transport

MEDIA RELEASE | 22 February 2013

GRAFFITI AND VANDALISM ON TRAINS UP TEN PER CENT FOLLOWING CUTS TO OFFICER PATROLS

There has been a ten per cent increase in graffiti and vandalism on Sydney's trains – at the same time the O'Farrell Government has reduced the number of officers patrolling the CityRail network.

According to RailCorp's own figures, obtained under Freedom of Information laws by the Shadow Minister for Transport Penny Sharpe, there were 12,158 incidents of graffiti or vandalism in 2011/12, up from 10,926 in 2010/11.

Meanwhile, the O'Farrell Government has bungled the transition from transit officers, to uniformed police – resulting in a reduction in the number of people patrolling trains and stations from 750, down to less than 500.

TEN News | 20 February 2013 | North West Pain from Penny Sharpe on Vimeo.

By year's end an extra 100,000 CityRail passengers will be travelling in brand new Waratah trains.

But not everyone is in for a comfortable ride, with commuters who use the busy Western line set to miss out.

MEDIA RELEASE | Wednesday, 20 February 2013
 
COSTS BLOWOUT ON THE NORTH WEST RAIL LINK - BEFORE ONE METRE OF TRACK IS EVEN LAID
 
New O’Farrell Government tender documents have revealed there has been a $35 million cost blowout on the North West Rail Line - before a single metre of track has even been laid.
 
Contracts the O’Farrell Government said would cost $33 million are now costing NSW taxpayers $68.3 million - more than double what was set aside in the budget.
 
The cost blowouts include:

• Engineering services – tender was for $19.7 million, now costing $31 million;
• Geotechnics – tender was for $997,000, now costing $6.5 million;
• Legal services – tender was for $735,000 now costing $8.8 million; and
• Commercial/finance services – tender was for $629,000 now costing $4.6 million.

 
Even the contract that defines the rail line business case is costing $2.6 million more than was originally budgeted.

Penny Sharpe MLC, Shadow Transport Minister
Tania Mihailuk MP, Member for Bankstown

Media Release | 14 February 2013

Internal government documents have confirmed Panania train station isn’t on the list to receive an easy access upgrade for people with disabilities and mothers with prams – despite Glenn Brookes promising to deliver the upgrade during the election campaign.

Shadow Minister for Transport, Penny Sharpe, and Member for Bankstown, Tania Mihailuk today inspected the station to talk about the upgrade.

"Glenn Brookes promised an accessibility upgrade for Panania station, but internal government documents show the O'Farrell Government has no intention of delivering on this commitment," Ms Sharpe said.