Select Committee on Train Services
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SELECT COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON TRAIN SERVICES FIRST INTERIM REPORT MAY 2010 Ordered to be Printed By Authority Government Printer for the State of Victoria No 314 Session 2006-10 CONTENTS Select Committee on Train Services....................................................................... 1 List of Acronyms....................................................................................................... 3 Chairman’s Foreword ............................................................................................... 5 List of Findings ......................................................................................................... 7 Chapter One: Introduction ................................................................................... 13 1.1. Establishment of Select Committee .......................................................... 13 1.2. Initial Extension of Reporting Date ............................................................ 13 1.3 Extension of Terms of Reference and Reporting Date.............................. 14 1.4. Inquiry Process.......................................................................................... 14 Chapter Two: Overview of Victoria’s Rail Network History .............................. 17 2.1 The Metropolitan Network ......................................................................... 17 2.2 The Regional Network............................................................................... 22 Chapter Three: Responsibility for Delivery of Victoria’s Train Services ......... 25 3.1 Department of Transport - Public Transport Division ................................ 26 3.2 Train Operators......................................................................................... 28 3.3 Metlink ....................................................................................................... 32 3.4 Transport Ticketing Authority .................................................................... 32 3.5 Public Transport Safety Victoria ................................................................ 33 3.6 Public Transport Ombudsman................................................................... 34 3.7 The Rail, Tram and Bus Union .................................................................. 36 3.8 Governance Issues................................................................................... 36 Chapter Four: Metropolitan Rail Network Failures ........................................... 41 4.1 Recent Cancellations and Delays ............................................................. 41 4.2 Patronage Growth and Network Capacity ................................................. 47 4.3 Infrastructure Failures............................................................................... 63 4.4 Train Maintenance Issues ......................................................................... 73 4.5 Timetable Issues....................................................................................... 84 4.6 Industrial Dispute – Summer 2008-09....................................................... 87 4.7 Passenger Related Issues ........................................................................ 94 Chapter Five: V/Line Rail Network Failures........................................................ 97 5.1 V/Line Performance Results...................................................................... 97 5.2 Metropolitan – Regional Network Interface ............................................. 103 5.3 Extreme Weather Conditions .................................................................. 108 5.4 Infrastructure/Train Faults....................................................................... 110 5.5 Driver/Crew Shortages............................................................................ 113 5.6 Patronage Growth and Overcrowding ..................................................... 116 5.7 Southern Cross Station Issues................................................................ 118 5.8 V/Line Institutional Arrangements ........................................................... 119 i Appendix A: Select Committee Establishing Resolution................................ 121 Appendix B: List of Written Submissions Received........................................ 123 Appendix C: Schedule of Public Hearings ....................................................... 127 Appendix D: Siemens Train Brake Specifications ........................................... 129 Extracts of Proceedings....................................................................................... 145 Minority Report: Mr Leane, Mr Viney and Ms Huppert .................................... 155 Minority Report: Mr Barber ................................................................................ 161 ii Select Committee on Train Services Committee Members Mr Bruce Atkinson – Chairman Member for Eastern Metropolitan Region Mr Shaun Leane – Deputy Chairman Member for Eastern Metropolitan Region Mr Greg Barber Member for Northern Metropolitan Region Mr Damian Drum Member for Northern Victoria Region Ms Jennifer Huppert Member for Southern Metropolitan Region Ms Edward O’Donohue Member for Eastern Victoria Region Mr Matthew Viney Member for Eastern Victoria Region Committee Staff Mr Richard Willis – Secretary, Council Committees Mr Anthony Walsh – Research Officer Mr Sean Marshall – Research Assistant Address all correspondence to – Council Committee Office Department of the Legislative Council Parliament of Victoria Spring Street EAST MELBOURNE VIC 3002 1 2 List of Acronyms DOT Department of Transport FMP Fault Management Protocol GAMUT Australasian Centre for the Governance and Management or Urban Transport MOU Memorandum of Understanding MURL Melbourne Underground Rail Loop OPR Operational Performance Regime PSR Passenger Service Requirement PTO Public Transport Ombudsman PTSV Public Transport Safety Victoria PTUA Public Transport Users Association RTBU Rail, Tram and Bus Union TTA Transport Ticketing Authority 3 4 Select Committee on Train Services – First Interim Report CHAIRMAN’S FOREWORD Chairman’s Foreword I am pleased to provide this first interim report of the Select Committee on Train Services. This report deals with the Committee’s initial investigations into the reasons for failures in metropolitan and V/Line train services. On 5 May 2010, the Legislative Council amended the Committee’s terms of reference to include an investigation into the impact of train service failures as a result of the Myki ticketing system. The Committee will present further report/s in relation to the Myki ticketing system up to 30 September 2010. The Committee’s initial investigations found that Melbourne’s train operators, previously Connex and now Metro Trains Melbourne, together with the regional operator V/Line, have failed to consistently deliver reliable and punctual train services in line with their respective performance targets. With respect to the metropolitan network, evidence illustrates that reasons for these failures include a lack of investment in infrastructure and fleet of trains, together with inadequate planning for the impact of patronage growth. Specific issues highlighted in this interim report include the high level of delays and cancellations during hot days over recent summers, inadequate air-conditioners on the Comeng trains, inadequate braking systems on the Siemens trains, various rail infrastructure failures, and a dispute between the Rail, Tram and Bus Union and Connex that resulted in service disruptions over the 2008/09 summer. Many of the reasons for cancellations and delays experienced on the metropolitan network were also experienced on Victoria’s regional rail network. These include problems with infrastructure and rolling stock, extreme weather conditions, and conflicts between V/Line and metropolitan services in the metropolitan rail corridors. In presenting this interim report, I wish to thank all submitters and witnesses for their invaluable evidence to date. In particular, I pass on appreciation to the Department of Transport for their continued co-operation, together with Metro Trains Melbourne and Connex. Appreciation is also extended to the Members and staff of the Select Committee for their deliberations and work during the course of the Inquiry. As noted above, the Committee will be investigating the Myki ticketing system over the coming months with a final report to be tabled by 30 September 2010. The Committee may continue to keep a watching brief on matters raised in this first interim report. Bruce Atkinson, MLC Chairman 5 Select Committee on Train Services – First Interim Report CHAIRMAN’S FOREWORD 6 Select Committee on Train Services – First Interim Report FINDINGS List of Findings FINDING 3.1 Responsibility for delivery of Victoria’s train services is fragmented across a range of Government authorities, private operators and independent statutory bodies. The Committee believes this fragmentation of responsibility may result in uncertainty in terms of the factors leading to and causes of failures in the provision of train services in Victoria. FINDING 3.2 Evidence illustrates improvements could be made to the delivery of train services in Victoria by further streamlining of public transport governance responsibility. FINDING 4.1 Melbourne’s train operators, previously Connex and now Metro Trains Melbourne, have failed to consistently deliver metropolitan trains on-time in line with their respective performance