22 Oct 2017: Call for a Commission of Inquiry - New Generation Rollingstock

[ozbob]

Media release 22 October 2017

Queensland: Call for a Commission of Inquiry into the New Generation Rollingstock Project

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has again called for a Commission of Inquiry into the botched New Generation Rollingstock train project.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"It is disturbing that Queensland's transport authorities and a succession of under-performing Governments, have managed to order new trains, the New Generation Rollingstock trains, that are not compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) (1).

"Equally perplexing is the fact that it took nearly two years for the Department of Transport and Main Roads to acknowledge that the trains are not compliant (2).  Disability Advocates have been pressing this for around two years now. Valuable time has been wasted as the trains languished out at Wulkuraka, and Transport and Main Roads personnel remained in denial.

"RAIL Back On Track has previously made a request to the Queensland Auditor General to have this projected audited. This was denied.

"There is little recourse now other than a full Commission of Inquiry.  It is clear to us that the secrecy around this project is clearly designed to protect failure within the Government bureaucracy.

"It is clear that we are in a major rail meltdown with a resolution a very distant dream. There are 15 non DDA compliant NGR trains at Wulkuraka (note we understand there are two more at the Port of Brisbane, perhaps already moved to Wulkuraka). Queensland Rail's service delivery is plagued by constant mechanical issues with the aging train fleet, which causes ongoing service cancellations and delays, let alone the timetable reductions in service already impacting severely in SEQ.  The situation is very, very grim."

"Any reasonable observer can now understand why we requested an audit into this NGR project (albeit declined) early this year.  Our previous calls for a Commission of Inquiry into this project have been ignored.  Today we again call for a Commission of Inquiry into the NGR project.

"We do not want a constant public blame game played out and dumb politics. We want the true facts and circumstances brought into the clear light of day so the monumental botch that this project represents is not repeated.

"This fact is clear: Non DDA compliant NGR trains were ordered under the previous Newman LNP Administration.

"DTMR and the present Government reluctantly finally accepted that the trains are not DDA compliant only a few months ago, despite disability advocates raising concerns for years.  An application for exemption for the non DDA compliant NGR trains to the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) was made a little less than four weeks ago."

"As we understand it, the exemption application has to go to public consultation.  This is normally for around 4 weeks I am advised.  The AHRC then has to consider the consultation and then make a determination.  We expect at the earliest a possible exemption would be granted  late January or early February 2018.  Not looking too bright is it?  What happens if the AHRC determines that due to the procrastination by the authorities with respect to DDA compliance of the NGR trains and other examples of intransigence and scant regard for the DDA Legislation (e.g. building a non DDA compliant footbridge at Banyo railway station) on display in Queensland the exemption application could be refused.  What then?  Lock the toilets and seek permission to run the NGR trains on suburban lines only? Mind boggling hey?"

"Make no mistake, a series of Governments and DTMR have failed Queensland.  Let's have a Commission of Inquiry to get to the facts and truth!

"The inevitable public transport network collapse during the Commonwealth Games will be very embarrassing to say the least.

"We again call on the Government to form a Commission Inquiry into this major failure.

"The public deserve to know the level of incompetence that is transport policy in Queensland."

References:

1. Media releases from Inclusion Moves - a number
https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3706.msg195056#msg195056

2. Interview Geoff Trappett OAM Inclusion Moves with Steve Austin ABC Radio Brisbane concerning DDA issues with NGR trains
https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3706.msg195217#msg195217

3. Nine News Brisbane 20th October 2017



Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

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