Media Release 10 March 2010
SEQ: QR Citytrain - on time train performance, pineapples and apples
RAIL Back On Track (
http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has said the failure of Metro Trains in Melbourne to improve ontime train performance further highlights the need for proper track maintenance on railway systems (1). Melbourne also has a mixture of trains of different manufacturer which not only complicates maintenance and operation, but has also lead to some trains being withdrawn indefinitely from service (2). A failure to ensure proper track maintenance from the period when franchise operations commenced in Melbourne is now hitting hard and hurting.
Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:
"QR and its passenger train operator - QR Passenger, has recently been 'fined' for failing to meet an ontime train performance standard of 92.4 %. They in fact achieved 91.74%. Contrast that to Melbourne that is struggling to meet 88% ontime performance and they also have an extra minute; 5 minutes compared to the tighter 4 minute standard for QR Citytrain. The privatisation and franchise operation of the Melbourne metropolitan rail network has been a disaster."
"It does seem that some are comparing pineapples to apples when fining QR Passenger. QR Passenger's performance is in fact very good considering the many factors that impact on ontime train performance outside the operators control (3)."
"There is room for improvement however, and we think that 95% ontime train performance is a target that is achievable when a railway system is optimal. To achieve this continued funding for track and signal maintenance and improvements is needed to support the hard working train crew, train controllers, station staff and maintenance staff."
References:
1.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/metros-tardiness-reaches-new-low-20100309-pvwy.html2.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/ageing-bridge-slows-us-down/story-e6frf7kx-12258389148503. 26 Feb 2010: SEQ: Call for fines against QR Passenger to be refunded and used for more Citytrain services
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3491.0Contact:
Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
