Rail union’s $50m demand for more screen time

A STATE Government union deal to spend $50 million on extra CCTV screens for the state’s new train fleet is a waste of taxpayer dollars, as it merely duplicates existing screens in the driver cabin, transport sources say.

A PALASZCZUK Government union deal to spend $50 million on extra CCTV screens for the state’s new train fleet is a waste of taxpayer dollars as it merely duplicates existing screens in the driver cabin, transport sources say.

The Courier-Mail can reveal about 300 extra screens being installed on the $4.4 billion New Generation Rollingstock trains replicate existing dash-mounted CCTV screens just a few steps away.

Details of the works come as an inquiry into NGR design flaws quizzes top transport officials and politicians.

As previously reported, the extra screens were approved by the Palaszczuk Government after its election in 2015 at the insistence of the Rail Tram & Bus Union.

But transport sources with knowledge of the project say the extra screens were ordered purely so train guards could remain visible to the public by standing in the driver cabin door.

The trains were designed as driver-operator only, meaning guards would be abolished, but the powerful rail union later struck a deal with Labor to save their jobs.

It involved installing extra screens on the driver cabin rear wall so guards can continue to poke their heads out of the door to blow their whistles.

This is despite the driver cabins already being fitted with dash-mounted CCTV screens beaming identical images of the full length of the train platform.

It is understood that transport officials had resisted the move, arguing guards could have simply sat in the empty rear driver cabin and viewed the existing screens.

But the unions wanted extra screens mounted to the rear wall so guards could stand in the doorway, sources say.

“The whole idea of 21st Century rollingstock is you don’t need a guard,” one source said.

“They just stand there doing nothing. It’s a make-work scheme for the union.”

Transport Minister Mark Bailey defended the $50 million upgrade.

“This added visual capability will allow guards to see the entire length of the train from the cab doorway, even on curved platforms, providing better sight lines and improving safety for passengers and staff,” he said.

Guards on NGR trains cannot help disabled people board because of their position in the last carriage.

Station platform staff now do the job, and on some stations, also give the all-clear by blowing a whistle.

The RTBU did not respond.

A QR spokesman said it was standard procedure to conduct a visual check prior to departure.