I think by our age Tony that anyone putting too much trust in what's in the
media is past helping.
Mark Skinner.
On Mon, 22 Nov 2021, 9:51 am TP, historyworks@...> wrote:
> When you read the actual Transdev memo which is linked in that article, it
> comes across in a completely different light from how the SMH portrays it.
> The memo indicates that Transdev is in fact highly concerned about safety
> and is reminding staff that it's everybody's responsibility to report any
> safety issues.
>
>
> https://www.transdevsydney.com.au/uploads/Sydney_email_archives/e08_2014/e08_2014_Safety.html
>
> But never let the facts stand in the way of a good story.
>
> Tony P
>
> On Monday, 22 November 2021 at 09:35:05 UTC+11a...@... wrote:
>
>>
>> https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/operator-admits-staff-put-light-rail-performance-before-safety-of-passengers-20211119-p59acs.html#comments
>>
>>
>> Operator admits staff put light rail performance before safety of
>> passengers
>> James Lemon http:///by/james-lemon-h0wmh9November 22, 2021 — 5.00am
>>
>> The private operator of Sydney’s light rail system told staff they had
>> put service performance ahead of safety when introducing the trams that
>> shut the line down this month.
>>
>> The revelation comes as the government tries to work out how cracks
>> formed on all 12 trams servicing the Central to Dulwich Hill line before
>> being noticed, while it is under growing pressure over Treasury’s attempt
>> to shift its train network’s costs onto a corporation
>> https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/how-financial-engineering-turned-into-a-train-wreck-for-nsw-government-20211118-p59a47.html
>> despite multiple warnings about safety and budgetary risks.
>> [image: Sydney’s inner west light rail line far exceeded patronage
>> expectations early in its history and was regularly packed during peak
>> times before the pandemic.]
>> Sydney’s inner west light rail line far exceeded patronage expectations
>> early in its history and was regularly packed during peak times before the
>> pandemic. Louise Kennerley
>>
>> An internal Transdev Sydney note
>> https://www.transdevsydney.com.au/uploads/Sydney_email_archives/e08_2014/e08_2014_Safety.html
>> said there was a rise in the number and severity of safety incidents in the
>> three months before it brought the now-cracked trams into service in July
>> 2014.
>>
>> “Our investigations into what and why these incidents have occurred show
>> that, on many occasions, we’ve put network demand ahead of the safety of
>> our staff and passengers,” the note, obtained by the *Herald*, said.
>>
>> These concessions were made the same year Transdev Sydney was selected by
>> Transport for NSW to operate and maintain the new CBD and South East light
>> rail. Two years later, it was awarded the contract to supply, operate and
>> maintain stage one of the Parramatta Light Rail due in 2023.
>> [image: Arlington Light Rail Station on the now-closed L1 light rail
>> line, which is being serviced by replacement buses for 18 months.]
>> Arlington Light Rail Station on the now-closed L1 light rail line, which
>> is being serviced by replacement buses for 18 months.Brook Mitchell
>>
>> Transport Minister Rob Stokes said the idea of putting network demand
>> ahead of safety was “unacceptable and outrageous”.
>>
>> “It would have been unacceptable in 2014 and it remains so today,” he
>> said.
>>
>> Tram expert and former government light rail adviser Greg Sutherland said
>> the priority of private operators was to make money for their shareholders,
>> so the government must make sure the services it was paying for remained
>> safe.
>>
>> “You can outsource how you do something, but you can’t outsource the
>> ultimate responsibility,” he said. “That monthly payment is millions of
>> dollars but what checks are being done before the money is handed over?
>>
>> “Transport NSW says safety is the highest priority, but is it actually
>> being treated as such? What are they actually doing to make sure it is
>> managed as the highest priority?”
>>
>> A Transdev Sydney spokesperson said it was misleading and wrong to
>> conflate an employee newsletter with commentary on the overall performance
>> and state of the network.
>>
>> “Safety has always been our number one priority and Transdev Sydney
>> continues to maintain a strong safety record,” they said.
>>
>> “The internal employee newsletter was aimed to highlight the importance
>> of a safety culture within the light rail network.
>>
>> “The examples given related to isolated practices and not directions or
>> decisions taken by the company due to any network or other pressures.”
>>
>> Labor transport spokeswoman Jo Haylen said the document showed the latest
>> shutdown was a symptom of long-term mismanagement of the public asset which
>> had now had to shut down entirely.
>>
>> “This network has been run into the ground,” Ms Haylen said.
>>
>> “The government’s asset management plan
>> http:///link/follow-20170101-p59a53 already revealed that the inner
>> west’s trams are inspected just once a year; now we know that passenger
>> safety and the integrity of the network have come second since 2014.”
>>
>> Another staff memo described a “noticeable increase” in trams running
>> through stop signals. The note
>> https://www.transdevsydney.com.au/uploads/Sydney_email_archives/e12_2014/breakout2-look-ahead-Is-it-red.html
>> said such events “can be as serious as a matter of life or death” and were
>> happening almost monthly six months after the opening of the line’s
>> extension to Dulwich Hill in March 2014.
>>
>> Meanwhile, Transdev Sydney encouraged drivers to “look ahead. Is it red?”
>> .
>>
>> A Transport for NSW spokesperson said safety was not negotiable at the
>> government agency and the tender process would have adopted this absolute
>> requirement then assessed other criteria as set out in the assessment
>> matrix.
>>
>> They said there were a number of checks and balances for Transdev’s
>> performance, including monthly contract reports and meetings where safety
>> performance was on the agenda, and mandatory reporting of safety incidents
>> to the Office of the National Rail Safety regulator.
>>
>>
>> --
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