Barry O'Farrell MP
Deputy NSW Liberal Leader, Shadow Minister for Transport, Shadow Minister for Waterways
Commuters will pay more for rail travel despite the fact they have fewer services, more overcrowded carriages, longer travel times and trains that still can’t get them home on time, Shadow Minister for Transport Mr O’Farrell said today.
“Labor increased overcrowding by slashing 270 services a day[*1] from the CityRail network, and are now slugging commuters with a fare hike that will reap the Government an extra $26 million,” Mr O’Farrell said.
“Despite assurances fewer trains would improve reliability, and a redefinition of ‘on-time’, commuters continue to experience evening peak delays,” he said.
“CityRail trains have failed to reach their on-time running targets in the evening peak for 35 of the last 39 weeks.[*2]
ReplyDelete“Off-peak commuters will be slugged increases of between 20 and 30%. These increases make no sense, we should be encouraging people to use trains at the only time when there is ‘spare’ capacity.
“People jumping on a train for a short off-peak trip around the City Circle will face a 30% fare increase. Off-peak passengers travelling from Penrith to Central will cop a 20% hike.
“These increases aren’t justified given Labor’s failure to deliver on often promised improvements.
• Outer Suburban Carriages - originally announced in the 2002/03 State Budget to cost $135 million, last year the Audit Office put the cost at $172 million. Promised to be operating in the Central Coast by 2005, running 1 year late.
• Air-conditioned Carriages – while announcing the fare review just four months ago Transport Minister Watkins promised to deliver 498 carriages by 2010. A month ago the Premier admitted only 472 carriages will be delivered by 2012.
• North West Rail Link – originally promised for 2010 in Action for Transport. Now won’t be complete until 2017.
• Clearways project – originally budgeted to cost $1.018 billion, total cost has blown out to $1.5 billion.
• Tcard – in February John Watkins said ‘field trials of Tcard to begin mid-year’. Today he said ‘field trials would begin later this year’. Budget papers reveal a $67 million underspend last financial year with completion date again pushed back further to 2008.
“Instead of spending money on expensive advertising, Labor should get on with improving services,” Mr O’Farrell said.
*1 John Watkins, p. 20691 LA Hansard 28 Feb 2006
*2 CityRail website pm peak on time running statistics