Connex.....DUMPED!

RG · 25-06-2009, 11:35 AM

Good riddance you fools.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sto...94-661,00.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by news.com.au

CONNEX has been dumped as Melbourne's train operator, while Yarra Trams has lost its contract to run the city's trams. In a major shock, both transport operators were dumped with French group Keolis to run Melbourne's trams while Hong Kong's MTR will run trains.

Premier John Brumby announced the decision this morning, and MTR will take over the operation of the train network from December.

"They submitted bids that show they had the experience and expertise to deliver improved train and tram services in Melbourne," Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said.

Keolis spokeswoman Maryanne Graham said the company would focus on customers, and punctuatity and reliability.

The Government has said it wants a new Melbourne-themed brand for the train network.

Three groups, Connex and Keolis from France, and MTR from Hong Kong, submitted their bids in April.

Keolis also submitted a bid to run the tram network, but the Government previously said the same company would not be given both contracts.

The tender process was rocked by the leak of confidential Connex documents that were supposed to have been secure.

News that the Connex parent company, Veolia, was interested in buying a stake of the Yarra Trams parent, Transdev, held up the announcement.

The reputation of Connex has suffered a battering, particularly during the summer meltdown and the Oaks Day debacle last year.

But the company has recently turned in its best performance in five years, with just 25 trains cancelled last week.

Next thing to fix up is Vline who have worse stats than Connex could even manage.

T3ts50 · 25-06-2009, 11:43 AM

Thats good to hear, I might jump back on the trains after all.

balthazarr · 25-06-2009, 12:55 PM

PFFT... I doubt any operator could bring the trains up to scratch ie. a world-beating (or at least matching) standard.

My understanding is there'd have to be a tonne of money spent on infrastructure to make any real improvements.

Quote:

... Keolis spokeswoman Maryanne Graham said the company would focus on customers, and punctuatity and reliability. ...

I'll give you my cynical interpretation of what that means:

1. Focus on customers = more inspectors acting even more agro, with less tolerance than before.

2. Focus on punctuality = run less frequent services so that the few services that are running may be able to arrive/depart on time.

3. Focus on reliability = Reliably deliver average performance so in good months we can trumpet it out loud and in bad months - well, it won't look so bad in comparison to the average.

mcflux · 25-06-2009, 02:49 PM

Interesting choice of thread topic, as it's ultimately politically based. Would connex be so if Labor had made considerable investments over the past 10 years?

And when Kennett scrapped a lot of the infrastructure, it was a different time then. Labor's ridden on the boom times of the late 90s to now (let's say pre-GFC), times where the scrapped infrastructure could not only have been replaced, but upgraded.

Connex sucks, but Labor's public transport minister Lynne Kosky sucks more.

Note: I'm not pro-liberal, although I would be if they could get their act together!

RG · 25-06-2009, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghia5L

Interesting choice of thread topic, as it's ultimately politically based. Would connex be so if Labor had made considerable investments over the past 10 years?

And when Kennett scrapped a lot of the infrastructure, it was a different time then. Labor's ridden on the boom times of the late 90s to now (let's say pre-GFC), times where the scrapped infrastructure could not only have been replaced, but upgraded.

Connex sucks, but Labor's public transport minister Lynne Kosky sucks more.

Note: I'm not pro-liberal, although I would be if they could get their act together!

I don't want this turning into a political BS thread at all, we all know what's going on there and we don't need to discuss it here.

Connex really were poor though. Fair enough the infrastructure and rolling stock is a joke but there are ways of dealing with things. Connex failed to deal with anything well.

mcflux · 25-06-2009, 03:08 PM

Well, what I'm getting at is if its background is in all the political BS, then maybe Connex's hands were tied?

Mr Brooksy · 25-06-2009, 03:10 PM

Im not from Melbourne and have no idea about your infrastructure, but if MTR are as good in Aus as they are in Hong Kong, you'll have a good system. The system in Hong Kong is unreal!!

Matty4 · 26-06-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Brooksy

Im not from Melbourne and have no idea about your infrastructure, but if MTR are as good in Aus as they are in Hong Kong, you'll have a good system. The system in Hong Kong is unreal!!

Absolutely...
I was in HKG in March this year and their train system was fantastic. We needed to change 3 lines to get to our destination one day and the longest wait was no more than 2 mins. They were all clean too.
I am a devout public transport hater here in Melb and avoid it at all costs.

EFFalcon · 25-06-2009, 03:46 PM

can only improve!

alecrain · 25-06-2009, 04:45 PM

Funny thing:
my friend works in the construction industry and recently was demolishing an old pub in Melboure, they found a newspaper form early 1900 and first page story was about how bad public transport is!

haha

saam · 25-06-2009, 05:20 PM

explain why melbourne airport doesnt have a rail system linked to it like all other major citys?

the transport here comparied to 3rd world countries needs a big kick in the ***

Riksta · 26-06-2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saam

explain why melbourne airport doesnt have a rail system linked to it like all other major citys?

Adelaide's airport doesn't either.

Walkinshaw · 27-06-2009, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riksta

Adelaide's airport doesn't either.

He did say major city, not backwater

balthazarr · 27-06-2009, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saam

explain why melbourne airport doesnt have a rail system linked to it like all other major citys?
...

I have nothing to back this up, but I heard rumours a few years back that, as part of the Citylink agreement with Transurban, the government agreed that they wouldn't implement any public transport links (rail/light rail) to the airport for the duration of the agreement. I guess the reasoning behind this is that it would guarantee more traffic along the Tullamarine Freeway.

Buzz Box · 27-06-2009, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by balthazarr

I have nothing to back this up, but I heard rumours a few years back that, as part of the Citylink agreement with Transurban, the government agreed that they wouldn't implement any public transport links (rail/light rail) to the airport for the duration of the agreement. I guess the reasoning behind this is that it would guarantee more traffic along the Tullamarine Freeway.

Theres multiple reasons and multiple spots for it and they have the rail reserve set aside so they COULD do it quite easily but.........

They would have to pay compensation to citylink, they just built that new ramp at essendon and new shopping centre and expansion of essendon airport etc.

Also if your running cars how many lobbists and lobby groups have you got? (think cars manufactures, taxi companies, petrol companies, parking operators, rent a car companies, bus operators plus many more) versus 1 little person going oh build me a rail line please........

Plus the fact the rail network can't even keep up with what it has got let alone building more theres way to many other rail projects that urgently need the money versus something that is being heavily lobbied against.

cycle myth · 27-06-2009, 07:58 PM

Your points sound and seem probably right.

The issue is really doing the right thing for Melbourne and the people who live there.... so we can count on the government doing stuff all about this as they have no idea.

World's most livable city??

Increased pollution, poor mass transit network, road congestion, more time in traffic, increased pollution, urban sprawl, pressure on housing, cost of living, = reduce quality of life.

ILLaViTaR · 25-06-2009, 05:53 PM

I'm surprised no noes sticking up for connex?

People on this forum usually have a habit of taking the unreasonable side in topics like this.

RG · 25-06-2009, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILLaViTaR

I'm surprised no noes sticking up for connex?

People on this forum usually have a habit of taking the unreasonable side in topics like this.

Are you serious? Maybe you want to try having a look at their stats and the debacle they caused over summer. Then have a look at the way they react and the fact that they continually fail to inform commuters of service changes.

uranium_death · 25-06-2009, 05:54 PM

The Met
Hillside and Bayside
Connex.

Name one of those controlling bodies that people have been satisfied with service-wise?

Krytox · 25-06-2009, 07:09 PM

wait guys, they gave out iceypoles!

come to think of it, deodorant would have been more applicable.

burnz · 25-06-2009, 07:13 PM

this shurly pail's in comparison to state rail (NSW)

paul84 · 25-06-2009, 07:40 PM

Meh, I see it as different coloured trains and few staff turned over. United still have the maintenance contract. Just a shuffle of the chairs. Back around in a circle we go.

Privatising anything just takes the flak off the government and making a hell of a lot of money for a private venture, seems to be working well. What needs to be done is bring it back to the public.

However, we can atleast hope for the best.

balthazarr · 27-06-2009, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul84

Meh, I see it as different coloured trains and few staff turned over. United still have the maintenance contract. Just a shuffle of the chairs. Back around in a circle we go.
...

:

Why can't they just pick a freakin' name/colour scheme and stick with it... what's wrong with Metlink?

How much money are they going to spend re-branding stations and the rolling stock? Couldn't this money be better spent improving the stuff that matters - like the infrastructure?

The government should own the branding IP, and license it to the operator as part of the deal...

:

Iggypoppin' · 25-06-2009, 07:54 PM

Quick question and a little off topic, but in regards to melbournes inner city/tram network..what the hell are hook turns and how do they benefit anybody? I'm just curious...

Oh and if Adelaide could lift their game train-wise.... Just a hint trans-Adelaide, but there's a reason I walked everywhere before I was licenced, and didn't catch a train.

cycle myth · 25-06-2009, 08:17 PM

1. Hook turns allow 2 lanes of straight through traffic to get through the intersection without hold of of right turners (they are good when you are used to them)

2. Back on topic - as a regular train user Connex were crap and deserve in not having their contract renewed

Now just get rid of the current government and things may have a chance to progress.

I have used many (read 30+) public rail systems from other countries - our is one of the worst!!

We need a rocket up our ...............

Lets wake up.

**Silver Ghia** · 25-06-2009, 08:27 PM

Just wonder how much more this change is going to cost the Victorian taxpayer, who is already paying too much subsidising the rail and public transport system. Eg Myki, the new ticketing system, what a debacle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RG

Next thing to fix up is Vline who have worse stats than Connex could even manage.

Everyone I know who travel on Vline from Sunbury reckon its far superior to Connex. In fact most here in Sunbury are up in arms about the proposal to electrify the railway and transfer to Connex ( or the new mob).

RG · 25-06-2009, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

Just wonder how much more this change is going to cost the Victorian taxpayer, who is already paying too much subsidising the rail and public transport system. Eg Myki, the new ticketing system, what a debacle.

Everyone I know who travel on Vline from Sunbury reckon its far superior to Connex. In fact most here in Sunbury are up in arms about the proposal to electrify the railway and transfer to Connex ( or the new mob).

While Vline is superior to connex the delay rate isn't. I travel in from Ballarat 5 days a week during peak times and I can't even remember now how many times I've been delayed by 45 minutes to an hour due to "signal faults" or "train faults" or when they forget they need a train or a driver.

I'm serious on that last one too, had a Vline customer service person (they're better than Connex by far) actually admit a few times that control had forgotten us.

Mark351 · 25-06-2009, 08:43 PM

vline isn't that bad, at least the trains usually run, even if they're short-carriaged and turn up late.

RG · 25-06-2009, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark351

vline isn't that bad, at least the trains usually run, even if they're short-carriaged and turn up late.

Yeah but aren't you out Geelong way? Bloody Geelong always gets looked after compared to us

:

Even the Bendigo line fares better.

balthazarr · 27-06-2009, 10:10 PM

So much for the conspiracy theory... according to these documents -

http://www.contracts.vic.gov.au/majo...ssion_Deed.pdf
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/NR/rd...0/ExhibitJ.pdf

- the only consequence of a new rail link to the airport (that I could find) is that Transurban is no longer required to have dedicated bus/taxi lanes on the Tulla (clause 2.4(i) of the Deed & Exhibit J).