Once again New South Wales train travellers will be stuck with out of date rail stock, lacking air conditioning in our sweltering summer - and with no relief in sight.
It's the same sad old story. The state government promised a new train deal and signed a contract worth $ 3.6 billion for 626 new era " Waratah " carriages with air conditioning and modern design. These were due to be in service by the end of 2010.
It didn't happen. There were delays - and cost over runs and then a new promise that " some " would be delivered by April 2011 - after this years state election.
Now even that is not going to happen. The train builder - Downer EDI - has entered a " trading halt " - and the future is uncertain. In all probability some sort of deal will be worked out - and they may get around to producing trains - but it seems inevitable that the poor old taxpayers will be stuck with a bigger bill.
Perhaps this fiasco is not the fault of the state government, but in saying that it would be true to say that this government does not have a good track record when it comes to devising transport plans - and specially when it comes to ordering new trains.
Remember the " Millennium train " ? That actually got built - and delivered. The only problem was that it didn't work on our track and signalling system - and it used far too much power for our electricity grid.
And so - it disappeared without trace !
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