Redcliffe Peninsula line & associated changes - rail

[SurfRail]

I'd also like to see the ability to raise a passenger transport tax for all of SEQ in particular (collected through rates in the same way as fire levies)

Not sure if its been mentioned anywhere on the forum, The Bay Islands SMBI already pay a "Translink Operations charge" of $ 87.04 per property on the rates notice on top of the 6 zone ripoff fare to travel from the island to the mainland @ Redland Bay.

Ferries are expensive, and they choose to live on an island in the middle of the bay. 

GCCC levy is higher.

If everybody is paying a harmonised transport charge, it should mean that charge vanishes, the charges levied by other councils also vanish, and Brisbane City general rates should be able to be dropped as Council would no longer be making outlays any more significant than bus stop works.

[ozbob]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/kate-jones-tipped-to-replace-stirling-hinchliffe-as-commonwealth-games-minister/news-story/a5ddf5bd31658262bc05f4e7c121ae8e

Kate Jones tipped to replace Stirling Hinchliffe as Commonwealth Games minister

BUMBLING Palaszczuk Government minister Stirling Hinchliffe is set to be stripped of his Commonwealth Games responsibilities, with Tourism Minister Kate Jones tipped to take back the plum portfolio.

As event organisers prepare to unveil family-friendly ticket prices today, highly placed Government sources told The Sunday Mail that Mr Hinchliffe would be relieved of the Games role as early as this week.

The besieged Transport Minister is tipped to also lose his job as Leader of the House so he can focus on remedying the shortage of train drivers, which has seen hundreds of services cancelled and commuters left furious.

Updated:  http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/kate-jones-tipped-to-replace-stirling-hinchliffe-as-commonwealth-games-minister/news-story/a5ddf5bd31658262bc05f4e7c121ae8e

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszszuk says besieged Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe will remain minister for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Ms Palaszczuk rejected suggestions Mr Hinchliffe would be stood down as Games Minister to focus on fixing the Queensland Rail crisis which has caused commuter chaos over the past month.

She said this morning he was a senior minister in her cabinet and it wouldn't be a "good look" to other Commonwealth countries to make a change 17 months before the Gold Coast event.

Earlier, Mr Hinchliffe said he believed he would still be the Commonwealth Games Minister by the end of the week, despite mounting speculation he would lose the portfolio.

Mr Hinchliffe said he was keen to keep the role and denied suggestions that he was unable to handle the job.

"I do expect to be the Commonwealth Games Minister by this end of the week, and I do want to make sure that I'm continuing to work on what will be a fantastic event," he said.

"Ultimately, as I've said on a number of occasions, decisions around my work within the Government are a matter for the Premier.

"What role the Premier wants me to play, what tasks she gives me, is ultimately her decision and I'm very comfortable with that."

Mr Hinchliffe also insisted he was up for the task of both the transport and Commonwealth Games portfolios and said the roles were complementary.

"I do believe that they're complementary and that they work well," he said.

"Despite the challenging issues that I've faced in relation to insufficient and frankly, at times, straight-out-misleading briefings I've had from Queensland Rail, I'm confident that where we are going forward will be very effective for both the transport portfolio and the Commonwealth Games."

Mr Hinchliffe today unveiled a new train timetable to address the driver shortage that has plagued Queensland Rail over the past month.

The new timetable will feature 313 less services than the October 4 timetable, but will have slightly more services than what was originally available before the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line.

"The issues that we've had have been a function of a lack of train crew," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"We're making sure that we've built this timetable to be sustainable within the framework of the current train crewing levels."

The new timetable will come into effect tomorrow. Commuters have been urged to check the TransLink website for changes. ...

[Stillwater]

Perhaps someone can explain the administrative relationships/linkages and chain-of-command, core responsibilities of each of Building Queensland, Department of Transport and Main Roads, Translink and Queensland Rail, as well as Cross River Rail Delivery Authority.  All seems to have a finger in the pie when it comes to planning, delivering and operating critical transport infrastructure.  Left hand - right hand confusion seems to play out in some areas.

[ozbob]

Perhaps someone can explain the administrative relationships/linkages and chain-of-command, core responsibilities of each of Building Queensland, Department of Transport and Main Roads, Translink and Queensland Rail, as well as Cross River Rail Delivery Authority.  All seems to have a finger in the pie when it comes to planning, delivering and operating critical transport infrastructure.  Left hand - right hand confusion seems to play out in some areas.

It is an absurd conglomerate of confusion! 

Sent to all outlets:

6th November 2016

Transport - single portfolio Minister

Good Morning,

Suggestions in the Sunday Mail today that Minister Hinchliffe might give up some of his other portfolios and just remain with Transport.

[ http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/kate-jones-tipped-to-replace-stirling-hinchliffe-as-commonwealth-games-minister/news-story/a5ddf5bd31658262bc05f4e7c121ae8e ]

RAIL Back On Track would support this in principle.

Public transport needs close attention and focus.  Sorting out Queensland Rail  will be one very specific task for Mr Hinchliffe.  Lots more to do!  Bus reform, delivering of fare reform, NGR trains, timetable mess .. infrastructure!

Setting up a proper Public Transport Authority with the resources and authority to sort out public transport is needed too in our opinion.

The passenger transport functions need to be consolidated in one place, with one minister responsible.  All urban services, all subsidised long distance services, all on-demand services regulated by the government - part of one properly planned agency.  If this was done ' alliance ' models with councils would not be needed.

The infrastructure management needs to be dealt with holistically too.  The people responsible for main roads, railways, ports, busways etc. should all be under the same "roof".

Best wishes
Robert

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

[Stillwater]

In a gesture of goodwill, perhaps RailBOT could offer Mr Hinchliffe 'honorary membership' of this web group so that he can remain informed and kept up-to-date about what is happening in his portfolio area.

[ozbob]

In a gesture of goodwill, perhaps RailBOT could offer Mr Hinchliffe 'honorary membership' of this web group so that he can remain informed and kept up-to-date about what is happening in his portfolio area.

LOL.  It is being noted I am sure ..   

[red dragin]

 

In a gesture of goodwill, perhaps RailBOT could offer Mr Hinchliffe 'honorary membership' of this web group so that he can remain informed and kept up-to-date about what is happening in his portfolio area.

[ozbob]

News.com.au --> Train chaos ... but Queensland Rail takes top award

AFTER more than a fortnight of train woes and accusations of misleading briefings to Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe, Queensland Rail has taken out a top project management award.

QR has won the Australian Institute of Project Management's National Project of the Year award for its Bowen Hills-based rail management centre.

The award was accepted at a "gala dinner" at Sydney's Dockside Pavilion.

"The new Rail Management Centre is a $40 million investment in the future of the southeast Queensland rail network, to ensure that we continue our impressive on-time running record of more than 95 per cent" QR's acting chief operating officer Martin Ryan said.

"The project was delivered seven months ahead of time and approximately $9 million under budget.

"The building of the Rail Management Centre supported more than 800 jobs over the life of the project and boasts world class technologies including the second largest LG control screen in the world."

AIPM CEO Yvonne Butler said: "The team at QR should be immensely proud of winning this year's National Project of the Year.

"This year saw some of the strongest competition for the award in memory from right across the country, and to be awarded this honour shows just how strong the submission was right across the board."

QR's CEO and chair recently resigned in the wake of a timetable debacle that caused commuter chaos and revelations that advice warning of possible driver shortages was not handed up the chain.

[Stillwater]

This reminds me of the Yes Minister episode about the award-winning hospital that won an efficiency award, yet had no patients.  So we have a train management centre that now manages 300 fewer trains a day.  It must be very efficient!  And it has a big screen, whoo whoo.

[ozbob]

This one?

[Stillwater]

A hospital without medical staff and a passenger railway organisation with an award-winning management centre with too few trains to manage and not enough drivers to man the trains ....

[ozbob]

.@AnnastaciaMP threatens to widen responsibilities of the investigator into the rail debacle. @ShaneDoherty9 #9News https://t.co/51SJM9QH1a

— Nine News Brisbane (@9NewsBrisbane) November 8, 2016

[Stillwater]

Politics alive and well in the transport debate.  Sometimes you get the impression it is more important than the service provided to the travelling public.

[SurfRail]

I'm still seeing reports of PDF timetables that are not matching the JP.  That is truly unforgivable stuff.

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Hansard 8th November 2016

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2016/2016_11_08_DAILY.pdf

Ministerial Statements

Queensland Rail, Timetable

Hon. SJ HINCHLIFFE (Sandgate—ALP) (Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games)
(10.07 am): I can cautiously report that the new 2016 timetable for Queensland Rail is delivering for the
public. This morning QR achieved an on-time running result of 88.36 per cent. These delays were due
to a track fault at Yeerongpilly that affected the airport, Gold Coast, Beenleigh and Ferny Grove lines.
These faults are a fairly routine issue that can occur across a heavy rail network the size and scope of
Citytrain. I have not been advised of any service issues due to crew shortages this week.

I have spoken to the acting CEO of Queensland Rail multiple times this morning, and he advised
that repairs to these impacted units are being progressed. Yesterday morning they achieved 98 per
cent on-time running during the morning peak. Disappointingly, the pm peak on-time running was just
above 80 per cent, largely impacted by a signal points failure on the Merivale Bridge and a boom gate
strike at Cannon Hill. Those familiar with our train network would understand that an operational issue
at the Merivale Bridge has significant flow-on impacts across our train network, as it is a bottleneck
across the river. This further underlines the desperate need for the Cross River Rail project. I know how
hard the Deputy Premier is working to deliver that project, with more funding already on the table from
this government than from any other government in the project's history.

We are not out of the woods yet, but Acting CEO, Neil Scales, and the interim chair, Nicole
Hollows, have developed this stable timetable for government. There is a long and ongoing body of
work to do to build up our train crew numbers so that we can deliver the most services possible. We
have started this task, opening recruitment for more than 200 more drivers and 200 more guards since
coming to office. We have received high volumes of applications—over 300 for drivers and over 380
for guards—and are currently processing them. We are reaching out to former and retired drivers. We
are investing in our network. We are getting things back on track. This new stable timetable from QR is
frankly what should have been in place since the commencement of the Redcliffe peninsula line last
month. That did not happen and I apologise for the impact on our travelling public that this has caused.
I am focused on the task the Premier has given me to improve the service numbers in Queensland Rail
and I am determined that we can deliver.

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Hansard 8th November 2016

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2016/2016_11_08_DAILY.pdf

Questions Without Notice

Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games

Mr NICHOLLS (10.34 am): My first question is to the Minister for Transport. Last week the
minister avoided responsibility for the rail crisis. Yesterday the minister denied responsibility three times
for the future of the timetable and Queensland Rail services. Will the minister explain to the House just
what exactly will he take responsibility for?

Mr HINCHLIFFE: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. I have been very clear on
a number of occasions that the Premier has given me responsibility to fix this mess up. That is why I
have been working so closely with the acting CEO of Queensland Rail and the acting chair of
Queensland Rail to make sure that we have in place a sustainable and reliable timetable that the
commuters of South-East Queensland should justifiably expect. That is what we have seen delivered
and put into place in the first instance from yesterday and will be in place for the remainder of this week
and continue for the remainder of 2016. What that does is meet the measures of responsibility that the
Premier has put down in front of me around delivering our five-point plan, our five-point plan that delivers
a responsible and reliable timetable for the South-East Queensland Citytrain network and also has the
pathway to recruit and develop the train crew capability that we need.

When we talk about responsibility, it is utterly important that in the context of looking at
responsibilities we do understand and appreciate that a statutory authority has the responsibility for the
operational activities of that statutory authority. What responsible ministers are responsible for is
ensuring that those authorities have the resources and the capability to deliver what is required. That
is what we are doing as a government. What I have been doing as minister is making sure that we
deliver the resources to Queensland Rail to deliver on that five-point plan that we promised to
commuters here in South-East Queensland.

When it comes to responsibility it is time that former shareholding ministers of Queensland Rail,
the member for Clayfield and the member for Indooroopilly, take responsibility for the lack of resources
that were present in Queensland Rail that has led to this mess. It is time that they take responsibility
and deliver the documentation, the materials and the briefing papers that are relevant from their time
of government that show that they were responsible for the cuts and damages that we have seen that
have led to this crisis. It is time that they take responsibility for the cut of 66 positions from the driver
training unit. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to step up to that responsibility and table and provide
the documents that are relevant from his time in government.

Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games

Mr NICHOLLS: My second question is to the Premier. Last week the transport minister failed to
take responsibility for the Queensland Rail crisis. Yesterday he denied responsibility for fixing the crisis.
Today he continues to deny responsibility for the Queensland Rail debacle. When will the Premier force
the transport minister to do the right thing and either take responsibility or resign?

Ms PALASZCZUK: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. As the minister has
clearly stated, I have said to the Minister for Transport that he needs to fix the problem. That is what he
is 100 per cent focused on. What I have done is commissioned Philip Strachan to get to the bottom of
what happened in Queensland Rail. Queensland Rail is responsible for the operational business of
Queensland Rail. That is what their job is. They report to the shareholding ministers. For Philip Strachan
to get to the bottom of what happened he needs to see the documents of the former government. It has
been seven days since we have called on the Leader of the Opposition and the member for
Indooroopilly to release those documents. What we are hearing very clearly is that there were savage
cuts under the administration of the Leader of the Opposition when he was Treasurer of this state. What
we are hearing is that there were 66 trainers who were cut from that program. We need to get to the
bottom of it. Today I am calling on the Leader of the Opposition to release those documents. I do not
want to be forced, but if I have to I will broaden Philip Strachan's responsibilities to access those
documents. If I do not get those documents this week, I will broaden his powers so that he can get
those documents. Today, is the opposition going to cooperate or not? Will they cooperate this week?

Yesterday morning, the Minister for Transport was at the train control centre monitoring the peak.
He has been back, meeting with the train crews and the public, which is something that those opposite
never did when they were in government. They were not willing to meet with the public, because they
were too busy picking fights. I have charged the Minister for Transport with fixing this up. I am advised
that we now have in place a reliable timetable for the commuting public of South-East Queensland.
That is exactly what we are doing.

Queensland Rail, Train Cancellations

Mrs FRECKLINGTON: My question without notice is to the Minister for Transport. I refer to the
ongoing impacts of the rail crisis on Brisbane commuters. In particular, a member of the public, April
from North Lakes, has contacted the opposition, saying—
I was not able to get the train from the city in time to pick up my nephew from school. I had to phone the school—and he is only
six—to tell them I would be late and not sure when I would get there. He had to wait for me for an hour and a half. This is not on.
When will the minister accept responsibility for Queensland Rail and apologise to April and her nephew?

Mr HINCHLIFFE: I acknowledge the question and thank the Deputy Leader of the Opposition for
it. Clearly, the instance that we are hearing about would relate to the circumstances that occurred when
we saw the late notice of cancellations last Friday. That is fundamentally what the new timetable, which
delivers the certainty and the reliability that commuters in South-East Queensland want and expect, is
all about. We want to eliminate the circumstances where things such as that can occur and we are
seeing that already with the implementation of the timetable. No cancellations are occurring as a result
of crewing issues and any of the cancellations that we are seeing—and, in fact, we are mainly seeing
late running rather than cancellations—are a function of the normal challenges of running a heavy rail
network the size and scale of the Citytrain network in South-East Queensland, with the rolling stock
and infrastructure issues that can occur from time to time.

I note that again the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has raised the issue of responsibility. I
encourage her to reflect upon the responsibility that the Leader of the Opposition might bear in making
sure that he steps up to the challenge that the Premier and I have put down to release the vitally
important documents from their time in government. We want to see whether they tell the public what
side they are on in the whole issue of how we have dealt with the challenge of the delivery of services
from Queensland Rail. We want to ensure that they step up to the mark.
What did we see from the former minister and member for Indooroopilly? In a media release
dated 15 April 2013, he said—
We will make the organisation more efficient so we can employ more train crew, deliver better timetables and add more trains to
the network.

What have we seen occur? We have seen 66 positions cut from the driver training unit. When in office,
the LNP spent almost $350,000 on not one but three separate recruitment processes for a CEO. What
they did not spend on was drivers and guards, which is what the Palaszczuk government is doing. The
Palaszczuk government is making the investments that Queensland Rail needs to deliver for customers
in South-East Queensland. That is the pathway forward in the five-point plan that I am taking
responsibility for delivering.

Queensland Rail, Train Cancellations
Ms DAVIS: My question without notice is to the Minister for Transport. I refer to the ongoing
impacts of the rail crisis on Brisbane commuters. In particular, Geeta from Nundah has written to the
opposition saying that she is very concerned for her son's safety as he relies on the train system to get
to school. She said, 'I was very worried and concerned for my child's safety especially knowing that he
was alone' after his train was repeatedly cancelled. When will the minister take responsibility for
Queensland Rail and assure Geeta this situation will not be repeated?
Mr HINCHLIFFE: I thank the member for Aspley for her question. I have also spoken to the
parents of children who travel using our rail network and share with them the concern around the short
notice cancellations that have occurred and damaged the reliability of our Queensland Rail network.
That is why I took responsibility for delivering the five-point plan that the Premier asked me to deliver in
relation to finding a pathway to a sustainable and reliable timetable. That came into play from yesterday
to deliver for the commuters on South-East Queensland's rail network.
We are not seeing the cancellation or derogation of service or even lateness as a result of
anything to do with train crew. Now that we have this sustainable timetable we are seeing a level of
reliability that people have not been able to enjoy for the last couple of weeks. I absolutely appreciate
that and accept that.
I know that is why we have had to take these actions and I have had to take responsibility for
delivering this five-point action plan to deliver the reliability that Queenslanders need and strengthen
the capability and resources available. The responsibility of the shareholding ministers is to ensure that
Queensland Rail has the resources available to it to deliver the operational outcomes that we expect of
it. That is what we are doing not only through delivering a reliable timetable but also through ensuring
that that timetable provides the opportunity for training to occur and for the expansion of the capability
to deliver on the recruitment numbers that the Palaszczuk government has put in place.
We have seen a lack of recruitment. The last major recruitment campaign happened in 2011
under the Premier when she was the former transport minister. We have seen a dearth of recruitment
over the last number of years. We saw that tick up when the Deputy Premier started a recruitment
process in late 2015. That is where we started. We have added to that further with our five-point plan.
Recruitment and training is going on at a greater level now. We want to improve that. That is what the
sustainable timetable helps us deliver.
I equally want to acknowledge, because the member for Aspley makes particular reference to a
student travelling from Nundah, that I have had representations from the member for Nudgee in relation
to the changes to the timetable that have affected passengers in that part of the north. That is why with
any further changes to the timetable we will look particularly closely at how we make sure we support
customers, including students who rely on our transport network.

Queensland Rail, Train Cancellations
Mr MANDER: My question is to the Minister for Transport. I refer to the ongoing impacts of the
rail crisis on Brisbane commuters. In particular, Ken from Lawton has written to the opposition stating—
Being a disabled pensioner and uncertainty of trains, our rail travel is put on hold.
When will the minister take responsibility for Queensland Rail and apologise to Ken and his family?
Mr WHITING: I rise to a point of order, Mr Speaker. There was a very lengthy preamble to that
question.
Mr SPEAKER: There is no point of order. I will allow the question. Minister, did you understand
the question?
Mr HINCHLIFFE: Yes, Mr Speaker. I thank the member for Everton for his question. This morning
in my ministerial statement I have acknowledged and apologised—and I have done this in person to
many commuters on our rail network—for the disruption and cancellations that we have seen over the
past couple of weeks. That is why it is so important that I have taken up the responsibility that the
Premier has charged me with to deliver the sustainable timetable that commenced as of yesterday that
is delivering for commuters on our rail network here in South-East Queensland. I heard from commuters
firsthand when I was travelling on the rail network last week that what they were looking for was
reliability.
Mr Minnikin: Was the train on time?
Mr HINCHLIFFE: Yes. I take that interjection from the member for Chatsworth. Each of the
services that I have travelled on in the last week has been in fact on time. I am interested to know how
many services the member for Chatsworth has been on.
I want to reiterate that I do apologise for the inconvenience that has been experienced by
commuters on our rail network in the last couple of weeks. I particularly note the concerns that the
member for Everton has raised on behalf of those people living with a disability who use and rely upon
our rail network. It is particularly important that we look after them. That is why it is particularly important
that part of our commitment in our five-point plan for restoring services in Queensland Rail is a
commitment to having both drivers and guards on our Queensland Rail trains, including our new
generation rolling stock—something which the previous government was certainly not committed to.
Mr SPEAKER: Member for Toowoomba North, you are now warned under standing order 253A
for your repetitive interjections. You have had a pretty good go. If you continue, I will take the appropriate
action.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Rail, Tram and Bus Union pushed to strengthen Queensland Rail's internal hiring rules

QUEENSLAND Rail bowed to union pressure for rules making it harder to hire train drivers externally despite a "critical" staff shortage and an overtime bill of almost $1 million.

QR was in the midst of a rail timetable crisis and relying on drivers to work overtime when the Rail, Tram & Bus Union negotiated to beef-up internal hiring rules last month.

Existing rules bolstered in 2013 required QR to offer 100 new driver positions, which opened in December, to its train guards before looking outside the organisation.

But the union pushed to strengthen internal hiring rules during enterprise bargaining, and QR struck an ­­­in-principle deal on October 6, almost a week after the shortage resulted in hundreds of train cancellations. Under the agreement, QR would be forced to offer driver jobs to its guards, and then to the wider organisation of 6000 staff, ­before it could begin searching for outside recruits.

The deal was struck after train crews threatened to "further disrupt services" through strike action. A spokeswoman for Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe last night disputed the rule change, saying internal ­recruitment provisions for drivers were the same as those signed under the former LNP government in 2013.

But QR confirmed the requirement to seek train driver applicants from across the business before looking externally was an added step in the new enterprise agreement.

A spokeswoman said QR had sought internal applicants ahead of external applications for many years before formalising the practice.

Options to fast-track extra driver training schools are being considered. RTBU secretary Owen Doogan denied that hiring rules were a problem, instead blaming the lag in driver training on a 2013 recruitment freeze and staff redundancies.

But a controversial report for QR by consultant Indec in February warned QR its staffing was dysfunctional and it was short 56 drivers. Train crew made up less than 20 per cent of staff but almost a third of the organisation's overtime, it said. Union rules also required QR to fill 100 new trainee guard positions from within.

Not sure about this, but it is more he said, she said, he said, she said stuff.

Just fix the train service delivery please! 

[#Metro]

Rail, Tram and Bus Union pushed to strengthen Queensland Rail's internal hiring rules

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/rail-tram-and-bus-union-pushed-to-strengthen-queensland-rails-internal-hiring-rules/news-story/601d41c923f8a6abc0175a671e6d686e

^^

I'm not so interested in most of this story, but one statistic stood out:

But a controversial report for QR by consultant Indec in February warned QR its staffing was dysfunctional and it was short 56 drivers. Train crew made up less than 20 per cent of staff but almost a third of the organisation's overtime, it said. Union rules also required QR to fill 100 new trainee guard positions from within.

Just 20% of QR staff are traincrew?

Out of curiosity, what are the other 80% then? I expect maintenance crew, but how much is administration then?

[ozbob]

Station staff, train controllers, track maintenance, train maintenance, Travel train staff and so forth.

All had cuts too under the LNP.  The only alarmingly thing is the excess OT for train crew.  30% is too much, 10% is pretty much the norm.

[Stillwater]

It is very clear that the 'independent' investigation that the ALP Government has ordered, and the associated demands for the LNP to release Cabinet papers of the former government dealing with QR staff cutbacks, are all part of some political witch-hunt.  Smear the LNP, shaft home the blame to when the rot set in, etc.

However enlightening that might be, it will look at this issue in retrospect and through a political prism.  That's not good enough.

What the community demands, and what it is not getting, is a sign that the government has a grip on the OPERATIONAL and ADMINISTRATIVE/GOVERNANCE issues facing us all, and the clear way forward -- an action plan, if you like.  Mr Hinchliffe points to his five-point plan, but they are merely chapter headings in a book that is yet to be written.

There must be root and branch changes to the administrative linkages between TMR, Translink and QR, because the current situation (forget the politics) flew beneath everyone's radar.  The Minister and his advisers were asleep at the wheel.

What are the actions required, what is the timeline in which they need to occur and what are the cost implications?

A whole-of-government solution is required (involving Treasury and Coordinator General as well.)  We are not getting that.  What we have is a friend of government tasked with causing as much political embarrassment to the LNP for its clear involvement in this matter.

But that is all so yesterday .... when what we want is a focus on tomorrow.

It's no wonder that industry and commerce groups have given up on State Labor, which appears to be marking time and doing lots of finger-pointing, but taking little decisive action.  Political grandstanding is not action.  The government must stop seeing itself as the focus and start seeing the people and the public good as the focus.

[tazzer9]

Just 20% of QR staff are traincrew?

Out of curiosity, what are the other 80% then? I expect maintenance crew, but how much is administration then?

Maintenance staff would likely be the majority.  Just remember QR only has to supply train crew for only the metro area, and long distance, with the exclusion of the inlander, and the SOQ north of mackay.  "cabin crew" (because i can't think of the correct term) is only a small amount.

QR has alot of trackage, Only the ARTC has more route km.  On top of that since the QLD system is electrified to rockhampton, you then need more specialised personnel, while in somewhere like sydney where the wires radiate out from sydney, you need less people.

Station staff would also contribute alot of jobs since many station staff roles are part time.   And QLD has a need for trying to have as many stations possible manned during morning peak.

It would be normal that the train crew category has the most overtime since it is one of the more specialised jobs.   And it something that has to run, if the station master (not too sure if they are actually station masters in the traditional sense anymore) is sick, then the station just doesn't have anyone there.

[Stillwater]

I think they are called 'station managers' these days to avoid the awkwardness over the titles 'station master/mistress'.

[ozbob]

Passengers are customers ... 

Bob Dyer was a sage ..

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Hinchliffe's electorate backs their Minister for Transport

THE Opposition may be calling for Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe's head as Brisbane rail havoc continues, but Sandgate is backing its embattled MP.

While several in the electorate did not excuse the bungle that has caused dozens of daily service cancellations, they did say their MP — who released a second remedy timetable during the weekend — need not lose his portfolio.

Brian McGeown said the finger ought to be pointed in numerous directions.

"I worked in the public sector ... and I know the public servants don't always tell their ministers everything they should," he said.

John Blackley, who commutes via train daily, said the problem was several years and two governments in the making. But others weren't as understanding.

"Wouldn't staffing be the most obvious thing you'd ask?" queried Tony Braithwaite.

While Shadow Treasurer Scott Emerson demanded the axing of Mr Hinchliffe, who claimed he was not initially told of reports warning of understaffing, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk supported her minister.

"Some 20 senior people in Queensland Rail were interviewed as part of this report and not one of them saw fit to raise it with Government," she said.

QR's woes started on October 20 when driver shortages followed the Redcliffe line launch.

Here's what locals had to say:

"The seed of this problem doesn't start with this minister. They didn't all of a sudden run out of drivers. The problem happened years ago." — John Blackley, Sandgate

"It's where the buck stops. If he wants to be a minister, he needs to stump up and be responsible. You're either in the game or you're not." — Tony Braithwaite, Newport

"I'm not convinced that it's entirely his problem. It appears from what I have read that it is a combination of the previous government and the current government." — Brian McGeown, Northside

"At a pinch I would say 'no' he shouldn't lose his portfolio, but there should be an inquiry into how it got to this point. It's probably a number of people who are at fault here." — Donna Leadbeater, Shorncliffe

"They have too many portfolios. Minister for Commonwealth Games is a job in itself. I can't see how someone can be responsible for so much and do it properly." — Robyn Whip, Brighton

[tazzer9]

I think they are called 'station managers' these days to avoid the awkwardness over the titles 'station master/mistress'.

Are they still station managers / masters in the sense that they run everything about the station.  Including being capable of safeworking duties. 
Only station in brisbane that I know for certain has people capable of this is doomben. 

[bretto82]

The only safeworking the station staff now have is issueing work crews a form to enter a stabling yard that's it the rest is done by track teams and such

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Hansard 9th November 2016

Ministerial Statements

Queensland Rail

Hon. SJ HINCHLIFFE (Sandgate—ALP) (Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games)
(2.25 pm): On a number of occasions I have said that I would provide the House with updates relating
to the issues at Queensland Rail, which include correcting erroneous reports. I can confirm for the
House that the process of recruitment of drivers and guards has been followed in line with the
established practice of many years. The 2013 enterprise agreement signed off by the former
government required QR to seek applications from existing employees in the first instance. The same
practice exists in the in-principle 2016 agreement and was followed in the recruitment drives of last year
and this year.

On 25 October, I announced that the recruitment of an additional 100 drivers and 100 guards
would occur. Consistent with the practice and consistent with the 2013 and 2016 enterprise
agreements, those applications were opened for internal applicants. I can advise that, at the close of
applications, 394 applications were received for the 100 driver positions and a further 505 applications
were received for the 100 guard positions. It is important to explain this process because, despite
signing off on the internal first recruitment process, the former government never conducted a mass
driver recruitment process.
Honourable members interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: Before I call the minister, who was shouting out, 'You don't understand it'? Was
that in the chamber or the gallery? I call the minister.

Mr HINCHLIFFE: Prior to 2015, the last major recruitment drive occurred in 2011 when the
Premier was the transport minister. The 899 applications for the 200 driver and guard positions are
currently being assessed and applicants will be required to undergo psychometric, physical and other
tests. I have said repeatedly that the government is exploring with Queensland Rail a means of fast
tracking and boosting the driver training process. That work is ongoing. QR has already complied with
all required steps to source drivers from internal applicants. We have received a strong number of
applicants and, following consideration of those applications, QR will determine if external recruitment
is required. Those are practices that have been in place for many years, including under the 2013
agreement. >

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Hansard 9th November 2016

Questions without notice

<Queensland Rail
Mrs FRECKLINGTON: <My question without notice is to the Premier>. I table an article that
appeared today in which QR has publicly contradicted the minister about train driver recruitment. I ask:
how much more evidence does the Premier need to come to the same conclusion as Queensland
commuters that the minister is out of his depth, not across his brief and should be sacked immediately?
Tabled paper: Article in the Courier-Mail, dated 9 November 2016, titled 'Union's Train Driver Cartel'.
Ms PALASZCZUK: The Minister for Transport made a detailed ministerial statement today
talking about the recruitment processes in relation to the train drivers being exactly the same
procedures that were signed under the enterprise agreement—
Mr Nicholls: No, that is not what QR say.
Ms PALASZCZUK: No. Signed by—this is my understanding.
Mr Nicholls interjected.
Mr SPEAKER: Pause the clock. Leader of the Opposition, a question has been asked of the
Premier. She is answering. It is relevant. I would urge you not to unnecessarily interject.
Ms PALASZCZUK: It is the same enterprise agreement signed under the former government.
There is nothing new. My understanding is that it is completely the same and it is the same practice.
The minister also outlined the overwhelming number of applications that have been received from those
people wishing to become train drivers and also guards. Queensland Rail is focused on delivering the
reliable timetable, and the minister is 100 per cent focused on ensuring that the issue is fixed, and the
minister has been making numerous updates to the House in relation to this matter. >

<Queensland Rail, Train Driver Recruitment

Mr POWELL: <My question without notice is of the Minister for Transport>. Last week the
minister said external recruitment of qualified train drivers would commence this week. I ask: given his
ministerial statement this afternoon, has the minister been rolled by the RTBU?

Mr HINCHLIFFE: I thank the member for Glasshouse for the question. What I have explained on
a number of occasions, including this morning, is that the recruitment process undertaken by
Queensland Rail is a process that has been in place for many years. It was reaffirmed under the former
government—with deference to you, Mr Speaker—under the Newman government where the 2013
enterprise agreement confirmed the arrangements around an internal process that needs to be
undertaken before any external recruitment processes can occur. What I referred to last week was the
fact that, under the internal recruitment process, the application process would close on Monday this
week. In fact, it closed at 5 pm on Monday, 7 November. I have advised the House today of the level
of internal interest and the number of internal applications there have been. Under the arrangements
set in place in 2013 and continued under the in-principle arrangements in the 2016 enterprise
agreement, the next stage would be to go to external recruitment.

What is happening now is the assessment and consideration of the 899 applications for the 200
positions which have come from the internal applications process. What we are seeing now is the
assessment of those applications. It is utterly appropriate and right that those people who have come
through that process are being assessed for their suitability for the positions. As I have reiterated on a
number of occasions, internal recruitment is the best and quickest way to get drivers and guards into
position. They are the people who have the route knowledge, who have the understanding of the
stations, the network and the rolling stock that is used in the Citytrain network. They are in the best
position to be trained up for the driver and guard positions. The next step, as is clearly outlined in the
process and as agreed to by everyone—including those opposite in 2013—is to go to external
recruitment should we not fill the positions through the internal process. >

Mr SPEAKER: Member for Glasshouse, you asked the question and I think you continually
raised interjections throughout the whole of the minister's answer. I did not count how many times. You
are warned under standing order 253A. If you persist I will take the appropriate action.

[tazzer9]

Sounds like they won't even have an external recruitment at all.   Anyone with a few brain cells knows they can open an external recruitment page and allow applications.   Doesn't mean they have to use them.   Testing over 800 people is not a quick task.   

[red dragin]

But there will be 200 jobs up for grabs over the next year 

[BrizCommuter]

QR's Nundah Blunder - a look at the Brisbane's least happy commuters.
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2016/11/qrs-nundah-blunder.html

[ozbob]

BrizCommuter: &#39; QR&#39;s Nundah Blunder &#39;
> https://t.co/mfqddk6Ugb#qldpol@StirlHinchliffe @QueenslandRail @TransLinkSEQ pic.twitter.com/gHzjF45FT3

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) November 9, 2016

[Stillwater]

What's the wages bill for 200 extra drivers/guards?  Will QR receive extra funds to pay the wages bill, or will the additional cost come from 'efficiency dividends' within the current operational budget?

[petey3801]

Sounds like they won't even have an external recruitment at all.   Anyone with a few brain cells knows they can open an external recruitment page and allow applications.   Doesn't mean they have to use them.   Testing over 800 people is not a quick task.

If they need it, they'll have it. No point wasting money on an external advertisement if it is not needed.

[Stillwater]

Just under half of Queensland voters believe State Labor will not manage to make the trains run on time, or show up as scheduled.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-government/palaszczuk-government-losing-faith-with-voters-galaxy-poll-reveals/news-story/bda4f46cb6a6c6017f68e5eaeb602ab4

The whole rail fail fiasco has become a metaphor for the competency of government .... if they can't make the trains run on time, how can they run and entire state.

Transport in Queensland has been interwoven with politics, more so than elsewhere.  Maybe now we will see appropriate resources applied to PT.  Especially if Pauline Hanson says she and One Nation will fix things.

[SurfRail]

Why do people expect Pauline and her party to do anything differently?

1. They are politicians.  They lie.

2. Even if they did put their policy into practice, it is populist nonsense generally contradicted by best practice and real world evidence.

3. They don't hold anything like widespread popular support, and never will.

Points 1 and 2 are applicable to any political party with measurable support as well, including but not limited to the present government.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> New acting Queensland Rail chief Neil Scales has UK track record of high expenditure

THE man appointed to lead Queensland Rail out of crisis was at the helm of a UK transport body when $116 million was sunk into a tram project without a single piece of track being laid.

Acting QR chief executive Neil Scales said he put his hand up for the job of fixing southeast Queensland's train driver shortage as he had "40-odd years of experience in transport" and could "hit the ground running".

That included 13 years running Liverpool public transport body Merseytravel in the UK.

Mr Scales was then one of the UK's most senior public transport executives. In 2005, he was awarded an OBE for his work in the sector.

But The Sunday Mail can reveal Mr Scales was in charge at Merseytravel when millions of dollars in taxpayers' cash was wasted on failed projects and questionable spending.

Four separate reviews dissected the spending, finding problems with transparency around decision making and "significant governance concerns".

Among the waste was $116 million spent on an aborted tram scheme from 2001-06.

Merseytravel "should not have committed resources at the rate it did", an audit referred to in a report by KPMG found in 2012.

Merseytravel's embattled chairman Mark Dowd stood down in 2012, while Mr Scales resigned in late 2011 and took up a $220,000-a-year job in Brisbane as head of TransLink the following year.

He was elevated to Transport and Main Roads director-general in late 2012 before being appointed acting chief executive at QR last month after rail boss Helen Gluer fell on her sword over the driver shortage.

Mr Scales declined to be interviewed, but the QR board released a statement responding to a series of detailed questions about Mr Scales' tenure at Merseytravel.

"The Queensland Rail Board noted the experience of Mr Neil Scales and ratified his appointment to the acting chief executive officer role."

A recruitment firm was being sought to lead an international search for a full-time chief executive, it said.

[Stillwater]

Today's Sunday Mail delves into Neil Scales' past.  Revelations regarding a costly tramway to one side, the more disturbing information relates to four separate inquiries and their findings re governance and transparency issues.

Governance issues surrounding QR and transparency with the public concerning the timetable, driver and train shortage and new generation trains have now come to the fore.

More motivation for Mr Hinchliffe and the state government to act.

[CQRail]

THE man appointed to lead Queensland Rail out of crisis was at the helm of a UK transport body when $116 million was sunk into a tram project without a single piece of track being laid.

I don't know the story behind the tram project, but exactly how is any different to successive governments in this state wasting millions of dollars on plans, business cases, pie in the sky projects, flashy animations, brochures and reviews without a single piece of track being laid eg: CRR/SCL/Metro?

[Stillwater]

You make a good point, CQRail.  A government that cherished and valued transparency and accountability should be able to answer this question:

"Since the beginning of CRR planning, how many person-hours have been expended by public servants and outside consultants and how many taxpayer dollars have been spent on engineering work, business case development times three, land acquisition, consultation, architectural concepts and videos/brochures/ publicity etc. associated with various iterations of this project, for which a sod is yet to be turned?"

This not "commercial-in-confidence" or any other excuse governments may give -- someone has been toting up the costs.  The issue is whether an accountable government will come clean with residents and taxpayers.