Ministerial Statement: Minister demands improvements to passenger service

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
17/12/2007

Minister demands improvements to passenger service

Transport Minister John Mickel has today demanded that Queensland Rail speed up the employment of almost 100 extra train crew and make some major improvements to its services for passengers.

"I am appalled by the number of trains that are either running late or are being cancelled due to a shortage of guards. I have told QR that we need to deliver to the passengers travelling on the CityTrain network. We now have 24 new guards and 24 new drivers who will be ready to start work on Christmas Eve.

"QR is now also fast-tracking the training of another 48 guards so they'll be ready early next year," Mr Mickel said.

"It all translates to rail passengers being able to get to and from work, school, childcare and other appointments on time."

"Passengers pay for a service, and they deserve to be getting the service they pay for. My instructions to QR are to make urgent changes to the way it informs and looks after passengers when unavoidable delays occur on our passenger rail system.

"QR will begin shifting guards from low patronage services to peak services, which I am assured will have an immediate impact on reliability of train services.

"Passengers can now access real-time online information on QR's websites to allow them to check for any disruptions.

"If there are disruptions, QR train passengers will also continue to be provided the best possible alternative transport, at no cost to them, whether it's a replacement train or free buses and, if necessary, taxis."

Mr Mickel said passengers were entitled to reliable, ontime services and he had demanded QR address the issue urgently.

"If we are going to get people out of their cars and on to public transport, it has to be reliable, accessible and affordable," he said.

"The Queensland Government invests more than $950 million of public funds into public transport each year and taxpayers are entitled to a quality product for their money - and that means trains that run on time."

December 17, 2007

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[ozbob]

With the new crew coming online, lets hope all timetabled services are now maintained, with the ramp up of extra services in March and September 2008 as planned.

Cancellation fatigue has taken its toll on everyone, but at least there is a recognition at the top that proper crew levels must be maintained.

[Derwan]

Forgive me for being cynical but I suspect this statement was more about timing than a Minister deciding to take action.

This has been going on for quite some time, without anything from the former Transport Minister and only now we see something from the new Minister.

I strongly suspect that the measures the Minister is "demanding" have been in the planning stages for some time and that training for the new guards is already almost complete.

In the new year we'll see improved services due to the extra guards and other changes mentioned, which will make it look like the Minister is doing his job.