Connex Melbourne Proprietary Limited
Type	Subsidiary
Founded	August 1999
Headquarters	Melbourne, Australia
Area served	Melbourne, Australia
Key people	Bruce Hughes (CEO)
Industry	Public Transport
Products	Transport Services
Profit	▲ AUD$70 million (2004-2005)
Employees	2,500+[1]
Parent	Veolia Environnement
Divisions	Veolia Transportation
Website	www.connexmelbourne.com.au

Connex Melbourne is a wholly owned subsidiary of French company Veolia Environnement. Connex has a State Government franchise to operate all suburban passenger rail services in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Connex's contract was extended on 21 August 2007 and now expires on 30 November 2009.^[2] Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1421x330, 237 KB) For instructions on use, see Wikipedia:Logos Copyright © 2007 Connex. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... This article is about the Australian city; the name may also refer to City of Melbourne or Melbourne city centre (also known as The CBD). ... This article is about the Australian city; the name may also refer to City of Melbourne or Melbourne city centre (also known as The CBD). ... Mass transit redirects here. ... Net income is equal to the income that a firm has after subtracting costs and expenses from the total revenue. ... Au. ... This article is about work. ... For the band, see Big Brother and the Holding Company. ... Veolia Environnement SA is a leading French-based company with activities in four main areas - water, waste management, energy and transport services. ... A division of a business entity is a portion of that business that operates under a different name. ... Veolia Transportation (formerly Connex) is the international transport services division of the French-based multinational company Veolia Environnement. ... A website (alternatively, web site or Web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that is hosted on one or more web servers, usually accessible via the Internet. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2126x2325, 175 KB) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... VIC redirects here. ... The Public Transport Corporation was a State Government of Victoria owned corporate body that operated passenger and freight trains, trams and bus services in Victoria, Australia. ... M>Train was the former operator of half of Melbournes suburban railway network. ... Comparison of different gauges common in India with the standard one. ... This article is about the Australian city; the name may also refer to City of Melbourne or Melbourne city centre (also known as The CBD). ... This is a list of companies from France. ... Veolia Environnement SA is a leading French-based company with activities in four main areas - water, waste management, energy and transport services. ... Franchising (from the French franchir: vt to clear an obstacle or difficulty)[1] refers to the method of practicing and using another persons philosophy of business. ... Melbourne, capital city of the State of Victoria, Australia, has a long history of railway development. ... This article is about the Australian city; the name may also refer to City of Melbourne or Melbourne city centre (also known as The CBD). ... VIC redirects here. ... is the 233rd day of the year (234th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 334th day of the year (335th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2009 (MMIX) will be a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The company utilises a fleet of 329 trains to operate over 1900 services carrying 616,000 passengers each weekday.^[3] In 2007 187.4 million passenger trips were made.^[3]

History

See also: Public Transport Corporation

Melbourne Transport Enterprises (now Connex Melbourne) was awarded a franchise to operate the then government owned Hillside Trains rail services in Melbourne's eastern and north-east suburbs in August, 1999. The franchise for the southern parts of Melbourne's suburban train network was awarded to National Express, under the now-defunct Bayside Trains name (later renamed M>Train). The Public Transport Corporation was a State Government of Victoria owned corporate body that operated passenger and freight trains, trams and bus services in Victoria, Australia. ... In economics, a government-granted monopoly (also called a de jure monopoly) is a form of coercive monopoly in a government grants exclusive privilege to a private individual or firm to be the sole provider of a good or service; potential competitors are excluded from the market by law, regulation... Green and Gold The Met logo from the 1990s Tangerine V/Line logo from the 1980s The Public Transport Corporation was a State Government of Victoria owned corporate body that operated passenger and freight trains, trams and bus services in Victoria, Australia. ... “Suburbia” redirects here. ... National Express coach on route 561 National Express is the brand under which the majority of long distance bus and coach services in the United Kingdom are marketed, and also the company that manages this network and operates some of the services. ... Green and Gold The Met logo from the 1990s Tangerine V/Line logo from the 1980s The Public Transport Corporation was a State Government of Victoria owned corporate body that operated passenger and freight trains, trams and bus services in Victoria, Australia. ... M>Train was the former operator of half of Melbournes suburban railway network. ...

Upon National Express's withdrawal from Victorian transportation, the Government assumed operational responsibility of M>Train. Early in 2003, the Government began negotiations with Connex to assume responsibility for all of Melbourne's suburban train network. A new partnership agreement was reached in February 2004, which awarded Connex the exclusive right to operate Melbourne's entire suburban train network as from 18 April 2004. A partnership is a type of business entity in which partners (owners) share with each other the profits or losses of the business undertaking in which all have invested. ... is the 108th day of the year (109th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Connex's contract was extended on 21 August 2007 and now expires on 30 November 2009, with the State Government of Victoria having an option for an 18-month extension.^[4][5] is the 233rd day of the year (234th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 334th day of the year (335th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2009 (MMIX) will be a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The form of the Government of Victoria is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1855, although it has been amended many times since then. ...

Following Veolia's rebranding of its transport operations from Connex to Veolia Transport on all other transport systems world-wide in late 2005 and early 2006, Connex Melbourne is the only Veolia company to retain the Connex name. For other uses, see Brand (disambiguation). ... Veolia Transportation is a brand name of the international transport services division of the French-based multinational company Veolia Environnement before known as Connex. ...

Contractual details

Responsibilities

• Connex is responsible for operation and maintenance of Melbourne's suburban railway system, including manning stations and fare enforcement.

• Connex is not responsible for capital works such as expanding the system, but on a number of jobs has managed the project on behalf of the State Government.

Government subsidy

Connex Melbourne is paid an average of AU$345 million per annum, between 2004-2009 from the State Government of Victoria to operate the suburban train network in Melbourne. At the end of the 2004-2009 franchise agreement Connex will have been paid well over AU$2 billion^[6] by the state government of Victoria. In addition to the base contract payments, other payments from the State Government of Victoria to Connex include: ISO 4217 Code AUD User(s) Australia 6 countries and territories Kiribati Nauru Tuvalu Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Norfolk Island Inflation 4. ...

• Farebox
• Concession top-ups
• Maintenance
• Rolling stock adjustments
• Incentives
• Capital projects
• Other

Reliability benchmarks

Under the terms of its contract with the State Government, Connex Melbourne is obligated to deliver on time (no more than 59 seconds early, and no more than 5:59 minutes late) performance, system-wide, of no less than 92%. Connex is also obligated to deliver no less than 98% of scheduled train services, and significantly reduce any time spent by passengers waiting due to a delay, over a 1998 benchmark.

Fines for failure to meet service obligations are deducted from contract fees paid by the government to Connex. As of July 2006, the most recent fine imposed on Connex by the government is $5.1 million AUD. Connex has paid almost $70 million in penalty payments for poor performance since it took full control of the train network in 2004.^[7] Connex releases performance data on a monthly basis, usually put on view at railway stations. Fines and customer satisfaction levels are detailed in the quarterly 'Track Record' report released by the Department of Infrastructure.^[8]

Operations

A 'Comeng' train operated by Connex

For details of railway operations, see Railways in Melbourne

Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Melbourne, capital city of the State of Victoria, Australia, has a long history of railway development. ...

Fleet

The Connex Melbourne fleet consists of:

• 187 3-car Comeng EMUs (built 1981-1988, refurbished 2000-2003)
• 6 remaining 6-car Hitachi EMUs (built during the 1970s)
• 72 3-car Siemens EMUs (built 2002-2005, purchased by M>Train)
• 58 3-car X'Trapolis EMUs (built by 2002-2004, purchased by Connex)
• Sprinter diesel multiple units. hired from V/Line. They are used for Connex services on the unelectrified Stony Point Line.

The majority of the rollingstock is owned by the Victorian Government though VicTrack also owns the majority of. Alstom now United Group LTD refurbished Comeng in Connex livery The term Comeng originally defined the company COMmonwealth ENGineering which, among others things, manufactured Melbournes A, B and Z class trams, some Sydney R, L & S class double-decker trains and Brisbane buses, although now is popularly used to... Two rail welds in continuous welded rail in Wisconsin. ... A Hitachi train (left) and newer XTrapolis (right) at Flinders Street Station Hitachi on a Belgrave service The Hitachi train (often called tachis [] or Silvers) is a type of electric train that operates on the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Australia. ... The Siemens MOMO Train (Modular Metro, originally NEXAS, but more generally Siemens train) is a type of electric train that operates on the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Australia. ... The XTrapolis 100 is a single deck electric passenger train, one of Alstoms XTrapolis family of trains, used in Melbourne, Australia and Valparaiso, Chile. ... The Sprinter is a high speed diesel railcar train manufactured by Goninan for use on interurban and semi-regional rail services in Victoria, Australia. ... DMU, type SA108 of Great Poland Voivodship in Poznań, Poland The Transwa Prospector DEMU capable of up to 200 km/h provides a passenger service between Perth, Western Australia and the mining town of Kalgoorlie A Diesel Multiple Unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages... V/Line is a regional passenger train and coach service in Victoria, Australia. ... Locomotive A70 changing direction at Stony Point station The Stony Point line is a greater-metropolitan railway line in Melbourne, Australia. ... VicTrack is the Victorian Government owned corporation that owns all railway and tram lines in the state of Victoria, Australia. ...

Maintenance

Connex is responsible for maintaining their train fleet. This responsibility is outsourced to two companies, United Melbourne Transport Ltd, a subsidiary of the United Group, maintains the Alstom X'Trapolis and the older Hitachi and Comeng trains; and Siemens maintains after the remainder of the Siemens fleet.^[9] Innovonics Limited has carried out a contract to re-enable Comeng sets from both sides of the system to run on the entire system again, along with a CCTV upgrade.^[10][11] United Group Limited is a broad based infrastructure services company engaged in industrial maintenance, manufacturing, engineering and business process outsourcing services for blue chip companies and governments throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia, North America, The United Kingdom, and parts of Europe and the Middle East. ... Siemens redirects here. ... An Alstom-refurbished Comeng in Connex livery EDI-refurbished Comeng The Comeng train is a type of electric train that operates on the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Australia. ...

Connex is also responsible for the maintenance of the electrified suburban network, being contracted to Mainco, a subsidiary of the United Group.^[9] The Department of Infrastructure (DOI) also has input into infrastructure related issues and major rail projects. United Group Limited is a broad based infrastructure services company engaged in industrial maintenance, manufacturing, engineering and business process outsourcing services for blue chip companies and governments throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia, North America, The United Kingdom, and parts of Europe and the Middle East. ... Judicial High Court Lower Courts Constitution State and territory governments Executive Governors and Administrators Premiers and Chief Ministers Legislative Parliaments and Assemblies State electoral systems ACT - NSW - NT - Qld. ...

Fare enforcement

Public Transport Authorised Officers (commonly known as Ticket Inspectors or Revenue Protection Officers) are employed to work across Melbourne's public transport network. As well as reporting ticketing and behavioural offences, Authorised Officers are also employed to assist at special events and provide customer information. They are employed by Connex, but exercise a legislative power.^[9]

Authorised Officers are accredited by the Victorian Department of Infrastructure to exercise powers similar to those of police (included the power of arrest) when aboard vehicles operating under Metlink or when on Department of Infrastructure-owned premises, such as railway stations or train tracks.^[12] Officers are required to abide by the State Government-established 'Authorised Officer Code of Conduct' and violations of this code are prosecuted. The Code of Conduct states that an Authorised Ticket Officer use discretion when reporting an alleged offender, and must supply their name and work address when asked.^[13] This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article is about the Melbourne public transport network. ...

If an Authorised Officer believes that a passenger has committed an offence (for example, by failing to produce a ticket), they have the right to request their full legal name and address after having explained the nature of the alleged offence. The inspector also has the right to request some proof of the given information, any proof being acceptable as long as it constitutes a "verification" of the information which satisfies the inspector as to the alleged offender's identity. Refusal to identify oneself, or providing a false name to the ticket inspector will ordinarily cause the ticket inspector to contact Victoria Police and detain the passenger until the police arrive.^[14] Victoria Police is the primary law enforcement agency of Victoria, Australia. ...

The Authorised Officer then forwards a report (formally known as a Report of Non Compliance) with these details, as well as the specific nature and circumstances of the violation to the Department of Infrastructure, who then process the report and decide upon any penalties. Any fines levied are payable to the Department, not to Connex. However, once the Department successfully retrieves the fined amount from the violator, Connex receives a small administration fee.^[14]

Authorised Officers have come under fire from lobby groups and sections of the community for being overly aggressive in enforcing ticketing requirements. This has been accentuated by several media articles in the mainstream Melbourne press of mixed opinions regarding the system or reporting passengers detected travelling without tickets. Specifically, two main charges are frequently heard: Officers have been requiring young school-children to produce Concession I.D. cards, even though the law only requires it for children over 15 years of age unless the person is travelling on a Student Pass; The second being that Officers have been reporting people for not possessing a ticket, even when there was no opportunity for the person to purchase a ticket is often heard. The Victorian Transport Act of 1983 has a provision which states that travel without a ticket is legal in circumstances where the passenger took all reasonable steps to purchase a ticket immediately before and after their travel,^[15] but one was not available for purchase. This article is about the Australian city; the name may also refer to City of Melbourne or Melbourne city centre (also known as The CBD). ...

Marketing

Despite the formation of Metlink to deliver coordinated marketing initiatives across the entire Melbourne public transport network, Connex has also undertaken their own marketing campaigns. TV advertisements featuring Sheena Easton and a trainload of passengers singing her 1980 hit Morning Train (9 to 5) screened during April and May 2004. This article is about the Melbourne public transport network. ... Sheena Easton (born Sheena Shirley Orr on April 27, 1959, Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, Scotland) is a Scottish two time Grammy Award-winning pop singer and theatre & television actress. ... 9 to 5, with text and lyrics by Florrie Palmer is the title of a popular song recorded by Sheena Easton in 1980, becoming her first major hit. ...

More recent campaigns generally focus on commuter behaviour and etiquette; in mid 2005 Connex launched a print & TV advertising campaign featuring Humpty Dumpty and focusing on safety initiatives, the "Don't Hold Others Back" campaign of 2006 featured bleak "cold war-esque" imagery of commuters struggling to board a train, while a more recent 'train etiquette' campaign has featured fictitious character Martin Merton PhD, "the worlds #1 expert on train etiquette" offering advice to passengers on such topics as mobile phone use, flatulence and other low level behavioural annoyances of train travel. This article is about the nursery rhyme. ... Dont Hold Others Back is an advertisement created by Connex Melbourne to encourage courtesy on the Melbourne Rail Network (Metlink) by implying that delays to a train which causes delays on the network are caused by people holding the doors open for other people, standing near the doorway when... For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ... Cover of the Theres no I in Carriage book Martin M. Merton PhD is a fictional character created by Connex Melbourne to increase the politeness and consideration of other passengers on Melbournes Public Transport System. ...

Connex SMS service

Connex also has an SMS service which allows commuters to receive updates about train delays of more than 15 minutes on their phone for free.^[16] There are reports that state that quite often SMS messages are never sent in relation to cancellations or delays.^{[citation needed]} SMS may refer to: Short message service, a form of text messaging on cell phones Sega Master System – an 8-bit video game console from the 1980s Seiner Majestät Schiff, His Majestys Ship in the German Kaiserliche Marine and the Austro-Hungarian Navy SMS (comics), a British comic...

On 23 February 2007 an attacker broke into the gateway used by the SMS system and sent threatening messages to over 10,000 commuters who had subscribed to the service.^[17] is the 54th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ...

A Connex spokesman admitted that this was a hoax and that the hackers were only able to send the message and could not get access to the customer database.^[17]

See also

• Railways in Melbourne

Melbourne, capital city of the State of Victoria, Australia, has a long history of railway development. ...

External links

• Connex Melbourne Official Website
• Metlink Melbourne Official website
• Melbourne Public Transport Users Association

Sources

• Public Transport Partnership Agreements
• Victorian Fares and Ticketing Manual