Article: Metro on track for services warning

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Metro on track for services warning

Metro on track for services warning
CLAY LUCAS
March 31, 2010

FOUR months after it replaced Connex, Melbourne's train operator, Metro, is set to receive its first formal warning from the state government for poor performance.

Under rules set by the government, if Metro runs too many trains late or cancels too many services over three consecutive months, it may receive a ''call-in notice'' requiring it to set out how it will run the system better.

The system has run so poorly this month that Metro will fail performance standards set for it by the government for a third consecutive month.

The Age believes the Department of Transport is extremely concerned about Metro's performance so far, and has this week met with Metro chairman Lincoln Leong to discuss the problems.

Director of public transport Hector McKenzie will after today have the right to issue a call-in notice to Metro for poor performance.

A Department of Transport spokeswoman said that Metro had not been issued with a call-in notice, as these were based on quarterly performance figures and the current quarter finished today.

Former operator Connex received two call-in warnings, both following disastrous summers of cancelled and late trains, in 2007 and in 2008.

On the day the government signed the $3.7 billion contract with Metro, Premier John Brumby said it would mean ''more services, greater reliability and punctuality''.

''Passengers will notice changes from day one,'' Mr Brumby said.

Instead, the rail system's performance has gone backwards since Connex departed. Performance results show trains are running consistently late, although about the same number of services are being cancelled as under Connex.

Metro spokeswoman Lanie Harris said the rail system would improve as a result of the work Metro was carrying out, but this was ''a long-term process''.

''To expect a dramatic turnaround in performance overnight is unrealistic,'' she said. ''We realise the frustration that late and cancelled trains cause, so we are working to reduce them.''

She said train travellers would see fewer cancellations and late services as the train maintenance regime continued to improve.

Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder said that little had changed on Melbourne's trains since Connex had departed.

[#Metro]

If they don't perform... you the drill! 

[stephenk]

I may be cynical, but does the Victorian Government really expect that rail services will improve due to a new operator (with pretty much the same staff) without investing more money in the system? Maybe the failure is with the lack of Government subsidy and infrastructure investment?

[#Metro]

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/report-slams-dodgy-melbourne-rails-20100309-pt2u.html

Report slams dodgy Melbourne rails
March 9, 2010

Decaying suburban rail infrastructure in Melbourne could lead to a train disaster, a report by the city's new train operator reveals.

The asset management report delivered by Metro Trains to the Victorian government lists buckled lines that could cause derailments and collisions, including with other trains, with the Pakenham, Hurstbridge, Belgrave and Frankston lines most at risk.

Lets not forget Airconditioners that die above a certain temperature, and a certain brand of train, which if leaf-and-raindrop sensitive, that they insist on throwing money at "fixing" when it is clear that it such toxic trains should be dumped!