EMU door handles going

[ozbob]

The EMU doors will all be converted to power button doors with bright yellow warning stripes.

Also additional hand holds on seats (bright yellow)  EMU 66 has been converted already, report of a sighting yesterday.

FYI

[Derwan]

Sounds good.  I remember the door handle thing being announced some time ago and was wondering when it was going to happen.

[kw]

Was waiting at the Pumicestone Road level crossing today (just north of Caboolture) at 11am and EMU 66 flew passed with the new button opening doors. Looked really good from the outside. Has anyone been lucky enough to catch EMU 66 yet?

- Kent

[ozbob]

Good on you Kent!

I have been hoping 66 would come along during my travels.  Maybe it is on the CAB IPS run so maybe tomorrow might get lucky!

[ozbob]

I was waiting for the first early-bird service at Oxley this morning and the 5.38am down service was EMU 62 / 66.

I missed getting a good photograph unfortunately, but this set will probably run all day on the IPS/CAB corridor today.

Might get it going home with a bit of luck ... 

[ozbob]

I finally managed to meet up with EMU66 at Oxley station this morning (15 Oct 2008)  on an UP Ipswich service ...   

Power button assisted doors!











Photographs R Dow 15 October 2008

[Derwan]

I got a glimpse of 66 yesterday afternoon as well.

The added panel on the outside looks a bit dodgy - but it's worth it.  Some EMU doors (with the handles) are extremely hard to open.

Does anyone know if they also updated the doors between carriages?  I'm guessing this would be less of a priority.

[ozbob]

This has made the Spencer Howson blog at 612 ABC Radio Brisbane too!

--> http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2008/10/brisbane-trains.html?program=612_breakfast

[ButFli]

That's whack! I will have to keep an eye out.

[ozbob]

Well well, I managed to catch EMU66 on the 2.52 pm Redbank ex Central!  LOL

Some happy snaps of the interior.









Photographs R Dow 15 October 2008

[O_128]

i like it. much easier to open than those old handles. PRaise the disabiltiy discrimination act.Though one thing we could do to make the trains appear more moder is make the areas surroundign the windows on the EMUS and SMUS black the the IMUs and New SMUs

[Derwan]

Well well, I managed to catch EMU66 on the 2.52 pm Redbank ex Central!  LOL

And I caught it on its way back through the city as the 4:29 Shorncliffe service.   

I'm glad Bob got some photos.  There were too many people on the train for me to take photos.

I thought the placement of the buttons was a bit odd.  It confused a few people disembarking.  At first I thought it was because of the emergency intercom - but I realised it the button could have quite easily fit below the intercom unit.

To answer my earlier question - doors between carriages have not been altered.  I think this is fair enough as there is not a dire need to switch carriages.

[O_128]

hope i get it soon the two morning services i choose between [4 mins apart] are almost always EMU 81 for the first adn 34 for the second [just the first 3 carrriges of each train cant remmeber the second of each] and 81 has some severe issues with the handles with the sometimes refusing to open

[ozbob]

It has been reported that EMU72 has been fitted with the power button assisted doors too.
Due for return to service from the workshops shortly apparently.

[Arnz]

EMU66 (with another EMU) sighted on Roma Street-Nambour-Roma Street runs this early this morning. 

Not to mention the IMUs were on Ipswich-Caboolture duties yet again when we stopped at Caboolture before proceeding express to Bowen Hills via Petrie and Northgate.

Good to see QR are still getting their priorities regarding unit allocation right yet again 

On another side note: 261/262 was also on Nambour runs.

[Derwan]

I forgot to mention... the old "Doors released" indicator has been replaced by two indicators. 

The first is a message in green that reads "Push Button to Open Doors" (I think) and has a flashing picture of a person at a set of doors.  This disappears once the button has been pressed.

The second is a message in red that reads "Doors closing stand clear" when the doors are closing.  It has a flashing picture of a person stuck in the doors which I thought was quite funny.   

[brad C]

It has been reported that EMU72 has been fitted with the power button assisted doors too.
Due for return to service from the workshops shortly apparently.

One wonders why refurbished sets are still being fitted with carpets and not all vinyl consistent with the current batch of IMUs/SMUs.
Has anyone travelled in EMU79 - it was fitted with all vinyl saloons almost 10 years ago and in my opinion is the best set in the fleet.
Let's hope the vinyl is retained when this set is scheduled for maxi overhaul.

[O_128]

Off topic but i have noticed that the perth B series trains have a female voice.I wish that would be installed on the new SMUs and IMUs it is much  clearer.

[Arnz]

IIRC the VAS (voice announcement system) on the IMU100/120s and IMU160s have a different tone. 

IIRC, the VAS on the IMU160s works for most (if not all) lines, since I've can confirm that I heard the IMU160 VAS on a Cleveland and on a Nambour service, whilst the IMU100/120 VAS to my knowledge is only heard on the Gold Coast/Airport Lines at this point in time.

[mark_from_briz]

Hi guys

I dont know why we need to use handles or push buttons to open doors..
Why isnt door opening controlled  centrally by the driver or guard
Ive seen tourists on the train standing at the door looking confused at the doors wondering why they arn't opening  automatically
the "open door" instructions are great if you read English...,

regards

Mark W

[stephenk]

Well, would you operate your home air con with a window open?

By not opening all doors, then less conditioned air is lost from the carriage, thus reducing electrical consumption by the air conditioners. It would also reduce the wear and tear on the doors. It would also be dangerous to open all doors at shorter platformed stations - people could fall out!

As for tourists - as nearly every metro system, suburban rail system, and an increasing number of long distance trains throughout the entire world have door open buttons, then it should not be much of a problem. I have seen Aussie's who have lived in Brisbane their whole life still confused by the remarkably simple operation of a door open button!

[ButFli]

/quote]The "open door" instructions are great if you read one of the 5 languages they are written in (or if you can understand pictorial instructions).

[mufreight]

Standardising the older EMU by fitting them with buttons is a good move but it would have been better if they had standardised the location of the internal buttons.

[mark_from_briz]

/quote]The "open door" instructions are great if you read one of the 5 languages they are written in (or if you can understand pictorial instructions).

From What ive seen the old manual handle units only have English instructions, that are usually defaced, peeled off or generally not visible due to the crowding in the doorwells....
Perhaps is just the the train i have the misfortune of using ;-(

[Arnz]

Standardising the older EMU by fitting them with buttons is a good move but it would have been better if they had standardised the location of the internal buttons.

IIRC, it was done on the cheap rather than having to rip the electricals out (eg the emergency intercom is located next to the door) and rewiring/having to redo the electrics to standardise the door button location on the EMUs.

[mufreight]

Well Arnz you hit the nail on the head it was done on the cheap, but as it is being done while the sets are having a major overhaul and refurbishment the actual cost difference would not have been all that great and for the benefits gained well worth the small additional costs.

[MichaelJ]

I have been told that quite a bit of re-wiring was carried out, so I wouldn't say it was done "on the cheap."

EMU 74 is the next one out of Redbank RACS in a few weeks.

[Derwan]

It has been reported that EMU72 has been fitted with the power button assisted doors too.
Due for return to service from the workshops shortly apparently.

Spotted 72 (in train with 66) this morning - with buttons fitted. 

[ozbob]

The 4.21pm Ipswich service from Central was EMU 72/66 today.

Interestingly the train travelled on the main up from Roma St to Corinda, the down Citytrains were still tracking on the down suburban line.

Cheers
Bob

[ozbob]

EMU 66/72 on a up Ipswich service at Oxley around 5.45am 13th November.



Photograph R Dow 13th November 2008

[Derwan]

Spotted EMU73 at Mayne this morning with new buttons fitted.   

[brad C]

For some strange reason EMU73 has been in the eastern stabling yard now for almost a week and has not been placed back in service.
Given that the '60 class' sets can work in tandem with any other EMU, there seems no reason to delay its entry to traffic.

[Derwan]

For some strange reason EMU73 has been in the eastern stabling yard now for almost a week and has not been placed back in service.

It had disappeared from the eastern stabling yard by yesterday afternoon.   

[ozbob]

Bump ..

[brad C]

I don't know about any of the other RBOT members but I found the volume levels on the beeping sensors very loud on the several occassons I have recently travelled in these modified EMUs. In fact on an all stopper to Caboolture, I was ready to abandon ship and I was seated in the centre of the carriage - most annoying.
These beepers are certainly louder that those in the SMUs where these door controls have been included in the construction specs.