Article: Speed restrictions on Connex's Siemens trains lifted

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Speed restrictions on Connex's Siemens trains lifted

Speed restrictions on Connex's Siemens trains lifted
Article from: Herald Sun

Ashley Gardiner

May 01, 2009 12:00am

THE late-train pain plaguing Melbourne commuters is over with speed restrictions imposed on troubled Siemens trains to be lifted.

Connex said it hoped to be able to stick to timetables after about 6500 trains ran late in April.

The train operator plans to cut the speed restriction zones across the Melbourne rail network from 300 to 62.

The speed limits had a devastating effect on timetables, with about 12 per cent of trains late in April.

But Connex says fewer services have been cancelled, with just 0.8 per cent failing to run last month - about 420 services.

This represents a huge turnaround from the summer meltdown, when more than 500 trains were cancelled on one day, January 30.

Speed limits were imposed on Siemens trains after five incidents this year when they overshot platforms.

Separate state government and Connex investigations into the problem are continuing, but Siemens has ruled out brake failure.

Connex spokeswoman Lanie Harris said the speed restrictions were responsible for poor punctuality.

"There is no denying that the Siemens speed restrictions affected our ability to run trains reliably in recent months," Ms Harris said.

"Of course that is disappointing for us, and more importantly for our customers. But at the end of the day our priority is the safe operation of our trains."

The settlement of a dispute with the rail union has seen the cancellation rate drop with improved train availability and fault management procedures.

"It is disappointing that our on-time performance has suffered, but it's good news for commuters that the delivery has improved so dramatically," Ms Harris said.

"Once the speed restrictions have been eased, we are confident of being able to return to the levels of on-time running that saw us reach a 12-month high of 94.8 per cent in December."