Electric Trains

Mr WINGARD (Mitchell) (15:03): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Under the contract with Bombardier, when were all electric trains supposed to be supplied and fully operational?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister Assisting the Minister for Planning, Minister Assisting the Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (15:03): I don't have that date in front of me, but I understood that we were expecting to receive those trains around about the middle of 2015. We are still receiving those trains. The vast majority of them are in service at the moment. We're still waiting to receive the final trains, but, pleasingly, as part of that program we've been able to substantially increase the size of the train fleet that we have servicing our metropolitan train lines.

I will check these figures and come back to the house with a correction but, from recollection, by purchasing these new 4000 class electric multiple unit trains, we are adding the equivalent of 66 rail carriages in 22 three-car sets through the new purchase and, as there was a fleeting reference amongst some of the unpleasantness yesterday, we are able to also retire the approximately 40-year-old 2000 class diesel trains.

Notwithstanding the retirement of those trains, there is still a significant increase in the size of the fleet, I understand from, I think, off the top of my head, 99 rail carriage equivalents up to 136, so we are growing the fleet by over a third. Once again, it is another reflection of how this government is working hard and investing resources to grow our public transport services, in particular the vehicles on which we provide those services.