Queensland Rail on-time running discussions

[ozbob]

Hey @jackietrad buses are unreliable, street running.
Trains in class A right of way.
Trains should be >>> more reliable than bus#qldpol

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) May 25, 2017

^

Get some new spinners @jackietrad
Clearly they are lost and you just get deeper in the mire ..#qldpol#youarewelcome https://t.co/EB7Gh5DTrO

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) May 25, 2017

^

Mechanical issues constantly on the @QueenslandRail network these days @jackietrad
Where are the new trains?#askingforafriend #qldpol https://t.co/pLPJhL9vLn

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) May 25, 2017

^

Reliability for @QueenslandRail is actually going backwards @jackietrad
Data here > https://t.co/j5WHjZPKOl#qldpol#truefacts pic.twitter.com/k69SubRHdK

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) May 25, 2017

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Queensland Rail on-time running worse in 2017 than in 2016

Almost one in every 10 Queensland Rail Citytrain services did not run on-time in March, with reliability markedly lower than last year.

QR data shows Citytrain on-time running has plunged to lower levels than experienced during October 2016, when hundreds of services were cancelled following the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line.

The "customer impact" on-time running figure, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, was 90.53 per cent for March, compared to 91.54 per cent in October 2016.

However, customer impact did not adjust the figures for unforseeable circumstances outside QR's control, such as medical emergencies, security incidents, boom gate strikes or severe weather.

When the data was adjusted for force majeure events, 93.73 per cent of trains were on-time in March (24/7), compared to 92.44 per cent in October 2016, known as the "contractual" figures.

The contractual results since September 2016 were still worse than they were the previous year.

A service is considered on-time if it arrives within three minutes and 59 seconds of their scheduled time.

QR aims to have 95 per cent of peak services arriving on time.

Using the combined peak data (contractual), 93.35 per cent of services ran on-time in March 2017. That is compared to 97.72 per cent in March 2016.

Opposition Transport spokesman Andrew Powell slammed the results.

"QR on-time running is worse than during the height of Labor's rail fail," he said.

"This means trains are running later, or not turning up at all, leaving commuters stranded at the station."

But QR chief executive officer Nick Easy said third quarter (January to March 2016) reflected an improvement in on-time running results.

"This is a testament to the measures that Queensland Rail has implemented to stabilise services and improve reliability," Mr Easy said.

"The significant weather event caused by Tropical Cyclone Debbie in March did have an impact on our network and our crews worked to restore services for our customers."

The QR Citytrain network covers south-east Queensland and heavy rain from Cyclone Debbie arrived in Brisbane on March 29.

From December 28 to January 22, QR ran a summer school holiday timetable, with reduced services to help get the network back on track.

Mr Easy said QR was continuing to implement the recommendations of the Strachan inquiry and the government's Fixing the Trains plan to improve services for customers.

It came after new data revealed commuters were the happiest they have been with the cost of public transport since 2012.

[ozbob]

. @QueenslandRail OTR worse in 2017 than 2016 > https://t.co/gJ2IopwA6h v @brisbanetimes
oh dear @jackietrad
We called it days ago#qldpol pic.twitter.com/G20y3d2nrx

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) May 26, 2017

^

@QueenslandRail @brisbanetimes @jackietrad @AndrewPowellMP @QLDLabor @LNPQLD @JoAnnMillerMP @JimMaddenMP @AnnastaciaMP @Curtis_Pitt_MP @qld_times Due to the lack of proper transparency for detailed OTR I keep it all here > https://t.co/j5WHjZPKOl#qldpol#cannotfoolusallheyDP ? pic.twitter.com/DehzYtlUsI

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) May 26, 2017

@QueenslandRail @brisbanetimes @jackietrad @AndrewPowellMP @QLDLabor @LNPQLD @JoAnnMillerMP @JimMaddenMP @AnnastaciaMP @Curtis_Pitt_MP @qld_times Don't forget QR now running a lot less services for a lot more pain for passengers.
Still poor OTR ... #qldpol#anyonewantcashbonus pic.twitter.com/6A7RshQg1C

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) May 26, 2017

@QueenslandRail @brisbanetimes @jackietrad @AndrewPowellMP @QLDLabor @LNPQLD @JoAnnMillerMP @JimMaddenMP @AnnastaciaMP @Curtis_Pitt_MP @qld_times Mechanical issues causing more and more problems with reliability.
Where are the #NGR trains? Needed now, what is the problem?#qldpol pic.twitter.com/VIzQ02FeBE

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) May 26, 2017

[Stillwater]

QUOTE: "QR data shows Citytrain on-time running has plunged to lower levels than experienced during October 2016, when hundreds of services were cancelled following the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line."

[#Metro]

QUOTE: "QR data shows Citytrain on-time running has plunged to lower levels than experienced during October 2016, when hundreds of services were cancelled following the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line."

I speculate that this has something to do with "mechanical issue" which suddenly seemed to crop up.

[ozbob]

Queensland Rail on-time running worse in 2017 than in 2016 https://t.co/gJ2IopwA6h via @brisbanetimes#qldpol pic.twitter.com/ARzZ1LZlu4

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) May 26, 2017

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Train services change to express to protect Queensland Rail's on-time running record

COMMUTERS are being left stranded on train station platforms under a Queensland Rail system that fudges figures about the on-time running performance of its trains.

Trains that are at risk of running late are being ordered to suddenly switch to express services so that QR can protect its punctuality record.

In just one month, 65 train services skipped stops, but are still able to be classified as "on-time".

The same practice of counting train services that skip stations as being "on-time" was stopped in Sydney in 2013, with the 2017 Strachan Report into QR saying the Sydney system was "believed to provide a more transparent measure of customers' experience".

Sydney also does not adjust on-time running figures for "force majeure" incidents, such as delays caused by severe weather, unlike in Queensland.

Documents obtained by The Sunday Mail show the rail network regularly lists its "on-time running" performance as 100 per cent, even when QR orders trains to be switched from all-station to express to make up for lost time.

On September 12, an email sent to QR staff said one of its trains which ran from Cleveland to Bowen Hills had experienced a "rollingstock issue" and caused delays to a later service running between Manly and Shorncliffe.

The Manly to Shorncliffe service ran express past several stations to make up time.

The on-time running performance was then listed as 100 per cent in a company-wide email and on the QR website.

Similarly, on September 15, a Beenleigh to Ferny Grove train was running four minutes late before it was given the express treatment.

"This service will now operate express from Coopers Plains to Yeerongpilly in order to minimise the impact on other peak services in the inner city," a staff email said at the time.

The on-time running performance was again listed as 100 per cent.

Individual train services are classified as "on time" by QR if they arrive at the platform within four minutes of their schedule.

QR has repeatedly spruiked its on-time running record, saying it exceeded its target of 95 per cent of trains running on time for three consecutive years to last financial year.

"We should be proud that we have posted our best on-time running 24/7 customer impact results in at least a decade with 96.24 per cent of all services we operate arriving on time," QR's annual report boasted last year.


Executive bonuses were tied to meeting on-time running targets in the past, but QR refused to confirm that they still were and a spokeswoman said no performance payments were paid to executives for the 2016/17 financial year.

QR CEO Nick Easy said services were altered in some cases to run express through stations to prevent delays to other services on the network.

But he said skipped stations data was published on the rail body's website, which shows up to 65 service skipped stops in one month in the past year.

"It is not about meeting on-time running targets, it is about achieving the best possible outcome for our customers and the network overall," Mr Easy said.

There is no mention of skipped stops in the QR annual report.

The practice of station skipping and suddenly terminating trains to run services on time will be penalised under a crackdown proposed for Melbourne's Metro Trains.

Several past and current internal sources told The Sunday Mail they were outraged when the practice of skipping stations was adopted about five years ago in Queensland to manipulate the performance results. One former executive described it as "totally dishonest".

Devil is in the detail

IT is 2009 and Queensland Rail has encountered an inconvenient problem with tardiness.

The rail body was staring down the gauntlet of a second fine for failing to run its trains on time.

It had already copped a $6.7 million fine the year before for failing to meet a contractual target dictating that 92.4 per cent of peak-hour services must arrive at the platform within four minutes of the scheduled time on commuters' rail timetables.

Skip ahead a few years and the problem had – miraculously – disappeared.

QR boasted in its 2012-13 annual report of decade-high punctuality results, with 96.3 per cent of services pulling in at the station on schedule – exceeding its then-target of 94.53 per cent.

It had that year launched a special taskforce to clean up its problems sticking to the timetable.

By 2015-16, QR declared it had hit yet another decade-high, this time with 96.25 per cent of services arriving on time.

The incredible about-turn even scored it an industry gong in 2015.

But documents obtained by The Sunday Mail show the devil is in the detail when it comes to just what constitutes "on-time" in official QR statistics measuring how well its performing.

Commuters waiting on station platforms may be bemused to learn that all-station trains that suddenly zoom by them after being switched to express mid-journey over fears they are beginning to lag behind, are technically classified by the QR bean counters as being "on-time."

This is despite concerns about the same practice triggering a crackdown interstate.

And while QR is quick to spruik its on-time performance when the going is good, it has previously refused to say whether it was fined for running trains late during the rail fail.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

24th September 2017

QR: On-time running and statistics ...

Good Morning,

The issue of trains altered to express and on-time running (OTR) not reflecting that is news this morning.

Couriermail --> Train services change to express to protect Queensland Rail's on-time running record

We have always been bemused with the fact that peak services are altered to skip stations and the peak on-time running can be reported as 100%.   It is not 100% for passengers left staring at their train passing at speed. It is certainly not 100% at the skipped stations is it?

We do understand the need to sometimes alter services to avoid a chain reaction of delayed services.  However the published OTR should truly reflect that.

Queensland Rail report ' Skipped Stations ' as a separate measure (see > http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/aboutus/ourperformance/service-punctuality-and-reliability - select the performance data ' Skipped Stations ') but it is not interpolated with the OTR.  Hence the outcome of 100% OTR despite services missing stations ( as OTR is based on arrival times at destination - " All services, including peak and off-peak, are measured on time when they arrive within three minutes and 59 seconds of their scheduled time (5 minutes and 59 seconds on interurban services; ie Gold Coast, Rosewood and Nambour)  from http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/Customers/Pages/On-TimeRunning.aspx ).

Additionally why is it that off peak OTR is not reported daily?  Queensland Rail delivers the lowest off-peak service frequency services in Oceania (today particularly so with the Sunday September School Holiday Timetable, one hour frequency on most lines, 2 hour on the Sunshine Coast Line).  When low frequency services are cancelled or altered the effects are profound on the poor passengers who are caught.  Often means missed connections and journey times going out by many hours at times. Why hide daily off-peak OTR? Off peak performance OTR needs to reported daily as for peak.

All is definitely not what it seems when it comes to OTR ' statistics ' hey?

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/911634056307023872

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/911708426643763200

[ozbob]

It is not rocket science to properly adjust the OTR.  If a service is altered (even though it might arrive at destination on time) it is scored as not being ontime.  So this would be reflected in the % of that line and period.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Staff concerns over skipping stations rejected by Queensland Rail boss

QUEENSLAND Rail employees raised concerns directly with the rail body's boss over the fairness of the organisation's practice of skipping stations to meet on-time running targets.

The Courier-Mail can reveal that the tactic was questioned internally up to a year ago but QR has stuck by its policy of running some trains express past scheduled stops to catch up for lost time.

As revealed last week, stations that are skipped are being counted by QR as being on time in official statistics used by the State Government to measure its performance.

Internal documents obtained by The Courier-Mail reveal staff members raised concerns with then-chief executive officer Helen Gluer about whether it was right to leave passengers stranded.

One of the Q & A-style questions relayed to QR bosses was: "A team member asked whether it was fair for Queensland Rail to accept a customer service award for on-time running when our customers can be inconvenienced as a result of us trying to meet targets".

The response from QR leaders said the awards were well-deserved and that on-time running improvements in the preceding three years had been "remarkable".

The executive denied the practice of skipping stops was just to get trains on time or under the four-minute late threshold.

"Queensland Rail is clearly the best performing railway on the east coast of Australia," the response said.

Months later Ms Gluer and the board chairman resigned amid the chaos of hundreds of services being cancelled due to a driver shortage.

A staffer also questioned whether QR was leaving passengers stranded on station platforms as it rushed to hasten boarding and departure of trains.

Another question was raised about QR's executive bonus payments.

It is understood on-time running is a factor relating to bonuses but QR has refused to confirm or deny that.

According to the 2015/16 annual report, $7.8 million in performance bonuses were paid across 408 employees that year.

QR's annual report for 2016-17 shows $260,000 in executive cash bonuses.

It paid a total $7.2 million in bonuses in the same period to 423 staff.

QR this week declined to answer specific questions but stood by an earlier statement from CEO Nick Easy denying it was skipping stations to meet on-time running targets.

"In some cases, services are altered to run express through stations to prevent delays to other services on the network," he said.

"It is not about meeting on-time running targets, it is about achieving the best possible outcome for our customers and the network overall."

The Palaszczuk Government referred questions to TransLink.

A TransLink spokesman said QR published its skipped stops data online, which last July only represented 0.08 per cent of stations.

Queensland Rail has a contractual on-time running target of 95 per cent.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

5th October 2017

More concerns with QR: On-time running and statistics ...

Good Morning,

More concerns with ' skipped stations ' and ontime running  (OTR) performance reporting.

Today in the Couriermail --> Staff concerns over skipping stations rejected by Queensland Rail boss

As we have previously stated, it is not rocket science to adjust OTR for services that have altered running.  Services that are altered are a small component of overall service delivery ( http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/about%20us/Pages/Servicepunctualityandreliability.aspx ), however in the interests of transparency and accuracy OTR should be adjusted for it in our opinion.

Much more important in our view is the lack of timely OTR out of peak performance reporting.  There is none!  Daily out of peak  OTR should be reported for all lines as is peak.  Only then will a true understanding of around the clock performance be gained in a timely manner.  Disruptions out of peak have a very significant effect on passengers as we have low frequency rail and bus services in the main on the public transport network in SEQ. Missed connections often mean hours added to journey times.  This needs to be kept uppermost in the minds of transport authorities and not hidden.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

24th September 2017

QR: On-time running and statistics ...

Good Morning,

The issue of trains altered to express and on-time running (OTR) not reflecting that is news this morning.

Couriermail --> Train services change to express to protect Queensland Rail's on-time running record

We have always been bemused with the fact that peak services are altered to skip stations and the peak on-time running can be reported as 100%.   It is not 100% for passengers left staring at their train passing at speed. It is certainly not 100% at the skipped stations is it?

We do understand the need to sometimes alter services to avoid a chain reaction of delayed services.  However the published OTR should truly reflect that.

Queensland Rail report ' Skipped Stations ' as a separate measure (see > http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/aboutus/ourperformance/service-punctuality-and-reliability - select the performance data ' Skipped Stations ') but it is not interpolated with the OTR.  Hence the outcome of 100% OTR despite services missing stations ( as OTR is based on arrival times at destination - " All services, including peak and off-peak, are measured on time when they arrive within three minutes and 59 seconds of their scheduled time (5 minutes and 59 seconds on interurban services; ie Gold Coast, Rosewood and Nambour)  from http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/Customers/Pages/On-TimeRunning.aspx ).

Additionally why is it that off peak OTR is not reported daily?  Queensland Rail delivers the lowest off-peak service frequency services in Oceania (today particularly so with the Sunday September School Holiday Timetable, one hour frequency on most lines, 2 hour on the Sunshine Coast Line).  When low frequency services are cancelled or altered the effects are profound on the poor passengers who are caught.  Often means missed connections and journey times going out by many hours at times. Why hide daily off-peak OTR? Off peak performance OTR needs to reported daily as for peak.

All is definitely not what it seems when it comes to OTR ' statistics ' hey?

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ozbob]

4BC Radio News has followed up. Thanks for the interest .. 

[ozbob]

River 94.9 FM --> Rail Back on Track wants QR to release skipped station data

Rail advocacy groups say Queensland Rail must be transparent when it comes to skipping train stations to meet on-time running targets.

The Courier Mail reports Q-R staff raised concerns about the policy internally a year ago. It follows revelations skipped stations - including those on the Ipswich and Beenleigh lines - are being counted by Q-R as being on time in official statistics.

Robert Dow from rail advocacy group - Rail Back on Track says it's not right: "Our position is the on-time running should be adjusted to those stations altered to skip stations...and occasionally the operator needs to do that. It needs to be reflected in the on-time running so there's not really false statistics being reported".

In a statement - Queensland Rail says it's committed to openness and transparency and they clearly publish skipped stations data alongside on-time running results on their website.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

8th October 2017

Bonuses and OTR at Queensland Rail

Good Morning,

Someone has seen some sense.  Well done Deputy Premier. The cash bonus gravy train has had an ' operational issue ' hey?

Couriermail --> Rail bosses say goodbye to bonus pay thanks to Jackie Trad

There is further mention of  ontime running (OTR) data not reflecting altered services ( stations skipped to bring services back on time at arrival ) in the article.

The number of altered services is relatively small, but OTR should be altered such that an altered service is deemed  ' not on time at the skipped stations ' and the overall count for that time period adjusted.  It will not really alter the OTR percentages much at all but will project transparency and honesty.  Why continue to argue against that, particularly when internally Queensland Rail staff question this lack of honesty?

Far more important to us is the lack of daily OTR reporting for out of peak services.  This should be reported daily as for the peak performance.

What is there to hide?

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ Attached:  https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12772.msg198765#msg198765 ]

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/916710262085947393

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/916711005329162240