Trackwork Calendar now available

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/network-information/track-closures

... Track work calendar

The track work calendar is now available through Queensland Rail to help you plan future travel.

--> http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/forcustomers/trackclosures

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

28 June 2012

Planned Track Closures - 2012 to 2014 now available

Greetings,

A planned track work calendar is now available on the Queensland Rail web site --> http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/RailServices/City/Pages/Planninganevent.aspx

Linked across from the TransLink web site ( http://translink.com.au/travel-information/network-information/track-closures ).

Thank you Queensland Rail, TransLink and Minister Emerson for making this happen.  This will assist in advance planning for community events and travel plans for all.

A very welcome improvement.

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson
28/06/2012

Track work list delivers for event organisers

South-East Queensland's 24-month track closure list is publicly available for the first time today.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Scott Emerson said the long-term list of track closures stretching to mid-2014 would end the current uncertainty for event organisers including football games, regional shows and music festivals.

"Maintenance closures on the train network are vital, but I recognise the disruption they cause passengers, particularly those travelling to major events," Mr Emerson said.

"Earlier this month I committed to providing some certainty for those trying to plan events several months and sometimes years in advance.

"I would urge anyone holding an event across South East Queensland to check the list on the TransLink or Queensland Rail websites.

"If event organisers have issues with particular track closures then I would encourage them to engage with Queensland Rail to ensure that disruptions are minimised and event goers are aware of their public transport options.

"I also want to ensure if changes are required to work then this is done well before there is any cost to taxpayers."

Mr Emerson said the decision to publish the 24-month list of maintenance closures was the result of a string of track closures scheduled under Labor that clashed with important events, including this year's Caboolture Show and Ipswich Show.

"I've also ordered that work scheduled under Labor between Corinda to Rosewood from August 4 to 5, clashing yet again with the V8 Supercars at Willowbank be rescheduled."

The full list of closures can be found at www.queenslandrail.com.au/closures

[somebody]

 

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times 2 July 2012 page 5

QR list shows city's line to top closures



Note:  Although http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/closures  shows closure 21-31 Dec, it will probably be only 5 days duration.

[ozbob]

About 5 weekend track closures have been added for the Ipswich line (first half of the year), to allow for point upgrades mainly.

Well ...

1.  Why wasn't this done when there were the multiple closures associated with the track upgrades?  (guess no money, blew it on bottled water and red t-shirts).

2.  Rather than continue to stuff people around shut the line down for a block in January and fix it, far more cost effective than start stop, start stop ---> ad infinitum ...  (guess the coal contracts work against that ...)

3.  Please sort the bus/rail connections particularly.  Pax are sick and tired of watching trains depart as the bus arrives, meaning another 30 minutes or worse to the already stretched out journey time.  SORT IT!!

4.  You wonder why people are getting p%ssed  off ....



Queensland Rail have put out media release but not publicly.  At least they should have contacted Ipswich line CRG members ....  more contempt ...

[#Metro]

Both Melbourne and Perth have defined train replacement stops. Melbourne even has signs and melway maps pasted permanently around the station as 'train replacement stops'.

January is typically quiet, now's the time to get all the work done.

[ozbob]

I guess I am going to have to go out and record the shambles once again, pax waiting on platforms for trains that are not coming, failed bus/rail connections ....  You would think after years of constant closures they would be getting it right. No sorry folks, still a shambles in the main.    The points have been problematical for years, should have been fixed long ago.

[ozbob]

About 5 weekend track closures have been added for the Ipswich line (first half of the year), to allow for point upgrades mainly.

Well ...

1.  Why wasn't this done when there were the multiple closures associated with the track upgrades?  (guess no money, blew it on bottled water and red t-shirts).

2.  Rather than continue to stuff people around shut the line down for a block in January and fix it, far more cost effective than start stop, start stop ---> ad infinitum ...  (guess the coal contracts work against that ...)

3.  Please sort the bus/rail connections particularly.  Pax are sick and tired of watching trains depart as the bus arrives, meaning another 30 minutes or worse to the already stretched out journey time.  SORT IT!!

4.  You wonder why people are getting p%ssed  off ....



Queensland Rail have put out media release but not publicly.  At least they should have contacted Ipswich line CRG members ....  more contempt ...

And for all this disruption and incompetence you will be paying another 7.5% ....   have fun in your cars ...

[Otto]

Why can't they just shut the Ipswich line down for say 1 or 2 weeks during the holidays and get the job done to 100% completion.
Victoria did it successfully on the Ballarat line with a proper (printed and reliable) bus replacement timetable using private coaches. I was commuting between Ballarat and Southern Cross during this time.

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times click here!

Rail commuters face more pain

Rail commuters face more pain
Kieran Banks
22nd Dec 2012 3:00 AM

IPSWICH rail commuters will have to endure more pain before long-term gain with six additional track closures planned for vital work to improve reliability.

The work includes replacing the turnouts, which allow trains to change between tracks and is expected to log 41,000 hours of construction work.

Between now and August the Ipswich line will be closed for nine weekends.

Public transport advocacy group Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said the closures will test commuter's patience. The services will be replaced by buses, but Mr Dow said commuters should not have to pay for trips while the lines are shut.

"The substitute rail buses need to be free. Touching your Go Card on and running out to the buses is not customer friendly," he said.

Queensland Rail acting executive general manager Network Rob Green said the work will increase reliability and on-time running performance for Ipswich passengers.

"The current condition of existing infrastructure at Ipswich, Redbank and Dinmore is resulting in a high maintenance regime and impacting on time running performance for our Ipswich passengers," he said.

"This upgrade will allow us to boost performance on the Ipswich line, which carries 65% of the freight services on the city network a week and approximately 2600 passenger services per month, through increasing train speeds and reducing service disruptions."

Mr Green said Queensland Rail would utilise a number of scheduled closures over the coming months to deliver the important upgrade.

"We understand that track closures can cause some inconvenience to our customers, but I am confident they will result in an improved service."

[ozbob]

Sent to Queensland Rail CRG, and TransLink:

22nd December 2012

Ipswich line track closures

Greetings,

Media has broken the story re the increased Ipswich line track closures.  http://www.qt.com.au/news/rail-commuters-face-more-pain/1695144/

It would have been a lot more productive to have at least brought the Ipswich line CRG members into the loop as a preliminary step, before leaking to the media.  Public deserved to be notified directly in a much more open manner.

There has been a lot of failed bus/rail connections of late during recent closures.  That is buses arriving at stations as the trains depart.  This means of course that pax have another 30 minutes or longer to wait. This is very frustrating for passengers and is turning them away in droves.  TransLink and Queensland Rail should be able to fix this issue.  If a bus is only a minute or two away the train can be held to enable the connection to be made during the closures.

Not impressed.

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Why can't they just shut the Ipswich line down for say 1 or 2 weeks during the holidays and get the job done to 100% completion.
Victoria did it successfully on the Ballarat line with a proper (printed and reliable) bus replacement timetable using private coaches. I was commuting between Ballarat and Southern Cross during this time.

I agree Otto, but I reckon the requirement to run coal trains is stopping that essentially.  It would though be much more cost effective and less disruptive overall.  Early January it would be have been ideal ...

The frustrating thing for me is that the problems with the points etc. has been around for yonks, should have been long fixed.  We have had many many closures on this line and plenty of opportunities to sort.  People have had a gutfull ...

And dribbling this out in the shadows of Christmas/New year in the wishful hope that the masses won't notice is poor form as well IMHO. As bad as the the spin-infected Ministerial media advisers ...

[ozbob]

No sign yet of the relevant media release publicly ...

--> http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/AboutUs/MediaCentre/MediaReleases/Pages/mediareleases.aspx

Treat the punters as mugs, and they will come back and treat you as mugs ...

[HappyTrainGuy]

There are a couple in March.

[ozbob]

Media release now available ...

http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/AboutUs/MediaCentre/MediaReleases/Pages/MajorupgradeonIpswichline.aspx

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

Major upgrade on Ipswich line

21/12/2012

Queensland Rail is undertaking a significant upgrade on the Ipswich line to increase reliability and on time running performance for Ipswich passengers.

Queensland Rail Acting Executive General Manager Network Rob Green said several key assets, including turnouts, which allow trains to safely cross from one track to another, were reaching the point where they needed to be replaced to ensure reliability and safety.

"The current condition of existing infrastructure at Ipswich, Redbank and Dinmore is resulting in a high maintenance regime and impacting on time running performance for our Ipswich passengers," Mr Green said.

"This upgrade will allow us to boost performance on the Ipswich line, which carries 65% of the freight services on the city network a week and approximately 2600 passenger services per month, through increasing train speeds and reducing service disruptions."

Mr Green said that Queensland Rail would utilise a number of scheduled closures over the coming months to deliver the important upgrade.

"We understand that track closures can cause some inconvenience to our customers, but I am confident they will result in an improved service for Ipswich passengers," Mr Green said.

"The Queensland Rail work crews have been working hard to complete as much as possible when passenger trains are not in service, however this small window of time does not allow for the completion of many aspects of the work.

"This is a significant upgrade, expected to clock in excess of 41,000 hours of construction work over the life of the project, which includes inserting more than 1000 new concrete sleepers, constructing new masts and a major change to overhead wires and signalling.

"I assure customers that every effort is being made to undertake these significant works with minimal disruption to services, which includes utilising track closures scheduled in low patronised periods.

"We thank customers for their patience while we deliver this essential upgrade and benefit to our customers."

Track closure information:

Currently scheduled track closures to be utilised for turnout replacement:

Buses will replace trains from:

7:30pm Friday 25 January until last train Monday 28 January

7:30pm Friday 19 April until last train Sunday 21 April 2013

7:30pm Friday 12 July until Sunday 14 July 2013



Additional track closures required for turnout replacement:

Buses will replace trains from:

7:30pm Friday 28 December until last train Sunday 30 December 2012

First train until last train Sunday 13 January 2013

First train until 6pm Sunday 10 February 2013

First train until 6pm Sunday 10 March 2013

First train until 6pm Sunday 17 March 2013

From 8pm Thursday 28 March until last train Monday 1 April 2013

Be sure to plan your journey in advance and allow for extra travel time, which can be up to 60 minutes dependent on traffic.

For more information and updates on Queensland Rail train services visit translink.com.au or call TransLink on 13 12 30 anytime.

- ENDS -

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

All together now ...  We luv the Ippy!  and its rail buses ...   

[Stillwater]

Ippy train travellers get to experience, albeit temporarily, what is a permanent experience for QR's Sunshine Coast Line customers - the bus that goes 'whoo whoo'.

[ozbob]

Ippy train travellers get to experience, albeit temporarily, what is a permanent experience for QR's Sunshine Coast Line customers - the bus that goes 'whoo whoo'.

The 'whoo whoos' are the exclaims of the pax on buses approaching the interchange rail station as they watch they train depart as they pull into the station on the bus.  It is the Queensland way ....  gross incompetence ...

[ozbob]

LOL

First WY Wright Gemini 37682 (YJ09 FVO) making bad "steam train" noises

[ozbob]

.."We understand that track closures can cause some inconvenience to our customers, but I am confident they will result in an improved service for Ipswich passengers," Mr Green said.

How many times is this sort of dribble rolled out ...  FIX THE f%cking LINE ONCE AND FOR ALL YOU DRONGOS!

[ozbob]

Note 9 closures in a little over 4 months, including a 4 day closure over Easter ...

Why isn't there are an inquiry as to why the line was allowed to get to this state?   

I would not be surprised if coal trains are still running during these closures, single line workings, closures designed to have maximum impact on passengers, clearly. Otherwise it would be done as a block in the first two weeks of January ...

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

23rd December 2012

Concerns with track closures - Ipswich line particularly

Greetings,

Queensland Rail has released details of increased track closures on the Ipswich line.  See --> http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/AboutUs/MediaCentre/MediaReleases/Pages/MajorupgradeonIpswichline.aspx

Title "Major upgrade on Ipswich Line."  Perhaps a more correct title would be "Years of neglect now require 9 track closures in 4 months".

The Ipswich line has had years of frequent track closures, particularly when the track amplification between Corinda and Darra was underway.  One wonders why the long standing deficiencies on the Ipswich Line were not addressed during those closures.

The track closures will be going ahead, so it is important the deficiencies with the bus substitution services are addressed.  A very obvious question is why wasn't a block closure of say two weeks done in early January to have it all sorted in a timely cost efficient manner?

During recent closures on the Ipswich line many pax have reported arriving at interchange stations by bus, only to see the train depart before they can board it.  This means the passengers have to wait 30 minutes or longer for the next rail service.  Some sort of communication system needs to be implemented so that trains can be held for a few minutes where necessary so connections can be made.  During the weekends it matters little if the trains are a few minutes late on departing, this time is soon made up.

There is also the issue of ticketing confusion. We have raised this issue for years.  The buses used for rail substitution do not have operational go card equipment, this confuses people.  TransLink expects people to go to the rail station, touch on, and then return to the bus location, reverse on outward journeys. This is not the normal procedure for go card and many people quite rightly assume they touch on when they board the bus.  Similarly when they leave the rail station to board the bus they touch off at the railway station and expect to touch on when they board the bus.  The problem is that some passengers may be liable to fare evasion offences because they are simply doing what they always do?   Confusion also results when people leave a substitution bus and enter the interchange station via a fare gate.  Most passengers do not realise the fare gates are directional, and if they are already touched on when the touch the gate to enter the rail station they immediately get a fixed fare.

Due to the extra time and confusion during these closures is it really reasonable to expect passengers to be alert to all the go card issues?   If TransLink cannot supply buses with proper functioning go card equipment, passengers should simply travel that leg free. On entering or leaving the interchange rail station they then touch on/off as the case may be in the normal manner.  If there is functioning go card equipment on the rail substitution buses then they touch on/off as per normal.  No functioning go card equipment then they simply travel free as the normal practise on the entire bus network.

We are tired of the mindless spin and rhetoric on how customer focussed TransLink and Queensland Rail are, and the constant apologies for the constant disruptions.  Rather then more mindless apologies how about implementing procedures and policies that truly do reduce the confusion and impact on customers during the constant closures?

People management 101 ...

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail Quest click here!

Robert Dow from Rail Back on Track says Ipswich commuters are frustrated at continuing track closures

Robert Dow from Rail Back on Track says Ipswich commuters are frustrated at continuing track closures

    by: Douglas Estwick, Ipswich News
    From: Quest Newspapers
    January 16, 2013 10:26AM

Commuters on the Ipswich train line face nine closures in four months as Queensland Rail conducts a major upgrade to the track.

Work began in December on improving overhead wires, signals and replacing turnouts, which allow trains to safely cross from one track to another.

Scheduled work on the Australia Day long weekend means buses will replace trains, with up to 14 futher closures planned this year.

Rail Back On Track spokesperson Robert Dow said commuters were frustrated and confused.

"For a number of years, Ipswich Rail commuters were promised that they've been through the period where there were a lot of closures associated with the track amplification between Darra and Corinda,'' Mr Dow said.

"All of a sudden we now find that we're going to go through a period which can only be said to be an extremely intense period of constant track closures."

Mr Dow suggested a block closure of two weeks in the January holiday period.

But a Queensland Rail spokesperson said shutting the entire Ipswich line for two weeks, including weekdays, would have a significantly greater impact on customers, the community and the 200 freight services that use the line each week - even during holidays.

"More than 30,000 commuters use the Ipswich line each weekday, relying on our services to get them to and from work and other appointments. It is unlikely there would be sufficient replacement buses in South East Queensland, with more than 570 bus services required to meet peak hour demand,'' the spokesperson said.

[ozbob]

When the trackwork calendar was first published they indicated a block closure on the Ippy 21 to 31 Dec 2012.  This was junked as we know.

There is a 5 day closure planned for this coming Easter.  Obviously this holiday period is OK  ... or will it be single line closures, point work only thing listed ...

[petey3801]

According to the track plans that I have seen at Ippy, the Australia Day long weekend closure and the Easter closure are being used to replace all the points/change the layout of the general Ipswich yard (station area etc). So at least some good is coming of it (the points will mostly all be 40km/h, only the points into P1 will be 25km/h, no real point in them being any faster...).

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail Quest click here!

Robert Dow from Rail Back on Track says Ipswich commuters are frustrated at continuing track closures

Robert Dow from Rail Back on Track says Ipswich commuters are frustrated at continuing track closures

    by: Douglas Estwick, Ipswich News
    From: Quest Newspapers
    January 16, 2013 10:26AM

Commuters on the Ipswich train line face nine closures in four months as Queensland Rail conducts a major upgrade to the track.

Work began in December on improving overhead wires, signals and replacing turnouts, which allow trains to safely cross from one track to another.

Scheduled work on the Australia Day long weekend means buses will replace trains, with up to 14 futher closures planned this year.

Rail Back On Track spokesperson Robert Dow said commuters were frustrated and confused.

"For a number of years, Ipswich Rail commuters were promised that they've been through the period where there were a lot of closures associated with the track amplification between Darra and Corinda,'' Mr Dow said.

"All of a sudden we now find that we're going to go through a period which can only be said to be an extremely intense period of constant track closures."

Mr Dow suggested a block closure of two weeks in the January holiday period.

But a Queensland Rail spokesperson said shutting the entire Ipswich line for two weeks, including weekdays, would have a significantly greater impact on customers, the community and the 200 freight services that use the line each week - even during holidays.

"More than 30,000 commuters use the Ipswich line each weekday, relying on our services to get them to and from work and other appointments. It is unlikely there would be sufficient replacement buses in South East Queensland, with more than 570 bus services required to meet peak hour demand,'' the spokesperson said.

Queensland Rail spokesman needs to get his act together.

The original 10 day block period 21 Dec through to 31 Dec only included two actual ' working days ' and those days traditionally very light commuter traffic, and would have been easily handled by bus.  Truth always preferable to spin and bluster ...  fail ...

The real reason why the block closure was junked is because coal is more important than pax ... 

[ozbob]

According to the track plans that I have seen at Ippy, the Australia Day long weekend closure and the Easter closure are being used to replace all the points/change the layout of the general Ipswich yard (station area etc). So at least some good is coming of it (the points will mostly all be 40km/h, only the points into P1 will be 25km/h, no real point in them being any faster...).

Yes noted the points etc. all ready to go for the weekend at Ipswich beside the line when I was at Ipswich today.  A lot prep work going on for the closure this weekend at Ipswich and other places in the corridor.  Hope the rain doesn't interfere, better to get it all over with.

[ozbob]

TransLink --> Maintaining your train network

[ozbob]

Rail replacement bus stop locations

--> http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/rail-replacement-bus-stop-locations

[ozbob]

Planned track closures

> http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/forcustomers/trackclosures