Melbourne Trains

[SurfRail]

It is definitely an issue of contributory negligence in him being under the influence and ignoring instructions, but it doesn't excuse the operator from having unsafe door mechanisms, monitoring procedures and a mucked-up safety intercom.

It wouldn't surprise me to learn that this was a Comeng set.

[somebody]

It is definitely an issue of contributory negligence in him being under the influence and ignoring instructions, but it doesn't excuse the operator from having unsafe door mechanisms, monitoring procedures and a mucked-up safety intercom.

It wouldn't surprise me to learn that this was a Comeng set.

I would put it the other way around, i.e. contributory negligence in having unsafe door systems.  Shouldn't people take more personal responsibility.

[SurfRail]

I would put it the other way around, i.e. contributory negligence in having unsafe door systems.  Shouldn't people take more personal responsibility.

Not how it works.  The basic legal principle is you owe the same duty to anybody on your premises these days.  Contributory negligence is something that is used as a tool to assess damages, not to determine whether the defendant (the railway) is negligent at all or in part.  The court could make the same finding where the passenger is completely "innocent" (to use that term quite inaccurately), but they would just get a higher quantum of damages in that case.

Effectively you would be saying the railway owes a lesser duty to different types of people - what about children, the mentally impaired, somebody who has just been concussed in an unprovoked fight?  Bad from a public policy perspective.  The point of negligence law is to make sure this situation cannot happen at all by forcing people to assess whether their actions or inactions could, with reasonable foreseeability, lead to somebody being harmed. 

[somebody]

I almost said your previous comment was spoken like a lawyer.  Going off topic, but would you agree that such notions in law have contributed to our society becoming one where few take personal responsibility?

[Stillwater]

hahaha...... Go to a solicitor Simon and you would have to pay for what SurfRail just posted for free. 

[SurfRail]

I almost said your previous comment was spoken like a lawyer.

No shock, I am one after all in my day job!

Going off topic, but would you agree that such notions in law have contributed to our society becoming one where few take personal responsibility?

Not really.  Law reflects society, not the other way around.  If Parliament wanted to completely overturn 100+ years of case law in a second, it has the right to do so, absolutely.

I think people these days are in general poorly educated, poorly parented and without much moral fibre.  That is more an issue than the type of slap on the wrist the court dispenses when a person strays.

It also shows in our shallow political discourse, and flows on to our failure to implement policy no-brainers like more and higher quality urban rail.

[somebody]

If Parliament wanted to completely overturn 100+ years of case law in a second, it has the right to do so, absolutely.

True, but if they aren't happy with how it is interpreted when the rubber hits the road, then what?

It also shows in our shallow political discourse, and flows on to our failure to implement policy no-brainers like more and higher quality urban rail.

I don't know about you, but I find it noticeably shallower in QLD than in NSW.

[SurfRail]

If Parliament wanted to completely overturn 100+ years of case law in a second, it has the right to do so, absolutely.

True, but if they aren't happy with how it is interpreted when the rubber hits the road, then what?

Change it again.  Certainly works most of the time.

If they employed half-way competent parliamentary draftsmen and actually listened to the QLS when drafting legislation (the people who actually have to deal with the inane drafting on the frontline) instead of just filing their submissions in a drawer, half the problems wouldn't even come up.

It also shows in our shallow political discourse, and flows on to our failure to implement policy no-brainers like more and higher quality urban rail.

I don't know about you, but I find it noticeably shallower in QLD than in NSW.

Neither is brilliant, but I am inclined to agree.

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Metro cuts peak-hour paramedics at rail stations

Metro cuts peak-hour paramedics at rail stations
Mark Hawthorne
January 10, 2012

METRO Trains has axed morning peak-hour paramedic services across the metropolitan railway network as a cost-cutting measure that will save millions of dollars each year.

The rail network operator last week terminated a deal with St John Ambulance to provide first-aid responder units - teams of highly trained paramedic staff qualified to provide specialised medical assistance - at Caulfield and Footscray railway stations.

Metro has also reduced the number of first-aid responder units at Richmond station from two to one during peak hour.

The only remaining paramedic teams on the metropolitan system during the morning rush will be at Flinders Street, Parliament and North Melbourne stations.

Metro made the decision without consulting St John, which has already removed medical equipment and supplies from Caulfield and Footscray stations.

''It is with disappointment that I have to advise you that Metro Trains will no longer require first-aid responders,'' paramedics were told in an email from St John last week.

''Metro have not provided a reason for the change at this stage ... [we] will be organising a time to meet with Metro as soon as possible to discuss the project and the reason for these changes.''

Metro Trains introduced paramedic staff at five of Melbourne's busiest railway stations 18 months ago as part of a program to reduce delays on the network.

In 2009, a Transport Department report stated that the number of ill passengers on trains was increasing, largely as a result of overcrowding.

''In many cases, ill passengers cannot be moved from the train until ambulance officers arrive and are able to assess the passenger's health,'' the report said.

Introducing the paramedic services in 2010, Metro's then chief executive Raymond O'Flaherty said ill passengers were a major cause of train delays.

''In one case an ill passenger stopped trains on nine of our 16 train lines for up to 30 minutes while awaiting first aid to attend and treat the person,'' Mr O'Flaherty said.

Sources at St John told The Age that paramedic services were already ''stretched'' during morning peak hour. ''I would have thought the need was for more, not less,'' one said.

''This is a decision based on the bottom line, rather than on passenger safety or the efficiency of the network.''

Metro Trains spokesman Daniel Hoare said station staff would be trained in basic first aid to cover the loss of paramedics.

''Our assessments conclude that North Melbourne and Richmond stations are the key V/Line-Metro interchange locations which require first aid staff, but they are no longer required at Caulfield and Footscray stations,'' he said.

St John Ambulance spokesman Martin Wells said Metro had provided an ''innovative'' service by employing paramedics and a service ''it was not legally obliged to provide''.

However, he did concede the cutbacks would have ''a major impact on our bottom line'' that could affect other services.

''We are a community service and this will obviously affect our funding,'' Mr Wells said.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/metro-cuts-peakhour-paramedics-at-rail-stations-20120109-1prw4.html

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Train union boss banned

Train union boss banned
Nino Bucci
January 14, 2012

TRAIN drivers' union boss Marc Marotta has been banned from Metro premises for three months after claims he had a scuffle with a staff member.

Metro applied to Fair Work Australia for the ban when train driver Geoff Zlabek alleged Mr Marotta threatened to kill him, grabbed both his arms and kicked him last June.

Mr Marotta, the Victorian secretary of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union locomotive branch, denied the allegations.
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Ken Ives, deputy president of the Fair Work Australia tribunal, found the accounts of both men could not be relied upon. But Mr Ives said Mr Marotta would be banned from Metro as he had acted improperly and misused his right of entry to the workplace as a union official.

A Metro spokeswoman said the application was not made lightly and followed an internal investigation along with ''significant'' discussion and deliberation.

''Metro has a duty of care to all of its employees and we take a zero tolerance approach to any behaviour that involves bullying, harassment or intimidation,'' she said. ''We are committed to improving the performance of Melbourne's train network and we are not prepared to have any of our valued employees compromised in any way.''

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/train-union-boss-banned-20120113-1pzhp.html

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Many trains cancelled and things were crook

Many trains cancelled and things were crook
Adam Cooper
January 17, 2012

WERE you crook your train didn't run yesterday? A high sickness rate among Metro's train drivers was given as the reason for a spate of cancelled services across Melbourne.

At least 50 trains did not run because 16 drivers phoned in sick. Most cancellations affected services in the afternoon peak period and last night, which meant thousands were home late.

Another nine drivers were on annual leave, putting a strain on the network, Metro said.
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''We had 16 drivers sick, which is a higher than usual number, and 25 drivers off in total, so that number does have an impact on the system,'' a spokeswoman said. The company was unable to call in reserve drivers in time to avoid cancellations, she said.

Metro had about 800 drivers and needed about 550 each day for the network to run smoothly, she said.

But the Rail, Tram and Bus Union was sceptical about Metro's claim that absenteeism caused the cancellations. Its president, Terry Sheedy, said faulty trains were a more likely reason. ''What they're saying is absolute rubbish,'' he said.

''Have a look and see how many trains are defective. They cancelled my train this morning and one on Friday for no reason.''

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/many-trains-cancelled-and-things-were-crook-20120116-1q39f.html

[#Metro]

Metro had about 800 drivers and needed about 550 each day for the network to run smoothly, she said.

And an automatic subway has .... ZERO! No disruptions due to flu or whatever.

Any subway in brisbane must be automatic from day #1.

[Stillwater]

No, it all has to do with 'creative tensions'.    

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Two years in, Metro leaves proves poor rail replacement

Two years in, Metro leaves proves poor rail replacement
Reid Sexton
January 24, 2012

WHEN train operator Connex was dumped in 2009, Melburnians breathed a sigh of relief.

Then premier John Brumby told long-suffering commuters that the network would improve as new operator Metro fixed the problems that had plagued the network for years.

But government data shows replacement operator Metro has run trains later in its first two years than Connex did in its last two. The revelation raises questions over the decision to dump Connex and has come despite Metro receiving hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars.

RMIT transport expert Paul Mees said it showed the system needed major investment from the Baillieu government rather than rebranding.

''The system is a complete failure but ... [Transport Minister] Terry Mulder when he was in opposition said he was going to fix this,'' Mr Mees said. ''But he seems to be content to preside over the system that he inherited from the previous government and run the same kind of spin about how we should be grateful because things weren't as bad as last year.''

Departmental figures show that in its last two years of operating the network before it was replaced on November 30, 2009, Connex trains ran within four minutes and 59 seconds of their schedule 87.7 per cent of the time. In 2008, Connex's figure was 88.9 per cent, before it fell in 2009 as it faced industrial action and a crippling heatwave.

Metro marked its two-year anniversary at the end of November by posting a two-year punctuality figure of only 86.4 per cent.

If Metro's two-year figure matched Connex's, about 25 more trains would run on time every day.

While lateness figures for Connex allowed a margin of five minutes and 59 seconds compared to four minutes and 59 seconds for Metro, the department released to The Age the four minute and 59 second figures for Connex to make a direct comparison possible.

Both operators cancelled about 1.3 per cent of services over the respective two-year periods.

Analysis shows that in its last full year for which data is published, Connex got $658.5 million in taxpayers' money for payments such as ticket sales, contractual obligations and incentives and penalties.

In contrast, Metro received about $854.6 million in the most recent 12-month period, fuelled largely by extra payments for maintenance to improve the network worth more than $10 million a month.

When Connex was scrapped before the state election, Mr Mulder said its performance problems were the fault of the Brumby government and not the operator. Yesterday he said that, despite initially facing ''many challenges'', in December Metro had met its performance targets seven months in a row and was improving rapidly despite running more than 100 extra services daily than Connex did. He said this was due partly to the government funding an extra $25 million maintenance a year.

■A small grass fire near an inner-city railway station caused havoc for peak-hour commuters making their way home yesterday.

Firefighters who attended the grass fire caused by overhead power lines near Burnley station had to wait until electricity was cut off to the tracks before they could attack the fire and get it under control about 5pm. This had a domino effect, with thousands of commuters stranded at stations around Melbourne. Metro's website reported cancellations to 13 of its 16 lines. With AAP

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/two-years-in-metro-leaves-proves-poor-rail-replacement-20120123-1qe16.html

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

Passengers walk as fire at Burnley station triggers train delays

Passengers walk as fire at Burnley station triggers train delays

    by: Matthew Schulz
    From: Herald Sun
    January 24, 2012 12:00AM

HUNDREDS of passengers on a peak-hour train were forced to get off between stations after power outages on the Glen Waverley line yesterday evening.

Most of Melbourne's train network was hit with disruptions during peak hour after a grass fire at Burnley train station, which the MFB were called to put out.

More than 600 passengers were on the outbound Glen Waverley train when it stopped about 370m short of Burnley station.

Metro spokesman Daniel Hoare said the power stopped on the lines just as two trains were nearing the station.

He said while one train was able to glide in, passengers on the second had to get off and walk to the station.

He said buses would be running on the Glen Waverley line tonight as maintenance staff worked on the major power outage.

Mr Hoare said a build-up of passengers at Burnley station caused delays of up to 50 minutes on the Belgrave, Lilydale and Alamein lines.

He said those lines were starting to return to normal but still had 30 minute delays in some cases.

The blaze, combined with an earlier fatality at North Richmond station, left Metro's website reporting cancellations on 13 of its 16 lines just after 5pm.

By 8.30pm, many services had returned to normal, with three lines - the Glen Waverley, Sandringham and Craigieburn - reporting problems.

An MFB spokeswoman said the fire was small but had caused a lot of smoke because oil from the train's wheels fell on the grass.

But at least one passenger said the pantograph on the top of the train - which conducts the electricity - had been torn off before the fire, sending sparks into the grass.

Soon afterward, the Glen Waverley line was suspended between the Burnley and Darling stations "until further notice" as a result of "problems with the overhead electrical lines", Metro tweeted about 5pm.

Frankston had five cancellations and Sandringham had four cancellations before the line was suspended outbound due to a power issue between Sandringham and Middle Brighton. Train services services were resuming on the line as of 7.50pm.

Thousands of passengers were left fuming in the 30+C heat by the delays, some after Metro initially failed to alert customers to delays of up to one hour.

The disruptions left many passengers confused and annoyed amid chaotic scenes at some CityLoop stations.

Herald Sun employee Nathaniel Bane said a Metro announcer was telling passengers that the Belgrave, Lilydale and Glen Waverley lines were affected by significant delays, even as timetable displays showed trains running as normal.

"There's nothing on the boards about the cancellations," he said.

Mitcham commuter Claire McIlroy arrived at Richmond station at 5.45pm to find a Belgrave train stuck at the platform for almost 30 minutes.

"People were sitting or standing on the train, and it was stinking hot," Ms McIlroy said.

"In all fairness, Metro staff were telling people what was going on with regular announcements and alternative routes.

"But they couldn't say what time trains would be running again, so I caught a train into the city to buy dinner and wait it out."

As one tweeter @smarthall put it: "Announcer says 'up to 50 min', @metrotrains says '30 mins', train is over 1 hour late. #communicationbreakdown"

Other passengers were grateful for information, with one passenger tweeting their thanks to the Hurstbridge driver who kept them informed about the delays.

With Michelle Ainsworth

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Trains are getting better: Baillieu

Trains are getting better: Baillieu
Reid Sexton and Megan Levy
January 24, 2012 - 10:46AM

Premier Ted Baillieu says he has confidence in Melbourne's rail operator Metro despite new figures showing it has run trains later in its first two years than its predecessor Connex did in its last two.

Mr Baillieu said the Metro's performance had improved recently and it had met its performance targets for the past seven months.

While acknowledging there were issues to sort out on the rail network, Mr Baillieu said more money was being spent to improve services for the public.

"There's no doubt there's issues," Mr Baillieu said.

"We've had a long period of a lack of investment in the maintenance of the system and that long period of inadequate maintenance and funding for the system is going to be with us for a while. We put more money in and I think that is being reflected in better results."

When train operator Connex was dumped in 2009, Melburnians breathed a sigh of relief.

Then premier John Brumby told long-suffering commuters that the network would improve as new operator Metro fixed the problems that had plagued the network for years.

But government data shows replacement operator Metro has run trains later in its first two years than Connex did in its last two. The revelation raises questions over the decision to dump Connex and has come despite Metro receiving hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars.

RMIT transport expert Paul Mees said it showed the system needed major investment from the Baillieu government rather than rebranding.

"The system is a complete failure but ... [Transport Minister] Terry Mulder when he was in opposition said he was going to fix this," Mr Mees said. "But he seems to be content to preside over the system that he inherited from the previous government and run the same kind of spin about how we should be grateful because things weren't as bad as last year."

Departmental figures show that in its last two years of operating the network before it was replaced on November 30, 2009, Connex trains ran within four minutes and 59 seconds of their schedule 87.7 per cent of the time. In 2008, Connex's figure was 88.9 per cent, before it fell in 2009 as it faced industrial action and a crippling heatwave.

Metro marked its two-year anniversary at the end of November by posting a two-year punctuality figure of only 86.4 per cent.

If Metro's two-year figure matched Connex's, about 25 more trains would run on time every day.

While lateness figures for Connex allowed a margin of five minutes and 59 seconds compared to four minutes and 59 seconds for Metro, the department released to The Age the four minute and 59 second figures for Connex to make a direct comparison possible.

Both operators cancelled about 1.3 per cent of services over the respective two-year periods.

Analysis shows that in its last full year for which data is published, Connex got $658.5 million in taxpayers' money for payments such as ticket sales, contractual obligations and incentives and penalties.

In contrast, Metro received about $854.6 million in the most recent 12-month period, fuelled largely by extra payments for maintenance to improve the network worth more than $10 million a month.

When Connex was scrapped before the state election, Mr Mulder said its performance problems were the fault of the Brumby government and not the operator. Yesterday he said that, despite initially facing "many challenges", in December Metro had met its performance targets seven months in a row and was improving rapidly despite running more than 100 extra services daily than Connex did. He said this was due partly to the government funding an extra $25 million maintenance a year.

Meanwhile, a small grass fire near an inner-city railway station caused havoc for peak-hour commuters making their way home yesterday.

Firefighters who attended the grass fire caused by overhead power lines near Burnley station had to wait until electricity was cut off to the tracks before they could attack the fire and get it under control about 5pm. This had a domino effect, with thousands of commuters stranded at stations around Melbourne. Metro's website reported cancellations to 13 of its 16 lines.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/trains-are-getting-better-baillieu-20120124-1qeq2.html

[#Metro]

Too busy looking at reliability. Reliability doesn't matter so much if frequency is high.

Half the buses on the busway were cancelled on Sat - I noticed no difference! The bus turned up, and I got on.

[ozbob]

Once the network was pristine.  Funding became a bit tighter and things started to appear more and more run down.  From 1969 to 2000 or so it was very obvious to me as I returned to Melbourne usually several times a year that it was going backwards.

"We've had a long period of a lack of investment in the maintenance of the system and that long period of inadequate maintenance and funding for the system is going to be with us for a while. We put more money in and I think that is being reflected in better results."

This is a true statement from Baillieu IMHO.

Privatisation/franchise models actually exacerbated the run down.

Rail networks are massive investments and it is a false economy to move to 'failure maintenance' models and so forth.  As we have seen locally it takes time to turn things around.

Metro has added fat to timetables of late as well, as have most operators. 

[ozbob]

 I like this visual representation ...

--> http://twitpic.com/8b0vqc



http://s1-05.twitpicproxy.com/photos/large/502246308.jpg

" if you are heading home on the train tonight, this is how long you might be standing up  "

[somebody]

At least they are getting patronage growth that they cannot contain.  It's a good problem to have.

[ozbob]

Ch9 24/1/2012: Metro overcrowding and poor performance

Metro Trains and the Government face criticism on overcrowding and poor performance

[ozbob]

From the Star click here!

Getting nowhere

Getting nowhere

By Vanessa Chircop

24th January 2012 03:45:29 PM

WHEN Metro proposed a new train timetable that saw Altona commuters lose direct city access, Jennifer Williams signed petitions, attended meetings and protested against the changes like hundreds of others.

And when the new timetable was implemented earlier last year, Ms Williams waited with other Altona commuters for their service to be improved, as promised by Metro and the Department of Transport.

Eight months later and Ms Williams said they're still waiting.

"Nothing has changed," she said.

"People are still having major difficulties getting home with delays and cancellations ongoing.

"It's actually getting worse."

Earlier this month, outraged by the delays and cancellations, Ms Williams wrote to the Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder.

"According to the timetable the trains are supposed to run every 22 minutes in peak hour," she wrote.

"This is basically too infrequent, especially as Metro keeps cancelling trains to Laverton."

Ms Williams said on November 24, 25 and 29 last year Metro cancelled the 5.36pm Laverton train.

With cancellations so frequent and residents having to change trains so often Ms Williams said some elderly and disabled will no longer catch the train, diminishing their quality of life.

"My elderly mother will no longer use public transport as it has become too difficult and confusing."

"People don't know where to go.

"Even me, who is a seasoned train traveller – I find it difficult.

"No one seems to care – not metro and not the government."

Ms Williams said she hoped her letter to Mr Mulder would re-highlight the issues and prompt improvement.

"But I don't have any great expectations."

"We're being heard but we're ignored – I don't think it's fair for the people of Altona."

Ms Williams said she is still waiting to receive a response from Mr Mulder.

Star contacted Mr Mulder for comment but he did not respond by deadline.

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

Train drivers quit their jobs in droves

Train drivers quit their jobs in droves

    by: Greg Thom
    From: Herald Sun
    January 26, 2012 12:00AM

DRIVERS are abandoning suburban rail operator Metro in record numbers, insiders claim.

The exodus has aroused fears of a "brain drain" of experienced drivers.

Insiders said industrial tension between drivers and Metro management was behind a stampede for the door.

The drivers' union said the number of drivers leaving was almost three times the normal rate of attrition.

Metro denies the claims.

Drivers have told the Herald Sun they decided to leave because of what they believed was Metro's aggressive management style.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union claims the number of trainees barely kept pace with the number of resignations. It says 45 drivers walked out last year, many of them 25-30-year veterans who trained recruits. About 47 drivers were accredited in the same period.

More than half those who have left took jobs with other railways, including V/Line and freight companies Pacific National and QR. The rest have headed to WA to take advantage of lucrative railway jobs created by the state's mining boom.

A new round of railway job ads at this weekend are expected to spur another round of resignations.

One driver estimated up to 50 more drivers could leave Metro in the next six months.

A union spokesman said it was the number of highly experienced trainers quitting that was particularly worrying.

Union divisional secretary Marc Marotta, said it was particularly worrying that people with decades of experience charged with training the next generation of drivers were quitting.

"The majority of blokes leaving are experienced guys," a driver said. "I reckon about 70 per cent have 20 years or more under their belt."

Metro blamed driver absenteeism for a recent decision to cancel more than 20 peak-hour train services.

Metro spokeswoman Geraldine Mitchell said 18 drivers resigned from Metro last year, in line with the normal rate of attrition.

She said another 14 retired and five exercised their right to transfer to V/Line, and exit interviews reflected no driver dissatisfaction.

[SurfRail]

A friend of mine who works at North Melbourne has less than salutory things to say about their internal management processes...

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

Metro passengers struggling in the heat because of no airconditioning

Metro passengers struggling in the heat because of no airconditioning

    by: Mitchell Toy
    From: Sunday Herald Sun
    January 29, 2012 12:00AM

ON the homeward commute it's sweat roulette.

A new train means a comfortable 22C, an old train means a hellish 36C in packed carriages.

No airconditioning in revived Hitachi trains and faltering climate control on newer rolling stock have left many Metro passengers struggling with the heat.

A Sunday Herald Sun investigation on Melbourne's rail network last week found the mercury reaching 38.3C on a Hitachi train and 36C on a newer Comeng train. Other carriages on Comeng trains were a breezy 22.6C while the latest Siemens trains were a chilly 21C.

As the outside temperature reached 35C in mid-afternoon, carriages were up to 3C warmer.

Sweltering in 37.7C in a Hitachi train on the Frankston line, Rosebud's Mike Browning said open windows were no replacement for airconditioning.

"I'm 75. I feel the heat and I sweat a lot when it's this hot," he said.

"I've had a hip replacement and in the mornings when it's crowded I can't get a seat.

"In peak hour when it's hot everyone's bad tempered."

On the same train, Chris Costuna, of Glen Waverley, broke into a sweat as the temperature reached 38.3C at South Yarra. "It doesn't make sense," he said.

"A lot of older people live out on the Frankston line and it's not considerate for them."

Metro spokeswoman Geraldine Mitchell said three Hitachi trains now in service had no airconditioning, but a recent upgrade had improved temperatures on other trains.

"The airconditioning units on all 93 six-carriage Comeng trains are now able to withstand temperatures of up to 45C following an upgrade," Ms Mitchell said.

"This upgrade has improved the reliability of the units and has helped reduce the risk of any potential failure, particularly on days of extreme heat.

"However, a number of factors can affect the temperature inside a carriage. The number of customers on board a train causes variation to the temperature, along with the regular opening of carriage doors."

The heat is on for commuters as fares were lifted 8.6 per cent this month, adding 60c to a Zone One daily ticket now priced at $7.60. But there is some relief with new figures showing Metro has improved punctuality.

Transport Minister Terry Mulder said 88.7 per cent of trains were officially on time in the seven months between June and December 2011.

[SurfRail]

Basically, you either suck it up and have the Hitachis there to run extra services, or you get rid of them and have fewer trains to get you home.  I know which I'd prefer.

I'd like to see the current population cope with the swing-doors. 

[HappyTrainGuy]

Its summer. Its going to be hot. That's the Australian lifestyle. 30 mins after those temps were recorded it would have been 13 degrees and p%ssing down rain 

[ozbob]

Relatively there are not that many Hitachi trains, and frequency is good overall so you can wait for the next train.

I remember many a hot day in Melbourne on the Taits, on those days just left the doors open .. till it rained again .. lol

[HappyTrainGuy]

The hitachi's still have open windows don't they?

[ozbob]

Hitachi Heaven - Metro Trains Melbourne suburban electric passenger trains - PoathTV

Yes, as far I as know windows can still be opened .. --> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitachi_%28Australian_train%29

[ozbob]

Twitter

GregMLC greg barber
State Govt & Metro planning to rip out more seats and squeeze another 100 people on each Comeng train http://t.co/oQL87CAc
30 minutes ago

[#Metro]

GregMLC greg barber
State Govt & Metro planning to rip out more seats and squeeze another 100 people on each Comeng train http://t.co/oQL87CAc
30 minutes ago

^^^ Ha ha ha... RIP THEM OUT!! 

Meanwhile... notice how fewer seats there are in Toronto's trains...

[ozbob]

The big squeeze --> http://au.news.yahoo.com/video/vic/watch/28075872/

[ozbob]

Freedom of Information: proudly brought to you by the Greens!

--> http://mps.vic.greens.org.au/node/3486

[Jonas Jade]

Freedom of Information: proudly brought to you by the Greens!

--> http://mps.vic.greens.org.au/node/3486

QR should take note, in those documents it shows the goal of 10 minute services across most lines off peak (tram/train/smartbus). (already in place on the Newport and Frankston lines)

[ozbob]

Twitter

danielbowen Daniel Bowen
Blog: Fewer seats for Comeng trains? #MetroTrains http://t.co/VxqgytoI
16 minutes ago

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Metro trains reach performance targets

Metro trains reach performance targets
Adam Carey
February 3, 2012

NINE of every 10 of Melbourne's trains ran on time last month, meaning metropolitan train operator Metro has reached its performance targets for the past eight months.

The percentage of trains that ran on time in January - meaning that they reached their destination no later than four minutes and 59 seconds behind the scheduled arrival time - was 90.13 per cent, while 1.94 per cent of services were cancelled, inside the 2 per cent target.

Metro spokeswoman Leah Waymark said investment in Melbourne's train fleet had made it better able to withstand hot weather.
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''It was the hottest start to a year in Melbourne since 2008 and we had only one significant heat-related incident,'' Ms Waymark said. She said February could present similar challenges.

''It's forecast to be an even hotter month, but we're confident that our preparations will continue to pay off.''

Metro's recent successes in meeting its performance targets have followed sweeping changes to Melbourne's train timetable last May, when travel times for some lines were increased.

The Baillieu government has previously praised Metro for its improved performance following the timetable changes, and said increased journey times were an unavoidable consequence of increasing patronage.

But the opposition argues the changes are costing the state millions of dollars for no actual benefit, because more than 100 of the new services that have been introduced run off-peak or against the peak-hour rush.

''Punctuality targets are more easily met when trains are running empty, but running trains off-peak or against the peak-hour rush does nothing to reduce peak-hour congestion,'' said Fiona Richardson, the state opposition's spokeswoman for transport.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/metro-trains-reach-performance-targets-20120202-1qvne.html

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Train timetable blamed for traffic and safety hazard

Train timetable blamed for traffic and safety hazard
Adam Carey
February 9, 2012

METRO'S new train timetable has throttled traffic flow in Cheltenham, as train drivers wait at the station for minutes at a time to keep pace with the slower schedule, forcing the boom gates on the nearby main road to stay shut until after they move on.

Drivers say the enforced delay has created a public hazard, as they regularly watch pedestrians dart across the level crossing on busy Charman Road rather than wait for the boom gates to reopen.

''Pedestrians see a train that's not moving and they tend to nip across - it's a problem if there's another train coming the other way,'' said Rail Tram and Bus Union divisional secretary Marc Marotta.

''The primary school is up ahead on the other side of the tracks, so at around 3.30pm and in the mornings it's a nightmare because of all the parents,'' said florist Diane, who chose not to give her surname.

The principal of Cheltenham Primary School said some parents had complained that congestion had got worse since May, when Metro brought in the new timetable.

Metro is aware of the problem, but says that when trains run ahead of schedule on the Frankston line its drivers are told to wait at Cheltenham, which is a so-called premium station, so they can check the train's internal timer against the platform clock.

An average three minutes travel time was added to services on the Frankston line in May as part of a change to Melbourne's train timetable. Sandringham, Pakenham and Cranbourne line services have also been given substantial leeway.

Metro has achieved its 88 per cent punctuality target every month since June. In December, it received a $2.19 million bonus from the state government.

Mr Marotta said among drivers it was ''a cardinal sin to leave early'', however, Frankston line passengers have told The Age they have in recent months observed trains leaving Cheltenham well ahead of time.

Under Metro's agreement with the state government, trains can leave a station up to 59 seconds ahead of schedule.

Metro's Daniel Hoare said the train operator had a policy ''to avoid holding trains to meet a timetable at stations where boom gates are operating, but sometimes, slightly longer delays are unavoidable''.

''Cheltenham Station is a busy station that attracts a higher than usual number of wheelchair passengers and people with prams,'' he said.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/train-timetable-blamed-for-traffic-and-safety-hazard-20120208-1reu0.html

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

New train services go 'nowhere near' end of line

New train services go 'nowhere near' end of line
Adam Carey
February 16, 2012

THE state government has admitted that one-third of the new train services it boasted it had added to the congested Werribee line do not run to Werribee, but shuttle back and forth between five stops along the ''Altona loop'' or terminate part way along the line at Laverton.

In April, Transport Minister Terry Mulder promised that Metro's new timetable would deliver ''185 new weekly trains on the Werribee line''.

But the minister confirmed last week that only 117 of the trains run all the way along the line, making the admission about 280 days after western metropolitan Greens MP Colleen Hartland put the question to him on notice in State Parliament.

Forty-seven of the new services are off-peak trains that run between Laverton and Newport, stopping at three stations on the Altona line, and 21 terminate at Laverton.

''The minister has avoided answering these questions for near one year,'' Ms Hartland said.

''It has finally been revealed that both the government and Metro have misled Werribee line commuters - one-third of the claimed 185 extra services on the Werribee line go nowhere near Werribee.''

But a spokeswoman for Mr Mulder said the changes had improved capacity on the line overall.

''The timetable provided a range of benefits for commuters on the Werribee line, including regular services with an 11-minute frequency to Flinders Street during the morning peak.''

The president of the Public Transport Users Association, Daniel Bowen, said overcrowding on the Werribee line had eased since the new timetable started in May, but that the area's rapid population growth meant congestion problems were likely to return.

Car parks at some stops on the line are filled by 8am, and on some morning peak trains all seats are taken by the time the train reaches Hoppers Crossing, the second stop on the line.

Mr Bowen said the Werribee line had also been beset with ''constant infrastructure faults'' over the past year that had made it less reliable.

There were 30-minutes delays on the line yesterday, and a train in the Newport railyard derailed during maintenance, which damaged the undercarriage.

The new timetable had also disadvantaged Altona line passengers, despite the 47 new shuttle services, Mr Bowen said.

''The timetable changes resulted in big problems for passengers from Altona Loop stations, with a drop in peak frequency to an incomprehensible 22-minute timetable, and no direct trains into the city in off-peak hours,'' he said.

The Department of Transport's latest overcrowding survey, in May last year, found 30 per cent of peak-hour Werribee line trains were overcrowded.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/new-train-services-go-nowhere-near-end-of-line-20120215-1t6cs.html

[ozbob]

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