Approximately 1 train per Month - scorecard for 2009?

[Mozz]

Following on from Ministerial statements from successive Ministers on the topic of new trains being delivered I was wondering how the scorecard was going for this calendar year of 2009.

We should have seen 12 new 3 carriage trains. I can recall seeing 278, 274 and 276 in service but that's about all of the new trains I have seen this year.

[Derwan]

They mentioned this at the combined CRG.  I believe the figure was 15. 

280 was spotted at Mayne.  Based on what I've seen completed in Maryborough (and no longer there), I'd say they're up to 281 or 282.

268 was seen in testing in January.  267 was spotted in October 2008 (2 posts up from that one).

I'd day therefore that SMU's 268 - 282 were the ones delivered in 2009, making the total of 15. 

[Mozz]

If it is indeed 15 that is great news. However if I have spotted 278, 274 and 276 and 268 was seen testing in January 2009 and 280 spotted at Mayne then that makes 5 delivered and/or operating for 2009 confirmed by sightings but what about the rest?

[Derwan]

The assumption is that all units from 268 to 282 have been delivered.  I saw 279/273 in revenue service in the few days before Christmas.  (273 was the one that was returned to EDI Rail.)  Even if 268 to 279 were introduced into service during 2009, that would still make it 12. 

I think the big problem is adding new services to the timetable.  There have been a couple here and there, but nothing major yet.

I read on another site that some of the older SMU's are being sent to EDI Rail for major overhauls.  I think they're trying to catch up on the maintenance backlog and using this opportunity (i.e. additional rolling stock) to take units out of service for major upgrades.  Using EDI Rail (as well as Mayne and Redbank) may be part of a strategy for this to occur as soon as possible.

[stephenk]

282 is definitely at Mayne.

[Mozz]

I think from reading between the lines that of the 12 - 15 delivered in 2009 only 5 or so are in service. So maybe early this year we will see the introduction of all the other units into service and potentially some increase in services on heavily congested lines at peak times and timetable gap filling etc.....

[Derwan]

I think from reading between the lines that of the 12 - 15 delivered in 2009 only 5 or so are in service.

I've seen plenty of others in service.  I know I've seen 268, 269 and 271.  I'm sure I've seen others as well.  I think people got bored of putting every sighting in the other thread.

[dwb]

It would be great if someone at QR could operate a site like www.btbuses.info/ - it offers a great database of info on BT buses including rego details, manufacturing date, pictures etc.

[#Metro]

There is http://qroti.com/
and rollingstock information is available at http://www.citytrain.com.au/about/fleet/fleet.asp (rather limited though).

[Derwan]

There is http://qroti.com/

The information on that site is out-of-date.

[dwb]

Thanks Derwan & tramtrain, I've seen both those sites in the past and have been left wanting a little more detail, a bit more up to date, and a little nicer to look at

[Derwan]

The Wikipedia page contains some useful information.  Links to the different rolling stock series are towards the bottom.  It doesn't have specific delivery information, some information is out of date and some of the details are inconsistent - but useful nonetheless.

[stephenk]

It would be great if someone at QR could operate a site like www.btbuses.info/ - it offers a great database of info on BT buses including rego details, manufacturing date, pictures etc.

QR need to prioritise resources on keeping commuters happy, rather than keeping train spotters happy.

[dwb]

QR need to prioritise resources on keeping commuters happy, rather than keeping train spotters happy.

Btbuses.info is not paid for by Council - just uses data that you wouldn't get your hands on otherwise, and it is a great resource, not just for BT, planners and the like but also the public to build arguments for new services, or to point out how old the fleet is etc. Educating the public is a key component of increasing funding and as long as heads are buried in the sand, those resources will remain as tight as ever.

I think for instance, that TL would do well to offer wireless access.... but they see it outside their core services.... but how many people do you see using their ipods on the bus or train. Time for a rethink of what the "core" services actually are!

[O_128]

QR need to prioritise resources on keeping commuters happy, rather than keeping train spotters happy.

Btbuses.info is not paid for by Council - just uses data that you wouldn't get your hands on otherwise, and it is a great resource, not just for BT, planners and the like but also the public to build arguments for new services, or to point out how old the fleet is etc. Educating the public is a key component of increasing funding and as long as heads are buried in the sand, those resources will remain as tight as ever.

I think for instance, that TL would do well to offer wireless access.... but they see it outside their core services.... but how many people do you see using their ipods on the bus or train. Time for a rethink of what the "core" services actually are!

Isnt wireless supposed to be going in the trains this year?

[#Metro]

Yes, I heard something about wireless too but it was from a while ago.
Here it is from April 2009, from the Courier-Mail

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,,25321035-5007190,00.html

PASSENGERS will soon be able to surf the web free of charge while catching the train in southeast Queensland.
Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said commuters with laptops will have high-speed internet access on their high-speed train trips...
...The Minister said the wireless system would go to tender in July and rolled out in 2010.

So has it gone out to tender yet? Who got the tender?
And what is going to stop someone downloading p*rn and other stuff on the train, and how are they going to know who is using it?
I doubt that it will remain free for long... people will watch movies etc.

I think for instance, that TL would do well to offer wireless access.... but they see it outside their core services.... but how many people do you see using their ipods on the bus or train. Time for a rethink of what the "core" services actually are!

Oh well. Do only what you have to do and then go home at 5pm.
Make profits from extra services that could fund more services or add nice details to the system?
Build TODs on land around stations
Nah, TL's not interested!

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTR_Corporation_Limited#Property_management

[dwb]

Isnt wireless supposed to be going in the trains this year?

QR maybe, TL no, and remember more passengers get the bus than train.

[Fares_Fair]

We were told in our North Coast Line CRG meeting that wireless would be available in trains (sometime) this year.
It was not clarified as to whether it would be in existing trains or in new trains only.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Nightwriter]

And what is going to stop someone downloading p*rn and other stuff on the train, and how are they going to know who is using it?
I doubt that it will remain free for long... people will watch movies etc.

I believe it is possible to apply filters on wireless connections so that certain websites are blocked.

At least, that has been my experience using the wireless connection available at my work (for the general public).

[Emmie]

I'd love to see free wifi on trains - I came across it in the US last year, in Massachusetts.  It was great for checking email, smallish downloads - but not fast enough for mega downloads like movies.  I can't see that porn would be a problem - like tramtrain says, there are different levels of filters available.