[Greens-Media] Boston rail report shows need for more frontline staff

[Lee Rhiannon]

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon - Media Release - 10 October 2008

Boston rail report shows need for more frontline staff

Greens MP and transport spokesperson Lee Rhiannon says the findings
from the Boston Consulting Group Report on RailCorp services support
increasing front-line staff and cuts to management positions, as this is
the key to clean, safe reliable train services.

*Removing front line staff at a time when patronage is sky-rocketing
makes absolutely no sense,* Ms Rhiannon said.

*Reducing staff will only compromise the ability to cope with
increased commuter demand for rail. 

*Reducing front-line staff will fail to fix the problems identified
in the Boston Report, including inefficient services, inadequate
security, unsafe trains and lack of cleanliness. 

*As the government has now paid a private consultant $10 million to
produce this report, the Premier should study its findings on commuter
dissatisfaction.

*Premier Rees must then reform NSW rail to provide clean, safe and
efficient services while managing the corruption that has riddled
RailCorp. 

*This requires prioritising front-line staff, not cutting numbers.

*RailCorp has a bloated management structure, with over 80 group
general managers and 290 SES staff. 

*The Boston Report reveals that RailCorp*s many managers have been
dreaming up unrealistic regimes which front-line staff must follow,
compromising service delivery.

*The Opposition*s obsession with staff cuts, if implemented, would
prevent improvements in rail services. 

*If we want to maintain and improve rail services the government must
maintain and increase full-time, front-line staff.

*With a cloud over our economy and high petrol prices efficient,
well-managed public transport becomes all the more important.

*The Rees government must quarantine significant funding to build
infrastructure for a world class transport system, with the front-line
staff to make it work,* Ms Rhiannon said.

For more information:  Lee Rhiannon 9230 3551, 0427 861 568



--------------------------------------------------
Lee Rhiannon, MLC
The Greens
Parliament of New South Wales
Macquarie St 
Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 
Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
lee.rhiannon at parliament.nsw.gov.au
http://www.lee.greens.org.au/
http://www.democracy4sale.org/ 

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