Gumleaf
February 28th, 2008, 02:29 AM
Thursday 28th of February 2008 - The Age
Yarra Trams has flatly denied passengers' accounts of a flat-out ride through Melbourne's inner south-east last night, during which the driver reportedly missed a turn, ran a red light, refused to slow down and ignored requests to stop.
One passenger, Jan, who did not want to provide her full name, said she caught the number six Glen Iris tram from Federation Square about 9.30pm with her 12-year-old daughter.
She said what should have been a simple, 20-minute trip home to Prahran became the tram ride from hell as the driver sped down St Kilda Road, missed a scheduled left turn at High Street, refused to stop and failed to explain to confused passengers what was happening.
"It was like we were hijacked when we missed the normal turn down High Street and the driver sped down paths unknown.
"Travel by tram again? I will think twice."
However, Yarra Trams has strenuously denied that the tram was speeding, with records showing it never topped 60kmh.
Yarra Trams spokesman Colin Tyrus said the driver did miss a turn when distracted by questions from a passenger with poor English.
It was impossible to reverse a tram for safety reasons, and the driver immediately "did the right thing'' and contacted the tram operations centre, he said.
She was advised to continue down the next available alternative route, which was Dandenong Road.
"She made an announcement on the PA system to explain, but she was being abused constantly by a woman travelling with a child,'' he said.
"The passenger was accusing her of breaking speed limits.''
Yarra Trams had checked the tram's speed records and the top speed it hit was 60kmh, Mr Tyrus said.
"The tram was at no time exceeding the statutory speed limit - [the driver] wasn't speeding.
"It is insulting and an attack on the professionalism of the driver to accuse her of speeding.''
However, Jan 's account was that the tram - a modern three-carriage model - was travelling so fast her daughter began crying.
"The tram was rattling along (and) the different pieces were going in different directions.
"My daughter was in tears (and) wanted to get off the tram."
Jan said she and her daughter moved from the front of the tram to the middle section after hearing two other passengers discussing how the driver was talking on a phone and had her feet up.
"I moved right into the middle of the tram because I thought if we have an accident, it would be the front of the tram that would have the main impact.
"(The driver) got to High Street (and) the tram just moved forward and went straight across the lights... I thought I had got on the wrong tram."
Jan said the tram's 15 to 20 passengers were by that stage feeling very uneasy.
"I went up to the driver and said, 'What's happening?'
"She said, 'I missed the turn.'
"I said, 'Can I get off or can we do something?'
"She said, 'No. I'm going down Dandenong Road now - that's what they've told me to do.'
"I said, 'Some people might want to get off' and she just kept on driving and wouldn't stop."
Jan said the driver eventually stopped on Dandenong Road, where some passengers got off. But confused and scared, Jan stayed on the tram along with most of the other passengers.
Jan said the tram was going so fast she told the driver she would report her if she did not slow down.
"She couldn't care less... She just gave me a look and screwed up her mouth as if I was a creature from outer space."
Jan said many passengers were trying to use their mobile phones to call for help.
"I don't know who they were calling but I called directory assistance.
"The lady couldn't find any number to put me through to (but) she could hear people in the background.
"She put me through to a gentleman at Connex (Trains).
"I said, 'Can you please help?'
"He was really good. He actually rang Yarra Trams and he said to me, 'Look they're speaking to (the driver) now and they're telling her to slow down and to announce to the passengers what's actually going on."
But Jan said the driver still did not communicate with passengers, who eventually realised they could get off at the Glenferrie Road and High Street intersection.
The tram, which was at this point travelling down Glenferrie Road, had run a red light at its intersection with Wattletree Road.
"Someone said, 'Not long to go now. We've survived the last bit.'
"Then as we pulled up to High Street (the driver) made her first and only announcement: 'Those that have missed their stop, there's a tram waiting for you.'
"And that was it.
"We live much further down High Street so we had to catch the (other) tram which was going back towards the city."
Jan said she and her daughter got home about 10.30pm.
Jan rang Yarra Trams' customer service line this morning, and was told her complaint would be investigated and she would be contacted "within seven working days".
A spokesman from Yarra Trams told The Age the reports would be investigated today.
Jan said her daughter was too scared to travel on a tram again.
"All (the driver) had to do was turn around and say, 'Sorry, there's been a slight error' and there would not have been a problem," said Jan.
"Everyone makes mistakes."
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Reference: The Age
Date: Thursday 28th of February 2008
Article Link: http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/yarra-trams-denies-screaming-no-6/2008/02/28/1203788504619.html
Yarra Trams has flatly denied passengers' accounts of a flat-out ride through Melbourne's inner south-east last night, during which the driver reportedly missed a turn, ran a red light, refused to slow down and ignored requests to stop.
One passenger, Jan, who did not want to provide her full name, said she caught the number six Glen Iris tram from Federation Square about 9.30pm with her 12-year-old daughter.
She said what should have been a simple, 20-minute trip home to Prahran became the tram ride from hell as the driver sped down St Kilda Road, missed a scheduled left turn at High Street, refused to stop and failed to explain to confused passengers what was happening.
"It was like we were hijacked when we missed the normal turn down High Street and the driver sped down paths unknown.
"Travel by tram again? I will think twice."
However, Yarra Trams has strenuously denied that the tram was speeding, with records showing it never topped 60kmh.
Yarra Trams spokesman Colin Tyrus said the driver did miss a turn when distracted by questions from a passenger with poor English.
It was impossible to reverse a tram for safety reasons, and the driver immediately "did the right thing'' and contacted the tram operations centre, he said.
She was advised to continue down the next available alternative route, which was Dandenong Road.
"She made an announcement on the PA system to explain, but she was being abused constantly by a woman travelling with a child,'' he said.
"The passenger was accusing her of breaking speed limits.''
Yarra Trams had checked the tram's speed records and the top speed it hit was 60kmh, Mr Tyrus said.
"The tram was at no time exceeding the statutory speed limit - [the driver] wasn't speeding.
"It is insulting and an attack on the professionalism of the driver to accuse her of speeding.''
However, Jan 's account was that the tram - a modern three-carriage model - was travelling so fast her daughter began crying.
"The tram was rattling along (and) the different pieces were going in different directions.
"My daughter was in tears (and) wanted to get off the tram."
Jan said she and her daughter moved from the front of the tram to the middle section after hearing two other passengers discussing how the driver was talking on a phone and had her feet up.
"I moved right into the middle of the tram because I thought if we have an accident, it would be the front of the tram that would have the main impact.
"(The driver) got to High Street (and) the tram just moved forward and went straight across the lights... I thought I had got on the wrong tram."
Jan said the tram's 15 to 20 passengers were by that stage feeling very uneasy.
"I went up to the driver and said, 'What's happening?'
"She said, 'I missed the turn.'
"I said, 'Can I get off or can we do something?'
"She said, 'No. I'm going down Dandenong Road now - that's what they've told me to do.'
"I said, 'Some people might want to get off' and she just kept on driving and wouldn't stop."
Jan said the driver eventually stopped on Dandenong Road, where some passengers got off. But confused and scared, Jan stayed on the tram along with most of the other passengers.
Jan said the tram was going so fast she told the driver she would report her if she did not slow down.
"She couldn't care less... She just gave me a look and screwed up her mouth as if I was a creature from outer space."
Jan said many passengers were trying to use their mobile phones to call for help.
"I don't know who they were calling but I called directory assistance.
"The lady couldn't find any number to put me through to (but) she could hear people in the background.
"She put me through to a gentleman at Connex (Trains).
"I said, 'Can you please help?'
"He was really good. He actually rang Yarra Trams and he said to me, 'Look they're speaking to (the driver) now and they're telling her to slow down and to announce to the passengers what's actually going on."
But Jan said the driver still did not communicate with passengers, who eventually realised they could get off at the Glenferrie Road and High Street intersection.
The tram, which was at this point travelling down Glenferrie Road, had run a red light at its intersection with Wattletree Road.
"Someone said, 'Not long to go now. We've survived the last bit.'
"Then as we pulled up to High Street (the driver) made her first and only announcement: 'Those that have missed their stop, there's a tram waiting for you.'
"And that was it.
"We live much further down High Street so we had to catch the (other) tram which was going back towards the city."
Jan said she and her daughter got home about 10.30pm.
Jan rang Yarra Trams' customer service line this morning, and was told her complaint would be investigated and she would be contacted "within seven working days".
A spokesman from Yarra Trams told The Age the reports would be investigated today.
Jan said her daughter was too scared to travel on a tram again.
"All (the driver) had to do was turn around and say, 'Sorry, there's been a slight error' and there would not have been a problem," said Jan.
"Everyone makes mistakes."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reference: The Age
Date: Thursday 28th of February 2008
Article Link: http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/yarra-trams-denies-screaming-no-6/2008/02/28/1203788504619.html