Train design changes under former LNP Transport boss added to project flaws

An LNP-appointed Transport director-general was in charge when design changes were put forward to the state’s troubled $4.4 billion new trains project, an inquiry has revealed.

FORMER LNP Transport boss Michael Caltabiano was in charge when design changes were put forward to the state’s troubled $4.4 billion new trains project, an inquiry has revealed.

Retired judge Michael Forde, who has led the four-month probe into the New Generation Rollingstock, said the design changes had been devised in 2012 under the then Transport Department director-general.

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It involved replacing plans to hitch together two separate three-car train sets with six-car train sets.

The change opened the way for the removal of a second toilet on the trains, saving money.

But it created flow-on effects by contributing to the train design’s failure to comply with legislation setting disability standards for public transport, according to Mr Forde, and alternatives access measures were not put in place.

“I don’t think the consequences were known or explored,” Mr Forde said.

“What that really showed was that there was a lack of consultation with the disability sector.”

The six-car design was later adopted by cabinet, and manufacturer Bombardier won the work to deliver 75 new trains in December 2013 under a public-private partnership.

Mr Forde’s said he found no evidence Mr Caltabiano or any other director-general or minister was formally advised that the train design breached disability access rules.

He said there was no evidence the issues were flagged above middle management.

Former Transport director-general under the LNP government Michael Caltabiano

Mr Caltabiano had a controversial and short stint as directopr-general. He was hired in 2012 then sacked in early 2013 after spending months on suspension over misconduct allegations involving the appointment of a senior departmental liaison officer.

Mr Caltabiano was later cleared of any wrongdoing by the state’s corruption watchdog.

Attempts by The Courier-Mail to reach Mr Caltabiano for comment were unsuccessful, but the former Liberal Party state president told The Courier-Mail in July he did not believe the NGR design had been contemplated during his time in the job.

Disability advocate Geoff Trappett said the one-toilet-per-train decision added to issues, as it left one of the two carriages with seating for people who used mobility aides without a toilet.

And the aisle linking the two carriages was too narrow for wheelchairs.

Mr Trappett said the State Labor Government took 18 months to act on the issues after Transport director-general Neil Scales was made aware of the problems at a January 2016 meeting.

“What did they do in that 18 months?” he said.

The Government has estimated rectifications will cost at least $150 million. It will release the inquiry findings on Monday and declined to comment.