Do you suffer from late train services ?

[Derwan]

Surely the trains could have run at 5 km or something

I could be wrong but my understanding is that if a train runs a red light there is a safety mechanism to stop it automatically. If this is correct then no the trains could not go at such a slow speed unless the lights were changed to green. If that happened drivers might not be aware in time of the danger. It would be nice as even moving slowly feels better than sitting still but safety reasons prevent this I believe.

There are others who probably know better than me, but I believe the Automatic Warning System (AWS) in QR Citytrains warns the driver of yellow/red aspects, but the driver is able to cancel it (and has to each time the warning sounds).  If the driver doesn't cancel it, the train "eventually" stops.

If I understand correctly, to pass through a red light, the appropriate "paperwork" has to be completed (for each signal).  This might be okay for a single train or signal - but when the entire network is out (and Train Control in damage control), there is no way they'd be able to process paperwork for individual trains at individual signals.

[Fares_Fair]

late services !!

6:27am Nambour to Roma Street service was only 6 minutes late getting to Central
on Friday 13th November !

Arrived safely at 8:22am.

No announcements were made as to why the slow run into the CBD.


Regards,
Fares_Fair 

[mufreight]

As presently in operation there is no safety trip that automaticly applies train brakes on passing a signal at stop.
The suburban trains in Sydney and Melbourne are fitted with a mechanical train trip that if a signal is passed at stop engaged a dump valve and applies the train brakes.
Technology exists that could be intergrated with the existing advanced signal warning system that could not only apply the brakes if a signal were to be passed at stop but could also restrict train speed on curves or on a signal giving a caution indication.

[justanotheruser]

there you go. Looks like I was wrong. Thanks for the education Derwan and mufreight

[Fares_Fair]

ongoing and systemic late services !!

5:14pm Roma Street to Nambour service was 12 minutes late getting to Palmwoods
on Friday 13th November !

It was announced that there were going to be delays due to a computer problem.
I also received no less than 5 eRail SMS updates telling me of the delays.
Can't say I wasn't informed this time around - but I was already on the train.

Thank you for the announcements QR - they are appreciated.

Regards,
Fares_Fair

[Fares_Fair]

late service (for statistical purposes only).

6:27am Nambour to Roma Street service was 23 minutes late getting to Central
on Monday 16th November.

Arrived safely at 8:39am. (scheduled 8:16am at Central)

There was a medical incident on the third carriage and doctors or nurses were called for over the train PA. We were delayed at Beerburrum Station waiting for an ambulance to arrive (approx. 20 min.)
Announcements were made as to why the stoppage had occurred.
QR apologised for the delay and thanked all for their patience and to those who had assisted the person in distress.

Delays like this should never be used to penalise QR passenger.
Thank you QR for getting us to work - events like this are out of your control.

Regards,
Fares_Fair 

[Sunbus610]

late service (for statistical purposes only).

6:27am Nambour to Roma Street service was 23 minutes late getting to Central
on Monday 16th November.

Arrived safely at 8:39am. (scheduled 8:16am at Central)

There was a medical incident on the third carriage and doctors or nurses were called for over the train PA. We were delayed at Beerburrum Station waiting for an ambulance to arrive (approx. 20 min.)
Announcements were made as to why the stoppage had occurred.
QR apologised for the delay and thanked all for their patience and to those who had assisted the person in distress.

Delays like this should never be used to penalise QR passenger.
Thank you QR for getting us to work - events like this are out of your control.

Regards,
Fares_Fair 

I was on that service too and I thought the QR staff onboard handled the situation very well along with the other passengers who assisted. Trust the poor individual concerned is now ok and well.

[Fares_Fair]

late services !!

6:27am Nambour to Roma Street service was only 15 minutes late getting to Central
on Monday 7th December !

Arrived safely at 8:31am.

No announcements were made as to why the delays
which occurred from the outset of the trip.
It arrived 9 minutes late at it's 3rd station from Nambour.
A later announcement was made near Bowen Hills due to trains in front of ours.


Regards,
Fares_Fair 

[STB]

Fare's Fair, the delay was for a late running bus connection, going by the Morning Peak Updates via the TransLink site.

6.45am

The 06:27 Nambour to Roma Street service is running 10 minutes late after waiting for a bus connection at Nambour. All other TransLink rail services are on time.

[Fares_Fair]

late services !!
Happy New Year for 2010

6:27am Nambour to Roma Street service was only 20 minutes late getting to Central
on Thursday 4th February !

Arrived safely at 8:36am.


Regards,
Fares_Fair 

[Fares_Fair]

more late services !!

this really needs a thorough investigation as to the real causes of ongoing delays !! 


6:27am Nambour to Roma Street service was 1 hour and 8 minutes late getting to Central
on Friday 5th February !

Arrived safely at 9:24am.

The usual problem of signal failure just north of Caboolture was cited as the reason.
There was also an earlier signal problem reported near Mooloolah station.
Thank you to Hugh, the QR guard, for his prompt announcements and apologies for the delays.


Regards,
Fares_Fair 

[ozbob]

Check out here Fares_Fair, raised --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3402.msg20873#msg20873

Cheers
Bob

[Fares_Fair]

Thanks Bob,

It's great that these matters are finally being reported on the regular basis in which they occur.
There's comfort in knowing we are not alone ...
This week was truly a debacle for many fellow rail commuters.

I would like to see more comprehensive (i.e. precise) reporting of the oft used euphemism "signal failure"
and the many other common phrases used to describe delays.

What is the true cause, an electrical cable fault, a plastic bag on the points, a piece of ballast in the points,
A snake on the wires ?
Are the faults similar due to infrastructure breakdown ?
Are the causes related ?
Is there a common thread ?

and last and most importantly - how does TransLink prevent the preventable delays from happening again ?

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[longboi]

A signal failure is generally when a signal fails to change aspect which is almost always caused by a telemetry failure which is the connection between control and the signalling system.

A points failure is the same thing except in that instance its the points that don't change. Very rarely a points failure can be debris lodged between the stock rail and switchblade.

[Fares_Fair]

Sunshine Coast line delays are recorded here...
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7184.0

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

The frequency with which these signal delays occur on the SCL should be explored for any commonality of failure that would suggest a systemic fault.