Tangara Train Services Reduce Capacity Amid Security Concerns
The rear carriages of all Tangara trains will be locked off and lights turned off during school holidays due to security breaches and vandalism. The move aims to prevent people from breaking into crew cabs and riding on the back of trains.
Passengers on the Tangara train services are facing reduced capacity during the school holidays due to security concerns. The rear carriages of all Tangara trains will be locked off and lights turned off to prevent people from breaking into the crew cabs and riding on the back of the trains.
This measure was already in place on selected night-time and weekend services but has now been extended to all Tangara trains for the duration of the school holidays. The move comes as the government continues to grapple with the issue of train surfing and vandalism on the Tangara fleet.
Government Response to Security Breaches
Shadow NSW Transport Minister Natalie Ward described the government's decision as "embarrassing," saying it was a sign of surrender to vandals and train-surfers. "It can't be 'lights out' for commuters. You can't give up on this," she said. "Transport policy has to be commuters first, dropkicks second."
However, state Transport Minister John Graham said the decision to lock off the rear carriages was a "pragmatic step" to ensure reliability and prevent disruptions to the schedule. "It's one we don't want to take, but reliability is our number one focus," he said.
Efforts to Prevent Train Surfing
Rail, Tram and Bus Union secretary Toby Warnes said the internal door to the crew cab was being repeatedly targeted by vandals. "I've seen some of the social media videos myself," he said. "It doesn't take much to open that. And once you have opened that, it's not then difficult to open the actual door to get out onto the [rear] platform."
The government has taken steps to prevent train surfing, including fitting slanted "nose cones" onto the buffers at the rear of the trains. According to Mr. Graham, these cones have had some success in reducing incidents of train surfing.
Refurbishment Program
The Tangara fleet is undergoing a $447 million refurbishment program, which includes upgrades to security and customer information systems. However, the program has been slow, with only one train refurbished since the program was announced. The government plans to build a new fleet in the Hunter region, with a $12 billion investment over 15 years.