United Group Rail, the manufacturer of the $58 million Prospector train, has committed to an extensive program of works designed to improve the reliability of the passenger service.
United Group Rail, the manufacturer of the $58 million Prospector train, has committed to an extensive program of works designed to improve the reliability of the passenger service.
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said Prospector operator Transwa had demanded the plan so the state of the art train's reliability could be brought up to an acceptable level.
"This follows several failures in December and again in January," Ms MacTiernan said.
"The Prospector's reliability issues have been well documented and some have not been fully resolved since it was introduced into service in June 2004."
The minister met with UGR's senior management, PTA chief executive Reece Waldock and Transwa general manager Kim Stone last week.
"I am satisfied that UGR is treating this issue sufficiently seriously and that the company is committing the required resources to clear the technical problems."
Representatives of Transwa and United Group Rail were unavailable for comment when contacted by WA Business News today, but Hugh Gallagher chief executive of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that the problems were an issue for all of the state.
"The breakdowns are having a significant effect on tourism in the region, as many people ride trains for the experience. The prospector is an iconic service, so to be confronted with these regular breakdowns is a major concern," he said.
He said that the problems were mainly electronic and technology related across a number of aspects of the train.
The service has been beset by numerous break downs, resulting in passengers having to continue their journey by bus, an inferior and much slower option given the high level of appointments and comforts offered by the new Prospector carriages.
Last year, WA Business News reported that delegates to the popular Diggers & Dealers mining conference in Kalgoorlie were offered a bus service after difficulties attributed to track maintenance meant they could not use the rail service, which they had booked.
However, by August it became clear the new trains had been withdrawn from service due to mechanical difficulties on 10 occasions. On nine of these occasions, the service was replaced by the new train's predecessors.
The new repair program has commenced and three full-time teams are working on the project.
