Public Transport Queensland - An Independent Transport Authority

[ozbob]

I have come to the conclusion that unless there is some very significant structural reform on how Public Transport is administered and delivered for Queensland, particularly SEQ we are all p%ssing into the wind essentially.

Years behind now with wider bus network reform.

Rail network for SEQ in a diabolical mess.

Sunshine Coast line trapped in the 19th Century.

Uncoordinated mind numbing project management.

Silo thinking and doing. 

Weak political leadership in the transport portfolio, unduly influenced by the bureaucrats that have stage managed this failure.

Other states are doing a good job in setting up good networks.  Here in Queensland it is just continued mediocrity, and will remain so until there is some significant reform.

Sad but true ...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/990331143764377602

[#Metro]

"Director-General of the BBQ!" 

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/993238639508258817

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/993239346143625216

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/996064190606467072

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/996065568267550720

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/996126617956044800

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1004391078290604033

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1004397438138896386

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1006572848595419137

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1007098183594283008

[ozbob]

Discussion on 20 minute off peak frequency has been moved to > https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=13190.0

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1009461946607808513

^

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1009462685467959296

^

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1009463384226447360

[ozbob]

These posts below are from the SPAD thread, but they again show why the present structures are simply a conduit for failure, blunder and miscommunication.

While rules and regulations are important for an effective organisation, the situation at QR involves deep-rooted corporate culture.  A taskforce looking at SPAD incidents and causes is fine, but please go further and look to other issues  .... silo mentality, left-hand, right-hand thinking and planning, ..... appropriate allocation of resources around the organisation, skills sets .... and an absolute fixation on public image to the extent that the cracks are being papered over.  Just a quick glance at the RTI stuff that's coming out shows an organisation that feels it is under siege and will do anything -- including ignoring the warning signs -- to make itself look good externally, hiding things from the public and the politicians, while red flags are popping up all over the place.  It is an organisation confused by the relative responsibilities and relationships with TMR and TransLink. It appears to be an organisation that feels it can't control what's going on because of those relationships - and by political interference, it must be said.

Yet, this is not a failure of QR, it is a failure of Government.

I think that is an astute and accurate analysis Mr Stillwater.

Carrying on as they have will not really sort the long standing issues with QR, TransLink and DTMR. 
We all know what needs to occur, but they still bumble on to an ever worsening situation.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

8th July 2018

There are many signs of failure ..

Good Morning,

The service problems on the rail network continue.  The actual problem was a dewirement involving a New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) train.  Dewirements occur from time to time on any railway that uses overhead power wires.  Lately though they seem to be little more frequent and it has been suggested that there could be a problem with the NGRs and dewirements.  We will explore that later this week.

In the meantime I would like to share this astute and accurate comment from a RAIL Back On Track Member when responding to SPAD article in the CM this morning:

https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=13085.msg210945#msg210945

While rules and regulations are important for an effective organisation, the situation at QR involves deep-rooted corporate culture.  A taskforce looking at SPAD incidents and causes is fine, but please go further and look to other issues  .... silo mentality, left-hand, right-hand thinking and planning, ..... appropriate allocation of resources around the organisation, skills sets .... and an absolute fixation on public image to the extent that the cracks are being papered over.  Just a quick glance at the RTI stuff that's coming out shows an organisation that feels it is under siege and will do anything -- including ignoring the warning signs -- to make itself look good externally, hiding things from the public and the politicians, while red flags are popping up all over the place.  It is an organisation confused by the relative responsibilities and relationships with TMR and TransLink. It appears to be an organisation that feels it can't control what's going on because of those relationships - and by political interference, it must be said.

Yet, this is not a failure of QR, it is a failure of Government. 

I think that is an astute and accurate analysis.

Carrying on as they have will not really sort the long standing issues with QR, TransLink and DTMR.
We all know what needs to occur (form Public Transport Queensland), but they still bumble on to an ever worsening situation.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1015771175035682816

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> LNP members call for a review of TransLink

TransLink has been accused of not delivering for commuters, with LNP members calling for the public transport body to be reviewed.

At the LNP convention, members voted to call on a future LNP state government to "review the structure, function and operation of TransLink to improve its customer focus, service responsiveness and efficiency".

Brisbane councillor Andrew Wines, who moved the motion, accused TransLink of refusing to serve the public.

"TransLink has got to respect its customers," he told the convention.

"These bodies have to respond to the public regardless of the minister, and right now today, while I recognise the structure was changed and brought inside the department, the operation of TransLink ... is not responsive to the people it is meant to serve.

"I strongly feel that we should scrutinise that entity to make sure that it looks after the public transport needs of this state."

TransLink has responsibility for buses, trains, ferries and trams in south-east Queensland, and services in other parts of the state, such as Cairns and Toowoomba.

In 2012, the Newman LNP government announced TransLink would be absorbed into the Transport and Main Roads Department, amid sweeping budget cuts that would lead to the loss of 2000 jobs.

At the time, then transport minister Scott Emerson said bringing TransLink into the department and merging it with passenger services made sense because there was duplication, and it would no longer be a statutory authority confined to the south-east.

However, Cr Wines told Fairfax Media the motion at the LNP state convention was intended to focus on TransLink's customer responsiveness and create a service culture, rather than internal structures.

Delegate Nelson Savanh, who previously worked in the opposition leader's office, argued against the motion.

"In 2012, the LNP government did restructure TransLink, it brought it in from a statutory authority," he said.

"It lived in its own little world, it played to its own rules, it played to its own tune. We brought it back into the department and we made it answerable to the minister and the government of the day."

Mr Savanh said the LNP should be single-minded in its focus on public transport and argued the blame lay with the Palaszczuk Labor government and unions.

"I think by talking about restructures and putting the blame onto bureaucrats and public servants for why our trains aren't running, why we have terrible bus services ... I think is letting Annastacia Palaszczuk off the hook," he said.

"This isn't TransLink's fault."

The resolution asking for a review was carried. Resolutions passed at the LNP state convention are passed to the parliamentary team for consideration as possible future government policy.

Cr Wines said the motion, submitted by the LNP Ninderry state electorate council, came after calls for better bus services on the Sunshine Coast in areas such as at Bli Bli, at a forum hosted by successfully elected LNP candidate Dan Purdie last year, and dissatisfaction at TransLink's response.

"Because the connections are poor, people just avoid using [public transport]," he said.

"[People have said] 'my kid can't get a job because they can't catch a bus to work,' 'I can't put on employees because we finish at 9 and the last bus is at 8.30'."

Transport Minister Mark Bailey hit back, arguing the LNP cut bus services and sacked thousands of people, leaving public transport in a "mess".

Mr Bailey said customer feedback was crucial to TransLink's efforts to improve services and deliver reliable, efficient and affordable public transport.

"Last year, it responded to more than 66,000 customer inquiries and comments," he said.

Mr Bailey said Sunshine Coast public transport services were delivered where they were needed most, based on feedback.

"Customer feedback helped TransLink shape bus network changes in Nambour, Nambour Heights, Burnside, Palmwoods and Woombye," he said.

Mr Bailey said the opening of the Sunshine Coast University Hospital also included new routes and the government had committed to the Beerburrum to Nambour rail duplication.

[ozbob]

^

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1016900572371275776

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1016901367372189696

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

12th July 2018

Time for Public Transport Queensland

Good Morning,

The LNP Members expressed their general dissatisfaction with TransLink at their recent convention.
Brisbanetimes --> LNP members call for a review of TransLink

We agree, TransLink and DTMR are a failure when it comes to the administration and delivery of public transport.  The Government did task the Citytrain Response Unit to make recommendations with respect to an Integrated Public Transport Model.  They completed the review December 2017 and passed to Government for consideration ( https://www.cru.qld.gov.au/Reports ). Nothing has been heard since.

There is little doubt that Queensland must move forward with a proper stand alone Public Transport Authority,  out of the failure contagion at DTMR.  The TransLink brand can remain as such, but a proper authority similar to the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia ( http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/ ) is needed.  Simply blundering along with the failure structures at present is only making everything worse.

The rail network is on its knees, the bus network overdue for proper reform, passengers forced to abandon public transport because of unreliability, poor service frequency, poor connections and a contempt attitude from TransLink and DTMR.  The lack of timely reporting, the fire-wall between the public (communications outsourced), the silos of blunder and miscommunication are all compounding the failure.

Unless there is radical change, the mess will never be sorted.  It is time you earned your keep Mr Bailey. If you cannot do the right and proper thing, please stand aside, and let someone else do the heavy lifting.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1017080426345607168

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1017084462629150725

[Stillwater]

Is it possible for Rail Back On Track to RTI the Citytrain Response Unit's report to government on an Integrated Public Transport Model for Queensland?
After all, the unit itself and the request to look at alternative administrative structures arose out of the failure of the system associated with the NGR trains and shortage of drivers.

[ozbob]

Is it possible for Rail Back On Track to RTI the Citytrain Response Unit's report to government on an Integrated Public Transport Model for Queensland?
After all, the unit itself and the request to look at alternative administrative structures arose out of the failure of the system associated with the NGR trains and shortage of drivers.

What a marvellous suggestion.  Might just do that in the next day or so ..

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1017169775481401345

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1017449076458020864

[ozbob]

Is it possible for Rail Back On Track to RTI the Citytrain Response Unit's report to government on an Integrated Public Transport Model for Queensland?
After all, the unit itself and the request to look at alternative administrative structures arose out of the failure of the system associated with the NGR trains and shortage of drivers.

What a marvellous suggestion.  Might just do that in the next day or so ..

On further thought I think I will write to the CRU in the first instance requesting details of the 'Integrated Public Transport Model ' before submitting an RTI.  Might save a few dollars ...

[ozbob]

The following has been submitted to the Citytrain Response Unit by form mailer, today 14th July 2018.

With reference to Fixing the trains December Quarter 2017 - Completed Stage 1 of the Integrated Public Transport Model Review.  Could you please email the details of stage 1 of the review.  Our group, RAIL Back On Track has an interest in the best structure for the administration and delivery of public transport in Qld.  Thank you.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

15th July 2018

Time for Public Transport Queensland

Good Morning,

It is very clear what needs to occur to get public transport back on track in Queensland, particularly SEQ.

As events last Friday showed with certainty, the rail network is on a knife edge.  Bus network crying out for proper reform.  All recent surveys highlight that public transport is trouble.  Unless we change the broken paradigm, our public transport will remain broken, and road congestion will magnify to terminal gridlock.

Please consider:

There has been a strong response to our Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/RAILBackOnTrack/posts/2128680323812810

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

Time for Public Transport Queensland

Good Morning,

The LNP Members expressed their general dissatisfaction with TransLink at their recent convention.
Brisbanetimes --> LNP members call for a review of TransLink

We agree, TransLink and DTMR are a failure when it comes to the administration and delivery of public transport. The Government did task the Citytrain Response Unit to make recommendations with respect to an Integrated Public Transport Model. They completed the review December 2017 and passed to Government for consideration ( https://www.cru.qld.gov.au/Reports ). Nothing has been heard since.

There is little doubt that Queensland must move forward with a proper stand alone Public Transport Authority, out of the failure contagion at DTMR. The TransLink brand can remain as such, but a proper authority similar to the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia ( http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/ ) is needed. Simply blundering along with the failure structures at present is only making everything worse.

The rail network is on its knees, the bus network overdue for proper reform, passengers forced to abandon public transport because of unreliability, poor service frequency, poor connections and a contempt attitude from TransLink and DTMR. The lack of timely reporting, the fire-wall between the public (communications outsourced), the silos of blunder and miscommunication are all compounding the failure.

Unless there is radical change, the mess will never be sorted. It is time you earned your keep Mr Bailey. If you cannot do the right and proper thing, please stand aside, and let someone else do the heavy lifting.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1018175192479043585

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1018175594670899201

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1018533996395819008

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1018595259377332224

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

18th July 2018

Public transport crisis now manifest!

Good Morning,

The rail network is floundering.  There were 24 rail service disruption notices posted by TransLink yesterday on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1019249162812993536

This is another sign of the impact on Queensland Rail of the botched NGR project.

Urgent action is now needed on a number of levels.

The NGR project management needs to be removed from DTMR and given over to Queensland Rail.  Working through an incompetent agency is compounding the problems with NGRs.

Move to form a proper statutory authority, we suggest Public Transport Queensland.  Public Transport must be removed from DTMR.

The NGR Inquiry must be advanced.  We still need another 50 six car trains (above the present 75 NGR trains being slowly rolled out) to properly service the rail network post Cross River Rail.  This acquisition process must start soon.  The NGR Inquiry will identify the mistakes made such that they are never repeated again.

Our public transport network is being smashed, it is broken.  Time for action!

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

15th July 2018

Time for Public Transport Queensland

Good Morning,

It is very clear what needs to occur to get public transport back on track in Queensland, particularly SEQ.

As events last Friday showed with certainty, the rail network is on a knife edge.  Bus network crying out for proper reform.  All recent surveys highlight that public transport is trouble.  Unless we change the broken paradigm, our public transport will remain broken, and road congestion will magnify to terminal gridlock.

Please consider:

There has been a strong response to our Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/RAILBackOnTrack/posts/2128680323812810

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

Time for Public Transport Queensland

Good Morning,

The LNP Members expressed their general dissatisfaction with TransLink at their recent convention.
Brisbanetimes --> LNP members call for a review of TransLink

We agree, TransLink and DTMR are a failure when it comes to the administration and delivery of public transport. The Government did task the Citytrain Response Unit to make recommendations with respect to an Integrated Public Transport Model. They completed the review December 2017 and passed to Government for consideration ( https://www.cru.qld.gov.au/Reports ). Nothing has been heard since.

There is little doubt that Queensland must move forward with a proper stand alone Public Transport Authority, out of the failure contagion at DTMR. The TransLink brand can remain as such, but a proper authority similar to the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia ( http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/ ) is needed. Simply blundering along with the failure structures at present is only making everything worse.

The rail network is on its knees, the bus network overdue for proper reform, passengers forced to abandon public transport because of unreliability, poor service frequency, poor connections and a contempt attitude from TransLink and DTMR. The lack of timely reporting, the fire-wall between the public (communications outsourced), the silos of blunder and miscommunication are all compounding the failure.

Unless there is radical change, the mess will never be sorted. It is time you earned your keep Mr Bailey. If you cannot do the right and proper thing, please stand aside, and let someone else do the heavy lifting.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1019257985518862336

[ozbob]

The following has been submitted to the Citytrain Response Unit by form mailer, today 14th July 2018.

With reference to Fixing the trains December Quarter 2017 - Completed Stage 1 of the Integrated Public Transport Model Review.  Could you please email the details of stage 1 of the review.  Our group, RAIL Back On Track has an interest in the best structure for the administration and delivery of public transport in Qld.  Thank you.

Response received.  Not much point in RTI at this stage as it would be a cabinet in confidence matter I would expect.

Dear Mr Dow

Thank you for your email regarding Stage 1 of the Integrated Public Transport Model Review.

In line with the requirements of Recommendation 36a-c of the Queensland Rail Train Crewing Practices Commission of Inquiry, the Citytrain Response Unit has developed a recommended integrated public transport model which is designed to deliver a customer-focused, world-class public transport system for all Queenslanders.

Consultation regarding the recommended model is currently underway with Government stakeholders and as such, no further information can be publicly released at this time.

Regards,


CITYTRAIN RESPONSE UNIT

Level 3, 61 Mary Street
Brisbane QLD 4000
e: info@cru.qld.gov.au
w: www.cru.qld.gov.au

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

4th August 2018

Integrated public transport model - update

Good Morning,

I made a request to the Citytrain Response Unit for any information that may be available concerning the ' Integrated Public Transport Model Review '.  I was informed that

" In line with the requirements of Recommendation 36a-c of the Queensland Rail Train Crewing Practices Commission of Inquiry, the Citytrain Response Unit has developed a recommended integrated public transport model which is designed to deliver a customer-focused, world-class public transport system for all Queenslanders.

Consultation regarding the recommended model is currently underway with Government stakeholders and as such, no further information can be publicly released at this time. " ( https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12341.msg211382#msg211382 ).

This is good news of sorts, as at least there might be a chance that we might end up with a proper Public Transport Authority.

There is little doubt that Queensland must move forward with a proper stand alone Public Transport Authority, out of the failure contagion at DTMR. The TransLink brand can remain as such, but a proper authority similar to the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia ( http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/ ) is needed. Simply blundering along with the failure structures at present is only making everything worse.

The rail network is on its knees, the bus network overdue for proper reform, passengers forced to abandon public transport because of unreliability, poor service frequency, poor connections and a contempt attitude from TransLink and DTMR (' we know best '). The lack of timely reporting, the fire-wall between the public (communications outsourced), the silos of blunder and miscommunication are all compounding the failure.

Unless there is radical change, the mess will never be sorted.  At least there is a glimmer of hope in the dark sea of mediocrity.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1025418600646029313

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1025564289929641987

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1030694120283496448

https://twitter.com/ArturoLindop/status/1030709218964209664

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1031294803667873792

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

21st August 2018

Integrated public transport model ?

Good Morning,

Be very interesting to find how the " Consultation regarding the recommended model is currently underway with Government stakeholders ... " is proceeding.  Clearly the only hope for the proper future improvement of the public transport network is to set up an authority removed from the roads focussed organisation, a public transport authority that truly has the resources, the skill sets, the knowledge to advance from the current paradigm of failure.

I would have thought the public would be key stakeholder in these matters.  Government and its bureaucracies are distant and aloof.  This secret consultation is just another example  of the contempt displayed to the average punter in my opinion.

Don't hold your breath ...

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

Sent to all outlets:

4th August 2018

Integrated public transport model - update

Good Morning,

I made a request to the Citytrain Response Unit for any information that may be available concerning the ' Integrated Public Transport Model Review '.  I was informed that

" In line with the requirements of Recommendation 36a-c of the Queensland Rail Train Crewing Practices Commission of Inquiry, the Citytrain Response Unit has developed a recommended integrated public transport model which is designed to deliver a customer-focused, world-class public transport system for all Queenslanders.

Consultation regarding the recommended model is currently underway with Government stakeholders and as such, no further information can be publicly released at this time. " ( https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12341.msg211382#msg211382 ).

This is good news of sorts, as at least there might be a chance that we might end up with a proper Public Transport Authority.

There is little doubt that Queensland must move forward with a proper stand alone Public Transport Authority, out of the failure contagion at DTMR. The TransLink brand can remain as such, but a proper authority similar to the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia ( http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/ ) is needed. Simply blundering along with the failure structures at present is only making everything worse.

The rail network is on its knees, the bus network overdue for proper reform, passengers forced to abandon public transport because of unreliability, poor service frequency, poor connections and a contempt attitude from TransLink and DTMR (' we know best '). The lack of timely reporting, the fire-wall between the public (communications outsourced), the silos of blunder and miscommunication are all compounding the failure.

Unless there is radical change, the mess will never be sorted.  At least there is a glimmer of hope in the dark sea of mediocrity.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1031574831496454145

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1034120016784805888

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily 4th September 2018 page 14

Transport solutions missing

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> New trains to run on 139 services, but no express trains for Redcliffe

As Queensland Rail chief executive Nick Easy announced almost new trains would run on 140 services, he was unable to explain why only one-third of the expected passengers are using the Petrie to Kippa-Ring rail line.

It has emerged that the Redcliffe Peninsula (Petrie to Kippa-Ring) line carried fewer than one-third of the expected 21,000 daily customers.

"I think that is question that TransLink needs to answer," Mr Easy said when quizzed on the line's poor performance.

Mr Easy announced on Monday that two additional New Generation Rollingstock trains had been added to the CityTrain network.

That meant 27 of the 75 new trains were now in service.

The two new trains will run on the Redcliffe Peninsula and the Springfield lines and provide 139 additional services a week.

However, Mr Easy also said the new trains did not mean extra express services to the Redcliffe line, despite calls for these services by commuters on Monday.

"At this point in time our focus in that we consistently provide the current timetable," he said.

"So the resources that we have, supports that current timetable.

"We have recently seen in the June and July period and in the (August) holiday timetable for the Ekka, there was no downgrading in services."

Mr Easy said that was because Queensland Rail had extra train crew.

"At this point in time I am not in a position to comment on other increases to services," he said.

The Redcliffe Peninsula line will receive an extra 22 services, but not express services.

Mr Easy said there was a "one-seat journey", which took 55 minutes, from Kippa-Ring to Brisbane Central on the line.

Public transport advocacy group Rail Back on Track has cited a lack of express services and poor bus connections with Hornibrook Bus Lines as major problems.

Hornibrook referred all enquiries about its bus services to TransLink.

Mr Easy would not comment on the connection between bus lines and rail lines, although he has on other occasions.

"Queensland Rail is not responsible for the bus services or the connections," he said.

"But what we will continue to do is work with TransLink and all the authorities in relation to the delivery of the timetable."

The Queensland government will pay $4.4 billion over 32 years to add 75 of the latest trains and carriages to the CityTrain network.

The roll-out of the trains, which are assembled at purpose-built rail yards at Wulkuraka near Ipswich, have been marred by design flaws, driver shortages and union problems.

Mr Easy said "testing" of the trains would influence how quickly the remaining 48 trains would be added to the CityTrain network, but declined to give any indication to reporters.

"The timing for the deployment of the future lines is something that we will communicate to our customers in due course," he said.

Mr Easy said the incident where one of the NGR trains came into contact with overhead power lines on July 7 was still being investigated by Queensland Rail.

"We do know there was an issue with the pantograph," he said.

The pantograph is the structure on top of a train which connects to the electrical power supply.

"That led to the delinement (sic), but what we will do is conclude that investigation," he said.

"That particular train was withdrawn from service and that matter has been rectified and the train has been returned to the network."

Mr Easy also declined to answer a question about a possible merger of QR and TransLink into a single public transport authority.

"That is question you will have to address to the state (government)," he said.

In March, independent experts recommended a merger of Queensland Rail and TransLink after identifying "a serious culture of mistrust" between the two bodies.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story stated the NGR trains would add 139 services to the timetable. The NGR trains will instead replace older trains on existing services.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

26th October 2018

' Greater Brisbane's public transport worst in the nation '

Good Morning.

The Couriermail has been running the series #FutureSEQ and today they conclude that " Greater Brisbane's public transport worst in the nation" with the headline " The key indicator our public transport sucks "  https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/future-seq/greater-brisbanes-public-transport-worst-in-the-nation/news-story/466797fa154d1b2ed9f1548801d4f61b

As we have been pointing out for years the basics for public transport are simply neglected in SEQ.  Bus network reform is well overdue, this alone would drive significant gains in patronage and is essentially low cost compared to the billions of dollars being poured into concrete.

Our bus network proposal for Brisbane was launched on the 5th November 2014 ( https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11047.msg148434#msg148434 - a copy of the media release ).  It is never too late to start to pick up the pieces.

Our rail network is an under performer - gross under performer sadly.  Transperth (Perth WA), a rail network roughly a quarter the size of the SEQ rail network carried 8 million more passengers than the Citytrain network in 2017-18.  There is a lot of latent capacity on rail in SEQ, it needs to be tapped.   Queensland Rail Citytrain should aim for 100 million passengers annually in three years (presently 52 million).

The key issue though is the organisation and administration of public transport in Queensland.  The present structures have delivered failure (rail fail, botched new trains - NGRs, bus network reform fail, fare fail, Brisbane now the nation's worst for public transport) and the structure needs reform.  There needs to be a stand alone public transport authority (a model such as the Public Transport Authority of WA is a good one) with the resources and the will to turnaround the failure.  The present structure of Transport and Main Roads and TransLink will not.  They will just continue to propagate failure.  The Government did task the Citytrain Response Unit to make recommendations with respect to an Integrated Public Transport Model.  They completed the review December 2017 and passed to Government for consideration ( https://www.cru.qld.gov.au/Reports ). Nothing has been heard since.

Do nothing is not an option, it is getting worse by the day ...

Best wishes,

Robert

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