Over two years overdue finally the Premier of New South Wales, Barry O'Farrell and the Minister of Transport Gladys Berejiklian released the newly constructed and tested Waratah trains. It is believed that there will be about 8 Waratah trains rolled out per month. Here is the story from the Sydney Morning Herald 1/7/2011
Waratah train finally on track
Waratah train finally on track
July 1, 2011
The first of the new Waratah trains has rolled into service
but the NSW government warns that full deployment of
the beleaguered project will be hard going and will take a
long time.
but the NSW government warns that full deployment of
the beleaguered project will be hard going and will take a
long time.
On Friday, the first of the new trains came into service in
Sydney, five years after the previous Labor government
signed off on the troubled project.Transport Minister
Gladys Berejiklian blamed the previous government for the
project's poor outcomes to date and said rail commuters
would still have to wait before more of the Waratah trains
came online.
Sydney, five years after the previous Labor government
signed off on the troubled project.Transport Minister
Gladys Berejiklian blamed the previous government for the
project's poor outcomes to date and said rail commuters
would still have to wait before more of the Waratah trains
came online.
"Again, I want to stress this is a big project with big
problems," Ms Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney on
Friday.
problems," Ms Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney on
Friday.
"We're relieved the first one is on the track but there is still
a long way to go."
a long way to go."
Downer EDI, which has the contract to construct the
Waratah trains, said they would be the backbone of the
Sydney rail network for many years.
Waratah trains, said they would be the backbone of the
Sydney rail network for many years.
"We look forward to delivering the remaining program over
the next three years," Downer CEO Grant Fenn said in a
statement on Friday.
the next three years," Downer CEO Grant Fenn said in a
statement on Friday.
The government's contract with Downer provides for 626
Waratah carriages (enough for 72 eight-car trains) to be
delivered at a cost of $3.6 billion.
Waratah carriages (enough for 72 eight-car trains) to be
delivered at a cost of $3.6 billion.
In 2006, then transport minister John Watkins said the first
carriages would be in service as early as 2008, with all
carriages in service by 2010.
carriages would be in service as early as 2008, with all
carriages in service by 2010.
Premier Barry O'Farrell joined Ms Berejiklian at the Friday
press conference and confirmed that there were no plans
to privatise City Rail.
press conference and confirmed that there were no plans
to privatise City Rail.
His comment comes a day after Infrastructure NSW chief
executive Paul Broad said privatising commuter rail had
worked well in Victoria and could be an opportunity for
NSW.
executive Paul Broad said privatising commuter rail had
worked well in Victoria and could be an opportunity for
NSW.
Asked on Friday if the state government would consider
such a plan, Mr O'Farrell said, "No."
such a plan, Mr O'Farrell said, "No."
© 2011 AAP
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