Re: Good bye Hillside, Hello Connex Rail

["Daniel Bowen" <dbowen@custard.REMOVE.net.au>]

"Michael Walker" <wk@cgsc.vic.edu.au> wrote in message
8l8db7$ji9$1@nnrp1.deja.com">news:8l8db7$ji9$1@nnrp1.deja.com...
> Interesting in a way that Connex are not one of the most highly
> regarded companies in the U.K. (there was a special website on
> www.bbc.co.uk regarding rail privatisation and how well the companies
> were doing and from memory Connex South were regarded as not very good
> and Connex South East were about middling to average), yet I would have
> said from my own observations and posts here that Hillside are the
> better of the 2 suburban rail companies in Melbourne in that they have
> introduced a significant number of new services and been proactive in
> advertising and marketing the Hillside image (eg Punt Road oval, the
> quick way they rebranded the trains, the snazzy posters at the
> stations, etc). Plus they promise to improve stations (3 more premium
> stations, although I believe this is part of their contract; and 20
> stations with new information systems) as part of the current hype.
>
> Any ideas why? Are they merely out to impress the government for a
> while and then run down services and facilities? I realise the
> refurbished trains are part of the contract, as are the new trains, but
> they seem to be going above what they are required, unlike Bayside.

I don't think we can take it was read that they intend to run down services
to save money later. Given the small percentage of trips in Melbourne
currently on public transport, they may see the potential to win customers
from their cars, and earn a heap more money. I mean... ultimately, they are
in it for the money.

I used Connex South Central services on two holidays in Britain, in '98 and
'99, both in London and on the English south coast. Not the same as putting
up with them as a local of course, but I didn't find them too bad, though
many of the trains still in service are pretty old (many swing door!)   I
don't recall suffering from any major delays or cancellations, the staff
were friendly and helpful, the trains generally pretty clean and fast,
stations reasonably clean, real time info (where provided) accurate, and
certainly service frequencies crap all over those in Victoria.


Daniel
--
Daniel Bowen, Melbourne, Australia
dbowen@custard.REMOVE.net.au
http://www.custard.net.au/bowen/daniel/