Trials of train leave passengers derailed
HEATH ASTON
August 8, 2010

RAILCORP will shut down a suburban rail line this week to test the new Waratah train, breaking a promise that the trials would not inconvenience passengers.

Services on the Carlingford line will be replaced by buses from 9pm to 2am from Wednesday to Saturday.

Testing of the delayed and over-budget train will go ahead despite assurances in April from RailCorp and private sector partner Reliance Rail that it would happen overnight, after daily services had finished, "to avoid delays and interruptions to scheduled passenger services".

Early tests of the first four of 78 Chinese-made trains were run overnight but it is believed the program is behind schedule.

The first Waratah should have been in service in April, according to the original $1.9 billion contract, but a series of defects has been discovered since the first carriage arrived from China.

People close to the tests have told of loose windows, unsound door frames, gaps between light fittings and poorly fitted seats and wall and ceiling panels.

Less than a fortnight ago a motor associated with a traction control system "blew up" and the train had to be taken off the tracks.

A spokesman for Transport Minister John Robertson said the motor had overheated during tests to push the system to its limit, well beyond what it would endure during normal service.

The Keneally government is racing to have at least some Waratahs in service by the state election.

According to documents aired recently, just three Waratahs will be in service by the March 26 poll, crushing the government's hopes of appearing committed to reinvigorating Sydney's public transport system.

Almost 500 non-airconditioned carriages will be running on the state's rail network this summer despite decade-old pledges to retire them from the fleet.

The delays have caused problems at Reliance Rail, too. Last week, Downer EDI, Reliance's parent company, sacked chief executive Geoff Knox for his failure to get on top of the project.

Opposition transport spokeswoman Gladys Berejiklian said taxpayers had a right to know why delivery of the Waratahs had been delayed.

"The state government has an obligation to let people know if there is a further delay or another cost blow-out," she said.
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