Redcliffe Peninsula line & associated changes - rail

[#Metro]

Didn't we pre-warn them ages ago about staffing levels or train crew? Vaguely remember a discussion about it on the forum.

[ozbob]

If you think back to when Richlands first opened services were basically shuttles Darra <> Richlands for a while till crew accredited etc. etc. and time to embed the new timetables properly.  I am thinking  that it all has been a case of too much too quickly, compounded by the signalling issues through Petrie.   I would not be surprised if steps backward are taken to change running patterns for a while to preserve the overall integrity of the timetable.  These massive service cancellation scenarios each week cannot be allowed to continue.  People are really getting seriously messed around now.

Didn't we pre-warn them ages ago about staffing levels or train crew? Vaguely remember a discussion about it on the forum.

There have been concerns expressed in the past in terms of crew numbers etc.  however QR believed it could deliver the new timetable otherwise it wouldn't have rolled out.

I think there have been a number of compounding issues here.  I expect we will see some service changes until things stablise.

They would have been a lot better off for the integrity of the timetable to start with shuttles on the RPL Kippa-Ring <> Petrie until the signalling issues / accreditation resolved.  That was probably too difficult politically which now sees meltdown.

I keep thinking back to the seamless introduction of the Richlands and Springfield and all the changes Corinda <> Darra West, and   Caboolture to Beerburrum. Certainly was not this cluster-fuk.

[#Metro]

Is it the case the entire (or a large number) of train crew need to all be trained on that line?

I was hearing in Melbourne Metro tried to bring in the idea of having dedicated crew for dedicated lines, to cut down on the inefficiency of training everyone on all lines.

[ozbob]

LOL ...

Brisbanetimes --> More than 100 trains cancelled across Queensland Rail network

More than 100 trains have been cancelled across south-east Queensland, with commuters expected to face heavy delays throughout the day.

A Queensland Rail spokesperson said there would be service alterations in place across the network, including morning and afternoon peak hour, but could not confirm why. ...

[tazzer9]

QR have admitted in the comments on their FB page that is due to driver shortage.  Not the PR bullsh%t of piloting others like they have been using.
At least they have organised buses and done it in a slightly more organised manner instead of saying good luck.   
Really, they should be organising free weekend bustitution on the ferny grove , shorncliffe and doomben lines so they have a few extra drivers for the week.   

[ozbob]

 {

    @crim_grim @Robert_Dow We are experiencing a traincrew shortage today due to training & planned/unplanned leave. Apologies for disruptions.
    — Queensland Rail (@QueenslandRail) October 20, 2016

}

This tweet has been deleted.

[#Metro]

Planned and unplanned leave?  :conf

Is there silent strike action? Surely not.

[ozbob]

^

I have been advised that the comment ' traincrew shortage today due to planned/unplanned leave ' is not correct.

Tweet has been deleted by Queensland Rail.

[ozbob]

The poor OTR performance for RPL is due to need for pilots and accrediting the crew I have been advised.

[techblitz]

The 4.24pm Shorncliffe to Manly train has been cancelled from Roma Street to Manly. The next train will depart Shorncliffe at 4.39pm

this cancellation has massive impact on passengers for all wynnums,murrarie,hemmant,lindum,cannon hill as the services on either side run express morningside to manly. Works out to 30 minutes between services at possibly the busiest pm peak time. Cannon hill and Wynnum central are very busy stations.
This is a guaranteed repeat of what I saw at park rd last week around 5pm...many people unable to board a 6car set. This is a high priority bus-rail transfer station.......and it should be given just that....PRIORITY WITH NO CANCELLATIONS...especially at the busiest time in pm peak. UQ students/PA hospital workers who have no option but to rail/bus transfer are getting shafted big time.

[Gazza]

The fact remains that these issues should have been foeseen and are the result of one or more government departments not doing their job properly.

Nowhere else in the world does the opening of a new rail spur cause shockwaves across the rest of the network. It's absurd.

Queenslander!

[ozbob]

Why have over 100 trains be cancelled across south-east Queensland today? ...apparently there&#38;#39;s not enough people to drive them. pic.twitter.com/5s65VwPaWJ

— ABC Radio Brisbane (@612brisbane) October 21, 2016

[ozbob]

Ten News --> Brisbane commuters set to endure a frustrating Friday of transit

Friday's are normally the best day of the week.

But for many Brisbane commuters today, it's not going to pan out that way.

Commuters are set to face delays throughout today as more than 100 train services are cancelled throughout Southeast Queensland.

Made even more annoying, is that Translink has not provided any reason for the cancellation.

A statement released said that "alterations have been planned to minimise disruption for customers."

The cancellations will affect passengers travelling from the Springfield Kippa-Ring, Northgate, Caboolture, Bowen Hills, Roma St, Cannon hill, and Coopers Plains stations.

And if you're travelling on the Springfield line between Springfield Central & Darra, or the Redcliffe Peninsula line between Petrie & Kippa-Ring, you'll need to get a bus after 7pm.

Services are expected to resume normal operations on Saturday.

[petey3801]

Vast majority of the current problems can be traced back to the Newman government's 3 year recruitment freeze and razor gang tactics.

[ozbob]

Media is simply reporting what we all know in essence, there are not enough train crew to deliver the timetable today.

But as far as reasons why that is the case it is an empty space ..

[techblitz]

Vast majority of the current problems can be traced back to the Newman government's 3 year recruitment freeze and razor gang tactics.

presents a perfect opportunity for anna2.0/mr hinchliffe to go on the offensive...

[ozbob]

Vast majority of the current problems can be traced back to the Newman government's 3 year recruitment freeze and razor gang tactics.

If that is the case ( and I am not saying that is not the case ), was undue political pressure put on QR to run the new timetable despite an awareness that there would be problems?

Or have the other issues compounded to the failure we are seeing today?

What concerns me is how this will be resolved.  More than likely the travelling public will be battered yet again.

Be nice if some leadership could be shown by our elected representatives and they come out with a comprehensive explanation of all the circumstances?

Give them an hour ..

[ozbob]

Commuters at Bowen Station catching cabs to get to the airport on time. @tennewsqld #tennews pic.twitter.com/ADdYzU28xX

— Lauren Day (@Lauren_Day_Ten) October 21, 2016

[Gazza]

Yeah a please explain is needed.

They would have been better off delaying the RPL opening and got people trained without having to cancel revenue services.

[Gazza]

Vast majority of the current problems can be traced back to the Newman government's 3 year recruitment freeze and razor gang tactics.

presents a perfect opportunity for anna2.0/mr hinchliffe to go on the offensive...

This just makes it look like they are passing the buck.
A bad look.

Im happy to make noise about this because it sends a message to both sides of government and TMR that this sort of mismanagement is not on.

Might make some aspiring razor gangers think twice....

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

21st October 2016

Train service cancellations 21st October 2016 WHY?

Greetings,

Can someone in Government please explain to a very concerned public what are the true reasons why there are not enough train crew available to deliver the normal train timetable?  A detailed comprehensive statement is required.

Waffle rolled out by various spokespeople is meaningless.  We all want to know the actual circumstances of why there are not enough train crew.

We understand that under the Newman Government there were cuts made to train driver tutors and driver trainers, and they also got rid of most of the inspectors.

This left Queensland Rail in a difficult position to train new train crew quickly.  But surely these shortfalls should have been foreseen and attempts to roll out the new train timetable to coincide with the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula line with inadequate crews be realised as problematic?

Of concern is how this cancellation mess is going to be resolved.

What little confidence is left in our public transport is rapidly disappearing.  Some political leadership is needed at this time.

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ Attached: http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12435.msg181816#msg181816 ]

[Gazza]

    
Good release.

[ozbob]

Media: &#39; Train service cancellations 21st October 2016 WHY? &#39;
> https://t.co/eY6alRDo9s#qldpol@StirlHinchliffe @QueenslandRail pic.twitter.com/2tlvE93R9H

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) October 21, 2016

[tazzer9]

"Commuters at Bowen Station catching cabs to get to the airport on time"

The traincrew shortage is so bad the spirit of queensland is skipping stations in north queensland.

[ozbob]

Queensland Rail admits new timetable isn&#38;#39;t working - there just isn&#38;#39;t the staff to cope, causing delays @tennewsqld #tennews pic.twitter.com/YIvSbP2AUw

— Lauren Day (@Lauren_Day_Ten) October 21, 2016

Twitter

Lauren Day ‏@Lauren_Day_Ten 16 minutes ago

Queensland Rail says staff were forced to come back from holidays early to try and make new Kippa-Ring line work... #tennews @tennewsqld

[STB]

I actually know the person personally who put the timetable together, we were colleagues in 2009, very smart person.  Hopefully this can be sorted without any ramifications to my former colleague and the other Planners.

It's one thing to put the timetable together in the office, which I'm absolutely certain included the roster office, but it can sometimes be a whole new ball game when you implement the timetable in real life.

[red dragin]

Friday's are obviously the weak spot in the rostering.

Might be time to polish up the resume & upgrade my Cat 2 medical to a Cat 1   

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Queensland Rail boss offers apology after 100 train services are cancelled in Brisbane due to lack of drivers

The head of Queensland Rail (QR) has issued an "unreserved apology" to Brisbane commuters affected by major train disruptions caused by a lack of drivers.

About 100 services have been cancelled on Friday because not enough drivers were trained to operate the new Redcliffe Peninsula line, which opened earlier this month.

Queensland Rail's chief executive officer Helen Gluer said QR underestimated staffing and training requirements for the new service.

"The performance of Queensland Rail since the new Redcliffe Peninsula line has opened has been unacceptable and from our customers' perspective totally unacceptable," she said.

"This is my fault. This is Queensland Rail's fault and we had unrealistic expectations on what crewing we needed to actually deliver this timetable."

Queensland Rail is hoping to release an interim timetable by Monday that will be in place until more drivers are trained.

It will reflect reduced services across the network.

  "At the moment our total focus is on getting a timetable out that we can deliver to which we will do in the next couple of days," Ms Gluer said.

She said in the long term, 20 more train drivers would need to be employed across the network

Normal weekend services

QR assured commuters regular weekend services will operate on Saturday and Sunday — despite disruptions to more than 100 services on Friday.

Trains on almost all lines faced some kind of cut, the first of which was the 7:25am Ferny Grove to Park Road service.

Dozens of other services were cancelled throughout the day, mostly outside peak periods.

Commuters on the Springfield line between Springfield Central and Darra, and those on the Redcliffe Peninsula line between Petrie and Kippa-Ring will be moved to buses after 7:00pm.

[ozbob]

Standby for service cuts, and possible reversion to older timetables.

[ozbob]

Where is the Minister for Transport?

All very well for Ms. Gluer to be rolled out and QR to make a mea culpa but is it right and is that really what is required?

There are obviously some very serious issues with Government policies, past and present I would suggest.

Gutless Government again ... all were happy to be at Kippa-Ring for the big opening hey what?

[ozbob]

LOL

I just heard a grab on 4BC radio news to the effect that the Opposition of calling for the Minister for Transport to come forward with an explanation re the cancelled services.  He should and point out the cuts by the previous mob as well, and the failure to properly resource QR since to sort the deficits.

Queensland is a fuking joke! 

[James]

This is an absolute shambles. Disgraceful. Furious. I could sit here for hours coming up with vocabulary.

Why does driver training have to be held on a weekday, and in particular, during AM & PM peaks?
Why does driver training mean Auchenflower (!) has to return to second-rate 30 minute frequency between 7pm and midnight tonight?
Why does driver training result in the cancellation of 111 services and 45 minute gaps in supposed 'turn-up-and-go' frequency?

This kind of stuff almost makes you thankful that Brisbane Transport duplicates the entire rail network. Could have very easily run shuttles or done intensive driver training over the school holidays, or kept some crew on certain lines and slowly trained additional staff. Nicholls & co. are just as guilty. Instead of focussing on the real issues, they're too busy campaigning for Cab/RPL trains to stop all stations Bowen Hills - Northgate, because 8-14tph apparently is not enough. Well, it is when QR doesn't cancel so many services.

All together now everyone!

Q U E E N S L A N D E R ! ! !   Q U E E N S L A N D E R ! ! !   Q U E E N S L A N D E R ! ! !   Q U E E N S L A N D E R ! ! !   Q U E E N S L A N D E R ! ! !   Q U E E N S L A N D E R ! ! !

[#Metro]

Why does driver training have to be held on a weekday, and in particular, during AM & PM peaks?
Why does driver training mean Auchenflower (!) has to return to second-rate 30 minute frequency between 7pm and midnight tonight?
Why does driver training result in the cancellation of 111 services and 45 minute gaps in supposed 'turn-up-and-go' frequency?

More of a case for automatic metro! No human training required! Runs itself.

[James]

More of a case for automatic metro! No human training required! Runs itself.

No, more of a case for removing stupid people from managing our government and putting in more competent people. There's no way you'd be able to automate the QR network.

[ozbob]

This is an absolute shambles. Disgraceful. Furious. I could sit here for hours coming up with vocabulary.

Why does driver training have to be held on a weekday, and in particular, during AM & PM peaks?
Why does driver training mean Auchenflower (!) has to return to second-rate 30 minute frequency between 7pm and midnight tonight?
Why does driver training result in the cancellation of 111 services and 45 minute gaps in supposed 'turn-up-and-go' frequency?

This kind of stuff almost makes you thankful that Brisbane Transport duplicates the entire rail network. Could have very easily run shuttles or done intensive driver training over the school holidays, or kept some crew on certain lines and slowly trained additional staff. Nicholls & co. are just as guilty. Instead of focussing on the real issues, they're too busy campaigning for Cab/RPL trains to stop all stations Bowen Hills - Northgate, because 8-14tph apparently is not enough. Well, it is when QR doesn't cancel so many services.

All together now everyone!

Q U E E N S L A N D E R ! ! !   Q U E E N S L A N D E R ! ! !   Q U E E N S L A N D E R ! ! !   Q U E E N S L A N D E R ! ! !   Q U E E N S L A N D E R ! ! !   Q U E E N S L A N D E R ! ! !

[bretto82]

If our governments don't even like letting the right people do the job of constructing the right fit for use infrastructure how on earth do you think they will build a automated metro the contractor building it would love that build and walk away oh it don't work them oh well we have clean hands

[tazzer9]

They could easily fix this by having all weekend rosewood and doomben trains being substituted.  They could fix this by having all off peak springfield-darra, cleveland-manly, shorncliffe-northgate, mitchelton-ferny grove trains being butsituted.

they know the services are going to be cancelled, they should be doing their best to help the customers.

[Arnz]

The other suggestion is temporarily cancelling Cannon Hill - Roma Street and Coopers Plains - Roma Street services (e.g temporarily back to Half Hourly for Cannon Hill and Coopers Plains) and bustituting off-peak Eagle Junction - Doomben and Ipswich - Rosewood weekday off-peak shuttle services until the driver training mess is sorted.

It would mean having to temporarily re-do the weekday train working & driver/guard timetables while training is in place.

[ozbob]

The other suggestion is temporarily cancelling Cannon Hill - Roma Street and Coopers Plains - Roma Street services (e.g temporarily back to Half Hourly for Cannon Hill and Coopers Plains) and bustituting off-peak Eagle Junction - Doomben and Ipswich - Rosewood weekday off-peak shuttle services until the driver training mess is sorted.

It would mean having to temporarily re-do the weekday train working & driver/guard timetables while training is in place.

The off peak Doomben and Rosewood are miniscule in resources not much point.  Where there are gains are cutting the inner city services, which is what they have been doing in the main.  These are still covered.  Bus replacement on the Rosewood line is a nightmare.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Queensland Rail chief's mea culpa on cancellations

The chief executive of Queensland Rail has blasted her organisation's performance after more than 100 Citytrain services were cancelled because of a lack of crew.

QR boss Helen Gluer said she "unreservedly" apologised for Friday's cancellations, which were only notified late on Thursday, and cited the recent opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula line as the main reason for the debacle.

Ms Gluer said the "unacceptable customer service" was all down to QR being short-staffed and caught out.

"The performance of Queensland Rail since the new Redcliffe Peninsula line opened has been unacceptable and, from our customers' perspective, totally unacceptable," she said.

"... We know now we had unrealistic assumptions on how much train crew we did need to run this new timetable."

An interim timetable would be released over the next few days, Ms Gluer said, while more drivers and guards were trained to the extent of being "route ready" for the new Redcliffe Peninsula line.

"We can't say for certain how long the training will take, because all drivers and guards are different in terms of the amount of training they need to do that," she said.

In the meantime, Ms Gluer said she put up her hand to take responsibility for the problems.

"This is my fault, this is Queensland Rail's fault and we had unrealistic expectations of what crewing we needed to actually deliver this timetable," she said.

Ms Gluer said QR was understaffed and needed about another 20 drivers to be able to meet all services.

"But that's a simplistic answer – so my apologies for that – to a more complex question, because the answer is staff have got to be able to have sufficient leisure time and down time from a rail safety sense," she said.

Current route information could be found at the Translink website.

Queensland Liberal National Party opposition transport spokesman Andrew Powell said Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe needed to take responsibility for the cancellations.

"With commuters facing yet another day of heavy delays, the least they deserve is an explanation from the minister around the cause of the outages," he said.

"Instead, Labor has been hiding behind TransLink and Queensland Rail, sending them out to handle media and take the heat.

"The Redcliffe Peninsula Line has been a long time coming. Where was the minister and why weren't proper staffing provisions put in place to ensure a smooth transition?"

For his part, Mr Hinchliffe said he was "clearly unhappy" with the level of service provided by QR in recent weeks.

"(On Friday) morning I convened a meeting of the Department of Transport and Main Roads and Queensland Rail to be briefed on these cancellations, their cause and the measures being proposed to restore the high level of service expected by the Queensland government," he said.

"Following that meeting, I have instructed the chair of Queensland Rail to call an urgent meeting of the board this weekend.

"I have asked the Queensland Rail board to satisfy itself that the executive leadership team has put in place an appropriate interim arrangement to restore continuity of services across the entire network.

"Further, I have asked the board to advise me directly on any resourcing required to maintain high levels of service, including any impact made by staffing reductions to train crew and training personnel under the former government."

The Rail Tram and Bus Union, meanwhile, levelled the blame squarely at the former LNP Newman government.

"The secret plans of (Tim) Nicholls and (Scott) Emerson to privatise this publicly owned asset have backfired spectacularly today with a train driver shortage causing delays on networks," RTBU Queensland state secretary Owen Doogan said.

" ... The secret plans of (Tim) Nicholls and (Scott) Emerson to privatise this publicly owned asset have backfired spectacularly today with a train driver shortage causing delays on networks," RTBU Queensland state secretary Owen Doogan said. "

A lot of truth in this statement .. past and present Governments have simply failed ...