Article: New operators promise a smoother ride in time for summer

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New operators promise a smoother ride in time for summer

New operators promise a smoother ride in time for summer
Article from: Herald Sun

Ashley Gardiner

September 02, 2009 12:00am

PUBLIC transport fares are likely to be frozen until at least 2011, in a big win for commuters.

The low rate of inflation means there is unlikely to be a CPI-linked fare rise from the beginning of 2010.

But 5 per cent hikes will be introduced in 2012 and 2013, to fund huge transport projects.

Only a major economic turnaround that fuels inflation would see a fare increase imposed on January 1 next year.

And the new operator of the Melbourne train system has pledged to get the network ready for a blistering summer.

Keen to avoid a repeat of January's meltdown, Metro Trains Melbourne chiefs have promised a sweep to identify heat-sensitive weak spots.

Metro takes over from Connex on November 30.

MTM chief executive Andrew Lezala said tracks would be thoroughly inspected to identify locations vulnerable to extreme heat.

"We will prioritise those and put in a major effort within the first weeks of taking over into stabilising (them)," he said.

MTM also announced an upgrade to air conditioning on the older Comeng trains, which are prone to faults once the temperature hits 34.5C.

Mr Lezala said the first priority was to get the basics right.

"There will be immediate improvements, but some of the fixes will take some time," he said.

MTM will recruit more than 100 customer service workers to work at 22 stations currently unstaffed.

It has identified stations it wants to staff, but has yet to reach an agreement with the State Government.

MTM has promised that the crime rate on the train system will be cut 10 per cent. It will also take on an additional 100 maintenance workers.

"Metro customers will experience more station staff and more stations staffed, greater reliability and better punctuality," Mr Lezala said.

"(There will be) less graffiti and improved cleanliness to stations and on trains, brighter lighting at stations and better connectivity with other transport modes."

Spending on maintenance will jump $500 million over eight years.

MTM, which is to be paid an average of $474 million a year to run the train system, will re-brand Connex trains and stations with its own name in its first 12 months, at a cost of $25 million.

The name Yarra Trams will be retained by the new operator, KDR, but the branding will also be updated, costing $15 million.

KDR will begin by giving the entire tram fleet a thorough clean inside and out over a 12-month period.

Tram seats and windows across the entire fleet will also be repaired.

The company has also promised commuters a smoother ride by fixing up bumpy tracks.

The two new operators will run the transport system for at least eight years, with a possible extension of a further seven.

Bonus and penalty payments will be capped at $1 million a month for the train system and $500,000 for trams.