Low hanging fruit - stopping the PT rot

[ozbob]

Clearly TransLink and its overseer TMR are struggling.   Lets give them a hand.



Suggest some low hanging fruit - simple things, without great cost to get things cracking for public transport.

I will start:

1. All door boarding on high frequency bus routes.

2. Remove ad wrap from windows of public transport vehicles - it still can be placed without obliterating windows.

3. TransLink staff (not out sourced personnel) get involved directly with the public transport community via community regional meetings (similar to the QR CRG).

[ozbob]

Ban ' operational issue ' in service disruption notices.  Just be specific.

Really is time @TransLinkSEQ & @QueenslandRail lifted their comms game @jackietrad
> https://t.co/8Dr9D247A9#qldpol#qldvotes soon pic.twitter.com/ciNgml8Q0J

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) February 25, 2017

Sent to all outlets:

19th February 2017

Communication 101 for TransLink & Queensland Rail

Good Morning,

Can TransLink and Queensland Rail please cooperate to get service cancellation notices improved please.
They need to be timely, accurate, concise and detail specifically the issue.

Simply stating that the cause of a cancelled service is due to an ' operational issue ' is not adequate. 
It just continues to build resentment, anger and grief.

Yesterday another good example as services between Ipswich and Rosewood were cancelled for a while. 
What was the reason?  We assume a crew issue but who would know other than Queensland Rail.

A series of notifications from TransLink as the service cancellations unfolded, some incorrect, with the cause as ' operational issue ' does not help does it?

See --> https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1862.msg188232#msg188232 for a great example of mediocrity in full flight!

The public is tired of being treated in such an off hand manner.

If the public are actually informed as to cause of the failure in a timely manner they will be more accepting.

Can do please?  Thank you.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org

Sent to all outlets:

16th February 2016

Please explain?

Good Afternoon,

This is a request for TransLink and Queensland Rail to detail the actual cause of delays.  ' Operational issue ,   ' mechanical issue ' is very vague and just causes angst.

It is understood that a person struck by a train needs some care, but surely most of the other situations can be clearly spelled out?

Some suggestions:

Locomotive failure.

Train failure.

Derailment.

Sick passenger.

Sick crew.

Person struck by train.

Bridge strike.

Level crossing strike.

Signal fault.

Track fault.

Points failure.

Telemetry fault.

Rostering problem.

Trespasser in corridor.

Police incident.

Power failure.

Vegetation on line.

Vehicle on line.

Broken rail.

And so forth ...

Thanks.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org

[Stillwater]

This is a matter for BCC, but way-finding signage pointing to the railway station in suburban environments would help.  The signage should be consistent and should indicate distances and time taken to walk from the sign to the station.  Some might say it is bleeding obvious where the station is located, but in some instances, this is not always the case (as in Manly and Coorparoo).  The local shopping precinct is a little ways from the station.  As well as being helpful, the signage indicates that there is a railway station down the road that services that suburb.  The way-finding sign then becomes a subtle advertisement.

Too often the signage around 'legacy' railway station is designed to inform the motorist (carpark directions, set-down areas etc) and not for the pedestrian or cyclist.

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=images+%2B+wayfinding+signage&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiAhIr0hNLSAhVJpJQKHZyPC5cQsAQIHw&biw=1486&bih=782&dpr=1.25#imgrc=gIjxoHQfZj5iCM:

[SurfRail]

This is a matter for BCC, but way-finding signage pointing to the railway station in suburban environments would help.  The signage should be consistent and should indicate distances and time taken to walk from the sign to the station.  Some might say it is bleeding obvious where the station is located, but in some instances, this is not always the case (as in Manly and Coorparoo).  The local shopping precinct is a little ways from the station.  As well as being helpful, the signage indicates that there is a railway station down the road that services that suburb.  The way-finding sign then becomes a subtle advertisement.

Too often the signage around 'legacy' railway station is designed to inform the motorist (carpark directions, set-down areas etc) and not for the pedestrian or cyclist.

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=images+%2B+wayfinding+signage&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiAhIr0hNLSAhVJpJQKHZyPC5cQsAQIHw&biw=1486&bih=782&dpr=1.25#imgrc=gIjxoHQfZj5iCM:

It should be a matter for TransLink.  They have a standard suite of signage meant for applications like this.  Just on the weekend, I saw plenty of orange signs around Duporth Avenue in Maroochydore pointing people to the Maroochydore bus station.  There are "G" signs all over the light rail corridor too.  Not hard to do, just need the willpower.