Article: Mum's train 'trip from hell'

[Fares_Fair]

this is no storm in a pee cup ...

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[ozbob]

this is no storm in a pee cup ...

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

Time for these?

... You know the feeling. You've got to go, but there are no restroom facilities around. ...

http://www.survivalcenter.com/Emergency%20Toilet%20Supplies.html

[Stillwater]

Many years ago, I was a civilian travelling aboard a Hercules transport aircraft.  While the plane was in flight, I had the need to go to the toilet.  Upon inquiring of the loadmaster where the toilet could be located, I was directed to a large funnel at the rear of the aircraft.  The large end was inside the fuselage and the pointy end on the outside.  The operation was simple, yet practical -- pee in one end and someone's rose garden got irrigated below.  (These were the days when RAAF aircrew were exclusively male.)  Perhaps QR could change the specifications of its toiletless passenger trains to have a hole drilled at a suitable and discreet location.  To cover costs in this cost recovery world, they could charge urine tract challenged persons a fee for the hire of the funnel and a bedpan-shaped alternative for women.   

[#Metro]

Courier Mail is going to have a field day ...

[Arnz]

A spokesman for QR said yesterday that it carried 5000 customers on the Sunshine Coast line each week but had only received 10 complaints this year about toilet facilities.

This contradicts the 2009 passenger peak load report. (892 passengers across 5 peak services)*.
*excluding the Yandina-Gympie North loads (estimated to be 110+).

I think the spokesman only looked at the 2009 peak loading report, included the Yandina-Gympie passengers on the train and multiplied that by 5.  As that does not include the off-peak/weekend loads (varies depending on misc events on both ends - Brisbane and/or Coast).

[Fares_Fair]

Hello Arnz,

Do you know exactly how many there are each week in total (all services) from Elimbah to Gympie North?

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Arnz]

Hello Arnz,

Do you know exactly how many there are each week in total (all services) from Elimbah to Gympie North?

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

16x Inbound Weekday services x 5  = 80 Weekly Inbound*
14x Inbound Saturday services
12x Inbound Sunday services
--
106x Weekly Inbound services


19x Outbound Weekday services x 5 = 95 Weekly Outbound*
12x Outbound Saturday services
12x Outbound Sunday services
--
119x Weekly Outbound services.

*This does not include RAILBus services.

Edit: Corrected Weekday figures, had forgotten to multiply by 5.

[Fares_Fair]

Hello Arnz,

Great thank you, and passenger numbers for the same services but including rail buses, is that anything more recent than the 2009 figures?

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[somebody]

A spokesman for QR said yesterday that it carried 5000 customers on the Sunshine Coast line each week but had only received 10 complaints this year about toilet facilities.

This contradicts the 2009 passenger peak load report. (892 passengers across 5 peak services)*.
*excluding the Yandina-Gympie North loads (estimated to be 110+).

I think the spokesman only looked at the 2009 peak loading report, included the Yandina-Gympie passengers on the train and multiplied that by 5.  As that does not include the off-peak/weekend loads (varies depending on misc events on both ends - Brisbane and/or Coast).

That's about right then for the peak loads.  1000 per week day + 5 weekdays/week = 5000.  Although when I have been north of Caboolture off peak I've definitely seen a reasonable load.  I think this is being excluded.

[Fares_Fair]

So these figures do not include the off-peak numbers?
I recall hearing a figure of 1800 per day total all pax (peak and off peak) but do not know where this figure is from. It seems too high compared to the above.

This is way off topic now, apologies.

Regards,
Fare_Fair.

[Arnz]

So these figures do not include the off-peak numbers?
I recall hearing a figure of 1800 per day total all pax (peak and off peak) but do not know where this figure is from. It seems too high compared to the above.

This is way off topic now, apologies.

Regards,
Fare_Fair.

FF,

Refer to Page 56 of this PDF report below
http://translink.com.au/resources/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/2010-11-annual-report.pdf

The 2010-2011 financial year (July 2010-June 2011) had reported that 1900 passengers from Elimbah to Gympie North used the Sunshine Coast line on a weekday (Monday-Friday Peak and Off-peak).  Weekend figures was not included in the report.

Back then the weekday total (Mon-Fri) was 14 inbound and 16 outbound services under the old pre June 6 timetable.  

The post June 6 weekday timetable now has 16 Inbound (1x Morning Peak service and 1x late evening added) and 19 Outbound services (2x Afternoon Peak services and 1x late evening service added), along with extending the former daytime Cooroy train to Gympie North.

[Fares_Fair]

So these figures do not include the off-peak numbers?
I recall hearing a figure of 1800 per day total all pax (peak and off peak) but do not know where this figure is from. It seems too high compared to the above.

This is way off topic now, apologies.

Regards,
Fare_Fair.

FF,

Refer to Page 56 of this PDF report below
http://translink.com.au/resources/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/2010-11-annual-report.pdf

The 2010-2011 financial year (July 2010-June 2011) had reported that 1900 passengers from Elimbah to Gympie North used the Sunshine Coast line on a weekday (Monday-Friday Peak and Off-peak).  Weekend figures was not included in the report.

Back then the weekday total (Mon-Fri) was 14 inbound and 16 outbound services under the old pre June 6 timetable.  

The post June 6 weekday timetable now has 16 Inbound (1x Morning Peak service and 1x late evening added) and 19 Outbound services (2x Afternoon Peak services and 1x late evening service added), along with extending the former daytime Cooroy train to Gympie North.

Hello Arnz,

Thank you very much.
Spot on.  
I appreciate your help.
Journalists often ask me that question.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[somebody]

So these figures do not include the off-peak numbers?
I recall hearing a figure of 1800 per day total all pax (peak and off peak) but do not know where this figure is from. It seems too high compared to the above.

This is way off topic now, apologies.

Regards,
Fare_Fair.

1800 would be AM peak + PM peak.

Which means 900 people making a return journey.

[Fares_Fair]

So these figures do not include the off-peak numbers?
I recall hearing a figure of 1800 per day total all pax (peak and off peak) but do not know where this figure is from. It seems too high compared to the above.

This is way off topic now, apologies.

Regards,
Fare_Fair.

1800 would be AM peak + PM peak.

Which means 900 people making a return journey.

Hello Simon,

Are you sure that is how they would report it (based upon below)?
The 2010-2011 financial year (July 2010-June 2011) had reported that 1900 passengers from Elimbah to Gympie North used the Sunshine Coast line on a weekday (Monday-Friday Peak and Off-peak).

Wait, I need to go and 'spend a penny' ( to maintain the integrity of this post and topic)

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Arnz]

So these figures do not include the off-peak numbers?
I recall hearing a figure of 1800 per day total all pax (peak and off peak) but do not know where this figure is from. It seems too high compared to the above.

This is way off topic now, apologies.

Regards,
Fare_Fair.

1800 would be AM peak + PM peak.

Which means 900 people making a return journey.

The 2010-2011 TransLink financial report had reported 1900 entries under the 2010 destination load report (It was noted for weekday - off peak and peak), I'm assuming over 50% of the 2010-2011 loads were for the 5x peak services (over 900+) whilst the remainder was spread across the off-peak train services (9x inbound and 11x outbound).  Back then most off-peak services were either of the 3-car type, or the 4-car ICE.

[somebody]

Are you sure that is how they would report it (based upon below)?

No, I'm not sure.  But the numbers add up.  1800 entries = 900 people making return journeys though.

[Arnz]

Are you sure that is how they would report it (based upon below)?

No, I'm not sure.  But the numbers add up.  1800 entries = 900 people making return journeys though.

No.  The same report had the Gold Coast Line with 8500 entries (both off-peak and peak).  Over 3200 of them were peak boardings (across x9 services) according to the 2009 load survey.  

I'll assume the other 5000 GC passengers boardings were spread across the numerous off-peak services (every half-hour during the off-peak and early evenings).

[Fares_Fair]

If a journalist asks me how many Sunshine Coast commuters there are each day (Elimbah to Gympie North), the correct answer is 1900? or just 950?

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[#Metro]

If a journalist asks me how many Sunshine Coast commuters there are each day (Elimbah to Gympie North), the correct answer is 1900? or just 950?

I would say, 950 assuming that everyone makes a return trip.

[Arnz]

If a journalist asks me how many Sunshine Coast commuters there are each day (Elimbah to Gympie North), the correct answer is 1900? or just 950?

I would say, 950 assuming that everyone makes a return trip.

Problem is that report had included the OFF-PEAK and Peak entries.  So, the figure of 950 (or 4200 in the case of Gold Coast) won't make sense.

An "Average Weekday" includes both off-peak and peak on a Monday-Friday.  Weekends are excluded.

[Stillwater]

COMMENTS FROM SUNSHINE COAST DAILY SITE RE TRAINS WITHOUT TOILETS

Translink says it has had few complaints about trains without toilets.  Here are some comments from Internet bloggers.

"A two hour trip from Brisbane to Nambour almost had me in the same position, Having attended a hospital for some scans that I had had to have fluids pumped into me and every though I went to the loo at the hospital by the time I got to Nambour I was frantic.Never have I been so happy to see Nambour Railway Station."

"When I needed to 'go' during a Nambour to Brisbane trip recently after the horror of finding no toilets on the train (and I searched all carriages), fortunately by the time I finished my search we were arriving at Caboolture station where I was forced to get out and catch a later train, running late for my city appointment... another 5 minutes and I'm not sure what I would have been forced to do.  I didn't complain, but I will NEVER use a train again!"

"The simple solution is to have enough spare trains with toilets so that if one breaks down we always have one with toilets on standby. Of course this simple solution has probably never been thought of by our 'Smart State' politicians."

"The minister, by saying there are toilets on each service, is being loose with the truth. there are not always toilets on the service, I will admit there are toilets more often then not, but the problem is that in almost all cases they are out of order, locked, or in such a disgusting state they are a health hazard to use (and it's not vandals, in most cases the filth is just a build up of dirt that hasn't been tackled in months).  I just hate the contempt and arrogance of her responses."

"I commented regarding my daughter in law having to leave work in Brisbane due to having diarrhoea and vomitting, then having to endure a long trip to Beerwah on a train with no toilets this week.She was distraught and in tears by the time she reached the station.  Last year my elderly mother caught the train to Brisbane for a rare outing and surprise,surprise there were no toilets on this train either. She consequently got off the train to go to the toilet at the first station and the train left without her. Her partner got off at the next station and caught a taxi back to the station to find her. In the mean while she had got on the next train to Brisbane. Suffice to say the both vowed never to travel by train again and after their stories I won`t be either. Well done QR."

"I have a good bladder and for example didn't need to use the toilet on a recent two hour flight from Brisbane to Cairns. But I noticed that plenty of people did and not just the young guys who'd had a beer or six before leaving the airport. Many women (eg those that are pregnant), men my age with prostate conditions, and most very young kids cannot hold it in for too long. For journeys out of Brisbane I would have thought toilets that are working would be essential."

[Gazza]

"Queensland Rail receives only a small number of complaints each month about the provision of toilets on our Sunshine Coast services," a spokesman said.

I'm guessing everyone stopped complaining ages ago. When you complain about these long term matters you either:
- Get a form letter response, saying it is out of their control, they apologise for the inconvenience etc etc. Which isn't the most satisfying thing to receive.
- See no permanent solution in the long term anyway, so it's basically wasting your breath.

[Set in train]

QR staff's original advice to the mother of the child in question was that the boy had no choice but to 'do it in his pants'.  Would QR have advised an adult 'caught short' in similar circumstances to deficate/urinate in their underwear?  Must SC passengers now take a towel with them as a precaution to cover their embarrassment as they foul the train seat?

This is a disgraceful predicament, does Palaszczuk keep fit by pushing her luck?

[ozbob]

STB snapped this onboard an IMU heading towards Cleveland a short time ago.

Are these new signs? 



Photograph STB 25th November 2011

[Gazza]

No, they've been round for ages.

[SurfRail]

No, they've been round for ages.

Additional interior wayfinding signage was installed as part of the refurbishment of the 100 series.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Originally they were stickers placed width wise at the top end of each carriage.

[ozbob]

Scored an IMU on the run out to Ipswich yesterday afternoon ...

There were some CSOs on board and they said these signs are new ...







Photographs R Dow 25th November 2011

[Arnz]

Scored an IMU on the run out to Ipswich yesterday afternoon ...

There were some CSOs on board and they said these signs are new ...







Photographs R Dow 25th November 2011

Considering the IMU160/SMU260 series is what mainly Nambour commuters get most of the time those days (with the older IMUs mixed in and the odd older SMU once in a while), they're not "that" new, they've been there for a while now (few months give or take).  

On a related note, I would support a sign on the NON-toilet end of the IMU that there is a toilet on the other side.