Re: [NSW] - SMH reporting on Cityrail 15/9/2000

["Tezza" <tezza2000@dingoblue.net.au>]

"David Burns" <dpburns@veal.optushome.com.au> wrote in message
> From today's Herald:
> ( http://www.olympics.smh.com.au/news/2000/09/15/FFXWO3WX4DC.html )
> By ROBERT WAINWRIGHT, ABAN CONTRACTOR and BERNARD LAGAN
>    Sydney's much maligned trains and buses turned in a gold medal
> performance, delivering 100,000 excited passengers to the opening ceremony
without a hitch.
>
>    But the day was not without problems.
>
>    A CityRail driver was stood down for driving past a red signal at
> Olympic Park.

>    Though the Olympic Park incident was not regarded as especially
> serious, it delayed three train services - a mistake that would have
serious
> consequences if it happened in peak hours.

The mandatory procedures, if followed, will always cause large delays. The
powers that be usually breach Safeworking to get the trains moving.

>    As transport officials were readying themselves for the next
> fortnight, the week-long bus dispute appeared to be resolved, with
out-of-town
> drivers offered access to big-screen televisions and icecreams as part of
a
> settlement offer by Olympic officials.

This makes out the bus drivers are a bunch of wankers, easily appeased with
a couple of trinkets. Obviously as reported by the bosses to malign the
workers.


>    The Transport Workers Union said the deal, which forms part of a
> package of improvements, includes more money and better accommodation to
> appease hundreds of disgruntled drivers hired by private contractor Bus
2000.

A more accurate report. The Industrial Commission isn't going to ratify ice
creams and TVs.

>    He denied that a lack of Government funding or resources had
> contributed to the bus problems.
>
>    Problems with the management and rostering within the Bus 2000
> consortium were to blame.

This has been reported several times as being the real problem.

>    Happy passengers, many of them carrying flags, with only a handful
> bothering to bring an umbrella or a drink cooler,

That's good. Only a handful of idiots were going to lose their umbrellas and
coolers then when they are confiscated.