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Minister responds to carriage air-con failure
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Minister responds to carriage air-con failure

A new system will be trialled later this year that will hopefully provide a fix to the air-conditioning problems on V/Line’s long haul carriages, including those on the Bairnsdale line.

Following a number of complaints relating to the failure of the air-conditioning this summer, The Nationals Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, raised the matter in a recent meeting with V/Line in Parliament.

“I had raised it some months ago, but did not receive a response, so I took the opportunity to bring it up again when we met in person,” he said.

“V/Line advised it has identified that when the temperature hits 36 degrees the air-conditioning system on the carriages cannot cope. When it does not operate on the hottest of days (when most needed), this causes great discomfort for passengers.

“I understand there was recently a situation in another part of the state where the train was halted and replaced by buses due to the extreme heat and no air conditioning.

“V/Line advised work was being done on rectifying this problem, but details were limited apart from me being told it was ‘not a simple fix’.

“I subsequently followed up with the Minister and asked when the air-conditioning would be either upgraded or repaired.

“She has now responded to me and advised that an upgrade to the air-conditioning on one N carriage is being trialled in the third quarter of 2016 and a decision would be made on further upgrades taking into account the outcomes of this trial.

“There is now an expectation V/Line and the Minister’s office will keep the community updated on how this work is proceeding,” Mr Bull said.