Double-decker train - an expensive sardine can?

News Release - 6 May 1992

Figures recently released by the State Government show that the trial use of the double-decker train running through Camberwell and Box Hill will cost taxpayers at least $11.7 million more than the $14.4 million previously announced by the Government.

At the same time, the train has been sharply criticised by the Public Transport Users' Association for its slow loading and unloading times, security problems, limited flexibility and lack of seating.

As well, the need for double-decker trains has now been drastically reduced by the Government's decision to build a third line over part of the rail line to Ringwood. In May last year, the Minister for Transport, Mr Spyker, had cited the high cost of constructing a third line as one of the reasons for introducing double-decker trains.

The Member for Balwyn, Mr Robert Clark, said that the project had all the signs of another expensive Government bungle.

"The Government has spent $26.2 million of taxpayers' money on a prototype train that is inadequate for general use and could become redundant in just a few years.

"The train may well be comfortable in off-peak use, particularly when it is plush and new, but in regular peak hour use it threatens to become cramped and uncomfortable and to slow down the whole system due to the time taken for passengers to enter and leave the carriages.

"The Government would be better off ensuring that its existing rolling stock was better deployed, or even buying further stock, in order to provide a better service," Mr Clark said.

Figures contained in the Government's Public Sector Capital Works Program for 1991-92 show that $11,705,000 has been budgeted for "infrastructure construction" related to the double-decker train. This would include lowering of the track to fit under bridges and changes to overhead wiring.

This figure comes on top of the $14,481,000 budgeted for the train itself.

Mr Clark said that at $26.2 million the double decker was the most expensive item of rolling stock in the history of Melbourne's public transport system. For that price the Public Transport Corporation could purchase 15 new articulated trams or 120 new buses.

In an article published last month in the Public Transport Users Association newsletter, Mr Paul Mees of the PTUA argued that:

• The Melbourne rail system runs with 17% spare trains, compared with 10% spare trains for most other systems, and that reducing the level of spare trains would free up 11 six-carriage trains which could be used to improve services better than the double-decker train.
• Because of increased loading and unloading times, overseas cities mainly use double decker trains on lines with long trips and few stations.
• Because bridge clearances need to be raised, the double decker trains will only be usable on the Belgrave and Lilydale lines unless tens of millions of dollars more are spent.
• The four separate compartments on each carriage increase security problems.
• Most of the "increase in capacity" of the double decker train comes from the large numbers of standing passengers: 157 per carriage.

In February this year the Minister for Transport, Mr Spyker, announced that the Government would accept the recommendations of the Russell Report on transport in the Eastern suburbs and construct a third track on the Ringwood line. Professor Russell estimated the cost of the third track at $60 million.

However in May 1991 the Minister told a hearing of the Parliamentary Estimates Committee:

"I have put a submission to the Federal Government that it should allocate some funding for one prototype double-decker train to be used on the Ringwood line. The other alternative would be to put in a third line, with an estimated cost of about $350 million."

Mr Clark commented: "Even on the cost of the train alone, each carriage costs $3.6m, compared with $1.5 million for a "Comeng" carriage."