" carriages are more likely to attract these people and go to the other ones.

When the new train timetables come into effect later in October the extent to which the "quiet carriage" system is abused is likely to be ramped up considerably. Previously, most of our services have departed from the interurban platforms of Central. As a consequence, most of the people on board those trains have been the ones who have been commuting long distances and are therefore likely to need the quiet of the quiet carriages to catch up on the sleep that they don't get because they have to commute up to 4 hours each day.

Under the new timetables most of our trains will run through the suburban platforms and will therefore be used by suburban commuters who really couldn't care less about people who have to commute an hour and a half longer than they do each trip. Coincidentally, and I'm sure this is just a coincidence, our services (sorry, our former services) will be redirected to service an electorate that the current government won in the previous election and expects to be able to hold on to. The services have been removed from electorates that they know that they can't possibly win. And this, this is the way of governments everywhere. They serve their own interests well above those of any electorate except the ones that they think they can win so that they can keep their butts on the government benches and their snouts in the government trough.

And the transport Minister can say, with straightfaced mendacity, that services to our region are being "improved".