>Paul Pickford <boss@opera.iinet.net.au> wrote in article
>> All this being the case, and I'm not thrashing a company line here, I
>think
>> most people have missed a point here. AN may well have been doing ok, but
>it
>> was still just a local identity. Parts of Westrail were ok too, and I'm
>sure
>> the other networks had their good performers as well. But overall,
>> nationally that is, the whole picture was a disorganised mess. It was
>> impossible to reform rail, as a national asset, without giving the whole
>> system a good enema.
>> It doesn't matter who owns NR, or even who it was, but the country as a
>> whole must be better off with an operator at the lead who is at least
>trying
>> to improve things. NR isn't perfect by a long way, and I don't doubt for
>a
>> second that they've made and will make mistakes. But they are trying to
>> improve things on a daily basis.
>>
>> When I worked for Westrail we used to do a 3 1/2+ hour trip, Merredin to
>> Perth and book off. That night, 3 1/2+ hours back home. Plus mileage
>> payments, shift and Sunday payments, kilowatt allowances, tuckerbox
>money,
>> and as a mileage train we couldn't shunt before or after the trip. We
>> couldn't touch wagons or switches in the yards, use a computer, or drive
>a
>> car. Plus 100 other stupid little things.
>So you and your union sold your collective souls to keep a job where you
>now have great conditions. Come on mate!
>> I'm sure all the other state systems had similar jokes to this.
>>
>> We still have to look past the signs on the loco's, who owns what and
>where
>> did they get it, and look at the whole deal as an asset to Australia. How
>> can we improve the country as a whole?
>> NR is a developing thing, and when it's gone, it will have left behind a
>> better rail system for Australia.
>Maybe you as an employee of NR can enlighten me. I was wondering the other
>day what new business your company has attracted to rail since it's
>inception. Or are you still hauling contracts that were negotiated prior to
>the birth of NR?
>The way I see it is that your company has attracted very little traffic to
>rail. Sure the trains are longer, but Jeez there is not many of them.
>Earlier in your post you bagged the conditions you once enjoyed at
>WestRail. Tell me are you enjoying the 12 hour shifts, the two days away
>from the family at a time. Oh yeah how about the prospect of DOO? Hope you
>enjoy that too.
>You also say that when NR are gone they will have left behind the legacy of
>a better rail system. What actually will be NR's contribution to this
>better system. You say you are not pushing the company line, but you are
>whether you realise or not. Frank will be impressed.
>I wait with anticipation for your reply
>Rex
Its hardly fair to blame NR for the current situation we now find rail in.
NR was a creation of the previous government,who basically stuffed it up in a
big way.
NR have no hope in hell of attracting additional freight or competeing against
the road freight lobby until there is a level playing field,ie decent
track, uniform rules , standards and most importantly an open regime of track
access charges which are similar to that which the road freight lobby has to
pay, and most importantly publicly available, ie none of this secret
commercial in confidence crap that the SRA use.
Whilst we hear occasionally about a National Track Access Authority which will
do god knows what , whats actually happened, bloody nothing.The previous Govt
simply kept putting the Access Authority in the too hard basket , and the
current crowd simply keep having gabfests and defferring making decisions,so
that nothing happens.
Its been 5 years since Keating first suggested that an Track Access Authority
would be needed.
NR have made some mistakes, no doubt about it, the 12 hour shifts and DOO are
2 of them, as was buying 120 new locos when they needed about 1/2 this number
, but overall they are trying.At least we dont have drivers and crews changing
in the middle of the night at State Borders simply because its the border.
When did the road transport lobby ever change its drivers at state borders.
Lets hope like hell,that the new Federal Transport Minister actually puts some
action into all the talk and does something about a National Track Access
Authority, and it needs to be done RIGHT NOW, not next year sometime.
I somehow feel though that not much will happen,simply because its all still
too hard.
cheers
MD
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Maurie Daly
Department of Communications Lab.
Canberra
Australia
mauried@commslab.gov.au
ph 6 2791331
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