Media Release | Tuesday, 15 May 2012

FIRST STEP TO PRIVATISATION – AS O'FARRELL GOVERNMENT PUTS COUNTRYLINK SERVICES IN THE FIRING LINE

The O'Farrell Government's decision to sack up to thousands of workers and separate rural trains from the rest of the rail network will hurt services - and is the first step towards the privatisation of CountryLink, the NSW Labor Opposition said today.

"Regional rail users will be the losers under the O'Farrell Government's plan to sack up to thousands of workers and separate regional trains from the rest of the network," Shadow Transport Minister, Penny Sharpe said today.

"Regional commuters have a right to be worried about the O'Farrell Government's plan to split the CityRail network into Sydney Trains and NSW Trains.

"The separation of rural and intercity services from the rest of the CityRail network is the first step towards the privatisation of CountryLink.

Media Release |Tuesday, 15 May 2012

COMMUTERS THE LOSERS UNDER O'FARRELL'S PLAN FOR CITYRAIL AND COUNTRYLINK

ON TIME RUNNING, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SAFETY TO SUFFER – WHILE NOT A SINGLE NEW SERVICE, TRAIN OR METRE OF TRACK DELIVERED

The O'Farrell Government's plan to sack up to thousands of CityRail workers will compromise on time running, customer service and security – and not deliver a single new service, train or metre of track.

"Commuters will be the losers under the O'Farrell Government's plan to sack up to thousands of CityRail workers," Deputy Opposition Leader, Linda Burney said today.

"On time running, security and customer service will all be sacrificed under the O'Farrell Government's blatant cost cutting agenda and commuters will be the ones who suffer.

"In the morning peak, commuters will be forced onto overcrowded and delayed trains. At night, commuters will arrive at empty platforms with no security or staff to assist them."

Shadow Transport Minister, Penny Sharpe said: "None of these reforms deal with the fact trains right across Sydney are overcrowded and facing major delays."   

"For four months under the O'Farrell Government, trains across the CityRail network have failed to meet the 92 per cent on time running benchmark and things are only getting worse.

Media Release | Tuesday, 15 May 2012

NSW LABOR OPPOSITION LAUNCHES PETITION TO SAVE COUNTRYLINK

Shadow Minister for Transport, Penny Sharpe MLC and Shadow Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Services, Mick Veitch will today join local residents at Bathurst Station to demand the O'Farrell Stoner Government rule out privatising CountryLink rail services.

Ms Sharpe and Mr Veitch are in Bathurst to launch a petition calling for CountryLink to remain in public hands.

"The O'Farrell Stoner Government has been considering plans that would see CountryLink separated from the rest of RailCorp to make it easier to sell off to the private sector," Ms Sharpe said.

"We are calling on the O'Farrell Stoner Government to rule out selling off CountryLink to the private sector today.

MEDIA RELEASE | Wednesday, 9 May 2012

LONGER DELAYS FOR COMMUTERS UNDER O'FARRELL - AS HALF OF CITYRAIL NETWORK HIT BY DELAYS AGAIN TONIGHT

Commuters already facing lengthy delays across half of the CityRail network tonight won't be surprised by the latest data revealing on time running is getting worse under the O'Farrell Government.

"Commuters are paying higher fares for longer and more frequent train delays under Barry O'Farrell," Shadow Transport Minister, Penny Sharpe said today.

"For four months under the O'Farrell Government, trains across the CityRail network have failed to meet the 92 per cent on time running benchmark and things are only getting worse.

On the eve of the Federal Budget I can confirm that the O'Farrell government will deliver the NSW State Budget on Tuesday 12 June.

I'll be looking closely at Transport and will do a special NSW budget edition of Red Leather.  

Keeping up with what is happening in parliament beyond the day to day reporting of question time can be difficult. For those of you who want to know what's happening, the Legislative Council produces a newsletter called the House in Review that can keep you up to date.