8 Jun 2024: Public transport - red alert 🔴

[ozbob]

Public transport - red alert  

8th June 2024

Greetings,

At RAIL Back On Track we monitor the Translink daily reported service disruptions.  This gives a guide as to how the bus and rail networks are performing.

For the period 18 Mar 2024 to 6 May 2024 average daily reported bus service disruptions was 81.  For the period 7 May 2024 to 7 June 2024 average daily reported bus service disruptions was 138, a 70% increase.  This suggests some significant issues with driver availability.  We suspect the main issues are driver shortages compounded by respiratory illness. Constant bus service cancellations, particularly with the low frequency services, makes it very difficult for passengers.


> https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=15577.0

So far in June Queensland Rail Citytrain has had 238 reported service disruptions in 7 days!  The monthly average monthly Citytrain reported service disruptions January through to May 2024  was 406.  Signal issues comprise 45.4%, train faults 12.6%, bridge strikes 9.2% the main reasons listed for the disruptions so far in June.  Tardiness with the compromised roll out of the European Train Control System Level 2 (ETCS-L2)  digital signalling doesn't give any real confidence that signalling reliability will be improved any time soon.

We have highlighted problems with bridge strikes for near on 20 years!  Today there is some single line running on the Ipswich line while Queensland Rail crews fix the damaged rail over road bridge at Corinda, a consequence of the bridge strike earlier in the week ( > https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?msg=284492 )!  The Minister for Transport needs to take some decisive action to address the problem of bridge strikes. We have suggested some steps to take (see link).


> https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=15542.0

With the introduction of the 50 Cent Fares from August 5th, unless there is a dramatic improvement in both bus and rail reliability, let alone capacity increases, the public transport in SEQ is likely to be overwhelmed.  The consequence of this will be very damaging to the State Government, to the transport authorities, and unfortunately to the operators.

Action is needed; not spin, not weasel words, no more bumbling incompetence, but decisive leadership and action!

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

[ozbob]

Discussion --> https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?msg=284634