overcrowded moring service from Nambour

[wallet72]

Hi all,

    a few weeks ago I wrote an email to QR regarding the early morning express from Nambour. Basically, it is a 3 car service that is standing room only from Caboolture onwards - by the time it pulls in at Petrie or Northgate even sardines complain about the overcrowding. I've personally seen people pass out, people get sick from the overheating, it's just not healthy.
    Below is the response I got from QR. While I understand the response is technically correct, I find it very uncaring and very dismissive.

- - - - -
Dear Mr XXX

Thank you for your email relating to the overcrowding of the 5.26am Nambour to Brisbane service. Upon receipt of your email, I forwarded your concerns through to the manager for QR Passenger's timetabling and planning department for his response, as he has comprehensive knowledge of the network, timetable and the amount of rollingstock currently available.

    *
      The 4:35am and 5:26am services from Nambour originally ran as all stations trains from Nambour to Brisbane CBD.
    *
      In September 2007 the services in question were altered to start from Nambour as 3 car services and run the super express pattern - Nambour to Caboolture all stations stopping at Petrie, Northgate then Bowen Hills.
    *
      The times that the original services ran all stations from Caboolture were retained with the 6 car trains starting from Caboolture.
    *
      These changes added additional seats from Caboolture as the loading between Nambour and Elimbah used approximately 140 seats leaving 300 seats for passengers entraining at Caboolture heading south.
    *
      The choices for Caboolture south passengeres are now as they were plus the express option.
    *
      It is understood the express option is popular. However between 5:15am and 6:30am there are 6 choices of services departing Caboolture arriving Central between 6:15am and 7:30am with the 6th option commencing 13.10.08.
    *
      The allocation of rollingstock to services to meet demand is closely monitored. The alignment of the allocation of resources - trains sets, train crew and train paths requires balancing throught out the network.
    *
      In early 2009 a revision of the Ipswich and Caboolture lines will see an aditional 6 car train set allocated to each line, with further review as trains sets and train crew become available.

I trust this information is of assistance.

Kind regards

Katrina Elder | Customer Relations Officer | QR Passenger Pty Ltd

[ozbob]

Welcome Wallet!

Thanks for your comments.  We are working constructively towards resolving the overloading through highlighting the need for maximising the resources for QR Passengers services.  It is a long and slow process ..  your comments will help inform our ongoing efforts.

There will be some changes in Feb 2009. 

Regards
Bob

[Arnz]

Simple solution would be either.

-Upgrade the 3-car IMU to 6-car IMU. (Timetables shows that the earlybird Nambour to City services are usually 3-car IMUs)
-Or if there is lack of units, omit Petrie and Northgate from the stopping pattern of the earlybird service.

*Before Petrie or Northgate commuters get angry, I like to point out that the majority of Robina peak-hour services (and selected services to from Gympie/Nambour)  dont stop at Loganlea/Petrie and Coopers Plains/Northgate just for the sake of a few people. 

Why should some Nambour peak services (eg the early bird services, 4:01 ex central or the 6:12pm ex Central) be an exception to this rule.  If those commuters wanted those stations at peak, there are plenty of Beenleigh and Caboolture services to select from.  Considering there are plenty of all-station peak services which has plenty of standing room. 

There are plenty of cases to omit suburban stops from ALL interuban services in peak, it may not be as bad in the morning since interurban passengers have their seats already, but there are problems after the first suburban stop for reasons mentioned in wallet72's post.  In the afternoon peak however, interurban passengers have to stand for 30-40 mins to Petrie and/or Caboolture whilst suburban passengers hog the seats.

Not to mention, unlike South Coast passengers which has 15 min services at peak, North Coast passengers have to wait roughly 30 mins at peak (with a 40 min gap and a 20 min gap in the afternoon peak).

[brad C]

Well said Arnz!!!!
This is exactly what I have been suggesting to QR for the last 2 years. Unfortunately no one in QR seems to be the least bit interested or there are vested interests amongst the timetable staff.
What is even more of a dilemma is that there is no guarantee that IMU sets will be scheduled on Nambour runs.
Take the mid day service to Cooroy or the early PM services to Nambour for example.
Try putting an EMU set on a Gold Coast run - there would be a riot.
It is reported that the "Executive General Manager" Citytrain will be addressing an interstate conference on building a world class commuter rail network in the near future. I think the speech will be more spin than fact.

Sunshine Coast commuters will be waiting a long time for improved services.
What happened to the big Bligh announcement last year that Citytrain and Travel train were to be split from QR and incorporated into the new TTA.....all gone quiet.

[yobborobbo21]

I really think that QR dont give a f*** about us here on the Sunny Coast, today for an example the Gympie North service was made up of a 6car emu while mayne yard had around 4 IMUs and a heap of SMUs, Gold Coast line had extra services for Indy but i dont know why they even bothered as most were near empty.

When Caboolture-Beerburrum opens up in a couple of months it will no doubt be dominated by EMUs.

PS: Some signals on the new alignment where lit today, getting closer