Barry O'Farrell MP
Deputy NSW Liberal Leader, Shadow Minister for Transport, Shadow Minister for Waterways
“The timetable’s principle focus is to reflect the slower, safer operation of the network recommended by Justice McInerney’s inquiry into the Waterfall accident.” - John Watkins 5/9/06
“The final report doesn’t make any suggestion trains should be slowed down.” – Justice Peter McInerney 2/6/06
The slowing of Sydney’s train services owed more to Labor’s election timetable than providing existing and would-be commuters with a railway timetable that met their needs, Shadow Minister for Transport Barry O’Farrell said today.
“This has always been about slowing trains to get a better set of on-time running figures.”
“Labor wanted better figures in the lead up to next year’s election – which is why they also changed the definition of ‘on time’.”
ReplyDelete“Poor on-time running figures were always the most visible sign of Labor’s mismanagement of the rail system.”
“But even slowing the trains hasn’t delivered the improvements promised to commuters.”
“For 34 of the 38 weeks since the timetable change, CityRail has failed to meet on-time running targets in the evening peak,” Mr O’Farrell said.
“Commuters are angry that their interests continue to be put last by Labor.”
“They know that a decade ago it was possible to run faster services, on time and safely.”
“They don’t understand Labor’s definition of progress that sees fewer, slower and overcrowded services.”
“Commuters deserve a safe, clean and reliable service, not a Government that slows trains down in an attempt to improve on-time running figures,” Mr O’Farrell said.