Article: Connex - the little engines that did

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Connex - the little engines that did

Connex - the little engines that did
Article from: Herald Sun

Ashley Gardiner

April 18, 2009 12:00am

CONNEX trains have become the real-life version of The Little Engine That Could, with Melbourne's fleet being pushed harder than ever before.

The storybook train's famous catchphrase "I think I can" applies to the city's train fleet, which will clock up 35.3 million kilometres this year, a record, and almost the distance from Earth to Venus.

Leaked Connex documents reveal trains will travel 20 per cent farther this year than four years ago. More services are being squeezed on to the schedule with no new trains, despite passenger numbers soaring more than 40 per cent in three years.

Connex spokeswoman Lanie Harris said the extra services came despite no new trains since 2004.

"In order to meet the increasing demand, we've been working the existing fleet harder," Ms Harris said.

"Since 2004 we've added 661 new weekly services, so of course the fleet is doing more kilometres."

Trains were being serviced more frequently to cope with the extra kilometres. Changes to maintenance procedures also meant fewer breakdowns.

Of Melbourne's 165 trains, 94 per cent were available at any one time because of changes to driver rosters, more maintenance staff and better maintenance.

Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder said Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky had failed to quickly order trains when patronage started to soar.

"It has now become a toss-up as to who can groan the louder: Lynne Kosky's old trains or disgruntled passengers," he said.

Mr Mulder said almost 100 of Melbourne's trains were between 18-35 years old.

"Ageing trains take longer and are more costly to maintain. (Premier) John Brumby and Lynne Kosky are running Melbourne's trains into the ground," he said.

A spokesman for Ms Kosky said: "There are 38 new trains on order, the first of which will arrive by the end of the year."