Australind Train Needs

19th October 2021

The Member for the South West and Leader of the Opposition Dr Steve Thomas says that the  Australind Train is not providing a reliable service and has called on the State Government to  prioritise maintenance on the existing unit. 

“It was revealed in Parliament last week in a question from my colleague Libby Mettam that the  Australind train has spent 89 days not working over the last financial year” Dr Thomas said. “That’s a  quarter of the year the train is stuck at the station.” 

“The fat controller of Thomas the Tank engine fame would hardly call the Australind a really useful  engine” Dr Thomas said. “He would probably have to describe it as a really unreliable one” 

Dr Thomas acknowledged that the replacement of the Australind was on the State Government’s  agenda, but that in the meantime the people of the South West needed a more reliable service. 

“The new train is not due for delivery for at least a year, and in the mean time a more reliable  service is needed.” 

“It is utterly inadequate for the Transport Minister Rita Saffioti to keep blaming the previous  Government five years down the track, especially in an era of massive royalty revenue” Dr Thomas  said. “How can you have a $5.8 billion dollar budget surplus in the same year you can’t keep the  train running a quarter of the time.” 

“The time for excuses has expired; the people of the South West deserve a better service” Dr  Thomas said. 

Ends.

Media contact: Dr Steve Thomas 0427 908 717