Queensland rail passengers would remain at risk from drunks and hooligans until an appropriately resourced Police Railway Squad was deployed on trains, the LNP said today.

Shadow Minister for Main Roads and Transport Fiona Simpson said two years after the Bligh Labor government promised to improve rail security, the situation had worsened.

“The latest QR figures show 1117 reports of disorderly conduct on Citytrains in 2009, with 236 reported assaults, including an unprovoked stabbing at Fortitude Valley station last week,” Ms Simpson said.

“The answer to better security is more police and proper coordination with transit officers who know they are going to be backed up.

“Law-abiding passengers are being put at risk because there is a disorganised approach to security by the Queensland Government and its agencies.

“Neither private security guards nor transit officers have clear training or authority to deal proactively with drunks and hooligans at stations and on trains ,” Ms Simpson said.

“The Bligh Labor government promised to empower a new type of transit officer two years ago with police-like powers – we said they needed more police and police needed to back up well-trained transit officers – but the government has achieved neither.

“It’s no secret that stations like Fortitude Valley are potentially dangerous places, particularly at night and on weekends and private security guards or transit officers who aren’t police do not send the message that violence and public nuisance will not be tolerated on our trains.

“Railway station staff are in no position to deal with hooligans and drunks, without proper protection.

“When, and only when, properly trained and empowered Police Railway Squad officers are deployed at known trouble spots and lines can passengers feel safe travelling with QR.

“The presence of uniformed police with powers to detain and remove troublemakers will help provide a safer environment on trains and at stations and help reduce the violence and hooliganism which has become far too common on Queensland’s suburban rail network.”