Interim rail timetables

[techblitz]

Not sure if anyone here visits it but QR have a reviews section on their facebook page. Currently sitting on 1.7 out of 5. Take a look at the latest review though (find it by clicking on most recent tab)

[#Metro]

Some people want to fire QR's board but keep QR. Why??

I call that the "changing the nappy" option. I much prefer changing the entire organisation. And put a different one in. It does not guarantee perfection, but it does guarantee removal on poor performance.

And that's what I want.

I see no reason why I should be married to one operator when what I care about is "what" gets provided rather than "who" is providing it. Keeping QR is like getting married to Connex... Changing the board is not a " silver bullet " or " guarantee " either. You trust Stirling Hinchliffe to pick another board? Really??

After 150 years, QR should know how to put a timetable together, right?

I am happy to have QR provide services only if they win through competitive tender. Queensland Rail should also be privatised by sale or shareholding ministers selling their shares. That way Queensland  Rail can really "take responsibility" and go bankrupt when they serve up SSHTT. Fines and penalties will finally stick, and investors will be on the hook for losses for non performance rather than taxpayers.

Seems to work well for the CityCat and Gold Coast light rail.

I am not alone in this view, though I realise not everyone is comfortable upholding a politically incorrect, unpopular, and taboo view. I chose this position because I think it's the right one, not the popular one.

Stop Press: QR axe Rosewood Line weekend services http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2016/11/stop-press-qr-axe-rosewood-line-weekend.html?m=1

BrizCommuter thinks that it is time for the transport minister Stirling Hinchcliffe (pictured) to also be "cancelled", and also time to again question whether a more competent private company could run QR much better.

[ozbob]

Some people want to fire QR's board but keep QR. Why??

I call that the "changing the nappy" option. I much prefer changing the entire organisation. And put a different one in. It does not guarantee perfection, but it does guarantee removal on poor performance.

And that's what I want.

I see no reason why I should be married to one operator when what I care about is "what" gets provided rather than "who" is providing it. Keeping QR is like getting married to Connex...

After 150 years, QR should know how to put a timetable together, right?

I am happy to have QR provide services only if they win through competitive tender. Queensland Rail should also be privatised by sale or shareholding ministers selling their shares. That way Queensland  Rail can really "take responsibility" and go bankrupt when they serve up SSHTT. Fines and penalties will finally stick, and investors will be on the hook for losses for non performance rather than taxpayers.

Seems to work well for the CityCat and Gold Coast light rail.

I am not alone in this view, though I realise not everyone is comfortable upholding a politically incorrect, unpopular, and taboo view. I chose this position because I think it's the right one, not the popular one.

Stop Press: QR axe Rosewood Line weekend services http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2016/11/stop-press-qr-axe-rosewood-line-weekend.html?m=1

BrizCommuter thinks that it is time for the transport minister Stirling Hinchcliffe (pictured) to also be "cancelled", and also time to again question whether a more competent private company could run QR much better.

You have stated your position often enough.

Most here do not agree with your constantly stated views. The fact is a streamlined competitive Queensland Rail is the way forward.

There are political and real realities to deal with. 

The QR Board is nonsensical.  Get rid of it. Railways operated for many years without boards. Not needed.

Time to move on ...

[ozbob]

The immediate questions are what is going to happen tomorrow, Boxing day the 26th December, and 27th December  ? ?

Will the mediocre SSHTT (28th December 2016 - 22nd January 2017) be actually delivered?

[STB]

Just caught a train from Roma Street to Central - bit of a ghost town out there, both in terms of passengers and trains!  RPL trains have had their stopping pattern altered to cover for the cancelled Shorncliffe services.

[ozbob]

The immediate questions are what is going to happen tomorrow, Boxing day the 26th December, and 27th December  ? ?

Will the mediocre SSHTT (28th December 2016 - 22nd January 2017) be actually delivered?

I have received advice that for tomorrow at least there are no planned cancellations and normal fares apply (that is no open free travel).

[Gazza]

I call that the "changing the nappy" option. I much prefer changing the entire organisation. And put a different one in

When they change operators in Melbourne, they don't go changing the entire workforce since that's not practical in an organisation like a railway, and a new private operator doesn't magically have a supply of people who can come in and know how it all works. It's pretty much the same people, except maybe some changes in management.

[red dragin]

Same people on the ground, same unions, money goes elsewhere and maintenance gets cut.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Same people on the ground, same unions, money goes elsewhere and maintenance gets cut.

Exactly what we see with metro who are constantly crying poor about their mtce assets.

[BrizCommuter]

The immediate questions are what is going to happen tomorrow, Boxing day the 26th December, and 27th December  ? ?

Will the mediocre SSHTT (28th December 2016 - 22nd January 2017) be actually delivered?

I have received advice that for tomorrow at least there are no planned cancellations and normal fares apply (that is no open free travel).

Still think I'll drive instead!

[#Metro]

Someone asked who did the timetable. My understanding, correct me if I am wrong, is a Canadian company GIRO.

If that is true, it suggests that something else happened between timetable being issued and QR implementing it. I highly doubt GIRO would issue a TT if issues came up.

Though others might have more information on that. CM updated article with interview of minister.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-rail-cancellations-to-cause-more-chaos-on-christmas-day/news-story/6171f8113f99a7c9221bf26f1038cf4d

Now looking at NYE contingencies. Minister has asked for another investigation and report.

Will he make the reports public? Or is RTI required??

[#Metro]

NYE Poll results https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12600.msg185348#msg185348

70 % believe QR will mess up NYE. Now, to see if the bet comes true.

[James]

The problem with QR is that they are continually over-promising and under-delivering.

Firstly we got had the waves of cancellations every Friday under the full timetable. Eventually this was replaced with the Interim Timetable, which was haphazard, but designed to reduce the number of cancellations. But the cancellations kept coming in high volume, so we got the Interim Timetable Mk 2. Cancellation woes just continued, so we ended up getting the Summer Holiday Interim Timetable (S-H-I-T), which stripped back services from all lines, rather than just delivering a punch in the face to Kippa-Ring commuters and leaving all other lines mostly unscathed. To rub salt into the wounds, we had a train wreck of a timetable today where QR decided to can the Shorncliffe Line to plug a 3-hour hole in the Kippa-Ring Line.

QR needs to swallow its pride and should simply revert to the old timetable pre-MBRL and run shuttles, training drivers steadily over the summer. Instead commuters across Brisbane are getting screwed en mass and being forced to deal with timetable revision after timetable revision, irregular non-clockface timetables and downgrades to service.

In order to have an effective transit network, the spine (rail) needs to be legible, frequent and reliable. Rail lines are by nature legible (maps, obvious geographically), but the S-H-I-T has made most sectors infrequent outside of peak (and even during peak) and QR's reliability is all but shot. This loss of frequency and reliability will have knock-ons to bus patronage and the wider transit network (both PT and car).

[BrizCommuter]

I'm getting very concerned that the "normal" timetables will not be back in late January. This will result in severe overcrowding on many services - especially on the diabolical Friday timetables.

[Gazza]

They are going to be stuffed from about the 3rd of Jan. I think many people have just taken the minimum annual leave and will be back on the Tuesday...

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Queensland Rail sackings expected over Christmas Day rail fail

SACKINGS are expected as early as this week following Queensland Rail's worst roster stuff-up yet – a Christmas Day disaster in which almost a third of services were cancelled.

The timetable had 790 services listed but 235 were cancelled, leaving just 550 still running and commuters in limbo. Every rail line was affected by the cancellations, some of which were announced on Christmas Eve, others not until Christmas morning.

The Courier-Mail understands sick leave was not the major factor in yesterday's cancellations, but rather a roster system which relies on finding train crew willing to work on rostered days off or when on leave.

The practice of relying on crew putting their hands up for the extra work is common, but it was the catalyst for the commuter crisis yesterday when staff declined the offer to work overtime on Christmas Day.

As a result of the latest in a series of timetable debacles transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe has ordered a "comprehensive report".

It is expected to be handed to the State Government by the end of the week.

It is understood that if the report recommends sackings, Mr Hinchliffe will demand QR act immediately.

But the Transport Minister himself is refusing to budge, despite repeated calls from the Opposition for him to be removed.

Mr Hinchliffe said he was assured the Christmas roster was workable but the information was wrong.

"The advice I had was that things were in place to manage through until (the summer holiday timetable) came into play on Wednesday," he said.

"That's clearly what the comprehensive report that I've requested from Queensland Rail needs to go into detail as to why we have got into this situation."

Mr Hinchliffe said he was furious about the short notice cancellations.

The report is expected to examine the performance of QR's operations division.

It comes as the State Government has ordered the Strachan Inquiry – expected to be completed by the end of next month – into how the driver shortage occurred and who is responsible for it.

"I want to get to the bottom of this and how it's occurred and how we can make sure that it doesn't occur again," Mr Hinchliffe said. "The core of this issue appears to be in relation to the lack of train crew, fundamentally, across the network."

Taxis were called in to transport commuters who were left stranded. The cost of this measure is as yet unknown.

British tourists Sadie Simpson and Mark Holland were delayed at Central Station for more than an hour after their train was incorrectly reported as cancelled.

"We're going to be over an hour late for our Christmas party and my friend who was picking us up has also missed a majority of it while waiting for us," Ms Simpson said.

Mr Hinchliffe said he did not expect further cancellations today.

Opposition Transport spokesman Andrew Powell said Mr Hinchliffe should be sacked over QR's latest fail.

"We would have had commuters trying to get to loved ones, to Christmas celebrations, stranded on platforms," he said.

[ozbob]

Commuters have been left stranded for hours with last minute cancellations to more than 200 train services across the south east. #9News pic.twitter.com/PqgJr2y5Jy

— Nine News Brisbane (@9NewsBrisbane) December 25, 2016

[ozbob]

235 trains were cancelled with less than 24 hours notice impacting every line in the network. @BenBMurph @QueenslandRail #qldrail #7News pic.twitter.com/oX2xR9TX7r

— 7 News Queensland (@7NewsQueensland) December 25, 2016

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

26th December 2016

Real rail action needed now!

Good Morning,

We are now very concerned with the ability of Queensland Rail to actually deliver the proposed Summer School Holiday Train Timetable for the period 28th December 2016 through to the 22nd January 2017. A lot of people will be returning to work on January the 3rd. What then?

The public has had enough of being stranded by erratic train service cancellations.

It is time for strong action to sort out Queensland Rail once and for all.

Queensland Rail needs to get rid of its bloated upper management and boost front line rail delivery services, not only train crew but track maintenance staff, station staff and the like.

The Queensland Rail Board is an unnecessary encumbrance that slows response times and complicates management.  Remove the Board and replace with a Commissioner for Railways - someone with actual rail expertise. A Commissioner can act immediately and decisively informed by real rail expertise.

It is going to be a long battle to restore public confidence from here.  Doing things in the same mediocre fashion will not work.

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ Attached: https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12524.msg185659#msg185659 ]

[ozbob]

Latest media: ' Real rail action needed now! ' > https://t.co/tKcxexuIgR ... #qldpol @StirlHinchliffe @Curtis_Pitt_MP @AnnastaciaMP pic.twitter.com/j4qZw2xocg

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) December 25, 2016

[SteelPan]

What happened on Christmas Day 2016 was, if you really think about it, an attack of very real sorts on our very democracy. The state was held to ransom by the rail union, when employed servants of QR, on mass, "decided" not to report for lawful duty.

Clearly, the relationship between members of the current Qld Govt and the union movement sit at the heart of the issue and those relationships now represent, a further threat to the sad issue ever being "dealt with" as it should be, so it does NOT happen again.

I hereby call upon the current Qld Govt to:

1) Sack the entire current QR Board,

2) To publicly and personally [by letter] warn all QR staff of their legal obligations to report for work as required under their current IR agreements,

3) To appoint ASAP and fully empower, an acknowledged rail manager - with a brutal/chainsaw mandate - to run QR for a 24-month period and also during that time, oversee the restructuring of senior rail management and in turn, 1) the drawing up of new FAIR work agreements and 2) the establishment of a new organisational structure, allowing for a new SEQ Rail Operator - under a new Board of Commissioners to run SEQ Metro Rail Transit.

Note - not a single operational level job has been terminated in the above program, but that would be the choice of the Unions/workers themselves, fairs-fair, be fair and everyone stays employed......play games and.....Lord Vader [Al Dunlap] type is let loose...NO-Ones job is sacred!

The rebels need to learn.....

   "You're not in business to be liked" Al Dunlap......it's time to take the trash....Out!

[#Metro]

SteelPan, is the " no forced redundancy " type rule still in operation? I think it is.

If so, you cannot fire, only hire then.

Might explain why some people think QR management is "bloated" (* note, I am in no position to comment about that). It would have " retention " issues.

A for profit company cannot afford to carry too many OR too few staff.

Too many staff, and costs go up. Too few staff, and service delivery impacted which results in fines which eat profits. So you can see how the inclusion of the profit motive provides constant feedback to managers about what to do next.

Problem with QR is that govt ownership meant that Newman govt had control over staffing. In genuinely private companies, like Woolworths, it is none of the politicians business. That's why they are called... drumroll... PRIVATE. Staff were cut for global whole of govt political reasons, and not the best interests of the firm.

We should not be surprised that politicians run businesses ... Like politicians.

Just replace the board with an actual rail company. An extreme and radical concept, I know.

There seems to be no limit, whether it is 100, 200, maybe 500 or all services cancelled, people still want to extend the QR contract. Doesn't make sense.

It is too late I think now. Palaszczuk is gone. You can kiss CRR goodbye with her too.

[#Metro]

QR needs to swallow its pride and should simply revert to the old timetable pre-MBRL and run shuttles, training drivers steadily over the summer. Instead commuters across Brisbane are getting screwed en mass and being forced to deal with timetable revision after timetable revision, irregular non-clockface timetables and downgrades to service.

Can someone explain why nether QR or the minister has gone ahead with this?

It seems like the obvious and sensible thing to do.

Even temporarily shutting down the KR line and bus replacement should be looked at.

[ozbob]

If you recall I pushed the RPL shuttle option very hard.  It would have been the smart thing to do, even after the first lot of issues.

I even gave them the example of Richlands, compete with the then shuttle timetable.

I can tell you there were some in Queensland Rail that also wanted to to do that, one of the reasons why I was pushing it strongly.

When the interim timetables started to appear it was then clear that the authorities had chosen a different course.

We, and those within Queensland Rail who wanted to go down that path, were of course correct and it would have saved a lot of pain now both political and real.

Clusterfuk!

[#Metro]

Was that a decision of the QR board or political genius of the minister or government?

Is it documented? If the link can be proved, it would fall squarely on minister for fault.

[ozbob]

Was that a decision of the QR board or political genius of the minister or government?

Is it documented? If the link can be proved, it would fall squarely on minister for fault.

No idea.  It might come out in the Commission of Inquiry.

There was clearly a reluctance to put shuttles on RPL due to the political type implications is my gut feeling.  As I said above, it would have been the right thing to do. 

Running shuttles on RPL for 3 to 6 months would have allowed time for route readiness of all crew, kept the general timetable in a functional state and provided some more reserve for NGR.  Justifying the shuttle would have been easy - signalling issues (still not fully resolved), the late completion of Petri track work etc.  As well as being the prudent thing to do.

Sad really.

[#Metro]

So assuming that is the case, then how can Queensland Rail be held responsible? They are just complying with (unreasonable) ministerial instruction then.

Non isolation of MBRL means propagation of failure across network, as we all know.

[ozbob]

I would not assume it was Ministerial at all.

Let's see what comes out ...

My own opinion is that a Board of non rail types would not fully comprehend the implications and reasons for running a shuttle and that should trump any political fall-out. Particularly a Board with ex politician on-board as well!

If there had been a Rail Commissioner I am sure that much more decisive moves would have been made. Just my opinion .. 

[#Metro]

Be careful what you wish for- red team out, blue team in, appoint Campbell Newman to be rail commissioner.

The law of unintended consequences   

[ozbob]

I am certain there will be some major changes post Strachan Commission of Inquiry ..

Watch this space as they say ...   

Meanwhile let's hope that the immediate timetable issues are addressed.

[ozbob]

9 News --> Restored Boxing Day train services: QR

Queensland Rail is not expecting any train service cancellations in the state's southeast during the Boxing Day sales rush after 235 services were scrapped on Christmas Day.

The cancellations, which were announced late on Saturday night, came as a result of ongoing "resourcing issues" but prompted another call from the state's opposition for Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe to be sacked.

Opposition transport spokesman Andrew Powell accused Mr Hinchliffe of "ruining Christmas for families all over the southeast" and hit out at inadequate communication on QR's website.

Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/national/2016/12/26/09/34/restored-boxing-day-train-services-qr#mjk8KFEYfSTmyMhH.99

[SurfRail]

What happened on Christmas Day 2016 was, if you really think about it, an attack of very real sorts on our very democracy. The state was held to ransom by the rail union, when employed servants of QR, on mass, "decided" not to report for lawful duty.

There is no evidence for this assertion.  Provide some please.

[James]

Be careful what you wish for- red team out, blue team in, appoint Campbell Newman to be rail commissioner.

Newman would say no. He is long gone from the state political scene.

As far as this stuff about unions, the board, the minister, whoever - wait for the Commission of Inquiry to release its findings. In the meantime, to the car! (Bob, can we get a car emoticon please?)

[ Additional smilies > https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9651.0 ]

[mufreight]

How many service cancellations so far today??

[ozbob]

How many service cancellations so far today??

None that I am aware of.

[ There is an ongoing track closure Petrie <> Gympie North till last service 27th Dec 2016 ]

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Queensland Rail back on schedule after Christmas cuts, LNP still wants Minister to quit

Rail services in south-east Queensland are running as scheduled today with no major cancellations expected, Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe has said.

There were 235 train services cancelled on Christmas Day across the south-east and the Shorncliffe line was closed due to staff shortages.

The cancellations were on top of a timetable already reduced in response to an ongoing train driver shortage owing to the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula line in early October.

Mr Hinchliffe said he was furious with the late-notice Christmas Day cancellations and had ordered an investigation.

"In terms of crewing issues, there are not expected to be any issues today," he said.

"I want to encourage, always encourage commuters to check the TransLink website, but certainly the advertised timetable is the timetable that's expected to be run today."

The Christmas Day cancellations, announced late on Christmas Eve, were not made in TransLink's online journey planner timetable.

Buses and taxis were needed to cope with commuter demand.

LNP transport spokesman Andrew Powell said Mr Hinchliffe must quit or be sacked.

Mr Powell said the timetable on TransLink's website could not be trusted.

"Clearly this is a moving feast, and what commuters and south-east Queenslanders are being told at one moment changes the next," he said.

"It's clear that there's a cultural rot in Queensland Rail headed up by the rail unions, and this incompetent Minister has allowed it to fester.

"I think it's clear that Queensland Rail is out of control and he has none of that control. He is ultimately responsible.

"He is continuing to call for reports and let public servants take the blame. At the end of the day he's had enough chances, nothing's changed. In fact, if anything, they're getting worse."

[mufreight]

If Minister Hinchcliffe can do such a great job of oversight of the railways imagine how big a stuff up he can manage for the Commonwealth Games.

[HappyTrainGuy]

What happened on Christmas Day 2016 was, if you really think about it, an attack of very real sorts on our very democracy. The state was held to ransom by the rail union, when employed servants of QR, on mass, "decided" not to report for lawful duty.

Clearly, the relationship between members of the current Qld Govt and the union movement sit at the heart of the issue and those relationships now represent, a further threat to the sad issue ever being "dealt with" as it should be, so it does NOT happen again.

I hereby call upon the current Qld Govt to:

1) Sack the entire current QR Board,

2) To publicly and personally [by letter] warn all QR staff of their legal obligations to report for work as required under their current IR agreements,

3) To appoint ASAP and fully empower, an acknowledged rail manager - with a brutal/chainsaw mandate - to run QR for a 24-month period and also during that time, oversee the restructuring of senior rail management and in turn, 1) the drawing up of new FAIR work agreements and 2) the establishment of a new organisational structure, allowing for a new SEQ Rail Operator - under a new Board of Commissioners to run SEQ Metro Rail Transit.

Note - not a single operational level job has been terminated in the above program, but that would be the choice of the Unions/workers themselves, fairs-fair, be fair and everyone stays employed......play games and.....Lord Vader [Al Dunlap] type is let loose...NO-Ones job is sacred!

The rebels need to learn.....

   "You're not in business to be liked" Al Dunlap......it's time to take the trash....Out!

Over the whole Christmas week this is by far the biggest load of bullsh%t that I have read or heard. Get your facts correct you dope before you go off on a triad on something you have no clue about.

[HappyTrainGuy]

QR needs to swallow its pride and should simply revert to the old timetable pre-MBRL and run shuttles, training drivers steadily over the summer. Instead commuters across Brisbane are getting screwed en mass and being forced to deal with timetable revision after timetable revision, irregular non-clockface timetables and downgrades to service.

Can someone explain why nether QR or the minister has gone ahead with this?

It seems like the obvious and sensible thing to do.

Even temporarily shutting down the KR line and bus replacement should be looked at.

QR has to have Translink and the Minister sign off on any timetable mods.

In reality its almost like a repeat of the 2011 timetable issue on the Caboolture line. Everyone playing the blame game rather than getting to the core issue at play when in the end it turned out to be people with no experience in the railways/PT signing off on allowing the fix.

[ozbob]

The Guardian --> 'Cultural rot': LNP savages Queensland Rail after Christmas Day debacle

Queensland Rail suffers from "cultural rot" and risks losing the confidence of passengers, the state's opposition has said.

On Monday the transport minister, Stirling Hinchliffe, reassured Boxing Day commuters there would be no unexpected service cancellations after 235 were scrapped on Christmas Day.

"Resourcing issues" prompted the changes, which were announced on Saturday evening.

The Liberal National party opposition scoffed at Hinchliffe's demands for a "warts and all" report and again called for his sacking.

"We have not seen this kind of systemic government failure since the health payroll debacle of the Bligh government," said the transport spokesman, Andrew Powell. "Clearly there is a cultural rot within Queensland Rail," he said, pointing the finger at unions.

Hinchliffe ordered all services to operate free of charge on Christmas Day and said it was a "totally unacceptable" performance.

"In terms of crewing issues there are not expected to be any issues today," he told ABC radio on Monday. "I want to encourage commuters to check the Translink website, but certainly the advertised timetable is the timetable that is expected to be run today."

Powell predicted some passengers would instead vote with their feet. "I think the biggest fear is that commuters have lost confidence in this rail network," he said.

QR said it "deeply apologised" to customers. "Many people will know that we've had a lot of difficulties with resourcing the past couple of months and we are making every effort to resolve this and get more drivers on our network," it said. While many staff members worked hard to deliver services, it said, it did not have the necessary numbers.

Staff shortages caused widespread service cancellations and commuter chaos in October. New drivers and guards are being trained as an investigation ordered by the government continues.

This month a combination of storm damage, power cuts and welding failures caused another round of cancellations and a $300,000 refund for passengers.