17 Apr 2012: SEQ: Call for transparency with public transport ....

[ozbob]

Media release 17 April 2012

SEQ: Call for transparency with public transport performance and load data

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 has called for the routine public release of detailed and accurate, performance and load data for public transport, as in other states of Australia (1,2,3).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Detailed load and performance data for public transport in south-east Queensland is not made publicly available as in other states."

"We call on TransLink to make publicly available timely and accurate performance data for all railway lines, bus and ferry routes."

"Why is it necessary to resort to Right To Information requests for data that is made readily available in other states?"

References:

1.  http://corp.ptv.vic.gov.au/managing-victoria-s-public-transport-network/track-record/track-record-monthly-performance-bulletin-trains-metropolitan/

2.  http://corp.ptv.vic.gov.au/managing-victoria-s-public-transport-network/track-record/track-record-monthly-performance-bulletin-trams/

3.  http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/AboutUs/Surveysandstatistics/Archivedontimerunningstatistics.aspx

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

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

17 April 2012

Greetings,

The Minister for Transport has announced an 'audit' into reliability aspects of Queensland Rail train services.  A scan of data available nationally indicates Queensland Rail is performing well compared to other states, but none the less a review may lead to further improvement.  What is of concern though is the lack of performance data publicly available, not only for rail, but bus and ferry.  The bus on time performance as reported in the TransLink Tracker is not an accurate representation of the true situation in our opinion (see --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8060.msg94505#msg94505 ).  An audit into the bus system reliability is also needed.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[Fares_Fair]

I would like to see the line by line breakdown of this data, so that systemic problems do not remain hidden in the overall mix.

My 'snapshot' data of peak hour services does not even come close to TransLink Tracker overall train on-time performance data.
My detailed daily records show 81.4% over the Trackers 3 month recording period, nowhere near 94.5% touted for all peak services.

Admittedly, they are just a 'snapshot' of my services so maybe it is an inconsistent abberation to the norm, but we can never know without the data requested.

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8061.msg93929#new

I believe it would show the lack of reliability of services to/from the Sunshine Coast (which includes the Caboolture line).

[#Metro]

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/hourlong-train-delays-for-coast-commuters-20120417-1x4eg.html 

Will the Audit Review Audit the Sunshine Coast line too? 

[Fares_Fair]

Yes, Scott Emerson said both Gold and Sunshine Coast lines are included.

Had a long morning on the trains, ours was the last train through before they used buses from Caboolture to Petrie.
Many unhappy campers, I was incommunicado due to no phone signal as well.
We were stuck for 1 hour and 10 minutes somewhere between Narangba and Dakabin stations, we laughingly call this scenario 'pine tree station'.
Lucky there was working toilets aboard.

[#Metro]

Is Toilet Reliability included? 

[Fares_Fair]

lol, gosh I miss being able to use emoticons.

[somebody]

We were stuck for 1 hour and 10 minutes somewhere between Narangba and Dakabin stations, we laughingly call this scenario 'pine tree station'.

Ouch!  That's not nice at all.

[ozbob]

Mr Emerson et al, this is how it is done ...

--> TransPerth December 2011 rail OTR

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail Quest click here!

Brisbane transport reliability data 'meaningless' says commuter group

Brisbane transport reliability data 'meaningless' says commuter group

    by: Sherine Conyers
    From: Quest Newspapers
    May 11, 2012 4:37PM

DOES transport reliability data actually mean anything - That's the question from Rail Back on Track has asked as it declares a 'state of secrecy' around reliability data for the state's rail and bus networks.

Spokesman for the commuter advocacy group Robert Dow said while other states didn't do a perfect job, he said the limited information Queenslanders were able to access about 'peak-time' data was 'sanitised' and prevented the public from holding the government to account.

"Why is it necessary to resort to Right To Information requests for data that is made readily available in other state?" he said.

"There's something wrong in terms of the way the public is treated if we can't get the data that gives you a proper representation of the operation of the system."

Mr Dow said people needed to know what the out-of-peak performance was.

"We believe that it enables people to pinpoint where the real issues actually are, but secondly, it allows people to challenge the misrepresentations made by politicians and others with respect to the data.

"If we don't know what the data is it's very hard to challenge them,'' he said.

In Victoria data is available online with month-by month breakdowns while NSW CityRail records on-time running to a benchmark of five minutes for suburban services and six minutes for intercity services and daily data breakdowns.

According to RBOT, Perth has the best data availability but Mr Dow said the Translink Tracker has limited information.

Some data is available on the Queensland Rail website but it states that if on-time running performance is affected by incidents beyond it's control such as medical emergencies, security incidents or severe weather, it is not included in the peak on-time performance results.

Data also does not include 'force majeure' incidences.

Mr Dow said he felt it had led to an overall deterioration in performance and reliability data to the point where many people "now no longer believe what's being said''.

"They are the one's that are put on buses at 8pm or 9pm at night because there is another track fault or police incidence or whatever, but that's never ever mentioned in the data or never seems to come through.

"We get a very small snapshot of average peak time performance," he said.

"It's meaningless.''

A spokesperson for Translink said Queensland Rail published peak on-time running on its website daily at Queensland rail.

"These figures are provided at manned train stations, where possible.

"Figures are also available quarterly through the Translink website or when requested.

Translink's Real Time trial is also investigating options for providing on-time running data for customers,'' he said.

That data, for bus networks, would allow for GPS tracking, but the spokesperson conceded he did not know as yet what Translink intended to do with the data, or whether it would be available to the public.

Last week Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said reliability of the south-east Queensland rail network dropped to 90.01 per cent for peak on-time running in the January to March 2012 period - the lowest result since 2009.

"The collapse in reliability of rail services came at the same time as Labor drove up the cost of public transport affordability," he said.

Mr Emerson said the LNP would be more passenger-focussed.

"When I catch public transport, affordability, reliability and frequency are the issues that passengers raise with me and they are the reasons people are walking away from public transport and hopping back into their cars," he said.

"If we are going to get people back on to public transport then these issues need to be addressed.''

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

1st June 2012

SEQ: Call for transparency with public transport performance and load data

Greetings,

Now that details of upcoming track closures will generally be known well in advance, how about better publication of public transport load and performance data?

A complete break down of line by line performance, peak and out of peak, passenger load information for rail, bus and ferry is hidden from the public too.

Very few people have any confidence in the bus ontime performance as reported in TransLink tracker ( see http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8060.msg94505#msg94505 ).

Disruptions on the rail network happen regularly outside peak times, and impacts on passengers.

Making such data transparent will endear improvement.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

Media release 17 April 2012

SEQ: Call for transparency with public transport performance and load data

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 has called for the routine public release of detailed and accurate, performance and load data for public transport, as in other states of Australia (1,2,3).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Detailed load and performance data for public transport in south-east Queensland is not made publicly available as in other states."

"We call on TransLink to make publicly available timely and accurate performance data for all railway lines, bus and ferry routes."

"Why is it necessary to resort to Right To Information requests for data that is made readily available in other states?"

References:

1.  http://corp.ptv.vic.gov.au/managing-victoria-s-public-transport-network/track-record/track-record-monthly-performance-bulletin-trains-metropolitan/

2.  http://corp.ptv.vic.gov.au/managing-victoria-s-public-transport-network/track-record/track-record-monthly-performance-bulletin-trams/

3.  http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/AboutUs/Surveysandstatistics/Archivedontimerunningstatistics.aspx

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

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

17 April 2012

Greetings,

The Minister for Transport has announced an 'audit' into reliability aspects of Queensland Rail train services.  A scan of data available nationally indicates Queensland Rail is performing well compared to other states, but none the less a review may lead to further improvement.  What is of concern though is the lack of performance data publicly available, not only for rail, but bus and ferry.  The bus on time performance as reported in the TransLink Tracker is not an accurate representation of the true situation in our opinion (see --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8060.msg94505#msg94505 ).  An audit into the bus system reliability is also needed.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

2nd June 2012

Peak performance results Queensland Rail - unofficial

Greetings,

The rail on time peak performance as based on the daily reports ( http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/RailServices/City/Pages/PeakOn-TimeResults.aspx ) as recorded by us has averaged 93% for May 2012.  Target is 93.8%.

This is a good result.  Well done Queensland Rail

Average monthly results for this year as recorded by us:

January  93.9%
February 87.9%
March 89,8%
April 92.3%
May 93%

Results for previous months years can be viewed here:  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2002.msg9464#msg9464

It should be noted that the Queensland Rail has one of the tightest deadlines in Australia for the assessment of ontime train performance of arrival within 3 minutes and 59 seconds.

A complete breakup of all lines, peak and off peak is needed though.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

Sent to all outlets:

1st June 2012

SEQ: Call for transparency with public transport performance and load data

Greetings,

Now that details of upcoming track closures will generally be known well in advance, how about better publication of public transport load and performance data?

A complete break down of line by line performance, peak and out of peak, passenger load information for rail, bus and ferry is hidden from the public too.

Very few people have any confidence in the bus ontime performance as reported in TransLink tracker ( see http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8060.msg94505#msg94505 ).

Disruptions on the rail network happen regularly outside peak times, and impacts on passengers.

Making such data transparent will endear improvement.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

Media release 17 April 2012

SEQ: Call for transparency with public transport performance and load data

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 has called for the routine public release of detailed and accurate, performance and load data for public transport, as in other states of Australia (1,2,3).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Detailed load and performance data for public transport in south-east Queensland is not made publicly available as in other states."

"We call on TransLink to make publicly available timely and accurate performance data for all railway lines, bus and ferry routes."

"Why is it necessary to resort to Right To Information requests for data that is made readily available in other states?"

References:

1.  http://corp.ptv.vic.gov.au/managing-victoria-s-public-transport-network/track-record/track-record-monthly-performance-bulletin-trains-metropolitan/

2.  http://corp.ptv.vic.gov.au/managing-victoria-s-public-transport-network/track-record/track-record-monthly-performance-bulletin-trams/

3.  http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/AboutUs/Surveysandstatistics/Archivedontimerunningstatistics.aspx

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

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

17 April 2012

Greetings,

The Minister for Transport has announced an 'audit' into reliability aspects of Queensland Rail train services.  A scan of data available nationally indicates Queensland Rail is performing well compared to other states, but none the less a review may lead to further improvement.  What is of concern though is the lack of performance data publicly available, not only for rail, but bus and ferry.  The bus on time performance as reported in the TransLink Tracker is not an accurate representation of the true situation in our opinion (see --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8060.msg94505#msg94505 ).  An audit into the bus system reliability is also needed.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org