Article: One in five trains delayed

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

One in five trains delayed

One in five trains delayed
COURTNEY TRENWITH
February 5, 2010 - 3:02PM

South-East Queensland rail commuters have endured a horror return to work, with almost one in five peak hour trains running late or cancelled in the past fortnight.

Yesterday was Queensland Rail's worst performance since July 3 last year, excluding December 5 when a power outage shut down the network, according to QR's own figures.

Continuous track and signal failures have caused widespread delays, affecting services across the network and inconveniencing travellers by more than an hour in some instances.

Only 81.3 per cent of peak hour trains have arrived on time in the past two weeks - far fewer than Queensland Rail's contractual standard of 92.4 per cent.

That equates to about 42 trains late each day over Brisbane's designated morning (6am-9am) and afternoon (3.30pm-6.30pm) peaks.

Eighty-two peak trains were late yesterday, prompting claims the past fortnight has been the worst two weeks in years.

Queensland Rail has reached its performance target just once in the past fortnight - on Wednesday (94.2 per cent). Excluding today's figures, which were not yet available, and the Australia Day public holiday, it means QR hit target once out of eight times.

A QR spokesman said several track faults this week had affected their on-time running performance, which "normally rates above our target of 92.4 per cent", and apologised for recent inconveniences.

"This week's disruptions are not the norm - we achieved 100 per cent on-time running five times in January, and we are committed to high service standards moving forward," he said.

"Today's initial on-time running result of 85.5 per cent was primarily due to a signal failure at Caboolture, which is a busy terminus station. Problems that occur at busy stations or junctions of track have potential to impact more services."

Rail: Back on Track lobby group spokesman Robert Dow said the system had not been so poor since a flu outbreak caused a shortage of train drivers in 2007.

"It's probably the worst sustained period we've had for quite some time, possibly for years,'' Mr Dow said.

"Clearly something needs to be done.''

The government-owned corporation faces hefty fines for the third year in a row if it cannot improve its performance.

Last financial year, it was penalised hundreds of thousands of dollars because only 91.74 per cent of peak hour trains reached their destination on time.

The year before, it was fined $6.7 million.

Today's peak hour performance rating also is unlikely to be up to speed considering significant delays on the Caboolture line this morning.

Commuters travelling from Caboolture and the Sunshine Coast were made up to 30 minutes late when a signal fault shut down the Caboolture and Nambour lines shortly after 7am.

TransLink was forced to arrange buses to transfer passengers from northern stations to Morayfield, where trains were running into the city, and between Nambour and Elimbah.

The signal fault was repaired about 8.30am, but it took another hour for services to return to normal.

The disruption followed yesterday's chaos when thousands of rail commuters throughout Brisbane were affected by a track fault near Bowen Hills station about 7.15am.

Delays of up to 30 minutes for services on all lines between Bowen Hills and Roma Street stations, including Central Station, lasted five hours and just 63.2 per cent of trains in the morning and afternoon peaks ran on time.

Last week, computer failures caused issues on three separate occasions and weather affected several lines, according to commuter group Rail: Back on Track.

Peak hour trains had been running at more than 90 per cent on time for several weeks and there were no delays on January 7, with Queensland Rail recording a 100 per cent rating.

But it appears as employees gradually return to work and students resume classes, the network is buckling under the pressure.

Mr Dow said the problems had often extended outside peak times, which are not recorded.

He called on Queensland Rail to explain why its performance had recently dropped.

"Unfortunately, there are some things that occur beyond the operator's control ... but at the moment the majority (of problems) seem to be track and signal failures and we think that's certainly under the control of Queensland Rail to address,'' Mr Dow said.

"They're struggling to get to 92 per cent ... that (means) one in 15 services is late at peak, that's not really good.

"We think 95 per cent is achievable.''

Mr Dow reiterated calls for Queensland Rail to compensate affected passengers, who often suffered the cost of lost wages, missed medical or business appointments, additional childcare fees and taxi fares when trains made them late through no fault of their own.

"We think there needs to be some acknowledgment of the impact of this constant disruption to commuters,'' Mr Dow said.

[ozbob]

Minor correction  http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/one-in-five-trains-delayed-20100205-nhrp.html

Where it says "Last week, computer failures caused issues on three separate occasions and weather affected several lines, according to commuter group Rail: Back on Track."

I commented "Last week, signal failures caused issues on three separate occasions and weather affected several lines, according to commuter group Rail: Back on Track."

The three computer failures happened late last year.

[#Metro]

Were they running Windows?
The GoCard machines run on MS Windows as well. Hmm... 

[Nightwriter]

Although I obviously understand that penalties must be laid when a organisation doesn't meet its contractual obligations, how ineffectual is it to fine a GOC??  And where does this money go once the penalty is paid?  $6.7M is a lot of money, even a couple of years ago - and QR looks set to pay a huge amount again this year.  What is done with this money?

[Jon Bryant]

I think it is unfair to fine an operator for late service when the Government doing the fining is not spending enough on infrastructure maintenance or improvements.  If QR was a private operator they would not be responsible orbliable for delays caused by infrastructure failures.   

[#Metro]

I'm curious. What do they do with the fine money? And where is the amount fined reported?

[Jon Bryant]

Probably spend it on more roads!!!!

[#Metro]

NOOOO!!!

[mufreight]

Gets spent on more perks for the Mandarin Beauracrat mates of Translink so that they can grow their empire employing even more mates on absurd salaries to acomplish nothing.

[#Metro]

Ah! Now I know where the funding for all the free go cards comes from...