Qld govt plays down Com Games train fears

Queensland's deputy premier believes at least 15 new problematic NGR trains will be fixed and operational in time for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Queensland Rail trains

More than 250 applicants have been selected for trainee guard positions at Queensland Rail. (AAP)

The Queensland government insists it will have enough trains to cope with demand from next year's Commonwealth Games despite lingering issues with new trains meant to replenish Queensland Rail's ageing fleet.

The new generation rollingstock (NGR) were ordered under the Newman government in 2014 and were due to be rolled out by 2016.

But the new trains, worth $4.4 billion dollars in total, have been plagued with problems including with braking, line-of-sight issues and disability access.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said they hoped to have at least 15 of the new trains operational in time for the Gold Coast Games, held next April.

"We are doing everything possible to ensure we get these trains on our network as soon as it is safely possible to do so," Ms Trad said on Monday.

"Everybody thinks that is absolutely possible, and we are working hard to resolve the outstanding issues."

But opposition transport spokesman Andrew Powell said the issues were of the government's making.

"Through Labor meddling on behalf of their union mates, we have major design overhauls which have meant that costs and time have blown out," he said.

Mr Powell was referring to Labor's adding guards compartments to the trains so guards could take breaks while on duty, even though the NGR problems appear to be inherent design flaws in the new trains.

The government also announced more than 250 applicants had been selected for trainee guard positions at Queensland Rail.

The 255 candidates are 25 per cent more than recommended by the Strachan Report into a series of rostering blunders brought on by insufficient staff.

The updates came on a day which saw another round of long delays for morning rail commuters.

The time of the commute on the Cleveland line was doubled for many.

Charlie Stevens boarded a city-bound train at Manly, a trip that usually takes about 45 minutes.

But he was still on the train after 90 minutes due to a broken down train further up the line.

"The trains frequently break down or are delayed. And I'm still baffled about their decision to use three-car trains during peak hour," he said.

Just a fortnight ago, Mr Stevens endured another long commute on the same line, when a train was inexplicably held up at a station platform.


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Source: AAP



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