Sydney trains: Hate gambling on which train carriage will have a spare seat? Heres a secret peak hour hack – 7NEWS

A simple coloured graphic on train platform screens can help you determine exactly which carriage to head for, to score yourself a seat.

Despite being around for the past three years, the carriage capacity indicator has surprised NSW commuters travelling on Waratah trains.

Watch the video above to see the simple train hack

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Coloured rectangles representing the Waratah train carriages and their current capacity were introduced by Transport for NSW on the platform service display signs in 2019.

They were introduced on real-time apps the year prior, but the seat-finding hack is still largely unknown.

The carriage capacity indicator colour codes the blocks in green, orange and red to show commuters which carriages are respectively empty, moderately full, and at capacity.

The information comes via weight sensors, which use the data to calculate how many passengers are onboard each carriage.

The feature is designed to help commuters know where to stand as the train approaches, so they can easily hop straight onto the emptiest carriage.

This type of technology is used in stations around the world, including in Singapore, Tokyo and Hong Kong, according to Transport for NSW.

These displays will now be available on all stations that are serviced by Waratah trains, including the busy T1 North Shore and Western Lines, and will help customers to board the trains more efficiently, former NSW transport minister Andrew Constance said when the technology was launched in May 2019.

These capacity indicators will help passengers know where to go on the platform to get onto the train quickly and easily.

Ultimately its about using the latest technology to make life easier for our customers.

It has proven to be a great way for customers to quickly find out where seats are available on a train.

The hack was shared recently on TikTok, surprising Sydney commuters who hadnt been aware of the capacity indicator.

What? I have been travelling on Sydney trains my whole life and I just learned this tonight, one TikTok user wrote.

I genuinely thought it was Sydney Trains just trying to be cute, another user wrote.

Just need to show how many eshays in the back carriage now, another wrote.

However, the online reaction also highlighted that the little-known feature is not entirely inclusive or relevant for some people living with disabilities.

Im red-green colour-blind, so didnt notice, one user wrote

But if youre in a wheelchair you always get put in the back carriage no matter how full, another wrote.

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Sydney trains: Hate gambling on which train carriage will have a spare seat? Heres a secret peak hour hack - 7NEWS