POLL: Should Queensland Rail be subject to Competitive Tendering? (April 2017)

[#Metro]

I am interested in seeing how attitudes are changing / not changing with time.

The last poll was done November 2016 and some further events and discussion has taken place since then.

Poll will run for 14 days. Votes may be changed at any time until poll close.

Results available after poll close.

I may run another poll at a time point in the distant future to gauge people's thoughts.

Thanks for your participation.

[Mr X]

Depends. Would being more "competitive" = more money cut = fewer drivers and guards = worse services and service delivery?

[#Metro]

CT is a process. An example of such a process is the CityCat:

http://www.brisbaneferries.com.au/about-us-2/our-history/

Prior to TransdevTSL being assigned the contract to operate and maintain Brisbane's CityCats and CityFerries, a company named River Connections was the contracted operator.

Awarded 10 year contract to continue operating Brisbane City Council's CityCats and ferries

"Competitive" means an operator other than the current one has the possibility to be chosen.

It does not automatically mean that QR would win or lose the contract.

Funding and service levels are things that the Queensland Government decides.

It is entirely possible, for example, that a competitive tender is held and QR wins the contract to run trains for an agreed period.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Here we go again.

[#Metro]

[Stillwater]

Give it a rest.  May I suggest, instead, that some sort of 'benchmarking comparison' take place.  That is, that 'best practice' among operators be established and QR is stress tested against these benchmarks constantly, and steps taken to lift standards.  It could be a job for the Citytrain Response Unit and give them something meaningful to do.

Then put QR on notice - reach the benchmark within 3-5 years, or competitive tendering applies.

[#Metro]

Benchmarking already happens. It's in the INDEC report.

[tazzer9]

You're like a politician trying to push an unpopular agenda.  Statistically, if you do enough polls, one of them will back your point of view.

[#Metro]

I have more than 1 star (i hope)

(For interest, political pollsters do their polling regularly for monitoring purposes to see how important issues grow and evolve)

E.g. Newspoll. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/newspoll

[techblitz]

i think they need to tendered just on the frickin train cleanliness alone....

[OzGamer]

Here's a thought - instead of jumping to the neocon push for privatisation when things go wrong, how about pressuring our elected representatives to life their game and fix the problem?

[ozbob]

Maybe this is what is actually happening?

[James]

Here's a thought - instead of jumping to the neocon push for privatisation when things go wrong, how about pressuring our elected representatives to life their game and fix the problem?

The QR problem has gone on long enough, quite frankly. I think we'd be happier with seeing the RPL run peak-only as extensions of Petrie services rather than the current #railfail. The way it has been managed is simply mind-boggling, it is like a horror film in slow motion, where at every turn you think it can't get any worse, until it does. All these going ons are making Queensland Rail the laughing stock of the Western world. At least Southern Rail in the UK only goes on strike once every 2-3 weeks!

I was originally on the fence, but nothing is happening. Strachan inquiry largely ignored, Neil Scales continuing to preside over fail, no visible attempt at making a proper cultural change. All downhill from here I'm afraid!

[tazzer9]

The problem isn't the RPL.   The problems stem long before that opened.   There isn't even that many more services that are directly due to the RPL, most of the new services are things like the peak northgate trains and a few extra sunny coast and ipswich trains.  The new timetable somewhat even increased efficiently as most RPL trains are simple extensions of what previously terminated at petrie or bowen hills.  The caboolture line got expressed saving time, most sunshine coast services are now simple extensions of caboolture trains, not separate.

The problem was QR was running on huge amounts of over time for years and even when they had the power to get more drivers, they didn't.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Not to mention the RPL removed bottlenecks and allowed a higher utilisation of trains as opposed to them idling from Lawnton to Zillmere.

[#Metro]

Queensland Rail

- reduced services
- broke all connections in SEQ with buses by cancelling clockface timetable (why??)
- has started running "novelty services"

Check out the novelties:

- Train appears at Varsity Lakes, runs express past Robina, and then terminates at Nerang. That's it.



- Train appears at Helensvale, Nerang, runs express past Robina, terminates at Varsity Lakes.



- Train appears at Robina terminates at Varsity lakes, serving just two stations.

[#Metro]

And what does TransLink think about all this? Matt Longland explains. 

Steve Austin - ABC Brisbane
http://www.abc.net.au/radio/brisbane/programs/mornings/mornings/8407228

36 min 55 seconds

[verbatim9]

I notice when I catch the train alot of people for some reason only use the train for a couple of stops between Varsity Lakes and Helensvale. It seems that those trains are needed.

[ozbob]

And what does TransLink think about all this? Matt Longland explains. 

Steve Austin - ABC Brisbane
http://www.abc.net.au/radio/brisbane/programs/mornings/mornings/8407228

36 min 55 seconds

[#Metro]

" I think it is time that we looked at considering an operator that can actually run our rail system properly.

Queensland Rail is failing, clearly. Maybe it is time to open up to competitive tendering and get an operator that

will actually deliver services that will meet reasonable community expectations."


- Robert Dow, ABC Radio interview

Brave! +1 

[ozbob]

" Maybe ... "

There is a message there ... I hope it is heeded ... I really do.

[#Metro]

^^ They have not fired the ELT and Board.

That is the #1 thing I do not understand about this. It makes absolutely no sense.

Almost 8 months with the same cast of characters that

oversaw #RailFail. It just begs the question, WHY??  :conf

[#Metro]

Just some more info about benchmarking - QR already does this. Appears to have been happening since 2012.

MTR Metro Trains Melbourne, Sydney Rail is also sharing data into this pool.

http://www.isberg-web.org/about-isberg/

The INDEC report shows some snapshots of the kind of data that QR receives. I imagine it would be much more detailed than the brief in the INDEC report.  https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/tabled-papers/online-tabled-papers

Page 11 Staff Incidents per revenue train km benchmark

Page 19 Crew Training ratios (unclear whether source is Iseberg)

Page 26 Service Delivery and On Time Performance benchmarks

About ISBeRG

What is ISBeRG ?

ISBeRG is an international benchmarking group for suburban rail operators. ISBeRG's principal aim is to identify and share best practices in a confidential environment.  The group is owned and run by the members themselves and managed by the Railway and Transport Strategy Centre (RTSC) at Imperial College London.  The members gather twice a year at meetings hosted by the member railways around the world and stay in ongoing contact through the group's secure website and online forum as well as through the project management, benchmarking analysis, and coordination provided by the RTSC.

The primary objectives of ISBeRG are to:

* Share knowledge and identify best practices in a confidential environment
* Support members in achieving their operational, environmental and strategic goals
* Develop systems of measures for use by management and to establish railway best practice
* Prioritise areas for improvement and support decision-making
* Collaboration, independence, speed, and confidentiality are key principles of the group and are central to its success.

Collaboration: Members help each other to improve their railway. The benchmarking process that supports this requires unimpeded information exchange between railways.

Independence: The group is owned and run by the members themselves, with project management, benchmarking analysis, and administration conducted by the RTSC at Imperial College London. This independence permits the group to pursue its own agenda and focus its efforts in areas of most immediate interest.

Speed: The size of the group and the online interactions through the group's website permit quick responses for many queries.

Confidentiality: ISBeRG is based on an open and honest data and information exchange within the group, but not to outside parties. Members are happy to see both their strengths and weaknesses openly so that they can help each other improve.

ISBeRG History

Following expressions of interest from several operators, in 2009 the Railway and Transport Strategy Centre (RTSC) at Imperial College London agreed to establish an international benchmarking group for suburban railways. The group was established based on the 18 years of experience gained by the RTSC through the successful management of the CoMET and Nova metro benchmarking groups and the International Bus Benchmarking Group (IBBG).

In January 2010, the group's development phase commenced, with founding members from New York (MTA Metro-North Railroad and MTA Long Island Rail Road), Oslo (NSB), and London (London Rail).  JR East in Tokyo also joined as a founding member in March 2010.

In November 2010, Phase 1 of the benchmarking process started, with the founding members joined by five additional railways: BART in San Francisco, CPTM in São Paulo, the DB Regio S-Bahn in Munich, S-Tog in Copenhagen, and Metro Trains in Melbourne. Early in 2011 Sydney CityRail joined Phase 1 as the 11th member. In December 2011 Phase 2 of the benchmarking progress began, and in the following six months members were joined by FGC in Barcelona, Queensland Rail in Brisbane, and MTR in Hong Kong. The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) joined in Phase 3, with their Cape Town MetroRail operations. The group now contains 14 suburban railways in 13 world cities, covering five continents; Phase 6 began in December 2015.

From the QR FY2014-15 Annual Report (Helen Gluer CEO intro): https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/about%20us/Documents/Queensland%20Rail%20FY2014-15%20Annual%20and%20Financial%20Report%20-%20FINAL.pdf

Queensland Rail is committed to supporting government priorities and has continued to pursue best practice by analysing our
financial and operational performance and comparing our results with similar businesses and industries.

Utilising benchmarking information, Queensland Rail has fundamentally changed the way in which it does business by focusing on sustaining our strong operational performance and providing a high quality service while examining and refining our cost base.

[Stillwater]

^^ QR should not do the benchmarking in the same way that Airlines should not investigate crashes of their own planes.  Any safety incident is assessed independently by the ATSB.  QR benchmarking should be performed independently by a separate organisation -- maybe Citytrain Response Unit.

[#Metro]

^^ QR should not do the benchmarking in the same way that Airlines should not investigate crashes of their own planes.  Any safety incident is assessed independently by the ATSB.  QR benchmarking should be performed independently by a separate organisation -- maybe Citytrain Response Unit.

Some points:

1. It doesn't change the result - the numbers will be the same

2. Iseberg does the compilation, so it is independent already.

3. Where is CRU going to collect the data from if not QR?
Their own recording equipment?

4. If the data " looks bad " what are the consequences for non-compliance?

Benchmarking is definitely a good idea, but it's one that's already in place.

I will also point out that the two main benchmarks - OTP and availability will likely be 100% and 100% these two Easter weekends. If you compare data like that to other operators it will put QR in a fantastic light, totally reliable and no cancellations from the timetable. It's the exact opposite to the "ground truth".

You can move the goalposts until you are compliant by cutting services from the regular TT, add lots of padding too.

[#Metro]

The PTA WA has it right.  Not competing with the world, just matter of fact service delivery ..

" The PTA is committed to providing a quality passenger transport service to the public. "

WA has the worst budget position since the Great Depression.
Their massive debt is approaching $43 BN, they will probably have to borrow to keep the lights on.
WA Blue Team blew up the WA budget.

WA debt explained: How bad is it and what are the major parties promising to do about it?
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-09/wa-state-debt-and-plans-to-address-it-explained/8252358

WA has the worst set of finances since the Great Depression: McGowan
http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/wa-has-the-worst-set-of-finances-since-the-great-depression-mcgowan-20170406-gvf03h.html

Mr McGowan has a very difficult position. It is an environment that would likely lead to some form of gov't cuts program being created as he can't tax people's incomes, the GST share of WA is down, and he doesn't want to offload any assets.

So I think it would be entirely possible to recreate the QR situation in Perth.

If McGowan decides that a public servants cuts program will happen and that will affect the rail system as well, it is entirely possible.
That was the root cause in the QLD case.

The PTA uses CT very effectively for bus and ferry operations in Perth. I think the only reason why they haven't applied it to rail is because it would require loss of political capital to complete the process. When the Perth buses were sold off in the 1990s, I imagine that it was politically painful. So it is more a case of "unfinished business" there.

If service standards in WA fall, they will find themselves in the same situation as we do - unable to penalise the operator (gov't fining itself) and unable to choose an alternative one.

[#Metro]

Enjoyed your Back to Back #RailFail weekends? Novelty express services?

This poll closes in three days. Make sure you vote! 

[SteelPan]

I've ridden a number of good publicly operated rail/transit networks in Oz and OS and there's no reason an empowered Translink could not design [via contract], build [via contract] and itself operate a quality network.

I see a standardised publicly funded metro transit system as critical to the people having confidence in both the operation of the system itself and their personal safety in using, arguably, the most "engaged with" of all public assets!

[#Metro]

*** LAST DAY to change or cast your vote ***

*** POLL CLOSING TODAY ***

[#Metro]

The results are in. There has been a shift in opinion on the forum since Christmas.

I will not use these results for anything, and will return again in some months  to again check the pulse.

Thank you for your participation, and I hope you will consider participating again in polls and general discussion on this issue in the future.

METRO

POLL RESULTS (2-week window, double blind, result released at end):

DON'T KNOW / Unsure 2 (11.8%)
NO, Queensland Rail should NOT be subject to Competitive Tendering 6 (35.3%)
YES, Queensland Rail should be subject to Competitive Tendering 9 (52.9%)

[ozbob]

Rail fail is having very wide impacts.  The very future of Queensland Rail is now at stake.

Unless they get their act together (full timetable by January 2018) my guess is they will go ..

D
  O
    W
      N

[James]

Seismic shift in opinion. It was 26%/65%/9% for/against/abstain, now it is 52.9%/35%/12%. Admittedly the polls are different in numbers and participation, so no doubt it is skewed one way or another to some degree.

I changed my opinion from abstaining to for because the situation is only getting worse. Nothing is being done to make anything any better. It is like a horror film; where you think it can't get any worse. it does. Today, the Courier Mail has come out with this stuff on QR's psychometric testing. Why not employ a proper firm to do such testing, rather than garbage which QR puts drivers through? QR epitomises world's worst practice. At least Connex had an expiry date. If the ALP stays at the helm of the government, who knows when QR (as an organisation) will be 'fixed'.

[petey3801]

Quite a lot going on in the background outside the public eye. Also, the psychomentric testing is done by an outside agency, not qr themselves.

[MichaelJ]

If you'd asked me before the report was released, I would have said, "no, let the current management have their chance at repairing the damage." It's clear that they don't care so put it out there! Senior Managers from Sydney/NSW Trains offered to lend a hand but were aggressively turned down.

[#Metro]

^ Thanks for your support.

They are guaranteed business no matter what their performance is.

Not even elected politicians have that luxury.

[SurfRail]

It can't happen until there is a clear position articulated about how public transport will be organised and delivered generally, away from the complete morass of different agencies and interests we have now and which has only gotten more complicated in the last few months.

It can only happen as part of a package, and will be far from the first thing to be done.