An open letter to Transport Minister Andrew Constance
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Minister, you will no doubt be aware of the breakdown of the 7.43am XPT from Parramatta to Bathurst on Saturday morning last.
I travel regularly to Bathurst by train as I do not drive. On this occasion, it was for three business meetings concerning a deceased estate. Those three business houses met my convenience by making themselves available of a Saturday, as I reside in Parramatta.
However, as a result of a gross lack of maintenance of infrastructure by your department, it became yet another transport debacle.
Those meetings had to be cancelled and rescheduled for next weekend – at cost. Those businessmen/women had their time wasted, not to mention the inconvenience experienced, and as is the mantra of the Liberal/National Party, "Time is money".
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As a result of this, and many other incidents concerning the administration of this state, it is becoming more and more ludicrous to hear in the media that the "Liberals are the better managers".
It is patently obvious that you do not even maintain your own assets, as any prudent business owner would do.
Had the train not broken down in the Sydney region, mobile phone reception could have been lost elsewhere and those businessmen/women would have been left stranded.
You will recall in my last letter to you, dated October 1, 2018, and my references therein to my correspondence with your former colleague Mr Daryl Maguire concerning your rail services, that I was travelling from Bathurst to Parramatta on October 1, 2018 when the XPT broke down shortly after leaving Bathurst at 5.07pm and I did not reach Parramatta until 12.15am.
There have been numerous such incidents of trains breaking down where business deadlines have been missed.
The situation is appalling and I can only say that to rely on government infrastructure in this state for the purpose of carrying out business meets the lowest standards I have known anywhere.
By the way, my seat (Car B, Seat 42) was double booked.