- Published:
- Friday 20 February 2015 at 8:59 am
A Coalition rolling stock bungle will force an eight-week delay in the opening of the $4 billion Regional Rail Link (RRL) project.
Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan, today revealed that the Coalition had planned to open the project despite knowing there would not be enough trains to guarantee reliable services on the regional network.
If RRL was introduced in April, as the former Coalition Government had planned, any delay in rolling stock delivery or train faults would mean service cancellations and chaos for commuters.
As it is, regional services will continue to suffer for years as a result of the Coalition’s inaction. They didn't order a single V/line carriage – let alone a train – for two years after they came to office.
Deferral of the implementation of RRL is the safest option, given the Coalition’s failure to get the basics right and order enough trains to reliably service the regional network. RRL will now open on 21 June 2015.
Deferring the start of RRL will also delay the implementation of metropolitan train, tram and bus timetable changes.
Services on the metropolitan network will operate as normal during this time, and comprehensive customer information will be provided well ahead of any timetable change.
The Regional Rail Link was planned and funded under the previous Labor Government. All the Coalition had to do was order the trains on time.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan
“The Liberals and Nationals were going to open Regional Rail Link knowing there was a massive risk of service cancellations and commuter chaos.”
“The bungled order for rolling stock shows that the Liberals and Nationals don’t have a head for public transport or a heart for regional services.”
“The Regional Rail Link was planned and funded under the previous Labor Government. All the Coalition had to do was order enough trains but apparently that was too hard.”