Public Transport Queensland - An Independent Transport Authority

[James]

I have a question.

In WA, they have an Upper House and Lower House where as in Queensland we have only the Lower House .

In theory, would the Upper House in WA have been able to prevent the actions of the Newman Govt Razor Job done on QR ( TransPerth in WA ) had this happened in WA instead of QLD ? Could an Upper House in QLD have been able to prevent the Newman Cuts ?

Interested to know..

Depends on the structure of the upper house.

Assuming a structure similar to the NSW upper house (half the house elected every term for two term lengths), electing 20 or so seats each term, we'd get the following upper house:
Elected in 2012 - 10 LNP, 5 ALP, 2 KAP, 2 GRN, 1 Other, depending on preferences
Elected in 2009 - 8 LNP, 8 ALP, 2 GRN, 2 Other, depending on preferences
Total - 18 LNP, 13 ALP, 4 GRN, 2 KAP, 3 Other

Unless the LNP got all three 'other' seats in James' speculative Qld upper house, they wouldn't command a majority in the upper house and require a vote of a minor party (probably KAP or independents). The Libs gained control of the upper house in WA as all members are up for election each term there, and in Victoria the upper house was skewed towards the Liberals/Nationals when Kennett was in government, until the ALP changed the rules. If Qld adopted the systems in place in WA or Victoria, the LNP probably would have held an absolute upper house majority.

To cut a long story short - an upper house, depending on how it was structured, may save a government from a razor gang of cuts. To the contrary however, this may have saved Newman from himself. Had he not p%ssed  off most of the state, he'd probably still be our premier.

[Otto]

Thank-you for the above answers. Much appreciated.

[ozbob]

Kind of odd is it not?

TransLink - a collection of desks at TMR ...

Cross River Rail Delivery Authority - a full blown statutory authority.

Queensland Rail - is also a statutory authority.

It is all arse about in reality ... no wonder such a mess 

PTQ should be the statutory authority.

With various divisions of that under that structure.

[#Metro]

I think there is an explosion of authorities and commissions.

How did infrastructure get built before? TMR would have arranged it IMHO.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Railway infrastructure was done by qr who had their own designers and planners in consultation with the treasury over funding (GOC). It ''twas then put out to construction tender with the same planners overseeing the project. Most went to Aurizon and more went when Newman came through with those left becoming a consulting position with tmr and the construction group - which doesn't even work as we saw with the MBRL project.

[ozbob]

As Mr Metro has highlighted previously.  It is worthwhile to look at the organisational structure of WA's PTA as it was in 2014.

This is a good model perhaps for PTQ  - obviously it would be different but shows the general idea.

http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/portals/0/annualreports/2014/content/corporate/organisational-structure.asp

I am working on a structure of PTQ.

I would envisage under the rail division infrastructure & network planning, operations and so forth.  As well as suburban, inter-urban, and long distance passenger and freight.

Similarly bus would have SEQ, other regional (old QConnect) and long distance coach services.

Various operators would be contracted underneath that structure to deliver the operational services.

[SurfRail]

There should be a specific light rail unit in there as well.  Light rail doesn't translate at all into heavy rail, otherwise you end up with debacles like Sydney.

[ozbob]

Yo. Light rail, ferry and active transport would be other divisions.

[ozbob]

Public transport is a mess in SEQ.
Only proper reform will sort ...
how > https://t.co/4HQtoQehuG#qldpol@StirlHinchliffe @AndrewPowellMP pic.twitter.com/r0rKGkHunM

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) January 25, 2017

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

26th January 2017

Public Transport Queensland ?

Good Morning,

Since 2009 public transport for SEQ has been on a serious downhill slide to failure.

The cessation of the duplication project of the Sunshine Coast Line from Beerburrum to Landsborough in 2009 was really a harbinger of the mediocrity to follow.

In 2010 saw the commencement of the 5 year fare strategy for SEQ, which saw fares effectively double in cost and ended up as an abysmal failure.  The recent implementation of the new fare structure for SEQ is perhaps one of a very few shining success stories.

The collapse of the Brisbane Bus network reform in 2013 is another spectacular low-light of shame.  The effects of this linger on.

Now we have chronic under-servicing on the rail network.   Cross River Rail goes around in circles.  The New Generation Rollingstock trains are yet to see revenue passengers - completely botched ordering process.  Similarly, problems linger with the signalling associated with the Redcliffe Peninsula Line and the interface to the rest of the rail network in SEQ.

It is clear that the administration and operation of public transport in SEQ has been a failure.

Band-aids will not sort it, nor will pie in the sky ' Brisbane Metro ' pipe dreams. 

There needs to be complete reorganisation of how public transport is administered and operated in Queensland.

A good model is the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia (see below).

We need to form a proper Statutory Authority - Public Transport Queensland (PTQ).  Under PTQ there would be various divisions.  For example:  Heavy Rail, Light Rail, Ferry, Bus & Coach, Active Transport, Fares and Ticketing, & Infrastructure, Policy, could be some of these.  Under these major divisions would be various branches - for example under Heavy Rail - there could be Suburban rail, Inter-urban rail, Long Distance Passenger Rail services,  and Freight.

PTQ would bring all public transport administration together. It would replace the ' silos of mediocrity ' and replication we have now with TransLink, Queensland Rail, Transport and Main Roads, and BCC.  PTQ would administer the service contracts for all operators, including heavy rail.  It would bring Queensland Rail into a competitive performance based environment as an operator.  A good thing.

I recently visited Western Australia and had the opportunity to experience a very well run and connected public transport network.  Transperth delivers. We cannot say the say the same for TransLink.

Unless proper reform is achieved, SEQ is simply going to stagger on from failure to failure, with even more transport congestion and even more worse outcomes.

It's time to take the big decisions.

Best wishes
Robert

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


Reference:

http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/portals/0/annualreports/2014/content/corporate/organisational-structure.asp

[ozbob]

Latest media: Public Transport Queensland ?
> https://t.co/fu374vLfj5#qldpol@QLDLabor @LNPQLD @QldGreens @StirlHinchliffe @AnnastaciaMP pic.twitter.com/iuN4fKO2tC

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) January 25, 2017

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

28th January 2017

SEQ Public Transport key #qldvotes issue

Good Morning,

An early Queensland State Election?  Focus on regional seats?  Do not forget that the majority of seats are concentrated in SEQ.

The public transport mess in SEQ is going to be very costly in election terms for the sitting Government unless decisive moves are made to sort out the chronic public transport failure now.  It is not only rail, but bus as well.  The Palaszczuk Government has successfully delivered a new equitable, more affordable fare structure for SEQ.  Good progress with Gold Coast Light Rail as well.  But in other areas total shambles.

We will support policy that will deliver the necessary reforms for public transport administration and operation.  The present basket case cannot be allowed to continue.  The present levels of managerial incompetence are breathtaking and an insult to citizens.

The ball is in your court Premier Palaszczuk.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

26th January 2017

Public Transport Queensland ?

Good Morning,

Since 2009 public transport for SEQ has been on a serious downhill slide to failure.

The cessation of the duplication project of the Sunshine Coast Line from Beerburrum to Landsborough in 2009 was really a harbinger of the mediocrity to follow.

In 2010 saw the commencement of the 5 year fare strategy for SEQ, which saw fares effectively double in cost and ended up as an abysmal failure.  The recent implementation of the new fare structure for SEQ is perhaps one of a very few shining success stories.

The collapse of the Brisbane Bus network reform in 2013 is another spectacular low-light of shame.  The effects of this linger on.

Now we have chronic under-servicing on the rail network.   Cross River Rail goes around in circles.  The New Generation Rollingstock trains are yet to see revenue passengers - completely botched ordering process.  Similarly, problems linger with the signalling associated with the Redcliffe Peninsula Line and the interface to the rest of the rail network in SEQ.

It is clear that the administration and operation of public transport in SEQ has been a failure.

Band-aids will not sort it, nor will pie in the sky ' Brisbane Metro ' pipe dreams. 

There needs to be complete reorganisation of how public transport is administered and operated in Queensland.

A good model is the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia (see below).

We need to form a proper Statutory Authority - Public Transport Queensland (PTQ).  Under PTQ there would be various divisions.  For example:  Heavy Rail, Light Rail, Ferry, Bus & Coach, Active Transport, Fares and Ticketing, & Infrastructure, Policy, could be some of these.  Under these major divisions would be various branches - for example under Heavy Rail - there could be Suburban rail, Inter-urban rail, Long Distance Passenger Rail services,  and Freight.

PTQ would bring all public transport administration together. It would replace the ' silos of mediocrity ' and replication we have now with TransLink, Queensland Rail, Transport and Main Roads, and BCC.  PTQ would administer the service contracts for all operators, including heavy rail.  It would bring Queensland Rail into a competitive performance based environment as an operator.  A good thing.

I recently visited Western Australia and had the opportunity to experience a very well run and connected public transport network.  Transperth delivers. We cannot say the say the same for TransLink.

Unless proper reform is achieved, SEQ is simply going to stagger on from failure to failure, with even more transport congestion and even more worse outcomes.

It's time to take the big decisions.

Best wishes
Robert

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


Reference:

http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/portals/0/annualreports/2014/content/corporate/organisational-structure.asp

[ozbob]

How to fix the public transport mess in SEQ
> https://t.co/U5dJPQ6yB3#qldpol@AnnastaciaMP @StirlHinchliffe #railfail #busfail pic.twitter.com/oksWo3a3iQ

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) January 28, 2017

[#Metro]

Had a look up on NSW Railways. You can see that the conversion of a Rail GOC into an Authority, followed by mass cuts to the staff workforce has also occurred in NSW. So the mechanism that set off a chain reaction within Queensland Rail is a general mechanism that has precedent. Indeed, NSW went through two waves of mass cuts - in the late 1980s, and again in the 2000s.

There have been single commissioners of railways, where the railways department, authority, commission or government pseudo-corporation have answered to a commissioner.

But at times it is also clear that a single commissioner might not have been enough (or perhaps more slots for political mates needed to be created) and the number of commissioners have both been expanded or contracted.

Where the number of commissioners have been expanded, they form a panel of commissioners. Essentially this is the same as a board of directors, which is what the current QR structure is essentially (each person can specialise in one area/portfolio). Just because a commission is declared does not imply a single commissioner, or prevent expansion at a later time into what is essentially a board of directors in all but name.

The dissolution of the State Railway Authority and repackaging into RailCorp did not solve the problems that were appearing - it became worse. Basically CityRail / RailCorp became the " government owned " version of Connex. And it is also clear that the organisation took on massive extra staff in "middle management" (easy to happen when there is no profit motive). The number of people that had to leave when Gladys Berejiklian put the broom through it was just enormous.

In such a large and complex organisation, serious corruption took root. This led to the involvement of ICAC and mass staff purges.

Queensland Rail should be subject to open competition. There really isn't much justification for defending its protected monopoly status. Nobody here would advocate for a one party state and abolishing voting/regular elections "to save money" (elections cost millions) or to avoid the possibility of electing a "Connex style government". Nobody would accept "internal restructuring" changing faces on the LNP/ALP executive in a one-party state as acceptable, but that is essentially what people are arguing for when they ask that changes to the QR structure only go so far as changing faces on the board or executive leadership team.

It is not good enough, it is not radical enough, and it does not go far enough.

I have spent some time thinking about why people might be opposed to a for-profit operator running a railway. I think it comes down to two groups competing for the fixed pie of funds - investors and workers.

So you have two groups at cross purposes, both trying to maximise their financial income: one group trying to to maximise their pay, versus another group, trying to maximise their pay (investment returns). There is constant pressure to be efficient and put downward pressure on staff numbers and roles - a genuinely corporate organisation cannot afford to become "bloated" due to the threat of loss and bankruptcy.

Wouldn't it be easier to put through increased pay claims without the competition from investors for the $$$?

Viewed from this angle, it is very simple to understand why there is such deep opposition to privatisation and sale. Given that privatised railways work in Melbourne, Auckland, Wellington, Hong Kong, Stockholm and other parts of the world, the basis and general applicability of the "safety and infrastructure maintenance" argument must be seriously questioned.


History of Sydney Railways

1855 NSW Government Railways
     - 1888 Commissioners increased to three to "remove them from political influence"
     - 1907 Commissioners decreased to one
     - 1932 Commissioners panel returns
     
1932 Department of Railways created (under control of single railways commissioner)

1972 Public Transport Commission (commissioners increased to five)
(Department of Railways and Department of Government Transport (buses) merged)

1980 Public Transport Commission Dissolved
1980 State Rail Authority Created
   - Urban Transit Authority (Ferries and Bus split off)
   - Phillip Shirley, involved in UK beeching cuts, takes up post, lots of criticism, cuts, and ancient rollingstock. Retires early.
   
1988 Major cuts to regional and country rail services applied
1988 Booz Allen Hamilton Review of NSW Rail Services
1989 CountryLink 2000 - 8000 staff cut
    - Gov't operated coach services privatised

State Rail Authority divided
- CityRail: responsible for suburban and interurban passenger services
- CountryLink: responsible for country passenger services
- FreightRail: responsible for freight services
- Rail Estate: responsible for rail property

1996 State Rail Authority restructured

Freight Rail Corporation: responsible for freight services
- Rail Access Corporation: responsible for managing track and providing access to public and private operators
- Railway Services Authority: responsible for track and rolling stock maintenance
- State Rail Authority: passenger service operator consisting of CityRail and CountryLink

1998 State Rail Authority restructured again
- CityRail Stations
- CountryLink
- Operations
- Passenger Fleet Maintenance

2001 State Rail Authority restructured again
Rail Access Corporation and Railway Services Authority were merged into the Rail Infrastructure Corporation

2004 State Rail Authority experiences service problems. Calls for restructure
2004 State Rail Authority dissolved

2004 RailCorp created  (bad reputation era begins)
- RailCorp as GOC with board of directors

2006 operations removed from RailCorp, leaving an asset holding company

2007 - 2008  Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) investigation into $21 million
in "improper contracts". Recommended charges against 33 people, only a fraction face court.

2009 RailCorp restructured as an Authority (does this sound familiar? QR?)

2010 RailCorp board abolished

2012 Purge of RailCorp
   - 750 middle management positions redundant
   - 450 maintenance positions made redundant
   - 240 other positions made redundant

2013 RailCorp becomes asset holding company.

2013 Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink take over operations from RailCorp

2014 ICAC reveals more corruption inside RailCorp

References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Rail_Authority

https://en.wikipedia.org

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/railcorp-axes-more-jobs-and-to-split-in-two-in-major-rail-restructure-20121116-29g4a.html

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/icac-finds-railcorp-senior-manager-corrupt-20141013-1156uh.html

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/all-change-as-railcorp-is-disbanded-20130630-2p5b6.html

[ozbob]

Thanks for this ^

My focus is attempting to get a proper authority - PTQ first ...

PTQ would then be responsible for the implementation and administration of all service contracts.

As I have said I am comfortable with Queensland Rail being given a period (say 3 years) before heavy rail goes to competitive tender if that is to occur.

Under the PTA - WA model there is nothing stopping the PTA going to competitive tender for Transperth rail operations (And TransWA).  Whether they would though I am not sure.  Matters little at present as it is an excellent operation. 

If QR demonstrate the same excellence after the next 3 years maybe the outcome might be different.

[#Metro]

My focus is attempting to get a proper authority - PTQ first ...

PTQ would then be responsible for the implementation and administration of all service contracts.

Agreed. This implies that the CityCats contracting should be transferred from Brisbane City Council to PTQ.

As I have said I am comfortable with Queensland Rail being given a period (say 3 years) before heavy rail goes to competitive tender if that is to occur.

Under the PTA - WA model there is nothing stopping the PTA going to competitive tender for Transperth rail operations (And TransWA).  Whether they would though I am not sure.  Matters little at present as it is an excellent operation. 

This is true. The Perth rail operations part is on a "timer" - if there is no problem, it resets and extends. If there is a problem, then the timer could stop. Different organisations are at different stages on the progression/spectrum. The city buses in Perth are all private contractors, created from a sell-off in the 1990s. It just stopped short of applying that to rail.

If the Perth rail operations were to encounter major service provision issues, the question would naturally arise about what the exact purpose of its protected monopoly status is. Protected monopoly status isn't an essential part of a rail operation. Remember, a crisis was the original motivation for the Melbourne/Victorian move to contracting.

As long as the Perth operations are spotless, there is no issue. But it is not immune from "the mechanism" identified within the NSW and QR examples.

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 30th January 2017 page 13

Public transport mess election issue

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

2nd February 2017

R. I. P. Cross River Rail

Good Morning,

Well it does now seem that Cross River Rail (CRR) is dead.  R.I.P.

Federal Government rejects city cross-river rail network project

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/federal-government-rejects-city-crossriver-rail-network-project/news-story/161a647b4f1c5464b72f6c004d521195

This is no surprise to RAIL Back On Track members.  The vacillation now since 2009 with this project, compounded by the rail fail of late, and no doubt extensive lobbying by the LNP (State and BCC) because they perceive CRR is a ' Labor ' project has jaundiced the view of the present Federal Government, which sadly continues to put politics before sound transport policy.

Until public transport administration and operation is organised along the lines we have suggested, that is the formation of a proper authority: Public Transport Queensland - Brisbane and SEQ will continue its now rapid slide down the sewer of transport failure.

What a diabolical mess successive spineless Governments have created.  Redcliffe Peninsula Line - failure, New Generation Rollingstock - failure, Bus network reform - failure. A railway operator unable to deliver proper service levels.  Poor bus frequency and coverage throughout SEQ. A non-integrated public transport network.

Brisbane City Council will no doubt continue to press their ' metro '.  As we pointed out as originally proposed the metro was an absurdity.  However we are heartened as our attempts to bring this project up to the real world demands might just pay off.  We understand now that the ' metro ' will now be driverless (essential) and will have much more capacity.  It really does need to be capable of delivering 30,000 passengers per hour per direction (pphpd) to warrant the investment and disruption to the core inner bus network.  If a true 30,000 pphpd that is achieved for ' metro ' we will be strong supporters.  With CRR dead, the ' metro ' can be on a much better alignment and future extensions will be possible.

Well done mediocre spineless Governments.  What a basket case you have delivered for Queensland!

Best wishes
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

26th January 2017

Public Transport Queensland ?

Good Morning,

Since 2009 public transport for SEQ has been on a serious downhill slide to failure.

The cessation of the duplication project of the Sunshine Coast Line from Beerburrum to Landsborough in 2009 was really a harbinger of the mediocrity to follow.

In 2010 saw the commencement of the 5 year fare strategy for SEQ, which saw fares effectively double in cost and ended up as an abysmal failure.  The recent implementation of the new fare structure for SEQ is perhaps one of a very few shining success stories.

The collapse of the Brisbane Bus network reform in 2013 is another spectacular low-light of shame.  The effects of this linger on.

Now we have chronic under-servicing on the rail network.   Cross River Rail goes around in circles.  The New Generation Rollingstock trains are yet to see revenue passengers - completely botched ordering process.  Similarly, problems linger with the signalling associated with the Redcliffe Peninsula Line and the interface to the rest of the rail network in SEQ.

It is clear that the administration and operation of public transport in SEQ has been a failure.

Band-aids will not sort it, nor will pie in the sky ' Brisbane Metro ' pipe dreams. 

There needs to be complete reorganisation of how public transport is administered and operated in Queensland.

A good model is the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia (see below).

We need to form a proper Statutory Authority - Public Transport Queensland (PTQ).  Under PTQ there would be various divisions.  For example:  Heavy Rail, Light Rail, Ferry, Bus & Coach, Active Transport, Fares and Ticketing, & Infrastructure, Policy, could be some of these.  Under these major divisions would be various branches - for example under Heavy Rail - there could be Suburban rail, Inter-urban rail, Long Distance Passenger Rail services,  and Freight.

PTQ would bring all public transport administration together. It would replace the ' silos of mediocrity ' and replication we have now with TransLink, Queensland Rail, Transport and Main Roads, and BCC.  PTQ would administer the service contracts for all operators, including heavy rail.  It would bring Queensland Rail into a competitive performance based environment as an operator.  A good thing.

I recently visited Western Australia and had the opportunity to experience a very well run and connected public transport network.  Transperth delivers. We cannot say the say the same for TransLink.

Unless proper reform is achieved, SEQ is simply going to stagger on from failure to failure, with even more transport congestion and even more worse outcomes.

It's time to take the big decisions.

Best wishes
Robert

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


Reference:

http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/portals/0/annualreports/2014/content/corporate/organisational-structure.asp

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

2nd February 2017

Comment: The Queensland Government can't run public transport!

Greetings,

What a mess! Failure - it is everywhere:

- #BusFail: Failure to reform the Brisbane City Council bus network four years ago means approaches
to the Brisbane CBD are now clogged with half-empty buses. Entire suburbs are still ' black hole ' areas.

The Queensland Government's credibility on bus network management and bus route planning has been
absolutely destroyed by this non-delivery.

- #CrossRiverFail: A third business case and third video animation for the project is all
the Queensland Government has to show after eight years. The project manager left to work on
the Sydney Metro. Federal Government has now rejected the project.

Token money put on the table (just 15%), barely covering the GST component of the project.

The Queensland Government's credibility on infrastructure delivery and funding has been
absolutely destroyed by this non-delivery.

- #RailFail: Queensland Rail's governance has collapsed. Unable to run a reliable timetable
it cut services from the timetable. Unbelievably, almost all of the board, management
and PR staff still have their jobs. NGR trains also have major issues we are informed.

The Queensland Government's credibility on responding to crises and firing poor management,
has been absolutely destroyed by this non-delivery.

- #TransLinkFail: Too afraid to use " The Stick " to enforce its own service standards and contracts,
operators walk all over this agency. On time and service standards go out the window because
TransLink can't and won't fire non-performers and choose a different provider.

When has it recently fired or fined an under-performing operator? - that's right, NEVER!

The Queensland Government's credibility on service delivery has been absolutely destroyed by this
non-delivery. Insisting on protecting public and private business monopolies, that value overrides
everything else, including quality and passenger service delivery.

This is the legacy of many years of weak leadership from the Queensland Government, from both sides
of politics.

Cast asunder the current failing public transport paradigm, before facing certain and imminent defeat at the polls.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Reference:

Federal Government rejects Cross River Rail
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/federal-government-rejects-city-crossriver-rail-network-project/news-story/161a647b4f1c5464b72f6c004d521195

[ Attached: https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12341.msg187372#msg187372 ]

[ozbob]

Comment: The Queensland Government can't run public transport!
> https://t.co/Va4TxxFXLC#qldpol
Attached painting ' Farce actors dancing ' pic.twitter.com/EGJNunhdnG

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) February 1, 2017

[ozbob]

BrizCommuter:
QLD - The State of Fail
> https://t.co/T5h7jBIbY4#qldpol@QLDLabor @LNPQLD @QldGreens @AnnastaciaMP @TimNichollsMP pic.twitter.com/GRPU7BcswV

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) February 2, 2017

[#Metro]

Seems to have been a bit of "Executive Fat" in Queensland Rail. (Article from 2012).

My hunch is that the executives were given free reign to decide in which areas of QR they would cut staff, and rather than cut themselves (who

fires themselves??) the executives decided to cut positions in the ranks below them. Because they can.

Queensland Rail ordered to cut bloated executive
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/queensland-rail-ordered-to-cut-bloated-executive-20120704-21i7m.html

Queensland Rail has been ordered to cut its bloated executive, with a dozen people netting a wage above CEO level.

The government-owned corporation has 12 senior executives paid above the CEO level, compared to only two at CEO level at the Department of Main Roads, an organisation of similar size, Transport Minister Scott Emerson says.

The 12 are being paid $4.53 million, and there are also more than 60 general managers in Queensland Rail compared to 20 in main roads.

Staff there have increased by 68 per cent in the past two years, besides a 122 per cent increase in finance, and 66 per cent in strategy and corporate services, he says.

[#Metro]

Reading report

PUBLIC TRANSPORT, PRIVATE OPERATORS (2012)
http://www.ttf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/TTF-Public-Transport-Private-Operators-2012.pdf

[#Metro]

Intriguing statement, page four:

In addition, there are examples of government-run
transport systems where the potential benefits from franchising
are relatively minimal. For example, Transperth's strategy in rail
has been to outsource many major functions, including aboverail
and below-rail maintenance as well as some security staff.

They have developed in-house skills in structuring, procuring and
managing these major outsourcing contracts. These contracts
have delivered value for money and, as a result, the incremental
benefit from franchising in this instance may not be substantial.

[petey3801]

^^ Above rail maintenance out-sourcing has already started in QLD with the NGRs.
Below rail maintenance out-sourcing is different in Perth than it is in Melbourne as in Melbourne, the rail operator is also the below rail maintainer, so they can cut maintenance etc to save money. In Perth, the rail operator is different to the below rail maintainer, so the below rail maintainer is doing only that specific role, so no need (nor ability) to cut in that area to subsidise other areas/maximise profits.

[#Metro]

In Perth, the rail operator is different to the below rail maintainer, so the below rail maintainer is doing only that specific role, so no need (nor ability) to cut in that area to subsidise other areas/maximise profits.

Thanks for the expertise - it is the first time I have ever heard of that from TransPerth.

Who is the below rail maintainer in Perth?

Edit: I can see the above rail contractors, but not the below rail ones.

Engenco
http://www.engenco.com.au/news/news/article/engenco-wins-5-million-wa-train-maintenance-contracts-630//nbp/143.html

Bombardier
http://www.bombardier.com/en/media/newsList/details.bt-20160622-bombardier-joint-venture-awarded-contract-extension-.bombardiercom.html

http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passenger/single-view/view/edi-rail-bombardier-selected-for-train-maintenance-contract.html

Salini Impreglio (New Forrestfield link)
http://www.salini-impregilo.com/en/press/press-releases/salini-impregilo-signs-au-1-176-billion-rail-contract-in-perth-australia.html

Speno (??)
http://www.speno.com.au/en/1_company.asp

TransPerth contracts out its cleaning also, unlike QR.
Five-star cleaning supports top Perth train rating
http://www.spotless.com/newsroom/article/2016/09/15/five-star-cleaning-supports-top-perth-train-rating

Spotless has provided cleaning and related services for Public Transport Authority of Western Australia (PTA) since 1997. The contract covers trains, train stations and depots, and bus stations.

"The Canstar Blue survey is a great result for Transperth and everyone involved with the city's rail network," said Spotless Group General Manager Tertiary Education, Government and Infrastructure, Craig Sutherland. "Spotless is proud to serve Perth train passengers and our team will continue to do all we can to ensure high satisfaction levels."

Spotless employs 96 people across the rail network, which had total boarding of about 63 million in 2015-16, or about 5.2 million passenger movements each month.

[petey3801]

I believe it is Brookfield, but am open to correction. I know Brookfield do the greater WA network, but whether they do the Perth Metro network I am not sure (it is possible that the PTA do actually do it themselves as well, but I am unsure).

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

7th February 2017

Public Transport Queensland

Greetings,

The problems with public transport in SEQ are more than just the Queensland Rail failure.  TransLink and TMR, and BCC are under-performing and the whole set up needs reform.  We have detailed how this can occur for the best outcomes for Queensland.

We need a proper authority, Public Transport Queensland > https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12341.0

Unless we get this proper reform, the situation will not really improve.

Food for thought hey?

Best wishes
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

28th January 2017

SEQ Public Transport key #qldvotes issue

Good Morning,

An early Queensland State Election?  Focus on regional seats?  Do not forget that the majority of seats are concentrated in SEQ.

The public transport mess in SEQ is going to be very costly in election terms for the sitting Government unless decisive moves are made to sort out the chronic public transport failure now.  It is not only rail, but bus as well.  The Palaszczuk Government has successfully delivered a new equitable, more affordable fare structure for SEQ.  Good progress with Gold Coast Light Rail as well.  But in other areas total shambles.

We will support policy that will deliver the necessary reforms for public transport administration and operation.  The present basket case cannot be allowed to continue.  The present levels of managerial incompetence are breathtaking and an insult to citizens.

The ball is in your court Premier Palaszczuk.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

26th January 2017

Public Transport Queensland ?

Good Morning,

Since 2009 public transport for SEQ has been on a serious downhill slide to failure.

The cessation of the duplication project of the Sunshine Coast Line from Beerburrum to Landsborough in 2009 was really a harbinger of the mediocrity to follow.

In 2010 saw the commencement of the 5 year fare strategy for SEQ, which saw fares effectively double in cost and ended up as an abysmal failure.  The recent implementation of the new fare structure for SEQ is perhaps one of a very few shining success stories.

The collapse of the Brisbane Bus network reform in 2013 is another spectacular low-light of shame.  The effects of this linger on.

Now we have chronic under-servicing on the rail network.   Cross River Rail goes around in circles.  The New Generation Rollingstock trains are yet to see revenue passengers - completely botched ordering process.  Similarly, problems linger with the signalling associated with the Redcliffe Peninsula Line and the interface to the rest of the rail network in SEQ.

It is clear that the administration and operation of public transport in SEQ has been a failure.

Band-aids will not sort it, nor will pie in the sky ' Brisbane Metro ' pipe dreams. 

There needs to be complete reorganisation of how public transport is administered and operated in Queensland.

A good model is the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia (see below).

We need to form a proper Statutory Authority - Public Transport Queensland (PTQ).  Under PTQ there would be various divisions.  For example:  Heavy Rail, Light Rail, Ferry, Bus & Coach, Active Transport, Fares and Ticketing, & Infrastructure, Policy, could be some of these.  Under these major divisions would be various branches - for example under Heavy Rail - there could be Suburban rail, Inter-urban rail, Long Distance Passenger Rail services,  and Freight.

PTQ would bring all public transport administration together. It would replace the ' silos of mediocrity ' and replication we have now with TransLink, Queensland Rail, Transport and Main Roads, and BCC.  PTQ would administer the service contracts for all operators, including heavy rail.  It would bring Queensland Rail into a competitive performance based environment as an operator.  A good thing.

I recently visited Western Australia and had the opportunity to experience a very well run and connected public transport network.  Transperth delivers. We cannot say the say the same for TransLink.

Unless proper reform is achieved, SEQ is simply going to stagger on from failure to failure, with even more transport congestion and even more worse outcomes.

It's time to take the big decisions.

Best wishes
Robert

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


Reference:

http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/portals/0/annualreports/2014/content/corporate/organisational-structure.asp

[ozbob]

Media: Public Transport Queensland
> https://t.co/e1Pr142qTl#qldpol
proper reform needed, not tap dancing ..@AnnastaciaMP @QLDLabor pic.twitter.com/ezZGE5KYPO

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) February 6, 2017

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

8th February 2017

RAIL Back on Track 8 Point Recovery Plan

Greetings,

RAIL Back on Track wishes to comment on the Strachan Inquiry Report and proposes the following recovery plan.  It is essential that Queensland Rail return to a full timetable not later than January 2018.  If Queensland Rail is not able to achieve that deadline consideration should be given to replacing Queensland Rail with an operator that will.

1. New ministers - a single minister and one assistant minister to be given the sole responsibility of the transport portfolio. This will guarantee single focus, and an experienced successor for the minister.

2. Public Transport Authority of Queensland (PTQ) set up - a statutory authority based on the Western Australian model. Get someone like Western Australia's ex-Transport Minister Alannah MacTiernan to head it. Remove Public Transport from Main Roads, merge TransLink and the Cross River Rail Authority into PTQ.

3. Rail services on the Redcliffe Peninsula Line (RPL) should be shuttle services during the off peak with some through peak services. This was the approach that was used by Queensland Rail when the then Richlands branch line opened in January 2011.  A full timetable was only implemented in June 2011, as part of the wider sector one changes. The Queensland Rail rail network ran to timetable before the RPL opened, in fact was touted as the best ontime running in the nation!

Waiting two years to get back to timetable is completely unacceptable and we reject it in the strongest terms. The suggestion that 'there are no quick fixes' is unsubstantiated and we question why RPL line shuttles have not been considered whilst more crew are trained.

4. Abolish "internal favouritism" hiring provisions as soon as possible. Such practices create extra recruitment costs for Queensland Rail and appear to favour men over women (due to guard demographics) in train crew roles.

5. Get driver training down to 9 months, like other operators.

6. Empower the new PTQ Authority to enforce its contracts through fines and contract termination. The current setup is a monopoly - both public and private - and that is overriding all other aspects of service quality and delivery as operators cannot be fired no matter what. Without choice of operator, there can be no meaningful enforcement.

7. The Queensland Rail board and Queensland Rail executive leadership team should be fired. Do not replace the board - Mr Strachan can be a single commissioner for railways under PTQ like Sydney Trains.

8. Tackle Brisbane City Council - there is a parallel mess happening with the Brisbane Bus Network which has been left to fester since 2013. Get buses running to trains and fix the bus network so that it connects with rail. We have shown how to do it here --> http://tiny.cc/newnetwork

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ Attached: https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12341.msg187649#msg187649 ]

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

9th February 2017

More evidence of the transport circus in Queensland

Good Morning,

More evidence of the circus that is public transport in Queensland.

Brisbanetimes --> Second Moreton Bay Rail Link report into signalling systems 'still confidential'

We understand that signalling issues are still not completely resolved.  What a testament to the basket case that is transport in Queensland hey?

It is time it was sorted once and for all.  As we have pointed out it is not only Queensland Rail, it is TransLink, TMR and BCC.  All in silos of mediocrity, replication, inefficiency and incompetence.

Form Public Transport Queensland - a  proper statutory authority to get on with it.

Band-aids will just compound the already reckless failure!

When will the New Generation Rollingstock trains be in service?

The one year anniversary of the arrival of the first unit is coming up in a few days. 
Still haven't seen revenue service.  Another testament to failure!

Can it get any worse ...

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ Attached: https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12341.msg187726#msg187726 ]

[ozbob]

Latest media: ' More evidence of the transport circus in Queensland '
> https://t.co/7aWoL421CG#qldpol #RPLfail@jackietrad @AnnastaciaMP pic.twitter.com/CjZYCTBa2W

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) February 8, 2017

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

10th February 2017

RAIL Back on Track 8 Point Recovery Plan

Good Morning,

As I outlined on ABC Radio Brisbane (Mornings with Steve Austin) on the 8 February 2017 [ http://www.abc.net.au/radio/brisbane/programs/mornings/mornings/8233748 ] it is essential that Queensland Rail deliver a full service timetable by January 2018.  If they cannot do that consideration needs to be given to getting a rail operator that will!  The public of SEQ has had enough of this shambles.  Simply telling the public that there is no fix for two years, and there might be even more service reductions is NOT ACCEPTABLE.

In the interview I outline a number of strategies that would allow full service delivery by January 2018.  First priority must be to fill the service gaps at present and get a consistent Monday to Friday timetable.  This is an utter shambles.  Queensland Rail has put back any notion of network reform years and have sabotaged years of effort to get a fair fare structure for SEQ.  Pleased to note disciplinary action has started with some of the failed management of Queensland Rail. [ Couriermail --> Several Queensland Rail managers facing disciplinary action following Strachan Inquiry report ].

Why stop there?  The Queensland Rail Board should de-train as well, a superfluous ineffective layer of incompetence in our opinion.

Appoint Mr Strachan as Rail Commissioner, streamline the bumbling management in Queensland Rail and set about delivering a full service timetable by January 2018.

Nothing else will do.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

8th February 2017

RAIL Back on Track 8 Point Recovery Plan

Greetings,

RAIL Back on Track wishes to comment on the Strachan Inquiry Report and proposes the following recovery plan.  It is essential that Queensland Rail return to a full timetable not later than January 2018.  If Queensland Rail is not able to achieve that deadline consideration should be given to replacing Queensland Rail with an operator that will.

1. New ministers - a single minister and one assistant minister to be given the sole responsibility of the transport portfolio. This will guarantee single focus, and an experienced successor for the minister.

2. Public Transport Authority of Queensland (PTQ) set up - a statutory authority based on the Western Australian model. Get someone like Western Australia's ex-Transport Minister Alannah MacTiernan to head it. Remove Public Transport from Main Roads, merge TransLink and the Cross River Rail Authority into PTQ.

3. Rail services on the Redcliffe Peninsula Line (RPL) should be shuttle services during the off peak with some through peak services. This was the approach that was used by Queensland Rail when the then Richlands branch line opened in January 2011.  A full timetable was only implemented in June 2011, as part of the wider sector one changes. The Queensland Rail rail network ran to timetable before the RPL opened, in fact was touted as the best ontime running in the nation!

Waiting two years to get back to timetable is completely unacceptable and we reject it in the strongest terms. The suggestion that 'there are no quick fixes' is unsubstantiated and we question why RPL line shuttles have not been considered whilst more crew are trained.

4. Abolish "internal favouritism" hiring provisions as soon as possible. Such practices create extra recruitment costs for Queensland Rail and appear to favour men over women (due to guard demographics) in train crew roles.

5. Get driver training down to 9 months, like other operators.

6. Empower the new PTQ Authority to enforce its contracts through fines and contract termination. The current setup is a monopoly - both public and private - and that is overriding all other aspects of service quality and delivery as operators cannot be fired no matter what. Without choice of operator, there can be no meaningful enforcement.

7. The Queensland Rail board and Queensland Rail executive leadership team should be fired. Do not replace the board - Mr Strachan can be a single commissioner for railways under PTQ like Sydney Trains.

8. Tackle Brisbane City Council - there is a parallel mess happening with the Brisbane Bus Network which has been left to fester since 2013. Get buses running to trains and fix the bus network so that it connects with rail. We have shown how to do it here --> http://tiny.cc/newnetwork

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ Attached: https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12341.msg187649#msg187649 ]

[ozbob]

Latest: RAIL Back on Track 8 Point Recovery Plan
> https://t.co/MAVi0vAU6m#qldpol@jackietrad @AnnastaciaMP @Curtis_Pitt_MP @N_Scales_TMR pic.twitter.com/OnleDmS1Ue

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) February 9, 2017

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

14th February 2017

Queensland a transport failure ..

Good Morning,

Some doubt has been raised about the new CEO Queensland Rail being Andy Byford.

There is this tweet:  https://twitter.com/moore_oliver/status/831113145116655617

[ Oliver Moore ‏@moore_oliver 4 hours ago

Andy Byford tells me it's not true that he's taking this job. Says he was approached but declined ]

Frankly, I would be surprised if Mr Byford did accept the position of CEO Queensland Rail.   Mr Byford is the type of person who could well be the CEO of Public Transport Queensland should that occur though.  My Byford understands the need for proper integration of the public transport network.  In Queensland we have silos of mediocrity, replication, competition and inefficiency.

Transport is a mess in Queensland.  It needs proper restructuring.   Not more of the same band-aids and pathetic spin and bluster and poor planning and action.

Consider this:

Couriermail --> #GoQld: Sunshine Coast 'choked' by inadequate road, rail infrastructure

Just further evidence of the transport shambles.

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ Attached: https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12341.msg187856#msg187856 ]

[ozbob]

Latest media: ' Queensland a transport failure .. ' > https://t.co/okgl1yJ0n1 ... #qldpol @brisbanetimes @couriermail @jackietrad pic.twitter.com/t3S1YvnH3h

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) February 13, 2017

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

15th February 2017

Public transport in SEQ needs reform

Good Morning,

We welcome the committment by Deputy Premier Trad to fix the trains! [ http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2017/2/14/fixing-the-trains ]
But it is a lot more than just the trains.  The entire administration, delivery, operation of public transport in SEQ needs a radical restructuring and reorganisation.

Other states can get it right, Queensland is just a failing mess of competing tired bureaucracies in  ' silos '.

Complete root and branch reform is needed.  We have shown how this could occur.  Form a statutory authority - Public Transport Queensland.

See --> https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12341.msg187649#msg187649

More of the same, more of the same failure.  Time to sort out the mess once and for all!

Best wishes,

Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

31st July 2016

Public Transport Queensland

Good Morning,

On Tuesday 29 April 2008 the then Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations The Honourable John Mickel put out a media statement.

Translink Transport Authority moves forward  > http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/Id/57769

This statement announced the formation of the Statutory Authority - TransLink Transport Authority (TTA) for SEQ.

Mr Mickel said  "The authority will also integrate public transport services, and deliver and manage the infrastructure on which those services operate," he said.

"It will have the freedom and power to co-ordinate services, redeploy resources such as buses based on demand, and ensure the smooth introduction of new technology across the network."

"We will now have an authority with the grunt to ensure scheduling, services and planning are synchronised to deliver the public transport our growing population needs. "

In 2012, as part of the former Newman Government control and 'cuts' agenda the TTA was absorbed into TMR.  It lost its authority, as evidenced by the subsequent failure in 2013 of the Brisbane bus network reform. It lost resources to do the job properly.

With the benefit of hindsight, it would have been a better outcome for SEQ and Queensland had the formation of the TTA in 2008 actually been for all of Queensland's public transport.  Having a fragmented public transport administration actually helped enable the flawed move to absorb the then TTA back into TMR as a division, with the now perverse outcomes we see.

If it was good enough and for the right reasons in 2008 to form a statutory authority,  it is now even more critical that we move on with a public transport statutory authority to properly administer public transport for all of Queensland.  The present fragmented administration of public transport is a failure, clearly.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Reference:

27 July 2012 Brisbanetimes --> Restructure could bring TransLink back to the fold

[ Attached: http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12341.msg177269#msg177269  ]

[ozbob]

Latest: ' Public transport in SEQ needs reform '
> https://t.co/EN73T9V1NS#qldpol@QLDLabor @LNPQLD @QldGreens @PaulineHansonOz pic.twitter.com/ztPGsQrU9v

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) February 14, 2017

[#Metro]

First thing Jackie Trad should be doing is fire the board and then offload the executive leadership team.

Can't expect change with the same people in place as before.

[Stillwater]

Ms Trad again quoted as saying CRR is a major priority.  And she is picking fights with the Catholic Church.  Her singular focus must be to get QR operations back on an even keel.  The question must be asked: Why build CRR when the existing timetable can't be delivered with the train sets and the crew we have currently and while the NGR stock that would run through CRR sits in a shed at Ipswich?  The Minister must avoid the tendency for political drama and headlines while the very fundamentals of public transport in Queensland are in such a state.  She cannot be distracted, or seek to distract the public because she finds the task at hand too hard.

The temptation for her is to build her political profile on the back of her portfolio responsibilities by spruiking the illusionary stuff while ignoring the reality.  The here and now is where she should be concentrating.