Private Rail system costs more than owning it

Despite service, Connex coins it - The Age

The French own Connex

Despite an average of 20 cancelled trains a day, Connex still raked in $175 million in payments from the Government for services provided and in ticket sales.

in 2007 — it sent home $11 million in profits to its French parent company Veolia.

Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky has conceded it is no cheaper to keep privately operated companies running Melbourne's rail system.

But she says the Government wants the trains and trams kept in private operation, rather than returned to Government hands, because of the international expertise and innovation companies like Connex bring.

The government is totally out of step on this one.

• Where is the "international expertise and innovation" that Connex has brought?. The standard of service would not be tolerated overseas.


• Why is the state government purchasing both new and old trains rather than Connex?.


• Why did the state government buy back the country rail infrastructure?

  paid a total of $65 million

Also revealed in yesterday's Track Record report was Yarra Trams' poor performance. It was paid a total of $65 million, but had payments of $1.96 million deducted for running too many trams late.

The publicly operated V/Line was forced to pay $128,000 in penalties for late and cancelled trains.

Sykes supports recycled water for Melbourne

Compulsory increased usage of recycled water in Melbourne proposed by a Liberal-National Coalition Bill introduced in Parliament today has been welcomed by Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes.

Dr Sykes said, “The Bill initiated by Peter Hall, Nationals Member for Eastern Region provides a cost effective, environmentally friendly solution to Melbourne’s water needs.

“The operation of the Bill is based on the Government’s Mandatory Renewable Energy Legislation.

“The Bill sets targets for the use of recycled water, including storm water, in lieu of potable water by the major Melbourne water retailers and the 1,500 or so large users of water.

“Importantly, the Bill does not require Melburnians to drink recycled water but for recycled water to replace potable water currently used in parks and gardens, industry and other situations which don’t involve human consumption of the water.

Dr Sykes concluded, “This Bill provides a common sense alternative to the ludicrous proposal to pipe water from dry Northern Victorian to Melbourne.

“I challenge the Government to allow the Bill to be debated in the Parliament.”