Ministerial Statement: PASSENGERS THANKED FOR THEIR PATIENCE (PETRIE)

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
12/12/2007

PASSENGERS THANKED FOR THEIR PATIENCE WHILE DERAILMENT CLEANUP WORK CONTINUES

Minister for Transport John Mickel thanked passengers for their patience in coping with disruptions caused by the freight train derailment at Petrie.

Speaking onsite after he inspected the progress of cleanup works and repairs to the track and towers, Mr Mickel said Citytrain passengers had helped significantly by using other forms of transport and being patient with alternative bus services.

"I'm advised the alternative services worked well during yesterday's peak and QR was able to get several thousand people home," he said.

"I thank the QR crews carrying out the clean-up and repair work they continued through the night.

"A dedicated team of people is on site working as safely and efficiently as possible to clear the tracks.

"I appeal for passengers to continue to be patient.

"QR advises me services will again run from the City to Lawnton Station this afternoon. Customers will then catch buses supplied by QR between Lawnton and Narangba Stations and a train from Narangba to Caboolture Stations.

"Those travelling from Caboolture to Nambour and Gympie will have to catch buses supplied by QR to their destinations.

"Customers can be assured QR crews are doing everything possible to clear the site as quickly as possible to get full services back up and running."

QR has 10,000 km of rail tracks in Queensland that carry more than 300,000 trains a year. It spends more than $300 million a year on track and rolling stock maintence.

"I was assured this morning by QR's General Manager of Freight Steve Cantwell that specialist investigators have already started to examine the cause of the Petrie derailment. Early indications point to mechanical failure on a wagon," Mr Mickel said.

"Their report will be provided to Queensland Transport."

The Minister said QR had advised him that derailments had halved since 1999 and extensive inspection measures were in place, including:

? on-foot or vehicle track patrols at least every 96 hours, and some every 72 hours
? detailed inspections every six weeks
? scanning by special machinery four times a year.

For up-to-date service information from QR visit www.qr.com.au

12 December