Questions re: Connex

This company is supposedly slated to replace Amtrak as the Metrolink operator in the Los Angeles area.

1. Anyone have any clue as to how they are to work for?
2. Do they contribute to R.R. retirement?
3. Are their wages comparable to Amtrak?
4. Union/non-union?
5. Other commuter-ops in the US? If so, what's their track record?

I appreciate any information.

5. Other US operation is Mass. Bay Commuter Rail (MBTA contract-Boston). Replaced Amtrak there as well. Hired some former Amtrak managers, as well as bulk of the operating crafts. Some of the regular "professional railfans/railfan professionals" on here have experience with them.

4. Unionized at MBCR, per guidelines of the MBTA contract.

No other commuter rail ops in the USA that I know of. They do operate bus routes under contract to New Jersey Transit; don't know about elsewhere.

What irks me is that they are the operator of the Luas light rail in Dublin, Ireland. (Part of having French consultants work on that project, I suppose.)

they have taken over the commuter trains in auckland , New Zealand as well .
i havent heard how the staff relations are going . I have heard that the service has improved since they took over .
i Believe they run services in melbourne , Australia , as well .

Mr. Greenwood,
With the Metrolink contracts they have to hornor the Amtrak agreements.

I appreciate the info guys!

Over on the MBTA forum last year, I heard horror stories about four-car commuter trains operating at rush-hour, and a high inventory of equipment OOS as the excuse by Connex. Don't know if anything's improved since then.

Irish,

The tales of the incredible shrinking train consist seem to reoccur every 4-6 months here in MBTA land, usually either in mid-winter (cold and snow problems) or early summer (AC start up season).