AAP General News (Australia)
08-21-2000
NSW: Greater co ordination needed between rail bodies
SYDNEY, Aug 21 AAP - Greater coordination between the three New South Wales rail agencies
is needed to provide better train services, rail chief Ron Christie said today.
"I think it's fair to say there have been problems between the organisations," Mr Christie
told ABC radio.
"Some of these involve the lack of communication, lack of planning together ... (not)
sharing their planning and expertise."
Mr Christie was appointed by the New South Wales government to overhaul the troubled
rail system which has been plagued by derailments, delays and inexperienced drivers.
He oversees the Rail Access Corporation, State Rail Authority and CityRail.
"I think from the public point of view, they just want the service ...
"They want it to a satisfactory level and they don't really care how many organisations
are involved in running it," Mr Christie said.
"We're trying to overcome that.
"Quite clearly there is a need for some coordination between the three authorities
at the moment."
Mr Christie said he had spent the past month trying to improve the on-time running of trains.
Fault-finding teams had been appointed at train depots and storage yards to identify
faults while trains were being serviced.
And longer term issues such as infrastructure maintenance and the cleaning of trains
would also help improve service.
Mr Christie said the system was sensitive to operate and required a lot of human intervention
to make it run smoothly.
"When you get a problem in the vulnerable areas - and we're aware of where those are
- they can spread very rapidly across the system," he said.
"Obviously I can't do the job on my own. We are seconding people from the rail agencies
to work with us on specific projects, but there are several people that I need to assist
me to get this system operating satisfactorily."
AAP sal/jw/cjh/
KEYWORD: RAIL CHRISTIE
2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.
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