Sydney is served by extensive train, bus and ferry networks.
Sydney Trains
Sydney Trains
are run by CityRail, a corporation of the New South Wales State Government. Trains run as suburban commuter rail services in the outer suburbs, then converge in an underground city loop service in the central business district (CBD). In the years following the 2000 Summer Olympics, CityRail's performance declined significantly. Public anger resulted in the introduction of a new timetable, the employment of more drivers and a large infrastructure project. The new timetable has aimed to achieve more reliability by cutting services. Despite some improvement since 2004, the infrastructure improvements are not expected to be completed until 2010.
Sydney Buses
Most parts of the metropolitan area are served by buses, most of which follow the pre-1963 tram routes. In the city and inner suburbs the state-owned Sydney Buses has a monopoly. Services are frequent, even outside peak hours. In the outer suburbs, service is divided up between many private bus companies. These bus services are often criticised for their relative scarcity of service and sometimes complete lack of off-peak service.
Sydney Ferries
Sydney Ferries, another state government-owned organisation, runs extensive commuter and tourist ferry services on Sydney Harbour and the Parramatta River. Sydney Ferries offer an excellent and economical alternative to private tourist cruises for independent travellers.
Light Rail
Sydney has one privately operated light rail line, the Metro Light Rail, running from Central Station to Lilyfield along the former goods train line. There is also a monorail which runs in a loop around the main shopping district and Darling Harbour. The service is mainly used by tourists because it covers too small an area to be useful for commuters. Sydney was formerly served by an extensive tram network, which was closed progressively in the 1950's and 1960's.
Sydney Roads
Sydney is serviced by an extensive network of freeways and tollways (known as motorways) and roads. The most important trunk routes in the urban area form the Metroad system. The newly built Cross City Tunnel is a tunnel that runs underneath the Sydney CBD to the Eastern Suburbs. The tunnel has been criticised for its high tolls and the traffic congestion cause by the blocking off of adjacent roads.
Sydney Airport
Kingsford Smith International Airport, located in the suburb of Mascot, is Sydney's main airport, and the oldest continuously operating commercial airport in the world. The smaller Bankstown Airport mainly serves private and general aviation. There are light aviation airfields at Hoxton Park and Camden. RAAF Base Richmond lies to the north-west of the city.
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