SUNDAY is looming as the day from hell for commuters and sports fans as the A-League and one-day cricket go head-to-head at the Sydney Football Stadium and the SCG.
Through poor planning by government agencies and sports administrators, NSW faces gridlock and pain on the trains - from Newcastle to Gosford to Moore Park.
Football fans travelling from Newcastle and the Central Coast to the A-League grand final are bracing themselves for chaos as thousands of fans swamp rail lines and the F3.
Mariners and Jets fans will face many hurdles in their efforts to get to the game at the SFS, with fans questioning the logistics of transporting opposing fans to and from the venue on the same trains.
Those who plan to drive to the match face a similar dilemma as they navigate roadworks at Cowan, where three lanes merge to two on the southbound carriageway.
Fans who choose to drive to the SFS must compete to find a car park with cricket fans attending the Australia v India clash at the SCG.
Inspector Darryn Cox said yesterday police would hold a series of meetings this week to discuss security options for the trains, particularly regarding alcohol-affected fans making the trip back to the Central Coast and Newcastle.
"We understand a big part of the Newcastle contingent will travel to the football by bus, but there will still be a lot on the trains. But we will have a good number of crime officers travelling on the (train) line to make sure everything is OK," Insp Cox said.
RailCorp is encouraging fans to use trains, with three extra services running from Newcastle to Central, departing at 12 noon, 12.45pm and 1.05pm.
RailCorp will have three eight-car trains on standby at Newcastle and Gosford to meet any higher demand.
A RailCorp spokeswoman told The Daily Telegraph yesterday it had been in talks with police about "crime hotspots" and that transit officers would be where they were most needed.
Mariners and Jets fans have swamped supporter websites with suggestions that the fans be transported in separate carriages or even separate trains because of the potential of violence.
"About the best I would hope for would be to try and encourage Mariners fans to get on the back half of the train and Jets fans the front or vice versa - both for the trains there and the first couple of trains immediately after," one fan said on a Mariners forum.
Another fan said he would drive to avoid "the carnage".
The RailCorp spokeswoman said the issue of dividing fans would be a police matter.
Representatives from the SFS and SCG were meeting to discuss parking and security issues last night.
Through poor planning by government agencies and sports administrators, NSW faces gridlock and pain on the trains - from Newcastle to Gosford to Moore Park.
Football fans travelling from Newcastle and the Central Coast to the A-League grand final are bracing themselves for chaos as thousands of fans swamp rail lines and the F3.
Mariners and Jets fans will face many hurdles in their efforts to get to the game at the SFS, with fans questioning the logistics of transporting opposing fans to and from the venue on the same trains.
Those who plan to drive to the match face a similar dilemma as they navigate roadworks at Cowan, where three lanes merge to two on the southbound carriageway.
Fans who choose to drive to the SFS must compete to find a car park with cricket fans attending the Australia v India clash at the SCG.
Inspector Darryn Cox said yesterday police would hold a series of meetings this week to discuss security options for the trains, particularly regarding alcohol-affected fans making the trip back to the Central Coast and Newcastle.
"We understand a big part of the Newcastle contingent will travel to the football by bus, but there will still be a lot on the trains. But we will have a good number of crime officers travelling on the (train) line to make sure everything is OK," Insp Cox said.
RailCorp is encouraging fans to use trains, with three extra services running from Newcastle to Central, departing at 12 noon, 12.45pm and 1.05pm.
RailCorp will have three eight-car trains on standby at Newcastle and Gosford to meet any higher demand.
A RailCorp spokeswoman told The Daily Telegraph yesterday it had been in talks with police about "crime hotspots" and that transit officers would be where they were most needed.
Mariners and Jets fans have swamped supporter websites with suggestions that the fans be transported in separate carriages or even separate trains because of the potential of violence.
"About the best I would hope for would be to try and encourage Mariners fans to get on the back half of the train and Jets fans the front or vice versa - both for the trains there and the first couple of trains immediately after," one fan said on a Mariners forum.
Another fan said he would drive to avoid "the carnage".
The RailCorp spokeswoman said the issue of dividing fans would be a police matter.
Representatives from the SFS and SCG were meeting to discuss parking and security issues last night.
