Melbourne’s train network would return to public hands under a rail union push to improve services and oversight of maintenance, faults and staffing.
I think most if not all who use the system know how bad it is is many ways. When there are daily issues the system falls apart. There are many outstanding faults and when incidents do occur like the recent derailment at Clifton Hill it takes 8 days to get the system back up and running on a job that should have taken 2 days for an operator who has a plan for these incidents.
Rail, Tram and Bus Union Victorian secretary Vik Sharma and national president Victor Moore have drafted a motion for this weekend’s Labor Party state conference to strengthen the upcoming bidding process before the existing Metro Trains contract expires in 2027.
As well as calling for an inquiry to improve commuter outcomes, the union wants the government to consider a public bid from the Department of Transport and Planning to run the metropolitan train network, or at least formulate a road map to reliably return the network to public control.
“The current contract does not grant the government adequate oversight or control over operations of Metro including staffing levels, faults, maintenance and decision-making about the network. Withholding critical information and decision-making control gives Metro an unfair advantage and makes it more difficult to prioritise the public interest,” the draft motion said.
In reality the system has not progressed under this company service delivery substandard. Over the period very few lines have received ungraded services and maintenance on the network has fallen behind. The system is being run for the operator not the passenger and not the taxpayer.
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union motion on the metropolitan train network calls for an independent inquiry into the current contract to identify gaps in the government’s knowledge. It would also review how confidentiality rules built into the franchise agreement hinders oversight and collaboration between the government and the operator, “with the aim of strengthening the state’s position and improving public transport outcomes”.
The Public Transport Users Association have been pushing for more service frequency across the network for many years however many lines have 40- minute service on Sundays. Most annoying is on public holidays when people want to travel into Melbourne the timetable is cut even on long weekends with AFL matches and many other events.
The findings and recommendations of that inquiry should be reflected in the next tender process, expected to begin soon, the union wrote, to guarantee ongoing access to operational data.
Snippets from The Age
I wonder it this may resonating toward V/Line too??? currently the top management has mad a hash of the system too!
Rolling stock shortages, backlogs of newer train need inspection for damage after the bio wash and reducing funding on the classic fleet when those teething issues are still impacting the newer trains aka VoLcity since forcing them on the long routes as a one size fits all concept……
It was the liberal partry who sold the network off to international interests and Labour have not helped at all.