Re: Any comments about the "M>" service improvement program?

["Andy B" <andyx@optushome.com.au>]

"Mike Alexander" <malex @ bigfoot com> wrote in message
news:3b0ef9e0$1@news.alphalink.com.au...
> Most of the Swanstom Tram fleet is in disgusting condition. Scratched
glass,
> with external graffitti. Rubbish isgraffitti all over the insides, and
many
> common. Also the floors, windows and exterior look like they barely see
the
> cleaners' attention. Brochure racks are usually empty, many drivers are
> surly, and announcements are virtually non-existant. Plus the doors all
give
> that "finger down a blackboard" screech when they open. A bit of oil
> wouldn't go astray. And, to top it all off, the cancellation rate is about
7
> times that of Yarra Trams (according to last edition of Track Record). No
> wonder the government consistently fines them.

> Yarra, by contrast, seems to at least make a reasonable effory to keep
their
> trams clean, their staff well trained, and usually give pretty good
> announcements. My vote goes to Yarra as the best of the four metropolitan
> operators.

I do agree with the points made in your post, however as a driver for ST I
would like to point the following out:

1.  Trams are cleaned on the interior by cleaners each night. If a tram
becomes dirty inside while on a run, it will wait until that evening until
it is cleaned.  There is no point taking a tram out of service just to pick
up a few chip packets or whatever.  Bear in mind that it isn't NatExp
dropping the rubbish, it is the cattle, err passengers.

2.  Every few days trams are given an exterior wash, due to time
liimitations it simply is NOT possible to clean every tram on the exterior
each day.

3.  Brochure racks are usually empty, but then again most of the brochures
get picked up, read, and then thrown on the floor -- just adding to the
rubbish.

4.  I make announcements whenever necessary.  Other drivers do not, I figure
it could be because they do not speak very good English, or could be because
they are simply lazy <g>

Remember that most of the trams in the YT fleet are newer than the trams in
ST fleet, so ST are bound to have a higher rate of failure.  With the W's
out of action at present, there is a shortage of trams and both operators
are doing their best to accommodate it.

I'm not defending my employer, just stating a few facts now that I've seen
things from the other side of the fence. :)


Andy.