Interim rail timetables

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

29th December 2016

Retirement of COO Queensland Rail

Greetings,

RAIL Back On Track Members would like to thank Mr Kevin Wright for his service with Queensland Rail and rail generally throughout Australia.

Kevin has always been prepared to listen to our members' suggestions concerning timetable improvements and the like.  For that we are very grateful.

We wish Kevin all the best for his retirement.

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Queensland Rail chief operating officer Kevin Wright resigns

Another head has rolled at the state's beleaguered train operator, Queensland Rail.

QR's chief operating officer Kevin Wright has resigned following ongoing timetable issues and the Christmas Day rostering stuff-up.

On Christmas Day, 235 services were cancelled - a third of the network.

It comes after repeated issues at the operator over a driver shortage, which came to a head after the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line, when 100 services were cancelled in October.

There were also 50 train services cancelled on September 30.

In November, Fairfax Media revealed Mr Wright received a bonus of more than $70,000, which was paid on October 17.

Mr Wright has spent more than 16 years at QR and was responsible for "safe and efficient rail operations, ensuring the quality, movement and delivery of train services".

That included overseeing train engineering and maintenance, train service delivery and operating facilities and program coordination.

Mr Wright resigned on Wednesday night.

Acting chief executive officer Jim Benstead, who is acting in the role while Neil Scales was overseas in holidays, sent an email to staff informing them of Mr Wright's decision on Thursday.

The email, obtained by Fairfax Media, reads: "As many of you know, Kevin has a longstanding career at Queensland Rail with more than 16 years of service culminating as head of our Operations function."

"I know many of you have met Kevin and have personally worked with him in some role of form," Mr Benstead's email reads.

"I know all of you will join me in wishing Kevin all the best for the future."

From January 3, Martin Ryan, Queensland Rail's executive general manager travel and tourist operations, will act as chief operating officer while recruitment is done for a permanent replacement.

It came after chief executive officer Helen Gluer and chairman Michael Klug resigned in October.

QR's head of train service delivery has also been sacked.

The issues at Queensland Rail are being investigated by former Rio Tinto boss Philip Strachan.

QR has been contacted for comment.

[ozbob]

9 News --> Senior Queensland Rail executive resigns

A fourth senior Queensland Rail executive has resigned in the wake of prolonged train scheduling bungles and ahead of a major test of the network on New Year's Eve.

QR's chief operating officer, Kevin Wright, resigned from the role on Wednesday evening after a third of the state's southeast train services were cancelled on Christmas Day because of a rostering crisis.

Former chief executive Helen Gluer, board chairman Michael Klug, and the head of train service delivery had already resigned since the initial staffing crisis in late September.

Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/national/2016/12/29/13/26/senior-queensland-rail-executive-resigns#xT5sh3zR5OyTgDyO.99

[ozbob]

ABC News --> QR chief operating officer, roster boss Kevin Wright quits

Queensland Rail's (QR) chief operating officer Kevin Wright has resigned in the face of continuing network problems as a result of a driver shortage across the state's south-east.

Mr Wright headed the department responsible for driver rostering.

A train driver shortage has led to hundreds of service cancellations since October, including 235 on Christmas Day.

The ABC understands Mr Wright was asked to resign earlier this week, and that he will not be receiving a severance payout.

Last month, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk increased the powers of QR investigator Philip Strachan after she expressed "outrage" that QR was stonewalling Mr Strachan's search for information about the network's failings.

The probe was ordered after hundreds of train services were cut and timetables were thrown into chaos when the Redcliffe Peninsula Line, north of Brisbane, opened in October.

The Strachan Commission of Inquiry report is due by the end of January, while a report on the Christmas Day rail cancellations is due to be handed to Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe by the end of this week.

It is understood further changes to QR management are likely in response to the Strachan report.

A spokesperson for Mr Hinchliffe would make no comment on Mr Wright's resignation, saying staffing arrangements at QR "were a matter for Queensland Rail".

Late yesterday, Mr Hinchliffe expressed with "great confidence" there would be enough train crews to run rail services during New Year's Eve celebrations in the south-east.

"I've been absolutely reassured by the briefing I've had today and the work that's been going on for some months in relation to what is always seen as a peak event for passengers on the Queensland Rail network," he said.

[ozbob]

So the Minister @StirlHinchliffe refuses to resign but sacks another #blamegame #railfail #qldpol https://t.co/OeKudOv0Ob

— Deb Frecklington MP (@DebFrecklington) December 29, 2016

^

My understanding is that Mr Wright resigned ...#qldpol https://t.co/i4KEL7JgHM

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) December 29, 2016

[ozbob]

[Stillwater]

In reality there is no QR timetable -- interim or otherwise.  The various iterations of the timetable, culminating in the Summer Holiday Timetable, reflects the actions of an army when it's troops are falling on all fronts  -- it regroups and attacks, or it regroups and retreats, or it regroups and defends its position.  It regroups and that is what QR is doing, continuously it would seem.

Instead of a timetable, we have a statement of intent from QR about what it thinks it might deliver, but which it cannot guarantee it can deliver.  Trains run late, or not at all.  Services are cancelled at short notice and trains run express through stations that are normal stopping places as the regrouping continues.

TransLink's objective of an integrated public transport network, with buses meeting trains, is a nonsense.

No matter the number of QR generals who fall on their sword, the fundamental problems remain.  Mr Hinchliffe must state clearly what is being done to rectify the situation, and he can't hide behind the Strachan Review deadline before doing so.  The 2017-18 State Budget is being worked on.  More money for recruitment must be part of the plan, as is rectification of the NGR train issues.

[BrizCommuter]

...I'm not expecting full service to be restored by 23rd January 2017 either, going by the avoidance of the question on social media.

[ozbob]

^ yes, this the key question.   The SSHTT is simply not going to cope with the passenger loads to be expected as normal work and school routines establish and build during January. 

It is a situation that is nearly beyond belief really.   The community has been let down, and let down badly.  Public transport is an essential service and one that this Government is now struggling to deliver.  We (and others) have been warning for years that major structural, organisational and actual network changes were needed.   It is now collapsing in a big pile of sh%t!

A succession of mediocre Governments, which lack the morale courage to do the right thing in the end.

The results of this failure is now on show for all to see ...

[ozbob]

[#Metro]

Queensland Rail and Related Departures - as at 29 December 2016

Helen Gluer, CEO
Michael Klug, Board
Kevin Wright, Executive

[BrizCommuter]

Queensland Rail and Related Departures - as at 29 December 2016

Helen Gluer, CEO
Michael Klug, Board
Kevin Wright, Executive

Passenger departures from using QR - tens of thousands!

[#Metro]

Passenger departures from using QR - tens of thousands!

You want me to add your name to the list? Flee BrizCommuter, while you can!

It is approaching 1000 cancelled services cancelled in total now as reported by CM.

[ozbob]

Here we go ... 



Couriermail --> http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-rail-fail-operator-closing-in-on-1000-cancellations/news-story/02c7b6d477978c3e59d1f74d21e0edac

TRANSPORT Minister Stirling Hinchliffe has backed Queensland Rail train crew over the Christmas Day disaster, and says it was not caused by staff taking sickies.

QR management has previously blamed "unplanned leave" as a major cause of the latest rail fail, but Mr Hinchliffe has written to train crew to shoot down the theory.

The Courier-Mail understands Mr Hinchliffe blames the Christmas Day network meltdown – which forced the cancellation of almost a third of train services - on poor rostering by management – a system reliant on pulling crews off rostered days off to fill staffing gaps.

"I want to be clear – there is plenty of public commentary about the causes of the current situation we find ourselves in – much of that commentary is wrong," he said in the letter obtained by The Courier-Mail.

"Suggestions that the poor service delivery on Christmas Day was due to sudden unexpected absences is just wrong.

"We are here because there is a fundamental shortage of train crew overall. I know that and you know that."

Mr Hinchliffe's letter came on the same day staff were informed chief operating officer Kevin Wright had resigned, after he was asked to leave the organisation yesterday.

Further changes to QR's executive team could occur after the "comprehensive report" ordered by Mr Hinchliffe after the Christmas service cancellations and the Strachan Inquiry are delivered to the State Government.

'Buck must stop with gutless minister'

THE Opposition have again called for Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe to be sacked in the wake of the resignation of Queensland Rail's chief operating officer Kevin Wright.

Shadow Treasurer Scott Emerson said Mr Hinchliffe was incompetent in his handling of the portfolio and gutless for not stepping down.

"What we see again today is another fall guy for Stirling Hinchliffe," he said.

"The buck doesn't stop with Mr Wright it needs to stop with this incompetent, gutless minister.

" Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to show some leadership and sack Stirling Hinchliffe." ...

[ozbob]

#RailFail is the gift that just keeps on giving  ...   

[ozbob]

Queensland Rail: The man in charge of rostering has resigned https://t.co/3yRtsKizy7 @MarlinaWhop #7News pic.twitter.com/YX1uDfpgXi

— 7 News Queensland (@7NewsQueensland) December 29, 2016

[achiruel]

Queensland Rail and Related Departures - as at 29 December 2016

Helen Gluer, CEO
Michael Klug, Board
Kevin Wright, Executive

Didn't Mick Skinner get the boot too - or was I imagining that? I'm sure I read it somewhere, but I can't seem to find any news articles about it.

[ozbob]

So the Minister is now publicly at odds with Queensland Rail as to the causes ..  no great surprise.

[ozbob]

Queensland Rail and Related Departures - as at 29 December 2016

Helen Gluer, CEO
Michael Klug, Board
Kevin Wright, Executive

Didn't Mick Skinner get the boot too - or was I imagining that? I'm sure I read it somewhere, but I can't seem to find any news articles about it.

Yes, he was suspended.  Not sure if he has subsequently formerly left Queensland Rail although 9 News did suggest today he might have.
See > http://www.9news.com.au/national/2016/12/29/13/26/senior-queensland-rail-executive-resigns/?ocid=9newsbtw

[#Metro]

The driver "shortage" had no impact as long as the MBRL was not opened.

I speculate that if the MBRL were opened as shuttles, would there be the propagation of cancellations across the entire network?

Shadow Treasurer Scott Emerson said Mr Hinchliffe was incompetent in his handling of the portfolio and gutless for not stepping down.

"What we see again today is another fall guy for Stirling Hinchliffe," he said.

AHAHAHA! 

Oh, Scott EMERSON! You were BAD! Red Team may have had the #RailFail, but Mr EMERSON, you had the #BusFail and #FareFail under your watch.

Remember that? 9-then waste catastrophe, thousands and thousands of people leaving PT every time the fares were ratcheted up.

And the #BusFail, boy was that a big FAIL! Lost control of the entire portfolio to BCC, had the Lord Mayor shoot down his plans. Couldn't

progress the bus review at all. Time to #FleeQLD I think!

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

@StirlHinchliffe rejects #QR excuse that Xmas Day #railfail caused by sickies #qldpol @anto_templeton @couriermail https://t.co/E1mBoviqYg

— Jessica Marszalek (@JessMarie_News) December 29, 2016

If the Minister actually knows what is going on be nice to let the travelling public know hey?

[Stillwater]

QR Rail Fail has been on the front page of newspapers and in the top three news items on tv/radio bulletins for about 10 days in a row.   Governments are obsessed with their media image.  Something must give soon.

[Derwan]

[BrizCommuter]

The driver "shortage" had no impact as long as the MBRL was not opened.

I speculate that if the MBRL were opened as shuttles, would there be the propagation of cancellations across the entire network?

Shadow Treasurer Scott Emerson said Mr Hinchliffe was incompetent in his handling of the portfolio and gutless for not stepping down.

"What we see again today is another fall guy for Stirling Hinchliffe," he said.

AHAHAHA! 

Oh, Scott EMERSON! You were BAD! Red Team may have had the #RailFail, but Mr EMERSON, you had the #BusFail and #FareFail under your watch.

Remember that? 9-then waste catastrophe, thousands and thousands of people leaving PT every time the fares were ratcheted up.

And the #BusFail, boy was that a big FAIL! Lost control of the entire portfolio to BCC, had the Lord Mayor shoot down his plans. Couldn't

progress the bus review at all. Time to #FleeQLD I think!

I can't stand the smug grin of Scott Emerson, whining on about the current issues, even though he and his government caused the mess. However, I agree that Hinchcliffe seems to be totally out of his depth in handling the crisis, and seems to be falling for QR's spin machine without asking relevant questions. The fact that commuters do not know what will happen on the 23rd January is extremely concerning.

[BrizCommuter]

...in other news, the Cleveland Line will be replaced by CityCycle until there are enough train drivers. 

[achiruel]

I'm wondering, if we get all the passengers to pedal enough they can propel the trains and reduce electricity consumption sufficiently to allow new drivers to be hired.

[#Metro]

(Stock) Queensland Rail Apologies
CAT#201612PALASZU

Available in packs of Six or Twelve.

Available from your local TransLink outlet or call 13 12 30.


Image credit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toilet_paper#/media/File:Toiletpapier_(Gobran111).jpg

[STB]

Really quite feel for Kevin Wright being forced to resign (although according to one contact of mine, an internal email said that he retired).  From what I remember of Kevin, is that he is a genuine rail guy who has been around the railways for donkey's years.  Honestly this bloodletting isn't really going to improve the core situation and that's a lack of train crew which frankly was the fault of the previous LNP Government doing what they did behind the scenes with getting rid of key staff (and the subsequent retirements along the way).

I'm really not sure about if Stirling should be given the boot, it sounds like there's really been a breakdown of communication between Qld Rail and the Minister's office.  I honestly think Stirling is doing what he can given the situation, and frankly I think anyone in this situation would be struggling to sort it out regardless.  It's really really messy, both politically and for the general public.

[ozbob]

Yes, STB.  Kevin retired. 

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Queensland Rail fail: Roster boss had form when it came to failures

THE same man who presided over a multimillion-dollar rail fail in NSW that took two years to fix has been forced out of Queensland Rail as it finds itself in the same crisis.

The man in charge of QR's fractured rostering system – chief operating officer Kevin Wright – resigned on Wednesday night only days after the operator was forced to cancel nearly a third of its Christmas Day services because of a rostering stuff-up.

His immediate "retirement" – just two months after he pocketed a $77,000 performance bonus despite the timetabling crisis – was announced yesterday by acting chief executive Jim Benstead in a letter to staff that wished him well.

But it is understood Mr Wright had no choice but to go after the Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe rejected his explanation that the Christmas Day chaos was sparked by drivers calling in sick.

In a letter to crews yesterday, Mr Hinchliffe wrote: "Suggestions that the poor service delivery on Christmas Day was due to sudden unexpected absences is just wrong.

"We are here because there is a fundamental shortage of train crew overall. I know that and you know that."

Mr Wright won't get a severance payment and is the fourth to lose his job in three months, although more are expected.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Mr Wright joined QR after working as general manager of operations and chief operations manager at NSW's RailCorp in the mid-2000s when that state's transport network was plunged into chaos.

A mass shortage of drivers and guards was exacerbated after the 2003 Waterfall derailment, south of Sydney, that killed seven people.

A review led to stricter medicals that forced out drivers and caused about 300 to refuse to do overtime.

Driver shortages plagued the railway for two years, costing the network tens of millions in lost revenue, training and bonuses to encourage drivers to work overtime.

The tragic crash also led to the sacking of RailCorp's deputy chief executive Arthur Smith when he admitted he didn't know about a flaw in the dead train driver's brake pedal that had been exposed in a train crash in Victoria two years before.

But Mr Wright's former boss was hired by his team to write the February Indec report, which warned of impending crises caused by train crew shortages. This was kept hidden until November.

QR last night couldn't reveal how much Indec was paid for the shelved report.

The international search for a new permanent QR chief executive has been expanded to other senior executive positions in the wake of Mr Wright's departure – and further resignations for managerial staff are expected in the coming weeks.

The Courier-Mail understands the recruitment process to replace former chief executive Helen Gluer is well advanced and candidates from across the globe are being examined.

Mr Wright was overseas during the beginning of the timetable crisis, having stayed after a two-week, $37,500 trip there with former chief executive Ms Gluer in September to the UK, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> QR manager sent on US junket after damning report was hidden from Minister

THE Queensland Rail manager who commissioned a report that warned train crew shortages would lead to problems and then kept it hidden received a $15,000 scholarship and free flights to the US.

Citytrain general manager Shannon Iwanow went on the 2016 Women in Leadership scholarship from November 28, with QR paying $8870 in study assistance that included the cost of flights.

The trip came four weeks after the damning February 2016 Indec report was finally uncovered and handed to Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe on November 1. And it was while she was acting for six months in another leadership position, Rail Management Centre and Operations general manager, in a move QR says was about adding to her skills.

The jaunt followed a two-week September trip by ex-chief executive Helen Gluer and chief operating officer Kevin Wright to Britain, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland to visit rail operators just as the timetable crisis was looming.

A QR spokeswoman confirmed Ms Iwanow was on study leave for two weeks from November 25 to December 8 to attend the course. Questioned on the trip's appropriateness given Ms Iwanow's role in the Indec report, a spokesman for Mr Hinchliffe said it was a matter for QR.

The Indec report found there was a "significant risk" to the successful delivery of the new timetable, running the Redcliffe Peninsular line, delivery of New Generation Rollingstock trains, Commonwealth Games services and the Cross River Rail extension because of "the shortage of train crewing resources". But Mr Hinchliffe said it was kept secret from him for nine months.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Queensland Rail management warned against reappointing operations chief

QUEENSLAND Rail was warned by departing chief executive officer Paul Scurrah in 2011 it would be a "big mistake" to put Kevin Wright back in charge of operations.

But Mr Wright returned to the job the moment Mr Scurrah left, despite Mr Scurrah's email to then board chairman Stephen Gregg as a "list of things to keep an eye on".

Mr Scurrah identifies Mr Wright as the "biggest issue" to QR's executive leadership team working together "as a team that supports and works to One Queensland Rail".

"The biggest issue here at present is Kevin's behaviour as he sees the new leadership as an opportunity to move back to Rail Operations," Mr Scurrah warns in the 2011 email. "This would be a big mistake if it were to occur."

Mr Scurrah declined to comment on the email, however it is believed he had concerns about a lack of succession planning by Mr Wright and his negative influence on the QR culture.

Mr Wright had shifted out of operations into a project ­delivery role while Mr Scurrah was in charge. The shift occurred about a year before Mr Scurrah's email warning.

But Mr Wright was promoted to executive general manager of operations after Mr Scurrah left. He is then ­believed to have hand-picked a new train service delivery manager in 2012.

That manager was stood down in October amid the timetable chaos, with QR chief executive officer Helen Gluer and board chairman Michael Klug resigning soon after.

[ozbob]

Queensland's Opposition is doubling down on calls for Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe to be sacked. https://t.co/aKXvkhlxh5 #9News

— Nine News Brisbane (@9NewsBrisbane) December 29, 2016

[ozbob]

^^^  the Couriermail is having a field day hey?  The cumulative effect of this will be rather negative on the Government - looking more and more like burned toast ...

As I said, #railfail the gift that keeps on giving for many but not for passengers hey?

OFF PEAK FARES FOR SSHTT !!   

[ozbob]

#qldpol #railfail the ' gift ' that keeps on giving .. for some but not the passengers hey @StirlHinchliffe
OFF PEAK FARES for SSHTT ! pic.twitter.com/4OMLNxUhkR

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) December 29, 2016

^

#qldpol#railfail@QLDLabor pic.twitter.com/zB5zGf3y6T

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) December 29, 2016

[ozbob]

. @QLDLabor peak fares for reduced service (essentially off peak level), & missed connections. yo it is the SSHTT !#qldpol pic.twitter.com/pYdpiwgzJL

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) December 29, 2016

[ozbob]

. @jackietrad @AnnastaciaMP I have seen some dumb things in my life but none dumber than charging peak fares for SSHTT hey!#qldpol#fail pic.twitter.com/k4qI9bNAl0

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) December 29, 2016

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Who is Brisbane's rail advocate, Paul Pluta?

Rail advocate Paul Pluta proudly admits he has leaked information to the media about issues within Queensland Rail as the operator grapples with its driver shortage debacle.

But who is Paul Pluta? And why is he so passionate about Brisbane's ongoing train fiasco?

Technically, you could argue Mr Pluta is not a 'whistleblower', as he does not work at Queensland Rail.

But the Brisbane IT worker turned YouTube broadcaster says he has contacts who provide him with the inside scoop.

"I've got some good sources in there who are very upset," he said. "I don't work for Queensland Rail so I can leak what I like."

It all started about two years ago, when the rail enthusiast from Brisbane's south-west caught an Airtrain that he said was dirty, cluttered, late, with a broken air-conditioning unit and with some passengers smoking.

"I just came from overseas, you come from Japan, you can set your clock to how accurate the train is," Mr Pluta said.

"And I came back to Queensland and I took the Airtrain... that's when I started with QR."

Mr Pluta made headlines after he obtained a report prepared by consultants Indec, which warned of train crew shortages in a draft report in January 2016, well ahead of the last-minute cancellations in October.

At the time, Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said he was not aware of the report and asked for the document after it emerged.

Mr Pluta also emailed Mr Hinchliffe in March warning of driver shortages, and posted a YouTube video on November 27 warning of the Christmas rail meltdown.

The beleaguered Queensland Rail has been under pressure for months, following numerous cancellations, including 100 in October following the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line, amid driver shortages.

The latest stuff-up occurred on Christmas Day, when 235 services - or one-third of services - were cancelled at short notice.

His YouTube channels - under the names Paul Pluta and Archie Luxury - feature wrist watch and travel reviews, sprinkled with videos directly addressing Queensland Rail and Mr Hinchliffe, with lashings of f-bombs, c-bombs and other profanities.

Mr Pluta said he played a character in his videos, who was based on an American preacher, "in the quest for things".

"I'm a YouTube celebrity, that's how I make my money," Mr Pluta said.

"It's a kind of comedy-type channel, black satire-type comedy.

"I'm very politically incorrect.

"I've been doing YouTube since 2009, 32 million views, I get a million views a month, I've got about 7000 videos."

In terms of expensive watches such as Rolex, Mr Pluta said people seemed to think they were buying "class".

"But what the inner joke is with my channel is, I know a lot about these high-end expensive things, but I'm as crass as they come, that's the joke," he said.

"I know more about these luxury items than most people, but I'm still as crass and nasty as the bin man."

Mr Pluta said despite the satire, he did like Queensland.

"But I think they need a bloody good stir, I don't like waste, I hate waste, and all I see is waste," he said.

"I'm trying to expose it [issues in Queensland Rail], I'm sick of this situation."

He also made a video this week directed at Mr Hinchliffe, describing who should be sacked from Queensland Rail.

Mr Pluta claimed he made $30,000 from Google ads, with another $30,000 to $40,000 in donations and gifts, and engaged in "e-beggin", but also spent a lot on travel, which was tax deductible.

He says he has been unable to have a conversation with Mr Hinchliffe, but had attempted to find out information through Right to Information requests with Queensland Rail for two years.

Several top employees have quit Queensland Rail in recent months, including chief executive officer Helen Gluer, chairman Michael Klug and chief operating officer Kevin Wright.

Former Rio Tinto boss Philip Strachan is investigating what went wrong in Queensland Rail in its crewing practices.

Mr Pluta insists he was not political, and has been a member of Labor, the Liberal Party and the Palmer United Party, but just wants a reliable train system.

"I'm very cynical of government bulls--t - both sides of politics - I despise both sides equally as much," he said.

"I hate them all with an equal vengeance."

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

I have had a chat with Paul.   I said although our ' methods ' are very different we both want similar things.

Paul wants affordable decent frequent and accessible rail services.  Not all will agree with his methods but he has helped the cause.