31 Jan 2009: Australia: The public transport privatisation/franchise con exposed

[ozbob]

Media Release 31 January 2009

Australia:  The public transport privatisation/franchise con exposed in Melbourne

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport users has said the chaos and chronic problems on the Melbourne suburban rail network are fundamentally the result of systemic neglect for decades.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The heat wave this week in Melbourne has brought into the focus the abject failure of the privatised and franchised public transport system in Melbourne.  Private operators will maximise their returns for the period of a contract and care not much for long term maintenance and capability."

"The problems in Melbourne with the suburban railway system are the result of poor maintenance and inadequate resourcing over a long period of time.  When essential community services like public transport are privatised or franchised there is little incentive to maintain the track infrastructure; which includes the electrical and signal systems, and properly ensure the operational readiness of rolling stock. Staff levels have been reduced to a minimal skeleton level  which has  lead to a lot of further community costs as issues surface with security, safety and the lack of a proper operational reserve."

"On Tuesday last Ms Kosky, Minister for Public Transport in Victoria conceded that decades of underinvestment in the system had left it vulnerable to failure."

"When the railway was operated by the great Victorian Railways (VR) track buckles were a very rare event, principally because VR maintained the public transport asset to a very high standard.  Heat waves in Melbourne and Victoria are not new.  The outright neglect of the rail system is now hitting home hard.  Free ice creams, free bottles of water and free travel is poor compensation for Government failures."

"The Victorian Government  has admitted it is "no cheaper" to retain a private operator such as Connex to run the system and has also said the Government wanted the "innovation and international experience" of a privatised network.  If the total collapse of the rail system is this "innovation and international experience" then rail commuters don't want it (1)."

"The Victorian Government must take back the railway into full public ownership and operation from 1st December when the present contract expires.  It is time all Governments around Australia faced up to their collective community responsibilities and got on with the public transport job."

Reference:

1.  http://www.theage.com.au/national/train-blame-heats-up-as-patrons-wilt-20090129-7t2l.html Train blame heats up as patrons wilt

Contact:
Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

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