Melb Commuters To Score Refunds After Yesterday’s Nightmarish Train Delays

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Published

July 14, 2017

Melburnian commuters trapped on trains for almost an hour (ETERNITY) due to a computer glitch yesterday arvo will be issued bulk refunds by Metro Trains.

The fault has reportedly been traced to one server in Metro’s control room.

Earlier today, Premier Daniel Andrews took to Facey to apologise and to pull an iconic dad move, demanding both refunds for passengers and “consequences” (!!!) for those responsible, following a comprehensive investigation:

“I also want to say sorry. To train users, to people who got stuck on our roads, or couldn’t catch a tram, or those who paid ridiculous prices catching other transport.

“You deserve better – and we won’t stop working until we deliver it.”

Metro Trains have announced a full investigation into the cause of the glitch, and will automatically compensate the costs of fares for those who touched on between 3pm and 7pm yesterday. They’re estimating about 175,00 passengers will receive refunds of either $4.10 for adults or $2.05 for concessions. However it may take up to a month for that dosh to come through.

They will not be paying for anyone’s exorbitant taxi and Uber fares.

But Victorian Liberal public transport spokesman David Hodgett wants MORE:

“Who’s going to the pay the compensation for the mums and dads that had to jump in a taxi or an Uber and get charged $100 to get to the childcare centre to pick up the kids?”

Meanwhile, the outage could have implications on the contract between the Victorian government and Metro Trains to run Melbourne’s train network, which is due to expire in November. The gov are currently considering whether or not to extend the contract another seven years.

According to Labor Transport Minister Jacinta Allan:

“The government has already made its view crystal clear. We expect a higher performance standard on the next round of contracts.

“We have written those requirements into the tender documents.

“There are mechanisms under the current contract that allow PTV to put a penalty on the operator.

“But we want to go about strengthening the performance so these sorts of issues do not happen.”

But her wrath was not reserved for Metro Trains. She’s also shitty at Uber, for charging 3x surge pricing during the outage:

“I think their behaviour exposed their approach to the way they treat people who use their services.

“Taking advantage of people in a difficult circumstance is not a way to run the business.”

The outage, beginning at around 4pm yesterday, had some people take two-hour journeys to get home, and had flow-on affects on buses and trams. But it also gifted us this:

Melbourne is very Sydney right now: on fire and broken

— Patrick Lenton (@PatrickLenton) July 13, 2017

“Move down” screams the young dude, who is blocking the entire carriage

— Patrick Lenton (@PatrickLenton) July 13, 2017

People all around the carriage are bonding in a collective eye-roll at the self appointed sheriff of the tram

— Patrick Lenton (@PatrickLenton) July 13, 2017

“You can’t come in!” Screams a woman further down, in much the same way as someone might deny entry of a ghost into their child

— Patrick Lenton (@PatrickLenton) July 13, 2017

We hate them, because we were once them.

— Patrick Lenton (@PatrickLenton) July 13, 2017

A new society is born in the packed confines of the tram – the mayor, once a figure to be feared, is being openly mocked by a bearded youth

— Patrick Lenton (@PatrickLenton) July 13, 2017

The news is whispered – the trains are running again, the trains have stopped forever, the trains… never existed

— Patrick Lenton (@PatrickLenton) July 13, 2017

The tram trundles in the never ending darkness, it’s bell the tolling of a ship of the damned

— Patrick Lenton (@PatrickLenton) July 13, 2017

The mayor is thanking people for making room, but he is ignored. There are no laws anymore, just survival

— Patrick Lenton (@PatrickLenton) July 13, 2017

The mayor has left! There is spontaneous celebration on the tram!

— Patrick Lenton (@PatrickLenton) July 13, 2017

Everyone laughs and nods – we can forgive the mayor now. The bearded youth widens his stance, throws out another arm carelessly

— Patrick Lenton (@PatrickLenton) July 13, 2017

The city is behind us now, and the tram is quiet as we think of the fire and bloodshed we have escaped, the people we have left behind

— Patrick Lenton (@PatrickLenton) July 13, 2017

The next stop, dear readers, is mine – but perhaps I will not take it. Perhaps I will ride this tram with my new nomadic family forever

— Patrick Lenton (@PatrickLenton) July 13, 2017