Article: Queensland Rail orders tilt train without seats

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

Queensland Rail orders tilt train without seats

Queensland Rail orders tilt train without seats

    by: Steven Wardill
    From: The Courier-Mail
    March 09, 2012 12:00AM

A NEW tilt train to transport passengers along the Queensland coast in luxury was ordered by the Bligh Government without seats.

Queensland Rail has insisted the omission of seats, as well as in-seat entertainment systems, was a deliberate decision.

However, high-level insiders have told The Courier-Mail that the seats were inadvertently left off the original order.

The state-owned company has been forced to issue an additional tender to ensure passengers have somewhere to sit. An announcement by Premier Anna Bligh of the new train and refurbishment of existing services indicates the seats were an oversight.

In late 2010, Ms Bligh announced the Government would invest $189 million to replace the current Sunlander service with a new tilt train as well as upgrade of the two existing trains.

The announcement included plans to include new "lay flat seats, similar to airline sky beds" and "smart, flatscreen TVs in all seats featuring in-seat entertainment with movies, news, sport weather and music on demand".

"This $189 million investment means passengers on this world-class route will be able to travel in world-class luxury," Ms Bligh said at the time.

However, it seems it will cost taxpayers much more to provide the luxury promised by Ms Bligh after Queensland Rail confirmed the seats and entertainment consoles were not included in the original $189 million price tag.

"Queensland Rail has a contract with Downer EDI to supply and fit-out the new Sunlander, and new carriages for the existing Cairns Tilt Trains, at a cost of $189 million," QR said in a statement.

"This excludes the supply and fitting of seating and infotainment units, which are still subject to commercial discussions."

QR compared this to how airline companies ordered planes.

Maryborough-based firm Downer EDI, which has the contract to build the new train, constructed the existing tilt trains, including fitting seats.

The existing Sunlander, which travels between Brisbane and Cairns, is being replaced after 45 years in service. It includes sleeper carriages and a dining car but is at least five hours slower than the tilt trains.

The bungle comes five years after QR's CityTrain fleet expansion was derailed by new trains too big for key tunnels between Central Station and Brunswick St.

[#Metro]

A NEW tilt train to transport passengers along the Queensland coast in luxury was ordered by the Bligh Government without seats.

Queensland Rail has insisted the omission of seats, as well as in-seat entertainment systems, was a deliberate decision.

However, high-level insiders have told The Courier-Mail that the seats were inadvertently left off the original order.

That's right. No-one in government makes mistakes. EVER.

[ozbob]

More beat up ...

[Golliwog]

If they're still sorting out what in-seat entertainment system they're getting, then it would be stupid to put the seats in first then get that. You would easily have potential issues with getting the entertainment system to fit unless they were ordered together.

[SurfRail]

It's not like Downer actually makes seats.  What's the big deal?

[Stillwater]

The QR argument for a two tender process (train, then seats) would appear to make sense, given the specialised nature of the seatbed/entertainment unit configuration envisaged for the new Sunlander.

[SteelPan]

Yes, it may be that the "seats come later" aspect was intended - however, it should have been included in the all up original budgeted price - come on, QR would know almost to the dollar what the cost of the seats package would be, say 18mths/2yrs further down the road, it's not like QR hasn't built a train or two before.

Personally, I think the "New Sunlander" will be a big plus to the fleet and look forward to booking a sleeping compartment on it - forget that cattle class "sleeper bed" stuff!   

That QR issue a few years back, building trains that couldn't fit through their own tunnels - now that was a stuff up and still great for a laugh in WORLD CLASS Queensland!   

[SurfRail]

That QR issue a few years back, building trains that couldn't fit through their own tunnels - now that was a stuff up and still great for a laugh in WORLD CLASS Queensland!   

Wasn't a QR issue.  The manufacturer made trains that did not comply with QR's specifications (particularly the size of the a/c pods). 

I'm told that they found the easiest way to fix the issue was to scrape away some of the tunnel in the inner city, for bugger-all cost, which happened without incident.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Steelpan, its a bigger more complicated issue than just guessing how much it would be in 2 years time. Yes, they would have had a estimate budget but that budget can change. Fundamental parts change design wise (QR has/had that problem with particular dotmatrix displays at stations with not having spare parts available either in reserve or from the manufacture.... same with the ICE train too), parts change price wise, technology upgrades itself (The DTTs had the CRT/LCD problem during their final construction phase. Keep the heavier CRT screens or upgrade to the more expensive but lighter LCD/Plasma technology just coming out and changed a raft of things to accept the screens). Remember the newer TiltTrain won't have the conventional seats. There might be one-two carriages with the conventional sit up and slight tilt seating but the majority will also be seats that recline to form beds (Similar to airplanes apparently) featuring LCD screens, powerpoints, additional lighting, along with sleeper cabins similar to the current cabins but upgraded with additional features compared to the 50 year old rollingstock currently used. Some of the newer parts will also be migrated across to the older TTs as they'll be pulled out of service and under go refurbishment which is another thing to consider.

Yeah, the AC units were out by 4mm in a small section of the tunnel on the subs between Central-Brunswick street. Cheaper to modify the tunnel than to modify the already built AC units.

[petey3801]

Regarding the AC units on the 160/260 units, they were modified to end the problem, simply by having a 45 degree "corner" instead of the normal 90 degree (well, 270 degree actually) corner like they originally had.

[Fares_Fair]

Regarding the AC units on the 160/260 units, they were modified to end the problem, simply by having a 45 degree "corner" instead of the normal 90 degree (well, 270 degree actually) corner like they originally had.

[SteelPan]

Steelpan, its a bigger more complicated issue than just guessing how much it would be in 2 years time. Yes, they would have had a estimate budget......Yeah, the AC units were out by 4mm in a small section of the tunnel on the subs between Central-Brunswick street. Cheaper to modify the tunnel than to modify the already built AC units.

Thank you for your clarification, much appreciated.   

[ozbob]