Article: Rail commuter's diary of bad timing

[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily click here!

Rail commuter's diary of bad timing

Rail commuter's diary of bad timing

Rae Wilson | 23rd May 2011

A BUDERIM legal secretary will be forced to catch an even earlier train to commute to Brisbane after two weeks of "unacceptable" delays.

Ina Bailey began keeping a diary of her daily commute a fortnight ago after numerous delays and track disruptions made her late to work.

Mrs Bailey said she had been told multiple times that signal failures and congestion were the cause and a door closing problem occurred once.

She said congestion seemed to cause many delays when "so-called express" trains had to stop to wait for other trains to pass.

"We retired and moved to the Sunshine Coast from Brisbane but with the economy and prices going up, I decided to go back to work since January," she said.

"I drive to Sippy Downs and catch a bus to Landsborough to get the 6.54am train which should arrive at Central at 8.16am.

"I work near Eagle St on the river so it takes me 10 minutes to walk and I get to work with five minutes to spare.

"Previously you might get the odd late train but in recent times it has been consistently late and it is so frustrating.

"Since I kept a diary it has been late every day, bar one, and I just think it is ludicrous.

"My husband and I have both rung to find out the problem and we get told different stories.

"I used to laugh and say there's nothing dull about train travelling but it's gotten beyond a joke.

"I just can't imagine how much worse it might be when the new timetable comes in on June 6."

Mrs Bailey said during the week she spoke to a man who had moved to the Sunshine Coast with his family for the lifestyle.

"He also said he had travelled all over the world and that the Queensland trains were the worst he had encountered."

Mrs Bailey said the State Government should "pull its finger out" because people were leaving the Coast in frustration.

"I just feel like we're ignored here on the Coast," she said.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

23 May 2011

Train pain

Greetings,

Level crossing inaction, a failure to carry out necessary track upgrades all have a cost don't they?

Best wishes
Robert

===========================

From the Sunshine Coast Daily click here!

Rail commuter's diary of bad timing

Rail commuter's diary of bad timing

Rae Wilson | 23rd May 2011

A BUDERIM legal secretary will be forced to catch an even earlier train to commute to Brisbane after two weeks of "unacceptable" delays.

Ina Bailey began keeping a diary of her daily commute a fortnight ago after numerous delays and track disruptions made her late to work.

Mrs Bailey said she had been told multiple times that signal failures and congestion were the cause and a door closing problem occurred once.

She said congestion seemed to cause many delays when "so-called express" trains had to stop to wait for other trains to pass.

"We retired and moved to the Sunshine Coast from Brisbane but with the economy and prices going up, I decided to go back to work since January," she said.

"I drive to Sippy Downs and catch a bus to Landsborough to get the 6.54am train which should arrive at Central at 8.16am.

"I work near Eagle St on the river so it takes me 10 minutes to walk and I get to work with five minutes to spare.

"Previously you might get the odd late train but in recent times it has been consistently late and it is so frustrating.

"Since I kept a diary it has been late every day, bar one, and I just think it is ludicrous.

"My husband and I have both rung to find out the problem and we get told different stories.

"I used to laugh and say there's nothing dull about train travelling but it's gotten beyond a joke.

"I just can't imagine how much worse it might be when the new timetable comes in on June 6."

Mrs Bailey said during the week she spoke to a man who had moved to the Sunshine Coast with his family for the lifestyle.

"He also said he had travelled all over the world and that the Queensland trains were the worst he had encountered."

Mrs Bailey said the State Government should "pull its finger out" because people were leaving the Coast in frustration.

"I just feel like we're ignored here on the Coast," she said.

==========================

Media release 22 April 2011

SEQ: Partial duplications for the Sunshine Coast Line needed now

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 calls for duplications on the Sunshine Coast line.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Staged duplications will allow for increased trains. It is proposed that the section from Beerburrum to Glass House Mountains be duplicated and straightened along the previously studied alignment.  In addition, the section from Mooloolah to Palmwoods should also be duplicated and straightened.  Doing so would allow a half hourly interurban service to Landsborough with an hourly service to Nambour or beyond.  Such a service would not require precision crosses as are currently required and would also end the reliance on Rail Bus services south of Landsborough.  Also, this would improve the speed of what is likely to be the slowest portion of the Tilt Train's trip between Mooloolah and Palmwoods."

"These duplications would also improve the economics of freight train services and compete better with road transport on the Bruce Highway.  It should also be noted Toll shifted Brisbane to Rockhampton freight to rail in 2008 (1).  Such moves should be encouraged in order to reduce emissions, oil dependency, damage to roads and lower road trauma costs."

"Extending the duplication to Beerwah would be of further assistance, in that it would allow a half hourly frequency all the way to Nambour.  This would also achieve the duplication to the point which the CAMCOS line is proposed to branch from the current track.  The Inner City Rail Capacity Study lists Beeburrum-Landsborough duplication as required 2008-2015 (2).  Time is running out for this to be accomplished in that time."

"On 21 March 2009, the ALP member for Glass House was voted out for an LNP member.  In April 2009, the duplication of the Sunshine Coast line was inexplicably truncated at Beerburrum rather than proceeding to Glass House Mountains which would have allowed a faster and more frequent passenger service to Landsborough at least. Duplicating the longest remaining section south of Nambour, between Beerburrum and Glass House Mountains, increases freight capacity and reduces crossing constraints caused by single track freight railways."

"This infrastructure upgrade is essential, well justified and achievable when compared to some other projects 'core and non-core' presently on the construction table."

References:

1. http://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/public_submissions/published/files/82_smasuniversityofwollongong_SUB.pdf page 2

2. http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/e26b187c-d8a1-4bbb-9349-ed034dd7cf9d/pdf_icrcs_stage_3_technical_pre_feasibility_chapter_2.pdf page 20

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

========================

Media release 15 May 2011

Queensland: Level crossing madness, sanctions inadequate

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 calls on the Queensland Government to significantly increase fines and sanctions for motor vehicle drivers, cyclists and pedestrians who break the safety rules at level crossings.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Level crossing breaches by motorists and others are out of control in Queensland.  They are serious offences with great risk to train crew, the travelling public and other vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. In south-east Queensland alone boom gates are hit on average three times a week with massive disruption to rail and road networks, and there are hundreds of near misses each year."

Following the Kerang rail disaster in Victoria the Victorian Government moved to significantly increase fines and implemented a three month automatic licence suspension (see below) for motor vehicle offences.  Sanctions are only one aspect of improving driver behaviours.

"There is a need for rail/road separation.  The reality is that is not going to happen for a while so there needs to be actions at various levels to stop the madness in addition to penalties.  Licence sanctions and fines are only one aspect. We would like to see much more use of red light cameras with increased penalties as for Victoria, this would stop most instances of red flashing light running which we believe is the fundamental issue, mistiming and vehicles hitting gates.  Some rural crossings do need advanced warnings and speed limits on approach so that heavy vehicles can actually stop, rather than attempt to outrun the train."

"Traffic lights, working in concert with the standard red flashing lights is also worth pursuing.  Seems to have worked at Wacol since red traffic lights were placed there to assist with a very confusing road and rail layout.  Drivers seem to obey traffic lights as an instinct most times."

"The Minister for Transport's comment that 'Being hit by a train should be a big enough deterrent' as reported in Brisbane media (1,2) is simply out of touch in our opinion. Clearly being hit by a train is not a deterrent in view of the large number of offences and near misses (2). Our rail operators have invested much time and effort into level crossing safety campaigns.  They need support from Government. Decisive action is needed, and needed today!"

References:

1. Railway Crossing Incident at Mitchelton - News Stories from TVQ10, BTQ7 and QTQ9 

2. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/drivers-beat-boom-gates-at-rail-crossings-and-hefty-fines/story-e6freoof-1226055632328

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

=================

Victoria Road Safety Act 1986 - SECT 68B

Deliberately or recklessly entering a level crossing when a train or tram is approaching etc.

68B. Deliberately or recklessly entering a level crossing when a train or tram is approaching etc.

(1) A driver of a vehicle must not, deliberately or recklessly, enter a level crossing if-

(a) warning lights (for example, twin red lights or rotating red lights) are operating or warning bells are ringing; or

(b) a gate, boom or barrier at the crossing is closed or is opening or closing; or

(c) a train or tram is on or entering the crossing; or

(d) a train or tram approaching the crossing can be seen from the crossing, or is sounding a warning, and there would be a danger of a collision with the train or tram if the driver entered the crossing; or

(e) the driver cannot drive through the crossing because the crossing, or a road beyond the crossing, is blocked.
The Maximum Penalty - Entering a level crossing when a train or tram is approaching

According to VIC Law for the charge of Entering a level crossing when a train or tram is approaching,

30 penalty units

The court must if the offender holds a driver licence or permit, suspend the licence or permit for a period of not less than 3 months; or if the offender does not hold a driver licence or permit, disqualify the offender from obtaining one for a period of not less than 3 months.

[#Metro]

"He also said he had travelled all over the world and that the Queensland trains were the worst he had encountered."

There you go! THE Worst Urban Electrified train system in the world... it's happening people... opinion by a non-RAIL Bot person.

There are some shocking diesel systems (Adelaide and Auckland spring to mind) but we should not be trying to copy them
and they are starting to really do major Perth-style overhauls of their systems... so in 10 years, Brisbane could well be the
holder of the gong. Remember, SEQ2031 has "high frequency" (yeah right, more like basic!) 15 minute services, but that might be
in another TWO DECADES...


FIX THE FREQUENCY

[Stillwater]

Fix the reliability for a start.  The Sunshine Coast has so few trains, and buses to meet them, that a missed connection can cost two hours of someone's time.  Any minor hiccup is magnified because of the single track operation.  The frequency of delays - for whatever reason -is shameful.  The most remarkable thing is that Sunny Coast people like their trains.  It is almost as though they are resisting every discouragement that QR throws at them to climb on board (seemingly in stoic defiance) in order to use public transport.

[ozbob]

Yes frequency improvements are needed but where there isn't any, reliability becomes increasingly important.

There has been a run of issues of late, failed freight trains, level crossing incidents, signal and track faults, train faults.  Lets hope it is turned around.

[somebody]

I'd prefer that reliability not be complained about too loudly in general.

Otherwise you get the situation on the Ipswich line where the services are slowed, and the same for CityRail.

However, I can accept that the Sunshine Coast has a raw deal in every way except fares: Reliability, Frequency and Journey times.  Then there are the station locations which aren't convenient for most either.

[Fares_Fair]

There was a 2 page spread in the Sunshine Coast Daily on Saturday 21 May, 2011
on the rail duplication issue and it's history.
It isn't found on the internet but was in the weekend section of the paper, pp 38-39 I am told.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

The weekend story was largely a rehash of previous articles appearing in the Sunshine Coast Daily.  It could have been a better presentation.

Here's a  familiar story of woe and grief for Sunshine Coast commuters... some of the comments from the Sunshine Coast Daily website today:

"Fed up after two weeks? Try five years of being treated with contempt and ignored by QR and Translink. We pay a premium price for a sub standard service and a QR treat us like something unpleasant they stepped in. If QR really stand by their service, then they should commit to free travel on any late running service - and not by commuters asking for refunds, the all knowing Go Card should be able to deal with it."

"I was a commuter for 12 years & then worked OS for 6 years and am now back commuting and apart from some newer less comfortable trains nothing has changed - except for the higher fares and an inflexible "Go Card".
Even on the first day back the train was 20mins late coming home."

"The big problem is its cattle class service at a first class ticket prices. The cost just doesn't add up. i would like to use the trains more but it's much cheaper to use a car unless you have to park in the city. As for carbon reduction, my car uses 131 grams of Co2 per klm less than what you breathe in the same time. I'm sure the train after you add up all the carbon costs (not just the train motor) comes in at more so I'm ahead money wise and carbon guilt wise. Why take the train? Car pooling could work well here."

"In recent months I have been fortunate enough to experience rail travel in various locales. I cannot say that the Sunshine Coast-Brisbane 'service' is the world's worst, although it is surely a serious contender. Whilst I have enjoyed travel on the services I have noted above (and many others, over the years), my journeys on the Sunshine Coast-Brisbane 'service' over the past quarter-century have never, ever been pleasurable affairs.  If this were not Queensland, I might be tempted to wonder why the Sunshine Coast (still) does not have a properly sized and serviced intra-urban mass transit hub (or two) and a light-rail/guided-bus network. Or a decent highway/motorway, for that matter."

"I used to work in the city and drive to catch the train. In general, this process wasted nearly 5 hours every day. I eventually resigned due to depression...which "miraculously" disappeared when I stopped commuting. I used to have nightmares about missing the early train from the city, and having to get home an hour later. Winter was the worst. Once I did an experiment, catching *only* public transport (instead of driving to Landsborough) to go to Mt Gravatt. This took me 3 1/2 hours....ONE WAY. Furthermore, it cost me MORE than driving. Our State and Local Govt (I give up on the idiots in Federal Govt) have no political will to encourage public transport...or for that matter, to encourage business investment outside Brisbane CBD. Our public transport is slow, expensive and inefficient. And nor does it service the major population centres. Years ago, the roads were realigned to service where the majority of the population lives...yet the rail line is a dinosaur, old cranky and slow."

"The buses on the coast aren't much better!! I constantly have to rely on the taxi service because the buses are either late or early... last week I was walking to the bus stop and was no more than 15 metres away (and I was 8 minutes early), when I saw my bus approaching the stop. I began to run and was waving my arms to attract the driver's attention, and he continued to drive on! Needless to say I was extremely annoyed that my commute to work that day ended up costing me $20... Not to mention 2 months ago when the bus was running 20 minutes late (this happened on several occasions) and I was nearly fired from my job for being late even though I was catching a bus that leaves an hour before I was due to start and is supposed to arrive 20 minutes before that time!"

"The next time you are late for work because of the train ring Queensland Rail and ask for a letter for your employer explaining why you were late.  Once they start having to process 100 letters every time a train is late you might start to see some progress.  You might also care to write to your local LNP state representative and ask what plans he or she has for better rail travel to/from the Sunshine Coast?"

"I believe that is normal for QR to have trains running late all the time i use the trains frequently don't think i have found one that is on time."

"We on the Sunshine Coast suffer because we don't vote Labor. Neither the previous minister for transport of the current minister will respond to questions about late trains, change in timetables that will add another 20 minutes travel time today, or on the possibility of refunds were trains arrive at their destination late."

"I have commuted into the city for the past 2 years and have resorted to driving to Caboolture and then catching the train so that I can at least get a regular train service.  The trains from the SSC are pathetic and the first rate ticketing system 'Translink' a waste of space (just like the state transport minister). Pay top price for nothing. And they wonder why no-one was swiping their 'go-cards' off at the end of a journey. If the government really wants people to use public transport make it useful. What do they care, they get taxpayer funded cars and parking."

[mufreight]

Stillwater, no matter how presented all valid and credible argument, it is past time for a change, in a recent article in the local Sunshine Coast paper there was a line that read that Prime Minister Gillard had committed $20 million to another feasability study. A total waste of $20 million that would be better spent on actual infrastructure the duplication of a further 2km of the line north of Beerburrum towards Glasshouse or the construction on the new alignment of the new station at Glasshouse, either of these would serve to speed up the services on the line and would be a step forward on the actual infrastructure, both are work that has already been designed and planned and is actually shovel ready and a better use of the money than wasting it on a further survey on a project that has already been surveyed to death.

[somebody]

Stillwater, no matter how presented all valid and credible argument, it is past time for a change, in a recent article in the local Sunshine Coast paper there was a line that read that Prime Minister Gillard had committed $20 million to another feasability study. A total waste of $20 million that would be better spent on actual infrastructure the duplication of a further 2km of the line north of Beerburrum towards Glasshouse or the construction on the new alignment of the new station at Glasshouse, either of these would serve to speed up the services on the line and would be a step forward on the actual infrastructure, both are work that has already been designed and planned and is actually shovel ready and a better use of the money than wasting it on a further survey on a project that has already been surveyed to death.

mu, yes the current situation is a shocker, but I have grave fears that a change in government will be a large step backwards.  I want to keep the current transport minister but get rid of Anna Bligh!

Mr Emerson isn't interested in public transport and has no idea from everything I can see.  Did you see his comments on returning to the old QR rail passes?  Why isn't he punishing the incompetence of Translink?  He will likely be as bad as Rachel Nolan.

But as for the points about the Sunshine Coast being sped up by the duplication, I see this as exceeding marginal. It will become more reliable and may be more frequent however.

[SurfRail]

As an aside - why you would want to travel so far to work as a legal secretary is beyond even me.  There are plenty of Sunshine Coast firms, and even if the pay is less you wouldn't be losing an enormous chunk to fares.

I work in law and travel from Nerang to Central and back, but I'm not getting paid peanuts for what I do and I don't expect to have to pay peanuts to TTA for my travel.

The above is in recognition that Sunshine Coast commuters are being shafted and that is not excusable, but you do have to wonder what is so good about living there that it makes people want to do this.  I can honestly say I would not be putting myself through this if the Gold Coast line was not what it is.