The Great Melbourne Public Transport Debacle

This is my final rant on the subject. Today my train was delayed by 10 minutes and I am not content to just accept that its fine. Even though people say that bad public transport is a fact of life, I don't think it should be, especially if its privately owned and run. Its acceptable that the government can screw it up, but when they sell off the system, they don't have such luxuries. Of the last 10 trains I've taken in to or out of the city, two have been on time, one delayed by 5 minutes, six by about 8-10 minutes, one stopped at the a station and everyone had to get off, and one was cancelled and never actually arrived. If I had that kind of timing and organisation at my job I would have been fired a long time ago, as would anyone in any job. But to make up for a month of delays I get a single daily ticket. Well enough is enough. The responsibility rests with the government and Connex to get it together and act and stop making excuses.

This is just the month of April:

11 April, 2007 - Victoria's Transport Minister, Lynne Kosky, sends email to parliamentary colleagues telling them that she doesn't want to be bothered with commuters' complaints.

12 April, 2007 - Trains get disrupted on Hurstbridge line and replacement emergency buses never arrive, or are already full and don't stop for stranded commuters.

14 April, 2007 - Connex is forced to compensate ticket holders with a daily Metcard as the number of late and cancelled trains continues to rise. 10 per cent of all trains were late and 460 services were cancelled in March. The third month in a row that Connex has had to pay compensation for poor service.

17 April, 2007 – The Age reveals that the number of trains running late on Melbourne's suburban rail system in February was the highest in eight years.

23 April, 2007 - Victoria's Transport Minister, Lynne Kosky, admits that the government bought back second-hand trains (at 700 per cent of what they $old them) after selling them off to a collector. These trains were first introduced in 1972.

27 April, 2007 – Trains delayed for hours on all lines after an elderly man was fatally struck by a train after ducking under lowered boom gates. Its tragic that this man died, but it affected the whole system for the whole day. This kind of terrible thing happens and they should be prepared for this.

Yesterday - Commuters were forced to walk to the next train after a derailed tram blocked trains on the Frankston line early yesterday.

Other Articles:
The Age - Customers left standing on platforms
- Scrap-heap trains an 'embarrassment'

Other Disappointed Travellers:
Connex Whinger

Connex, we’ve had enough!

VLine Whinger

Coalition for People’s Transport

Lynne Kosky

Victoria's Transport Minister

Appointed to the job against her wishes five months ago, Ms Kosky earns $226,790 a year in salary and allowances, has a full-time driver and ministerial car available to her, as well as a taxpayer-funded vehicle that can be used by the minister, her staff and her family.

Website: http://www.lynnekosky.com

Email: lynne.kosky@parliament.vic.gov.au

Ministerial Address: Level 26, 80 Collins Street, Melbourne 3000

Ministerial Ph. (03) 9655 3300 Fax: (03) 9655 3313

Electorate Postal Address: PO Box 1047, Altona Meadows VIC 3028

Electorate Ph. (03) 9360 7500 Fax. (03) 9360 7654

Peter Batchelor

Victoria’s Infrustructure Minister

Post: PO Box 219, Thomastown 3074.

Email him using this form from Envict.com.au

It seems that Steve Bracks was on to something when the slogan our number plates changed from ‘Victoria – On The Move’ to ‘Victoria – The Place to Be’.

LATEST NEWS - Victorian commuters will reap the benefits of an $872 million injection into public transport, Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said today. So by the beginning of 2010 we should get a reasonable train service. Well done Ministers!!! We'll just make do with 30 year old trains, no air-conditioning, and waiting for trains that may not show up for the next three years.