Sunday of my Life

So, normally I don’t comment on the public transport network, here in Victoria, simply because I don’t believe I know enough to expound any kind of opinion about it. This time, though, I’ll say something.

In the past week, we’ve been told, fifteen suburban trains (whether this is fifteen individual trans, or the same train fifteen times, or a combination thereof, I have no idea) have had potentially serious brake faults. Overshooting platforms, failing to stop, or slow. Big problems. Potentially life-threatening. Still, I was surprised to read in today’s mX* that Shadow Transport Minister Terry Mulder has declared that Melbourne’s public transport network should be stripped of all seventy-two of its Siemens trains because of these faults.

Now, I agree with the sentiment. It is potentially dangerous to life with “these trains [travelling] up to 115 km/h… [carrying] up to 800 passengers.” But, let’s be realistic. These trains make up a significant portion of Melbourne’s public transport capabilities. I know that on my line, trans are already packed out for the 7AM, 8AM, 9AM, 3PM and 5PM run-periods (the ones I can end up taking most often). And most of these runs tend to have Siemens trains on them. So, fine, take all of them out of service until they’ve been undeniably proved safe for life, limb and liberty. But what are you going to replace them with?

These trains were bought for a reason, to help increase the density of the network, and to help modernise it. Take them away, and what are we left with? Do you honestly want to make the travel situation even more Japan-esque, with people crammed onto a train, with barely room to breathe, let alone be realitively comfortable? Condiutions are already tight, and you basically need to get onto the train at either end of the line to make sure you’ll get a seat.

It will be interesting to see which side will win out in the end; pressure for safety, or pressure for transport.

That, therefore, is my barely considered opinion, uninformed though it may be, with my single source being one article in one paper, written by one person. Tra-la-la. As always, when I expound an opinion, I am fully prepared to be wrong, but it doesn’t change what I think, here and now, be what it may.

*mX is the Melbourne public transport newpaper, for those who don’t live in Victoria. It’s free, and a good read on the way home, so I get it for free, and read it good on the way home.

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 16th, 2006 at 8:38 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.