Ekka 2017

[ozbob]

https://translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/event-transport/8146

It's Ekka time!

In brief

    Venue:
    Brisbane Showgrounds, South East Queensland
    Date and times:
        Friday 11 August 2017, 9:00am to 9:00pm
        Saturday 12 August 2017, 9:00am to 9:00pm
        Sunday 13 August 2017, 9:00am to 9:00pm
        Monday 14 August 2017, 9:00am to 9:00pm
        Tuesday 15 August 2017, 9:00am to 9:00pm
        Wednesday 16 August 2017, 9:00am to 9:00pm
        Thursday 17 August 2017, 9:00am to 9:00pm
        Friday 18 August 2017, 9:00am to 9:00pm
        Saturday 19 August 2017, 9:00am to 9:00pm
        Sunday 20 August 2017, 9:00am to 9:00pm
    Gates: Open at 9.00am

Scheduled services

Use the journey planner to find out which scheduled services travel to Ekka.

For train customers, search end location 'Exhibition station'.

Ekka train services

Trains to Exhibition station will run at regular intervals from Roma Street, Central and Fortitude Valley stations from approximately 9am to 8pm each day of the Ekka.

The last train will depart Exhibition station at 11pm.

You can also walk to the Brisbane Showgrounds from:

    Fortitude Valley station which is an 800 metre walk from Ekka Entry Gate 1A
    Bowen Hills station which is a 600 metre walk from Ekka Entry Gate 4

The steam train service will run from 10am to 3pm on the Show Day Holiday Wednesday, 16 August, 2017.

Shuttle buses

Shuttle buses will travel to Herston busway station from Roma Street busway station, Carindale interchange  and Eight Mile Plains busway station throughout the Ekka.

Herston busway station is about 500 metres or a ten minute walk from Ekka Entry Gates 6 and 7 along a dedicated path.

Customers who require direct access to the showgrounds are encouraged to transfer to an Exhibition loop train service at Roma Street station.

For $6 for adults and $3 for child/concession TransLink's Ekka Travel Ticket allows you to travel return from anywhere on the TransLink network to the Brisbane Showgrounds (excluding Airtrain).

From Monday 7 August, travel tickets can be purchased by showing your pre-purchased Ekka entry ticket at Queensland Rail stations during ticket office opening hours.

On your day of travel, you can also purchase your ticket on-board Ekka shuttles, scheduled bus services (except pre-paid services), CityCats and City Cross River Ferries (excludes CityHopper) by showing your Ekka entry ticket.

Ekka Travel Tickets are not available for purchase from fare machines.

go card

You can use your go card on any Ekka service, including shuttles, and your travel will count towards your 8 journeys and 50% off.

If you are travelling within zone 1 on an off-peak service, using your go card is the cheapest travel option.

Children with a child's orange go card travel FREE on both weekends of the Ekka.

More >> https://translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/event-transport/8146

[ozbob]

Ad in today's Couriermail

[BrizCommuter]

"will run at regular intervals" - not even stating frequencies this year? Is this in case there are not enough drivers, and QR cancel Ekka Loop services?

[ozbob]

No mention of the extra rail services that run on various lines direct too. 
Maybe they have dropped these for this year and just going to rely on the normal services, with transfers onto the shuttles at Roma St etc.

[Golliwog]

No mention of the extra rail services that run on various lines direct too. 
Maybe they have dropped these for this year and just going to rely on the normal services, with transfers onto the shuttles at Roma St etc.

Still don't get why they insist on making additional special routes just for the Ekka. Surely with the shuttle bus routes from 8 Mile Plains and Carindale, they could have instead extended the 111, 222/200 BUZ routes from Roma Street to the RBWH busway station and just put additional services on to deal with the crowding, and similarly instead of a shuttle from Roma St, they could have increased the frequency of the 66?

I note as well the bus from Carindale is apparently doing a dogleg off the busway to serve the Gabba then onwards to CC and Ekka.

[BrizCommuter]

No mention of the extra rail services that run on various lines direct too. 
Maybe they have dropped these for this year and just going to rely on the normal services, with transfers onto the shuttles at Roma St etc.

Most of the extra services are just services that start/terminate at Roma St and run empty to/from Mayne. So there should be no extra staffing requirements.

[ozbob]

Will a NGR (with locked loos) make a surprise appearance on an Ekka shuttle?

[tazzer9]

Will a NGR (with locked loos) make a surprise appearance on an Ekka shuttle?

Considering only a few are even fitted out, I doubt it. 

[ozbob]

Ekka and regional show public holiday services (14 and 16 August)

>> https://translink.com.au/service-updates/140456

[ozbob]

SX set being moved out of Ipswich today, presumably to Mayne for Ekka services.

Reversing through Riverlink, cross the river onto the Western line.

I have heard that steam might be running this Saturday and the following weekend as well as the Wednesday holiday.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/TransLinkSEQ/status/895766731523751941

[BrizCommuter]

The Ekka Loop service is only every 20 minutes instead of 15 minutes this year, that's a 33% cut! Also can't find any Roma St terminating trains continuing to Exhibition in the journey planner (e.g. last year the am Gympie North to Roma St service ran to Exhibition). Ekka Rail Fail will result in overcrowded services, especially the first few services of the day. Another hash tag?

[ozbob]

#EKKArailfail

#youarewelcome 

[red dragin]

I thought it dropped to 20 minutes a few years ago?

[ozbob]

The Ekka Loop service is only every 20 minutes instead of 15 minutes this year, that's a 33% cut! Also can't find any Roma St terminating trains continuing to Exhibition in the journey planner (e.g. last year the am Gympie North to Roma St service ran to Exhibition). Ekka Rail Fail will result in overcrowded services, especially the first few services of the day. Another hash tag?

I couldn't find any ' extras ' either.  Normally on EKKA Wednesday Holiday particularly there are some direct services to Exhibition ex Ipswich etc.

The information provided for the travel information for the EKKA is noticeably vague in terms of frequency etc.  They are trying to bury the reduced rail services  - no doubt about it!   

Looks like another test of patience coming up ... 

[ozbob]

Was 15 minutes in 2015, still trying to find 2016 but I think it was 15 minutes too.

http://translink.com.au/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/media-releases/details/4531

Frozen fares for Ekka fun

Friday 24 July 2015

Ekka travel costs have been frozen again this year with the popular $6 adult and $3 child/concession Ekka travel ticket on sale today.

Ekka travel tickets are available for Ekka ticket holders at any attended Queensland Rail station from today and on board any TransLink bus (excluding pre-paid services) or CityCats and cross river ferries (excluding free CityHoppers) from Friday 7 August 2015.

TransLink's Acting Deputy Director-General Peter Milward said the popular Ekka travel ticket was great value for families travelling to the showgrounds — from anywhere on the TransLink public transport network.

"Public transport is the convenient way of travelling to the show with a stress free journey delivering people right into the heart of the action," Mr Milward said.

"For a family of four travelling return to the show, the Ekka travel ticket will save them up to $66 when coming from the Gold Coast, $49 from the Sunshine Coast and $25 from Ipswich.

"Dedicated shuttle buses will be in place once again and customers should check these full details on the TransLink website as some services may have changed.

"The Ekka loop train service between Roma Street, Central, Fortitude Valley and Exhibition stations will also be in place. Trains will run every 15 minutes, travelling to Ekka from 9am-8pm and from Ekka between 9am-10pm, except weekdays from 4pm-6pm when services will run every 30 minutes to Ekka."

Queensland Rail Executive General Manager Travel and Tourist Martin Ryan said as part of the loop service the pride of Queensland Rail's heritage fleet 'Bety', or BB18 ¼ 1079, will make a grand return.

"The steam train is always a fantastic drawcard for many show-goers and we expect to see many excited faces on board again this year," Mr Ryan said.

"Bety will operate every third or fourth Ekka loop service from approximately 9am to 4pm on both the Ekka weekends and People's Day, with train enthusiasts able to jump aboard with a standard Ekka train ticket or valid go card."

Passengers for Ekka must produce their pre-purchased Ekka ticket when buying the $6 or $3 bus, train or ferry return travel ticket.

Normal TransLink fares will apply for trips taken using go cards and single paper tickets, which can still be used for travel to and from Ekka.

For more information about public transport to and from Ekka, including dedicated Ekka buses and trains, visit the TransLink website at translink.com.au, or phone our 24/7 call centre on 13 12 30.

[Gazza]

Am I the only one who just walks from FV rather than interchanging?

[Mr X]

Can you use the EKKA services if you're not going to rhe EKKA?

[ozbob]

Can you use the EKKA services if you're not going to rhe EKKA?

See the statement above.  You could for the steam services in 2015.

[ozbob]

Am I the only one who just walks from FV rather than interchanging?

Probably, this is brisBANE ...   

[BrizCommuter]

QR's 2017 Ekka Rail Fail
https://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2017/08/qrs-2017-ekka-rail-fail.html

[ozbob]

QR's 2017 Ekka Rail Fail
https://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2017/08/qrs-2017-ekka-rail-fail.html

Thanks, off to all outlets &

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/895909609671499776

[Cazza]

QR's 2017 Ekka Rail Fail
https://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2017/08/qrs-2017-ekka-rail-fail.html

The stupid thing is that the trains get into Roma St 3 MINS AFTER THE NEXT LOOP SERVICE HAS LEFT. Why? If the trains ran every 15 mins, then a they would only have to wait 7 mins at Roma St instead of a stupid 17. QR has no logic left what so ever. They are using the same number of trains to run services at a lower frequency!!!

Only in Queensland, hey?

Edit: Probably should have read your blog first Briz, you covered most of these points anyway

[#Metro]

Toilet break perhaps?

[Cazza]

Toilet break perhaps?

I'm not sure I know anyone who goes to the potty for that long. Maybe that could be another one of QR's great "the dog ate my homework" excuses along with "a possum brought the WHOLE SEQ rail network to a stand-still in the middle of morning peak hour" excuse.

[#Metro]

I'm only interested in whether it is true or not.

Seems reasonable, 5 min walk there, 5 min walk back. 7 mins to use the amenities.

Maybe HTG or someone else can put light on it.

Drivers and guards need to pee too.

This year, with the shortage of crew, maybe they don't have the extras to do easy crew swap as in previous years. Would make sense.

[BrizCommuter]

I'm only interested in whether it is true or not.

Seems reasonable, 5 min walk there, 5 min walk back. 7 mins to use the amenities.

Maybe HTG or someone else can put light on it.

Drivers and guards need to pee too.

This year, with the shortage of crew, maybe they don't have the extras to do easy crew swap as in previous years. Would make sense.

But they can't use P10 as it is used by long distance trains.
They can't use P9 as it would block existing services.
They could use P7, adding 2 conflicting moves during each loop (at Roma St X2 Roma St x1 and Fortitude Valley).

[HappyTrainGuy]

Roma Street termination should only be a recommended time in case of any possible delays (such as a regular/freight service running late or patronage with the ekka crowd getting on/off). It should be the same trains doing the loop with a quick crew swap when needed. Just a silly data error with the planners. Not much different than morning peak hour roma street terminators flying off to Ipswich/Kuraby empty before the scheduled arrival times at Roma Street.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

12th August 2017

Comment: On transparency with public transport matters in Queensland

Good Morning,

As shown in the blog article below, there is a real reluctance in Queensland for transport authorities to be direct and honest with the travelling public.

Not specifying the true frequency of rail service for the EKKA is but one example. We all know rail fail will impact on EKKA, not much point in trying to hide it now is there?

When the TransLink monthly public transport snapshot data and the quarterly TransLink Trackers are made available, they are placed quietly onto the servers, usually late Fridays unannounced.  How hard would it be to send a social media message to the effect that the Data is now available with a link?

Service disruption notices often default to  ' operational issue ' as the reason for the delay or cancellation.  This just irritates everyone, far better to succinctly state the real cause of the disruption.  Operational issue is just interpreted as more cover-up by the masses.

There is little confidence left with our transport authorities. They do not communicate well at all.  They are masters at bluster, denial and spin.

How about trying to be timely, accurate and honest for a change?  This is how you bring the community on-board. This is how you turn it around.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

On 11-Aug-17 5:24 PM, Robert Dow wrote:

FYI

https://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2017/08/qrs-2017-ekka-rail-fail.html

QR's 2017 Ekka Rail Fail



Ekka loop service - faster to walk!

From Oceania's worst train operator that brought you the diabolical Interim and 2017 Timetables, the inadequate Summer, Easter, and Winter School Holiday Timetables, comes yet another Rail Fail event. This time, due to lack of organisational competence and lack of train drivers, Queensland Rail (QR) have reduced the train services to the 2017 Ekka.

Despite adverts at train stations advertising 15 minute Exhibition Loop services, TransLink's journey planner tells a different story. The Exhibition Loop services will only be running every 20 minutes, even on the busy weekend days and People's Day on Wednesday. This is a 25% cut in Ekka train services compared to last year. Just to make things worse, there is also no sign in the journey planner of the many additional train services that were run to the Ekka, many of them being trains that usually terminate at Roma Street being extended to serve Exhibition station on the way to the depot (or vice versa). Thus it is likely that the final figure may be than more than 30% of Ekka services have been axed.  This a disgrace, and will result in severe overcrowding on the first few trains of the day. BrizCommuter would strongly advise walking to the Ekka from Fortitude Valley and Bowen Hills stations, rather than travelling on one of QR's infrequent sardine cans.

A quick inspection of the timetable, also shows a 17 minute gap between Ekka Loop trains arriving at Roma Street and departing. This would block platforms to other services, add conflicting moves, or cause mass go card confusion by using platform 10. So, BrizCommuter also doubts that this timetable can be reliably operated. It is likely that unfortunate passengers may experience a rather random service frequency.

If you think things can't get any worse, then look forward to reduced timetables in the Spring School Holiday, 2018 Summer School Holiday, Easter, around and during the Commonwealth Games, and so on until sometime in 2019 when QR may finally have enough drivers to operate the October 2016 timetable - only 3 years late!

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/896057215131410432

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/896058556373270528

[#Metro]

I can only remember one year when Ekka transport arrangements went smoothly.

Every other year they always managed to screw something.

One year it was fares and ticketing, which led to mass overcrowding, leading to an emergency situation being declared and the fare

gates being set to open (free entry and exit from Ekka station).

Another year, it was firing low-frequency BCC rocket buses from rail station car parks (you could not make this up). It was such genius

that the low frequency exactly cancelled the time saved by the express running.

I am sure that there were others I have forgotten to mention.

RBOT used to put out a "warning notice" MR in the month prior to Ekka to ward off botches. It was that predictable!

This year we did not do that - disaster!

[ozbob]

Fares have finally been sorted.  Boy, did that take some effort over the years.  The EKKA ticket is a good deal, with free travel for children on weekends with the childs' go card.

When I first suggested free travel for children at weekends (around 5 years ago or so) many laughed at me.  HELLO?   

We knew that rail services were going to suffer.  It is just so disappointing that they try to bury it IMHO.

Hard to have any confidence in the transport bureaucracy these days.

I really feel for the rank and file public transport staff - all, constantly being put in difficult situations due to moronic management.

[ozbob]

Some feedback I have received.  Very sad that it has come to this ..

" People are saying they are not going to the Ekka because of the uncertainty of the trains.
They are saying that you can't believe the timetable. ... "

[BrizCommuter]

Was at the Ekka today (Sunday). There was a loop train heard going through the "hole in the wall" prior to the earliest service in the journey planner. If this was in passenger service, then it makes a mockery of TransLink's journey planner - did they just make up the service this year?

Loop services appeared to be frequent during the morning and around lunch, but rather thin on the ground by late afternoon.

[BrizCommuter]

Might take the kids for a ride around the loop on the steam train tomorrow. Let's hope we can stay on board between the arrival and departure platforms!

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/897576286431870977

[BrizCommuter]

Just rode around the loop on the steam train with kids. Had argument with jobsworthy QR volunteer who wanted to force all passengers off at Exhibition arrival platform. Brizcommuter won argument. Utterly rediculous as there is no reason why passengers have to alight.

[ozbob]

Just rode around the loop on the steam train with kids. Had argument with jobsworthy QR volunteer who wanted to force all passengers off at Exhibition arrival platform. Brizcommuter won argument. Utterly rediculous as there is no reason why passengers have to alight.

 

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/PhilWillmington/status/897680536445095936

[BrizCommuter]

https://twitter.com/PhilWillmington/status/897680536445095936

The steam in the photo is from BrizCommuter after dealing with Mr Jobsworth!