Article: City 'lost control' of train network

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

City 'lost control' of train network

City 'lost control' of train network
CLAY LUCAS
October 10, 2009

OVERHEAD electricity wires on Melbourne's ageing rail train system sagged so badly during last summer's heatwave that in some instances they touched train tops, causing short-circuit breakers to halt trains.

Melbourne ''lost control'' of its train system during that heatwave, according to a report for the State Government obtained by The Age under freedom of information.

A dispute with rail unions, and breakdowns during a scorching January, caused 85 per cent of afternoon rush-hour trains to be cancelled in one three-day period, the report found.

And it is the latest report to unfavourably compare Melbourne's train system to the smaller, government-run networks of Perth and Adelaide.

It was written by rail consultant Simon Lane, who has previously run Sydney and Singapore's systems.

Responding to the report, Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky yesterday revealed a new emergency response plan would be adopted by summer to avoid a repeat of January and February's rail mayhem, which saw 3800 trains cancelled.

This ''operational contingency plan'' establishes six emergency stages that will operate on Melbourne's public transport system during emergencies such as heatwaves, storms or severe winds. They range from heightened alert levels to suspending trains on some lines and replacing them with buses, through to a complete shutdown of the network.

The new contingency plan was ''not about mass cancellations'', Ms Kosky said. ''It's about certainty for people, so they understand what is likely to happen.''

Far better contingency plans should have existed, Mr Lane's report found, because temperatures regularly topped 40 degrees.

Melbourne had to follow Singapore's lead, he said. ''There, the concept of 'combat readiness' is embedded into the railway culture.''

Mr Lane's report said electricity poles holding up train overhead power lines were spaced so far apart that, in last summer's heat, wires had sagged badly.

''The top of trains came into contact with the overhead lines, which could easily have resulted in the wires being pulled down.''

Overhead power lines touching a train triggers a circuit breaker, cutting power so there is no danger to passengers. While the report said much of the system coped ''reasonably well'', it is a sign parts of the system are in poor repair.

In Melbourne, poles holding up train power lines are up to 100 metres apart - the pre-1918 standard. In Perth's smaller, more modern system, poles are 50 metres apart. Mr Lane said more must be done to achieve ''a step change in performance such as experienced in Perth and Adelaide''.

A Senate report into the federal funding of public transport released last month found that Melbourne's system was badly managed in comparison to Perth's system, where there is a government operator in charge. Melbourne's system lacked accountability because it was unclear who was in charge, that report found.

Mr Lane's report noted that the privatised system in Melbourne meant Connex had locked in set maintenance levels in its contract with the Government. Skyrocketing patronage meant trains were being run further without adequate servicing, leading to more breakdowns, he said. Connex rejected this, saying its recent performance had been outstanding.

The Government has increased maintenance spending from $90 million to $140 million. And since last summer it has ramped up new rock ballast being laid around train tracks to make sleepers more stable. More wooden sleepers are also being replaced with concrete to stop buckling.

[stephenk]

From the Courier Mail click here!

City 'lost control' of train network

Melbourne had to follow Singapore's lead, he said. ''There, the concept of 'combat readiness' is embedded into the railway culture.''

It's difficult to compare Singapore's metro with Melbourne's suburban rail system. For starters none of the Singapore MRT lines than run on the surface have overhead electricity wires!