NSW Liberal Leader Peter Debnam said today more than a year after they were scheduled to be in service, problems with RailCorp’s Outer Suburban Carriages (OSCAR’s) means rail users still don’t know when they will be on the tracks.

The Iemma-Costa Labor Government revealed the problems and additional delays during a Transport Estimates Committee hearing today.

In the hearing, Rail boss Vince Graham revealed a ‘range of issues have developed’, and there were ‘ride quality’ issues with the upper decks of the new carriages which resulted in ‘a vibration’ when travelling at speeds of 90km/h and above.

“After 12 years of Labor's excuses, the Iemma-Costa Government still can’t deliver sought after transport improvements on-time or on-budget,” Mr Debnam said.

“At the last election, Iemma-Costa Labor claimed these carriages would be on the rails by 2005,” he said.

“Despite being originally costed in the 2002/03 State Budget at $135 million, last year the Audit Office revealed a new figure of $172 million – a $37 million blowout.

“These long-awaited and desperately needed trains have only seen service at Labor’s media conferences.  Long-suffering commuters are left waiting.

“Even after Mr Graham’s latest statements, commuters are still in the dark about when they can expect improvement to their current service. 

“Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Illawarra and South Coast travellers have been given no advice on when all of the 41 carriages will enter service on the rail network.

“These new problems show that after 12 years of excuses, commuters continue to pay more for late and inadequate trains services.

“It also shows Labor has learned nothing - these delays and cost blowouts are akin to the problems commuters faced when the Millennium trains were being introduced,” Mr Debnam said.