Re: Bayside Trains performance

["Johann Fan" <jyfx@optusnet.com.au>]

"James C" <noemail@emailsux.com> wrote in message
39799017$0$11188$7f31c96c@news01.syd.optusnet.com.au">news:39799017$0$11188$7f31c96c@news01.syd.optusnet.com.au...
>
> James Brook <ajmbrook@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
> 397985B5.D1D723A3@ozemail.com.au">news:397985B5.D1D723A3@ozemail.com.au...
> > David Guymer wrote:
> > >
> > > As a past railway worker and current passenger of Bayside Trains, I
> > > strongly feel that they have dropped the ball. I have come across some
> > > very smelly trains, cancellations and serious overcrowding in the last
> > > three days. (Yes I have let them know.)
> > >
> > > As the line I live near (St. Albans) is close to one of the major
growth
> > > areas of Melbourne, the level of service also needs revision. (Not
NE's
> > > fault.) The cancellation of a peak hour service on a line with a
> > > frequency of about 15 minutes at that time has disastrous effects.
> > > (1200? angry passengers).
> > >
> > > Comments in the Connex thread seem to indicate where NE are getting
> > > there standards from.
> > >
> > > Any Other horror stories of Bayside trains?
> > >
> > > David G.
> >
> > I use the Broadmeadows line to go into the city and the service is
> > pathetic. Trains are cancelled on a regular basis or they run late. A
> > typical announcement from Bayside Trains is "The 5.27 Broadmeadows train
> > will not run this evening due to a lack of qualified staff". In addition
> > to the poor service they are also filthy. When the trains were under
> > government ownership there was no where near this amount of
> > cancellations and the trains were a lot cleaner. Personally I think the
> > people who complain about Connex should travel on a Bayside train and
> > see how bad our service really is.
> I am a frequent Connex Rail user, I never complaint about Connex, actually
> I'm please about Connex, around 1998 just before the privatisation there
> were many cancellations, train break downs as well, but Connex clear up
the
> problem.
>
> >Although Connex isn't perfect, there
> > doesn't seem to be as many cancellation announcements and the >trains
> > appear to be a little bit cleaner.
> Yes, there are less graffities, and the trains looked frequently cleaned.
> Bayside trains are smellier, dirtier and are frequently late.
> Also Bayside didn't put logos on every single train set, you still get to
> see <the Met> logos on some of the Bayside trains.
>
> Whereas Connex did put logos on every single train set despite their logo:
> <Hillside trains> is rather short life.

There is actually one Hillside (till 12:00am tonight) hitachi set which
still has The Met logo although I think this is because the sticker was
removed by a memeber of the public...

Strange to see this morning at about 10:20am there were no trains in Burnley
Sidings (usually 3 or 4 6-car sets). Are they getting rebadged (Connex) at
Bayswater or Epping like what happenned on the night they took over?


>  Kennet's arguments that privatisation
> > would increase competion is rubbish. If I don't like Bayside Trains, I
> > can't exactly catch a Connex train instead.
> if Connex purchase Bayside in the future, then you would get Connex on
> Broadmeadow line as well. And this does make sense, it would stream line
the
> management for Connex and other mode of public transport and more user
> friendly for the public, simplify planning(such as resignal, radio system
> ect).

I think James' point was that he would have to drive/bus twice the distance
or more just to catch a Connex train meaning that you would have to put up
with the crap service no matter what happens. The fines the government is
legally bound to hand out are such a miniscule (sp?) amount compared to the
subsidy that it does not give much incentive for them to improve.

Connex seem more keen to improve, as seen by their persistence with the 4D
and its problems. I have complained once about overcrowding on weekend
services to Connex and they called me the next day to ask where I travelled
to and at what times, when I noticed the over-crowding not become a problem
(Box Hill)... All in the name of Customer Service....  It is not whether
your services/products are good or not, its how the public perceives your
brand..

I can only hope Bayside lift their performance and public perception....
maybe its time for John Taylor (Director of Public Transport) to come out
and threaten removing the franchise from NE?? =)

cheers
Johann