[v] total f%$k up at FSS Mon 23/4 evening

[Mick Stock <mstock@bigpond.net.au>]

Tonight (Mon 23 Apr) there were extensive delays (20+ mins) on Lilydale
& Belgrave trains from FSS.  For example, a 6-car Comeng was sitting on
plat. 2 from around 19:20 until 19:38 "not taking passengers", until
someone FINALLY decided to split it in 2, then run a 3-car set as the
19:17 Lilydale (left FSS 24mins late). The 18:59 Belgrave was in a
similar situation - only 3 cars and AT LEAST 20 mins late!

AS USUAL, there was NO ONE SINGLE ANNOUNCEMENT as to the reason for the
delays.  There was a group of 6 or 7 drivers at the Swantson ST end of
plat. 2/3 who were being kept in the dark as well. One even offered (at
19:22) to take the Comeng on plat 2 to Lilydale as the 19:17, however
when he contacted the control center, they wouldn't have a bar of it
(more interested in having 3 cars somewhere else rather that getting
people home).  There were no signal/points failure as far as I've been
able to find out, FSS-bound trains appeared to be running on time, at
least from Camberwell outwards. There were PLENTY of trains in the
siding at Ringwood, Camberwell, and Burnely, so if an trains were
defective, then there was plenty of opportunity to do something about
it.

I'm not expecting a sensible or even realistic answer to this (based on
past experience), but....

(1) Can ANYONE come up with the REAL explanation as to what the hell was
going on, and why was everyone (passengers AND drivers) kept in the
dark, with no announcements to even acknowledge that there would be
delays.

(2) Why did the control centre (Metrol??) refuse to allow a train which
had been sitting idle on plat 2 to run as the 19:17 Lilydale - it it HAD
been allowed to run, it would have only been a few minds late at the
most. Instead it sat at the platform for over 15 mins before it was
eventually split (and it hould have been 6 cars anyway!).

(3) Why was the 19:20 Belgrave allowed to run before the 19:17 Lilydale
- it should have been rescheduled AS THE 19:17 Lilydale - as usual,
Belgrave passengers got 2 trains in a row (tonite less than 10 mins
apart) while Lilydale passenger went for well at least 40 mins without a
train at all - this happens far too often!  Why are Lilydale passenger
treated like shit in these situations?

If you were NOT there at the time, or don't know the full details as to
the situation at the time, then don't bother replying to this.  I'm
looking for the FACTS only, as a formal complaint will be lodged with
both Connex and my local MP.

One very pissed off "customer" 

-- 
Mick
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