New Timetables!!! - Monday 28th July

[stephenk]

New timetables from Monday 28th July here
http://servicechanges.translink.com.au/db/servicechange.php?id=155

[stephenk]

I have had a quick look at the new Ferny Grove timetable. The morning timetable is pretty much identical to the re-written March timetable, and still has an unacceptable 24 minute gap for stations Alderley - Windsor just after 7am.

The evening "gap of doom" for stations Windsor - Gaythorne has been reduced slightly from 24 to 21 minutes. This is again an unacceptable service gap during the busiest part of the evening peak one of Brisbane's busiest lines, and longer than any gaps on the '07 timetable - gaps should be no longer than 15mins for a service to be attractive to commuters. However, at least this train (5:20 ex-Roma Street) now starts at Roma Street instead of Cleveland, so should run on time more often now - the previous service started at Cleveland and often ran late, making the "gap of doom" even longer.

Express service has not been restored to Enoggera and Gaythorne, which being a user of Enoggera, I'm not too happy about!

I also see that on the Cleveland Line, the first express of the am peak which used to have the same journey time as the all stations service has been moved to an earlier time slot and made faster. This has created a 23 minute gap for stations Wynnum Central - Buranda, but plugged a the previous gap which was 20 minutes. The new gap is at a less inconvenient time slot, but again I still think that gaps of more than 15 mins are unacceptable during the peaks.

I suppose that expecting major improvements wasn't going to happen as the new SMU's are still to be put into service. At least QR have attempted to make some tweaks to the timetable rather than waiting until later in the year. When the new SMU's are delivered I expect some pretty major improvements and shortening of service gaps, even if this is achieved through neutering of express services.

[ozbob]

I had a quick look at the Ipswich timetable, the major early peak gaps still there.  Nothing much from first scan.

Please check the new timetables and post any significant changes/improvements.

I might be able to have closer look tonight.

Cheers
Bob

[Derwan]

Quick look at Shorncliffe.  No visible change inbound in the morning.  Outbound the 4:26 from Central (that was 4:25 before March) is now 4:29.  3 minutes might not seem much but it means there is now a 38-minute gap between two Shorncliffe services in the afternoon peak period.

TransLink website says the reason for the changes is "Following feedback from the March timetable changes and availability of new infrastructure on the Gold Coast line."  I'd say it's more the latter.

From the QR website, "Due to infrastructure works proceeding and in accordance with customer feedback, QR is making some minor timetable adjustments to services throughout the Citytrain network."

[Derwan]

Actually - comparing it to the Caboolture timetable, the Petrie service that used to arrive just after the 4:26 Shorncliffe will now depart before the Shorncliffe train.  This is actually a good thing (for me) as passengers for Albion, Wooloowin, Toombul and Nundah will catch the Petrie service instead of the Shorncliffe one. 

[stephenk]

Quick look at Shorncliffe.  No visible change inbound in the morning.  Outbound the 4:26 from Central (that was 4:25 before March) is now 4:29.  3 minutes might not seem much but it means there is now a 38-minute gap between two Shorncliffe services in the afternoon peak period.

TransLink website says the reason for the changes is "Following feedback from the March timetable changes and availability of new infrastructure on the Gold Coast line."  I'd say it's more the latter.

From the QR website, "Due to infrastructure works proceeding and in accordance with customer feedback, QR is making some minor timetable adjustments to services throughout the Citytrain network."

I agree with you on your last comment. It seems that the QR Citytrain timetable is based on keeping Gold Coast Line commuters happy, with disregard to commuters on other (busier) lines!

That 38 min gap is unacceptable - I hope you have complained to QR! I had a look at the Shorncliffe & Inner City Timetable. I see that a Caboolture express takes the place of where the Shorncliffe train is usually placed on the 30min timetable. The following Petrie train then bumps the Shorncliffe train even later. When new trains are delivered a service could be slotted into the existing timetable starting at Roma St, departing Central at 16:13, and arriving at Shorncliffe at 16:47. It would have to depart Shorncliffe by 4:59 giving a max 12min turnaround. The timing of the return train means it could be used for the 5:35 Bowen Hills to Ipswich service which currently starts at Bowen Hills.

[ozbob]

I wonder if this means changes for September will be pushed back?

Or is this further positioning to slot in the new services and units crew become available?

I took a photo of IMU 175 running 3 car up between Graceville and Sherwood this morning around 7.15am, special desto wonder if crew training run?

There has been no attempt to plug the holes in the early peaks by the looks of things.  The Minister's office has stated publicly that more services will be forthcoming in September.  All a bit intriguing don't you think?

[Mozz]

Details of potential rail timetable planning are not state/national secrets.

Foreign state actors aren't in the slightest bit interested in what QR/Translink are planning to do with rail timetabling. Funnily enough some rail commuters are quite interested and have a vested interest in the delivery of appropriate timetabling improvements.

Could someone in authority monitoring this website from either organisation please provide some input. We can even provide communication methods which provide protect identities.

Although I must provide this caveat, there will be some very upset commuters actively pursuing a range of media related activities should the whispers that yet again the September timetable may well be a couple of minor interim tweaks with promises of better things in the future.

[ozbob]

The duplication of the Helensvale to Robina line might have been the catalyst for some of these changes on July 28.  It might be operational from then?

We might get some more stuff in September?

[Derwan]

The duplication of the Helensvale to Robina line might have been the catalyst for some of these changes on July 28.  It might be operational from then?

Yeah - looks like they're doing the finishing touches this weekend:  http://servicechanges.translink.com.au/db/servicechange.php?id=150

[ozbob]

Advertisement in today's press headed QR Timetable Alterations.

"From Monday 28 July 2008 QR is making some timetable changes across the rail network.  These changes are the result of customer feedback from the March rail changes, and availability of new infrastructure on the Gold Coast line.  These changes are necessary as QR works to improve services across the network ..."

[brad C]

The spin docors must have been working overtime.
In the main the level of change (if any) on most lines would not justify the additional expense of printing  and advertising timetable leaflets if the main beneficiary is the Robina-Airport corridor. Surely amendment sheets or enough foresight to build in fat into the March timetable would be sufficient if we are lead to believe that there will be a 'significant' systemic change in September.
The same old same old has prevailed and so the difficult and most obvious decisions are again overlooked in favour of a small 'nip and tuck'.
So much for all the hype of the 'meet the managers' and the rhetoric of ... 'we are listening'.
Given the release of this timetable in such a formal manner for the end of July, I can't see a further change to perhaps early next year.
Anyone like to place bets???

Call me negative if you like but I for one am very disappointed with the QR boffins.

[Otto]

I noticed the travelling time on some peak hour journeys have been shortened on the Cleveland line. Also an extra service to Cleveland during the PM peak arr Cleveland @ 5:57.

[stephenk]

I noticed the travelling time on some peak hour journeys have been shortened on the Cleveland line. Also an extra service to Cleveland during the PM peak arr Cleveland @ 5:57.

It looks like a previous Thorneside reverser has been extended to Cleveland to create that "extra" service to Cleveland.

[ozbob]

I picked up a copy of all the new timetables for all lines at Roma St today.

Not sure if they are needed for all lines?  I can't seem to see any changes on the Ipswich line at all.

[Mozz]

DON'T GET ME STARTED !!!!!

[Andrew]

The more subtle difference with all these timetable changes in the last 6 months has been the reduction in train size from 6 to 3 cars on services.  While on paper the service may look comparable or even better, in reality, the capacity may still be the same.

[O_128]

please dont get me started on the 3:17 cleveland train. Before march it was a 6 car carrige at 3:17 ten minutes after the last clevelan train the 3:27 is a 3 car and it is 23 mins after the last train.Completly unacceptable.

But as long as the gold coast residents are happy.