2009 - will it be the year for additional services on Ipswich Line?

[Mozz]

After approximately 10% growth each year upon year from 2003 - 2008 and promises of additional services in March 2007, then September 2007, then March 2008 and then September 2008 (which resulted in new services all over the network except the Ipswich and I believe the Caboolture lines) and the delivery of .......................... nothing, which then resulted in quite an outcry which forced an additional service at sunrise and sunset but nothing really to address any of the systemic and dangerous overcrowding issues particularly with morning services. To be quite clear with respect to overcrowding issues, there are trains operating now and have been operating for years in a dangerously overcrowded and unsafe manner, with more than 1000 people and at times up to 1200 people.

Will 2009 bring additional services? It appears the delivery of new rolling stock is behind schedule and from my limited knowledge of how things work, I understand that more rolling stock and drivers are needed before any new services can be implemented. Information from people who should know indicate the current rolling stock is being and has been, flogged mercilessly with little opportunity for proper maintenance for the past few years at a rate which probably was unsustainable last year let alone for 2009. New trains set for delivery into service are taken and canabilised to keep old rolling stock in service. Services are regularly cancelled due to faulty trains, then those that do run have many many issues with door and airconditioning failures.

Rumours abound that a "new" timetable in February 2009 will deliver new services. As I understand the current calendar layout, February is actually next month and almost here.

Given there has been 2-3 years to work on the "new" timetable perhaps it might be time to release it to the general public to allow for comment if indeed it is going to be implemented next month. At the very least it may ameliorate the farcial situation which occurred last year on the fernygrove line with the timetable changes on that line which were released as a complete surprise to the public transport travelling public on that line.

I hope that there will be new services and soon and I encourage anyone with any more information on what may be happening on the Ipswich line to kick in and contribute to this thread.

[ozbob]

The situation is getting critical Mozz I agree.  I have asked QR directly.

Regards
Bob

[dwb]

Weren't they only just calling for nominations to a CRG in Nov/Dec last year for the Ipswich line??

If so, I doubt they'll be launching that new timetable in Feb as due to the Christmas break they wouldn't have been able to host a meeting yet, maybe not even establish successful nominees.

As long overdue as a new timetable is, they'd be shooting themselves in the foot and undermining any confidence the CRGs have in them if they went ahead in the meantime!

[ozbob]

The Ipswich CRG was formed 4 months ago, it was the pilot CRG.  We have had 3 meetings already (I am a member of the IPS CRG).  (See members forum --> http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1424.0) Timetables have been discussed.  Some indications have been given on some additions to the timetable in Feb.   I think this is not major review just some more train services added to the obvious overload points at the moment.  When Darra to Corinda finished major changes I would think, and also laying the ground work  for the Darra Richlands services as well.

Cheers
Bob

[ozbob]

Media Release 7 January 2009

SEQ:  An extra train for the Ipswich line, good news!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport users has welcomed the new service for the Ipswich line.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track has consistently highlighted the ongoing passenger overloading on some of the Ipswich line Citytrain services.  The new sweeper service commencing on January 12th from Darra at 6.35am to pick up the inner city overload ahead of the presently crush congested 6.14am service from Ipswich is smart."

"This will run a few minutes ahead of the 6.14am service ex Ipswich from Darra and will help ameliorate the gross overloading that has been occurring on this service from Indooroopilly; the notorious 6.43am service from Oxley!"

"We look forward to further additions to the Ipswich line timetable in February, as indicated by QR Passenger through the QR Ipswich line Community Reference Group."

"The Hale Street Link project will no doubt also lead to more passengers on the Ipswich line, particularly as road congestion bites so these additional services will be very timely."

"As more rolling stock and crew is made available to the Citytrain network, additional services need to be constantly added to ease the congestion bottle necks.  The Caboolture line must be next on the list."

"Properly resourced, rail is the sustainable solution for bulk mass transit!"

"Well done QR Passenger and TransLink!"

Contact:
Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

Notice observed at Darra Railway Station 7th Jan 2009





Photograph R Dow 7th January 2009

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
08/01/2009

All aboard new train service on the Ipswich line

Transport Minister John Mickel and State Member for Mount Ommaney Julie Attwood have announced a new morning peak-hour service on the busy Ipswich line to help ease passenger demand ahead of further service enhancements early this year.

Mr Mickel said from Monday January 12, a new service departing from Darra station at 6.35am and arriving at Central station at 7.04am would be introduced to help alleviate pressure on early morning Ipswich line services."

"This new six-carriage service will provide an extra 450 seats and further room for 300 standing passengers during the height of peak hour," Mr Mickel said.

"This new 'sweeper' service will depart Darra station six minutes before a busy service leaves the same station at 6.41am.

"This new service is designed to pick up passengers beforehand to help ease demand."

Mrs Attwood said the TransLink Transit Authority and QR were responding to passengers' calls for extra services on the Ipswich line.

"We are introducing this new service before the holiday break winds up and people return to work and school," Mrs Attwood said.

"If this new service is a success it will be here to stay, along with the early-bird train services introduced on both the Ipswich and Caboolture lines in mid-October last year which have proven popular."

"We are listening to passengers' feedback for extra services and we are confident upcoming changes will help address increasing passenger demand," she said.

Mr Mickel said the new service preceded service enhancements to be rolled out early this year.

"Public transport patronage across the TransLink network has soared almost 40 per cent in the past four years." Mr Mickel said.

"Amid this unprecedented growth the State Government is committed to boosting public transport services through extra rollingstock and major improvements to infrastructure.

"We are rolling out a total of 102 three-carriage trains - roughly one train a month - to boost the total fleet by 70 per cent."

For further information about public transport services, please visit www.translink.com.au or call 13 12 30, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

8 January 2009

==============================================================

[ButFli]

I see "one train a month" has blown out to "roughly one train a month".

And here was me thinking a 7-day-a-week 15-minute timetable was just around the corner. We'll be lucky to maintain the half-hourly one at this rate!

[Mozz]

Yeah the revision was made a couple of months ago at a press conference called by the premier - from memory she was the first to use the "approximately 1 per month"

Seriously though, 1 train per month shouldn't be a huge stretch for a company that makes trains, 1 train per month for a company that makes boats might be a different story.

Am I correct in saying that the original order placed in 2005/06 (anyone recall the month/year) that we have had 16 x 3 car units delivered by December 2008 - so taking January 2006 as the start date it's taken 36 months to deliver 16 x 3 car units and from Mid 2008 we were supposed to have exactly 1 train per month (which has now blown out to approximately/roughly 1 train per month).

My recollection and or maths might be in error so happy to have input from others who may know.

[mufreight]

When a normal train set is a six car set one three car set a month is only in reality half a train and the supposed rate of deliveries is said to be one train a month (three cars) another example of spin and duplicity but factually correct for the uninformed if they were actually being delivered but it would seem that at the present time there is considerable slippage.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

New train service as Hale Street congestion bites

New train service as Hale Street congestion bites
Tony Moore | January 9, 2009 - 4:41AM

Extra trains are likely to be added to the Ipswich line next month to help alleviate traffic headaches resulting from the Hale Street Bridge project.

A new early-morning service from Darra - capable of ferrying 750 passengers to the city - is being added from Monday morning, with additional Ipswich-City services tipped to be added from February.

The first new six-carriage service will depart Darra at 6.35am, arriving at Central Station at 7.04am.

Rail lobby group Rail: Back on Track welcomed the changes and said the pressure to act quickly was a response to likely problems next week on Milton Road and Coronation Drive from the Hale Street Bridge project.

Since Monday, traffic has been unable to turn right from Hale Street on to Coronation Drive, a move predicted to cause major snarls for traffic getting to the University of Queensland and further west from the Inner City Bypass.

Rail: Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said the extra Monday train service would be effective.

"This will run a few minutes ahead of the 6.14am service from Ipswich to Darra and will help ameliorate the gross overloading that has been occurring on this service from Indooroopilly; the notorious 6.43am service from Oxley," Mr Dow said.

He said extra trains had to be added to the Ipswich line before commuters would abandon their cars as the Hale Street Bridge problems became more obvious.

New trains would also be added next month, Mr Dow believed.

"We look forward to further additions to the Ipswich line timetable in February, as indicated by QR (Queensland Rail) Passenger Services through the QR Ipswich Line Community Reference Group," Mr Dow said.

"The Hale Street Link project will no doubt also lead to more passengers on the Ipswich line, particularly as road congestion bites so these additional services will be very timely."

Rail: Back on Track wrote to the Hale Street Link project team in November 2007 asking it to consider extra trains on the Ipswich line during the disruptive construction period.

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman responded in December 2007, advising that Queensland Rail was invited to join the team to negotiate the impact of the Hale Street Link project.

In early 2008 there was a major dispute between Brisbane City Council and the State Government over the impact of the Hale Street Link project on local transport.

It was not until late 2008 that the State Government gave Brisbane City Council approval to impose a toll on the Hale Street Bridge after transport issues were resolved.

However, a Transport Department spokeswoman said the Hale Street Link project was a only a "side issue" in the decision to put extra trains on the Ipswich line.

The spokeswoman would only say the extra trains on the Ipswich line were still being considered and could be added in "the first quarter" of 2009.

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times 9th January 2008 page 7

Now online --> http://www.qt.com.au/story/2009/01/08/extra-train-eases-pain-in-morning/

Extra train eases pain in morning

[ozbob]

Details now available on the TransLink website

--> http://servicechanges.translink.com.au/db/servicechange.php?id=245

Date     Monday 12 January 2009
Operator    QR
Regions    Western Region
Routes and descriptions    Ipswich line.
Reason for service change    To assist with crowding currently being experienced on weekday morning services.

Notes     
A new weekday service will depart Darra at 6.35am arriving Central at 7.04am and Bowen Hills at 7.10am.

[ozbob]

I plan to catch this service from Darra on Monday morning (12th), great way to start the week!   

I am sure I will get a seat!   

[ozbob]

--> Inaugural weekday 6.35am service from Darra to Bowen Hills - 12th Jan 2009