Article: Public transit injury up

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From the Melbourne Age click here!

Public transit injury up

Public transit injury up

    * Paul Austin
    * February 7, 2009

THE number of people getting hurt on trains, trams and buses in Victoria has leapt over the life of the Labor Government.

Official statistics show more than 1500 people were injured in incidents on the public transport network in the 12 months to June 2008 - a dramatic increase on the 154 reported in the 1999-2000 financial year.

The figures, from the public transport safety watchdog, show the number of train incidents resulting in injury jumped from 103 in in 1999-2000 to 1189 in 2007-08. The number of injury-causing incidents involving trams rose from 40 to 238, and buses from 11 to 74.

The Opposition yesterday attributed the increases to what it said was Labor's "failure to adequately invest in public transport".

Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky defended the Government's record, saying the system was safe, accessible and attracting more passengers than ever. The increase in incidents was in part the result of more comprehensive reporting.