Derailment at Corinda 4th August 2007

[ozbob]

This morning, I was going to catch the 8.39 from Oxley to the City.  I arrived at the station at about 8.30am, train waiting in platform 2.  Just as I arrived the passengers detrained, having just been informed that the train would not be continuing due to a derailment at Corinda.  They would have been there about 20 minutes.
I then proceeded by road to Sherwood, where on the platform was a large number of confused passengers.  We then contacted the authorities via the emergency phone. There was no response on the normal TransLink number.
We were told via the emergency phone that buses would be organised for transport between Sherwood and Darra, and trains would terminate at Sherwood and run back into the City. 

It would have useful if an announcement had been made over the stations intercom system (all stations) so that folks knew what was happening.  Obviously it is important to manage the derailment from a safety perspective, but timely communications to stranded passengers is not only reassuring but essential.

On my return journey late morning back from the City, there were plenty of staff to guide and help passengers at Sherwood.  That was well done.  There was little prior notice though for passengers, other than a station announcement at Roma St as train doors closed (so wasn't audible), and then not till the guard made an announcement shortly after leaving Chelmer.  Repeated between Graceville and Sherwood.
A clear announcement shortly before leaving Roma St, and repeated at say Taringa would help folks phone ahead and advise folks that may be meeting them that there will be delays.

Prompt clear communication is essential.

Thank goodness it was not a morning/afternoon peak ......

Regards
Ozbob

[ozbob]

No mention on the TransLink site about the service disruptions on the Ipswich line, even though been out all day. (QR did, well done QR!!)

[ozbob]

It would appear a suburban train heading towards Ipswich became derailed on points has it left Corinda to travel to the next station, Oxley about 8am.
There are a lot of coal trains that run through on the same track, it is fortunate that a coal train was not derailed and the associated mess.  Never the less, this must raise questions as to the reliability of the points?

[ozbob]

Just went down and had a look.  Recovery well advanced.

Lead unit of the suburban train back on track!  Attached to 2339 and 2356.

Poor photograph, almost night.

[ozbob]

I just passed a bus between Oxley and Darra, grossly overloaded!!

Received this feedback too.  Thanks!

We went to Darra station today to catch the 10.06am train to the city, only to find a huge line-up of commuters waiting for buses; apparently they had been waiting for 40 minutes.The station office was closed, but there were staff on the platform who said it was beyond their control and vaguely mentioned some "accident". We decided not to continue and went home.I looked at the QR website and they said there was trackwork between Darra and Sherwood on 4/8, but there had been no warning signs on the platform prior to this date, as is normally the custom.

Unfortunately there was the derailment at Corinda so it was unexpected.  But communications seems to be a problem.
Thanks for your feedback.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes has posted a story click here!

News Com story click  here!

[ozbob]

Line was reopened overnight.  Been a steady stream of coal trains running through this early morning.  We await the first pass'.

Regards
Ozbob

[ozbob]

First down pass' through Darra about 5.40am.  Just a couple of minutes late.

Well done QR on restoring services!!

Regards
Ozbob

[ozbob]

A track problem at Goodna lead to some late running and heavy congestion this morning on services to the City.
Speed restriction through Corinda yard as well.

Keep smiling 

Regards
Ozbob

[ozbob]

Line closed between Sherwood and Darra this evening (7 August) for work to repair track following the derailment.

Unfortunately, passengers again treated poorly.  The letter below has been sent to Citytrain and the Minister.  Passengers on the train contacted us.


Greetings,

The 8.36pm Ipswich Service from Central was terminated at Sherwood this evening (and later services).  Work proceeding to replace the track work at Corinda as a result of the derailment over the weekend.  QR web site did have notice of disruptions - line closed between Sherwood and Darra, bus in lieu from 8.13pm.

Unfortunately, most passengers do not have the opportunity to check a website at 8.15pm when they are catching the train at 8.36pm.  Students and workers are travelling by bus or foot, or perhaps by other Citytrain services.  Why was it that the passengers on that service, the 8.36pm to Ipswich were only notified that the train was to terminate at Sherwood when they were at Graceville?  This causes great upset with passengers. The lack of a timely and courteous notification causes anger, resentment and complicates passengers further travel.  Friends and acquaintances waiting down the line to pick them up do need to be notified of the delays. This notification to passengers needs to be done when the train is at Central, Roma St and key stations in between.  Not just as the train is about to terminate!

The attitude towards Citytrain passengers concerning communication in a timely manner is appalling.  Particularly when disruptions such as this evening on the Ipswich line are known well in advance by operations.

Citytrain passengers are already feeling the strain of continued last minute cancellations for the last couple of months.  Treating passengers in a courteous and considerate manner will go a long way. This needs to be reinforced with all staff.  It is now 9.40pm, passengers on Darra platform are still  waiting for a service to continue onwards.  There is a very upset group of citizens on that station.
Yours sincerely,

Robert Dow
Administration
RAIL Back On Track
http://backontrack.org

[BeeBee87]

I was one of the unfortunates on this train... they made the announcement round graceville, maybe chlemer.. anyways.. woulda been nice to know in advance! let me say.. the mood on the train... WHOOWEEE.... p%ssed  off commuters are a bunch of people you wouldn't want to mess with.

At least i was close to my stop. My boyfriend had to wait another 40-45 minutes at Darra station for a linking train... and i had to put up with him whinging on the phone "nope. they havent even made an announcement! i wanna go home.. i'm tired" i don't know who got the raw end of the stick there... him waiting or me listening

[ozbob]

Thanks for your feedback BeeBee87!   

We are still waiting for a response to our correspondence to the Minister on this.

Hope your boyfriends train travelling has been more relaxed lately!

Regards
Ozbob

[Derwan]

I'm always intrigued to know how these things occur.  Unfortunately, unless it's a major derailment such as the Cairns Tilt Train near Bundaberg, we tend not to hear the results of investigations.

Has anyone heard why the train derailed near Central some months ago?

I remember the Rockhampton Tilt Train derailed back around 2000. I was lucky enough to be talking to a QR employee who knew what happened.  Due to a power outage, they had to set the points manually.  The train had to switch between 2 lines (i.e. 2 sets of points).  Normally this would be done in the flick of one "switch", but because they had to do it manually, they were supposed to do them individually.  They changed one, but failed to change the other one - causing the derailment (at low speed).

I hope we get to see the results of the investigation into the Corinda derailment - whenever that may be.

[ozbob]

Tonight's Brisbane mX had a short report stating that investigation re Corinda was still proceeding.

[ozbob]

Further report in mX Dec 20 via C-M  click here!

Queensland Rail report on Corinda derailment under wraps

Queensland Rail report on Corinda derailment under wraps
Article from: MX

Julia Phipps

December 20, 2007 03:30pm

AUTHORITIES are refusing to release an incident report on a passenger train derailment at Corinda more than four months after the accident.

Queensland Rail has only released a brief statement about the investigation and Transport Minister John Mickel has refused to speak about it.

After inquiries from mX, Queensland Rail released limited details of the August 4 accident, which was blamed on poor communication.

Two carriages of an Ipswich-bound service came off the track at 8.20am, shortly after it left Corinda station.

Thirty passengers had to be evacuated, but no one was injured. After the accident, QR was criticised for not keeping passengers informed.

On Wednesday, the ministers office said it had not seen any incident report, but a spokesman for Mickel said today he had seen the report but would not release it.

QR issued a two-sentence statement on Monday explaining the incident, but refused to release the report.

A thorough investigation into the incident highlighted a need to improve the existing communication process used when trains travel through track worksites, the statement says.

As a result of the investigation and a detailed analysis of standard operating procedures, we have improved communication protocols for instances that require trains to be rerouted during track work.

The secrecy comes after Mickel issued a media release on Monday heavily criticising QR for not being upfront with commuters and demanding it provide better services for commuters.

[Derwan]

Sounds like they're too embarrassed to admit what actually happened.  They don't want to say for fear of looking stupid.