Security cameras, internet on Citytrains, discussion and articles ...

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Blackspots on Brisbane's Citytrain network listed

Blackspots on Brisbane's Citytrain network listed
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Ursula Heger

April 11, 2009 12:00am

IPSWICH, Beenleigh and Roma Street railway stations are the most dangerous in Brisbane's Citytrain network, new figures have revealed.
Nearly 230 assaults were reported across the Citytrain network last financial year, along with 14 sexual assaults and 63 weapons offences.

Ipswich station recorded the highest number of assaults at 11 for the year, while Beenleigh and Roma Street stations registered 10 and Central Station eight.

The data, released exclusively to The Courier-Mail, showed the popular entertainment hubs of South Bank and South Brisbane also recorded high numbers of assaults, as well as drug crimes, sexual assaults and behaviour offences such as urination on the trains.

The figures come as Brisbane's railway squad prepares for an Easter crackdown on dangerous inner-city areas popular during school holidays.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan will today announce the introduction of real-time security cameras on the city's rail network by 2010, following a successful trial on the Gold Coast last year.

All cameras on Queensland Rail's Citytrains will be fitted with a special-purpose wireless modem which will allow footage to be viewed instantly by a central control room.

Ms Nolan said the system would allow offenders to be tracked and caught before they left the network.

"If the driver reports an incident or someone presses an emergency button, the incident will be monitored immediately," she said.

"Staff in the control room will also be able to keep an eye on known trouble spots and crackdown on antisocial behaviour."

Police figures show Roma Street, Mitchelton and Strathpine stations each recorded two sexual assaults, while people were caught carrying weapons at Central, Roma Street, South Bank, Kingston and Loganlea railway stations.

Drug offences were prominent, with Central Station recording at least two a month, while Roma Street and Fortitude Valley stations had at least one a month.

Railway Squad officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Ray Vine said the police operations would be rolled out more frequently to crack down on crime.

"We are actively rolling out a program of those and evaluating the flow-on effect because there is a theory that the trains bring everyone into particular areas and that leads to other offences in the broader community," he said.

"We are running an operation over the Easter school holiday period primarily targeting that South Bank, South Brisbane precinct because that is an area where lots of people come during the school holidays."

Sen-Sgt Vine said most assaults occurred outside business hours and the average commuter had a "very, very low" risk of being a victim.

[ozbob]

Glad to read that an onboard real time capability is to be introduced.  As Sen_Sgt Vine has indicated, the overall figures are low, and probably lower than the overall wider community.  Where ever there are concentrations of people there are inherent risks.  Continued clamp down on fare evasion and anti-social behaviour,  and continuing education on safety will reduce the figures even more.  Well done QR Passenger.

[ozbob]

I had the opportunity for a brief interview on tonight's channel 7 news Brisbane.  As is the case, much of the interview didn't make the cut (that is the nature of TV, no worries), but fortunately was able to make the point on air that staffing of stations is essential and we would like that continued.  It is interesting to note that there are now moves to put staff back on stations in Melbourne.

I was very positive about the the new real time cameras on trains.  I also made comments that it is important to continue active patrolling and fare evasion enforcement. Also highlighted the present layers of security and safety as well.

In time, cultures can be turned.  QR Passenger are making every effort and I am sure all commuters welcome that.

[Otto]

I saw that Bob.... Well done !

[ozbob]

From the Sunday Mail click here!

Citytrain commuters to receive free internet access

Citytrain commuters to receive free internet access
Article from: The Sunday Mail (Qld)

By Darrell Giles

April 12, 2009 12:00am

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.

Ms Nolan said new wireless equipment to allow security footage to be streamed in real time to Queensland Rail's control room at Central Station in Brisbane, would also create wireless internet access at stations and on trains.

"This means that commuters will be able to log on to the internet and catch up on emails on their train ride to work or while waiting at a station," she said yesterday.

"Access to wireless internet is becoming more and more important in people's professional and social lives, and this technology means a journey on the train can become even more attractive to commuters."

Ms Nolan said the scheme, which would cost Queensland Rail between $1 million and $4 million, was expected to be available in every train and station in the Citytrain network by early 2010.

The new technology would make Queensland the only state in Australia where commuters could rely on constant wireless access.

She said people living near train lines or stations would not be able to tap into the free internet service because it would be "fire-walled".

The Minister also announced upgraded security for Queensland Rail with real-time camera monitoring of carriages. A successful trial on the Gold Coast line convinced the Government to improve technology.

"There are 6000 security cameras covering trains, stations and car parks across the rail network," Ms Nolan said.

"The cameras on trains are capable of recording illegal activities, giving police the evidence they need to catch and prosecute offenders, but they are not able to be monitored live.

"When this system is installed, police and security personnel will have the ability to monitor travellers on trains and any incidents in real time over a wireless network.

"This will give the control room the capacity to track offenders on trains and at stations and also co-ordinate a rapid response by police and transit officers."

Figures released by QR yesterday revealed 230 assaults were reported across the Citytrain network last financial year, including 14 sex attacks and 63 weapons offences.

The Minister said the wireless system would go to tender in July and rolled out in 2010.

[ozbob]

Good stuff.  I am debating purchasing a mini-lap top, looks like the decision has been made ... 

[O_128]

Gasp my dream come true at last.
And now we finally are going to have real time video footage which will mean a huge drop in crime on the network

[rob2144]

Gasp my dream come true at last.
And now we finally are going to have real time video footage which will mean a huge drop in crime on the network

somehow i doubt that very much, only staff and police presence will stop the crime.

[WTN]

At least this increases the chances of getting caught, which is a small deterrent.  An improvement, but certainly not a substitute for police presence. 

On the topic of free public wireless internet, this isn't the first case.  The State Library of Queensland has it, and so do some of the Gold Coast Council libraries. 

Coming from an IT background, I'm intrigued by how QR would implement it.  Could it be a connection integrated into the train and track circuits, with Wifi relay in the carriages?  Or would the trains be connecting via a 3G network instead?  And while it's not hard to prevent "non-passenger" Wifi access to a train (due to movement), it remains to see how it can be done at stations.  While the coverage area can be reduced, Wifi signals don't magically "stop" at station boundaries, unless they're talking about metallic walls (not firewalls).

[haakon]

Coming from an IT background, I'm intrigued by how QR would implement it.  Could it be a connection integrated into the train and track circuits, with Wifi relay in the carriages?  Or would the trains be connecting via a 3G network instead?  And while it's not hard to prevent "non-passenger" Wifi access to a train (due to movement), it remains to see how it can be done at stations.  While the coverage area can be reduced, Wifi signals don't magically "stop" at station boundaries, unless they're talking about metallic walls (not firewalls).

QR have an extensive fibre network along the rail lines, for signaling etc. Arcing up an extra fibre pair to supply connectivity to the stations is very easy. In fact they probably already have a gigabit ethernet network for the station offices and Go card readers. Adding a Vlan for a customer access network to that would be easy. The hard part would be the link between the trains and the network, the gap between stations would be to large for wifi. So you would either need repeaters or a different technology like WiMAX or HSPA on a lower frequency.

Tracking leechers from near by homes is easy. Just track MAC addresses that are repeatedly active for more than an hour at a station and aren't seen at other locations on the network.

[O_128]

The wifi implemented will probably be like in japan where along the track there little relayers that wirelessly send information to the train.And while librarys have wireless its not the same as on a train where you know have it there in front of you instead of having to go somewhere to use it.

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan
12/04/2009

QUEENSLANDERS TO SURF ON THE TRAINS

New wireless technology designed to make Queensland trains safer will enable commuters to surf the web while on the train says Transport Minister Rachel Nolan.

Minister Nolan said new wireless equipment to allow security footage to be streamed in real time to a central point would also create wireless hotspots at stations and on trains.

"This means that commuters will be able to log on to the internet and catch up on emails on their train ride to work or while waiting at a station," she said.

"Access to wireless internet is becoming more and more important in people's professional and social lives and this technology means a journey on the train can become even more attractive to commuters.

"People travelling to work with their laptops will be able to rely on a strong signal which means they can read the paper online, receive and send emails or simply surf their favourite sites.

"We envisage that the technology will be available on every train and every train station in the Citytrain network."

The Transport Minister said the new technology would make Queensland the only state in Australia where commuters could rely on constant wireless access.

"This initiative will put us ahead of the track and provide just one more incentive for people to leave their cars at home, get on the train and get online."

The wireless news follows the announcement yesterday of a plan to crackdown on troublemakers on trains by introducing real-time monitoring of train carriages via security cameras.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said the move follows a successful trial of the concept on the Gold Coast line network and the Government intends to go to tender for the new system in July.

"Under this initiative the Government will provide live links from all security cameras on trains to a central control room, allowing police and security personnel to respond rapidly to incidents.

"Staff in the control room will also be able to keep an eye on known trouble spots and crackdown on antisocial behaviour."

The Minister said the Bligh Government was committed to cracking down on criminal and anti-social behaviour on public transport as part of its strategy to make public transport more accessible.

"Currently, there are more than 6 000 security cameras covering trains, stations and car parks on the Citytrain network," she said.

"The cameras on trains are capable of recording illegal activities, giving police the evidence they need to catch and prosecute offenders, but they are not able to be monitored live.

"Now police and security guards will be able to monitor travellers on trains, and any incidents, in real time over a wireless network.

"This will give the control room the capacity to track offenders on trains and at stations, and also to co-ordinate a rapid response by police and transit officers.

==============================================================

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan
12/04/2009

IMPROVED SECURITY FOR RAIL COMMUTERS

Troublemakers on our train network will have nowhere to hide under a plan to introduce real time monitoring of train carriages via security cameras.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said the move follows a successful trial of the concept on the Gold Coast line in 2008.

The Government intends to go to tender for the new system in July with the aim of rolling out the technology from early 2010.

"Under this initiative the Government will provide live links from all security cameras on trains to a central control room, allowing police and security personnel to rapidly respond to incidents," she said.

"What this means is that every QR Citytrain will be fitted with a special purpose wireless modem that is streaming live footage from security cameras.

"That means if the driver reports an incident or someone presses a emergency button on one of our trains, the incident will be monitored immediately.

"Staff in the control room will also be able to keep an eye on known trouble spots and crackdown on antisocial behaviour."

Minister Nolan said the Bligh Government was committed to cracking down on criminal and anti-social behaviour on public transport as part of its strategy to make public transport more accessible.

"Currently, there are 6 000 security cameras covering trains, stations and car parks across the rail network," she said.

"The cameras on trains are capable of recording illegal activities, giving police the evidence they need to catch and prosecute offenders, but they are not able to be monitored live.

"When this system is installed, police and security personnel will have the ability to monitor travellers on trains, and any incidents, in real time over a wireless network.

"This will give the control room the capacity to track offenders on trains and at stations, and also to co-ordinate a rapid response by police and transit officers."

Minister Nolan said the new technology would also mean that individual train systems would now be 'wired' meaning that technicians and engineers could monitor them remotely.

"At the moment the train's mechanical needs are 'diagnosed' by plugging in a laptop when they come in to be serviced," she said.

"What these new systems will mean is that they can be monitored continuously, with any problems identified early and then rectified."

==============================================================

[Derwan]

Tracking leechers from near by homes is easy. Just track MAC addresses that are repeatedly active for more than an hour at a station and aren't seen at other locations on the network.

Knowing they exist is one thing.  Finding them is another. 

[ButFli]

Tracking leechers from near by homes is easy. Just track MAC addresses that are repeatedly active for more than an hour at a station and aren't seen at other locations on the network.

Knowing they exist is one thing.  Finding them is another. 

I think he was suggesting that once you knew the MAC address you could block it from the network.

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

No free ride for web surfers on rail

No free ride for web surfers on rail
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Ursula Heger

April 13, 2009 12:00am

COMMUTERS will have to fork out for their own internet connection and downloads when using Queensland Rail's so-called "free" wireless technology.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan yesterday announced commuters using the Citytrain network will be able to access wireless equipment installed for the new real-time camera network.

But while "free" access to the wireless network promises commuters uninterrupted and high-speed connections, even when travelling through tunnels and stations, a spokesman for the Minister said downloads will be paid for by the user, not Queensland Rail.

Ms Nolan said the decision follows a successful trial on the Gold Coast line, with tenders for the new system to be sought in July.

The wireless connection will be installed on the Citytrain network to allow more than 6000 real-time cameras to send footage back to the train control room without large delays, at a cost of between $1 million and $4 million.

However, commuter advocacy group Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said it was hard for city commuters to find a seat on the packed services.

"Those most likely won't be using laptops, they will be using their mobile internet connections, either the Blackberry or the iPhone," he said.

Ms Nolan yesterday defended the system, saying that commuters on longer journeys and students would be able to use their laptops.

Opposition Transport spokeswoman Fiona Simpson said that while any measure to improve the train commuting experience was an improvement, additional seating capacity was also needed.

It would appear that QR will be providing a 'free' wireless gateway to a passenger's ISP as such.  This will then get around issues about people using it around stations and so forth, you will need to have a regular ISP to use it.

I think I will get myself a mini-notebook!

[O_128]

What a surprise this defeats the whole purpose if you have to pay.
Anyone can just buy a wireless modem and have the same thing.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 31st August 2009 page 1  Now online click here!

Rail passengers closer to online access

Rail passengers closer to online access
Article from: MX

Torny Jensen of mx

August 31, 2009 06:00pm

RAIL passengers in Queensland have moved a step closer to getting free online access during their daily commute.

Queensland Rail has confirmed it is seeking expressions of interests from companies to install wireless internet on board the region's passenger train network.

QR Passenger general manager Paul Scurrah said the motivation was to have technology able to stream live CCTV security footage to a control centre.

"If the technology is found to be feasible, it may also have the added benefit of wireless internet access on trains," Scurrah said.

A request for information (RFI) closes on September 8, but Scurrah said a timeframe for any rollout of internet-capable trains wouldn't be finalised until the RFIs had been reviewed.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan promised in April that free wireless internet would be available on every train and station in the Citytrain network by early 2010.

The news comes as the nation's first internet-capable bus was last week launched in Adelaide by local business consortium MIMP.

The bus will use a system called the i-Commute, which provides free internet access for wi-fi-equipped devices, including laptops and phones, free bluetooth services and a GPS-based real-time information system that broadcasts travel information on LCD screens.

MIMP general manager Allan Aitchison said passengers would be relayed information about approaching bus stops, including the anticipated time to the next stop.

"Probably the most important thing that people value when they get on buses is knowing details about how far to the next stop," Aitchison said.

Aitchison said the technology could be translated to any mode of public transport, including trains, and told mX MIMP had already spoken to QR.

Scurrah said while there had been no direct discussions with MIMP, they were welcome to make a response to the RFI.

"We will evaluate RFI submissions once they are received before any decision regarding a possible rollout is made," Scurrah said.

TransLink said it was continuing its investigation into real-time technology that links buses with commuters, and that a tender process was still under way.

MIMP did not submit a tender for the TransLink Real Time Passenger Information System, a TransLink spokesman said.

The spokesman said TransLink remained committed to delivering a real-time system for the bus network but was unable to give a timeframe for the end of the tender process.

On line to wi-fi access

[Derwan]

Again - it's been labelled as "free".  Surely the journalist would have remembered the previous story and clarified whether or not the public would have to pay for the actual Internet service.

[ButFli]

The article is wrong. The Adelaide bus is not the first to get wi-fi (assuming it only started last week). The bus that runs between QUT's Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove campuses has had wi-fi enabled for at least a month.

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail 1st May 2010 page 41

QR internet plan derailed

[#Metro]

More phantom announcements. 

I'm thinking of keeping a tally of all these now.
Too many for my liking.

[tronixstuff]

More phantom announcements. 

I'm thinking of keeping a tally of all these now.
Too many for my liking.

Phantom announcements from the government with the phantom premier.
Yet would the 'alternative government' be any better?
*sigh*

[mufreight]

Could the alternative government be any worse, at least change would for a while at least remove the arrogant attitude of the present government of we can do whatever we like and we are not accountable for our actions or lack of them.

[#Metro]

Can anyone think up of other non-deliveries or where blowouts have occurred?

The 301 000 new seats per week by June/July 2010 looks like one of them, three light rail proposals, internet on trains another, quick roll out of the Go Card and a solution for tourists another, superbuses (the real ones which carry 180+ pax, not the ones with 112 pax).

Any others?

[O_128]

Can anyone think up of other non-deliveries or where blowouts have occurred?

The 301 000 new seats per week by June/July 2010 looks like one of them, three light rail proposals, internet on trains another, quick roll out of the Go Card and a solution for tourists another, superbuses (the real ones which carry 180+ pax, not the ones with 112 pax).

Any others?

Wasn't the Springfield line supposed to be complete in 2002??

[mufreight]

Original timeframe for Springfield was to have been 2011

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 15th June 2010 page 1

Rail ride web

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Ride the train, surf the web

Ride the train, surf the web
CAMERON ATFIELD
June 15, 2010 - 3:53PM

Commuters are a step closer to having wireless coverage on Brisbane trains after Queensland Rail shortlisted three potential service providers.

The preferred supplier was expected to be chosen in August, with trials of the technology to follow in October.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said 29 companies had submitted proposals for the wireless network, which would allow streaming coverage of on-board CCTV cameras and WiFi access for passengers.

"The benefit from that process has been we have been able to select three very capable companies; Dimension Data, Wellard Technologies Ltd and Fujitstu, to move into the next phase of this process," she said.

Ms Nolan said streaming CCTV, to allow security personnel to monitor trains and railway stations, remained their priority.

"We will then work with the selected technology partner to develop the best business case and systems to implement WiFi coverage," she said.

"This has been a very technical process that has taken some time to ensure we select the most capable providers.

"We are looking forward to having this system trialled and implemented, but we are going to make sure we get it right."

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan
15/06/2010

Wireless roll-out moves into next stage

A tender process to roll-out wireless coverage on suburban Citytrains has moved to the next stage, with QR shortlisting three potential service providers.

A preferred supplier is now expected to be selected in August, with trials of the technology expected to begin in October.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said the project's primary focus was to provide wireless coverage to Citytrains, to allow streaming coverage of onboard CCTV cameras and ultimately additional benefits to passengers including WiFi access.

"We have received substantial interest from companies working in this field; 29 submitted proposals which were highly detailed and technically complex," Ms Nolan said.

"The benefit from that process has been we have been able to select three very capable companies; Dimension Data, Wellard Technologies Ltd and Fujitstu, to move into the next phase of this process.

"By July we will be asking these companies to submit an offer which will allow us to properly compare the proposals; from there one company will be selected to roll-out the trial.

"We are looking forward to working with the successful technology partner to deliver security benefits to the QR passenger network, and greater services to passengers.

"The priority for us is to have the network set up, and streaming CCTV implemented.

"We will then work with the selected technology partner to develop the best business case and systems to implement WiFi coverage.

"This has been a very technical process that has taken some time to ensure we select the most capable providers.

"We are looking forward to having this system trialled and implemented, but we are going to make sure we get it right."

==============================================================

[#Metro]

Weren't we promised this before? Along with more rail, bus and ferry services?
I'll believe it when I see it.

[Derwan]

I thought the idea of internet access in trains was canned.  I think perhaps the pollies have got it wrong again.  I dare say that they're introducing wireless for CCTV, but not internet access for passengers.

Of course I hope they DO install wifi internet on trains!  It'd be very handy!

Edit:  On second thoughts, it may have been the media that got it wrong.  The release indicates that the priority will be on CCTV.  That's what will be trialled later this year.  Internet access may come sometime after that, but the media is suggesting that we'll have it as part of the trial.

[STB]

I was on the train this evening and my IPod Touch picked up a strong signal on the train 'Free Public WiFi', although I wasn't able to access the internet or emails with it.

I suspect this is related to the wi fi on the trains that is coming online later this year?

[p858snake]

I thought the idea of internet access in trains was canned.  I think perhaps the pollies have got it wrong again.  I dare say that they're introducing wireless for CCTV, but not internet access for passengers.

Well the original plan was only for the CCTV which is why someone came out side the wireless net idea was never ment to get published. They were basically backed into the corner to do this because other wise it would be another government failure.