Premier has announced free train, bus and ferry travel

[Fares_Fair]

Premier has announced free train, bus and ferry travel for tomorrow in recompense for todays unprecedented delays
Apologises to commuters


source: Courier-Mail twitter feed

[ozbob]

Yes, I have received verbal confirmation from Transport staff as well.

[ozbob]

28 February 2012

PREMIER: NO FARE DAY FOR FRUSTRATED COMMUTERS

Premier Anna Bligh has announced a free day of public transport across the SEQ network from the first services tomorrow.

Ms Bligh said the measure was being taken in response to today's unprecedented disruption across the Translink network in SEQ's QR trains, public and private buses and city cats and ferries.

"What happened today is completely out of the ordinary and the simple fact is that thousands of commuters have not received the service they deserved," said the Premier.

"That is why we are taking this measure and from the first service tomorrow all public transport across SEQ will be free from the first service to the last service.

"After the major disruptions caused by the floods we took a similar measure and it is estimated that this fare free period will cost approximately $1 million.

"Translink customers will simply be advised not to touch on and touch off tomorrow when they get on their public transport."

Ms Bligh said that the advice from Queensland Rail is that a clamp holding an overhead high voltage line may have failed causing the overhead power line to fall and make contact with the rail, sending 25,000 volts through the signals and switching equipment.

When power was restored some of the damaged components failed. The paramount concern is safety and until this issue is rectified trains cannot run on the impacted lines.

[ozbob]

Some go card users have asked how this will affect their 10 journey cap?  Obviously some folks have planned a weekend travel extravaganza based on their normal Mon - Fri commutes.  TransLink will advise later today.

[Cam]

I will already have made 10 journeys by tomorrow so will have free travel anyway.

[Fares_Fair]

Some go card users have asked how this will affect their 10 journey cap?  Obviously some folks have planned a weekend travel extravaganza based on their normal Mon - Fri commutes.  TransLink will advise later today.

If we do not touch off or touch on, then it will not be included - they will have no record of it unless they (unlikely) extrapolate an assumption from prior history.

[somebody]

I want free travel after 8!

[Cam]

I want free travel after 8!

Indefinately, or just this week?

[somebody]

I want free travel after 8!

Indefinately, or just this week?

Just this week.  Otherwise the free travel is meaningless for me.

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1330371141

Afternoon and evening train services

Update 1pm - Tuesday 28 February

Trains have returned to normal with no delays following a previous power fault near Roma Street station this morning.

We expect a normal evening peak and we appreciate your patience.

Fixed fares

All fixed fares incurred as a result of this morning's service disruptions will be automatically refunded in the next 72 hours.

Free travel tomorrow

All travel on TransLink services will be free tomorrow.

Free travel will apply from first service until last service on Wednesday 29 February. No need to touch on or touch off, and no need to buy a paper ticket.

[Fares_Fair]

 

[#Metro]

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2012/02/whats-worst-customer-alert-transit-system-can-send/1312/

^^^ LA had a power outage earlier this week...

[SteelPan]

"CityTrain" seems to experience a number of these types of power related issues every year, yet I'd imagine by general world standards, the QR metro infrastructure is fairly "modern".  Also, does the Premier always quickly announce "free"* PT days when there are such issues? or perish the thought, does a certain event this coming March need to be considered here?

* re the "free" bit, nice of the Premier to personally pick up the tab for commuters tomorrow - unless this happens, what's free?  

[#Metro]

Well of course it has to be free, 170 000 passengers on the rail network daily, plus it spilled over to the bus network so 150 000 passengers a day on the busway and over to the roads ... that's a PHENOMENAL amount of people to irritate on the eve of an election.

SteelPan, trust me, if you were in the same scenario, you'd be offering free PT too!

[Fares_Fair]

"CityTrain" seems to experience a number of these types of power related issues every year, yet I'd imagine by general world standards, the QR metro infrastructure is fairly "modern".  Also, does the Premier always quickly announce "free"* PT days when there are such issues? or perish the thought, does a certain event this coming March need to be considered here?

* re the "free" bit, nice of the Premier to personally pick up the tab for commuters tomorrow - unless this happens, what's free?  

We had major network wide disruptions on Wednesday 1 February, 2012 with 1 hour plus delays, that received no free trips.
We had major local delays on Thursday February 2, 2012 to Sunshine Coast/Caboolture lines as a result of signal fault and track fault at Burpengary causing delays of over 1 hour, went uncompensated.
Other lines also suffered major delays this month due to various power outages or signalling issues or track faults, these also went uncompensated (not including fixed fare refunds).
We had today's major network wide disruptions, causing delays of over 1 hour (up to 2 hours) which will be compensated for by free trips.

It's the election for sure, previous disruptions this month alone have been ignored.

This is the worst month in the seven months that I have been keeping detailed daily records (since last August 2011), to services on my trains alone.
I have lost 305 minutes to date, this DOES not include late figures of 2 minutes or less, in February over the last 20 working days or 39 journeys.

If I remove the 6 minute lateness window allowed under TransLink statistics, my trains were on-time for just 71.8%
It would be interesting to compare this to their Sunshine Coast/ Caboolture line statistics for all services and see if my literal experience is indicative.

That equates to being late, or more accurately what I call Total Time Lost (TTL) of 15.25 minutes for every single working day of the month.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[#Metro]

Let's get real,

We can't be doling out freebies all the time every time something goes wrong. Under the old system QR used to get fined all the time and that just cut into the $$$ for services and maintenance, further exacerbating the problem.

If anything TransLink and QR should be hauled before parliamentary committees as a regular thing. IMHO.

[Cam]

If anything TransLink and QR should be hauled before parliamentary committees as a regular thing. IMHO.

Sounds like a good idea.

[STB]

I got caught up in this, this morning.  I decided to bus it and postpone my appointment as I had to get to university where a 'professional mark' applied, ie: you got docked no matter what if you turned up late.

Caught route 254 at 8:10am to Capalaba.
Transferred onto route 270 at Carindale, noted route 250 (inbound) running approximately 25 minutes late which two passengers who then boarded route 222 at Carindale to the City then got off and transferred back onto the 250 (not touching off mind you lol).

Got on board a late running 222 and left Carindale with a 95% seated load, by the time we reached Carina it was fully loaded and standees started to appear.  Coorparoo it was 'sorry bus full'.

Got stuck in a massive bus jam on the SE Busway, with buses backed up right to Mater Hill Busway Station, taking approximately 30 minutes to get from Mater Hill to Cultural Centre.  Finally arrived at Roma Street about 10:05am (yet to check my Go Card data but will post it soon).

Transferred onto route 390 and got to the Lecture 20 minutes late, after nearly a 2.5hr journey!  Got chastised by three senior Lecturers, it's Production Management so they expect you to be on time.  Thankfully they decided not to dock me any marks due to the circumstances but warned that they would not be as easy next time.  I think I might have to leave up to 4hrs ahead of time next time just to be certain if this happens again!

[ozbob]

Media release 28 February 2012

SEQ: Brisbane minus public transport equals chaos!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers welcomes the Government's announcement of system-wide free public transport tomorrow (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Today's general system meltdown has come about from simple geometry - Brisbane's rail and  most of the bus network are 'everything to the centre' convergent networks. In other words, unlike rail systems in overseas places like Toronto, London and Paris where rail lines are decentralised, Brisbane runs all services and infrastructure through a single 'core'. This makes the entire system prone to total, spreading and cascading failure. It is a 'house of cards', one 'card' falls and the entire system folds in an escalating chain reaction of failure including the road network."

"Ultimately, it doesn't matter what the fault was. It could have been some other fault on a different day, so long as a fault occurs within the core area, and the same thing - total network failure that spreads to shut down the rail, then shut down the busway system and then the road system will happen again."

RAIL Back On Track believes that today's incident should be looked at in a wider context, which is this:

Brisbane - Public Transport = Chaos

"This is why Cross River Rail is so important (2). The single fault alone today has cost around $1 million dollars in funds plus probably many millions of dollars more in lost time and work across the city and on the roads. Around 2016 slots for trains on the Merivale Bridge will be exhausted, which means that the road system and busway system, which are already under their own pressures will have to cope with increased load."

"Does the LNP support Cross River Rail or not? Yes or No? If it doesn't then what is the alternative plan?"

References:

1.  http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1330394577

2.  Cross River Rail Project  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2034.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[STB]

Only question, how will this news get out to the users (mostly off peak users), who may not be watching the news?  Will TL automatically refund any touch ons or paper tickets sold tomorrow?

[Fares_Fair]

They would just turn it all off, I would assume.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[STB]

28-Feb-12 10:02:25 AM   Touch off   Roma St Bus Station (SEB IB Services) [BT010794]    -0.48   *
28-Feb-12 09:09:12 AM   Touch on transfer   Carindale Shopping Centre - Platform F [BT006298]       
28-Feb-12 08:32:45 AM   Touch off   Capalaba Bus Station stop A [30182]    -1.53   *
28-Feb-12 08:10:00 AM   Touch on   EGW Wood Sports Field [11995]

What you see there is route 254 and 222 (270 and 390 hasn't come through yet).

[ozbob]

I have been advised by TransLink that the go card equipment will be turned off for tomorrow.

[Otto]

My story for today.. ( A Bus Drivers view )

Yes, I was held up in the great traffic jam this morning on Wynnum Road and also had the misfortune to get stuck on the Busway as well..
Anyway, Here's the trip..

Departed Balmoral ( Apollo rd ) at 7:55am (due 7:55) on route 235.
Joined the big queue on Thyne Rd outside the Morningside Police Station..
Slowly made my way to Wynnum Rd.
Arrived at Morningside Station and picked up rail pax.
Put up "Sorry. Bus Full" signs on Wynnum Rd just before Heidelburg St.
Passed about 20 pax up to the Gabba.
Arrived at the 'Gabba' at 8:49am. (due 8:31)
Arrived at the CC at 9:25
That is a 36 minute trip on the busway that should be 5 minutes.
Traffic Lights at the Melbourne street portal had been over ridden and kept on green for buses exiting the portal for at least 10 minutes that I observed.

The XPT Train was also a victim of todays events, passing South Brisbane at 9:15 on its way to Sydney leaving Roma Street a few hours late. It was not able to leave on time seemingly due to an airport service stuck at Southbank Station on the interstate line during the outage.

My service finally arrived in the Vally at 9:36 (Due 8:52)...

Total trip time from terminus to terminus was one hour, 41 minutes ( normally 45 minutes off peak )

[ozbob]

612 ABC Brisbane

Planes, trains and automobiles

28 February 2012 , 6:29 PM by Terri Begley

This morning, thousands of commuters got stuck on their way to work in Brisbane.

By way of apology, there will be free translink transport tomorrow.

But according to the LNP, that does not cut it.

Tim Nichols is the LNP's Transport Spokesman.

--> http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2012/02/planes-trains-and-automobiles.html?site=brisbane&program=612_drive

Interviews with Mr Tim Nicholls LNP,  Minister for Transport Annastacia Palaszczuk, and myself.

[SteelPan]

Well of course it has to be free, 170 000 passengers on the rail network daily, plus it spilled over to the bus network so 150 000 passengers a day on the busway and over to the roads ... that's a PHENOMENAL amount of people to irritate on the eve of an election.

SteelPan, trust me, if you were in the same scenario, you'd be offering free PT too!

No, I'd build better PT infrastructure to begin with!  Tomorrow's "free" day is a political stunt pure and simple! 

[Golliwog]

Perhaps, but I still think its a good thing. It's like fining the operator for non-conformance with OTP except, in this case the passenger actually gets something tangible out of it.

[HappyTrainGuy]

I wouldn't mind seeing a couple days to a week set up every year for free PT to entice more people to use PT along with seeing how many people would actually use the system (Maybe only offer it to GoCard users ). When the SC has their free bus travel routes that don't get many passengers suddenly get a spike

Watch how fast bus boarding and alighting times will be tomorrow along with some extra patronage 

[#Metro]

I wouldn't mind seeing a couple days to a week set up every year for free PT to entice more people to use PT

IF you have to resort to gimmicks and inducements to coax people to use PT, something is fundamentally wrong with it.
Decent quality PT speaks for itself.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Explains the whole 10 trip incentive doesn't it 

[WTN]

Watch how fast bus boarding and alighting times will be tomorrow along with some extra patronage  

It's already much faster with most people on go card. When a passenger buys a paper ticket or asks the driver where to get to a vague location, it is very noticeable.

I wouldn't mind seeing a couple days to a week set up every year for free PT to entice more people to use PT

IF you have to resort to gimmicks and inducements to coax people to use PT, something is fundamentally wrong with it.
Decent quality PT speaks for itself.

10 trip incentive works best if you're near a frequent service. Doesn't really work if you have only an hourly milk run bus.

Here's what happened with me:

Today I travelled to work on the 204, boarding just after 9am. Most seats were gone after Stones Corner, and few were standing before we got to the Gabba. There was minor queuing on Stanley St. The massive busjam started in the tunnel between Mater Hill and Southbank. It took a while for my bus to reach the platform. I got off and saw the line of buses continue beyond the platform, even though the queue has shortened. The inbound platform was very busy with people getting on and off. By contrast, Southbank train station was unusually quiet. In an attempt to escape the chaos, I walked to the Citycat terminal and crossed over to North Quay. Walked the rest of the way to work and arrived 10am! Normally I can expect to arrive around 9:30. It was a long, sweaty walk to the Citycat so no time saved there.

A few people at work got caught up in much much longer delays, including one that took 2hrs to travel from Ferny Grove (with full buses along Lutwyche Rd/Windsor), one that took 3hrs from somewhere, and one that could not come to work because an Ipswich line train wasn't taking more passengers. Another lady had a very similar experience to Otto's. She probably was on that bus!

EDIT:
The 3hr trip was from Redcliffe via Sandgate park n ride.
The Ipswich line colleague was told there were no trains when he arrived at his station.
The Victoria Bridge had buses lined up much of its length going outbound.

[HappyTrainGuy]

It's already much faster with most people on go card. When a passenger buys a paper ticket or asks the driver where to get to a vague location, it is very noticeable.

I know its mostly faster with go cards but when the free transport was arranged after the floods from what I observed it was still quicker than go cards as people just walked on and walked off.

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

Dud rail clamp that shut down Queensland Rail to cost state $1m

Dud rail clamp that shut down Queensland Rail to cost state $1m

    by: Robyn Ironside
    From: The Courier-Mail
    February 29, 2012 12:00AM

A SINGLE fallen powerline that almost brought Brisbane to a halt will today cost the state about $1 million as the Bligh Government attempts to turn the politically disastrous incident into an election campaign plus.

Commuters have been promised free public transport on train, bus and ferry as compensation for the disruption caused by the power fault at Roma Street Station yesterday.

Apologising to commuters, Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said she was seeking a full explanation for the issue.

But she denied the offer of free travel today was an election stunt  and insisted it was within the legal parameters of a caretaker government.

"What happened (yesterday) was unprecedented on our network and caused major disruptions across the entire network,'' said Ms Palaszczuk.

"Following major disruptions during the flooding of last year, a similar measure was taken and it is expected that measures such as this will only be taken under absolutely exceptional circumstances.''

A metal clamp that holds the powerlines up was identified as the source of the failure, prompting a network-wide inspection of similar clamps, of which there are hundreds.

A Queensland Rail spokesman said they had never failed before and it was unclear why it suddenly broke away from the post, sending 25,000 volts of electricity through the signals and switching equipment.

The result was a 3.5-hour closure of Roma Street Station, leaving city-bound commuters to find their own way from Milton and South Brisbane.

Trains on Brisbane's northside were also caught up in the chaos and the QR spokesman said not one of the 131 morning peak services was unaffected.

Taxis were organised for some with cabs carrying commuters from as far as the Gold Coast, but the rest were advised to use buses  if they could get on board.

LNP leader Campbell Newman said the meltdown, was "symptomatic of Labor mismanagement''.

"Clearly, there are some real problems in the infrastructure of the rail network and we will sort those out,'' said Mr Newman.

He promised to announce plans for upgrades to help ease reliance on the inner-city's sole river crossing point, the Merivale Bridge.

Robert Dow from commuter advocacy group Back on Track said yesterday's disruption exposed serious weaknesses in the transport network.

"Unlike rail systems in overseas places like Toronto, London and Paris where rail lines are decentralised, Brisbane runs all services and infrastructure through a single core,'' said Mr Dow.

"This makes the entire system prone to total, spreading and cascading failure.''

[ozbob]

Channel Nine News --> Fault brings down Brisbane rail network

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Business as usual for afternoon trains

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times click here!

Free ride on Wednesday

Free ride on Wednesday

28th February 2012

PREMIER Anna Bligh has announced free public transport for commuters today in response to a disastrous morning for CBD commuters.

There were lengthy delays for anyone headed into Brisbane yesterday morning, after a power fault near Roma St train station caused the rail network to shut down.

Passengers on the Ipswich-Rosewood line could only get as far as Milton station, where buses picked them up and took them the rest of the way.

Before 9am, inner city roads were congested with public buses, while taxi services were also flat out.

Commuters travelling by train, bus or car into Brisbane were told to expect delays of one hour - even after train services were restored about 9.15am - due to the backlog.

Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said the power failure at Roma St highlighted the fundamental weakness of the public transport network.

"It is a house of cards," he said.

"One card falls and the entire system folds in an escalating chain reaction of failure, including the road network."

"Another good demonstration today of why cross river rail needs immediate action don't you think? Service reliability of rail and bus is impacting negatively on the community. Everyone understands that some disruption is inevitable, but of late disruption is becoming commonplace."

[STB]

One thing I don't quite get from those reports, in particular, South Brisbane, is why didn't passengers just simply walk across the Victoria Bridge to access the city?  Isn't that what people used to do back in the old days before the Merivale Bridge was built?

I took the bus as I figured that they would only be able to use the trains already stowed at Manly, as the Mayne yard would've been isolated from the rest of the network, so figured there would be fairly long delays in that sense.

[ozbob]

One thing I don't quite get from those reports, in particular, South Brisbane, is why didn't passengers just simply walk across the Victoria Bridge to access the city?  Isn't that what people used to do back in the old days before the Merivale Bridge was built?

I took the bus as I figured that they would only be able to use the trains already stowed at Manly, as the Mayne yard would've been isolated from the rest of the network, so figured there would be fairly long delays in that sense.

Yes, just walk. Also prior to 1969 there was the tram across the older Victoria Bridge from South Brisbane rail to the city.

[#Metro]

Robert Dow from commuter advocacy group Back on Track said yesterday's disruption exposed serious weaknesses in the transport network.

"Unlike rail systems in overseas places like Toronto, London and Paris where rail lines are decentralised, Brisbane runs all services and infrastructure through a single core,'' said Mr Dow.

"This makes the entire system prone to total, spreading and cascading failure.''

So long as the geometry of the network remains the same, the same thing can happen again. Different fault, different day, in the core, same effect and outcome.

[ozbob]

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