The year, 2018 from a public transport perspective .. successes & failures

[ozbob]

Please feel free to add your successes and/or failures.

Successes:

1. The gradual introduction of rail replacement bus timetables.

2. Commencement (studies)  for the Coopers Plains grade separation.

3. Success in achieving a Commission of Inquiry into the NGR mess.

4. Gold Coast public transport achieves excellent patronage growth - the rest of SEQ PT needs similar attention in terms of network reform and better connections.

5. Improved reporting (timelines) of performance data.

6. SPADs incidence improved.

7. Commonwealth Games public transport - Gold Coast line, light rail and buses worked well.

8. RTIs, particularly for patronage FY 12/13 through to 17/18.

Failures:

1.  October 2016 rail timetable still not achieved - still stuck with the Friday rail fail timetable ..

2.  Disconnect from reality by the Minister and TransLink, particularly with the wider impacts of constant train issues and bus non-connections.

3.  No progress towards bus network reform.

4.  Reported on-time running contractual being misrepresented with NGR delays due to faults being excluded as force majeure.

5.  Government has not made public the ' integrated public transport models ' the Citytrain Response Unit put forward December 2017. Also appears to be frozen at the wheel yet again with respect to this.

6. Administrative communications with transport authorities very difficult. 

7. Failure to do full length platform raising when doing DDA compliance upgrades for stations.

8. TransLink take little notice of their own data - fare affordability, the significantly worse KPI on monthly performance data.

9. Skipped stations remains at historically high relative numbers.

[SurfRail]

In respect of the Gold Coast, it isn't even that much of a success - just the bits that are working are working sufficiently well to off-set the faults.

Commonwealth Games needs to be mentioned, it all ended up working fairly well transport-wise in the end (albeit not so much for the Brisbane metropolitan rail system).

[ozbob]

Thanks. Yes, added the Commonwealth Games.  Pity about the rest of the network but the Goldie and associated transport worked well.

[AnonymouslyBad]

1.  October 2016 rail timetable still not achieved - still stuck with the Friday rail fail timetable ..

Probably goes without saying but this is the biggest one to watch in 2019.

The worry is that they'll just keep making minor improvements to services (so there's a constant flow of good news stories), it all becomes highly politicised and we end up with an illegible, inconsistent mess like the bad old days.

If they can't just 'switch on' October 2016 timetables sometime during 2019 it's pretty much a lost cause and the whole saga was for naught.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

20th December 2018

2018 - key successes and failures for Public Transport from RAIL Back On Track perspective

Good Morning,

As 2018 rolls to a close here is a summary of the key successes and failures from our perspective for 2018!

Successes:

1. The gradual introduction of rail replacement bus timetables.

2. Commencement (studies)  for the Coopers Plains grade separation.

3. Success in achieving a Commission of Inquiry into the NGR mess.

4. Gold Coast public transport achieves excellent patronage growth - the rest of SEQ PT needs similar attention in terms of network reform and better connections.

5. Improved reporting (timelines) of performance data.

6. SPADs - incidence improved.

7. Commonwealth Games public transport - Gold Coast line, light rail and buses worked well.

8. RTIs, particularly for patronage FY 12/13 through to 17/18.

Failures:

1.  October 2016 rail timetable still not achieved - still stuck with the Friday rail fail timetable ..

2.  Disconnect from reality by the Minister and TransLink, particularly with the wider impacts of constant train issues and bus non-connections.

3.  No progress towards bus network reform.

4.  Reported on-time running contractual being misrepresented with NGR delays due to faults being excluded as force majeure.

5.  Government has not made public the ' integrated public transport models ' the Citytrain Response Unit put forward December 2017. Also appears to be frozen at the wheel yet again with respect to this.

6. Administrative communications with transport authorities very difficult.

7. Failure to do full length platform raising when doing DDA compliance upgrades for stations.

8. TransLink take little notice of their own data - fare affordability, the significantly worse KPI on monthly performance data.

9. Skipped stations remains at historically high relative numbers.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Media release 12th December 2018

Queensland:  Thanks to all involved with public transport for their efforts in 2018

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 thanks all bus drivers, train and tram crew, ferry crew, and the many and important support crew and staff for all public transport operators throughout Queensland for their efforts in 2018!

Robert Dow, Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Public transport runs around the clock, 365 days a year.  Thank you to the many bus drivers, train and tram crew, ferry crew, all operational and the behind the scenes staff, and the numerous operators' management."

"Staff at Councils, TransLink, and Department of Transport and Main Roads have been constructively engaging the community and steering changes. We thank them for their ongoing commitment to public transport, and look forward to further improvements in 2019!"

"We don't always see eye to eye with Councils, Government and its agencies, or the Opposition parties on public transport issues.

"However we thank our elected political representatives and the public service for their ongoing efforts.

"We appreciate the opportunities to put our point of view and constructive dialogue, and the support received from the media.  Thank you!

"On behalf of RAIL Back On Track Members we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy 2019!"



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

[ozbob]

Facebook ..

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1075414920517152768

[ozbob]

Success: Pomona rail pedestrian crossing saved.

Great local campaign which RAIL Back on Track supported.

Sunshine Coast Daily 17th October 2018 page 6

Campaign puts QR on right track

[ozbob]

Facebook ... going off like cold cans on a hot day!

1,008 People reached 251 Engagements

>> https://www.facebook.com/RAILBackOnTrack/posts/2375622922451881

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1075775225885671424

[kram0]

One other thing to add to the positive list is that CRR has actually had genuine activity, not just lip service.

[ozbob]

One other thing to add to the positive list is that CRR has actually had genuine activity, not just lip service.

Yes, good point!   

[ozbob]

Facebook ... going off like cold cans on a hot day!

1,008 People reached 251 Engagements

>> https://www.facebook.com/RAILBackOnTrack/posts/2375622922451881

Going off like a pint of Guinness now ..

3,230 People reached 502 Engagements

[ozbob]

Excellent response: 4,626 People reached 657 Engagements