Article: Rail passengers stranded after timetable error

[ozbob]

From Courier Mail online click here!

Rail passengers stranded after timetable error

Rail passengers stranded after timetable error
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Darren Cartwright

April 07, 2008 03:53pm

QUEENSLAND RAIL has admitted producing two different timetables, one of them listing a non-existent train to the Gold Coast, which left passengers stranded last night at Brisbane Central.

A Gold Coast man has told The Courier-Mail online that he attempted to catch the 11.24pm train from Central to Robina, only to find the last train had departed at 10.54pm.

Queensland Rail has blamed a printing error for the mistake.

Queensland Rail's full timetable shows the last guarded train departs at 11.24pm.

The pocket size version, which is available through TRANSlink, states the last train departs 10.54pm although there is no mention if it being guarded.

The Gold Coast man said station staff at first disowned the problem but after several calls for help from stranded passengers, eventually ordered them a taxi to Robina.

"The actual Gold Coast timetable is correct. However, the time in the Guardian train section is incorrect and QR is aware of this. Services with private security guards on board are identified as Guardian trains," a QR spokesperson told The Courier-Mail online.

"We will be reprinting timetables this week to help ensure passengers are not inconvenienced by the error in the future.

"QR apologises for any inconvenience while we work towards improving the new timetable and our services."

"We also apologise to customers who felt they were inconvenienced on Sunday night due to the Guardian timetable oversight."

[Mozz]

Not saying that actual tangible commuter consultation would have resolved this particular issue however I suspect that releasing the September timetable at least 8 weeks out for a period of commuter consultation would result in a better outcome than a timetable produced behind closed doors and given to commuters as a done deal 7 days before it starts.

[ozbob]

The article was further updated with the below.  From Courier Mail click here!

RAIL Back On Track welcomes the contribution made by Ms Whybrid in clarifying the many issues raised on the news com blog.  Well done!


Rail passengers stranded after timetable error

Rail passengers stranded after timetable error
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Darren Cartwright

April 08, 2008 10:05am

QUEENSLAND Rail has sent in a spin doctor to appease its customers over concerns about timetables and delays by responding to every complaint posted on The Courier-Mail's website.

Anna Whybird, who is QR's General Manager of Communications & Community Relations Passenger Services, has been answering comments, some actually positive, regarding a story highlighting a major error with their new timetable for Gold Coast services.

Some readers have used the story to vent their overall disappointment over train services after QR yesterday admitted they had produced two different timetables, one of them listing a non-existent train to the Gold Coast, which left passengers stranded at Brisbane Central on Sunday night.

QR blamed a printing error for the mistake.

"The actual Gold Coast timetable is correct. However, the time in the Guardian train section is incorrect and QR is aware of this. Services with private security guards on board are identified as Guardian trains," a QR spokesperson told The Courier-Mail online.

"We will be reprinting timetables this week to help ensure passengers are not inconvenienced by the error in the future.

"QR apologises for any inconvenience while we work towards improving the new timetable and our services."

"We also apologise to customers who felt they were inconvenienced on Sunday night due to the Guardian timetable oversight."

Queensland Rail  has admitted producing two different timetables, one of them listing a non-existent train to the Gold Coast, which left passengers stranded last night at Brisbane Central.

A Gold Coast man has told The Courier-Mail online that he attempted to catch the 11.24pm train from Central to Robina, only to find the last train had departed at 10.54pm.

Queensland Rail's full timetable shows the last guarded train departs at 11.24pm.

The pocket size version, which is available through TRANSlink, states the last train departs 10.54pm although there is no mention if it being guarded.

The Gold Coast man said station staff at first disowned the problem but after several calls for help from stranded passengers, eventually ordered them a taxi to Robina.

Meet the manager meetings

QR has also announced an unprecedented series of public meetings for passengers to voice any issues they have about the rail timetable.

The so-called 'Meet the Manager sessions follow on from similar sessions at Central and Helensvale stations in February but, this Thursday, sessions will be held across seventeen locations across the south-east.

More meetings are also planned for Beenleigh (April 15) and Manly (April 16) next week.

Commuters from Petrie, Enoggera, Sandgate, Roma Street, Ipswich, Eagle Junction and Yeerongpilly will also get their chance later this month.

"Its a chance for customers to tell us in their words what they do and dont like about our service, QR Passenger Services Executive General Manager Andy Taylor.

"Passengers will have the chance to ask questions, raise issues and present ideas to the actual people who operate our trains.

Meeting details

FERNY GROVE Ferny Grove 10/04/2008 6.30am - 8am

BEENLEIGH Beenleigh 15/04/2008 6am - 9am

CLEVELAND Manly 16/04/2008 6am - 9am

CABOOLTURE Petrie 17/04/2008 6am - 9am

FERNY GROVE Enoggera 18/04/2008 6am - 9am

SHORNCLIFFE Sandgate 22/04/2008 6am - 9am

INNER CITY Roma Street 23/04/2008 7am - 9am

IPSWICH Ipswich 24/04/2008 6am - 9am

INNER CITY Eagle Junction 29/04/2008 6am - 9am

BEENLEIGH Yeerongpilly 30/04/2008 6am - 9am

CABOOLTURE Caboolture 7/05/2008 6am - 9am

IPSWICH Corinda 13/05/2008 6am - 9am

CLEVELAND Cleveland 14/05/2008 6am - 9am

BEENLEIGH Loganlea 20/05/2008 6am - 9am

INNER CITY Northgate 21/05/2008 6am - 9am

SUNSHINE COAST Nambour 26/05/2008 5am - 8.30am

INNER CITY Central 28/05/2008 6am - 9am