Connex disciplines staff

By Shaun Inguanzo
CONNEX has disciplined three workers and apologised to a blind man after he was left stranded at Dandenong train station this month.
Narre Warren’s John Hardie, 45, is legally blind and could not find his way to Dandenong train station’s bus terminal on Tuesday, 12 September after an accident further down the line forced passengers to alight at Dandenong and catch buses instead.
Mr Hardie last week told Star his plea for help was shunted by one worker and when he called police for help, a Connex worker told officers Mr Hardie was no longer on the platform.
Mr Hardie said he spent one hour waiting for assistance in freezing weather when at 9.50pm a worker finally helped him to the bus terminal.
Connex told Star last week that it appeared Mr Hardie was the aggressor in the matter – a claim furiously denied by Mr Hardie.
Mr Hardie said he then received a call from the Connex manager investigating the matter, Keith Cook, informing him that the workers involved had been reprimanded.
Connex spokeswoman Kate Declercq would not comment on the details of the disciplinary action but said the company had apologised to Mr Hardie “for any inconvenience or hardship he incurred during the train disruption caused by a truck colliding with a train.
“During times of disruptions, station staff are extremely busy ensuring customers are able to complete their journey and liaising with Train Control as to progress with the disruption.
“Despite this, Connex regrets any hardship or distress suffered by Mr Hardie.”
Mr Hardie said he was satisfied with the investigation’s results but could not understand why Connex originally labelled him the aggressor, when he was ‘freezing and frightened’ on the platform.
“It concerns me when they make statements that are wrong, because they only deflate what my point is,” he said.
“It could have been any person of any age and with any disability that could have been put in great risk stranded at the station late at night.”