Article: Maintenance woes force rail speed limit cuts

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Maintenance woes force rail speed limit cuts

Maintenance woes force rail speed limit cuts

    * Ashley Gardiner
    * From: Herald Sun
    * September 24, 2009 12:00AM

A LACK of maintenance has seen speed restrictions imposed on trains across Melbourne as the rail network crumbles.

Speeds have been cut by up to 65km/h because the poor state of tracks would make normal limits dangerous.

The speed restrictions add up to two minutes extra to each trip, which can lead to chronically late services throughout the day.

Details of the worst 12 locations for July have been obtained by the Herald Sun using Freedom of Information laws.

Most speed restrictions were imposed in the outer suburbs.

Connex spokesman John Rees said repairs were always going to be required on an older, larger and very busy rail network such as Melbourne's.

"Wherever possible, we run trains at line speed, but the comfort of our customers and staff is our priority," Mr Rees said.

"Connex will continue to put in place temporary speed restrictions to ensure that our customers and staff remain safe while travelling with us."

Mr Rees said many of the problems identified in the report had been fixed.

The top priority for July, a 225m section of track between Watsonia and Greensborough, had been fixed.

A flaw detected in the track saw the maximum speed cut from 75km/h to just 15km/h.

One of the most significant causes of delays are "tram squares", on level crossings, where tram tracks cross rail tracks.

Speed limits are already low - at 30km/h - but the extreme stress they endure means the limit was cut in half.

"The Kooyong tram square is due to receive the same replacement and upgrade treatment that the Glenhuntly tram square received in August," Mr Rees said.

"Other speed restrictions were in place while upgrades were being made as part of the Government's infrastructure improvements."

Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder said not enough had been spent on maintenance.

"Lynne Kosky is obsessed with giving the green light to Labor's myki mess but shows a red signal to stop sufficient investment in rail tracks, signals and points," he said.

A spokesman for Acting Public Transport Minister Peter Batchelor said Connex had spent between $80 million and $100 million on rail network maintenance.

"Speed restrictions occur on the rail network when necessary maintenance and track upgrades occur," spokesman Stephen Moynihan said.

"As part of the new franchise, maintenance spending will be doubled, with an additional $500 million spent over the (eight-year) life of the contract."