Following questions in State Parliament to the Public Transport Minister, it appears the V/Line carriage air conditioning trial that was to be completed in 2016 is still uncompleted, and possibly not even started, as we enter February 2018.

 

“The initial timeframe we were given was the trial would be finished 12 months ago and the actual upgrade itself would commence last year, but information we received this week is the trial is very different,” said Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull.

 

“I am at the stage where I am wondering if any trial has even commenced as the Government cannot provide me with even the most basic information. I specifically asked the Minister:

 

(1) On which line was the air conditioning trial completed;
 
(2) What type of air conditioning unit was used in the trial;
 
(3) Between which dates did the trial take place;
 
(4) What were the findings of the trial;

“However, the only response I have received in relation to this matter is: “The air-conditioning upgrades program which includes the design and development and testing of a prototype unit for the N-Class carriages is currently underway and will continue in 2018.

 

“Blind Freddy would be able to read this as the trial, that was meant to be have started around 18 months ago, is not happening, as if it has, answers the above queries would be able to be answered,” he said.

 

Mr Bull said his office had received a number of complaints about the service over summer, as recently as last Monday when the mercury closed in on 40 degrees Celsius.

 

“The air conditioning was again not working, with a number of elderly passengers on board.”

 

Caption: Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, says his most recent response from Victoria’s Public Transport Minister seems to confirm an air conditioning trial – promised to have taken place in 2016 – has only just started, if at all.

 

Wednesday, February 7, 2018