Rita Saffioti forced to defend safety of new C-series trains after drivers raised concerns
Labor has been forced to defend the safety of their new locally made C-series railcars, after a survey of train drivers slammed the roll out as 'rushed', raising concerns over the brakes and speed controls.
The comments come after The West Australian revealed the survey results, which included almost 80 per cent believing the trains should be removed from service until key issues were addressed.
Among the concerns raised by a majority of the 300 drivers polled were inadequate air-conditioning and excessive noise in their cabs, and problems with the radio systems connecting them to other operators, controllers and passengers.
As the issue dominated Parliament, Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas raised concerns about the safety of the trains, saying the issues raised by drivers needed to be taken seriously by the Government
'What these train drivers, professionals who are behind the wheel of these machines that can travel at 160km/h, are trying to warn us about is that they don't feel that the required amounts of safety and due diligence has gone into their roll out,' he said.
'Over 80 per cent of train drivers surveyed have recorded issues or concerns with braking, with turning and with steering.
'These are trains. They travel at high speed. I don't need to tell anybody here the potential dangers or ramifications if any of these issues meant that those train drivers lost control of these machines. The government needs to act.
'The West Australian public has every right to be extremely concerned about their health and safety when they get on those trains.'
The rollout of the trains has been marred by several high profile issues, including trains stranding passengers at stations, with sensors failing to line up with the platform, keeping the doors from opening and closing.
In one issue, two of the trains stalled on the Yanchep line on the day of Fremantle's season opener, crippling the Transperth network for several hours in the lead up to the game.
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the trains were safe, and the Government was working with drivers and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union — who ran the survey — to address the concerns.
Among the changes being considered, she said, were new chairs for drivers and passengers following feedback, as well as air-conditioning fixes.
'When there's a new series of trains introduced into the system, drivers need to get used to the new the new trains,' she said.
'We work really well with the union, and of course, the drivers to ensure that any issues they have are both first analysed, and also we work together to address them.'
Asked at an earlier press conference, Premier Roger Cook said the Government and Public Transport Authority were continuing to learn about the trains after they hit the tracks.
'You can trial these things, but once you get into real time and actually on the job, that's when you really learn about all the nooks and crannies and the idiosyncrasies of the trains, and you can continue to refine the model,' he said.
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Lambton pool accounted for almost 60 per cent of 430,000 visitors to the city's five swimming pools last season. Its entry fee will remain at $6. According to the council, including Lambton in the trial would increase costs by an estimated $1 million each year and result in a $700,000 budget deficit. Labor Cr Elizabeth Adamczyk said Cr Gittins' suggestion excluding Lambton pool from the trial would create a two-class society was "insulting". "We have to make a choice about where our money goes within the parameters that we work in," she said. "What we have before us tonight is ... a sensible middle ground that's found a pathway forward to ensure we are actually delivering on our commitment to our communities, to create equitable, inclusive, connected and healthy communities that will have a real impact in material terms in people's lives." Greens Cr Charlotte McCabe made a move for Lambton pool to be included, but council meeting procedure meant it could only be voted on if the original motion excluding it was lost. Independent lord mayor Ross Kerridge also tried to have Lambton pool included in the original motion, but Labor Cr Declan Clausen argued it was a "direct negative" of the proposal he put forward, so it could not be included. "I would like to see Lambton included in this trial, but we do have a responsibility as a group of councillors not just to listen to what we see, but also to consider the expert advice that we are given," Cr Clausen said. "What we are voting on tonight is a targeted, financially responsible and community-backed initiative to trial $2 pool entry at four of our inland pools. It's not the end of the conversation; it's just the beginning. Cr Clausen said councillors could either vote for a "meaningful improvement" to pool access or hold out for the perfect solution that may never arrive. "I ask each of you not to make the perfect the enemy of the good," he said. The trial is expected to cost the council $900,000 in 2025/26 and a further $200,000 in enhanced security at all pools. According to the council, the trial will increase the annual spend on pools to $4 million. City of Newcastle chief executive Jeremy Bath has the power to terminate the trial before the end of the 2026 summer swim season, but only if "significant risks" eventuate that cannot be "sufficiently controlled". IT'S the most popular watering hole in the city, but Lambton pool will be excluded from a $2 entry trial next season. While some councillors wanted to dive in the deep end with all five pools, a majority chose to test the waters at Beresfield, Mayfield, Stockton and Wallsend before taking the plunge. Lambton pool will not be included in the 2025/26 trial due to "operational and safety risks", given the already high visitation numbers each season, but will be considered for inclusion in future. Councillors also approved a free entry trial at all pools on Australia Day, but not before wading through murky waters during an almost one-hour debate on Tuesday night. Independent Cr Mark Brooker said he was disappointed Lambton pool would not be included in the trial, given 75 per cent of people who took part in community consultation said they intended to take advantage of $2 entry there. "We're delivering for only one quarter of the people who went to the trouble of engaging with us, we're only delivering for 41 per cent of pool users across the swim season that has just concluded," he said. "I don't for a moment want to risk the safety of the public, not for one moment, but I believe there are ways we could make it work." Fellow independent Cr Peter Gittins said he could not support a motion that, whether true or not, creates a perception of a "two-class society" that is both "inequitable and unfair". Lambton pool accounted for almost 60 per cent of 430,000 visitors to the city's five swimming pools last season. Its entry fee will remain at $6. According to the council, including Lambton in the trial would increase costs by an estimated $1 million each year and result in a $700,000 budget deficit. Labor Cr Elizabeth Adamczyk said Cr Gittins' suggestion excluding Lambton pool from the trial would create a two-class society was "insulting". "We have to make a choice about where our money goes within the parameters that we work in," she said. "What we have before us tonight is ... a sensible middle ground that's found a pathway forward to ensure we are actually delivering on our commitment to our communities, to create equitable, inclusive, connected and healthy communities that will have a real impact in material terms in people's lives." 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"I ask each of you not to make the perfect the enemy of the good," he said. The trial is expected to cost the council $900,000 in 2025/26 and a further $200,000 in enhanced security at all pools. According to the council, the trial will increase the annual spend on pools to $4 million. City of Newcastle chief executive Jeremy Bath has the power to terminate the trial before the end of the 2026 summer swim season, but only if "significant risks" eventuate that cannot be "sufficiently controlled".
