>On Fri, 9 May 1997 20:35:15 +1000, Mick Stock
><mzs@eastwood.apana.org.au> wrote:
>> It seems to me that although the Met claims that they are improving
>>services, they don't have the rolling stock & necessary maintenance to
>>actually provide a decent service. The actual timetables do not allow for
>>any delays, and even when trains are at the platform at FS station on
>>time, it is normal for them to leave a few mins late.
>I have to catch 2 trains and a bus to work (St Albans-City, City-Box
>Hill, Box Hill- Burwood East). It doesn't take much disruption to make
>me miss at least one of the connections. Often it runs smooth as
>clockwork, but in the last 2 weeks it's been really bad. No idea why,
>just a lot of cancellations and late trains.
According to the article on page 3 of the "Metro" section of the Age
(13.7.97), the service has gone downhill over the last 3 weeks due to
poor morale since "Robin Cooper announced the public transport
system's privatisation by the end of next year". Apparently workers
are starting to use up their sickies and not put in the extra effort
required to get trains in on time.
The article quotes these on-time figures:
Week ending 19 April:
morning peak 94%
evening 93%
Week ending 26 April:
morning 91%
evening 84%
Week ending 3 May
morning 87%
evening 90%
These figures of course are for the PTC's 5 minute leeway before a
train is considered late. Presumably the number of trains late by less
than that has increased even more. It only takes 3 minutes to mess up
my day.