Rail fail: Transperth’s C-Series ‘Temu trains’ plagued with problems from rubbish radios to bad breaks

Bad brakes, worn-out wheels and “deteriorated” critical safety features are among a litany of problems with what the State Opposition has dubbed Transperth’s new “Temu Trains” assembled in WA. More than 12 months of internal documents from the Public Transport Authority obtained by The West Australian provide a sobering snapshot into the problem-plagued roll-out of the C-Series rail cars into passenger services. Among the most serious concerns raised with manufacturer Alstom is the onboard Driver Assisted Video System (DAVS). The critical cameras fitted to the outside of the vehicles are essential for drivers to ensure passengers are out of harm’s way before closing the carriage doors and departing a station. “As drivers would be aware, recently the view on the railcar-mounted DAVS cameras has deteriorated,” an update issued in August stated. “Drivers have continually booked the rail DVAS equipment that requires cleaning. This measure has been escalated as an urgent request to Alstom that needs immediate attention and rectification. “The current cleaning and maintenance regime is not fit for purpose. The operations manager will be meeting with Alstom to further reiterate the concerns.” A trial was underway to fix the issue, with trains required to return to the Nowergup maintenance facility during “peak periods” to have their cameras cleaned as an interim safety measure. Drivers have lodged countless complaints of “significant” and distracting noise from the wheels. Investigations found the grade of steel used was “different to the current standard” across the rest of the Transperth fleet and was causing the wheels to “wear at a considerably faster rate” leading to noise and discomfort. Issues were reported with the braking system and lack of consistency between the new trains. The radio communications were also not working as required. “Incoming radio communications is very poor,” the documents state. “Radio transmissions constantly exhibit bursts of static and are crackly — this occurs at all locations on the network and makes it difficult for drivers to monitor the radio and understand safety critical communications.” The demisting system for the cabin windows has been disabled across the new fleet for more than a year with the PTA aware the electrical cabling installed on the units was too small and generating a lot of heat. Alstom has had to rectify several issues already, including implementing a software update to disable a safety feature which restricted the C-Series railcars to 40km/h for 10 minutes following a loss of wheel traction. Another temporary workaround has been put in place to address a circuit-breaker issue which caused the trains to arc and trip the overhead power lines when passing through different sections of track. “The fans in the electrical cabinets have exposed (blades) without protective guards,” an updated issued in July stated. “Drivers have been injured by the high-speed plastic fans while accessing the cabinets. Have requested the installation of fan guards and quieter fans.” Problems have also been experienced with the Passenger Emergency Intercom with drivers reporting they are unable to hear passengers over the system. The documents appear to suggest that when the trains were put into passenger services they were potentially being driven by staff that had not undergone the appropriate training to operate them. “In the event of any condition affecting the network, service disruption or incident, a direction is in place to remove the C-Series Railcar from service as far as reasonable,” the documents state. “This is to avoid any crewing issues and a circumstance whereby a driver who is not qualified may be required to operate the C-Series railcar.” An earlier update issued in September last year also doesn’t appear to advise staff that they should not be operating the trains without having completed the training. “Depots are providing a printed copy of the Driver Call Sheet two weeks at a time with relevant workers highlighted, which indicate driving a C-Series Railcar for a particular shift,” it says. “This is to enable drivers to raise any issues they may have with the C-Series Railcar. This pragmatic approach is needed to mitigate a C-Series Railcar being allocated to a driver who has not completed familiarization training. ”Should a driver not be able to drive a C-Series Railcar, and this has been raised in advance, then your shift may be altered.” The Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the “teething issues” were expected from time to time and had occurred during the introducing of previous A and B-Series trains to the network. “The C-Series trains underwent an extensive testing and commissioning process, with all trains obtaining all technical and safety approvals required under the relevant standards and rail safety legislation to enable roll out to passenger service,” Mrs Saffioti said. “All drivers have received training to operate the C-Series railcars, which operate in passenger service every day on the PTA network. My office, drivers and their union, the PTA and Alstom continue to meet regularly.” Opposition transport minister Steve Martin has for months attempted to shine a spotlight on the issues by asking dozens of questions of the Cook Government in Parliament with limited success. “What these documents expose is they are little more than Temu trains,” Mr Martin said. “Drivers being armed with $26 squeegees from Bunnings because the demisters don’t work is silly and embarrassing for the Government, but problems with the video cameras and braking systems are very serious issues that the public needs to know has been fixed. “Perth commuters and train drivers deserve to know that these trains are safe and have been properly built, maintained and upgraded.” There are questions over the Government’s “Made in WA” slogan as well, with pictures taken from the Fremantle Wharf appearing to show fully fabricated train carriages arriving by boat from oversees before being loaded onto trucks and driven to the Bellvue facility for assembly. “The Transport Minister needs to stop her dubious Made In WA boasts about the C-Series trains and concentrate on fixing the issues identified,” Mr Martin said. “The rollout is a costly mess and the Transport Minister needs to come clean and admit the scale of the problems.”