Queensland Rail

[HappyTrainGuy]

For reference ngr will be the next train order. They can be pumped out significantly quickly. No need for long lead times.

[ozbob]

For reference ngr will be the next train order. They can be pumped out significantly quickly. No need for long lead times.

That is interesting in view of the present Government's policy of ' build in Queensland '.    So can we expect a local Bombardier facility like they have in Victoria?

[timh]

For reference ngr will be the next train order. They can be pumped out significantly quickly. No need for long lead times.

That is interesting in view of the present Government's policy of ' build in Queensland '.    So can we expect a local Bombardier facility like they have in Victoria?

I expect they will still be built overseas but perhaps shipped straight to Maryborough for the proper fit out, like they're doing with the current ones?

[ozbob]

I am not so sure.  The ALP Government has been rather critical of building the trains overseas.  But being politicians they will change their tack possibly as expediency will win out when they realise they are going to have a complete fail when CRR opens if they don't get some more trains in a hurry ... 

https://queenslandlabor.org/media/20275/alpq-queensland-made-policy-document-final-pdf-002.pdf

Guarantee all future rail rollingstock
and associated infrastructure for which
Queensland has the manufacturing capacity,
will be manufactured and maintained
by Queenslanders to support jobs in
Maryborough and other regional centres

[HappyTrainGuy]

Guess it depends how loosely the 3 billion dollar contract is written.

[achiruel]

For reference ngr will be the next train order. They can be pumped out significantly quickly. No need for long lead times.

Will they be DDA compliant this time, and have doors that open and close properly? Asking for a friend. 

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Queensland Rail driver overtime bill more than $442,000 a week

TAXPAYERS are forking out almost half a million dollars in overtime each week to train drivers and guards almost 2½ years after the rail fail.

State Government figures tabled in State Parliament revealed the overtime bill for the past five months was almost $10 million, with more than $442,000 paid out each week.

Opposition Transport spokes­man Steve Minnikin said an LNP Question on Notice had forced the Government to reveal the "staggering bill".

"Annastacia Palaszczuk's priorities are all wrong and she has absolutely no idea how to fix her rail fail," he said.

"Queenslanders are sick and tired of train services being cut and the constant delays as a ­result of this incompetent Labor Palaszczuk Government. Only the LNP has a plan to mop up Labor's rail fail, invest in the network, restore services and give Queenslanders a rail system they can truly depend on."

In October 2016, a severe driver shortage was exposed when Queensland Rail's timetable spectacularly collapsed, resulting in the sudden cancellation of hundreds of rail services.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said in his tabled statement that it was "not unusual" for train crews to operate with a "certain level of overtime" to meet demand changes in the network. "Strict standards and processes are in place to ensure that rosters and any offered overtime comply with Queensland Rail's fatigue-management policies and mandated working hour provisions under the national rail safety law," he said.

Mr Bailey said that overtime hours as a proportion of total work hours had dropped almost 5 per cent for drivers and guards since ­October 2016. In the last two weeks of ­October last year, QR paid more than $1 million in overtime to drivers and guards, according to Mr Bailey.

He said the former LNP government had overseen massive increases in the overtime bill in 2014-15 and created a net reduction in train drivers during its time in office.

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 1st April 2019 page 13

We are running overtime

[ozbob]

Couriermail 1st April 2019 page 24

Editorial: Runaway train of QR's overtime bill

[ozbob]

The Queensland Rail train crewing practices Commission of Inquiry Final Report (Strachan Report) https://www.strachaninquiry.qld.gov.au/assets/commission-of-inquiry-report-trains-crewing-report.pdf outlines a number of strategies to reduce driver training time and so increase the rate of net driver gain.

They suggest 9 months should be the aim, 4.2.5 recommendation 10 " Introduce modern, competency-based training arrangements in line with Australian and global best practices. This should include enforcing standardised assessment criteria, setting a maximum duration for training, overhauling the training curriculum, increasing the use and quality of train simulators and creating a management structure to provide appropriate oversight of tutors and trainees. Training for drivers should target an average duration of nine months or less .. "

Elsewhere it details other things that can also be done to help reduce training time. If they can get down to 9 months this will have a positive impact on the net gain for sure.

Presently training time is 13.5 months down from 18 months.  Clearly, they are barely keeping up with attrition.

Might be time for new brooms ...

The Government did accept all recommendations.   

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1112558707861151745

[not_available]

For reference ngr will be the next train order. They can be pumped out significantly quickly. No need for long lead times.

So does that mean there will be a NGR777? 

[red dragin]

For reference ngr will be the next train order. They can be pumped out significantly quickly. No need for long lead times.

So does that mean there will be a NGR777? 

If so, it needs to be in a mock plane wrap and dedicated to the AirTrain (the other 7x7 units could be treated this way too). Even if it is the leading car's only.

[not_available]

For reference ngr will be the next train order. They can be pumped out significantly quickly. No need for long lead times.

So does that mean there will be a NGR777? 

If so, it needs to be in a mock plane wrap and dedicated to the AirTrain (the other 7x7 units could be treated this way too). Even if it is the leading car's only.

But will that mean 737 will be quickly forced out of service to due safety concerns?

[red dragin]

Possibly, but only if driven by someone called Max.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Queensland parliament: Taxpayers slugged $330k for 'rail fail' inquiry

TAXPAYERS have forked out more than $335,000 for external consultants to help Queensland Rail implement the scathing Strachan Inquiry.

The large sum, tabled in a question on notice overnight, accumulated between July 1, 2018 and February this year.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey said like any organisation, Queensland Rail was required to source external support if the technical or specialised experience required was not within the business.

The inquiry was launched in 2016 after Queensland Rail's meltdown that saw trains cancelled causing mass disruption.
"As part of implementing the Strachan report recommendations, 212 train drivers have now either been trained and employed, or are in training currently," Mr Bailey said.

"One hundred and thirty-two train drivers have now been trained and employed and 80 train divers are currently being trained for a net gain of 70 additional drivers.

"This contrasts with the reduction in driver numbers when the Member was the Assistant Minister for Public Transport when, not only did the former LNP government cancel driver training—with not one driver commencing training in 2014—they also cut 48 qualified train drivers.

"For the financial year to date (February 2019), Queensland Rail has spent $335,488 on consultants to assist with this important work."

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> 14,000 more train seats for peak times

Transport Minister Mark Bailey has revealed Queensland Rail will begin restoring services to the train network in peak hours from next month, about two and a half years after the "rail fail".

Mr Bailey said the 32 extra weekly services in peak times would add another 14,000 seats to the southeast Queensland train network.

"These additional services will put more trains back into services when customers most need them – in the morning and afternoon peak," he said.

He said from Monday May 13 new services would run on the Shorncliffe, Cleveland, Redcliffe Peninsula, Ferny Grove, Springfield, Gold Coast and Airport lines.

Mr Bailey also said train patronage had increased by 1.7 million trips in 2017/18 with 52.7 million total trips recorded.

"Confidence is returning to the rail system," he said.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1112901371399790592

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

2nd April 2019

Extra peak services on the Citytrain network welcome !

Greetings,

RAIL Back On Track welcomes the Minister for Transport's announcement that there will be 32 weekly peak services added to the present Citytrain timetable from the 13th May 2019.

We have argued for some time that incremental improvement is the way forward to particularly plug the gaps on the Shorncliffe and Cleveland lines, and help restore confidence in the network by the travelling public (1).

We look forward to the full restoration of the October 2016 timetable in time.  We believe the next step should be the introduction of a consistent Monday to Friday timetable.

We would like to thank Minister Bailey and Queensland Rail for these improvements.

Best wishes,

Robert

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

Reference:

1. https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12649.msg220799#msg220799


Additional services from 13th May 2019

[ozbob]

Facebook

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1112916243407753216

[brissypete]

Good to see. Unfortunately none of those would be suitable for steam operation

Sent from my G8141 using Tapatalk

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1112922878171742208

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Hansard

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2019/2019_04_02_DAILY.pdf

Questions without notice

Rail Services

Ms LINARD: My question is of the Minister for Transport and Main Roads. Will the minister update
the House on the government's program to improve rail services in South-East Queensland?

Mr BAILEY: I thank the member for Nudgee for her question. She is a very strong supporter and
advocate of public transport services in South-East Queensland. We are seeing confidence returning
to our public transport system, in particular our rail system. We saw record patronage of 182.8 million
trips in the last year or so, for 2017-18. There was an increase of 1.7 million rail trips, from 51 million to
52.7 million. Let me say that again: an increase of 1.7 million rail trips. Confidence is returning to the
rail system. That is on top of the 46,000 extra seats we added late last year.

Opposition members interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: Members to my left will cease their interjections. The minister is being responsive
to the question asked.

Mr BAILEY: Some 212 train drivers were either trained or are being trained—the largest
recruitment ever in Queensland Rail's history. That is a net gain of 73, so we are seeing that overtime
is down, fares are down, on-time running is up, patronage—

Mr Powell interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! Member for Glass House, you are warned for consistent interjections this
morning.

Mr BAILEY: Patronage is up, on-time running is up, driver numbers are up and infrastructure is
up. I have more good news for the chamber.

Opposition members interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: Members to my left, what part of 'cease your interjections' did you not
understand? The minister is providing factual information to the House. I do not believe he is in any
way being provocative.

Mr BAILEY: I have more good news for the House and for Queensland commuters in South-East
Queensland. I am pleased to advise the House that Queensland Rail will add 32 extra weekly services
at peak times and add another 14,000 seats to South-East Queensland's network next month. Services
will be added to seven lines during busy peak periods from Monday, 13 May. These additional services
will put more trains back into service when customers most need them—morning and afternoon peak—
on the following lines: Shorncliffe, Cleveland, Redcliffe peninsula, Ferny Grove, Springfield, Gold Coast
and airport.

We employ drivers. We do not sack them; we back them. We do not attack them. We do not sack
them like those opposite. There were 48 fewer drivers under the LNP by the time they were finished—
when they knew there was a new line opening up, when they knew that the Commonwealth Games
were coming up. They cut drivers and they stopped driver training for a whole year in 2014. They
botched the system, but we are recovering. This is another positive step back to the full timetable. It is
good news for commuters from an administration that invests in public transport, invests in
infrastructure, invests in Smart Ticket and invests in better services. We will see more of it from this
government.
(Time expired)

[ozbob]

Good to see. Unfortunately none of those would be suitable for steam operation

Sent from my G8141 using Tapatalk

(Ferny Grove) 

[STB]

Interesting to note that at the bottom of the page there's a bit of a hint that this is just the start of improvements, with further upgrades to come later this year.  Guess that the Planners and Management have told Marketing to drop hints to try and nip the negative feedback in the bud that something is happening and there's more to come.  (obviously not much could happen until the NGRs, extra crew trained up and the extra break in the new EBA was all bedded down)

[ozbob]

Redland City Bulletin --> Queensland Rail announces extra peak rail services on Cleveland train line

QUEENSLAND Rail will add extra peak time services to the Cleveland line in a move that has been welcomed by lobby group Rail Back on Track.

The service to the Redlands was dubbed the Misery Line by frustrated commuters in August last year.

Redlands MP Kim Richards said on Tuesday that Queensland Rail would add a 5.32pm Central to Cleveland service on Friday, and services at 6.39am from Cleveland to Central and 5.09pm from Central to Cleveland on Monday to Friday.

Rail Back on Track's Robert Dow said Cleveland commuters had been making representations for a boost in peak time services to Cleveland for years.

"We welcome these initial steps to improve services," Mr Dow said.

"It is wonderful news.

"I am really pleased the Cleveland line has been given these additional peak time services."

Mr Dow said the 5.09pm service had been desperately needed for years.

He said the increased services suggested Queensland Rail may be in recovery from the rail fail saga by the end of the year.

Ms Richards said that 32 extra weekly services adding 14,000 seats would start from Monday, May 13 across south-east Queensland.

"We've listened to customer feedback and analysed patronage data, customer wait times and operational efficiencies to identify 32 priority weekly services we know will benefit our customers right now," Ms Richards said.

"Customers travelling during the busiest times in the morning and afternoon peak on the Shorncliffe, Cleveland, Redcliffe Peninsula, Ferny Grove, Springfield, Gold Coast and Airport lines will benefit.

Capalaba MP Don Brown said the move came after 46,000 weekly seats were added to the region's rail network in December, with the upgrade of 193 three-carriage trains to six-carriage trains.

"Queensland Rail is on track to deliver further timetable improvements later this year, following the largest driver recruitment and training campaign in its history," Mr Brown said.

"Seventy-six drivers are in training, adding to the 136 drivers who have completed their qualifications and are working on the network, representing a net increase of 73 in service when taking into account natural attrition such as retirement.

"More people are returning to the rail network, after we saw a record 182 million trips on public transport in south-east Queensland during 2017-2018."

Mr Brown said new generation rollingstock trains were continuing to roll out on the network, with 51 available for service.
Lytton MP Joan Pease said further service improvements would be announced later this year.

New services from May 13

Monday to Friday: Cleveland line, departing from Cleveland station at 6.39am, arriving Brisbane Central station at 7.34am

Monday to Friday: Cleveland line, departing from Brisbane Central station at 5.09pm, arriving Cleveland station at 6.05pm

Friday: Cleveland line, department from Central station at 5.32pm, arriving at Cleveland station at 6.35pm

[techblitz]

I'm sure the social media teams will be rejoicing as well

Next up....fix the mon-thu/fri differentials...which mess up the Friday feeder buses..
EG: springfield line...

101 arrives richlands 1.43 pm
mon thu I/b train normally departs 1.45. No train Friday == 33mins wait for next I/b train..

460 inbound arr richlands 1.45....mon thu train normally departs 1.48 = 33 mins wait for next I/b train...

534 bus arrives springfield central 1.25pm...mon-thu train normally departs 1.39.. No train Friday == 44mins wait for next i/b train

[Fares_Fair]

Meanwhile the #SunshineCoast suffers trains every hour and a half throughout the day.
We were promised 9 new trains for 2016 when the Woombye Rail Stabling opened, to give us HOURLY services.
Then came the #RailFail
We get zip, zilch and no improvements.

This government hates us with a passion borne of political vengeance.

[techblitz]

^ https://www.facebook.com/TransLinkQLD/posts/1941510162643584/

sunshine coast coments so far....each comment from different commuter...

What about sunshine coast!!!! Can't drive to brizzy, more public transport!!

Need more services for the overcrowded Caboolture / Sunshine Coast line. Most of the people get off the Redcliffe train at Petrie and get on the overcrowded trains. Very very unfair. Maybe some express services should be introduced on the Kippa Ring line

So Sunshine Coast / Caboolture line misses out again! One of the longest commutes and we never get added services or new trains. Half of the Redcliffe Peninsula line commuters already ride on our already overcrowded trains to and from Petrie. Very unfair

Maybe add more services to the Sunshine Coast Line, it desperately needs them.

sunny coast needs a proper 'passenger ' line, not a shared freight/commuters lines

What about the Sunshine Coast line

[HappyTrainGuy]

Overcrowded sunny coast trains.... never seen one. Shornccliffe and Cleveland now that's overcrowded.

[Arnz]

As a Cab/SC commuter, "Crowded" Caboolture/Sunshine Coast trains can be somewhat of a misnomer those days, as most standees come from the Redcliffe Line at Petrie (if a Caboolture originating train), or at Caboolture (if it's one of the ex-Nambour originating trains).  The 7:17am ex-Cab (this particular train originating from Nambour) is one example where the standees start at Caboolture.  Even more-so on Friday (where there's no 7:11am Friday service).

The only Sunshine Coast line train that might be considered "overcrowded" (by beyond Caboolture standards) would be the morning peak ex-Gympie North ICE service, on the assumption it's actually operated by the ICE.  Otherwise, plenty of standing space if the ICE is substituted with a 6-car IMU on any given morning.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> LNP says it will take 37 years to restore train timetable at current rate

DOZENS of new services have been added to southeast Queensland's rail network 2½ years after the system spectacularly collapsed.

The 32 new services are the first signs of recovery for Queensland Rail's timetable since the Government's "rail fail", which led to 472 services being cut at the height of the crisis in 2016.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said new services would be added from Monday, May 13 to busy peak periods.

"Customers travelling during the busiest times in the morning and afternoon peak on the Shorncliffe, Cleveland, Redcliffe Peninsula, Ferny Grove, Springfield, Gold Coast and Airport lines will benefit," Mr Bailey said.

"Queensland Rail is on track to deliver further timetable improvements later this year, following the largest driver recruitment and training campaign in its history."

The new services will add 14,000 seats to the southeast's network.

However, Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said it would take 37 years at the current rate just to restore the timetable to where it was in 2016.

"This was despite the fact that Labor's hand-picked man to fix the fail, Phillip Strachan said the 472 weekly services cut should have been restored by the end of 2018," she said.

"That's because Labor are owned by the rail unions lock, stock and barrel."

Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said the Government had targeted the two biggest "festering sores" from the rail fail hangover by restoring peak hours services to the Shorncliffe and Cleveland lines.

"We have argued for some time that incremental improvement is the way forward to particularly plug the gaps on the Shorncliffe and Cleveland lines, and help restore confidence in the network by the travelling public," he said.

"We look forward to the full restoration of the October 2016 timetable in time. We believe the next step should be the introduction of a consistent Monday to Friday timetable."

The announcement comes as the State Government revealed it had paid consultants $335,488 between July, 2018 and February this year to help implement the scathing Strachan Inquiry.

The figure was revealed in an answer to a Question on Notice.

Payments have dropped from the $40,000 a day the Government was paying Deloitte for "additional expertise and support" to additional QR staff at the height of the fail.

Responding to another Question on Notice from Greens MP Michael Berkman, Mr Bailey revealed there had been 93 service delays due to QR staff assisting passengers to board the fleet of troubled NGR trains, which are being retrofitted at a cost of $335.7 million to improve access for people with disabilities.

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament 3rd April 2019
https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2019/2019_04_03_DAILY.pdf

Video: http://tv.parliament.qld.gov.au/?reference=0Mba20190403_173043

Mr MINNIKIN (Chatsworth—LNP) (5.30 pm): Of the long list of 27 items, my contribution tonight
will focus on items (d) and (h). For the benefit of the Minister for Transport and Main Roads they are:
fixing Labor's rail fail, $170,660,000; and taxis for train driver, $493,033. No wonder the member for
Miller was described by the CCC as 'foolish' because when it comes to finance he maintains this line
of being referred to as 'foolish'.

I would like to spin the tape back just a few hours—to this morning—and quote from Hansard
where the genius member for Miller said the following—

Funding for the Bruce Highway Cairns southern access stage 5 project is a mirage. That is also at least four years away.

It works like this, member for Miller: one, two, three, four. With reference to the budget papers, I
notice in year 2021-22—year three over the four; not four years, year three—that there is an allocation
of $105 million which includes an amount for the Cairns southern access corridor. I will give you a tip:
if you want to come into this chamber speak facts from the head not nonsense from the heart.

There was some other interesting reading that I would like to enlighten the member for Miller—
the failed transport minister; the architect of rail fail—about. Let's compare and contrast, as the Premier
wanted to do this morning, Queensland to New South Wales. I quote from Railway Digest news and
sport.

Mr Bailey interjected.

Mr MINNIKIN: If you want to learn something, you might want to pipe down and listen.

Mr SPEAKER: Member, you will direct your comments through the chair. I do not think I need to
be told to listen.

Mr MINNIKIN: Certainly, Mr Speaker. The latest copy of Railway Digest, which should be on
everyone's reading list, says in relation to train driver recruitment—

There has been a 64 per cent increase in New South Wales in the past 12 months with—
wait for it, member for Miller—

125 new train drivers and 235 new guards graduating.

Let us go back. Such a feast. It is such a target with this failed member. Compare that to the at
least seven occasions in the last six months where the member for Miller has been asked a very easy
question how many new drivers and how long will it take to address rail fail? Queue—and for the benefit
of Hansard I apologise in advance—my stock standard reply: bing bong; big, big fail. Let us get to the
heart of the matter. Member for Miller, really you have a new career champ and that is—

Mr SPEAKER: Member, I think you are talking about portfolio related matters not electorate
matters. I would appreciate you calling him the Minister for Transport and Main Roads.

Mr MINNIKIN: The Minister for Transport and Main Roads will certainly have the next spot on
'better see Specsavers'. In the last one minute and 43 seconds let's cut to the chase and talk about
what he always goes on about. What a train wreck of an interview he did on ABC 612 this morning at
about 10 minutes to seven. What an absolute train wreck where yet again the Minister for Transport
and Main Roads carped on about the number of drivers that were cut, sacked, dispensed with within
the 2014-15 financial year.

I actual have a source document here, Minister for Transport and Main Roads. Now I admit the
source may be in his eyes a bit dodgy because the fairly dodgy source, as he would put it, is Queensland
Rail. I am happy to table this.

Here are the facts. This is a spreadsheet which shows all driver categories: drivers, tutor drivers
and drivers in charge. If we look at the categories of reasons for dismissal they are: age retirement,
deceased, resigned, medical separation, retired medically unfit, voluntary separation or dismissed for
conduct. If we look along that column inch by inch, millimetre by millimetre there is not a column space
for sacked—not one. I will be writing to you in relation to this matter because it is serious. We did not
sack them. There were a list of people—I have the quantum—that accepted VERs but they were not
sacked. It proves conclusively that the transport and main roads minister completely needs to go.

Mr Mander interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: Member for Everton, you are warned under standing orders.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1114310270455664640

[Stillwater]

So, the latest is that QR wants to hold onto train drivers until after the average retirement age of 63.  Is that an admission that they are not training sufficient new drivers to make sufficient headwinds against natural attrition?

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Queensland Rail report shows it aimed increase the retirement age of drivers to cope with Rail Fail shortage

A DESPERATE Queensland Rail mooted holding on to drivers beyond the average retirement age of 63, in a bid to solve its recruitment crisis

The discussions, which were raised at the highest level of QR, were held last year as the rail body struggled to turn around a by-then more than 18-month old timetable meltdown.

It continues to scramble to lose the long-held "Rail Fail" tag and meet a target of 200 new drivers.

QR's efforts to recruit hundreds of new drivers were, at the time, at risk of being further slowed by a rail union challenge in the Fair Work Commission, to block its external hiring drive.

Adding to the problem was QR's ageing driver pool, which was eating into attempts to fix the October 2016 crisis.

At that time, driver shortages forced QR to slash 472 services, which are yet to be completely restored.

It was in this environment that QR chief executive officer Nick Easy fronted QR's board in May this year to report that it was looking at whether drivers approaching retirement could be kept around longer.

The discussions are detailed in board minutes obtained by The Sunday Mail following a Right to Information application by the State Opposition.

Under a headline "CEO Report" the heavily redacted minutes state that: "Mr Easy noted that management is collecting better information on train crew retirements to inform future patterns".

The minutes continue: "The average retirement age is 62/63; management is looking at risks and opportunities to keep train crew on past that age on reduced hours".

A QR spokesman there was no compulsory retirement age, all employees were required to be fit for duty and that drivers elected when to retire.

She said age was not a factor when determining driver capability, which was assessed by competency and a fitness for duty criteria.

No incentives were offered to stay longer, according to QR.

[ozbob]

So, the latest is that QR wants to hold onto train drivers until after the average retirement age of 63.  Is that an admission that they are not training sufficient new drivers to make sufficient headwinds against natural attrition?

There is little doubt that the age profile of train driver staff was skewed to retirement particularly as rail fail formed.  Many years of failure to do proper work force planning, and still is an issue.  The net gain rate is barely keeping ahead of the attrition rate (retirements and resignations etc.) at present although recent recruiting would be lowering the age profile.  In time it will probably reach a better balance (we can only hope!  ).

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/1114646752051834881

[HappyTrainGuy]

Everyone was saying that as soon as the razor gang went to town.