Interim rail timetables

[BrizCommuter]

Currently on "sardine can" 3-car 07:10 ex-Ferny Grove. Still spare seats at Windsor.  This time last year, train would have been full to capacity, and leaving passengers behind. Estimated patronage drop of around 40% 

[ozbob]

Can't blame the pax hey ..

QR (management and board) have really set back any hope of genuine network reform many years, sabotaged the new fare structure impact as well.

Even the road toll tunnels are showing increased usage which is no doubt related to the PT mess.

Crappy politics has not helped of course.  The future is really bleak for PT in SEQ.  Fact ...

They lack the courage to sort it ...

[Stillwater]

Let's hope we don't get some bs from government that because passenger nos. are down, fares have to go up.  In fact, instead of lazy political tricks from the Opposition -- suggesting that the Premier become Minister for Transport (really?) -- maybe No-clue Nicholls could call upon the Palaszczuk Government to freeze fares at current rates until mid-2018.  After all, we are getting a lower level of service, so why should we pay more for it? How about it, Nicholls/Powell?

[ozbob]

The Monday to Thursday timetable has a large time gap in the afternoon namely 2:37pm then 3:26 departures from Ipswich.

Locals are not happy ...  a major line with a 49 minute gap.

Makes me FURIOUS !   

For interest, Departures from Mandurah WA  for Perth same time period of the gap at Ipswich
(Transperth http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/timetablepdfs/Mandurah%20Line%2020160131.pdf
Mon - Fri they have a consistent timetable ..  )

2.30pm
2.40pm
2.50pm
3.00pm
3.10pm
3.20pm
3.30pm

It is little wonder Transperth carries more passengers than QR, despite having a smaller network.

[BrizCommuter]

Have there been any recent patronage figures updates?

[ozbob]

Have there been any recent patronage figures updates?

Not that I am aware of.  Probably buried.  I expect the media to be chasing it via RTI ...

Last snap shot October 2016 >  https://publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/translink-public-transport-performance-snapshots/resource/62dee503-0719-480f-a9fd-eda1708213eb  only has aggregate passenger trips.

[BrizCommuter]

http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2017/02/has-qrs-patronage-fallen-off-cliff.html
BrizCommuter - Has QR's Patronage Fallen Off a Cliff?

[ozbob]

BrizCommuter: Has @QueenslandRail Patronage Fallen Off a Cliff?
> https://t.co/yKDsYD1QaY@jackietrad @N_Scales_TMR @TransLinkSEQ #qldpol pic.twitter.com/YWi3Jl1ERr

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) February 10, 2017

[ozbob]

http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2017/02/has-qrs-patronage-fallen-off-cliff.html
BrizCommuter - Has QR's Patronage Fallen Off a Cliff?

  have sent to all outlets as well.  Nice job!

[Otto]

I've certainly noticed the extra traffic in the PM peak on our roads. Can't comment on the AM peak because I never work the AM period. 

[techblitz]

looks like gold coasters are going to be ripped off again.....
bruce springsteen concert 14feb & 16feb scheduled to finish 11pm @ entertainment center(Boondall)....last gold coast train leaves from roma st 11.02pm......yet the last inbound train leaves varsity 11.48pm.
Translink are pinning this on the event organiser for not asking for additional services to the gold coast after the concerts finish.

[ozbob]

When I was a Sergeant in the green machine my Lance Corporals had more initiative than  the overpaid desk jockeys we are blessed with in the halls of transport mediocrity

[achiruel]

looks like gold coasters are going to be ripped off again.....
bruce springsteen concert 14feb & 16feb scheduled to finish 11pm @ entertainment center(Boondall)....last gold coast train leaves from roma st 11.02pm......yet the last inbound train leaves varsity 11.48pm.
Translink are pinning this on the event organiser for not asking for additional services to the gold coast after the concerts finish.

I'm afraid I've got to agree with TransLink on this one. They don't have carte blanche to put on extra services; it is the responsibility of the event organiser to arrange for and contribute to the cost of extra services.

[verbatim9]

looks like gold coasters are going to be ripped off again.....
bruce springsteen concert 14feb & 16feb scheduled to finish 11pm @ entertainment center(Boondall)....last gold coast train leaves from roma st 11.02pm......yet the last inbound train leaves varsity 11.48pm.
Translink are pinning this on the event organiser for not asking for additional services to the gold coast after the concerts finish.

I'm afraid I've got to agree with TransLink on this one. They don't have carte blanche to put on extra services; it is the responsibility of the event organiser to arrange for and contribute to the cost of extra services.

Sounds like a lack of communication to me. Poor form from both professional organisations then.

[#Metro]

Queensland Government owns Boondall Entertainment Centre.

Operations managed by AEG Ogden company.

There are train services there late at night, but Roma Street connections are the problem.

I don't think it is the first time that huge number of people were released with no services to take them onwards.

An interesting thought would be whether there is merit in a regular overnight intercity bus going from Roma Street - Ipswich and also Roma Street - Gold Coast. Wouldn't stop at most rail stations, just so that people could get to say, Southport or Ipswich and then plug into a local taxi or 24-hr bus (if on GC).

Taxis going backwards and forwards from these locations would be very expensive.

[red dragin]

Wit the easy access to the Gateway, would anyone realistically catch the train to the Gold Coast?

[Arnz]

I suspect it would be cheaper to charter buses from Greyhound and/or Murray's from major Gold Coast stops to the Boondall Entertainment Centre for most organisers.

[James]

I'm afraid I've got to agree with TransLink on this one. They don't have carte blanche to put on extra services; it is the responsibility of the event organiser to arrange for and contribute to the cost of extra services.

And what? Watch the M1 get even more congested as an additional burden is placed on an already choked motorway? I was coming back from the Gold Coast last week around 5:30pm. Bumper to bumper from around the Hyperdome all the way to Springwood.

There's an easy solution to this - a service going to the GC after midnight all the time. No reason why there shouldn't be one Monday - Thursday. As it is, the only lines which finish earlier are the Doomben & Airport lines.

[verbatim9]

Will there be a later service ex Brisbane to Robina weekdays when light rail starts from Helensvale?

[tazzer9]

After seeing how much the transport bill is for a bare minimum bus only service to and from suncorp stadium.  I can see why event organisers don't ask for more trains.  They are getting robbed.  In some cases it would be cheaper to hand out cabcharge vouchers.

[#Metro]

There's an easy solution to this - a service going to the GC after midnight all the time. No reason why there shouldn't be one Monday - Thursday. As it is, the only lines which finish earlier are the Doomben & Airport lines.

This is not a bad idea, forget about my bus idea. This is actually better and simpler.

I can't imagine that gov't would be too enthusiastic about it as it would be a coverage service, not a patronage service.

But it should be done!

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Ipswich getting shafted again with rail timetable

THE call has gone out from public transport advocate Robert Dow for Queensland Rail to bring back the 3.09pm train from Ipswich to Brisbane Central.

Ipswich residents have raised their concerns with Mr Dow about the new Monday to Thursday rail timetable which has been in operation since January 23, with students now having to wait on train stations after school for longer.

A 49 minute gap now exists in the afternoon timetable between the Ipswich to Brisbane Central departure times of 2.37pm and 3.26pm.

"School students have got to wait around for the later train because of the 49 minute gap at a peak time ," Mr Dow said.

"Ipswich is a major line and there hasn't been any consideration for the after school demand.

"The 3.09pm is the one that has been removed and you have got kids getting on that all the way along the Ipswich line.

"It is just a measure of what I think is very poor timetabling. The way they treat people out here is just not good.

"We have to wait 30 minutes as it is but here they are making people wait 49 minutes at a key time of the day.

"It is inconvenient for people coming home from school and university and it dissuades them from using public transport."

In a letter to the editor Mr Dow said that "for interest, during the same time period on the Mandurah railway line in Western Australia, Transperth run trains to Perth at 10 minute intervals, with trains departing at 2.30pm, 2.40pm, 2.50pm, 3.00pm, 3.10pm, 3.20pm and 3.30pm."

"We do indeed have a very poor rail service in south-east Queensland and Ipswich is not being treated fairly," he wrote.

The QT is awaiting a response from Queensland Rail.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

18th February 2017

Not getting any better is it? #railfail

Good Morning,

A measure of the mediocrity of the current train timetable for SEQ is the article below.  It is very very poor service overall the hybrid reduced train timetable, a different one on Fridays from Monday to Thursdays!

It is not getting better.  Public grief and anger grows by the day.  And to think that Queensland Rail executives pocketed cash bonuses for years to deliver this rubbish.

And most of them are still there!  How does anyone really expect a cultural change in an organisation with the same failures still on the gravy-train!

God help us!

Robert

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

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

Queensland Times --> Ipswich getting shafted again with rail timetable

THE call has gone out from public transport advocate Robert Dow for Queensland Rail to bring back the 3.09pm train from Ipswich to Brisbane Central.

    Ipswich residents have raised their concerns with Mr Dow about the new Monday to Thursday rail timetable which has been in operation since January 23, with students now having to wait on train stations after school for longer.

    A 49 minute gap now exists in the afternoon timetable between the Ipswich to Brisbane Central departure times of 2.37pm and 3.26pm.

     "School students have got to wait around for the later train because of the 49 minute gap at a peak time ," Mr Dow said.

    "Ipswich is a major line and there hasn't been any consideration for the after school demand.

    "The 3.09pm is the one that has been removed and you have got kids getting on that all the way along the Ipswich line.

    "It is just a measure of what I think is very poor timetabling. The way they treat people out here is just not good.

    "We have to wait 30 minutes as it is but here they are making people wait 49 minutes at a key time of the day.

    "It is inconvenient for people coming home from school and university and it dissuades them from using public transport."

     In a letter to the editor Mr Dow said that "for interest, during the same time period on the Mandurah railway line in Western Australia, Transperth run trains to Perth at 10 minute intervals, with trains departing at 2.30pm, 2.40pm, 2.50pm, 3.00pm, 3.10pm, 3.20pm and 3.30pm."

    "We do indeed have a very poor rail service in south-east Queensland and Ipswich is not being treated fairly," he wrote.

    The QT is awaiting a response from Queensland Rail.

[ Attached:  https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12341.msg188075#msg188075 ]

[ozbob]

Latest media: ' Not getting any better is it? #railfail '
> https://t.co/tfN1gcwhqJ#qldpol@AnnastaciaMP @jackietrad @JenMP4Ipswich pic.twitter.com/0cKlIcXtfF

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) February 17, 2017

[ozbob]

Queensland Times 18th February 2017 page 9

Ipswich commuters shafted with gap in train timetable



^

River 949 News have followed up as well.  Thanks for the interest!   

[BrizCommuter]

07:17 from Ferny Grove was a basket case this morning. 3rd carriage was pretty much full by Alderley with lady and pram unable to board. Approx 40 passengers unable to board at Windsor. Train running behind schedule due to extended dwell times. May have accidently sent photo to CM!

[ozbob]

 

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

25th February 2017

Queensland Rail suburban versus Transperth

Good Morning,

Last January I went on a self-funded study tour of the public transport network in Perth.

[ Perth visit Jan 2017  --> https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12368.0 ]

It was a wonderful opportunity to experience first hand the trains and buses that service Perth and suburbs.

Suffice to say the reputation that Transperth has as being the best suburban rail network in Australia was substantiated.

Perth's rail network is around half the size of the rail network in SEQ, yet Transperth rail carries more passengers on the rail network than SEQ.  Around 20 million passengers more annually.  Why?  Basically because ALL lines have 15 minutes or better off peak, better frequency at peak as demanded, and the bus network is properly designed to feed key rail stations with regular connecting feeder bus services. 

It demonstrates the things that are really lacking on the Queensland Rail network.  The Transperth network also has full Automatic Train Protection and  Driver Only Operation (one person train crew), this obviously helps to achieve acceptable train service frequency.

It is only when you travel to experience an efficient, no fuss, sustained high frequency, connected rail network that one appreciates how abysmal our current SEQ rail network is.  Little wonder the public is enraged with rail fail.  How much more if they had the chance to see the Transperth network in operation?

The mess at Queensland Rail is inexcusable.  It is a sad wonder to us that the failed Queensland Rail Executive Leadership Team and the Queensland Rail Board have not been sacked.  SEQ public transport limps along from one failure to the next.

Cross River Rail is dead.  It is so compromised now not worth doing.  The only hope is to roll out Automatic Train Protection for our rail network in SEQ. This will give a ~25% peak capacity gain, step up frequency on all lines to 15 minute out of peak, sort out the job rules for train crew, consider some network operational changes (eg. some terminating South Brisbane services) and properly organise the bus network to better feed key rail stations.

Of course reorganisation of how public transport is administered in Queensland is required. The formation of a statutory authority - Public Transport Queensland is needed to overcome the present silos of mediocrity and replication.

[ Public Transport Queensland? --> https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12341.0 ]

Best wishes
Robert

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

[urbanplanr]

Will there be a later service ex Brisbane to Robina weekdays when light rail starts from Helensvale?

They would need to extend the light rail operating hours too because a 11pm train from Berisbane to Helensvale would take at least an hour and the light rail services would have already ended (based on current timetable hours).

[SurfRail]

My understanding is that Monday to Friday mornings, the last southbound train will be met by the last tram of the evening, which will only run as far as GCUH (ie so the tram can turn left at the depot and go to bed).  The 700 will still be running to GCUH.  On Saturday and Sunday mornings when the trams run 24hrs, it would run through to Broadbeach.  So yes, some extras to be operated on top of the current setup.

[ozbob]

http://www.timnicholls.com.au/citytrain-stress-test-report-translinks-latest-quarterly-report/

Opposition Statement

CityTrain "stress test" report and Translink's latest quarterly report

The Palaszczuk Labor Government is once again refusing to come clean to Queenslanders on the fallout from the Queensland Rail timetable debacle.

Tonight in State Parliament, the LNP moved a motion ordering Labor's Jackie Trad to table a report on the outcome of Queensland Rail Chair Phillip Strachan's "stress test" of the CityTrain timetable.

Last month, Annastacia Palaszczuk assured the House in no uncertain terms that this report would be handed down within one month.

That time has now come – and South-East Queenslanders have the right to see how our rail system is holding up after months of Labor rail fails.

Tonight the LNP gave the Palaszczuk Government a 72-hour window to release this report so all Queenslanders can know the truth.

Instead of being open and transparent – Labor refused to commit to releasing the report as promised.

It's a slap in the face to commuters who are already dealing with 472 less weekly services because of Stirling Hinchliffe and Jackie Trad's incompetence.

It's no wonder they're backwards in coming forward, with the latest Translink figures showing train patronage during Labor's rail fail was down by 1.35 million commuters from the previous quarter (July – September).

Complaints are up and reliability has fallen off a cliff, with on-time running down below the 95 per cent on-time benchmark.

Jackie Trad must release the report and allow Queensland commuters to know what they're in for in the months to come.

TransLink Tracker background info:

TransLink Tracker for Oct-Dec 2016: https://publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/f7250547-39cf-492e-a524-b435dd6a5e8d/resource/2c549db7-6d8a-4f7f-955d-9408a7c2fb9a/download/tracker-q2.pdf

Patronage:

Overall patronage down 4.35 million from previous quarter

Train patronage down 1.35 million from previous quarter



Reliability:

On-time running down 3% over the quarter

Services delivered down 1.07% over the quarter

Neither reliability measure is meeting the benchmark of 95%

Complaints are at 2.66 per 10,000 trips, up from 1.89

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> As only a quarter of rail services reach Brisbane on time, commuters are ditching train to drive up M1

GOLD Coast commuters are abandoning "the Bombay Express" as a quarter of services to Brisbane fail to arrive on time in peak hour, State Parliament has been told.

The State Opposition has called on the Palaszczuk Government to produce details of a "stress test" being conducted on the southeast Queensland rail network.

Opposition transport spokesman Andrew Powell said the December 2016 TransLink Tracker report released this week showed patronage was down 4.3 million from the previous quarter with 1.35 million passengers leaving the rail network.

"The TransLink Tracker also shows the reliability on the network is falling off a cliff," he said.

Coomera MP Michael Crandon said the Newman Government had increased Coast services by 93 a week between 2013-14, but the latest interim timetable was removing 10 per cent of the boost in trains.

Mr Crandon said almost 15 per cent of Coast services on Tuesday afternoon were not on time and on Wednesday morning a week ago 27 per cent of scheduled trains failed to reach the Coast.

"You would not want to be on a time clock at work in the middle of Brisbane when more than a quarter of the trains were late," Mr Crandon said.

"Was it any better in the afternoon. Not much better because 78.5 per cent of services were on time. It's pathetic."

Mr Crandon said the Government had spent hundreds of millions of dollars on duplicating the track between Coomera and Helensvale for the Commonwealth Games yet it was unlikely increased services would occur.

"What happens when the trains are late. My constituents lose interest in catching trains and they start to hop on the M1," Mr Crandon said.

"What happens on the M1. I have roadblock after roadblock of people. Cars queuing on exit 49. The point is we have cars ramping on the M1 on exits 49, 45 and 41.

"Because we have more and more cars in the fastest-growing area in Australia and our train service is so unreliable so people are abandoning the train service."

Albert MP Mark Boothman said: "In peak times on the M1, commuters sit in stationary vehicles queued up to half a kilometre long waiting to exit the motorway, particularly at exit 49 at Pimpama".

"To prevent a tragic accident, when will this government — often described as a do-nothing government — listen to the concerns of my residents and fix this interchange?"

Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Jackie Trad said the Strachan review found the training of drivers was "suspended on the LNP's watch" which contributed to the current crisis.

She said Queensland Rail along with the Transport Department and Citytrain Response Unit was finalising a high level response plan which would be released next week.

"For the Opposition to seek to order me, via a resolution of parliament, to produce a report before the work has even been completed and quality assured is just playing politics," Ms Trad said.

"The job at hand is to fix Queensland Rail and that is what I am doing. Those opposite are interested in playing politics and stupid juvenile games, and they should be ignored."

[ozbob]

If the ' high level response plan ' does not include a return to a full timetable service by January 2018, it is my view that the present Government and Queensland Rail be replaced with an operator and a Government that will!

Queensland Rail is still a ' closed shop ' with respect to experienced train crew that do not have direct Queensland Rail experience.

Charades continue ...



#youarewelcome

[#Metro]

QR recovery plan:



https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Northampton_Museum_1979.123.1_womens_boot_1970s.jpg

Another person from the ELT has been fired:

Queensland Rail sacks another manager over timetable fiasco
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-rail-sacks-another-manager-over-timetable-fiasco/news-story/7914586aa0849cdcbc14a38910036e51


Very interesting Mr Dawe:

Dawe is believed to have been behind the rehiring of Mick Skinner as QR's train services delivery manager while board chairman. Sources say Dawe was acting as a defacto CEO at the time.

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

[ozbob]

 

[BrizCommuter]

It's Friday - and that means QR's Friday Timetable from Hell! 
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2017/03/qrs-friday-timetable-from-hell.html

[ozbob]

 

BrizCommuter:
QR's Friday Timetable from Hell
> https://t.co/HAFVluDfdU#qldpol#Fridayrailfail@QLDLabor @LNPQLD @QldGreens pic.twitter.com/sJAVi3mCwD

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) March 2, 2017

[Monster]

BrizCommuter:
QR's Friday Timetable from Hell
> https://t.co/HAFVluDfdU#qldpol#Fridayrailfail@QLDLabor @LNPQLD @QldGreens pic.twitter.com/sJAVi3mCwD

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) March 2, 2017

Briz I'm feeling your pain.......... I too was on that train. I was not too excited about the trip when I got on a Grovely.

[BrizCommuter]

^ I really feel sorry for passengers at Windsor and Wilson who not only have seen the frequency cut by 50%, but then can't board the remaining service. It's an absolute disgrace that QR axed two usually full train services!

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Queensland Rail: Authorities working to ensure no Christmas Day meltdown for Easter

Queensland Rail is working to prevent a Christmas Day-style meltdown at our next religious-themed holiday break - Easter.

On Christmas Day, more than one-third of services were cancelled as a result of rostering practices, late notification of sick days and driver shortages.

The network has been plagued with cancellations and timetable issues following the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line in October 2016, which eventually exposed a driver shortage and culture problems.

QR board chair Phillip Strachan said the acting chief executive officer Neil Scales and his team were working on the Easter timetable.

Easter Sunday falls on April 16 this year.

"We're looking to make sure that is a robust timetable," Mr Strachan said.

"It is a very busy holiday period for the business and we want to make sure that there is no repeat of the Christmas Day event.

"We're working on that right now to ensure that Easter is actually the right level of service and providing services for commuters.

"In terms of Easter, we're working on that right now to make sure that Christmas Day never happens again."

The government's Fixing the trains plan, released with a 100-day action plan on Wednesday, says QR is reviewing the current timetable to determine sustainability of service levels.

When Mr Strachan handed down his report into QR's failings in February, then as Commissioner, he recommended QR have a "very serious look" at the latest train timetable, in place from January 23, to make sure it was robust.

In January, Mr Scales had promised the timetable would be in place for the remainder of 2017.

The current timetable is the same as the November 7 timetable, which was in place immediately before the introduction of the summer school holiday timetable.

The current train timetable has 333 fewer services from Monday to Friday compared with the timetable released on October 4, but still more than the number of services running in September, before the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line.

QR is developing plans to address upcoming critical periods, including the Easter holiday period, the introduction of the New Generation Rollingstock and the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018, the Fixing the trains plan reads.

The plan also includes hiring and training, including recruiting already qualified drivers, boosting productivity and changing the culture.

Mr Strachan said QR was still reviewing the current timetable to ensure it was sustainable.

"We're not declaring yet any change to the current timetable that is still a work in progress," he said.

"We'll take whatever action is necessary, I'm not saying that any action is necessary, we'll let that piece of work finish."

Mr Strachan said there was a "longer piece of work" to get the timetable back to full services.

"That's really working very closely with TransLink and the Department of Transport and Main Roads and to have that properly integrated service to ensure that all those interconnections with the buses and ferries is optimised, that's a much longer piece of work and that's ongoing," he said.

QR plans to deliver a full-service timetable by late 2018, which will rely on train crew working overtime.

The delivery of a full-service timetable, with the appropriate use of overtime, is expected by late 2019.

QR's new chief executive officer Nick Easy said he wanted to ensure QR provided reliable and sustainable train services.

"I will be doing everything within my power to ensure that we do that," Mr Easy said.

"I'm sure there'll be times and periods when there is down time and there is some changes.

"Clearly the importance is that consistency and reliability and that's something I'll be doing and working with the organisation to ensure we improve."