RAIL - Back On Track Forum

https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/about%20us/Media%20Centre/Pages/extra-train-services.aspx

From 29 July 2019, Queensland Rail will introduce an extra 430 weekly train services across the South East Queensland (SEQ) network.

We'll also upgrade 59 existing services from three-carriages to six-carriages, providing a total 200,000 extra seats each week.

Of the 430 extra weekly services, 85 of these will run in peak times when the majority of customers are travelling and 142 will run on a Friday to deliver a consistent timetable Monday to Friday.

Further details of these changes are available below, or you can plan your travel using the TransLink Journey Planner. ​

Benefits across SEQ from 29 July:

85 extra weekly peak services, adding to the 32 weekly peak services introduced in May

142 extra services each Friday, to provide a consistent timetable Monday to Friday

More consistent stopping patterns and departure times

59 three-carriage upgrades, building upon 193 three-carriage upgrades introduced in December

200,000 extra weekly seats to improve customer comfort.

Changes to the January 2018 timetable with effect 29th July 2019:
https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/about%20us/Media%20Centre/Pages/extra-train-services.aspx

Changes to the January 2018 timetable with effect 29th July 2019:
https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/about%20us/Media%20Centre/Pages/extra-train-services.aspx

Queensland Rail Media Release

https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/about%20us/Media%20Centre/Media%20Releases/Pages/430-extra-weekly-train-services-set-to-roll-out-across-SEQ-from-Monday-(29-July).aspx

25 July 2019

430 extra weekly train services set to roll out across SEQ from Monday (29 July)
   
Queensland Rail is reminding customers to plan their travel, as it prepares to roll out an extra 430 weekly services across the South East Queensland (SEQ) network from Monday, 29 July.

Queensland Rail's CEO Nick Easy said customers could visit the TransLink website or download the MyTransLink app to plan their travel ahead of Monday.

"These 430 extra services will provide 85 additional trains in peak times each week, when the majority of our customers are travelling, and will restore an extra 142 services each Friday to provide a consistent timetable Monday to Friday across SEQ," Mr Easy said.

"We'll also be upgrading 59 existing services from three-carriages to six-carriages from this week which, together with the 430 extra weekly trains, will add 200,000 extra weekly seats to the SEQ network.

"We're looking forward to seeing customers across the region benefiting from these additional trains and seats from Monday.

"While only minor adjustments will apply to all other services, we do encourage customers to check their 29 July timetable and plan their travel ahead of Monday morning.

"These improvements have been underpinned by the largest traincrew recruitment campaign in Queensland Rail's history, which has seen 177 new drivers and 314 new guards enter supply since October 2016.

"A further 74 trainee drivers and 58 trainee guards are currently in training, with more driver and guard schools planned to commence later this year to ensure we deliver a pipeline of talent."

Mr Easy said teams from right across Queensland Rail would be situated and ready to support the rollout of the 430 extra services from Monday morning.

"Delivering a new timetable is a complex task which requires the consideration of a range of interconnected logistics beyond the availability of traincrew, including the planning, stabling and maintenance of trains, rostering and daily train movements," Mr Easy said.

"More trains running across the network is naturally more challenging to operate, and our teams will be 100 per cent focused on ensuring we transition to these changes reliably and sustainably for customers from next week.

"From station customer service to network response staff, we'll have extra hands on deck across the network – particularly in peak times – to support a reliable roll out.

"We will also be staffing Queensland Rail's social media channels for longer hours from Monday 29 July to Friday 2 August, from 5am – 7.30pm, to assist with any questions our customers may have about their 29 July timetable changes.

"We hope these improvements can make a real difference to our customer's schedules each week, providing more frequent services and more options for our customers to get to and from their commitments sooner."

Extra weekly services by line from 29 July:

•           Cleveland line – 48

•           Beenleigh line – 43

•           Ferny Grove line – 44

•           Northgate to Roma Street shuttles – 239

•           Caboolture line – 9

•           Springfield line – 13

•           Doomben line – 6

•           Ipswich/Rosewood line – 6

•           Shorncliffe line – 12

•           Redcliffe Peninsula line – 2

•           Gold Coast line – 6

•           Airport line – 2

The additional 430 weekly services will restore the timetabled services planned with the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line in October 2016. The Sunshine Coast line retained all services since October 2016.

For more information or to plan their journey, customers can visit www.translink.com.au, download the MyTransLink app or call 13 12 30.

ENDS

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27th July 2019

Restoration of the October 2016 Citytrain Queensland Rail timetable from Monday 29th July 2019

Good Morning,

The day that many passengers have been waiting for is arriving on all platforms on Monday the 29th July 2019 - the restoration of the October 2016 Citytrain Queensland Rail timetable with some improvements (See https://www.facebook.com/RAILBackOnTrack/posts/2758408110840025 ).

We would like to thank all at Queensland Rail for working hard towards the restoration of the October 2016 timetable. We believe this is a significant turning point for the future success of rail and public transport generally.

RAIL Back On Track will continue to advocate for further service improvements in the months and years to come,  but it is important to acknowledge the effort made to get back the October 2016 timetable.  Thank you.

Best wishes,

Robert

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

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1154858654136274945

Queensland Times 27th July 2019 page 4

Added rail services for commuters

Couriermail Quest --> QR has changed its train timetable from Monday when new services will be introduced

QuoteQueensland Rail is reminder train users to check their timetables with new services being introduced to the network from Monday.

QUEENSLAND Rail has added 11 new trains that will service the Pine Rivers area from Monday.

Two of these will operate on the Redcliffe Peninsula line and nine will be added to the Caboolture line.

The additions are part of a larger expansion of services in southeast Queensland, with 430 new train services each week added to the network.

Queensland Rail's CEO Nick Easy said customers could visit the TransLink website or download the MyTransLink app to plan their travel ahead of Monday.

""We'll also be upgrading 59 existing services from three-carriages to six-carriages from this week which, together with the 430 extra weekly trains, will add 200,000 extra weekly seats to the SEQ network," he said.

Mr Easy said teams from right across Queensland Rail would be situated and ready to support the rollout of the 430 extra services from Monday morning.

Question then - how many 3 car services are actually left in the new timetable?

https://twitter.com/QueenslandRail/status/1155253479876677634

I've seen someone on social media claiming this is still not the October 2016 timetable. Something about there being 15-minute outbound Caboolture services during peak, which I don't remember ever happening.

Quote from: SurfRail on July 28, 2019, 09:02:53 AM
Question then - how many 3 car services are actually left in the new timetable?

In December 2018 193 weekly 3 to 6 car upgrades reduced the number by 70% ( https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/forcustomers/plan/193-weekly-six-car-upgrades-hit-the-track-for-greater-customer-comfort ).

So must have originally around 276 weekly 3 car services, so that would have left 276-193 = 83.

So a further 59 upgraded to 6 car from tomorrow so leaves about 24 (but this might be bit out with the reversion back to Oct 2016 timetable, but I don't think it would too far out).

(I don't this includes the 3 car services on the Ipswich <> Rosewood shuttle).

Quote from: achiruel on July 28, 2019, 10:42:54 AM
I've seen someone on social media claiming this is still not the October 2016 timetable. Something about there being 15-minute outbound Caboolture services during peak, which I don't remember ever happening.

Here is the 4th October 2016 Caboolture timetable --> https://backontrack.org/docs/tt/4oct2016/Caboolture4Oct16.pdf

Shows 30 minute counter-peak.

Shorncliffe line timetable-fat remains. The long dwells at Northgate then Toombul especially. And just when you thought you'd be able to run across to an xpress train at Northgate (springfield line?) the train mysteriously halts 200m before Northgate, then sits there for 2-3 mins 

Quote from: ozbob on July 28, 2019, 10:45:48 AM

Quote from: SurfRail on July 28, 2019, 09:02:53 AM
Question then - how many 3 car services are actually left in the new timetable?

In December 2018 193 weekly 3 to 6 car upgrades reduced the number by 70% ( https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/forcustomers/plan/193-weekly-six-car-upgrades-hit-the-track-for-greater-customer-comfort ).

So must have originally around 276 weekly 3 car services, so that would have left 276-193 = 83.

So a further 59 upgraded to 6 car from tomorrow so leaves about 24 (but this might be bit out with the reversion back to Oct 2016 timetable, but I don't think it would too far out).

(I don't this includes the 3 car services on the Ipswich <> Rosewood shuttle).

Apart from the Rosewood shuttles - none left 

https://twitter.com/QueenslandRail/status/1155298500751581189

Certainly I've never seen any reason for Ipswich-Rosewood shuttles to be upgraded. Maybe for special events at Willowbank, but I think the shuttle buses usually leave from Ipswich despite Wulkaraka being closer due to difficult road access at Wulkaraka.

Quote from: achiruel on July 28, 2019, 12:22:23 PM
Certainly I've never seen any reason for Ipswich-Rosewood shuttles to be upgraded. Maybe for special events at Willowbank, but I think the shuttle buses usually leave from Ipswich despite Wulkaraka being closer due to difficult road access at Wulkaraka.

I took as meaning that a scheduled 6 car could be a 3 if something happens to restrict availability of units.

The only "6-car" services heading to Rosewood would only be the peak directs, and even then that's off-limits to NGR services.   Gympie North and Rosewood are the only services that won't be receiving the NGRs in the longer term.

The most QR could do for Rosewood peak is to at least schedule a 6-car IMU on those services (thus providing a toilet in both halves of the train), due to the car locking policy west of Ipswich for the short platform stations as part of the "Zero Harm" policy.  That way it would ensure the operational half of the 6-car Rosewood direct service has a toilet onboard.

" I took as meaning that a scheduled 6 car could be a 3 if something happens to restrict availability of units. "

I should have been more specific.  I think QR are referring not to Rosewood trains but the network as a whole.  All services are scheduled 6 car (except Rosewood) unless there is train unit problem.

Arnz, do you know if today is the last day for ICE on the Gympie Lander?

Quote from: ozbob on July 28, 2019, 13:20:34 PM
Arnz, do you know if today is the last day for ICE on the Gympie Lander?

I believe the remaining ICE units will still be scheduled on the GympieLander for the intermediate future.  The ICE's only role is the Gympie North services as of tomorrow.
There's no time frame for the withdrawal of the remaining ICE units yet.

^ thanks. 

Couriermail --> Queensland Rail will pay overtime until end of 2020 to run new timetable


Rail Back On Track spokesman Robert Dow welcomes the return to the October 2016 timetable from today but says overtime payments to drivers are still too high. (APP / Josh Woning)

QuoteQueensland Rail will today attempt to add more than 430 services to the timetable that were cut three years ago but experts fear we could be headed to "Rail Fail 2.0".

THE Palaszczuk Government won't have enough train drivers to run their new timetable without a huge overtime bill until December next year, according to a new report.

It comes as Queensland Rail attempts today to restore 430 services which were cut from the network after it spectacularly collapsed during the 2016 Rail Fail.

However the latest Fixing the Trains progress report shows QR will not reach a driver surplus, which would allow it to operate at standard overtime levels, until December 2020, a year later than expected.

The Strachan inquiry into the rail fail found unsustainable driver overtime had been propping up the timetable before it collapsed.

The Courier-Mail revealed in April that QR was still paying drivers more than $440,000 a week in overtime.

And new QR figures have shown that drivers are earning up to $69,000 a year in overtime with a total wage of more than $225,000.

LNP Deputy Leader Tim Mander called on Transport Minister Mark Bailey to release overtime budgets for the restored timetable and accused the government of "running express into Rail Fail 2.0".

"Queensland taxpayers will pay the price because the restored timetable introduced today can only be viable with massive amounts of train driver overtime," Mr Mander said.

Rail Fail

Overtime bill $442,000 per week

New drivers needed 200

Net new drivers 108

Services restored today 430 and 200,000 extra seats

Highest paid driver $226,000 ($69,000 in overtime)

Highest paid guard $185,000 ($38,000 in overtime)

"The Palaszczuk Labor Government is nowhere near the 200 net new train drivers recommended by the Strachan Report.

"Labor are repeating the mistakes that led to Rail Fail by increasing the number of services without the proper number of train drivers, which severely compromises reliability."

Rail Back on Track Spokesman Robert Dow said every rail system required some overtime to work efficiently however levels in Queensland still remained too high.

"Where (QR) got into trouble last time was running overtime to sustain the normal timetable which they are probably doing at the moment," he said.

Mr Dow said after 1032 days of Rail Fail, he welcomed the return to the full October 2016 timetable, and that the 108 net new drivers trained meant QR was better positioned to run the schedule.

"They'll probably get away with it and limp over the line and they'd want to because if we have rail fail 2.0 all hell will break loose," he said.

QR chief executive Nick Easy said train crew overtime had dropped nearly 9 per cent from 2016-17 to 2018-19.


Queensland Rail CEO Nick Easy say there will be enough train drivers to handle the increase of services today. Pic Annette Dew

"Our planning for the delivery of this timetable reflects a managed approach towards train crew overtime, with our unprecedented train crew recruitment campaign ensuring we have enough drivers to reliably and sustainably increase services," he said.

QR has repeatedly refused to say how much overtime is optimal for the system or the total number of drivers required to reach a surplus.

"The number of drivers required to run all services fluctuates at different times throughout the year, due to activities such as track work when altered running is required and extra services to support special events," Mr Easy said.


QLD Transport Minster Mark Bailey will be closely monitoring southeast Queensland's rail network today to see if it can handle the restoration of 430 services to the timetable.

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 29th July 2019 page 13

Welcome back to service

Couriermail --> Opinion: Queenland Rail will end up with another fail by paying overtime rates

QuoteThe way Queensland Rail plans to make its new timetable viable is also the way it ended up in so much trouble in the first place, writes The Editor.

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk might have been hoping a new week would bring better political fortunes, with her deputy Jacki Trad safely out of the country after a week of uncomfortable questions over integrity issues.

But today's exclusive report about the latest chapter in the Rail Fail saga should put paid to that.

Incredibly, the only way Queensland Rail can run their new timetable, which comes into effect today, is to pay a huge overtime bill to drivers.

And this will go on until December next year.

After three years of Rail Fail, there still aren't enough drivers to keep the trains running on time without paying massive overtime bills. The new timetable attempts to restore 430 services that were cut after the network collapsed in 2016.

It's an admirable aim. But to rely on driver overtime means it is unsustainable — at least economically.

New QR figures reveal drivers are earning up to $69,000 a year in overtime, with total wages of up to $225,000.

New drivers are on the way, but a "driver surplus" will not be achieved until December 2020.

Opposition deputy leader Tim Mander has a point when he accuses the Palaszczuk government of running express into Rail Fail 2.0.

"Queensland taxpayers will pay the price because the restored timetable introduced today can only be viable with massive amounts of train driver overtime," Mr Mander said.

The Strachan inquiry into the original Rail Fail found unsustainable driver overtime had been propping up the timetable before it collapsed.

Sound familiar?

QR have another 108 drivers than what they had at their first attempt to deliver the October 2016 timetable.

I am sure they have done analyses and are confident that they have enough crew to deliver the July 2019 timetable.

Not disclosing overtime levels does raise suspicion levels that it might still be high.  I guess OT will be explored in estimates tomorrow ..

Interesting to see how QR will handle 22tph on the mains in the am peak. It wasn't too reliable in the short time that the 2016 timetable previously operated.  Any delay will cause knock on delays to following services with limited chance of recovery until the shoulder peak.

Yo.  Already two skippers inbound to get back on time.  These ' rollingstock issues ' are a worry ..

Interview on ABC Radio Brisbane Breakfast with hosts Craig Zonca and Loretta Ryan and Robert Dow, topic 29th July 2019 Citytrain timetable.

Here --> https://backontrack.org/docs/abcbris/abcbris_rd29jul19.mp3  MP3 11.4MB

Done interviews with TV News 2, 9 and still to do later today 7 and 10, ABC Gold Coast Radio, 4BC over the weekend.
Another 4BC this afternoon (Drive).

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1155639380486176768

Noticed a lot more services marked as an NGR on the pids than this time last week on the RP line. Usually in the interpeak there was 1 or two NGRs running but now there was only one on the screens that wasn't

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1155751373960441856


====

9 News 6pm Bulletin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H69hMcd6zO8

https://twitter.com/10NewsFirstQLD/status/1155764901408903169

Interview Radio 4BC Drive Host Mark Braybrook with Robert Dow RBoT  29th July 2019.

Brief introductory comments from Mr Nick Easy CEO Queensland Rail and Transport Minister Mark Bailey

Here -->https://backontrack.org/docs/4bc/4bc_rd29jul19.mp3 MP3 16 MB


https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1155925708901765120

ABC News Brisbanbe 29th July 2019
Restoration of October 2016 Queensland Rail Citytrain timetable

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stOhAL1SfJM

We are very progressive in Queensland. We have trains that run a consistent Monday to Friday timetable and a bus route that only runs during the middle of the day on Wednedays (have a look at the 631 timetable).

Quote from: City Designer on August 01, 2019, 23:45:42 PM
We are very progressive in Queensland. We have trains that run a consistent Monday to Friday timetable and a bus route that only runs during the middle of the day on Wednedays (have a look at the 631 timetable).

Yeah, there is reason for that one.  If anything it's good praxis.

https://www.eumundimarkets.com.au/

I don't need to check the train times today as no more weird gaps.

Sent from my G8141 using Tapatalk

Quote from: SurfRail on August 02, 2019, 06:20:14 AM

Quote from: City Designer on August 01, 2019, 23:45:42 PM
We are very progressive in Queensland. We have trains that run a consistent Monday to Friday timetable and a bus route that only runs during the middle of the day on Wednedays (have a look at the 631 timetable).

Yeah, there is reason for that one.  If anything it's good praxis.

https://www.eumundimarkets.com.au/

I knew there was a reason and wanted to flesh it out :-)