14 May 2018: Queensland: New Generation Rollingstock Public Inquiry commenced

[ozbob]

Media release 14th May 2018

Queensland: New Generation Rollingstock Public Inquiry commenced

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 today commenced a public inquiry into the New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) train project.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Despite repeated requests to Government for a Commission of Inquiry or a Parliamentary Inquiry into the NGR Project the Government has failed to launch or give a committment for an Inquiry (1).  We believe it is in the best interests of all Queenslanders to have an understanding of how a State can manage to design and order non DDA (Disability Discrimination Act 1992) non DSAPT (Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002) compliant new trains when this has been a requirement since 2002. Accordingly we have today begun our own Public Inquiry into the circumstances that have contributed to this failure."

"Unless there is a proper Inquiry into this botched NGR project the failings will not be properly identified and the mistakes can and probably will occur again. This is very important as we have determined the State will need another 50 six car train sets (this is additional to the present order of 75 six car NGR trains) to meet the service requirements when Cross River Rail is completed in 2024."

The key questions to be investigated are:

1. Why were non DDA non DSAPT compliant trains ordered? It has been a requirement since 2002 for new passenger rollingstock to be compliant.

2. Why was the order reduced from 100 to 75 six car trains?

3. Who signed off on the design?

4. Was Queensland Rail consulted on design of the new trains?

5. When did the ' State of Queensland ' first know they had acquired non compliant trains?

6. Why did it take till September 2017 for an application for a temporary exemption be made to AHRC when Disability Advocates and others had been warning of accessibility issues since 2015?

7. Who decided that new non compliant trains could be used on the network without the protection of an exemption? Did the Queensland Rail Board approve of this action?

"There is a considerable amount of information available in the public domain concerning the NGR trains and the issues and circumstances involved. Additionally we will be using Right To Information (RTI) processes to seek further information as needed. We will also write to Ministers, former Ministers, and Government Departments and others requesting any information that they might be able to provide to assist the inquiry process."

"To support the Inquiry a dedicated sub-forum has been set up on the RAIL Back On Track Main Discussion Forum. The Inquiry Forum can be viewed by the public and is located at bit.do/ngr ( https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?board=88.0 )."

"We invite anyone who can provide feedback or information to assist to correspond via email at ngr@backontrack.org or use our contact mailer at https://railbotforum.org/contact/  (confidentiality assured as desired). "

"We hope to complete our Inquiry by 30th November 2018. The Inquiry Report will be presented to Premier and Transport Minister, Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Transport Minister, and the Speaker of Parliament, as well as being available publicly."

Contact:

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

References:

1. 15 July 2017 Queensland: Call for a commission of Inquiry into the New Generation Rollingstock Project
https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12853.0

2. New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) Timeline - significant events
(work in progress - this will continue to be updated as we proceed)

2010/11 -  Downer EDI withdraws from tender process for NGR

October 2011 - Original plan for 200 3 car sets changes into 75 6 car sets

July 2012 - DTMR takes over NGR Project Management from Queensland Rail

December 2013 – Contract awarded to the Bombardier-led consortium called Qtectic

January 2014 - DTMR " The first trains will be in service by mid-2016 ... "

April 2014 – Works commenced on Wulkuraka Maintenance Centre

April 2015 - Concerns raised re accessibility issues with the NGRs

August 2015 - Disability sector wrote to then Minister for Transport requesting a meeting to discuss concerns re NGR accessibility

February 2016 – Wulkuraka Maintenance Centre officially opened

February 2016 – First NGR train arrived in South East Queensland to commence testing

14 September 2016 – Start of on-track testing

March 2017 - Delivery of NGRs halted

June 2017 - Official acknowledgement the NGRs are not DDA DSAPT compliant

27 September 2017 - Application to AHRC by the State of Queensland for Temporary Exemption

11 December 2017 – Start of passenger services

12 December 2017 - Complaint lodged with AHRC re NGR non compliance

21 December 2017 - NGR 701 moved to Redbank for storage.  Later joined by other NGR trains.

2 March 2018 - AHRC Preliminary View on State of Queensland's application

29 March 2018  - AHRC Decision on the State of Queensland's Application

14 May 2018 - RAIL Back On Track commences NGR Public Inquiry

[ozbob]

For the Inquiry and discussion --> https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?board=88.0