Queensland Rail

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1062007264532295680

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

13th November 2018

Re: Just treat the NGRs the same as other QR rollingstock for contractual on-time running

Good Morning,

Continuing on with why the New Generation Rollingstock trains should be treated the same as any of the Queensland Rail trains for the purposes of contractual on-time running compilation.

On the page https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/aboutus/ourperformance/service-punctuality-and-reliability Queensland Rail state in part " and third party rollingstock faults including the New Generation Rollingstock fleet which is not owned or maintained by Queensland Rail. "

The State of Queensland really owns the trains, be it the ones claimed to be owned by Queensland Rail or the New Generation Rollingstock trains.  As far as not maintained by Queensland Rail, Queensland Rail has and uses third parties to maintain trains they claim to be their own.  See Ministerial Media Statement of 28/03/2011  $20 million train contract a boost for Maryborough workers (Ministerial Media Statement) http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/Id/74160

So Queensland Rail's feeble excuses for quarantining the NGR trains for the purposes of contractual on-time running determination are nonsense.

It is time Minister Bailey directed Queensland Rail to simply include the NGR trains in the same way as all the rollingstock for the purposes of contractual on-time running.  There are far more important tasks, like getting on with delivering a better rail service timetable than playing stupid petty games of dispute with TMR, and living in silos. Today is day 775 of rail fail!

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ Attached: https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12649.msg216232#msg216232 ]

[ozbob]

This issue encapsulates much of what is wrong with PT in Queensland.

Facts:

1.  Queensland Rail started to exclude NGR fault delays as ' force majeure ' from the day they commenced service (December 2017). This was done in secret.

2.  Couriermail journalist stumbled upon the fact they were doing this in October.  Published this fact on the 18th October, QR updated their web page that day to the effect that they were excluding NGR fault delays as ' force majeure '.

3.  Reasons for doing it are nonsense, and don't withstand proper scrutiny.

4.  Minister for Transport is clearly captured by the bureaucrats and/or staffers.  Probably both. Seems incapable of independent thinking.

To say I am disappointed both in Queensland Rail, and the Minister is an understatement.  This is just appalling behaviour all round in my view.  You can agree or disagree. 

To think that they can trot out a contractual on-time running metric that is based on 44% of the operating train fleet just confirms how messed up they actually are.

FAIL !

[#Metro]

They are government trains.

The government ordered, paid for, and approved the design of, the trains. And any contracting for maintenance thereon.

Queensland Rail is a brand for The State of Queensland acting in its rail service provider capacity.

Thus the OTR is there to reflect on the Queensland Gov't.

Ultimate responsibility thus lies with the State of Queensland IMHO.

[doggo]

I am not sure I have this clear...

The late running by the NGR is excluded from the OTR stats...  right??

What about the on time running by the NGR???   by rights that should not be included because they aren't "QR managed" trains...

The NGR should be excluded from all stats until QR take responsibility for the success or failure of its network (more failure then success at this point in time)

mind you I think anything QR has done well in recent years is more good luck then good management....   and they aint had much good luck   

Disclaimer...   if the NGR aren't included in any stats...  my bad...   nothing to see here.....

[ozbob]

The issue is a specific one.   There are two general categories for the reported on-time running.

1.  Customer impact - this is actually how the passenger sees it day to day, all services and delays for what ever reason are included and  reported.  Customer impact is on average << than the contractual metric.

2.  Contractual - this is the customer impact metric adjusted for the so called events that are beyond Queensland Rail's direct control.

https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/aboutus/ourperformance/service-punctuality-and-reliability

" Sometimes incidents beyond Queensland Rail's control may delay our services (force majeure). Such incidents may include severe weather activity, onboard medical emergencies, security incidents, vehicles striking level crossing boom gates, and third party rollingstock faults including the New Generation Rollingstock fleet which is not owned or maintained by Queensland Rail. Because these incidents are out of Queensland Rail's control, they are not included in the contractual results. However Queensland Rail recognises delays, regardless of their cause, affect customers, and this is reflected in the customer impact figures. "

The specific issue is that QR is claiming that because the NGR are not owned or maintained by QR, delays due to faults with them are not included.  This is frogsh%t of course.  Following QR's line of argument then the suburban trains that have been maintained at Maryborough by Bombardier and EDI should be excluded too of course.  See?  Utter nonsense.

Metro has made the point the trains are really owned by the Government (the state).  It matters little who maintains the trains, to properly reflect the true contractual metric all the trains must be properly included, not just the EMU, IMU, SMU and ICE.

The other issue was that Queensland Rail were not forthcoming with the information that they were not including NGRs until found out in October.

So Doggo, to summarise when the NGRs are ontime they are included in both contractual and customer impact.  But when they are not ontime due to an issue with the NGRs they are not included in contractual.  Farcical ..  As more and more NGRs are rolled out, the contractual metric becomes more meaningless.  When all NGRs are in operation the contractual metric as it stands will only really represent 44% of the operating train fleet.  An unacceptable situation. It is one thing for QR to act deceptively, it is another level of complicity in mediocrity that the Minister for Transport has not acted to stop this.

[ozbob]

The other thing that I think needs to be addressed is an audit of Queensland Rail on-time running assessment.

After the deception with the contractual on-time running it is possible that there are more internal adjustments going on that both Government and public know nothing about.  There is now too much doubt with respect to the robustness of Queensland Rail's OTR reporting.  The only way confidence can be established is for a full independent audit with public reporting of the results.  Every aspect needs to be examined from the how they determine what actually is ' force majeure ', how the data is adjusted, statistical methods used to determine and report the data and so forth.

I trust my dog Missy, a lot more than I trust the transport authorities in this State.   

[ozbob]

The usual high standard in the Queensland Parliament ...

Queensland Parliament Hansard
https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2018/2018_11_12_DAILY.pdf

Questions without notice

Queensland Rail, Train Crew

Mr MINNIKIN: My question is to the Premier. After more than two years of Labor's rail fail and
with no end in sight and with numerous recent reports of qualified drivers being turned away, will the
Premier now agree to implement the LNP's plan to fast-track Queensland Rail's external recruitment to
finally restore confidence in the public transport system?

Mr Bailey interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: Minister for Transport and Main Roads, I called order. You are warned under the
standing orders.

Ms PALASZCZUK: I thank the member for Chatsworth for that question. I also thank that
member for just recently voting with his conscience. It is real pity that this weekend the way he voted is
subjected to his party's state council.

Mr BLEIJIE: I rise to a point of order under the standing order 118, relevance. The Premier is
speaking of nothing that was in the question at all. It was about Labor's rail fail, which she should know
a lot about.

Mr SPEAKER: Manager of Opposition Business, you were doing really well until the last part of
your point of order. Premier, I ask you to come back to the question that has been asked. I note that
you have quite a considerable amount of time in which to come back to the question in your answer.

Ms PALASZCZUK: My answer to the member's question is no, because the external recruitment
is already underway. That was very clearly one of the recommendations. When the Deputy Premier
had responsibility for transport, she opened up that recruitment. It was one of the key recommendations
of the Strachan inquiry. We know that those opposite did not have the trainers who were needed—

A government member interjected.

Ms PALASZCZUK: That is right. We also know that, when it comes to rail delivery, those
opposite do not support the building of the second stage of the light rail, which will be a great asset for
the Gold Coast community. We are very keen to look at exploring options for the extension of that rail,
but probably not where the member for Burleigh wants it to go.

The minister will continue to implement the Strachan recommendations. He is working diligently.
He is speaking with commuters. He is meeting with the rail board. I commend the minister on his recent
decision to ensure that members of Queensland Rail do not get the bonuses that the board had issued.

Mr Powell interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: Member for Glass House, you are on a warning already. I ask you to leave the
chamber under the standing order 253A for the rest of question time.

Whereupon the honourable member for Glass House withdrew from the chamber at 10.42 am.

Mr SPEAKER: Members, I have given statements previously. If you are on a warning you will
get no quarter from me in terms of additional interjections. That will be my last warning today.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1062231046232494080

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1062377268083740672

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 15th November 2018 page 13

Feeble excuses on the rail network

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1062787069594951680

[doggo]

OK..  Scenario....

If I was a Rail Scheduler (whatever) would/should I place my NGR sets on lines where I know, from my data tracking, there are consistent late runnings/issues?

Would I then accept the kudos (and bonuses) because I have increased our OTR on these lines due to not counting Late Running because we can blame the expected breakdowns on the NGR.

Or

Would I then accept the kudos (and bonuses) because I have increased our OTR on these lines due to our very reliable fleet of NGR trains maintaining our network times...

just thinking out loud...

[ozbob]

On the money doggo ...

From earlier in this thread.

https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12649.msg216220#msg216220

An event yesterday on the rail network  ( https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1862.msg216207#msg216207 ):

Quote

    was hoping to catch a 9.15am train to richlands ex roma st.

    NGR train ended up leaving roma st @ 9.24 due to random platform closures through the city which resulted in the Cleveland/springfield trains sharing the same platform with the 9.20 Cleveland service scoring priority leaving right on schedule @ 9.20am....springfield train lost out suffering the 8 minute delay...
    Add on another 4 minutes stuck at Milton because of door problems...so train running 12 minutes late by toowong...
    Hourly rail - bus connection wrecked: 460 outbound....53 mins wait for next service.


This is another reason why there must be transparency with the reporting of on-time running contractual and NGR trains.  There is now a perception that Queensland Rail trains are being prioritised over NGR trains.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Those at control also have to take into consideration staff required at stations and current crew certified to run them. Hence their ability not to interchange with other rollingstock during delays eg during peak disruptions it wasn't uncommon to just allow the following train to change destinations to clear the backlog (swap Ipswich/Springfield, Caboolture/Petrie/Kippa Ring, Manly/Cleveland, Shorncliffe/Ferny Grove services) however with NGR they must run service X, Y, Z because of the current restrictions in place. If its delayed long enough on the outbound journey its enough to cancel the return journey because station staff might have to clock off/change stations despite nothing being wrong with the train - there are redundancies in place in regards to staff.

With regards to the Springfield/Cleveland train it sounds like the NGR was delayed prior to Northgate (maybe with the same door problems it experienced at Milton). On weekends in the morning the mains are usually closed off for physical track inspections in the morning. As a result the Springfield train usually departs Northgate ahead of the Cleveland train as they share the same platform island at Northgate. If there is late running sometimes the Cleveland train will use P2 while the Springfield train uses P1 (due to the cross over speed south of Northgate by the time the Cleveland train has completed the cross it can resume full line speed as its not on restricted signaling anymore). If the Springfield train is delayed long enough prior to Northgate it loses its slot and has to sit behind the Cleveland train following it on restricted signalling as it can't access the mains due to persons inspecting the line and stations having signage up telling passengers to use platforms 1/2 for all services.

[ozbob]

^ thanks HTG.  It seems clear to me that it is becoming very difficult to split out NGR OTR from the rest of the fleet in terms of knock on effects etc. The contractual metric is going to come unreliable even when just including non-NGR.  The best thing is to simply include the NGRs as for the rest of the fleet.  By doing that a real representation of OTR is reported.  QR CEO and the Minister have said repeatedly that even if the NGRs included the OTR contractual was still satisfactory. Unless it is sorted it will become a real point of contention, particularly when NGRs are the majority of the operating train fleet.

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Hansard
https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2018/2018_11_15_DAILY.pdf

Questions without notice

Queensland Rail

Mr MINNIKIN: My question without notice is to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads. On
1 February next year Queensland Rail's new Citytrain enterprise agreement will come into effect which
includes a new entitlement for train crew to have two breaks of 30 minutes each per shift, amongst
others. Can the minister guarantee that the new enterprise agreement will not cut services from the
already reduced Queensland Rail timetable and prolong Labor's rail fail?

Mr BAILEY: I thank the honourable member for the question. That question was from the
assistant minister for public transport under the Newman government, the government that cut 48 train
drivers—a net loss of 48 train drivers under their watch. That is their record of handling the workforce.
They sacked 1,700 staff in Queensland Rail. They ordered trains from overseas. That is their record.
To get a question from the honourable member given that he was a part of the mess and the botch-ups
of the LNP when it comes to the rail network, really who is he kidding?

We are seeing a stabilisation and an improvement in Queensland Rail. We are seeing, instead
of the stress periods of the last two school holidays, a normal timetable for the first time since October.
We have trained 109 train drivers.

Opposition members interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: Pause the clock. Members to my left, I am having difficulty hearing the minister.
There are too many interjections. The minister is being responsive, as I hear it, to the question asked.

Mr BAILEY: We are seeing 109 train drivers fully trained and operating in the system for a net
gain of 53, not a cut of 48 drivers under the LNP. That is their record. They knew the Redcliffe line was
coming, with six new stations and an entire new line. They knew the Commonwealth Games were
coming and they cut the drivers—48 fewer drivers under the LNP. That is the albatross around the
member for Chatsworth's neck.

Under this government we are seeing an increase in drivers, of course. We have another 92
drivers currently being trained right now. Every train driver school is full, as we get them into the system
to correct the botch-ups of the previous government. We are seeing on-time running above the 95 per
cent level for five quarters in a row.

Mr Bleijie interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: Member for Kawana.

Mr BAILEY: Overtime is coming down. What did we see under the LNP? In the last year of the
LNP government, overtime went up 25 per cent. Under us, it is coming down—a reduction of four per
cent in the last year. We are seeing patronage on our rail system return—1.7 million extra trips.

Mr Powell interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: Member for Glass House, you are warned under standing orders. Member for
Kawana, you are going to be warned under standing orders. It is a delayed reaction from me, but you
have been repetitive in your interjections this morning.

Mr BAILEY: We are seeing smart ticketing being introduced not just across South-East
Queensland but across the whole state. We are seeing improvements and we will see incremental
improvements in 2019 under this government because we are recovering this system from the
botch-ups of the previous government when they sacked so many staff. We saw them cut train drivers,
snowballing into impacts that we are still dealing with to this day. That is the reality.
We have the times for training drivers down from 18 months under them to 13 months under us.
It is going to be a gradual sustained improvement under this government. We know they botched the
rail system.

Mr Minnikin interjected.

Mr BAILEY: We will see continual improvements under this government.
(Time expired)

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

Minister failed to answer the question.  I have real concerns about this extra meal break.  I think it as the bottom why there is no committment to a timetable for recovery.  Why there is no improvement in the present timetables, either moving to Monday <> Friday consistent one, or even plugging some of the gaps.  Frankly, I think they are concerned about whether they can actually deliver the present timetable come February let alone increases.

Good question from Mr Minnikin.  This is serious.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Mark Bailey under pressure over new train driver meal break rules

TRANSPORT Minister Mark Bailey is under pressure to guarantee the train network is not headed for a second "Rail Fail" under controversial new split meal breaks for train drivers.

New meal break rules will be introduced for Queensland Rail drivers as early as February next year, but have previously triggered concerns by QR's board as it will mean less "footplate" time.

Footplate time is used to measure driver productivity and refers to the amount of time a driver will actually spend driving trains.

It was sitting at about 30 per cent of their shift on average as of last June.

As previously revealed by The Courier-Mail in January, QR's board in 2016 raised concerns about a new driver enterprise agreement that included a requirement for split meal breaks.

But the board was pressured by the Palaszczuk Government to sign off on drivers' 2017 enterprise agreement, which included the split meal breaks.

It was approved on the proviso that the introduction of the split meal breaks were delayed until driver numbers had recovered.

Under the deal, the 40 minute meal break for train drivers will be replaced by two separate 30 minute meal breaks each shift.

The rail unions have previously stated the split meal breaks would mean less footplate time when factoring in the time it takes drivers to walk to and from lunch rooms on train platforms.

A Rail Tram & Bus Union circular earlier this year said it had QR's agreement to introduce the split breaks by no later than February 1 next year.

LNP transport spokesman Steve Minnikin used Question Time today to grill Mr Bailey on the split breaks, asking him to guarantee it would not "cut already reduced services and prolong the "Rail Fail."

Mr Bailey did not discuss the meal break change in his response, but insisted there had been a "stabilisation and improvement at QR."

He cited the maintaining of a regular timetable during the school holidays for the first time since the rail collapse in October 2016 and QR had had a net gain of 53 train drivers since that time.

Mr Bailey also blamed the LNP for causing the driver shortage, accusing them of cutting 48 drivers under the previous Campbell Newman-led administration.

But this was in contrast to the findings of the Commission of Inquiry into the driver shortage in 2017 by ex-Rio Tinto boss Phillip Strachan.

It found no evidence "that the Government directed either the reduction of train crew or the suspension of training activities." And there was "ample opportunity to recommence or accelerate driver training" ahead of the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula line, which triggered the rail meltdown.

The inquiry found the shortage was caused by a combination of factors, including falling driver productivity, recruitment impediments, restrictive work rules and a preference "to operate with a 5 to 10 per cent undersupply of train crew, driven largely by a practice of providing overtime opportunities."

Commuter group Rail Back on Track's Robert Dow has been calling for QR chief executive Nick Easy to reveal when it will restore its timetable back to full services.

"We think this may be at the bottom of the reluctance of Mr Easy and the Minister to give any firm commitment to the restoration of the timetable," he said.

"I think it is an unknown in some respects, they are not confident and that's why they won't make any commitment."

Mr Dow said there was still no regular Monday to Friday timetable and no increase in service on pressure spots, including the afternoon peak services on the Cleveland line.



The Courier-Mail in January revealed QR's board chairwoman Nicole Hollows in December 2016 raised concerns with the Government that the "operational, timetabling and financial impacts" of the new enterprise agreement, including new split meal breaks, were "not adequately understood" and had not been subjected to "robust assessment and analysis."

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1062937980812161024

[red dragin]

That's a good photo of you there Bob 

Regarding the minister dribble on the Hansard. The people of Queensland no longer care who's fault it is, they just want reliable and consistent services.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

15th November 2018

More rail fail on the way?  Sure looks like it ..

Greetings,

Question Time today in Parliament Mr Minnikin asked a question of the Minister for Transport Mr Bailey

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2018/2018_11_15_DAILY.pdf

" My question without notice is to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads. On
1 February next year Queensland Rail's new Citytrain enterprise agreement will come into effect which
includes a new entitlement for train crew to have two breaks of 30 minutes each per shift, amongst
others. Can the minister guarantee that the new enterprise agreement will not cut services from the
already reduced Queensland Rail timetable and prolong Labor's rail fail? "

The Minister failed to specifically answer the question.

We have grave concerns about the ability of Queensland Rail to deliver even the present timetable let alone a proper improved timetable when the two meal break per shift comes in February.  This is we think why there is no firm committment to a timeline for timetable recovery.

The Couriermail has just published an article --> Mark Bailey under pressure over new train driver meal break rules

TRANSPORT Minister Mark Bailey is under pressure to guarantee the train network is not headed for a second "Rail Fail" under controversial new split meal breaks for train drivers.

New meal break rules will be introduced for Queensland Rail drivers as early as February next year, but have previously triggered concerns by QR's board as it will mean less "footplate" time.

Footplate time is used to measure driver productivity and refers to the amount of time a driver will actually spend driving trains.

It was sitting at about 30 per cent of their shift on average as of last June.

As previously revealed by The Courier-Mail in January, QR's board in 2016 raised concerns about a new driver enterprise agreement that included a requirement for split meal breaks.

But the board was pressured by the Palaszczuk Government to sign off on drivers' 2017 enterprise agreement, which included the split meal breaks.

It was approved on the proviso that the introduction of the split meal breaks were delayed until driver numbers had recovered.

Under the deal, the 40 minute meal break for train drivers will be replaced by two separate 30 minute meal breaks each shift.

The rail unions have previously stated the split meal breaks would mean less footplate time when factoring in the time it takes drivers to walk to and from lunch rooms on train platforms.

A Rail Tram & Bus Union circular earlier this year said it had QR's agreement to introduce the split breaks by no later than February 1 next year.

LNP transport spokesman Steve Minnikin used Question Time today to grill Mr Bailey on the split breaks, asking him to guarantee it would not "cut already reduced services and prolong the "Rail Fail."

Mr Bailey did not discuss the meal break change in his response, but insisted there had been a "stabilisation and improvement at QR."

He cited the maintaining of a regular timetable during the school holidays for the first time since the rail collapse in October 2016 and QR had had a net gain of 53 train drivers since that time.

Mr Bailey also blamed the LNP for causing the driver shortage, accusing them of cutting 48 drivers under the previous Campbell Newman-led administration.

But this was in contrast to the findings of the Commission of Inquiry into the driver shortage in 2017 by ex-Rio Tinto boss Phillip Strachan.

It found no evidence "that the Government directed either the reduction of train crew or the suspension of training activities." And there was "ample opportunity to recommence or accelerate driver training" ahead of the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula line, which triggered the rail meltdown.

The inquiry found the shortage was caused by a combination of factors, including falling driver productivity, recruitment impediments, restrictive work rules and a preference "to operate with a 5 to 10 per cent undersupply of train crew, driven largely by a practice of providing overtime opportunities."

Commuter group Rail Back on Track's Robert Dow has been calling for QR chief executive Nick Easy to reveal when it will restore its timetable back to full services.

"We think this may be at the bottom of the reluctance of Mr Easy and the Minister to give any firm commitment to the restoration of the timetable," he said.

"I think it is an unknown in some respects, they are not confident and that's why they won't make any commitment."

Mr Dow said there was still no regular Monday to Friday timetable and no increase in service on pressure spots, including the afternoon peak services on the Cleveland line.



The Courier-Mail in January revealed QR's board chairwoman Nicole Hollows in December 2016 raised concerns with the Government that the "operational, timetabling and financial impacts" of the new enterprise agreement, including new split meal breaks, were "not adequately understood" and had not been subjected to "robust assessment and analysis."

Oh dear. Oh dear ...

Best wishes,

Robert

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

[ Attached: https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12649.msg216220#msg216220 ]

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1062947243534077952

[ozbob]

That's a good photo of you there Bob 

Regarding the minister dribble on the Hansard. The people of Queensland no longer care who's fault it is, they just want reliable and consistent services.

Why thank you!    

Mr Bailey did not answer the question put to him. 

Does he even know about the two meal break issue coming faster than the old Darra Flyer?  Seems not ... 

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/couriermail/status/1062938356076683265

A reduction in footplate time means more crew will be required to deliver the same services.  Reality fact.   

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

16th November 2018

Little confidence left in the Minister for Transport or Queensland Rail

Good Morning,

Some very serious concerns now with the future of our rail network.  Not only is there the looming problem with the changes due to the enterprise agreement, very serious questions remain about the robustness of the on-time running reporting by Queensland Rail.

Going to two meal breaks per shift for train crew means less footplate time.  This means to deliver the same services a lot more crew will be required, there is a loss of productivity.  Frankly, we doubt that Queensland Rail will be able to deliver the present timetable let alone an improved timetable if the changes go ahead.  This fact is no doubt behind the reluctance of Queensland Rail and Government to commit to any definite timeline for timetable recovery and the failure to improve the present reduced service timetables.  They know that that another wave of rail fail is just around the corner. The ' Fixing the trains ' rhetoric is just nonsensical spin.  It is time for the Minister for Transport to demonstrate otherwise.

The issue of quarantining the NGR delays from contractual ontime running has been shown to be based on false premises.  What is being done to sort this outrage?  Again the Minister for Transport and Queensland Rail have failed to properly address the issue.

A proper detailed independent audit into all aspects of ontime running assessment and reporting by Queensland Rail is now warranted in our view.  If they were prepared to covertly present an incomplete misleading contractual ontime running metric until discovered by chance, what else is being altered?  Fair question, and will only be answered by a proper detailed independent audit.  If there is nothing to hide why hasn't an audit been welcomed?

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ Attached: https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12649.msg216395#msg216395 ]

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1063097646099775490

[ozbob]

Understand that Minister Bailey will be on ABC Radio Brisbane around 8.30am this morning.

[ozbob]

Understand that Minister Bailey will be on ABC Radio Brisbane around 8.30am this morning.

I listened to the interview.  Hopefully should be able to download it later today.

The Minister indicated that he has directed Queensland Rail to include the NGRs in ontime running.  Assume he means on contractual. 

He said Queensland Rail has assured him the new EB two meal break will not cause problems.  I have my doubts.

He had a crack at us for cherry picking the October peak contractual and highlighting the poor performance.  Hello Minister, it is part of a 2018 monthly series ... 

E.g.

[#Metro]

Why not interview alternative rail service providers instead?

Put the CEO of Metro trains Melbourne in the ABC Brisbane studio.

Let all the people who want to challenge him on the merits of such an operator entering SEQ phone up and give talkback.

[Stillwater]

We are back to the old Ministerial defence that Mr Hinchliffe used to roll out ....

that is:  QR has given the Minister an assurance that the new EB two-meal break will not cause anyh problems.

This is different from the Minister and his staff assessing the situation separately and independently from QR's advice so that the Minister personally is of the opinion that there will be no problems.

Saying "I have an assurance that such and such won't happen or will happen" is on a par with Neville Chamberlain, the then wartime PM of Britain, waving about a bit of paper signed by Adolf Hitler saying the Nazis would not invade England.

[ozbob]

^ correct Mr Stillwater.  He has dropped Queensland Rail under the bus metaphorically speaking.

" Queensland Rail has assured me ... ".  Frankly that does not inspire me with any confidence due to the past record of blunder.

Listen to the interview here.

Minister for Transport Mr Mark Bailey interviewed on ABC Radio Brisbane Breakfast by Craig Zonca and Loretta Ryan 16th November 2018.

Note, vague assurances that there will be full timetable restoration in 2019, sort of, maybe ... 

Interview --> https://backontrack.org/docs/abcbris/abcbris_mb16nov18.mp3 16.5MB

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

https://twitter.com/SteveMinnikinMP/status/1063201498337697792

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1063272911887204352

[#Metro]

Assurances are not worth anything. There are no consequences really if it turns out differently.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/MarkBaileyMP/status/1063272135664123905

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

16th November 2018

NGR technical fault delays to be included in contractual OTR

Good Afternoon,

Minister for Transport Mr Bailey has just tweeted that " From 1 January 2019 Queensland Rail and TransLink will publish contractual on-time running data which includes any delays by NGR technical faults "

https://twitter.com/MarkBaileyMP/status/1063272135664123905

Thank you.  As we have argued, this is the correct thing to do.

Best wishes,

Robert

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

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

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1063283801961320448

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Queensland Rail fail: NGRs to be included in punctuality data

QUEENSLAND Rail has backed down on a decision to exclude delays to the state's controversial new trains from its punctuality targets tied to lucrative executive bonuses.

The Courier-Mail revealed in October that the rail operator was turning a blind eye to any trains that ran late due to mechanical issues on its New Generation Rollingstock fleet.

That included any non-NGR trains that ran late because of an earlier NGR problem.

But Transport Minister Mark Bailey today revealed, via Twitter, that NGRs would be included in contractual on-time-running data from January.

QR chief executive officer Nick Easy had earlier argued the government-owned corporation could not be held responsible for the delays, as it did not technically own or maintain the new trains.

The $4.4 billion NGR trains are owned by the State Government and are being delivered by a public-private consortium led by Canadian train builder Bombardier, with the contract including a 30-year maintenance agreement.

Mr Easy stuck to the position at a media conference last week, saying a move to include NGR in contractual data "was something for the future".

It raised the prospect that by the time all 75 trains were rolled out, delays caused by faults on more than half the train fleet could be excluded from contractual on-time-running data.

That is a problem, because the Government uses on-time-running to measure whether QR is meeting its obligations.

And on-time-running is also tied to millions of dollars in bonuses for QR executives.

Commuter advocate group RAIL Back on Track has made repeated call for QR to include NGR trains in its contractual on-time results since the accounting quirk was revealed last month.

Group spokesman Robert Dow said it was also seeking an audit of the on-time-running results to check whether they were accurate.

Aside from delays linked to NGR trains, QR also excludes from its contractual on-time-running results all-station trains that are suddenly switched to express to make up for time.

It reports on the number of trains that skip stations, however, and argues it would still have met its punctuality target had those trains and delays linked to NGRs been included.

QR has the strictest on-time-running target in Australia, with over 95 per cent of trains having to arrive within four minutes of schedule, or within six minutes of the timetable for trains heading to the Gold Coast, Rosewood or Nambour.

Deputy Opposition Leader Tim Mander said commuters deserved to know the truth and the figures should show every service performance, otherwise they were pointless.

"It's about time Mark Bailey saw some sense over this ridiculous situation around his phony on-time running stats," he said.

Comment has been sought from Mr Bailey and QR.

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