Article: Metro Trains warns that Melbourne commuters ....

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From the Herald Sun click here!

Metro Trains warns that Melbourne commuters are at risk of catastrophic accidents caused by dangerous train lines

Metro Trains warns that Melbourne commuters are at risk of catastrophic accidents caused by dangerous train lines

    * John Ferguson, Peter Mickelburough
    * From: Herald Sun
    * March 09, 2010 12:00AM

EXCLUSIVE: TENS of thousands of Melbourne commuters are at risk of catastrophic accidents caused by dangerous train lines, Metro Trains has warned.

It said the Pakenham, Frankston, Belgrave and Hurstbridge lines were in the worst condition.

The new rail operator told the State Government that buckled lines could cause derailments and collisions - possibly with other trains.

Broken rails, old wooden sleepers and old components were also identified as a danger on busy lines.

The blunt warnings were in Metro's tender documents when the company was bidding to take over the network.

The Government still chose Metro to run the system despite its dire warnings.

"Buckles are of particular concern as, apart from being disruptive when they occur, these have the potential to cause derailment of trains or collision with structures or trains on the adjacent lines, with catastrophic consequences," Metro told the Government last year.

Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder accused the Government of failing to deal with the crisis.

"People are riding these train lines every day without any knowledge of the potentially catastrophic dangers they are facing," he said.

"Simply put, this Government is a disgrace.

"They have lost sight of their basic responsibility to protect and care for the safety of Victorians."

The warnings are revealed in tender documents released to the Opposition under Freedom of Information.

The documents, dated April 7 last year, say: "It is evident that many of the older track components are in a condition which does not provide the level of reliability and ride quality that is required by a modern metro system."

The document poses a serious challenge to the Government, which has been in office for more than 10 years.

Mr Mulder said the myki disaster had sucked up money that could have been spent on repairs and maintenance.

Public Transport Minister Martin Pakula said Metro had been given half a billion dollars - $63 million a year for eight years - for rail maintenance.

On the hottest day this year, there were no incidents of track buckling, because of increased maintenance by Metro, his spokesman said.

"As part of the contract, wooden sleepers will be replaced with concrete sleepers to reduce track buckling and signalling and tracks will be upgraded and/or replaced where necessary," his spokesman said.

"Metro will partner with the Government to upgrade the rail network as we deliver more trains for additional services."

Metro spokesman Christopher Whitefield said safety was Metro's key priority.

Passengers told the Herald Sun they should be warned of track problems, which should be fixed as a priority.

"It's our lives that are in danger," said Kathleen Banister, 71, of Frankston.

Comment:  Good old fashioned 'beat up'.   It is sad though, as a boy growing up in Melbourne I had the opportunity to use the VR system almost daily, one of the great rail networks.  The slide really took off when it was sold and franchised.  Thank goodness that is not happening in Queensland.  The backlog of track maintenance in Victoria is being addressed at long last, and when I was in Melbourne last (jan 2010) there was a noticeable improvement.