It used to be that our afternoon trains departed from Central railway station. That meant that we could go to the interurban platforms at Central, wait for our train, pile on board and get a seat in which we could snooze on the way back to catch up on the sleep that we didn't have from a trip starting at three, or four, or 5 o'clock that morning. Any stops prior to the south coast were supposed to be pickup only to prevent the trains from being congested by suburban commuters.

The timetable underwent a massive reconstruction last October. By which, I mean it was screwed. Services were cut (at the same time as we were being told that they were being increased as if we were too stupid and illiterate to read and compare to timetables for ourselves), and trains now depart from Bondi Junction several stops up the line. And if you don't go there as well, you're going to be lucky to get on one of the South Coast trains, much less get a seat on one because suburban commuters use them as a way of cutting five minutes off their own commute. This, we are assured by NSW Transport and the minister responsible is "what commuters have told us they want". The scientist in me isn't sure whether to be more offended by the blatantness of this lie or just the strident declaration that black is white and night is day and you can't prove otherwise.

And so, to Bondi Junction I go.