City trains can't cope says report

By STUART DYE transport reporter

The Auditor-General has told rail chiefs in Auckland they must be more open to reassure the public they are getting value for money.

The slap on the wrist for the Auckland Regional Council comes after a three-month investigation into the authority's passenger rail service.

Auditor-General Kevin Brady's report confirms it has big problems.

The main passenger complaints are of overcrowding, inconsistent or incorrect fare charges, delays to service or no service, children left on stations and maintenance and breakdown problems.

"The overall train system cannot meet the passenger demand, particularly during peak periods," said the report.

It was evident that there were issues that could not be resolved overnight.

New trains and upgrading the rail tracks were part of service delivery.

But, the position was not helped by deficiencies in the current contract.

The report says the service has a history of inadequate monitoring.

It notes that work has started on an improvements project, a contract management protocol and a partnering charter.

But the report criticises the confidential nature of these documents.

"It is our understanding that ARC will seek agreement from Tranz Rail to make the document publicly available.

"We encourage this course of action as, in our view, the public has a right to this information."

The regional council is considering bids from Serco, Connex and Stagecoach to run the passenger rail service.

Mr Brady says that when the new operator is selected, the contract should be explicit in its monitoring and service management requirements.

"The public needs an assurance now that this will happen and that future services will meet appropriate standards," the report concludes.

ARC chief executive Jo Brosnahan said the bodies involved were restricted by working to a contract drawn up more than 10 years ago.

It was a contract which "would not exist in this day and age", she said.

The authorities were working to put more information into the public domain and the contract between the ARC and the new operator would be more open.

"It is in everyone's interest to have these things in the public eye," said Ms Brosnahan.

While the result of the inquiry is critical, it is not the scathing report many detractors had expected.

David Hawkins, former Papakura mayor and a frequent rail commuter whose complaint prompted the investigation, said that as long as documents were kept secret people could not have confidence in the system.

"Suspicions will remain that the penalties and monitoring regime are weak because there have been few signs of improvement in service levels since the complaint was made more than three months ago," said Mr Hawkins.

In view of the large amounts of public money involved, the ARC and Tranz had a moral obligation to be transparent, he said.

Late trains

* Last month Auckland trains were running an average 8 to 12 minutes late. Only half ran on time.

* Rail officials say the biggest problem is the length of time it takes passengers to get on and off.

* Passenger complaints include overcrowding, delays, fare problems and breakdowns.

* The Herald has reported three revolts by angry commuters refusing to pay fares on late trains.