unacceptable translink officers practices

[justanotheruser]

I was disgusted as my wife was telling me last night that several times translink officers (TO's) have boarded a train at a station (yesterday it was corinda) and checked everyones ticket before allowing the trian to leave the station. Imagine a peak hour train. How many people is that? how long does it take and why should they be delayed. If they want to check by all means get on the train check the tickets and get off but don't hold the train at the station. As soon as I find Ms nolans email address I will send a complaint and see what response.

While I don't mind them doing their job it should not be inconviencing hundreds of people (thousands depending how many trains they stopped!) for what is probably ten people without tickets.

[O_128]

TOs are pointless they congregate at central and roma street in packs or check tickets there. One time they checked tickets between central and roma street which was the most pointless thing ever.

[ozbob]

It possible they may have been looking for someone?  This does seem a bit odd to say the least.  I have witnessed TOs checking tickets many times never has a train been held just for that.  I have been on some services where the train has been held while a troublesome passenger was located though.

[longboi]

I'd say there's a very good chance they were looking for somebody in particular. Otherwise they would have just boarded and checked tickets during travel.

One time they checked tickets between central and roma street which was the most pointless thing ever.

How is that pointless?

They were probably returning back to the office and instead of sitting down they did their duty right until the end of shift.

[Derwan]

The representative of the Rail Squad at the recent Shorncliffe CRG meeting mentioned that they sometimes do joint operations with transit officers where they'll stop the train at a station until it is complete.  Transit officers conduct ticket inspections and call on Rail Squad Officers if anyone causes a problem.

They only do this during off-peak.  (He specifically mentioned nights but I don't know if it's limited to that.)

They find that people don't mind waiting a few minutes if it means catching the fare-evaders - especially the ones with attitudes who would not cooperate with Transit Officers who have no powers to demand personal details or remove offenders from trains.

[ozbob]

Thanks Derwan.  That might be the explanation, but holding the train might cause problems with lost connections with bus etc.  I think that might need to be re-thought.  For example police get on and wait till called as service proceeds?  

I have seen police (rail squad) on mobile trains many times.  

I have passed this thread onto QR, who will also seek an explanation.

[O_128]

I'd say there's a very good chance they were looking for somebody in particular. Otherwise they would have just boarded and checked tickets during travel.

One time they checked tickets between central and roma street which was the most pointless thing ever.

How is that pointless?

They were probably returning back to the office and instead of sitting down they did their duty right until the end of shift.

as the train had started at bowen hills that means nearly everyone would have a valid ticket. If they have finished there shift go home instead of standing in groups

[longboi]

I'd say there's a very good chance they were looking for somebody in particular. Otherwise they would have just boarded and checked tickets during travel.

One time they checked tickets between central and roma street which was the most pointless thing ever.

How is that pointless?

They were probably returning back to the office and instead of sitting down they did their duty right until the end of shift.

as the train had started at bowen hills that means nearly everyone would have a valid ticket. If they have finished there shift go home instead of standing in groups

What I'm saying is that they're boarding the train anyway...so they might as well check tickets.

Besides, Just because the train started at Bowen Hills doesn't mean a fare evader couldn't get on there, Fortitude Valley or Central 

[ozbob]

Yes indeed Nikko.  I sat and watched the main go gates at Central the other morning peak, whilst waiting for a meeting.  It is obvious that some folks were trailing users.  They are the real fraudsters.

Then I watched a lady punter, attempt to touch off, no luck so she waited for someone to come through the next gate and she just passed behind them  

The gates are too slow to be effective when streams of users are touching.  No one can really monitor.  The only solution will be close spot checks.

[STB]

I have been told by Transit Officers in the past that they have an agreement with QR that no service will be delayed.  Unless it's a special circumstance, in this case they might have been looking for a specific passenger who may have been causing problems, or perhaps the police were looking for and the Transits were looking for the said person on their behalf.  That's simply at a guess though.

EDIT:  If it was at night and it was an outbound train, ie: had departed Roma St.  Then it confuses me why someone would be worried about connections, there is no buses operating and no train connections (except Rosewood trains).  As others have said this would be normal procedure, due to the above-mentioned reasons, it may be annoying but if it's done for your safety, I'd be thankful for it.

[ozbob]

Plenty of buses.  I have observed punters missing the bus at Oxley at night because of late running, and is a problem for those folks because it may be the last bus or the next one might be an hour away.  Same going north.  It simply is not acceptable to be routinely delaying trains and causing people to miss connections, inbound or outbound IMHO.  You may argue it might be a handful of people but for those people it is a major issue.

[longboi]

This is going to be a major problem when these authorised TOs come about. I really hope they will invest in response vehicles to keep disruptions to a minimum.

[justanotheruser]

just for clarification. It was a peak hour service that they stopped. Considering the amount of people on the train it would be difficult to go through it while moving.

It could be looking for a troublesome passenger as one person suggested. however this would suggest they need security on more trains than just a handful at night time as it has happened numerous times.
my wife actually told another passenger who saw the TO's as the train pulled in that she wouldn't object if they actually let the train go rather than holding it. So my wife knew they were going to do that before it happened.

I also asked a QR train guard who comes into my work on a regular basis about it and he was aware of the practice and said it was policy to do so. This suggests it is actually policy or that it happens frequently enough that people think it is policy.

[longboi]

just for clarification. It was a peak hour service that they stopped. Considering the amount of people on the train it would be difficult to go through it while moving.

It could be looking for a troublesome passenger as one person suggested. however this would suggest they need security on more trains than just a handful at night time as it has happened numerous times.
my wife actually told another passenger who saw the TO's as the train pulled in that she wouldn't object if they actually let the train go rather than holding it. So my wife knew they were going to do that before it happened.

I also asked a QR train guard who comes into my work on a regular basis about it and he was aware of the practice and said it was policy to do so. This suggests it is actually policy or that it happens frequently enough that people think it is policy.

It's not just a policy...it's legislation; TOs have the power to hold any bus, train or ferry on the Translink network.

However, I do agree it was a stupid thing to do in peak. In fact, I would bet that there is a policy within the TSU which says not to hold up peak trains unless its absolutely necessary.

[justanotheruser]

Bob sent me a message with a response from senior QR staff. it would appear that on this occasion there was justifiable reason and that the ticket checking was just a cover for the real reason.
This just backs up a need for security guards on trains at other times not just a few services here and there at night. i don't know about other places but in Sydney (if it hasn't changed) they have security on every train after a certain time (7:30pm I think). Even before that came in I have had alot more problems on Qld trains and never a problem on Sydney trains so I personally have found it safer in Sydney which is not what one would think.

nikko
i can understand the need for the policy/legislation. I think it would be there as a if neccesary action that should be a last resort.

[longboi]

Bob sent me a message with a response from senior QR staff. it would appear that on this occasion there was justifiable reason and that the ticket checking was just a cover for the real reason.
This just backs up a need for security guards on trains at other times not just a few services here and there at night. i don't know about other places but in Sydney (if it hasn't changed) they have security on every train after a certain time (7:30pm I think). Even before that came in I have had alot more problems on Qld trains and never a problem on Sydney trains so I personally have found it safer in Sydney which is not what one would think.

I'm all for more security on trains but If the TOs are looking for someone they will look for them, private security wouldn't have made a difference in this case.

[SteelPan]

Holding a train, particularly a peek-time service, for anything but an "exceptional" reason, is totally unjustified and another possible example of the lack of professionalism of "Transit Officers".  I have questioned the deployment of "TO's" from the start - it really is "railway policing" on the CHEAP - typical Qld Govt approach.  In any case, what I find amusing about the TO program, in this age of supposed integrated transport, is their rare IF EVER utilisation on buses and ferries - they too are part of the Translink network.  Throughout my extensive use of other rail networks holding a (peek service) train for mere ticket inspection would appear yet another STRANGE Qld first!  Try doing that at peek time on the NYC or LA undergrounds - even ol Sydney Town - the sheer waves of numbers would walk straight over them!!