Wed 22 March - Plenty of debate...
After a few days of feedback via this blog, the www.connexwhinger.com website and email, it's pretty clear that I'm not alone in my views about Connex management and Batchelor with regard to their incompetence. So what are we going to do about it?
I've tried contacting various senior management people at Connex. I've had no success there. I've tried that weasel Batchelor and his care factor is zero. Terry Mulder? Not sure he's likely to be much use.
Maybe as a community we're ready to take the Sydney approach and try a no ticket day? I know this gets raised now and again and the response has been less than overwhelming... Perhaps it's time to give this serious consideration?
The 07:14 is on time this morning.
Home again on the pushie - 35 minutes door to door is as good as it gets on the train, so gotta be happy with that.
I've tried contacting various senior management people at Connex. I've had no success there. I've tried that weasel Batchelor and his care factor is zero. Terry Mulder? Not sure he's likely to be much use.
Maybe as a community we're ready to take the Sydney approach and try a no ticket day? I know this gets raised now and again and the response has been less than overwhelming... Perhaps it's time to give this serious consideration?
The 07:14 is on time this morning.
Home again on the pushie - 35 minutes door to door is as good as it gets on the train, so gotta be happy with that.
posted by Connex Whinger at 7:45 pm
5 Comments:
Phil,
I still don't think a no ticket day would work. The regular commuters most likely buy weekly, monthly and yearly tickets. While weekly ticket holders may be able to plan for a no ticket day, monthly ticket holders are really inconvenienced by this and the yearly crowd simply can't do it. Add to this the physical barrier of...well the physical ticket barriers and no-one would be able to get out of CBD stations unless the staff there opened a barrier which isn't likely to happen.
A no train day would be better, but again it would inconvenience a lot of people to find another way to/from work, probably more effort than it's worth to prove a point that not everyone would help make.
What needs to be done is we need to make Batchelor more aware of how many people are being affected by this inadequate system so that he can perhaps bring political pressure on Connex to improve, but more importantly to make him and his department realise how many votes are tied to a good public transport system. Only the government can do things like improve and upgrade the rail network which is becoming a bigger problem. It really, really annoys me to see the Bracks government spend $20 million plus on advertising compaigns for themselves when that money is sorely needed elsewhere. Especially given Bracks comments about the Kennet governments spending in this area when he was in Opposition.
As for Connex? Well recorded complaints and negative publicity such as is being provided by this blog, and The Age reports may make sure the spotlight is on them. Not sure what else can be done.
Sam
How about we invite Peter Batchelor and co to stand on the concourse at Flinders Street station between 7.00 and 9.00, as well as 16.00 and 18.00 for a week and allow the travelling public to have discussions with him about using public transport on an everyday basis.
I know you're right Sam, just casting around for ideas on where to go next. If Terry Mulder had a bit more credibility we might be able to enlist his aid - unfortunately he's Mr Invisible as far as these issues are concerned. Here's The Age running the biggest campaign about public tranpsort in years (ever?) and where's Wally, er Terry?
Andrew, that's a great idea, I'll give that a go.
The sad thing is that a while ago, the Opposition leader Robert Doyle decided to ride a train from Ormond I think, and have the press there to talk about the rail network. In true form, the train he had planned to catch was cancelled, however a major national story broke (can't remember now which) and all the journos abandoned covering Doyle's trip to report on the new story.
Sam
*cough*publicity stunt*cough*
I guarentee you that if were the other way around, the opposition would vow all these public transport 'goals'.
The current one hasn't been terribly bad.
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