Interim rail timetables

[ozbob]

No. Nor quitting @StirlHinchliffe #9News pic.twitter.com/2gJCbE6iTR

— Shane Doherty (@ShaneDoherty9) October 30, 2016

[ozbob]

.@QueenslandRail operating on an overtime of 30 per cent to deal with the ongoing timetabling fiasco: https://t.co/YxwbgOrnrM. #9News

— Nine News Gold Coast (@9NewsGoldCoast) October 31, 2016

[ozbob]

QR overtime bill 1st 2weeks of Oct $578,752.41 for 379 drivers. @7NewsQueensland

— Patrick Condren (@PatrickCondren) October 31, 2016

QR fortnightly overtime bill before driver shortage came to light $466,701.82 for 348 drivers. @7NewsQueensland

— Patrick Condren (@PatrickCondren) October 31, 2016

[ozbob]

Full QR statement re overtime payments @7NewsQueensland pic.twitter.com/DcKmA2BGPU

— Patrick Condren (@PatrickCondren) October 31, 2016

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Queensland Rail hit with massive overtime bill for train drivers

[BrizCommuter]

Lots more angst from Inner North commuters again in social media due to axed services and overcrowded 3-car units on top of the early Oct timetable changes. With a reduction from 22tph to (uneven) 6tph I don't blame them!

[ozbob]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-01/brisbane-train-driver-shortage-hinchliffe-outraged-qld-rail/7983204

New timetable for remainder of year due soon

Ms Palaszczuk said a timetable for city passenger rail services to operate until the end of the year will be released this week.

She said the timetable for services beyond that would be developed ahead of the implementation of fairer fares for the travelling public in the new year.

Mr Hinchliffe said internal applications for 100 new drivers and 100 guards would be open until next week.

"Following that process Queensland Rail will assess capacity and ability of external applications," he said.

"Currently 12 guards and 33 drivers are being trained.

"The guards and drivers who have been recruited but are not currently in training are booked in upcoming schools, there is clearly a capacity constraint and means of fast tracked are being considered now."

[achiruel]

I wonder if there is an argument for the Caboolture/Sunny Coast lines to stop at inner north stations again until this whole debacle is properly sorted?

[BrizCommuter]

^ Could happen as the Inner North service is mess due to the cuts and 3-car units.

[Arnz]

^^

One of the suggestions that has been posted previously by others in social media is reverting to the previous timetable (eg separate Caboolture and Sunshine Coast trains/stopping patterns prior to the RPL opening).  Thus converting RPL to a Petrie shuttle during off-peak/weekends with the previous Petrie all stations peak services extended to Kippa-Ring in peak.

[ozbob]

Uh ... oh ..

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

.@StirlHinchliffe statement re fresh train timetable woes @couriermail pic.twitter.com/2xKIhcyZUq

— Jason Tin (@jasonthetin) November 1, 2016

[ozbob]

QR: only 10 services affected this arv.. 3 in peak hour. some altered some cancelled. no dets on which or when.

— Patrick Condren (@PatrickCondren) November 1, 2016

[tazzer9]

This is a serious suggestion.   How possible would it be for QR to hire out aurizon or pac nat drivers.   Aurizon are currently in a downturn of both coal and general freight.   There is a few of them that are trained on the suburban electrics.   I know that most wouldn't be currently qualified to run the electrics and wouldn't be competent on most of the branches, but nothing is stopping them running caboolture-ipswich services.

Should we be looking at paying those qualified who are involved with volunteer organisations like SDSR and QSPR to help ease the burden.  Even if its only for guard positions.

Anything to ease the burden on the current situation.  This is ridiculous.  Was there a mass exodus in the last few weeks?

[ozbob]

This is a serious suggestion.   How possible would it be for QR to hire out aurizon or pac nat drivers.   Aurizon are currently in a downturn of both coal and general freight.   There is a few of them that are trained on the suburban electrics.   I know that most wouldn't be currently qualified to run the electrics and wouldn't be competent on most of the branches, but nothing is stopping them running caboolture-ipswich services.

Should we be looking at paying those qualified who are involved with volunteer organisations like SDSR and QSPR to help ease the burden.  Even if its only for guard positions.

Anything to ease the burden on the current situation.  This is ridiculous.  Was there a mass exodus in the last few weeks?

It is a good suggestion.  One I have already made direct to Mr Scales a number of days ago.  There are drivers ex Aurizon and P and N who would be able to do accelerated training.

[BrizCommuter]

Getting a bit late for QR to actually inform customers of which extra trains have been cancelled this pm peak 

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane train timetable: More last-minute changes

COMMUTERS will face further, last-minute cancellations on their way home from work after Queensland Rail announced a sudden change to 20 services this afternoon.

Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe announced to Parliament at 2.30pm that he had just been advised by acting chief executive Neil Scales of the need to make further changes to today's timetable.

"It is completely unacceptable that once again customers will be inconvenienced by Queensland Rail," he told the House.

He said he would meet with Mr Scales today at 5pm.

"I will be asking them to explain why these cancellations continue to occur without appropriate warning and what is being done to minimise customer impacts."

The announcement follows more than 70 cancellations on Sunday that QR said would mean it had adequate drivers for weekday services.

Mr Hinchliffe said his office had only be advised of the changes at 1.30pm.

A statement put out just before 4pm indicated about 20 service alternations would be required Tuesday afternoon due to a train crew shortage.

"As we have worked through the rostering requirements today, we have unfortunately not been able to fill all of the required afternoon and evening services," Mr Scales said.

"We have fallen short of just four driver positions and three guards, however this shortfall at this late stage unfortunately does result in a number of cancellations and alterations.

"In most cases unplanned leave is able to be filled by crews volunteering to work on their rostered days off, however we have exhausted all options today.

"We sincerely apologise to customers and urge them to check the TransLink website (www.translink.com.au) before travelling today."

[ozbob]

Hopeless.

The only way to retrieve this is to revert to pre RPL timetable and shuttles on RPL.

This will allow all remaining train crew to get route ready and give some reliability to the timetable.

Total cluster-fuk.  Senior staff in QR have really let down public transport users I am afraid, by saying and doing nothing knowing that there were problems.

[ozbob]

Getting a bit late for QR to actually inform customers of which extra trains have been cancelled this pm peak 

Service cancellations are broken up line by line so very difficult to grasp the overall list etc.

Fuking farce ..

[ozbob]

^ and the TransLink web site has dead links now on the service cancellations.

Yep, IT IS A TOTAL CLUSTER FUK !

[ozbob]

Hey @TransLinkSEQ the website links to find which services are cancelled are not working on > https://t.co/vHfKKpQ752

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) November 1, 2016

[ozbob]

^ been fixed now.

[BrizCommuter]

Cancelling more Inner North services will only increase political pain.

[Arnz]

Nundah and Toombul are in the state opposition leader's seat, which is a known blue-ribbon seat.

[ozbob]

https://translink.com.au/service-updates/102746

Queensland Rail has advised us of additional cancellations and changes this afternoon.

These changes will impact the Cleveland, Inner north, Ipswich, Ferny Grove, Gold Coast and Shorncliffe lines.

(I have pulled off the individual lists only the additional changes to the interim timetable listed below)

Cleveland - cancellations

4.33pm    Bowen Hills    Cleveland    4.41pm

9.39pm    Cleveland    Shorncliffe    10.09pm

5.54pm    Cleveland    Shorncliffe    Cancelled from Cleveland to Park Road. The next train departs at 6.09pm

7.39pm    Shorncliffe    Cleveland    Cancelled from Roma Street to Cleveland. The next train departs at 8.09pm

Inner north

4.52pm    Park Road    Northgate    Cancelled from Bowen Hills to Northgate. The next train departs at 4.59pm

Ipswich

11.37pm    Ipswich    Bowen Hills    Last service of the evening. A replacement bus will stop at all stations to Bowen Hills

8.30pm    Caboolture    Ipswich    Cancelled from Roma Street to Ipswich. The next train departs at 9.05pm

9.35pm    Caboolture    Ipswich    Cancelled from Redbank to Ipswich. The next train departs at 10.05pm

Ferny Grove cancellations

5.44pm    Roma Street    Ferny Grove    5.52pm

6.47pm    Ferny Grove    Park Road    7.02pm

Gold Coast

Cancellations
Departure time    Departure station    Arrival station    Next train
4.40pm    Varsity Lakes    Domestic Airport    The next train departs at 5.10pm
10.40pm    Varsity Lakes    Domestic Airport    The next train departs at 11.10pm
Partial cancellations
Departure time    Departure station    Arrival station    Change
2.34pm    Domestic Airport    Varsity Lakes    Cancelled from Roma Street to Varsity Lakes. The next train departs at 3.04pm
6.34pm    Domestic Airport    Varsity Lakes    Cancelled from Domestic Airport to Bowen Hills. The next train departs at 7.04pm
8.34pm    Domestic Airport    Varsity Lakes    Cancelled from Beenleigh to Varsity Lakes. The next train departs at 9.04pm

Shorncliffe cancellations

6.39pm    Shorncliffe    Cleveland    7.09pm
11.39pm    Shorncliffe    Roma Street    12.04am
Partial cancellations
Departure time    Departure station    Arrival station    Next train
4.54pm    Cleveland    Shorncliffe    Cancelled from Bowen Hills to Shorncliffe. The next train departs 5.09pm
6.39pm    Cleveland    Shorncliffe    Cancelled from Bowen Hills to Shorncliffe. The next train departs 7.09pm
10.39pm    Cleveland    Shorncliffe    Cancelled from South Brisbane to Shorncliffe.
Altered services
Departure time    Departure station    Arrival station    Next train
4.11pm    Central    Shorncliffe    Running express from Eagle Junction to Northgate

[ozbob]

University exams start this week and on the weekend.

Major track closure this weekend Roma Street to Corinda, Cleveland and Yeerongpilly track closure > https://translink.com.au/service-updates/93291

[ozbob]

. @QueenslandRail will need to revert to pre-RPL timetable with shuttles on RPL until all route training complete. IMHO.#qldpol

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) November 1, 2016

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

2nd November 2016

Fixing the rail timetable mess

Good Morning!

Is it?  Not for some hey?  lol

Anyway, as we have been warning for years the suburban rail system for SEQ is in a mess.  We have also been warning about the bus network for Brisbane for years, it too is a mess of failure.  This is the  ' proud ' record of a succession of failed governments.  Both the ALP and LNP are both implicated in the appalling situation we now face. The only shining hope is the new fare structure for SEQ due in January 2017.

Ok, fixing the rail mess.  When the then Richlands branch opened in January 2011 there was an interim timetable that allowed for a staged introduction and then the significant implementation of sector one timetables followed in June 2011.  A copy of this interim timetable can be found here > Richlands Jan 2011 interim timetable

This had shuttle services between Darra <> Richlands until the implementation of the new sector one timetables in June 2011.

The situation we face at present is not being sorted.  We suggest that Queensland Rail revert back to the timetable prior to Redcliffe Peninsula Line opening.  This was being delivered with a high degree of reliability.  Introduce shuttle services (mainly off peak) on the Redcliffe Peninsular 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.

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Media: &#39; Fixing the rail timetable mess &#39;
> https://t.co/umheMLYQ9M#qldpol@StirlHinchliffe @N_Scales_TMR @AnnastaciaMP #youarewelcome pic.twitter.com/RYzxjDEEPt

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) November 1, 2016

[achiruel]

Nundah and Toombul are in the state opposition leader's seat, which is a known blue-ribbon seat.

Partly; also partly in Nudgee, which is currently an ALP-held seat.

[ozbob]

The latest commuter train timetable will be released on Friday https://t.co/p200VAUMJm #7News
 https://t.co/2J7pIYcyhP

— 7 News Queensland (@7NewsQueensland) November 2, 2016

[BrizCommuter]

The latest commuter train timetable will be released on Friday https://t.co/p200VAUMJm #7News
https://t.co/2J7pIYcyhP

— 7 News Queensland (@7NewsQueensland) November 2, 2016

Looking forward to that. I can only assume more services will be cut?

[SurfRail]

[Gazza]

Oh well, we had a glimpse of the future for about 4 days or so back at the start of the month.
What could have been 

[ozbob]

Every Queensland Rail timetable change &#39;costing taxpayers almost $30k&#39; https://t.co/obmPYXnv6h via @ABCNews

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) November 2, 2016

[urbanplanr]

The latest commuter train timetable will be released on Friday https://t.co/p200VAUMJm #7News
https://t.co/2J7pIYcyhP

— 7 News Queensland (@7NewsQueensland) November 2, 2016

Looking forward to that. I can only assume more services will be cut?

Hopefully it isn't and it's an announcement of going back to pre MBRL timetabling.

[ozbob]

In view of the now documented problems with resourcing within Queensland Rail, it would have very sensible to have stuck with the pre-MBRL timetable and layered on some peak services for RPL and shuttles until such time as all crew route ready and it was clear that the new timetable was deliverable.  The circus that we have seen has not been acceptable at any level.

Time will tell what we get from here.

[Arnz]

Going back to pre-MBRL timetabling would be suggested with 3 minor changes, IMO.

• Kippa-Ring - Petrie 30 min shuttle in off-peak/weekends.  This would only require a few units dedicated to the RPL for all-day shuttles
• Petrie all-stations extended to/from Kippa-Ring during peak periods
• The removal of the "train stabling park" between Northgate and Petrie courtesy of the Kippa-Ring stabling yards should at least allow paths for the previous 2x ICE operated Nambour-Caboolture weekday shuttles (AM Counterpeak) and (PM Countepeak) to be extended to/from Roma Street operating the previous Gympie North stopping pattern. (Express Caboolture to Bowen Hills).  Which is a better use of resources than stabling the ICE at Caboolture for almost the whole day.

Overall this may mean the MBRL off-peak/weekend and weekend SCL commuters (e.g reintroduction of weekend shuttles) may be inconvenienced, but would give some degree of stability for timetabling whilst the driver shortages are being addressed.

[ozbob]

Yes, we had shuttles on the Richlands branch for 5 months (from January 2011), pending the introduction of the new Sector one timetables in June 2011.  We survived.  If they plan to have some shuttles on the RPL, so be it. 

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Hansard Ministerial Statements 2nd November 2016

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2016/2016_11_02_DAILY.pdf

Queensland Rail, Interim Timetable

Hon. SJ HINCHLIFFE (Sandgate—ALP) (Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games)
(2.30 pm): During this morning's peak, we achieved an on time running result of 97 per cent against the
interim Queensland Rail timetable. That result is a testament to the hardworking train crew going above
and beyond to deliver for customers. However, what is painfully clear to me is that there is still not
enough consistency in the interim timetable. The former CEO and former chair said the interim timetable
would work. It is not working for enough people with enough consistency. The timetable needs to be
the timetable. As the Premier and I said yesterday, we have instructed QR and TransLink to implement
a permanent timetable for the rest of the year. I met with the acting CEO and the acting chair last night
and made it clear that this is their measure of success. We lifted the LNP recruitment freeze after the
LNP's devastating cuts. We are training drivers and training guards right now.
Opposition members interjected.
Ms Palaszczuk: They're laughing at the cuts.
Mr HINCHLIFFE: Mr Speaker, I can assure you that most Queenslanders do not think that these
cuts are a laughing matter.

4018 Ministerial Statements 2 Nov 2016
Mr Seeney interjected.
Mr SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Callide. I can hear you.
Mr HINCHLIFFE: We are training drivers and guards right now. We will open external driver
recruitment. We are actively speaking to retired drivers, including those who were axed by the former
government, to come back to Queensland Rail. We are fixing the new trains ordered and designed by
the LNP. There is no excuse for QR not briefing and alerting to the dangers that some clearly knew
were coming through multiple reports. The independent investigation established by the Premier will
handle those matters and will all be subject to the scrutiny that follows. My task is clear: fix the timetable
and deliver for commuters.

[Stillwater]

From news.com.au:

Southeast Queenslanders will have to contend with a "less than perfect" train timetable on Friday, the state's embattled Transport Minsiter Stirling Hinchliffe warns.

Further service cuts are expected as Queensland Rail continues to operate on an interim timetable to compensate for driver and guard shortages - the same problems that caused a crisis last month with mass service cancellations.

"We are facing the prospect of a less-than-perfect level of service tomorrow and there will be announcements being made through the normal courses around that in the course of today," Mr Hinchliffe told parliament.

ABC reported this morning that every timetable change costs $30,000 - paid to a Canadian company. ?