Spirit of Queensland - commences 13th Oct 2014

[ozbob]

Spirit of Queensland

> http://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/RailServices/Pages/spirit-of-queensland.aspx

Route:

Brisbane to Cairns

Distance:

1681 kms

Duration:

24 hrs, 55 mins

The new Spirit of Queensland combines modern seating and entertainment options with the romance of long distance rail travel.

Contemporary, comfortable and designed for relaxation, the newest addition of the Queensland Rail Travel fleet offers new features that will redefine the modern rail travel experience ...

Fact sheet --> here!  Ext PDF

[pandmaster]

QR in fine form as always. The PDF of the new timetable 404s!

[Stillwater]

lol, so there is no plain old 'economy' seating.  It is all falling into place -- Spirit of Queensland train makes promotional tour up coast, stopping every town, Premier on board ... media conference in every community, pics, TV interview .... local LNP candidate saying this train represents the 'new Queensland' under a Campbell Newman government.

But wait....there's more.  This road and that bit of infrastructure will be funded from $8.6 million sell-off of state assets.

Labor can't match the promises because it is opposed to asset sales.  If it promises anything, the cry will go out: "And where is the money coming from?"  ALP boxed in.  It is a cleaver strategy.

[ozbob]

Fraser Coast Chronicle --> Fire forces new train to stop and evacuate passengers

PASSENGERS were evacuated from the new Spirit of Queensland train after a fire broke out under one of the carriages.

The train stopped at Howard after catching alight on Saturday night, however the blaze was extinguished before firefighters arrived.

Three people are believed to have been treated for smoke inhalation.

The train continued along the line after being inspected.

[Stillwater]

Fanbloodytastic!  State-of-the-art train that can muster less than 60kph (average) south of Nambour because of the alignment of the single track and the restrictions placed on operations to allow trains to pass each other.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Melinda Howells ‏@MelindaHowells 7 minutes ago

Aud Gen finds Sunlander train replacement has been "a case study in obfuscation and ill-informed decision making" http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Documents/TableOffice/TabledPapers/2014/5414T6703.pdf ...

[ozbob]

^

Interesting, seems Queensland Rail lost the plot with the Inlanders ...   

Always felt that was the case, we did make a number of representations re sorting out the Westlander ....  " crickets " ...

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson

Palaszczuk's great train scandal

Labor leader Annastacia Palaszczuk's scandalous management of Queensland's travel train replacement program extended well beyond forgetting to include seats, a new report has exposed.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said today's report by Auditor-General Andrew Greaves showed the Sunlander project, which was signed off by the former Transport Minister in August 2011, was a 'case study in obfuscation and ill-informed decision making'.

"The Leader of the Opposition needs to tell Queensland families whether she was simply incompetent when she signed over $195 million of taxpayer funds, or whether she hid the fact that the project would blow out by another $200 million," Mr Emerson said.

"The auditor-general's report revealed the full project costs was conservatively estimated in the range of $358 million to $404 million.

"Ms Palaszczuk's approval showed a scandalous disregard for governance and exposed Queensland taxpayers' to a massive bill, similar to the bungled health payroll saga, water grid and other Labor failures.

"The auditor-general's report has highlighted the risk posed by the Opposition Leader and Labor if Queenslanders vote for a return to waste and mismanagement at the next election."

Mr Emerson said the Sunlander 14 project was signed off by Ms Palaszczuk in August 2011 as three 14-car trains to operate between Brisbane and Cairns.

"When the LNP came to Government, due diligence showed potential for a significant cost blowout after Labor forgot to order seats and include a proper maintenance facility," he said.

"The project was re-scoped and all three 9-car Spirit of Queensland trains will now be operating by the end of December, on time and within a budget of $204 million.

"It took an enormous effort to prevent this project from blowing out as the contracts were signed when we came to government.

"We have a strong team with a strong plan to fix the Queensland economy and this project shows a Labor leader who is unfit to govern.

"I also welcome the findings that the current Queensland Rail board's efforts 'are encouraging and demonstrate QR has already learned from the failing of the Sunlander 14 project'."

All recommendations from the report will be delivered with the government considering further investigation of those involved in the original decision.

[ENDS] 9 December 2014

[ozbob]

^

Twitter

Robert Dow @Robert_Dow 3 hours ago

@scottemerson @AnnastaciaMP Guess you can only go on the advice offered. You are about to sign off on a flawed ~ $5B BaT project? #qldpol

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Twitter

Chris O'Brien ‏@COBrienBris hour ago

Aud-Gen QR Sunlander report again raises perennial question: How much to blame ministers for what bureaucrats do or don't tell them. #qldpol

[ozbob]

9 News --> Bureaucrats slammed over Qld train bungle

[pandmaster]

Typical LNP contortion of the facts. Just like the ALP "forgot" to buy seats when they were not sold by Downer Maryborough, they were "incompetent" here when not presented with the facts. Ignoring departmental advice in the LNP's forte!