High tech testing?
There was an interesting news story on Channel 7 News last night - a secret film of Connex' high tech testing of the Siemens brakes. A bit of tape, a bit of Nylex hose, off you go! Isn't there something in Bracks' water regulations to cover watering a train's brake pads only between 2:00am and 4:00am?
And what's the go on the European testing that Bruce Hughes is overseas supervising? Seems nobody over there knows anything about it. Surely Connex and the Bracks Government wouldn't be telling porky pies?
This public transport crisis seems to be descending into farce!
And what's the go on the European testing that Bruce Hughes is overseas supervising? Seems nobody over there knows anything about it. Surely Connex and the Bracks Government wouldn't be telling porky pies?
This public transport crisis seems to be descending into farce!
posted by Connex Whinger at 7:45 am
8 Comments:
Hello.
I'm from Wellington (in Nz)
I thought you might like to see my blog.
www.mat-myblog.blogspot.com
Hi there, I couldnt resist commenting on the related article http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/siemens-trains-fixed-connex/2007/02/08/1170524233623.html.
Half the strategy they are employing to 'fix' the problem is total bollix. Changing the number of carriages in the set should make no difference to the individual loading of any particular wheel, as the wheels of each carriage support the mass of that carriage only. Even if the train was a rigid body, the increased mass of the train that is achieved by adding length to it is offset by the extra wheels that are supporting the load.
This leads me to believe that either 1) they are absolutely incompetent, or they think that the public are total dickheads and that they can spin any line of crap to satisfy us that things are happening.
Hopefully part 2 of their solution is better than part 1.
Thanks
G.
From The Age 9/2/07
"The problem has been identified as two related issues. First, Siemens trains have a tendency to experience wheel slips when the train wheel has poor contact with the rail. Connex says it has addressed this by operating all Siemens trains as six-carriage sets, increasing the trains' weight causing more pressure and increasing grip on the rail."
Hi anonymous, i agree that their 'fix' is rubbish. Most peak hour trains (siemens or not) run 6 cars anyway. They had these problems during peak and out of peak so I can't see how this is a 'fix' at all?
The next 35-40 degree day or a couple of spots of rain will be interesting.
The trains just can't cope in our climate.
Hi nice to see your blog going strong!
The entire system of Connex is crap. On Flinders street i looked on the Tram Display screens, for any trains that would take me to South Yarra. Finding one train, i hopped on to be taken to South Yarra station.
However it didn't stop at South Yarra. Instead the train overshot South Yarra by multiple stations. This cause us great grief, as we nearly came late to School.
And this happened twice, last week and last December...
Do we get compensation? In theory yes, since they give out free daily tickets as compensation.
However in reality it is of no use for us, this is since we have to use a Yearly ticket. Also not many even know that we could even 'Claim' compensation in the first place!
Seriously despite being a environmentalist, this kind of 'public service' might instead make me drive a car in the future. (Once I finish school of course) (Till then i don't have a choice >:( )
Signing out! - Anon, South Yarra Student
P.s. Somebody should take Connex's CEO's car away, they have it too easy. While we rot away in this pile of trash know as Melbourne transport system.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/levers-rods-bells-guide-the-522-to-eltham/2007/02/10/1170524347070.html
And this one.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/rail-safety-systems-of-wwi-vintage/2007/02/10/1170524347067.html
well trains are back running again (apparently)... wake up to SMS of cancelled train.
Oh well, at least I got an SMS.
Yay for mis-information:
At 15:31, I got this message:
"Christopher, the 4:58 pm Flinders Street train to Modialloc has been cancelled. [...]"
at 15:44 (that's right folks, 13 minutes later)
"Siemens issue ¿ Planned cancellations end. The 4:58pm train to Mordialloc returns to normal service."
So... I gather from the above messages that the train has returned to normal service yet won't be running today? Or was the cancellation message sent before they figured out it was returning to normal service?
In other SMS news, the 5:41pm from Flinders Street has also returned to normal service, but the 4:28pm from Flinders Street is cancelled.
Do Connex even know what train is taking me home tonight yet?
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