Wed 25 January - Bruce, you still here...?
I keep hoping that I'll visit the Age website and see that you've resigned to make way for somebody who can actually do the job you're being paid to do - in case you'd forgotten, that's to run a rail network. I wish I could afford to come and heckle you at the CEDA conference next month, but 187 bucks is a bit much just to hear why Dennis Cliche can outperform his benchmarks while you constantly fail to get close to yours. Thanks to you, Melbourne's public transport system will be the laughing stock of our international visitors.
In case you're wondering about this latest outburst, it's because before 06:24, you (Connex) would have known that the 06:24 to Sandy was not running and therefore the 07:00 back to the city could not run either. So why didn't you tell us then? That way some of us could've had time to get ready and catch the earlier train instead of getting a later, more crowded one. If you're not competent to actually make the trains run according to the timetable, at least keep us informed.
Fortunately the 17:49 is pretty much on time for the homeward journey.
In case you're wondering about this latest outburst, it's because before 06:24, you (Connex) would have known that the 06:24 to Sandy was not running and therefore the 07:00 back to the city could not run either. So why didn't you tell us then? That way some of us could've had time to get ready and catch the earlier train instead of getting a later, more crowded one. If you're not competent to actually make the trains run according to the timetable, at least keep us informed.
Fortunately the 17:49 is pretty much on time for the homeward journey.
posted by Connex Whinger at 7:45 pm
7 Comments:
I got an SMS at 6:41 a.m. telling me the 7:08 from North Brighton was not running - is this the train you mean? Seems like the SMS system is picking and choosing at the moment.
How freaky - I got an SMS from Connex saying a Mordialloc train has been cancelled tonight as I was reading this entry! Remember Connex's excuse about 18 months or more ago saying that the problem was due to lack of drivers and that they were training a whole new batch but it took 14 months to train properly? They STILL roll that out as an excuse though the Spencer Street station redevelopment has become their favourite.
You're right, they have a raft of excuses ready to trot out along with their litany of failures to meet some very soft performance targets. Spencer Street is a beauty, isn't it? By their own admission, there are more cancellations and delays on the Sandy line than any other. Yet the Sandy trains are directly in and out of Flinders Street!
You might be interested in this letter in today's Age:
"Connex candour
THE passengers on a Sandringham bound train during peak hour this week were treated to a surprise announcement. After cancellations followed by late-arriving trains, our driver deviated from the usual recorded Connex corporate-speak when he announced that he was sorry "it was a shemozzle, there had been a fire in a control box in North Melbourne, which didn't help, the new trains were having teething problems and besides, the system was stuffed".
For the passengers who endure what sometimes feels like a part-time line, it brought a smile at the end of a long day. To the driver: your honesty made it bearable. Thank you.
Andrew Maher, Hampton"
But remember - a number of Sandy trains come from Willamstown, which are running express through SSS at the moment!
Like that letter. A couple of times I've been directly or indirectly accused of having a go at the drivers. That's not the case. I'm sure the drivers are jerked around as much as we are, in fact, I know they are. My beef is with Connex management, and it starts at the top with the cretin Bruce Hughes.
Dennis Cliche? Is he the manager of Yarra Trams? The figures might look ok, but what happens behind the scenes to make the figures look good? Plenty.
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