COMMUTERS FORCED TO TRAVEL ON DIRTY TRAINS UNDER THE O'FARRELL GOVERNMENT

Media Release | Monday, 29 October 2012

COMMUTERS FORCED TO TRAVEL ON DIRTY TRAINS UNDER THE O'FARRELL GOVERNMENT

Commuters are being forced to travel on dirty trains under the O'Farrell Government – with the Newcastle, Central Coast and Western Lines recording the highest number of official complaints about dirty trains and stations in the past year.

Internal government figures obtained by the NSW Opposition have revealed there were 1,088 complaints about dirty trains and 501 complaints about dirty stations in the past year.

The worst lines for dirty trains are:

· Newcastle and Central Coast Line – 138 complaints;
· Western Line – 127 complaints;
· North Shore Line – 125 complaints;
· Airport & East Hills Line – 103 complaints; and
· Blue Mountains Line – 96 complaints.

Central, Strathfield, Wynyard, Kogarah, Bondi Junction and Blacktown recorded the most complaints for dirty station platforms.

"Passengers are fed up and visitors to Sydney are appalled by dirty trains and dirty train stations," Shadow Transport Minister, Penny Sharpe said today.

"There are 30 official complaints lodged every week about the state of our trains and station platforms.

"Many more people are venting their frustration and disgust about dirty trains online through Twitter and the hashtags #cityfail and #shittyrail. 

"On time running and overcrowding on our trains is already getting worse under the O'Farrell Government, and these figures show commuters can’t even rely on their trains being clean.

"There is no excuse for running dirty train after dirty train on the CityRail network. Commuters deserve and are paying for much better.

"For all of the O'Farrell Government's talk about putting 'customers' first, passengers are still being forced to travel to and from work in dirty train carriages.

"Let’s not forget, this is the same Government that is charging commuters up to $156 extra in fares each year for the pleasure of travelling on dirty trains."

*Photos of dirty trains on the CityRail network attached.