Power Point: Air-conditioning is for the weak.

I recently read something on a social networking site which made me rather cross.

Person X: 'had an awesome trip home riding in the stuffy, smelly, squishy, aircon-lacking tin can of a train >_>"'

Despite my obvious bias towards Melbourne's train system, I am sure that the general public would rather travel on a non-air conditioned train and get to where they want to be on time, than have to wait out in the sun on a platform for the next train because the previous one was cancelled for whatever reason.

This brings me to the Hitachi fleet. Affectionately known as the Silvers when they first entered service, these trains have served the people of Melbourne for more than thirty years. Compared to their younger counterparts, these trains lack the features which apparently are necessary in operating a railway, such as CCTV, emergency intercoms and most importantly according to commuters, air conditioning.

 The ever reliable Silvers.

Now, there are only seven of these trains left. Of the 177 trains in service today, the Hitachi fleet only makes up approximately 3% of the entire train fleet.

That's right, only 3%.

And yet, in comparison, every 1 in 3 trains in Sydney is not air-conditioned.

So, why is it that Melburnians feel the need to whine and complain when a Silver turns up to run their service? It's only 3% of the entire train fleet. Are we that uptight and stuck up that we cannot bear to travel without air-conditioning for what would be a relatively short moment of our day?

Despite their lack of air-conditioning, they are quite reliable and far more reliable than the Austrian-built Siemens trains which have been plagued with braking issues for the past seven years. Far more comfortable than the French-made X'Trapolis trains which have suspension so poor, drivers are reporting lower back injuries as a result.

And come a 40-degree day, the Comeng trains - the workhorse of the suburban fleet - are withdrawn from service as the motor alternators overheat as they are only designed to power the air-conditioners to temperatures of 34-degrees.

So, what's left to do form service? That's right. The Silvers.

Prior to 1981, there was never a train cancelled because of a faulty air-conditioner. And prior to 2002, every train to operate in Melbourne was designed to for our conditions.

 Interior of an Hitachi train.

I also constantly get remarks such as "why aren't these trains scrapped yet?", and "why is this piece of crap still around?". And the answer is always the same, "they're here to take you home and to work and to where ever it is you want to go."

Had we scrapped these seven Silver angels of the train system, that would be 10,000 less people whom are carried on the train network during the morning peak. Take both peaks into account, and that's about 10% of the entire patronage base for an average weekday.

It's quite simple really. They may be old. They may smell a little foul when the brakes are applied hard. They may lack air-conditioning.

But it beats waiting at the station for another 15 minutes in the sun when the train's been cancelled because of a faulty air-conditioner.