Rail union wants Metro to bring back guards on super trains

New super-sized Metro trains that can carry up to 1100 people in seven carriages are being delivered over four years as part of a $2.3 billion project, but the rail union says conductors are needed to ensure passengers’ safety.

New super-sized Metro trains should not be rolled out across Melbourne this year unless there are guards on board, the rail union says.

The high-capacity Metro trains (HCMTs) can carry up to 1100 people in seven carriages, and are being delivered over four years as part of a $2.3 billion project.

The first of the 65 ordered will run on the busy Cranbourne and Pakenham lines, allowing for 20 per cent more passengers.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union secretary Luba Grigorovitch said the introduction of the new trains raised safety issues, and guards or conductors could assist passengers.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union secretary Luba Grigorovitch Picture: Nicole Garmston

Presently guards only operate on V/Line services.

Ms Grigorovitch has written to Public Transport Minister Melissa Horne highlighting a recent case where a man was dragged 20m along a platform at Heatherdale station.

“With the introduction of the new HCMTs at seven ­carriages of length and more passengers travelling, we do not wish to see the repetition of similar preventable events,” she says. “In our view, basic rail safety requires increased staff at stations and on-board the HCMTs before rollout.”

Public Transport Minister Melissa Horne. Picture: Sarah Matray

Ms Grigorovitch confirmed the union would run a campaign ahead of the first new trains hitting the tracks, saying that guards should never have been removed from the system by ex-premier Jeff Kennett.

“Safety and customer ­service staff are essential more broadly to ensure passengers feel safe travelling at all times and are recognised as being critical to minimising the ­occurrence of traumatic rail ­incidents,” she said.

The government has no plans to reintroduce guards or conductors, but a spokeswoman for Ms Horne said passenger safety was “always the number one priority”.

“We are continually working with all public transport operators to ensure the ­network is as safe as possible, while increasing awareness of the many safety features in place,” she said.

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“There are currently a number of measures being trialled to improve the way passengers get on and off trains, while authorised officers and station staff work hard every day to ensure passengers get where they need to go and home again safely.”

The HCMT rollout timeline has been under pressure ­because of union antics already, with a dispute flaring last year over who should be allowed to move carriages in a maintenance facility.

The government has ­repeatedly said the first trains will be on the network by “mid-year”.

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