Article: Trains to cost $35m more to run

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From the Melbourne Age click here!

Trains to cost $35m more to run

Trains to cost $35m more to run

    * Jason Dowling
    * May 11, 2009

Victorians will pay millions of dollars more from July in a bid to improve the performance of Melbourne's beleaguered train service.

After paying $398 million a year for metropolitan train services for the past two years, the price of running the city's trains will increase by $35 million from the coming financial year. The big increase has been attributed to a new private contract to operate the trains, more services and better maintenance. Maintenance issues have plagued Melbourne's trains this year, with hundreds of trains cancelled.

Stephen Moynihan, spokesman for Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky, said: "The increase in metropolitan train costs is due in part to the new franchise agreement which is being finalised, increased provision of services and more investment into maintenance."

Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder questioned the big increase in cost, arguing there was only a "minimal number" of increased train services planned.

He said that in addition to the extra funding, Melbourne's train operator could also face fewer fines soon for late and cancelled trains.

The Government plans to cap the amount in fines private public transport operators will pay under new franchise agreements to be announced soon.

"In calendar 2008, Connex paid $32,043,000 in fines. With disastrous punctuality between January and April 2009, fines are likely to have skyrocketed, but this will not continue from December 2009," Mr Mulder said.

He also raised concerns about a new wage agreement for train drivers and the high number of train faults identified earlier this year.

"How much is it due to the union coercion and intimidation of the private rail operator Connex through train drivers claiming trains were 'faulty' (that Connex granted) train drivers 5 per cent annual wage rises for the next three years ? double John Brumby's 2.5 per cent cap on Victorian public sector employees?" he asked.

Public Transport Users Association president Daniel Bowen said he would be concerned if the financial incentive for private operators to operate reliable and timely train services was reduced.

'There needs to be an incentive there to make sure the operator performs. If there is a cap there, then potentially they won't have the incentive to work harder," he said.

"We already know that the privatised railway system is costing at least as much as it would in public hands ? the Government has admitted that themselves.

"If the cost is increasing further, then there must be a tangible benefit shown, whether it be more staff, a better standard of cleanliness, or most critically, more train services."