I still hate you Connex!
OK, I know we've all got a bit of focus on the Bracks Government and why they need to sack Connex, but let's not forget they could do a little more without expending too much effort. Like tonight, I'm waiting for the 18:12 and their own clock is already showing 18:13 before they bother to tell us that the train is running late - yeah we kinda figured that mate, the lack of a big silver thing at the platform at 18:12 was a bit of a hint! Thing is, surely they knew where that train was, didn't they? I mean it was in the system somewhere, and somebody in Metrol had some idea where our train was. Why didn't he just tell us?
So eventually the train rolls in and it fills up pretty quickly. My collar bone is still flopping around, since I seem unable to find a surgeon who has a clue how to fix it, and I really don't want to be stuck in the doorway getting shoved. And of course I'm very conscious that standing in the doorway makes trains very late, after all Connex spent millions telling us this. Unfortunately there's nowhere else to stand as the train is full up.
Anyway, on the subject of Connex and their favoured relationship with Bracks and the Nuff-nuff, I've uploaded the very interesting segment from Stateline for those who missed it.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6120199477099126658&hl=en
So eventually the train rolls in and it fills up pretty quickly. My collar bone is still flopping around, since I seem unable to find a surgeon who has a clue how to fix it, and I really don't want to be stuck in the doorway getting shoved. And of course I'm very conscious that standing in the doorway makes trains very late, after all Connex spent millions telling us this. Unfortunately there's nowhere else to stand as the train is full up.
Anyway, on the subject of Connex and their favoured relationship with Bracks and the Nuff-nuff, I've uploaded the very interesting segment from Stateline for those who missed it.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6120199477099126658&hl=en
posted by Connex Whinger at 7:43 pm
19 Comments:
Judging by the look in her eyes and on her face (Kosky) she has absolutely no fucking idea what is happening, let alone what to do.
It's like she keeps waiting for Bracksy to give her some advice and guidance!.
I keep expecting Kennett to pop up somewhere in a Hawthorn skivvy and throw his two cents in. God live Stateline!.
Kennett wouldn't want to throw his 2 cents in. He was the single worst thing for the metropolitan train system has seen in a very long time with his privatisation and threats to close a number of suburban railway lines.
I have wondered for a while what Ms Kosky's qualifications are for the oversight of a major organisation like Victoria's public transport system. But there was something in her tone of voice that made me think that she's from the wrong background.
You'd think that someone responsible for a complex and vital piece of infrastructure would have a background in logistics or transport or maybe manufacturing. A background that involves moving things from point A to point B. Maybe in management or maybe as a union rep. After all she's a member of the Labor Party.
I don't want to be dismissive of anyone's educational background - people can move successfully between very different industries - you only have to look at the board members of Australia's biggest companies.
But I found a biography of Ms. Kosky
here
Somehow I don't think that a Bachelor of Social Work is a good background for a Public Transport Minister. And I think that it's showing.
I don't think the Minister's qualifications are so much the problem - she is an experienced Minister and did well in the Education ministry for a number of years. The problem is more about what share of the State and Federal government money pot ends up in public transport and how that money is used.
Consecutive peak hour cancellations on the Hurstbridge line yesterday, immediately before what is normally the most crowded express train over day - leaving a 21 minute gap in trains at 505pm - 526pm. Not good.
Communication Connex goes along way to solving part of your problem , had the enjoyment of using CityRail in Sydney the past week and the one thing i've noticed is at every station on the Circle is that they have an announcer that tells you what is happening with your train.
Yesterday our train was held up leaving Museum ( I was at the next station) the announcer at our station informs us there will be a 3 minute delay due to another train in the loop. He then informs us that the train has left Museum and will be at Central in 1 minute.
Hows that for communication a actual human being at the actual station keeping us informed, much better than Connex's say nothing text msg 20 mins after the event service!.
Your right that really pisses me off that they never tell you whats happenning with the train. If you knew how long it was maybe you can go do something else like catch a tram or go for a beer.
The words Connex and communication don't sit together in the same sentence. Of the past 15 cancellations I have suffered, 3 have had associated text messages, either before or well after the event. A lot of the time, at city loop stations, there is no announcement, just the screens rolling over to the next train. At my suburban station, the screens are always wrong so you always have to ask the man in the ticket booth whether your train is canceled or not.
Hooray i get to return to Melbourne for work luckily I'm based in the CBD for the week so no daily commute from Cheltenham but should be fun when I venture out to Lilydale for a catch up with mates. I dare say it will be eventful!
Then back to Sydney for some CityRail enjoyment (hey there rail cars might be 2 storey and vandalised and no where near as clean but hey the aircon works) and the the train runs hah!.
But nothing compares to the cleanliness of a Perth Train. Must be all the transit guards we have keeping the scum in check.
Hurstbridge line shutdown this morning during the entire peak hour this morning. The news first appeared on the Metlink website at 6.56AM it says. You would expect Connex to send and SMS straight out to everyone affected so they could change their travel plans? WRONG! My SMS came over an hour later, 8.15AM.
See the herald today? That fucken eejit cassidy says its gonna get much worse and they was taken by supprise on the number of passengers. what a tool
Andrew Cassidy, in my view, is a smug bureacrat. Does he really think he can dupe us commuters into actually believing Connex's excuses are legitimate. I doubt it. At least he's been successful with Lynne.
www.connexhater.blogspot.com
Andrew Cassidy is not a bureaucrat. He is a public relations officer (some might say spin doctor) for the private company, Connex.
Right, I stand corrected! Still he's too smug.
Interesting factoid in relation to train cleanliness, Transperth Trains are washed everyday after there completed shifts, Are vacuumed everday, Total cabin detail every 21 days roof cleaning, windows, carpet shampoo, bogeys and overheads detailed every 90, judging by how clean a Connex train is i'd say they get washed every 900 days and a cabin clean out is unheard of.
Such rarities now to be on clean public transport.
Hmmm, I might ask Connex, by email about how often they clean their trains. I'll post it on my blog: www.connexhater.blogpost.com
And Phil, when are you gonna start posting. It's boring without your witticisms.
Reuben van Bemmel
BOB ANNELLS GONE!
The replacement is coming into a serious hot seat.
When are you coming back Connexwhinger?
A funny Train story.
Glenferrie Station has Two city bound platforms both Trains due in the same number of Minutes but the funny thing is the Two trains were recorded on Platform boards as 8:31 and 8:38
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