Interim rail timetables

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Queensland Rail: New timetable following summer holidays yet to be published

Brisbane commuters will have to keep waiting to find out what their train timetable will look like in less than two weeks' time.

Queensland Rail's summer school holiday timetable, which reduced services by 11 per cent, finishes on January 22.

"On 23 January, Queensland Rail's timetable will return to a higher level of service to reflect the end of the school holidays and increased patronage on the network," a Queensland Rail spokeswoman said.

"On 23 January, Queensland Rail's timetable will return to a higher level of service to reflect the end of the school holidays and increased patronage on the network," a Queensland Rail spokeswoman said.

Taxis were used to transport at least 220 customers on Christmas Day, according to the comprehensive report ordered into the debacle.

But QR cannot yet say how much taxis cost the operator as it is still waiting on invoices.

"The cost of taxi charges is not yet known as the costings will not flow through for some weeks," a spokeswoman said.

If each taxi ride conservatively cost $20, the total cost could be at least $4400.

The enduring issues at QR have been linked to a lack of train drivers, which became evident after the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line when 100 services were cancelled in October.

There have been two QR recruitment drives in recent years, with 100 drivers and 100 guards approved in November 2015 and 100 drivers and 100 guards announced in 2016.

It has previously been reported that it takes about 12 months to train a driver.

Since issues started plaguing QR in late September 2016, nine train drivers have been trained.

Of those, seven have passed their competency requirements and are on the network. The other two will start working by the end of January.

There have been 12 guards trained, with another 26 guards set to be ready in February.

The QR spokeswoman said the summer school holiday timetable had allowed the operator to perform more training and provide crews for testing the New Generation Rollingstock trains.

"Getting more qualified drivers and guards trained and out on the network is the key to increasing service reliability," she said.

"Queensland Rail is investigating a number of options to fast track recruitment and training and this matter is also being considered as part of the Strachan review.

"Trainee drivers from the initial recruitment campaign are beginning to finish their training."

Meanwhile, the ongoing issues at QR has led to commuters becoming increasingly frustrated.

Ross Gibbons said he caught a 7.32am train to the city on Wednesday and it was full by the time he reached Grovely station, with passengers talking about whether they should catch a bus or drive.

"Imagine what it will be like when the school children and their parents are back on the train in the next few weeks," he said.

"I am astounded that the eight minute train services have been replaced with 15 minute services for the Ferny Grove line."

Michelle Pullar said her "sardine packed train" failed at Newmarket on Tuesday afternoon and complained about a lack of communication about what was going on, demanding a refund and apology.

Kerrie Darcy complained that she arrived at Landsborough station for the 5.29am train only to realise it was due at 5.06am or an hour later at 6.06am.

"Does QR really think that it's school holidays, no one is still going to work and needs to arrive at Fortitude Valley station before 7am, not 7.30am?" she said.

"Ended up driving to Brisbane, you wonder why the Bruce is so clogged and the general public will not use public transport."

Former Rio Tinto boss Philip Strachan's review of Queensland Rail's rostering and train crew stuff-ups is set to be handed to the government by the end of January.

Mr Strachan was due to provide progress reports and findings to the government over three months.

Fairfax Media requested access to any briefings received so far but was unsuccessful.

[ozbob]

An appalling unacceptable situation.

This is now beyond farce.  The sector one timetable has been decimated by gross incompetence and neglect.

The SSHTT is inadequate.

Really is time the ELT of Queensland Rail, together with the Queensland Rail Board were given their marching orders.

Legal action should be considered for recovery of the cash bonuses awarded under what appears to be false circumstances for justification of payment of said bonuses.

[dancingmongoose]

This is now beyond farce.  The sector one timetable has been decimated by gross incompetence and neglect.
The SSHTT is inadequate.

The sh%t is a more appropriate acronym
School Holiday Interim Timetable

[ozbob]

. @StirlHinchliffe @AnnastaciaMP
> https://t.co/NBMQ0C6PZN#qldpol
Time these clowns were shown the door ... under-performing overpaid pic.twitter.com/7gEstIEhRF

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) January 11, 2017

[ozbob]

Media: QR asked to postpone new 'customer charter' consultations > https://t.co/u5tk9nHlfg #qldpol@StirlHinchliffe @Curtis_Pitt_MP pic.twitter.com/5KIOLZ8YDQ

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) January 11, 2017

[ozbob]

Prior to the opening of the RPL Queensland Rail was delivering the then existing timetable (albeit with considerable overtime) with a high standard of OTR and reliability.

They are utter fools - from January 22nd they should go back to that timetable essentially and run shuttles on the RPL until there are more train crew.

The present timetable circus is just building grief and anger, and is failing to deliver an essential service to the community.

These ELT clowns are on massive salaries and big fat cash bonuses, and it is doubtful in my opinion if they could navigate successfully through a kiddies play park.

[ozbob]

Having spent the last weeks in Perth and Melbourne, it was refreshing to be able to use reliable frequent public transport.

Perth (WA) is an excellent model for Queensland. Transperth's Perth rail network is vastly superior to Queensland Rail in every aspect.

Both Melbourne and Sydney rail networks do deliver, despite legacy infrastructure issues.

[petey3801]

I believe the timetable will go back to the interim timetable after the current school holiday one, for the time being.

[ozbob]

I believe the timetable will go back to the interim timetable after the current school holiday one, for the time being.

Thanks.  I assume the one operating before the Christmas break and the SSHTT?

Hardly adequate though.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

12th January 2017

Comment: LNP sharpens attack over Queensland 'Rail Fail'

Greetings,

RAIL Back on Track has become aware of two articles, one in the Brisbane Times, and one in The Courier-Mail in relation to the Queensland Rail Christmas Day 'Rail Fail'.

The Courier-Mail piece goes into the history of how the fail occurred, from the inception, through the propagation of a cascading series of poor decisions, to the ultimate culmination in the so-called 'Christmas Day Rail Fail'.

It is now clear to all that Queensland Rail needs fundamental reform.

It is also clear that both sides of politics failed and that the ownership of the events leading up to and during Christmas Day must be owned by both parties and sides of politics.

Each had their own contribution to the Rail Fail debacle.

We think it is a bit hypocritical for Deputy Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington to come out and blame the current Palaszczuk Government for the entire debacle.

Blame is the avoidance of responsibility. Deb Frecklington and the LNP are avoiding ownership of their part, their own role, their contribution to this terrible mess.

It has become apparent to us that a chain reaction was initiated inside Queensland Rail when the LNP and then Premier Campbell Newman installed Mr Glen Dawe into the position of CEO, overriding standard protocol.

This was not a one of event. The LNP also had Mr Michael Caltabiano, a former Brisbane City Council Liberal Party councillor, installed as director-general of Transport and Main Roads.

Even today, we have a former MP sitting on the Queensland Rail board.

At the time, now Deputy Premier Jackie Trad questioned the decision.

RAIL Back on Track makes no suggestion that Mr Dawe or anybody on the QR board engaged in any sort of unlawful conduct.

Can Deb Frecklington and the LNP please now fully explain how it came to be that Mr Dawe was appointed as Queensland Rail CEO, despite not being the first on the candidate list?

Queensland Rail and the Department of Transport and Main Roads needs a complete clean out in our opinion. Clean it up please!

The first place to start inside QR is to abolish the "internal recruitment" favouritism provisions within Queensland Rail. All jobs must be published on the Queensland Rail website for both the general public and any internal applicants to apply for in the first case.

Take responsibility, own the problem and fix it!

Best wishes
Robert

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

References:

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

Brisbane trains: LNP sharpens attack over Queensland 'rail fail'
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/brisbane-trains-lnp-sharpens-attack-over-queensland-rail-fail-20170107-gtnlgv.html

NEWMAN GOVERNMENT MUST EXPLAIN CHAOS AT QR
Post on 10 January 2014 by Jackie Trad
https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10456.msg137280#msg137280

Transport and Main Roads DG Michael Caltabiano referred to Ethics Committee
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/transport-and-main-roads-dg-michael-caltabiano-referred-to-ethics-committee-over-claims-made-before-estimates-hearing/news-story/93607a7e4644e32fe64594dc90e7ea0c

"CAMPBELL Newman's most controversial public servant, Michael Caltabiano is under investigation for allegedly misleading State Parliament about his work history."

"Reports have indicated that Mr Caltabiano was listed on a website for lobbying firm Entree Vous along with Mr Gommers in the past," he wrote.

[ozbob]

Comment: @LNPQLD sharpens attack over Queensland 'Rail Fail'
> https://t.co/NHLnicwmb4#qldpol@QLDLabor pic.twitter.com/aoPWLp1xWO

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) January 11, 2017

[DayboroStation]

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.

Yes, noticed a couple of "Extra" Petrie starters this morning.

[QLDBUS]

Why Don't you temporarily get rid of the doomben line the patronage isn't that high and then turn the 300 into a BUZ service(10-15 minutes off peak 5 minutes in peak) iswhile also getting rid of the 303 & 305 and merging it with the 302 and making the 302 run 15 minutes in peak diverting into Doomben Railways station and then run a shuttle service between Ipswich and rosewood using a low floor bus?


Would you prefer an hour gap on let's say the Airport line or that^^^^

[techblitz]

^
for your doomben proposals....those doomben trains can get fairly packed on big racedays,winter carnival etc....but I guess if BT can successfully cover suncorp stadium/gabba then they could easily cover a 10am-5pm major raceday

300 buz covers newstead and hendra,ascot well.....takes care of higher frequency and increased patronage...

Clayfield a non issue as that station can be covered with 306/322 services.

302 is tough though...

the 302 services running back to the city in the arvo pick up heaps of workers of which most of them deboard at central station.....sending them to doomben is not an option....they somehow need to hook into the 300buz somewhere.

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 9th January 2017 page 13

Here's how to fix the state's rail 'mess'

[BrizCommuter]

I believe the timetable will go back to the interim timetable after the current school holiday one, for the time being.

That will result in severe overcrowding on many services then, especially on Fridays.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe says back-to-work train timetable still being confirmed

TRANSPORT Minister Stirling Hinchliffe is hoping changes made to train driver conditions will help shore up the network's reliability when the back-to-work timetable comes into effect in a week.

TransLink and Queensland Rail are yet to release the timetable for services once school holidays end on January 23.

Mr Hinchliffe said it was still being worked on and would be released next week.

He said it would prove more reliable after the removal of certain conditions awarded to train drivers like the 20-minute comfort breaks, but he could not guarantee trains would run drama-free.

"Anyone who runs a heavy rail system can't make guarantees," Mr Hinchliffe said. "We are making sure that we have a reliable timetable in place. That is fundamentally important."

Opposition Treasury spokesman Scott Emerson said it was extraordinary the new timetable had not yet been finalised.

"School starts in less than two weeks, people need to plan to get back to work, people need to plan to send their kids to school," Mr Emerson said.

It comes after Mr Hinchliffe last week received QR's report into the Christmas Day rail fail that saw commuters stranded at platforms across the southeast.

He is expected to receive the Strachan Inquiry into the overall train crewing disaster that plunged the network into chaos following the opening of the Redcliffe Line, at the end of the month.

Three senior executives have fallen on their swords since the debacle was first uncovered – CEO Helen Gluer, board chair Michael Klug and chief operating officer and more are expected to go.

Yesterday, in his role as Acting Health Minister, Mr Hinchliffe urged Queenslanders to check the colour of their urine to ensure they are hydrated as the state swelters in this week's heatwave.

[Stillwater]

"Anyone who runs a heavy rail system can't make guarantees."   

[ozbob]

"Anyone who runs a heavy rail system can't make guarantees."   

Along these lines the ' Customer Charter ' is merely redundant bullsh%t !

THINK LIKE A PASSENGER   -  all they want is a frequent reliable service, like the other states.  Why is SEQ such a mess?

Essentially because the operation, management and planning of public transport in SEQ is diabolical. 

Form Public Transport Queensland, sort out QR and BCC.  Until that is done all is just bandaids ...

[#Metro]

A guarantee does not make certain that something will or will not happen.

What a guarantee does is introduce a penalty if something does or does not happen - an assurance for or against something.

For example, "like it or 30 day money back guarantee".

No company can guarantee that you like something for all people 100% of the time - that is out of their control.

But they can give a penalty if you don't like something and return it.


The fact that Mr Hinchcliffe is out there saying that "he can't guarantee", when he clearly can guarantee, because he misunderstands what

a guarantee is and does, it just more evidence that politicians have no idea how to run a business and should be kept as far away from

business as possible.


Sometimes I suspect it is just ex-UQ Student union running things in Queensland. Bligh also had Bachelor of Arts and was from UQ and was in the UQ union.

Stirling James Hinchliffe (born 23 November 1970) is an Australian politician. Born in Dalby, Queensland, he was educated at state schools and received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland. He was a property industry analyst, policy manager, policy advisor and executive officer before his entry into politics. He had a long involvement with the Australian Labor Party, which included a position as National Secretary of Young Labor in 1995. In the 2006 Queensland state election, he was elected to the safe Labor seat of Stafford, which he represented until being defeated in the Queensland state election, 2012. Hinchliffe previously served as a cabinet minister in the Bligh Ministry[1]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling_Hinchliffe

Hinchliffe returned to parliament in 2015 as the member for Sandgate. He was sworn in as Assistant Minister of State Assisting the Premier in the Palaszczuk Ministry on 16 February 2015. He was also nominated as Leader of the House, an appointment confirmed when the Legislative Assembly of Queensland met for the first time following the election.[2]

What kind of penalty should be introduced - financial compensation?

And then we see the REAL reason why Mr Hinchcliffe doesn't want to put a guarantee into the "Customer Charter" (i.e. feelgood unenforceable document).

There is a fundamental difference between penalising a private company and penalising a government owned company or organisation (unless it is a gov investment fund with private investors attached).

In one case, you are fining investors by reducing their returns/profits. In the gov't case, you are just performing an internal transfer of funds

and there are no investors to point the stick at. The bottom line is also "soft", so if the penalties become too painful the gov't will return with

a bailout package to preserve monopoly status.


In this setup, preserving monopoly status overrides all other considerations.


It is like penalising yourself by transferring money from your left pocket into your right pocket. Pointless.

Mr Hinchliffe is loath to give financial compensation - because that will just drain the state budget and taxpayers.

From his perspective, why agree to something like that?

[ozbob]

I believe the timetable will go back to the interim timetable after the current school holiday one, for the time being.

That will result in severe overcrowding on many services then, especially on Fridays.

I hope that the new 'interim timetable' is constant for the 5  week days.   

To revert back to the previous madness is just inviting even more community rage!!

There is an obvious solution  ...

Can you imagine this service reduction bullsh%t with moving timetables happening in Melbourne?  Sydney? Perth? Adelaide?

No neither can I ...  SEQ really is a major basket case.

[ozbob]

... Mr Hinchliffe is loath to give financial compensation - because that will just drain the state budget and taxpayers.

From his perspective, why agree to something like that?

QR has no hesitation in awarding the ELT big fat cash bonuses hey!!

[Stillwater]

Not only just Monday to Friday consistent timetable, but it is about time we considered a Weekend timetable that is consistent Saturday AND Sunday.

The situation that developed whereby the Friday timetable was different from one Friday to the next and not consistent with the Mon-Thursday timetable was sheer madness.  And only now does QR believes it should 'think like a customer'.

You can see how that came about .... lots of people in a room trying to strategise their way out of the Rail Fail.  PR guru pipes up (think Kitty Flanaghan charter in Utopia) and says 'lets make the poor travelling public believe we care about their concerns - how about a think like a customer Corporate Charter.  QR just needs to check its Facebook page to see what customers are thinking.  And it ain't good.

[/i]

[ozbob]

Not only just Monday to Friday consistent timetable, but it is about time we considered a Weekend timetable that is consistent Saturday AND Sunday.

Good point!  Indeed !!

[tazzer9]

The problem with the friday timetable wasn't just because it was different to mon-thurs, but there was very different stopping patterns, different departure times and cut services.  It is a simple fact that less people use PT on a friday.  (my observations) so having some extra peak hour cuts I wouldn't consider to be bad. 

There were some great stopping patterns on a friday, such as a park rd-canon hill express and then terminated.   The all stations varsity lakes-ferny grove, the afternoon inbound ipswich express.  If anything we should should be looking along the lines of the friday timetable and extending that to the entire week, with extra services where needed, as it was the friday timetable that clearly made the best use of resources.

[James]

What the minister could do is guarantee that there will be no cancellations due to a lack of train drivers caused by factors within QR's control. A qualified guarantee excludes cancellations caused by track faults, or cancellations caused by drivers chucking sickies.

I think we all know what the sensible solution is by now, just those in charge can't swallow their pride and accept that there is no quick and easy fix to #railfail.

The problem with the friday timetable wasn't just because it was different to mon-thurs, but there was very different stopping patterns, different departure times and cut services.  It is a simple fact that less people use PT on a friday.  (my observations) so having some extra peak hour cuts I wouldn't consider to be bad. 

There were some great stopping patterns on a friday, such as a park rd-canon hill express and then terminated.   The all stations varsity lakes-ferny grove, the afternoon inbound ipswich express.  If anything we should should be looking along the lines of the friday timetable and extending that to the entire week, with extra services where needed, as it was the friday timetable that clearly made the best use of resources.

[#Metro]

What the minister could do is guarantee that there will be no cancellations due to a lack of train drivers caused by factors within QR's control. A qualified guarantee excludes cancellations caused by track faults, or cancellations caused by drivers chucking sickies.

I think we all know what the sensible solution is by now, just those in charge can't swallow their pride and accept that there is no quick and easy fix to #railfail.

I don't think there should be a qualified guarantee. Because then you get into a definitional argument about whether it is a guarantee, a

guarantee^*, a guarantee^{^} or a guarantee^#. It will start to look like one of those Telstra mobile phone plan T&Cs.


https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/general-information/compensation/

We were having a discussion about what a guarantee means - it means penalties! A guarantee that does not have penalties is otherwise

known as a motherhood statement.


Look at the Victorian model, financial penalties are incorporated into the passenger charter. Will the QR charter contain that??

METRO Trains

Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM) operates all metropolitan train services within Melbourne. MTM have developed special compensation codes under their passenger charters which allow passengers to be compensated when performance targets for punctuality and reliability are not met.

The compensation codes and compensation claim forms are available from the Metro Trains website.

Yarra Trams operates all metropolitan tram services within Melbourne. Yarra Trams have developed special compensation codes under their passenger charters which allow passengers to be compensated when performance targets for punctuality and reliability are not met.

The compensation codes and compensation claim forms are available from the Yarra Trams website.

Regional trains (V/Line)

In the event that V/Line fails to meet its monthly performance targets for punctuality and reliability, complimentary travel tickets will be issued to affected customers if they hold a valid periodical ticket of one month or more. V/Line's performance results are posted at V/Line stations within 10 working days of the end of most months.

All compensation claims must be made in writing to Customer Relations, Reply Paid 5343, Melbourne, VIC 3001. For more information on compensation, visit the V/Line website.

Are we going to get a genuine passenger charter, or a motherhood statement?

[ozbob]

Without the ' 20 minute comfort break ' there is a good chance the present complement at Queensland Rail could deliver the 4 October 2016 RPL timetable IMHO ... 

[red dragin]

If Utopia doesn't have an episode on Heavy Rail this season, I will be extremely disappointed! 

[#Metro]

If Utopia doesn't have an episode on Heavy Rail this season, I will be extremely disappointed!

I know! GOLDMINE, you could have a whole season dedicated to Queensland Govt!

Kitty Flanagan can process the QR FOI requests:

[tazzer9]

Little known fact about utopia is that it is actually louis theroux documentary secretly filming within a secret govt department in melbourne.

[James]

I don't think there should be a qualified guarantee. Because then you get into a definitional argument about whether it is a guarantee, a

guarantee^*, a guarantee^{^} or a guarantee^#. It will start to look like one of those Telstra mobile phone plan T&Cs.

It's because it's totally irrational to give a guarantee on something outside your control that you may not be able to rectify. Lets say the minister gives a guarantee that 95% of trains will run on time and that there will be no cancellations in the first school week this year. Monday afternoon, p%sses down rain, 300mm in three hours etc., train network thrown into chaos. Should the minister face repercussions for this? No, because it is not his fault.

Now think of the same circumstances, but instead QR has to cancel 30 services on Friday because it doesn't have enough drivers. The minister should definitely face repercussions due to this because it is his fault.

To give an "unconditional guarantee" would be ridiculous, a conditional one would be sensible and help give commuters confidence in the network.

[#Metro]

It's because it's totally irrational to give a guarantee on something outside your control that you may not be able to rectify. Lets say the minister gives a guarantee that 95% of trains will run on time and that there will be no cancellations in the first school week this year. Monday afternoon, p%sses down rain, 300mm in three hours etc., train network thrown into chaos. Should the minister face repercussions for this? No, because it is not his fault.

Now think of the same circumstances, but instead QR has to cancel 30 services on Friday because it doesn't have enough drivers. The minister should definitely face repercussions due to this because it is his fault.

To give an "unconditional guarantee" would be ridiculous, a conditional one would be sensible and help give commuters confidence in the network.

My understanding (happy to be corrected) is that METRO does exactly this.

This is the code - nowhere are disruption events sorted into "controlled" or "uncontrolled".

If a compensation event triggers - compo is paid.

https://www.metrotrains.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/04256-CCC-DL-V3_Web_EXISTING.pdf

Service Delivery
If Metro delivers less than 98% of its
scheduled services in a calendar month
1 daily myki
money fare

If Metro delivers less than 95% of its
scheduled services in a calendar month
2 daily myki
money fares

Punctuality
If less than 88% of Metro services
are on-time in a calendar month
1 daily myki
money fare

If less than 84% of Metro services
are on-time in a calendar month
2 daily myki
money fares

You can certainly guarantee things outside of your control - guarantees are about penalties not certainties. The trigger event needs

to be sufficiently rare to make compo a rare event.

You can guarantee that your house or car isn't flooded, burnt by fire, hit by storms etc. Your insurance company has no control over the

weather but they certainly can guarantee to pay a penalty if such an event happens.

[tazzer9]

Metro, like QR and most rail organisations don't have all service disruptions count towards their punctuality.  Generally only events which are out of the rail operators control are excluded.   In QR's case this is rather broad.  In Metro's case there are very few events which exclude disruptions from counting, these are things like suicides, large scale electrical failures (upstream of metro), control centre evacuations (happens way too often). 

This is why metro isn't giving away fines every week.     But track failures and lack of drivers is a big one that QR can fix, but they skimp out

[ozbob]

[wbj]

If you want a guarantee, buy a fridge.  There are no guarantees for a complex, multifaceted system like a passenger train service unless you are prepared to have multiple levels of redundancy.  And no one would be prepared to pay the enormous cost necessary.

[ozbob]

Indeed .. but let's hope that service frequency and reliability will get back to what it was more than few months ago hey ..

We must shoot for 15 minutes everywhere I reckon ..l

O_o

Meanwhile I support QR (err all over Oz Land) .. because I do!

[achiruel]

Indeed .. but let's hope that service frequency and reliability will get back to what it was more than few months ago hey ..

We must shoot for 15 minutes everywhere I reckon ..l

O_o

Meanwhile I support QR (err all over Oz Land) .. because I do!

Suburban and Gold Coast services, sure. Nambour and Rosewood, I think half hourly would be fine. Entirely unachievable given the current track configuration north of Beerburrum, though.

[ozbob]

Yes, there are some exceptions due to the infrastructure and demand limitations.

But as a principle 15 minute should be the go for all the major suburban lines.  Perth does this well!

15 minute Kippa-Ring <> Springfield Central will at least allow a constant express pattern on the Ipswich line.

Rather cool how Melbourne overlaps Pakenham with Cranbourne (both 20 minute) which means in from Dandenong 10 minute train frequency which at Caulfield joins with the Frankston line 10 minute frequency which covers all stations Caulfield <> South Yarra while the trains in from Dandenong run a near constant express pattern Caulfield <> South Yarra.

[#Metro]

But as a principle 15 minute should be the go for all the major suburban lines.  Perth does this well!

15 minute Kippa-Ring <> Springfield Central will at least allow a constant express pattern on the Ipswich line.

Yes, absolutely. 15-minute trains on the Springfield line and all day express services on the Ipswich line should be the go.

TMR et al have been hiding behind the "it's low density" argument for ages, but Perth shows that you can have excellent patronage if

you set up the network properly despite lower density.

I recently caught the Caboolture train, it flies through stations now that Kippa Ring is up and running.

Bring on Ipswich line expresses.