Melbourne’s Metro train operator cops blast from Brumby

Underperforming rail operator Metro has copped a blast from Premier John Brumby – and commuters – as it marks its first three months of operations.
Mr Brumby said he was disappointed the company had failed to meet contractual timetable obligations since taking over from the deeply unloved Connex.
His comments come as Metro revealed this afternoon that just 83.4 per cent of trains ran on time in February.
That is well short of Metro’s target to run 88 per cent of trains within five minutes of their scheduled arrival time.
Metro spokesman Chris Whitefield said those with a valid monthly, six-monthly or yearly rail ticket could apply to receive two free days of travel as compensation for February’s poor punctuality results.

Premier John Brumby said Metro needed to lift its performance.
“I am obviously very disappointed they are not meeting those targets,’’ he said. “They have not performed according to the contract they signed with the government.
“You’ve got to give them a chance to settle in and get on top of the job, but they’ve had now four months and they’ve not met those performance targets and I think the public wants them to meet those.”
Metro’s acting CEO Raymond O’Flaherty blamed February’s poor punctuality results on faulty trains and infrastructure failures.
Nine of the trouble-plagued Siemens trains were removed from service in early February due to braking concerns, creating a train shortage, he said.
‘‘To fall below our on-time target is unacceptable to us, and unacceptable to our customers,’’ Mr O’Flaherty said.
‘‘But it further points to why we have to get the basics right, which starts with improving the reliability of the equipment – the tracks, trains, overheads and signals.’’

Commuters experienced another difficult morning on Melbourne’s train network today, with at least 40 peak-hour services cancelled until midday.
On top of that, a Molotov cocktail was thrown through the window of a city-bound train last night, while eight trains were pulled from service this week due to braking problems.
In an Age Online poll, more than 1200 voters so far revealed widespread public discontent with the new rail operator.
Asked if, 100 days since it took over from Connex, Metro was running a better system, just 32 per cent of readers voted “yes”.

While I’m no fan of the new operator, not associated with them or in any way connected with them, to expect that they could have done anything about the infrastructure that the Victorian Labor Government has shamefully and wilfully neglected is simply outrageous.

John Brumby – your government is on the way out. You’ve had your chance and squandered it. You protected a hopeless minister – Kosky – and bureaucracy – led by Betts, and now you’ll pay the price. Blaming Metro won’t wash, I’m afraid. If that was the game you wanted to play, you should have kept the abominable Connex – it would at least have looked vaguely plausible.