RTBU claims CBD light rail riddled with ‘safety and design flaws’
The CBD and South East Light Rail is riddled with at least 11 design flaws and safety issues that could easily result in injury or death, unions claim.
NSW
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The CBD and South East Light Rail is riddled with at least 11 design flaws and safety issues that could easily result in injury or death, unions claim.
Weeks out from the opening of the $2.7 billion project, the NSW Rail, Tram and Bus Union said the state government has botched the redesigned Anzac Parade, with glaring flaws at Moore Park and the intersections with Robertson and Alison Rds.
RTBU divisional secretary David Babineau said the pedestrian crossing at Martin Rd has no safety measures for cyclists who have just come from Centennial Park.
He also pointed to a lack of chicanes at pedestrian crossings along the 12km route – measures designed to slow pedestrians and give drivers better control over safety issues.
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“Last Thursday drivers rejected an enterprise agreement primarily over concerns around the conditions they are operating in,” Mr Babineau said, adding that industrial action will not impact the rumoured opening around December 7.
“These things are 67m long carrying more people than an aircraft and you are sharing space with everyone under the sun.
“You can’t contain the amount of people using their phones, delivery drivers, cyclists and others.”
A 15-year-old boy suffered minor head injuries when he was struck by a tram at Moore Park in September.
A string of disturbing footage has shown numerous near misses with cyclists, motorists and pedestrians.
Mr Babineau said Transport for NSW has also ignored a fencing problem at Moore Park bus station which means only one of two bus doors can be used at a time.
As a result, passengers experienced massive delays after the T20 cricket game on Sunday, November 3.
At the Anzac Parade junction the union claims there is not enough width for prams and wheelchairs to alight safely from buses.
“Being unresponsive to proposed safety changes is going to look pretty piss poor when someone gets injured,” he said.
Testing on the CBD and South East Light Rail has been running virtually to timetable for the past week.
The City of Sydney claims it had numerous”frank conversations” with the government about safety concerns, but refused to go into detail.
A Transport for NSW spokesman said they have pushed safety messages on the public including the “Heads Up, Play it Safe around Light Rail” and “Be aware, there’s a tram there” campaigns.
They also said they have worked with government bus operator STA and the Centre for Road Safety to identify concerns and mitigate issues raised as far as reasonably possible.
“STA with support from TfNSW carried out a comprehensive driver training program to ensure safe bus operations around light rail,” a TfNSW spokesman said.
In relation to Moore Park bus interchange, the spokesman said: “Safety measures implemented to address STA concerns include temporary chicanes to slow traffic, introduction of a lower speed limit, installation of extra safety signage for pedestrians and cyclists, and a review of signal phasing”.