Article: Clock ticking on Connex train pain in Melbourne

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Clock ticking on Connex train pain in Melbourne

Clock ticking on Connex train pain in Melbourne
Article from: Herald Sun

Stephen McMahon

June 02, 2009 12:00am

MORE than 5000 Connex trains were late last month.

It is the fifth consecutive month that Connex has failed to meet its own punctuality test with almost 10 per cent of trains in May classified as late - six minutes or more behind the scheduled time.

Speed restrictions on problem trains along the Pakenham, Frankston and Cranbourne lines are believed to have led to the poor month on the rails.

This latest setback for Connex comes just ahead of the Government's decision on who will run the rail system until 2024.

The Government is expected to name the winning tender within weeks. Connex is bidding for the contract but is facing stiff competition from a joint bid by France's Keolis and Hong Kong's MTR.

A Connex spokesman said the speed restrictions on the troubled Siemens trains have been lifted at most locations, which should help improve punctuality above the 90.3 per cent level recorded in May.

But Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder said commuters didn't want excuses - just trains that turned up on time.

"Labor's failure to sufficiently invest in Melbourne's trouble-prone rail network is once again showing up," Mr Mulder said.

Passengers who carry a monthly or periodical ticket can claim as compensation a free daily ticket.

A spokesman for Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said more people than ever were using the system and it was getting better.

"Train availability has improved to 99.4 per cent, which is the highest since October last year, and punctuality levels continue to improve," he said.