RAIL - Back On Track Forum

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1601446289434357760

Currently on a southbound GC train running wrong road between Ormeau and Coomera. Anyone know what's going on?

Edit: still on wrong road between Coomera and Helensvale. Alighting here, so not sure what still happen further south.

^  there are no issues reported that I can see.  Sometimes they go ' wrong road ' just to keep the drivers familiar with the different line.  They do it out west from time to time I have noticed. 

Someone uploaded this on Tik Tok

@Jake_trains --->https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS8DtGW7P/

Coupled EMUs pulling into Roma street

Could be to do with Pimpama Station works.

https://translink.com.au/updates/221591

https://translink.com.au/updates/221586

Quote from: Cazza on January 29, 2023, 12:07:11 PMCould be to do with Pimpama Station works.

https://translink.com.au/updates/221591

https://translink.com.au/updates/221586

Yep, this sounds likely. I didn't time it, but 7 minutes seems about how long we were held at Ormeau for.

12 car train movements are still quite frequent. Can be anything from yard to yard positioning movements, heading to the wash or rollingstock recovery.

Speaking of the carwash, do NGRs use it, or do they have an alternative at Wulkaraka? I was on one today that was filthy on the outside!

Quote from: achiruel on January 29, 2023, 21:16:08 PMSpeaking of the carwash, do NGRs use it, or do they have an alternative at Wulkaraka? I was on one today that was filthy on the outside!

They do. A couple months ago the brushes failed and they had trouble sourcing replacement parts so all the trains got rather filthy. I heard they had found some spare parts sitting in a shipping container some place a couple months ago so its most likely installed now. At the time they were waiting for a track closure to install the new brushes. I presume they are probably still working through the backlog of trains that need a wash now.

I was changing trains at Petrie today and a number of Caboolture/Sunshine Coast trains are operating on platform 1.

From my understanding the tracks on platform 1 and 2 merge just north of Petrie and these trains normally always operate on platform 2 to allow easy transfer.

What would be the reason for moving these trains to platform 1?

There were delays to both lines. It's faster for both lines by removing the crossover conflict south of Petrie. That way services can run on greens instead of double yellows or yellows. Also has a higher track speed.

It's coming up on 5 months of the solar panel panto on MU166 and MU102/108 are back with their cost cutting refresh measures.

Quote from: HappyTrainGuy on February 22, 2023, 18:18:57 PMIt's coming up on 5 months of the solar panel panto on MU166 and MU102/108 are back with their cost cutting refresh measures.

Could you elaborate on this please?  Just interested, do they have solar panels on the roof?

Quote from: ozbob on February 22, 2023, 23:33:09 PM

Quote from: HappyTrainGuy on February 22, 2023, 18:18:57 PMIt's coming up on 5 months of the solar panel panto on MU166 and MU102/108 are back with their cost cutting refresh measures.

Could you elaborate on this please?  Just interested, do they have solar panels on the roof?

Correct. 4 or so little panels mounted to the base of the panto.

102/108 has had an internal clean up. New seat covers, lights, new pantos, logos and numbering and the most visual difference is the removal of the full width and length covers over the gangways replaced with smaller ones as seen on the rest of the fleet.

Quote from: HappyTrainGuy on February 23, 2023, 08:31:28 AM

Quote from: ozbob on February 22, 2023, 23:33:09 PM

Quote from: HappyTrainGuy on February 22, 2023, 18:18:57 PMIt's coming up on 5 months of the solar panel panto on MU166 and MU102/108 are back with their cost cutting refresh measures.

Could you elaborate on this please?  Just interested, do they have solar panels on the roof?

Correct. 4 or so little panels mounted to the base of the panto.

102/108 has had an internal clean up. New seat covers, lights, new pantos, logos and numbering and the most visual difference is the removal of the full width and length covers over the gangways replaced with smaller ones as seen on the rest of the fleet.

Forgot to mention 172 also has solar panels but a different size. It's running 2 instead of 4.

^ thanks HTG.  What is the rationale for the solar panels?  Provide recharge for onboard emergency batteries?

All very interesting.

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1629312306168602624

^

Quote from: ozbob on February 25, 2023, 00:15:54 AM^ thanks HTG.  What is the rationale for the solar panels?  Provide recharge for onboard emergency batteries?

All very interesting.

I have seen a few solar panels on top of trains around the place. Are these mainly used solely to raise the pantograph when needed?

Question - Oxley still has the older LED type PIDS on platform 3.  Apart from at least one at Caboolture (facing the bus interchange) are they still in place anywhere else?

Quote from: SurfRail on February 25, 2023, 14:07:09 PMQuestion - Oxley still has the older LED type PIDS on platform 3.  Apart from at least one at Caboolture (facing the bus interchange) are they still in place anywhere else?

Last time I passed through Petrie they were still on Platforms 1, 2 and 3. I would imagine this is still the case.

https://twitter.com/MarkBaileyMP/status/1632907933838381056

https://twitter.com/QueenslandRail/status/1633233109830467585

Righto. Haha.

I myself have seen some peak services on the Beenleigh line operating as 3 car recently. Inside sources tell me the rollingstock situation is baaaad at the moment...

Yes and no. It all depends. EMU/ICE phase out. Rollingstock refurbs. NGR daa issues. Test trains. SMU200 issues. Planned mtce. All play a part. NGR rollingstock issues have been the biggest pain. In the past you'd just break the set and throw it on another or just run it as a 3 car. Now if an NGR fails some sets are being broken to cover off both runs rather than cancelling the service in its entirety. NGR's also have the added problem of a sh%thouse recovery procedure as we saw yesterday.

Old tram tracks exposed on Gympie Road with works happening.

Quote from: OzGamer on March 13, 2023, 11:03:21 AMOld tram tracks exposed on Gympie Road with works happening.

Wow. I would've thought they would have ripped them up ages ago!

Most of the tram network is still there. Just bitumened over

EMU 32 being hauled by 2 diesel locomotives through Platform 2, Park Road.

Nice photograph!  Anyone know why the EMU is under tow?

Asked a family friend. The two locomotives are being used for driver training and the EMU32 (which isn't track worthy under its own power anymore) was being used to give them something to haul.

Quote from: RowBro on March 27, 2023, 21:53:09 PMAsked a family friend. The two locomotives are being used for driver training and the EMU32 (which isn't track worthy under its own power anymore) was being used to give them something to haul.

Thanks!   

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1643790361247252481

https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/1648559483889614850

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