Interim rail timetables

[ozbob]

Rail network in a great big mess. $$$ all round hey?#qldpol
>> https://t.co/YUB9KzLx8j@StirlHinchliffe @QueenslandRail @AnnastaciaMP pic.twitter.com/FOOo3GIzod

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) November 19, 2016

Brisbanetimes --> Queensland Rail paid bonuses as chaos consumed network

At the height of the controversies around Queensland Rail's mass cancellations and driver shortages, the board splashed out on generous bonuses for its executives.

The revelation is highly embarrassing for the operator, which has been plagued with bungles, including that it was warned about a looming driver shortage for the new Redcliffe Peninsula Line as early as January.

It is understood the board signed off on the performance payments on September 29.

It is understood one payment, worth more than $70,000, was awarded to Queensland Rail chief operating officer Kevin Wright, with the bonuses paid on October 17, and the other payments for executives averaged about $45,000.

On September 30, 50 train services were cancelled, with Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe saying he only found out about cuts from social media. He requested a briefing the next day but said he was not advised about the chronic driver shortage.

The new timetable was rolled out on October 4 for the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line, but on October 21, 100 services were unexpectedly cancelled as the driver shortage reached crunch point.
Advertisement

Performance payments for senior executives are based on the achievement of key performance indicators.

A QR spokeswoman confirmed performance payments were approved by the board in September and said they were "based on individual and organisational performance for the previous financial year".

"Last financial year, that meant 393 staff are eligible for bonuses as well as five executive(s)," the spokesman said.

The spokeswoman said $7.19 million in bonuses was paid out of a performance payment budget of $9.27 million.

A spokeswoman for Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the QR board signed off on the payments and shareholding ministers were not notified or consulted about the appropriateness of the payments.

"In fact, the Minister and Treasurer were only informed about these payments via a letter received on 10 November - 25 days after the payments were transferred," the spokeswoman said.

"As soon as the government was advised these payments had already been made, it sought advice about whether the money could be recovered.

"However, under Queensland Rail's senior executive employment contracts we have been advised this is not possible."

The spokeswoman said it was Mr Hinchliffe's strong view that the payments were not in line with community expectations.

"He is disappointed the board did not defer its decision to make the final payments given the cancellations in October due to train crew shortages," she said.

Mr Hinchliffe has written to the board to seek urgent consideration of options to address the issue, including the review of KPIs for the determination of bonuses.

"The Transport Minister is focused on fixing this mess and restoring frontline services and recruiting new drivers and guards," the spokeswoman said.

Queensland Rail was not obliged to report on the bonuses until next year's annual report.

Mr Hinchliffe has maintained that Queensland Rail repeatedly did not tell him of issues related to driver shortages.

There have been repeated cancellations to trains in recent months, including on the interim timetable designed to cope with a lack of drivers, with a reduced service timetable finally rolled out on November 7.

The decision for the board to award bonuses in October, despite numerous reports flagging driver shortages during 2016 - and amid train cancellations - raises serious questions.

A draft report from consultants Indec, provided to Queensland Rail at the beginning of the year, raised concerns about a driver shortage in relation to the new generation rollingstock and the Moreton Bay Rail Link, as it was then known.

Advice from Canadian company GIRO in March 2016 warned Queensland Rail's "current driver and guard resource levels (were) not sufficient".

Another report from GIRO, dated October 21, reaffirmed the driver shortage.

Chief executive Helen Gluer resigned on October 27, along with chairman Michael Klug.

Earlier, Queensland Rail's head of train service delivery was stood down.

Former Rio Tinto boss Philip Strachan has been appointed to review what went wrong in Queensland Rail.

[#Metro]

Why won't QR isolate the Redcliffe line from the rest of the network?

Because after 100+ years of waiting, doing so would create a symbol of failure that they wouldn't live down.

So they let the delays propagate through the entire SEQ rail network instead.

[ozbob]

Why won't QR isolate the Redcliffe line from the rest of the network?

Because after 100+ years of waiting, doing so would create a symbol of failure that they wouldn't live down.

So they let the delays propagate through the entire SEQ rail network instead.

It was done for Richlands effectively.  I have it on very good authority it is what Queensland Rail wants to do.

It is really the only way that a proper recovery is possible.  QR needs space for crew training, NGR commissioning, route training.  Service cuts and non-service is a political minefield.  Time Government listened to Queensland Rail and did the right thing for everyone and Queensland Rail staff who are clearly under a lot of pressure at present.  Carry on with this interim timetable rubbish the failure will carry on for months if not years.

Sent to all outlets:

20th November 2016

Re: Rail fail fix

Good Morning,

Still silence from the authorities.  When will rail services be back onto Rosewood at weekends?

When will the New Generation Rolling stock trains be in service?

We truly do have major issues with our rail network.  A band-aid timetable arrangement with massive service cuts and constant cancellations is not the answer.

There is a solution as we have detailed below.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

19th November 2016

Rail fail fix

Good Morning,

Finally an article highlighting the sheer arrogance of Queensland Rail in paying bonuses to Executive Staff in the midst of the rail service delivery crisis.

Brisbanetimes --> Queensland Rail paid bonuses as chaos consumed network

People who are suffering the impacts of service cuts are very upset about this.  Do you blame them?

OK.  How to sort this mess.

Queensland Rail needs to revert to the previous rail timetable, that is the one in operation prior to the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line. This was being delivered with a high degree of reliability.

Shuttle services between Petrie and Kippa-Ring need to be layered on that, with perhaps some peak direct services.   This was the approach that was used when the Richlands line opened in January 2011 [ A copy of the Richlands interim timetable can be found here > Richlands Jan 2011 interim timetable  ]. Shuttles operated until such time the full new sector one timetable was implemented in June 2011. Introduce shuttle services (mainly off peak) on the Redcliffe Peninsula Line between Petrie <> Kippa-Ring.  Yes this is an inconvenience but it will take the pressure off all lines, and allow all train crew to be made route ready without the present pressures and will provide a reserve for New Generation Rollingstock testing and training, and time to get new crews up to speed.  Queensland Rail staff are obviously under considerable strain due to the bungling, and it is time to stabilise the situation.  The present ' new timetables ' are just a smorgasbord of service cuts and non delivery.  Hardly satisfactory.  Time for the big steps and some real political leadership.

Here is a 5 point plan [ https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/798259410942324738 ] :



Further more it is time that the authorities came clean on the New Generation Rollingstock project.  What is going on?  When will we see the new trains in service?

Enough of the spin and bull-dust, time to come clean with the truth.  What is the disability access plan for these trains?

Can a broom be put through TransLink and TMR too please?  They had carriage of both Moreton Bay Rail Link and the New Generation Rollingstock projects, both abysmal project failures at this point. Or do they get cash bonuses too?

Enough of the mediocrity.  Time to sort it once and for all.

Robert

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

[ozbob]

Plenty of disruptions today ..

>> https://twitter.com/TransLinkSEQ

[ozbob]

And another cancellation ... how is that timetable working out hey @StirlHinchliffe ?
It. is. not.#qldpol https://t.co/tq85vYm7RT

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) November 19, 2016

[Stillwater]

In the Westminster tradition, Ministers take responsibility for stuff-ups in their portfolio area, and resign if the impacts on voters are significant.  Not in Queensland, where the interests of government, not the people, are paramount.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3692164/This-career-terminates-Rail-minister-Claire-Perry-quits-admitting-feels-ashamed-chaotic-train-delays.html

[ozbob]

The ' retrospectroscope ' can be a very useful instrument ..

Daily Telegraph --> Queensland Rail to be statutory authority

By Kym Agius AAP  April 15, 2013 4:36PM

News
Queensland Rail to be statutory authority

    By Kym Agius
    AAP
    April 15, 2013 4:36PM

QUEENSLAND'S passenger rail network is being primed for privatisation, the state opposition says.

Transport Minister Scott Emerson announced on Monday that Queensland Rail (QR) will be changed from a government-owned corporation to a statutory authority, reversing a 2006 decision.

From May, the minister will have tighter control on the day-to-day running of the business and will no longer have to issue directives to initiate change.

He criticised the organisation for being profit-focused, rather than passenger-focused, and believes the changes will rein in the ballooning cost of rail.

He insists it has nothing to do with privatisation, but says a decision on that is yet to be made.

"Transferring it from a government-owned corporation to a statutory authority brings it closer to government, not privatisation," he said.

But opposition transport spokeswoman Jackie Trad doesn't buy it.

Under the new arrangement, she believes the government would no longer have to deal with a board and stakeholders.

"This way it is absolutely easier to privatise," she said.

The change would also make it easier to cut staff entitlements, conditions and wages, making the organisation more attractive to private buyers.

"What we have here is Mr Emerson clearing the decks.

"What we have here is the Newman government getting ready for the full sale of Queensland Rail and the sacking of more workers."

A report into the state's finances, headed by former federal treasurer Peter Costello, recommends rail be delivered through contestable contracts under franchise and lease arrangements.

More detail is expected later this month when Mr Costello's full 1000-page report is finally released.

Mr Emerson said QR had become the most expensive train operator per kilometre in Australia, around two-and-a-half times more expensive than the average.

Without action, funding would need to increase from $1.6 billion to $1.9 billion over the next two years.

"We will make the organisation more efficient so we can employ more train crew, deliver better timetables and add more trains to the network," Mr Emerson told reporters on Monday.

[Stillwater]

"From May (2013), the minister will have tighter control on the day-to-day running of the business and will no longer have to issue directives to initiate change."

The Minister has 'tight control on the day-to-day running of the business', yet refuses to take Ministerial responsibility for what happens, or fails to happen, on his watch.

[#Metro]

The current setup is where a statutory authority owns a GOC.

The GOC officially has no employees.

The board of the statutory authority is the same board for both the authority and the GOC.

Got it?

It is just playing dress-ups with corporate structures. Waste of time really.

If the minister was serious, he would block all bonuses for 2017. That would claw back the money.

[Stillwater]

^ Yes!  After all, he has a tight rein on the day-to-day running of QR, doesn't he.  Doesn't he?  Oh dear! 

[mufreight]

The obvious solution is to sack the QR Board, they have shown themselves to be totaly out of touch and incompetent, then dissolve any connection with both TMR and Translink as both of these bodies have exhibited an absolute lack of direction, comprehension or knowledge with regard of rail operations and then appoint a QR Commissioner who has some knowledge of rail operations to run Queensland Rail removing the political influence.
Unless some drastic and effective steps are taken then  QR will prove to be the straw that breaks the camels back politicaly for Labor at the next elections, it is obvious that the LNP has intentions to flog off QR to their political mates at the first opportunity.

[#Metro]

I wouldn't just fire the board - I would replace it with Metro Trains appointees and put it on contract!

Queensland Rail's government ownership gives me no pleasure if it can't deliver the services.

I don't sit at a train platform and think " My next train is cancelled. Ah, but it is government-owned". (Cue warm fuzzy feelings).


If you don't perform - OUT!!

Even if LNP were responsible for training cuts, it still does not explain why QR went ahead with the timetable while short of staff. The Canadian company GIRO that did the timetables apparently had sent warnings to QR that they were short staffed. So why did QR ignore that and proceed anyway?

At least then (a) the fines will really stick and (b) Queensland Rail will be exempt from political meddling and public sector
staff cuts because it will no longer be run by politicians. Paying the train operator on a per-km service basis will create an incentive for it to push for more services. As METRO has done in Melbourne with lines converting to 10 minute train frequencies (Dandenong, Frankston).

Maintenance issues can be dealt with by using a special non-profit maintenance only budget that can only be spent on maintenance and absolutely nothing else. This could be allocated directly from gov't.

Get set for ten-minute trains down the track
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/get-set-for-tenminute-trains-down-the-track-20100731-110p9.html

ALL trains - and ideally buses - would run every five to 10 minutes on Melbourne routes under Metro Trains chief executive Andrew Lezala's plans for the network.

To achieve Mr Lezala's vision, Metro has started to make significant changes to the way the network is structured and maintained. Its first step was to start to disentangle the train lines, so that when one line suffers a critical fault within the area bounded by North Melbourne, Jolimont and Richmond stations it doesn't shut down the whole network.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

21st November 2016

Ban Queensland Rail Performance Bonuses for 2016/17!

Greetings,

Well done Felicity Caldwell and Brisbane Times for exposing the payment of the outrageous cash bonuses to Queensland Rail Executives at the same time as the entire rail network went into meltdown, despite months of warnings.

Everybody would like to know what the KPIs were for the issuing of these bonuses. Hundreds of services were cancelled, and the disruptions and non-service continue to this day.

Minister Hinchliffe's office says that it was unable to recover the monies already paid and that it was unaware of the payments until after they were made. Really?

What is the purpose of a Transport Ministry if it doesn't know what it is managing?

RAIL Back on Track calls on Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to issue a written directive to Queensland Rail banning all bonuses for 2016/17.

That's how you claw back the money. Future bonuses should also be subject to Ministerial veto.

Queensland Rail's service offering has fallen behind that of Perth, Western Australia*.

Perth has more trains more often. In fact, Perth's train patronage now exceeds Queensland Rail's patronage by approximately 10 million passengers.

In recent years, Queensland Rail became a statutory authority, a change that was supposed to bring it 'closer to government'. It appears to have done no such thing.

Consideration should now be given to including shareholding ministers on the Queensland Rail board as ' ex officio ' members who attend all board meetings.

In this way, the Minister might actually know what is going on at Queensland Rail for a change.

Once again, RAIL Back on Track calls on the Minister to ban the issuing of bonuses at Queensland Rail for 2016/17.

Spend the $10 million where it should be spent - on improving services for passengers please.

There is a way to resolve this non service delivery mess, but what would we know?

See > https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12524.msg183630#msg183630

Best wishes
Robert

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

References:

*15 minute daytime services operate to some stations on these lines, but not the full length of
the line.

Queensland Rail paid bonuses as chaos consumed network
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/queensland-rail-paid-bonuses-as-chaos-consumed-network-20161118-gssqbm.html

Rail fail fix
https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12524.msg183630#msg183630

[ozbob]

Latest Media: &#39; Ban @QueenslandRail Performance Bonuses for 2016/17! &#39;
> https://t.co/RbTu5C24pF#qldpol@StirlHinchliffe @AnnastaciaMP pic.twitter.com/TsoO01w0SF

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) November 20, 2016

[ozbob]

Weekend #3 for Ipswich <> Rosewood rail buses  ..

And for the rest this weekend ..   

Fuking circus is our rail system these days ..

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

https://translink.com.au/service-updates/93531

Roma Street to Rosewood and Springfield Central track closure

From 2am on Saturday 26 November until the last service on Sunday 27 November, tracks will be closed between Roma Street to Ipswich, Rosewood and Springfield Central stations.

Please plan your journey in advance and allow for extra travel time (approximately 60 minutes) due to track works.

Train services will be affected from approximately 1.30am on Saturday 26 November and will return to normal from the first service on Monday 28 November.
Train replacement services

Buses will replace trains in between Roma Street, Ipswich, Rosewood and Springfield Central.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

21st November 2016

More train pain on the way for the West !

Greetings,

More train pain out west.  There is a track closure this coming weekend Roma Street to Rosewood and Springfield Central track closure.

See --> https://translink.com.au/service-updates/93531

This will be the third weekend in a row for rail replacement bus pain for the punters west of Ipswich of course, but welcome to the club all those travelling on the Ipswich and Springfield Central lines this weekend anywhere between Roma St and Ipswich, Rosewood and Springfield Central and stations in between.

It is time that fare enforcement on rail replacement buses was officially declared as not happening (that is travel on the buses is effectively free until such time there is a functioning ticket system on the rail replacement buses). See below for detailed reasons why.

What happened to our once great rail network?  It is now an utter shambles sadly.  Do you want a cash bonus with that?

Best wishes,

Robert

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


Reference:

Fare enforcement on rail replacement bus services

>> https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9539.msg183393#msg183393

[ozbob]

This is the present policy ..

How does a track closure affect me?

During planned track closures, buses will replace train services. You can find your station's rail replacement bus stop location or follow signage at the station.

Occasionally go card may not be available on replacement buses or at stations. If you're able to, please use the go card reader at your station or purchase a paper ticket for travel prior to catching your rail replacement bus service.

Please plan your journey in advance—check for upcoming track closures. Allow for extra travel time (approximately 60 minutes) if the closure affects you.

https://translink.com.au/service-updates/about-track-works

Dumb!  How does a passenger know that the bus does not have functioning ticket equipment prior to travel?   

So the punter, who cannot touch on says to the bus driver, hey wait till I walk 500 metres to the station to touch on and come back?

A fare evasion offence will not stick.  Best to be clear and simply state ' Due to the non-standard fare conditions on rail replacement buses fare enforcement on the bus legs is not carried out '.  If and when functioning ticket equipment is on the buses then pax can touch on and off on the bus as normal.

I have again been assured that TransLink is not enforcing fares on rail replacement buses.  Well why not say so?

We are living in a cluster-fuk of transport madness hey?

[ozbob]

Sent to Mr Madden Member for Ipswich West  23rd November 2016

Incorrect information from Queensland Rail

Dear Mr Madden,

I refer to the article in today's Queensland Times viz.

http://www.qt.com.au/news/ipswich-rosewood-line-closed-to-trains-again/3114791/

When trains will run again is anyone's guess but the QT has learned the line will also be shut for maintenance on Sunday, December 4.

Ipswich West MP Jim Madden said he had been working behind the scenes to get trains back up and running as soon as possible.

Mr Madden met with Queensland Rail representatives yesterday and told the QT of the latest developments.

"There was track maintenance scheduled this weekend and the following Sunday and it had been for months," Mr Madden said.

"I have just come from a meeting with QR and they couldn't give me a definite date when train services would be resumed.

"But I am pushing for services to be resumed on the weekend of December 10 and 11."

The QT reported last week that commuters with large mobility scooters said they couldn't get on the buses.

Mr Madden said QR had assured him that situation had been rectified.

"We had special low-rise buses sitting at both Ipswich and Rosewood that people with disabilities were using but QR told me they didn't see anyone with mobility scooters," he said.

"They were prepared to give out vouchers for people with mobility scooters so a maxi-cab could take those with some of the bigger scooters.

"But they didn't need to give any out."

In fact one of our members did travel by maxi taxi to and from Thagoona last weekend.

Here is the account of travel. https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12524.msg183653#msg183653

Traveled from Ipswich to Thagoona today with a mobility scooter.  An interesting and enlightening exercise.
I arrived at Ipswich station and was met by a driver from Thompsons Coaches, the young bloke was most helpful and told me to wait while he organised a suitable bus that they had a suitable bus on standby, the bus he organised promptly pulled up and dropped the ramp but unfortunately the mobility scooter can not negotiate the entrance into the bus which both drivers and myself had anticipated.
They then called the station master out who then returned to his office and made a couple of phone calls and eventually came back out and advised that he had been instructed to call a Maxi Taxi and that one was on the way which arrived within about 25 minutes and I was then off to Thagoona.
The Thompsons staff could not have been more helpful as were the Ipswich station staff.
For the return journey as Thagoona was unattended I was given a phone number for Ipswich station to ring when I was ready to return and and told that they would arrange for me to be picked up.
There had been a shift change while I was at Thagoona and the officer who took the call being unaware that my scooter would not fit on a low floor bus was initially going to get me picked up be the low floor bus that was on standby at Rosewood, I then advised him that we had to get a maxi taxi for the trip out and why so he arranged a maxi taxi for my return to Ipswich.
Again the staff could not have been more helpful.
Having a low floor bus on standby at both Ipswich and Rosewood does not solve the problem of disability access as even some motorised wheelchairs can not negotiate the entrance to a low floor bus and require a maxi taxi, perhaps instead of having two low floor buses on standby it would be more effective to have two maxi taxi's on standby.
All in all a most interesting afternoon.

Queensland Rail have not got a clue and it is disappointing they are telling you incorrect information.

Regards
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Latest: &#39; Incorrect information from @QueenslandRail &#39;
> https://t.co/mUZe9FrbrB#qldpol@StirlHinchliffe @N_Scales_TMR @JimMaddenMP pic.twitter.com/veTippjno4

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) November 22, 2016

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 23rd November 2016 page 15

Track closure strikes Ipswich lines again

[mufreight]

QR Staff now telling deliberate lies to Government Members, for the record My trip to Thagoona on Saturday 19th November 2016 was arrived at Ipswich Station at 1.03pm, boarded Maxi Taxi 1.31pm arrived Thagoona 2.08pm, the return trip departed Thagoona in Maxi Taxi at 2.46pm and arrived Ipswich station at 3.19pm.
As reported in my previous post the staff of QR at Ipswich and Thompsons buses could not have been more co-operative and helpful, that QR denies that anyone made use of this service using a mobility scooter over the weekend to the local member is concerning in that it is a deliberate lie and raises concerns as to how much misinformation is deliberately dispensed by QR.

[urbanplanr]

7:14 Cleveland service at Nundah arrived as 2 cars instead of 3 adding to the already frustrated commuters of Nundah and Toombul.

[BrizCommuter]

7:14 Cleveland service at Nundah arrived as 2 cars instead of 3 adding to the already frustrated commuters of Nundah and Toombul.

2 cars? Was one carriage locked?

[#Metro]

QR Staff now telling deliberate lies to Government Members

In your story you say that a stationmaster had to phone HQ (or some office), so it was definitely registered with someone, somewhere.

[ozbob]

QR Staff now telling deliberate lies to Government Members, for the record My trip to Thagoona on Saturday 19th November 2016 was arrived at Ipswich Station at 1.03pm, boarded Maxi Taxi 1.31pm arrived Thagoona 2.08pm, the return trip departed Thagoona in Maxi Taxi at 2.46pm and arrived Ipswich station at 3.19pm.
As reported in my previous post the staff of QR at Ipswich and Thompsons buses could not have been more co-operative and helpful, that QR denies that anyone made use of this service using a mobility scooter over the weekend to the local member is concerning in that it is a deliberate lie and raises concerns as to how much misinformation is deliberately dispensed by QR.

The sad thing is that it is another example of misinformation that further erodes community confidence in the authorities.

Advice to MPs must also be considered suspect as well.  How does this leave the broader community? 

Confused, angry and very disappointed I would suggest.

[ozbob]

. @TransLinkSEQ When you click on it &#39;
Roma Street to Rosewood and Springfield Central track closure &#39; O_O

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) November 22, 2016

Attention to detail missing too!

[locojoe67]

How to fix?

Sack the board. Cancel all bonuses indefinitely. Cancel the 15 minute headway. Come clean on the ngr debacle (hey, while we're dreaming).

Why did qr go ahead anyway?

Probably for the same reason that govt depts like Qld health went ahead with a flawed payroll system. They were told to, so they did. We all suffer the outcomes.

[SurfRail]

This is the advantage of bringing it "closer to government" apparently.

[BrizCommuter]

Quite a few alterations due to "operation issues" again today!

[Stillwater]

Bringing TransLink 'closer to government' brings it closer to politicians.  BCC aldermen influence where the buses go along streets in their ward.  May as well hand out driver uniforms to MPs and aldermen.

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Queensland Rail slammed for incompetence

THE left hand has no idea what the right is doing and Queensland Rail needs to pick its act up and get the information they tell MPs right.

That was the message from Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow after more contradictory accounts from officialdom about what went on last weekend on the Ipswich-Rosewood line.

Ipswich West MP Jim Madden told the QT that he had been informed by QR that no passengers with mobility scooters made use of the maxi-cabs that were on offer for passengers unable to fit on the two low-floor buses that were provided.

But a North Ipswich man, Allan Ward, has put his own account of using the maxi-cabs last weekend on Mr Dow's website in contradiction to what Mr Madden said QR told him.

Last week QR told the QT the reason no trains were running on weekends was due to a lack of patronage on the Ipswich-Rosewood line, when Mr Madden had correctly told us it was due to a lack of drivers.

"Allan Ward went out to Thagoona because he is a regular traveller on the Ipswich-Rosewood line on weekends because he has a fairly substantial mobility scooter," Mr Dow said.

"What really concerns us is that Queensland Rail is telling MPs incorrect information, and I think that is a serious issue.

"The fact is that large mobility scooters don't fit on the low-floor buses and the only way those passengers can be moved is by maxi-taxis and that is exactly what happened.

"QR staff were involved in that so how can they tell Madden no-one had a need for mobility scooter transport.

"What about the rest of the information they are telling MPs? Are they really telling the truth or are they just covering up more failure?

"On the surface it is a trite issue, however it does indicate some serious communication issues within Queensland Rail.

"Rail replacement buses are really unpleasant for a number of reasons. Apart from the disability access angle, it adds a lot of time and it is uncomfortable.

"I travel on the Rosewood line every now and then and quite a few people do. Saturday is important because they do shopping, but buses make it difficult,"

The track closure this weekend right through from Roma St to Rosewood has added to commuters pain.

"We are coming into the Christmas shopping period and it is really difficult for people when they do a massive track closure like that," Mr Dow said.

"Buses from Ipswich to Roma St are really quite a long arduous haul, and complicated by inconsistent fare policy.

"People are prepared to put up with occasional weekend track closure but losing the railway every weekend just before Christmas is quite unfair.

"The number of resources it takes to run the three-car service between Ipswich and Rosewood is absolutely minimal."

The QT has sought a response from Queensland Rail.

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 24th November 2016 page 5

QR slammed over mixed messages

[BrizCommuter]

Where's my train this morning? Oh, forgot it's Friday. Oh s**t!

[ozbob]

Where's my train this morning? Oh, forgot it's Friday. Oh s**t!

> 

[#Metro]

Where's my train this morning? Oh, forgot it's Friday. Oh s**t!

Sorry about that Briz. Train had to stop to pick up cash bonus on the way to the CBD...

[ozbob]

No cancellations for &#39; operational &#39; reasons they said
Multiple cancellations Minister @StirlHinchliffe
> https://t.co/80jpLoASxZ#qldpol

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) November 25, 2016

[ozbob]

This is way past the point that it is just an inconvenience.  It is a major disaster this festering mess with Queensland Rail.

[brissypete]

This is way past the point that is just an inconvenience.  It is a major disaster this festering mess with Queensland Rail.

The term operational issue really annoys me, but given media today QR isnt exactly keen on transparency.

[ozbob]

In the context of the moment ' operational reasons ' means lack of train crew in the main ..

But your point about transparency is spot on.  The obfuscation is approaching a ' pathetic art form ' of sorts ..

[ozbob]

Queensland Rail now faces a full commission of inquiry following claims its refusing to co-operate with an investigation. #TenNews pic.twitter.com/wxWcmEjNfv

— TEN News Queensland (@tennewsqld) November 25, 2016