Interim rail timetables

[#Metro]

http://www.timnicholls.com.au/rail-fails-labors-long-devastating-track-record/

"Under the LNP,  south-east Queensland commuters enjoyed the most efficient rail service in Australia with a 96 per cent on-time running rate.

^ This is of course baloney, most efficient rail service is likely TransPerth. Efficiency is about how much service you get for a unit input.

Perth's train service production costs are comparatively low.


It is true that Dawe was in the QR CEO position for four or so months, but that is irrelevant. That's what set the chain reaction of "old

guard" promotions off, according to CM. And LNP still has not explained why they hit OVERRIDE on the CEO talent search short list to

promote Mr Dawe over two other, higher ranking, candidates. Mr Dawe was also on the Queensland Rail board before being promoted to

QR, so there was influence over the organisation even before taking the CEO position.

Rail fail(s): Labor's long and devastating track record

Opposition Media Releases
Jan 7th, 2017

Deb Frecklington MP - Member for Nanango - Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, State Development, Trade and Investment
Annastacia Palaszczuk and Labor's litany of rail fails includes falling patronage and a three-year low in rail reliability
Despite Labor's poor transport record, fares increased by 15 per cent annually and QR executives received generous cash bonuses
Labor's desperate attempts to link the appointment of a CEO three years ago to Stirling Hinchliffe's rail fail doesn't pass the pub test
Queensland Rail (QR) hit the skids under Labor before the former LNP Government turned it into the best-performing rail service in the country, Acting Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said today.

Ms Frecklington said Labor's latest rail fail wasn't the first time commuters had lost faith in our transport system, after Translink (bus, rail and ferry) suffered four consecutive years of falling patronage from 2008/09 to 2011/12.

"History shows us that under Labor Governments, Queensland's public transport system hits the skids and commuters lose faith that these vital services can get them from A to B," Ms Frecklington said.

"When Annastacia Palaszczuk handed over the keys as Transport Minister in March 2012,  rail reliability had plummeted to 90.01 per cent of trains running on time.

"At the same time, fares were increasing by 15 per cent each year – a deal locked in by Labor from 2011-2014.

"In typical Labor fashion, non-frontline staff numbers ballooned by 67 per cent in marketing and communications over this period, while frontline rail operations staff increased by just one per cent.

"To add insult to injury, Labor rewarded this poor performance by allowing QR executives to take home almost $1 million in generous cash bonuses at the height of the 2011/12 train woes.

"The extraordinary rail fails of the last few months are nothing new for Annastacia Palaszczuk, after south-east Queensland experienced then-unprecedented peak hour disruption to the entire Translink network in early 2012 due to a clamp failure at Roma Street station.

"When you look at it in black and white, this incompetence and mismanagement is almost too hard to believe – but these are the facts."

Ms Frecklington said in light of this history, Labor's repeated attempts to shift the blame for their latest debacle did not pass the pub test.

"To say that the appointment of a CEO three years ago who held the position for less than four months is to blame for Labor's current train wreck is ludicrous," she said.

"The responsibility for the current debacle lies firmly at the feet of Labor's two incompetent transport ministers, first Jackie Trad and now the bumbling Stirling Hinchliffe.

"Under the LNP,  south-east Queensland commuters enjoyed the most efficient rail service in Australia with a 96 per cent on-time running rate.

"In just two years, the Palaszczuk Government's gross incompetence has trashed that great record of service.

"The LNP did not reduce any frontline staff at Queensland Rail and oversaw more services, lower fares and the best on-time running in a decade.

"The embattled Stirling Hinchliffe is running out of plays – Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to come back and sack him today before commuters are dealt the next inevitable Labor rail fail."





QR: WHAT THE LNP INHERITED

Falling patronage (bus, rail and ferry) – (TransLink annual reports – https://publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/65792fcb-b904-4bdc-960e-230594b661c1/resource/f571ba84-620a-4724-84e1-88a0e7443a7b/download/201112annualreport.pdf)

2008/09 – 181.9m

2009/10 – 181.8m

2010/11 – 178.6m

2011/12 – 178.3m



Unreliable trains (TransLink annual reports – https://publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/65792fcb-b904-4bdc-960e-230594b661c1/resource/f571ba84-620a-4724-84e1-88a0e7443a7b/download/201112annualreport.pdf)

Annual average CityTrain on-time running

2009/10 – 92.72%

2010/11 – 93.07%

2011/12 – 92.51%

2012: Then-Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk's major rail fail:

"Major disruptions occurred on the rail network on 28 February 2012 when a clamp holding a high voltage power line failed at Roma Street station. This caused unprecedented peak hour disruption to the entire TransLink network with the former Queensland Government announcing a day of free public transport travel for all commuters (29 February 2012) as compensation."

Page 66 – Translink 2011/12 Annual Report: https://publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/65792fcb-b904-4bdc-960e-230594b661c1/resource/f571ba84-620a-4724-84e1-88a0e7443a7b/download/201112annualreport.pdf

Quarter 3 – 2011/12 rail reliability plummeted to just 90.01% of trains running on time (https://publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/65792fcb-b904-4bdc-960e-230594b661c1/resource/767255d3-d951-4547-bb7a-9e81da82c872/download/201112quarterlyreportjantomar.pdf)



Increasing fares

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2009/10/15/paperless-public-transport-a-smarter-way-to-go

Locked in 15% annual fare increases from 2011 to 2014



Huge increases in non-frontline staff

Reference – Cabinet Submission 234 – Rail Reform

Since separation from QR National from the passenger business, staff in the following areas increased by:

Communication, Stakeholder and Marketing – 67%

Finance – 122%

Human Resources – 32%

Legal and Governance – 44%

Rail Operations – 1%

Safety and Environment – 223%

Strategy and Corporate Services – 66%



Exec Bonuses

The LNP ended QR exec bonuses until performance improved. In the first half of 2012 executive cash bonuses totalled $524,000 (http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/about%20us/Documents/queensland-rail-limited-annual-report_2011-12.pdf)

Of note:

Jim Benstead – CFO and Acting CEO
o   $52,000

Paul Scurrah – CEO – resigned 2 Dec 2011
o   $76,000

Martin Ryan – Chief Communications Officer
o   $40,000

Kevin Wright – COO and Chief Project Delivery Officer
o   $57,000

In second half of 2011, executive cash bonuses totalled $302,000



Of note:

Paul Scurrah – CEO
o   $120,000

Jim Benstead – CFO
o   $20,000

Martin Ryan – Chief Communications Officer
o   $17,000

Kevin Wright – COO
o   $26,000

In 2010/11 the annual report does not detail cash bonuses for each executive. In total, to all staff, $4.823m in bonuses was paid (http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/about%20us/Documents/queensland-rail-limited-financials-report_2010-11.pdf)

[Stillwater]

A question journos should ask of Ms Frecklington: "If the LNP was in government today, what would you do to fix the QR rail fail?"

The blame game is yesterday's news.  What will be the shape of PT in SEQ in 5-10 years time?  That is what people want to know and it is something pollies of all sides will need to answer.

Give us a vision and a means to back it up.  That vision should not be 'we want to be the best', but should be related to level of service, patronage, frequency etc.

There's none of that in the 'Stirling said' and 'Deb said' game.  STOP THE BLAME GAME.  BE CONSTRUCTIVE, if you know how.

[#Metro]

A question journos should ask of Ms Frecklington: "If the LNP was in government today, what would you do to fix the QR rail fail?"

Politicians should be kept away from the internal management of public transport as much as possible. Cut off their rights to elect CEO

and board management permanently. Legally incorporate and separate the organisation from gov't. That goes equally for BT as it goes for QR.

Open up to competitive contracting. This will create genuine independence from gov't meddling, while retaining gov't funding.


We are 80% of the way there with Gold Coast Light Rail, almost all bus operators, the CityCat and CityFerries being run by

independent companies. This scheme can be extended to trains.


Role of gov't will then become specifying what the end goals are, monitor, set global/macro policies (fares, zones, service standards,

frequencies, basically what TL does already) and providing the funding and infrastructure. Perhaps that reduced scope will be simpler to

manage for a future transport minister than today.


Independent transport organisations role will be to deliver, and work out the organisational culture and management issues such as

optimal staffing, wage negotiation/bargaining, staffing allocations and levels, recruitment etc. TransLink, as an independent authority,

will be given beefed up regulatory powers - the power to fine, sue, penalise, and reject contracts. Situations such as what BCC did in

2013 where staff were told not to attend planning meetings, and then the operator took over TransLink powers to do the review itself

will attract large fines/contract termination.


"Executive appointment" where the Premier, Cabinet or whoever presses OVERRIDE on the recruitment of a CEO to QR management,

like Campbell Newman and the LNP did with Dawe will be permanently closed under such changes.

[#Metro]

Boat is sinking! #FleeQLD

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/annastacia-palaszczuk-slammed-for-review-not-do-strategy/news-story/951fbbe17a67739509e5fe0f4d865389


It is just a paper factory out at 1 William Street! I wonder how many trees got cut down for all these reviews, reports, etc?



You can add the Christmas Day Rail Fail report, and the QR Strachan Inquiry to the pile...

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's minority government has overseen 145 reviews, inquiries, taskforces and new ­bureaucratic offices in less than two years, prompting concerns her administration is plagued by "paralysis".

The Queensland government has ordered more than 120 reviews and inquiries since defeating the Liberal National Party at the January 2015 election.

"This conveyor belt of reviews from the Annastacia Palaszczuk Labor government is staggering," Ms Frecklington said.

[techblitz]

with most people returning to work today from xmas/new years hols there has been a higher than normal amount of overcrowding complaints on TL/QR facebook pages.

[Gazza]

Yeah, im suprised they are pushing out to the 22nd.

Everyone is well and truly back now.

[red dragin]

No traffic on the Bruce this morning, so still not all back.

[tazzer9]

Its times like this where I truly hate having right wing biased print media.  LNP set off this whole chain of events, Quite frankly, labor's response could have been better, but nothing was stopping this catastrophe.   Politicians are probably the only people in the world who aren't held responsible for their actions.    If QR was a private entity such as metro or connex , the LNP would know to keep its mouth shut because they can be sued for incorrect statements like they thousands they have put out against both the labor govt and QR.

[Stillwater]

The reviews and inquiries are designed to create an impression that things are happening:

... the government has called a review into
... explosive revelations uncovered by review
... expert gives inquiry to review
... review extended
... review findings brought down
... government considering review findings
... minister says it is irresponsible to act without digesting all the review findings.

Yet nothing happens.  Before long, the election comes around again.  Lots of policy statement and glossy policies based on the review evidence.  Brilliant!

[#Metro]

I'm waiting for the grand one: the review into government reviews!

[Stillwater]

QR is planning a new customer charter.

Its theme?  ..... wait for it ......

Thinking Like a Customer

The review of the charter probably is due, but the timing could be questioned.  For instance, some will see this as a 'PR-driven response' by QR.  With rail fail in place, QR wants to be seen to be an organisation that is thinking about is customers, or thinking like them.  Critics will say it is a bit of gloss when the problems are practical, fundamental and profound.

Furthermore, will there be a QR as we know it by mid-year?

[ozbob]

Rostering issues to blame for QR Christmas Day cancellations - https://t.co/paHzr8IboO pic.twitter.com/mYGZeGzcHk

— Rail Express (@RailExpressNews) January 9, 2017

[ozbob]

QR is planning a new customer charter.

Its theme?  ..... wait for it ......

Thinking Like a Customer

The review of the charter probably is due, but the timing could be questioned.  For instance, some will see this as a 'PR-driven response' by QR.  With rail fail in place, QR wants to be seen to be an organisation that is thinking about is customers, or thinking like them.  Critics will say it is a bit of gloss when the problems are practical, fundamental and profound.

Furthermore, will there be a QR as we know it by mid-year?

I wish they would move on from this nonsense and just focus on running frequent reliable train services.  The contrast between Perth and Brisbane rail is striking.  Perth just delivers no fuss frequent rail service.  No ad wrap on windows either, buses or trains. Resources are not wasted on spin and bullsh%t, they just deliver.

[#Metro]

Its times like this where I truly hate having right wing biased print media.  LNP set off this whole chain of events, Quite frankly, labor's response could have been better, but nothing was stopping this catastrophe.   Politicians are probably the only people in the world who aren't held responsible for their actions.    If QR was a private entity such as metro or connex , the LNP would know to keep its mouth shut because they can be sued for incorrect statements like they thousands they have put out against both the labor govt and QR.

I think there might be some truth to this. Don't think it would be strong though.

A department or government agency generally does not go to the media and take a strong position or contradict its minister.

This goes some way to explain why leaking within QR seems to be taking place as an alternative pathway for that information to express itself.

A private company is in a similar position, however, because politicians have no power to choose the CEO or the board members,

and the contract is generally long enough (8 years or so), there is independence to come out and contradict.

[techblitz]

2nd day in for many returning to work heres some social media complaints tallies relating specifically to SSHT

QR page - 23 complaints

TL page - 13 complaints

QR reviews - 4

total: 40

[#Metro]

SQUISH! 

https://www.facebook.com/QueenslandRail/?fref=ts

Today at 08:41
You need to ditch this summer timetable. Springfield line we were packed in like sardines from richlands. And kids aren't even back at school. Just go back to the timetable before this whole fiasco started.

Today at 08:06
The summer timetable needs to be abandoned, our morning services from Springfield are already full by Darra with it being at nearly crush capacity a few stations further. Completely ridiculous to keep going with the lower demand excuse any more. Most people are back at work so why don't we have a train service that is appropriate for this.

Could you people please stop picking on Queensland Rail. After all Queensland Rail not only run trains it seems Queensland Rail runs the Annastacia Palaszczuk Labor Government. Annastacia is furious and heads will roll. Trains may also roll at certain times. Regards Randy Smith resident of Wacol.

I am so frustrated with the train timetable, it changing all the time, limited advice. I have been catching the train to work into the city for 25 years, this is the most unreliable in all tha time. I ordinarily find the train very reliable QRail usually give notice, hand out fliers in advance.

I have never seen a summer service at this time of year.I am very skeptical that's it's more a,lack of driver service. If this is true I am offended by the polishing of it to something else. At the very least it is very poor communication. Rail you are normally better than this. I am a reasonable person, say you have a problem, tell us how your fixing it, and give us notice before Christmas not as we stand waiting for our train on the station.

https://www.facebook.com/TransLinkQLD/?fref=ts

Summer train timetables. Seriously, this is irresponsible. Every train I've been on gets filled before the halfway point on the line, and people have to wait for the next service. You justify this by saying its school holidays- yet the evidence every morning shows that there are just as many people on their way to work- and all are being inconvenienced.

There was a man in the train yelling because it was so crowded he could not get off at his stop. People are squashed so bad that they were flaling out at the stops. This is the redcliffe line. Everyday morning and night. This schedule does NOT work. More thefts are happening due to the easy proximity of person on person. What a joke.

[DayboroStation]

Not surprised at these comments at all - this is what happens when frequency is cut from 6 minutes to 15.

I am surprised, though, that media outlets such as Brisbane Times and Courier Mail haven't picked up on the overcrowding issue.

[ozbob]

Sad sad sad...
 

[achiruel]

Realistically the SSH(i)T timetable should only have run two weeks, from 28/12 until 6/1. Having it now is absurd.

[ozbob]

Realistically the SSH(i)T timetable should only have run two weeks, from 28/12 until 6/1. Having it now is absurd.

It was clear that the SSHTT was going to fail this week..
The situation is really disappointing embarrassing..
For this mess they pocketed cash bonuses 

[tazzer9]

We might see some extra trains being added.   Not a new timetable, but probably inserting a few peak expresses on the ipswich line, a couple of extra ferny grove and northgate services around the most overcrowded services.

[Stillwater]

Don't worry folks, QR says it wants to 'think like a customer' -- the theme of its proposed new customer charter.  QR wants to 'feel the pain' without actually doing anything to relieve it.

[#Metro]

New article in the CM

This has been a very expensive affair. If the intention was to save money, it has done no such thing.

Fines and penalties only make sense if services are contracted externally and the organisation being fined can go bankrupt.

That way investors / owners ultimately wear the cost of malperformance.

This is not the case here - essentially all that is happening is that the Minister for Transport is fining himself. An internal transfer will occur reducing QR's budget and then putting that $$ back into the Queensland Government budget.

But then QR will likely be short of funds, and as the QR does not have a "hard" bottom line, the Queensland Government will eventually
return the funds to QR to fill the black hole.

And as QR is a protected monopolist, it doesn't matter how low performance falls or how high fines become - in a one horse race, you can't lose!

Queensland Rail cops $300,000 in fines for failing to run its trains on time

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-rail-cops-300000-in-fines-for-failing-to-run-its-trains-on-time/news-story/38fc3d2a8798069ced3cd5c4473a6a54

QUEENSLAND Rail will cop fines of more than $300,000 for failing to run its trains on time, even after slashing services in a desperate bid to get major driver shortages under control.

The total cost of the timetable fiasco is expected to balloon into the millions of dollars when combining penalties, extra overtime for drivers, lost revenue from having to waive train fares after horror commutes and paying for taxis to shuttle stranded passengers between stations.

QR must run 95 per cent of its trains on time each quarter or be fined $300,000.

[tazzer9]

Today was a rare sight of QR providing good customer service.   I was on a delayed service from petrie which had mechanical issues and due to this had to run express to zillmere to recover time and not stuff up the following service.  All good, except for the fact that the driver then forgot to stop at geebung.   

But on the positive note, QR had organised another train to run on time from bowen hills.  The late running service wasn't even cancelled.

[techblitz]

Qld rail,translink websites:

From Wednesday 28 December 2016 until Sunday 22 January 2017, trains will run to a summer school holiday timetable.

This timetable will run during a period when there's traditionally less customer demand on the network.

Queensland rail facebook response this morning to disgruntled commuter:

Hi **** the current timetable is in place to effectively manage our traincrewing resources during the holiday period. We thank our customers for their patience and remind customers to plan their journey ahead.

[ozbob]

Fining Queensland Rail just means less for the punters. 

Stopping the fuking cash bonuses for under-performing  monkeys is far more appropriate hey?

GOT THAT YOU SPIES?

[ozbob]

Don't worry folks, QR says it wants to 'think like a customer' -- the theme of its proposed new customer charter.  QR wants to 'feel the pain' without actually doing anything to relieve it.

" Think like a customer "

FIX THE TIMETABLE !

[#Metro]

Don't worry folks, QR says it wants to 'think like a customer' -- the theme of its proposed new customer charter.  QR wants to 'feel the pain' without actually doing anything to relieve it.

You mean 'think like a protected monopolist'.

Should start asking TransPerth how much money they want to come over and set up an operation here in Queensland.

You'd have to pay them a premium of course, but it might save money considering all the fines, overtime, and general costs of chaos

already incurred here.

[ozbob]

Media release 11 January 2017



SEQ: QR asked to postpone new 'customer charter' consultations

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has questioned the timing of Queensland Rail's rollout of its new customer charter with a focus on 'thinking like a customer'.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Customers don't think highly of Queensland Rail's performance and reliability just now and it is right for the state government to seek to identify the root causes of the current rail fail through a Commission of Inquiry. A customer charter is an important corporate document.  In this case, its preparation should be delayed until after the commission's findings are known and the Government takes action to restructure the organisation accordingly.

"The new charter should apply to the new entity.  For Queensland Rail to undertake this move now smacks of a reactionary sentiment to 'get closer to customers.'  They need to move on from this stuff to focus on running frequent, reliable train services.  The contrast between Brisbane and other Australian cities is stark," he said.

RAIL Back On Track understands that Queensland Rail has invited members of its Customer Reference Group to two meetings on Monday 6 February to "have an ongoing dialogue with positive impacts for our customers and the communities in which we operate."

"Queensland Rail says an assessment of its customers' reactions to a new draft charter will help provide guidance in support of 'development and messaging' of its customer charter.  If these meetings proceed, Queensland Rail is going to get some distorted and pointed feedback from the representative customer base.

"In the current circumstances, this move by Queensland Rail will be viewed cynically as a public relations glossover at a time when the organisations problems are profound and fundamental.  That is where the focus should lie," Mr Dow said.

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

QR gets into another 'fine' mess > https://t.co/hulSBBERVy #qldpol
Even less services STOP CASH BONUSES FFS !

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) January 10, 2017

INSANE !!@StirlHinchliffe @AnnastaciaMP
So punters wear more pain ???#qldpol https://t.co/uBNNJjIDxQ

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) January 10, 2017

[#Metro]

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has questioned the timing of Queensland Rail's rollout of its new customer charter with a focus on 'thinking like a customer'.

The customer charter is a joke because it is unenforceable. And the true customer in this case is TransLink, as HTG has pointed out.

How would have the improved charter prevented or compensated for the cutting of services over the past few months - it cannot.

And the on time or cancellation figures lack credibility - if you are not meeting on time or cancellation standards, you exempt yourself

from the standards by getting the minister to introduce a cut timetable (i.e. SSHTT) that you comply with. So that you can continue

to show 95% on time or 98% reliability, or whatever final number you need.


In theory, the Queensland Rail could run 1 train per day for three months straight, and so long as the new cut down timetable was issued

and approved by the minister, it could report 100% on time and 100% availability.

Unless the charter says "we will resign and give control of the entire organisation to another entity if we don't meet our charter" then it is

just a feelgood exercise IMO.


And the root cause - we know the root cause. Two actions by democratically elected politicians (1) Politicians got to choose the CEO and

board members of Queensland Rail, this resulted in Mr Dawe getting a job on the board and then transferring down from the board to the

CEO position when Campbell Newman pressed OVERRIDE on the candidate recruitment short list. This later allegedly (reported by CM)

caused a chain reaction of promotions of "old guard" within QR. And the second cause was (2) the conversion of Queensland Rail from a so

called "independent" GOC into an authority which changed the employees status back into public servants so that they could now

participate in Mr Newman and Mr Nicholls whole-of-government cuts program. This resulted in cuts to driver training etc, and the

rest is history.


Unless a solution closes off these two root causes, then IMO it is not really a solution.

Queensland Rail insiders not surprised Minister was kept in the dark about driver shortage
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-rail-insiders-not-surprised-minister-was-kept-in-the-dark-about-driver-shortage/news-story/c99c8a9ec4be8c4b9443fbe98fface05

Former QR CEO Lance Hockridge, who left in 2010 to lead the privatised Aurizon, says while Government had the right to make decisions about QR, politicisation of key operating matters was a factor in creating a body "which over 155 years does not have a performance orientation".

[ozbob]

I am on an exercise bike at Jetts Oakleigh
Thinking
QR management have badly let down their rank and file staff
Also the general community
Culture is flawed
The Government has to act desively
Form PTQ with a rail division
QR and BT are restructured as operators under PTQ

[Stillwater]

Absolutely correct.    Lower ranks of QR are courteous, helpful and dedicated.  They should stay -- the ones upstairs have known of the problems, were warned of them from inside and outside, they kept the minister in the dark.  Making QR staff 'public servants' and bringing them under the LNP public service cuts, the neutering of TransLink etc  -- it was a cumulative set of events that has got us in this mess.  It has to be disentangled, a clear corporate way forward established, appropriate resourcing provided, and finances too.

The government must show leadership on this one.  Big time.  A new PT governance structure is required.

[#Metro]

QR and BT are restructured as operators under PTQ

Brisbane Transport should be removed from Brisbane City Council. Completely. The Zillmere to UQ Rocket bus installation really was the

icing on the cake after a long series of uncooperative behaviours. Why continue to do business with a supplier like that?


TransLink will remain a neutered organisation as long as people continue to insist that monopolists must be guaranteed service contracts

no matter what, and above every other service criterion. TransLink should be given teeth - the power to fine, sue and rip up contracts of

operators that do not perform. That goes for all operators, whether private or public.

[HappyTrainGuy]

QR and BT are restructured as operators under PTQ

Brisbane Transport should be removed from Brisbane City Council. Completely. The Zillmere to UQ Rocket bus installation really was the

icing on the cake after a long series of uncooperative behaviours. Why continue to do business with a supplier like that?

Simple. Because BT/BCC is abusing the current legislation in place. The case with BT/BCC is that they receive limited funding from translink and use local council funding to make up the shortfall. No other private operator in seq or queensland has that amount of backing to fund their own routes.

[#Metro]

Simple. Because BT/BCC is abusing the current legislation in place. The case with BT/BCC is that they receive limited funding from translink and use local council funding to make up the shortfall. No other private operator in seq or queensland has that amount of backing to fund their own routes.

Joke really. For ~ 20% of the funding, they get 80% of the control.

I caught a bus into the Valley recently, and there was PROPAGANDA inside the bus with graphs declaring how BCC spends more than any other council in Australia combined on public transport.

Of course, this is utter rubbish, as I showed elsewhere, the ACT, which is effectively a city-state, spends more than BCC on its buses.

This spending is probably due to the inefficiency in setting up a direct service network, and one of the reasons why Canberra moves to light rail now.

[SurfRail]

They'll need to find around $100m extra per year to flick Council.  That could come in part from making the service more efficient but it won't pay for all of it.

[#Metro]

They'll need to find around $100m extra per year to flick Council.  That could come in part from making the service more efficient but it won't pay for all of it.

Split the transport cost on the rates bill into general rates + transport levy.

Increase the transport levy and reduce the general rates by the same amount.

Send transport levy funds straight to TransLink from the BCC bill.

State Gov't writes The City of Brisbane Act, so it is within Parliament's capacity to implement.

There is a precedent IMHO - when the water assets were removed from council and put into a separate company called Queensland Urban Utilities.

I know this sounds scary - non involvement of BCC in the transport system - but Melbourne City Council doesn't really have anything to do

with the trams or buses. And in Perth, that's all run by the PTA and TransPerth - Perth City Council isn't involved either.

[James]

Split the transport cost on the rates bill into general rates + transport levy. Increase the transport levy and reduce the general rates by the same amount. Send transport levy funds straight to TransLink from the BCC bill. State Gov't writes The City of Brisbane Act, so it is within Parliament's capacity to implement.

There is a precedent IMHO - when the water assets were removed from council and put into a separate company called Queensland Urban Utilities. I know this sounds scary - non involvement of BCC in the transport system - but Melbourne City Council doesn't really have anything to do with the trams or buses. And in Perth, that's all run by the PTA and TransPerth - Perth City Council isn't involved either.

BCC's involvement in transport stretches beyond BT - it extends into transit planning, traffic signalling and other transport-related projects. This doesn't exist in other states as the City of Sydney/Melbourne/Adelaide/Perth are about 1-2% of the size of the City of Brisbane, and hence were never given this level of power as it is illogical for a council of 15km^2 to operate its own traffic signalling system, bus/tram network and give it responsibilities beyond filling potholes and mowing footpaths.

The state can simply change the legislation, and could probably send BCC the bill for the shortfall. Alternatively, you'd probably recoup the losses by running the bus network more efficiently (feeding other modes, merging routes etc.).

[#Metro]

The state can simply change the legislation, and could probably send BCC the bill for the shortfall. Alternatively, you'd probably recoup the losses by running the bus network more efficiently (feeding other modes, merging routes etc.).

I don't believe that there is any "shortfall" at all. Money is money.

It is already being taken from people living within the BCC boundaries.

Whether BCC takes $5 and pays that to TL or BCC doesn't take $5 but the State then takes the $5 in lieu, it is the same thing in the end.

This is why I think it is so ridiculous that the State Government have puppies over whether they can take BT from BCC and upload it to the State Government.

The state can take that same amount and BCC can stop taking that amount so that the net value cancels and it is cost neutral overall.