Article: Beware rides of March for Connex

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

Beware rides of March for Connex

Beware rides of March for Connex
Article from: Herald Sun

Ashley Gardiner

April 01, 2009 12:00am

NO end is in sight for the late train pain vexing Melbourne's commuters.

Speed restrictions imposed on problem trains have led to a horror month on the rails, with more than 6000 services late.

Delays during March were so bad it has triggered a higher level of customer compensation for the first time.

The latest woes for Connex come as it prepares to submit its bid to run Melbourne's trains until 2024.

Connex executive chairman Jonathan Metcalfe said free tickets were never going to be a satisfactory compensation for late trains.

"We completely understand that customers would prefer for their train to run reliably than to be compensated when it doesn't," Mr Metcalfe said.

During March, more than 12 per cent of trains were late, meaning customers with a yearly, six-monthly or monthly ticket are entitled to two daily tickets as compensation.

Connex said the main reason for late trains last month was the special 30km/h speed limit imposed on Siemens trains approaching stations.

This followed five incidents earlier this year when Siemens trains overshot platforms.

Siemens has said its investigation, as well as Connex and the Department of Transport, had ruled out brake failure.

Connex spokeswoman Lanie Harris said tests were continuing, but she was unable to say when speed restrictions would be lifted.

A spokesman for Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said the decision to impose the speed restrictions was made by Connex with the endorsement of the independent rail safety regulator.

Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder said the results pointed to a lack of investment in the train system.

"Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, these figures show Lynne Kosky's rail network is still in rapid decline," Mr Mulder said.

"Whether Connex holds the next contract, or we have a new operator, they would face the same future with old trains, lack of investment in upgrades and driver shortages."

Two rivals are about to lodge bids to run the train system for eight years, with an option of a further seven.

Final bids are due Tuesday. Connex's parent Veolia is competing with France's Keolis and Hong Kong's MTR.

[O_128]

Wow imagine MTR running the network.
Thoguht it must cost alto to relabel everything such as trains etc