Article: Record fine for late trains

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

Record fine for late trains

Record fine for late trains
Article from: Herald Sun

Ashley Gardiner

June 20, 2009 12:00am

CONNEX has been fined a record $11.2 million for the disastrous performance of Melbourne's train system during summer.

The penalty could be the final blow for the troubled operator, which struggled to cope with the extreme heat and union action.

Connex is expected to find out within days whether it will be sacked as Melbourne's train operator.

The news comes as crowds at Parliament station have forced Connex to increase staff in the afternoon peak.

Details of the fine were released by the State Government yesterday after weeks of delay.

The Track Record report shows that from January to March this year commuters endured more late trains than ever before as cancellations soared to 2.8 per cent.

Surveys for the Government show angry passengers are unhappy about comfort, value for money and service delivery.

Other operators were not spared: Yarra Trams was fined $1.84 million and V/Line $582,000.

V/Line recorded the worst result for late trains - nearly one in five behind schedule.

Connex spokesman John Rees said reasons for the poor performance were well known.

"(It was) a combination of union issues and extreme weather. We continue to take full responsibility for performance," he said.

The rate of cancellation was lower than last year's average, or about 10 trains a day, a big improvement from the worst days of summer when hundreds of trains were cancelled.

Speed restrictions on the troublesome Siemens trains also affected the timetable.

Public Transport Users Association president Daniel Bowen said there was no indication the chaos would not recur next summer.

"Train punctuality figures were the worst in a year, and around three times the typical number of services were cancelled," Mr Bowen said.

"All that passengers got in compensation for the havoc they endured was an offer of a few free daily tickets.

"Like any big city, Melbourne relies on having an efficient, reliable public transport network. The events of summer proved that we don't have one."

Connex yesterday said it would lift the number of staff at Parliament station from Monday to the end of July.

The Government is due to announce its preferred bidders to run the train and tram networks from December.

Connex is being challenged by another French company, Keolis, and Hong Kong's MTR. Keolis is also running against Yarra Trams.