Queensland Rail

[#Metro]

You're welcome to trot out the PRIVATISATION bogeyman as much as you want, it will have no effect.

Auckland, Stockholm, Wellington also in on private operation - Sydney will join when the Sydney metro (MTR also has a finger in that) comes online.

You will note that I am not the only person on this forum who doesn't have an issue with competitive tendering and dismantling monopoly service delivery. The politics that comes with monopolies drives me nuts.

We actually have private monopoly service provision in Queensland with the buses - that is totally and completely unjustified and is incredibly backwards. They are not even publicly owned and are monopolists! Every other non-heavy rail mode in QLD (light rail included) has a private provider, and unlike Melbourne, that is based on services run not passengers carried.

There has been an explosion in passenger numbers using rail in Melbourne, and payments are based off that (not the system used here in QLD where operators are paid per km) so that might go some way to explain things.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Public vs Privatisation
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com/2013/05/public-vs-privatisation.html

In response to misleading panic about privatising rail services, here is a comparison between public Queensland Rail (QR) in Brisbane, and the privatised Metro Trains in Melbourne:

Single 5km peak adult train fare
Public/Brisbane $3.85
Private/Melbourne $3.50
The "sky rocking" prices of Melbourne's privatised train network are still cheaper than Brisbane's public train network.

Single 5km off-peak train fare
Public/Brisbane $3.08
Private/Melbourne $3.50
Off-peak, Brisbane's public train service is cheaper, unless of course you make more than 2 journeys (see below).

Maximum daily 5km train fare
Public/Brisbane $30+
Private/Melbourne $7 ($3.50 on weekend)
For frequent daily users such as tourists the privatised train service in Melbourne is miles cheaper, even more so on weekends.

Weekday midday off-peak train frequency
Public/Brisbane 15-60mins (typically 30mins)
Private/Melbourne 10-20mins
Melbourne's private train operator has a far more frequent off-peak train service than Brisbane's public operator which mainly has abysmal 30 mins off-peak services.

Reliability Target
Public/Brisbane 94.93% (within 4 mins inner-suburban, 6 mins outer-suburban)
Private/Melbourne 88% (within 5 mins)
Brisbane has higher reliability, but it's pretty easy to be reliable when your trains are so infrequent!
Melbourne's rail network is generally run much closer to maximum capacity, thus resulting in less achievable reliability.

New Timetables
Public/Brisbane  - no significant changes to 7 lines since 2008
Private/Melbourne - multiple major timetable improvements every year

Cost per km data could not be obtained, however previous reports have shown QR to have the highest cost per km in Australia. So as we can see, using a private rail operator in Melbourne has resulted in generally cheaper fares, and more frequent train services in Brisbane's publicly owned rail operator QR. Is the potential privatisation of QR really that bad?

A number of forum members have also had a first hand look at Auckland's privately operated trains, and I didn't hear any issues raised with that from either SurfRail or Brizcommuter.

[HappyTrainGuy]

You still don't get it. I'm not talking about fares. Fares have jack all to do with this. I'm talking about how under Metro operating expenses have blown out by something like 215% while they still deliver whats basically the same service and paying out shareholders for a job well done while the public is being taken for a ride. Its exactly what newman was trying to achieve. Gut the business and try to make it look as lean as possible. It just so happens that Metro has already done this which makes them look great on paper when in reality its far from the case. That extra money also has to come from somewhere. It's fine and dandy promoting how much PT costs in general but you still want to tip toe around the fact that I'm talking about expenses. For example how it's cheaper to run an entire state railway from the Gold Coast to Kuranda with a few thousand more employees than what Metro provides for Melbourne, its outer suburbs and out to as far as Geelong.

Actually. Thanks for reminding me about Aurizon and their antics. They were a private railway operator and they pulled the same stunt that Newman did. Along with scrapping/selling a ridiculous amount of rollingstock.

[#Metro]

Well, I won't put much weight on the distance of the two systems because as we all know "services" on the Sunshine Coast line... barely exist and many of them are actually buses.

(Not entirely QR's fault that - simple fact of single track railway and lazy gov't).

I am willing to consider HTG, so show me a graph of both METRO and Queensland Rail costs per passenger service kilometre for both QLD and Melbourne, say over 5 years or so. If you have projection for what "Melbourne would cost under public" for the same period, I would be interested in that too.

If you have a source, link that too.

Actually. Thanks for reminding me about Aurizon and their antics. They were a private railway operator and they pulled the same stunt that Newman did. Along with scrapping/selling a ridiculous amount of rollingstock.

Yep, Labor sold it. They don't get subsidies IIRC.

[ozbob]

Do we know what time the Premier has scheduled her media conference to announce the government's response to the Strachan Inquiry?

Will be after Cabinet probably early afternoon hopefully.

Confirmed after 2pm.  Hopefully I will be told when it is live on the website (presumably at https://www.strachaninquiry.qld.gov.au/ ).

[ozbob]

ABC Radio Brisbane Breakfast --> Queensland Rail: Independent report to be released today into last year's timetable failure

[ozbob]

Background and interview with Steve Austin ABC Radio Brisbane this morning

> http://www.abc.net.au/radio/brisbane/programs/mornings/mornings/8232966

From around 2min 30 seconds

[verbatim9]

Wow Stirling resigns!

[ozbob]

Phillip Strachan announced as chairman of the QR board #qldpol @couriermail pic.twitter.com/b4zSPaGCcQ

— Anthony Templeton (@anto_templeton) February 6, 2017

[ozbob]

.@StirlHinchliffe dumped as Transport Minister #qldpol @couriermail

— Anthony Templeton (@anto_templeton) February 6, 2017

[#Metro]

News articles now online

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/queensland-rail-phillip-strachan-report-recommends-action-to-fix-train-issues-20170206-gu69sy.html

Looks like disrupted timetable will be going for not one year but TWO YEARS now, late 2018 is the recovery date. Still want to stick with QR as operator???

There was also a 7 per cent drop in train crew productivity due to more restrictive crewing rules agreed between unions and QR's management.

5-10% undersupply so that overtime could be jacked up? Is that right?

The supply of qualified drivers declined by 4 per cent over the same period, reaching 471 drivers in December 2016, due to QR preferring to operate with a 5-10 per cent undersupply of crew, driven by a practice of providing overtime opportunities and restrictions on the ability to recruit externally.

This probably explains why timetable won't recover for a long time now:

Training times for new crew also increased, with eight students taking about 13 months to be trained in 2012, increasing to 22 months for a class intake of six students that began in 2013.

[ozbob]

#railfail report recommends more services cut - no fix till 2019 #9News #qldpol pic.twitter.com/3m4c3v2EkE

— Shane Doherty (@ShaneDoherty9) February 6, 2017

[ozbob]

Report is available --> https://www.strachaninquiry.qld.gov.au/

>> https://www.strachaninquiry.qld.gov.au/assets/commission-of-inquiry-report-trains-crewing-report.pdf (2 MB)

>>> https://www.strachaninquiry.qld.gov.au/assets/commission-of-inquiry-report-trains-crewing-annex.pdf (20 MB)

Cabinet response: https://www.strachaninquiry.qld.gov.au/assets/government-response-strachan-inquiry-report.pdf (0.1MB)

[#Metro]

The Commission believes the above demonstrates that Queensland Rail appreciates the severity of the situation and is working hard to recover operations. Even with this focus, Queensland Rail only expects to recover full timetabled services by late 2018, which is not likely to meet public expectations. Furthermore, Queensland Rail is yet to finalise plans to address underlying organisational and governance issues, which will be critically important to ensure similar issues do not arise again or in other parts of the organisation.

So it is going to be disrupted DURING the Commonwealth Games, which are April 2018.

[ozbob]

I have had a quick scan.  Ms Trad will be acting Transport Minister (another overloaded Minister).

Am at school picking up grand daughter so cannot do much as present.

Some good recommendations but more service cuts worries me.  Already a very poor service. 

Any worse and there will be rebellion in the streets.  I doubt that this will save the Labor Government.  Gone ...

[ozbob]

Full statement from @StirlHinchliffe. Says QR timetabling has "challenging" and "frustrating" #qld #qldpol pic.twitter.com/NjvOSSb5lr

— Geoff Egan (@geoffegan) February 6, 2017

[ozbob]

No rail blame for former or current government says Inquiry head Phillip Strachan. @abcnews #qldpol pic.twitter.com/uG4X9YaJr2

— Chris O'Brien (@COBrienBris) February 6, 2017

[Stillwater]

Well, the government has said it will accept all 36 recommendations, which appear to relate to the operation of QR, and do not address the silo mentality between QR, TransLink and TMR.

In its response, the government says: "The Government accepts all the report's recommendations and will continually review the progress of Queensland Rail in implementing these changes through the newly‐established Citytrain Response Unit."

The Citytrain Response Unit would appear to be a further layer of bureaucracy, although Phillip Strachan does recommend 5 layers of administration between CEO and operations.  He says this: "Queensland Rail's vast remit, and its complex and unclear governance arrangements, made it difficult for the Chief Executive Officer to maintain effective oversight of operations."

The Minister will continue to have rail operational and policy issues reported to him through the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

Hardly ideal.  Not root and branch reorganisation, but reorganisation within existing structures, with the addition of a 'Citytrain Response Unit' whatever that is.

[#Metro]

Well, the government has said it will accept all 36 recommendations, which appear to relate to the operation of QR, and do not address the silo mentality between QR, TransLink and TMR.

In its response, the government says: "The Government accepts all the report's recommendations and will continually review the progress of Queensland Rail in implementing these changes through the newly‐established Citytrain Response Unit."

The Citytrain Response Unit would appear to be a further layer of bureaucracy, although Phillip Strachan does recommend 5 layers of administration between CEO and operations.  He says this: "Queensland Rail's vast remit, and its complex and unclear governance arrangements, made it difficult for the Chief Executive Officer to maintain effective oversight of operations."

The Minister will continue to have rail operational and policy issues reported to him through the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

Hardly ideal.  Not root and branch reorganisation, but reorganisation within existing structures, with the addition of a 'Citytrain Response Unit' whatever that is.

I would be optimistic Stillwater. This is just a start, and they have to start somewhere.

Big changes afoot. I would remove the country train operations from QR just for organisational simplicity.

[verbatim9]

Happens with buses too. No surprises there!

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/queensland-rail-phillip-strachan-report-recommends-action-to-fix-train-issues-20170206-gu69sy.html

He also criticised the way the public was informed about issues with services, saying people often only found out about cancellations after the fact.

[#Metro]

I find this line utterly damning. What if Connex or METRO "preferred" to operate with what is suggested as a deliberate shortage to "provide overtime opportunities".

What IS this?

Queensland Rail preferring to operate with a 5 to 10 per cent undersupply of train crew, driven largely by a practice of providing overtime opportunities

:conf

[Stillwater]

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY HIGHLIGHTS

Some further observations the Inquiry report makes:

Complex governmental arrangements required the Chief Executive Officer to spend a substantial amount of time managing the Board and Government stakeholders. This left limited time to understand and address important operational issues.

The Commission identified two main ways in which Queensland Rail's governance and institutional structure contributed to the train crew risk not being appropriately identified and addressed:

1. Complex and ineffective governance complicated the task of management and took attention away from operations
2. Queensland Rail's broad and complex portfolio of businesses meant the Chief Executive Officer had limited focus to give to Citytrain's operations.

The commission has flagged problems into the future, saying that "a build-up of leave entitlements and fatigue may further reduce availability of train crew over the
coming months."

And

"Queensland Rail expects it will have sufficient train crew to deliver the full timetabled services by:

Late 2018, assuming 10 per cent overtime
Mid- to late 2019, assuming no overtime.

"The Commission considers that neither of these dates will meet public expectations. However, a return to the full timetable should not occur until it can be safely, consistently and reliably delivered."

Strachan warns that: "Queensland Rail faces a continued risk of service cancellations. The Commission expects that operational strain will mount in critical periods such as the period leading up to and around Easter 2017, the increase in testing and training for New Generation Rollingstock from April 2017 and the Commonwealth Games in 2018."

The commission report continues: "While Queensland Rail has taken positive steps towards its recovery, it has not yet finalised plans to address ongoing organisational and systemic issues, which will be necessary to ensure that similar issues do not arise in other parts of the organisation or in the future."

In other words, there are systemic and organisational issues yet to be addressed.

This recommendation would appear to address the situation where QR is 'frozen out' of planning for major infrastructure projects by TMR:

Strachan says: "Queensland Rail's role in all major capital projects and significant operational changes, including the introduction of new timetables. The responsible Executive General Manager should cover projects irrespective of the responsible delivery entity, ensuring absolute focus on their successful delivery, integration and operation."

There is an air of denial and secrecy within QR.  Strachan found: "While the Indec report identified significant risks of ongoing train crew shortfalls and structural challenges within Queensland Rail, this report was not shared with the Board, either in full or in summaries."

Strachan says QR's ability to inform customers falls short of the mark:

"For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission has concluded that the Responsible Ministers were not appropriately informed of the risk of a train crew shortfall prior to the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line nor of the magnitude and longevity of the issues faced from October 2016.

"The absence of effective reporting systems inhibited the timely reporting of operational matters to Government and day-of-operations issues to TransLink. The Commission considers that Queensland Rail should provide more information about its recovery and potential disruptions to its customers. Since the first disruptions in late 2016, neither TransLink nor the public have been provided with sufficient warning about upcoming cancellations, reducing opportunities to make alternative travel arrangements. Improved
communication should be seen as a key priority for the organisation as it moves forward."

The Commission notes several issues in the way the Redcliffe Peninsula Line project and new timetable introduction were managed and coordinated between Queensland Rail and the Department of Transport and Main Roads, which held primary responsibility for the delivery of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line:

These major projects were not managed as an integrated program and hence did not have overarching program governance nor full visibility of interdependencies

Governance bodies in some cases lacked clearly defined responsibilities or decision-making focus

The Commission understands that Queensland Rail's Chief Executive Officer only attended one steering committee meeting throughout the course of the project, and instead delegated this accountability. This reduced the Chief Executive Officer's direct involvement in Queensland Rail's operational readiness

Queensland Rail's operational readiness for delivering the new timetable was not adequately challenged or assured. This contributed to the train crew risk not being identified.

The Commission believes there is significant merit in revisiting the governance and institutional arrangements for Queensland Rail with the objectives of:

Simplifying the governance of Queensland Rail to ensure absolute focus on its transformation

Creating a separate and clear focus on delivering high quality metropolitan commuter rail services for the people of South East Queensland

Clarifying the various relationships between the Department of Transport and Main Roads and Queensland Rail

Balancing simplified governance, strong customer focus and financial objectives

Supporting successful delivery of major projects on the horizon, including the New Generation Rollingstock, new infrastructure and services for the Commonwealth Games, the European Train Control System, and the commissioning of the Cross River Rail project.

[#Metro]

Queensland Rail's broad and complex portfolio of businesses meant the Chief Executive Officer had limited focus to give to Citytrain's operations.

Sorry, but I just don't understand this. What was broad and complex?

Queensland Rail used to have an entire freight division attached to it that was removed.

It's business became simpler.

What on Earth was the CEO focusing on if they were not focusing on "CityTrain operations". How is that possible?? Doesn't make sense and requires further explanation.

Melbourne and Sydney railways are arguably far more complicated. "broad and complex" is a non-description.

[ozbob]

Been booked ABC Brisbane radio after 4pm.

[petey3801]

I find this line utterly damning. What if Connex or METRO "preferred" to operate with what is suggested as a deliberate shortage to "provide overtime opportunities".

What IS this?

Queensland Rail preferring to operate with a 5 to 10 per cent undersupply of train crew, driven largely by a practice of providing overtime opportunities

:conf

Uh, most (if not all) railways around the world tend to work with a slight shortage of traincrew as a general rule of thumb. Generally better to call some people in for overtime (means a bit more $$ for staff, helping to boost morale also) than have people sitting around doing nothing while being paid (on top of normal 'standby' crew, which are counted for in the normal rosters). So yes, your beloved Metro would do a very similar thing.

[#Metro]

First, in the Commission's view, the Chief Operating Officer did not seek sufficient confirmation of the adequacy of train crew supply, despite having over 50 years experience in railways operations[42] and having faced similar issues in the past. Instead, despite growing indications of concerns regarding train crew supply, the Chief Operating Officer readily accepted assurances that there would be "no staffing issues to implement the new timetable".[43]

[ozbob]

Media release 6th February 2017



QR reform proposals do not go far enough

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has welcomed the Commission of Inquiry report into the Queensland Rail Train Crewing Practices and the government's acceptance of the 36 recommendations, but says the proposed changes don't go far enough.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"We seek clarification from government as to the functions of the proposed CityTrain Response Unit, which has the potential to add another layer of bureaucracy to an organisational structure and its interplays with TransLink and the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

"Obviously we are deeply concerned that a build-up of leave entitlements and fatigue may further reduce the availability of train crew over the coming months, requiring further cancellation of services and that full timetabled services can't realistically be resumed until late 2018 (assuming 10 per cent overtime) or mid-to-late 2019 (assuming no overtime).

"There will be ongoing disconnection between buses and trains for the next two years, conceivably, resulting in a much lower level of service and poor coordination among transport modes; thus making a complete nonsense of an integrated transport network for South-East Queensland and network reform.

"There would appear to be acceptance of this from Queensland Rail and government, because Mr Strachan, the Commissioner says: 'Queensland Rail faces a continued risk of service cancellations. The Commission expects that operational strain will mount in critical periods such as the period leading up to and around Easter 2017, the increase in testing and training for New Generation Rollingstock from April 2017 and the Commonwealth Games in 2018.'

"Nowhere in the government response to the Commission of Inquiry report does the Palaszczuk government say how this critical strain will be alleviated."

Mr Dow continued: "Clearly, there are systemic and organisational issues within Queensland Rail that QR is yet to address adequately, although we note there will be enforced oversight of changes against the government's 'five-point plan of action'.

"Rail Back on Track will continue to advocate for a Public Transport Authority for South-East Queensland to fix the transport mess, of which the rail fail is but a part."

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


References:

1. Queensland Rail Train Crewing Practices Inquiry
https://www.strachaninquiry.qld.gov.au/

2. Public Transport Queensland ?
https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12341.msg187089#msg187089

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

6th February 2017

Thank you Mr Stirling Hinchliffe

Greetings,

We note that Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has accepted the offer of resignation by Minister for Transport and Minister for the Commonwealth Games Minister Stirling Hinchliffe.

We would like thank Mr Hinchliffe for his efforts as a Minister, particularly Transport.  Mr Hincliffe was approachable and listened to our concerns. For that we are grateful.

We wish Mr Hinchliffe well for the future.

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

6th February 2017

Media Release
Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

Acting Ministers for Transport and the Commonwealth Games

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has accepted the offer of resignation by Minister for Transport and Minister for the Commonwealth Games Minister Stirling Hinchliffe.

"I want to thank Stirling for his work as Minister to manage the very challenging issues at Queensland Rail. As the Strachan Inquiry has found, the challenges at Queensland Rail were many years coming," the Premier said.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad will serve as Acting Transport Minister and Treasurer and Minister for Sport Curtis Pitt will serve as Acting Minister for Commonwealth Games.

"The new Minister will work with Queensland Rail Chairman Phillip Strachan to implement the Inquiry's recommendations to restore Queensland Rail services across the State's south-east train network," the Premier said.

[ozbob]

6th February 2017

Media Release
Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

Phillip Strachan to be new Queensland Rail Chairman

Inquiry Commissioner Phillip Strachan will be appointed Chairman of Queensland Rail, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said today.

The Premier said Mr Strachan, who was appointed to undertake the inquiry into QR train crewing practices in October, will now Chair the QR Board. The appointment will be effective from tomorrow.

"Phillip Strachan has undertaken a comprehensive review of Queensland Rail, interviewing senior staff of the organisation and gaining a thorough understanding of its culture and practices," she said.

"He has made wide-ranging recommendations to ensure QR has sufficient drivers and a reliable pipeline of training to deliver the services that Queenslanders will need into the future.

"Phillip Strachan is uniquely placed to lead the organisation through what will be a significant transition to focus on its customers – the travelling public."

The Premier said one of Mr Strachan's first tasks will be to meet the shortlisted candidates for the position of QR Chief Executive Officer. He will meet those candidates later this week.

Acting Chair Nicole Hollows will return to her full-time position of Chief Executive Officer of government-owned SunWater.

"I would like to thank Nicole for her service as Acting Chair and her ongoing leadership of SunWater," the Premier said.

Ms Hollows and Department of Transport and Main Roads Neil Scales were appointed Acting Chair and Acting CEO respectively following the resignation of QR Chairman Michael Klug and CEO Helen Gluer in October.

Phillip Strachan

Mr Strachan was President and Chief Executive Officer of Rio Tinto Bauxite and Alumina and a current Board Member of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and a Director of Tilt Renewables Limited. Mr Strachan spent 35 years working for the Rio Tinto Group in numerous finance and operating roles including in the head offices in London and Melbourne. He was Chief Financial Officer at Rio Tinto Aluminium for six years based in Brisbane, then Chief Financial Officer at Rio Tinto Alcan based in Montreal. He then became President and CEO of the Bauxite and Alumina global business unit of Rio Tinto up to his retirement in 2016. He is a former President and Director of the Australian Aluminium Council and a former Director of the Centaur Theater company in Montreal. Phillip is a Fellow of CPA Australia and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

[Stillwater]

Jackie Trad

Deputy Premier
Minister for Infrastructure
Minister for Local Government and Planning
Minister for Trade and Investment
Minister for Transport

geez, she'll be busy .........

[ozbob]

6th February 2017

Media Release
Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games
The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe

Statement

Today I offered my resignation to the Premier as Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games.

Whilst this has been a tough personal decision, I believe it is in the best interests of the Palaszczuk Government.

The issues at Queensland Rail have been some of the most challenging and, at times, frustrating issues I have needed to manage as a Minister. I know that they have been a distraction for the Government's core task of delivering jobs for Queenslanders.

Now that the Commission of Inquiry has concluded and the Government delivered its response, I believe that Queensland Rail and the Transport portfolio have the path prepared for a fresh start to get back to delivering for our passengers.

The findings of Mr Strachan demonstrate that no Minister or Government could have foreseen driver shortage issue due the Queensland Rail mismanagement. I'm pleased that following a rough slog we have been able to begin to turn this issue around and today marks a line in the sand on the matter.

I thank the Premier and the whole Cabinet for their support.

At the Premier's request I shall remain Leader of the House and will be recontesting the next election to continue as the Member for Sandgate.

[verbatim9]

Why just SE Qld. Is it possible to have a statewide PTA?

[ozbob]

Jackie Trad

Deputy Premier
Minister for Infrastructure
Minister for Local Government and Planning
Minister for Trade and Investment
Minister for Transport

geez, she'll be busy .........

This afternoon on ABC Radio Brisbane I made the point that the Deputy Premier is the Acting Minister for Transport and the we would urge a single portfolio Minister be allocated to Transport by Government.  The task is massive and will be a critical issue in the state election.

[ozbob]

Why just SE Qld. Is it possible to have a statewide PTA?

Yes that is the intent.  Just phrasing ..

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Opinion: Queensland rail report highlights 'culture of complacency and reluctance for sharing bad news'

F the series of errors, oversights and managerial ineptitude that set the scene for the multi-faceted Queensland Rail timetable fail could be explained in a single paragraph, then an entry on page 39 of the Strachan Inquiry comes closest.

Discussing the transport body's culture, Commissioner Phillip Strachan writes: "There was a culture within the Operations team of intuitive decision-making, complacency, and reluctance for sharing bad news."

Former Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games Stirling Hinchliffe has had a turbulent few months.

It is just a small paragraph in the 52-page report explaining in detail how the wheels came off Queensland Rail - but one that cannot be overlooked.

The "reticence" to share bad news goes some way to explaining, as the report points out, why the QR board were left in the dark about the driver shortages, with the extent of the problem also kept from its chief executive and the Government.

Instead of escalating the problem up the line, middle management staff in QR Operations tried to fix the problem themselves using "day of operation levers".

It was a gross error of judgement, with the Inquiry finding by then a combination of systemic issues had led to a dramatic shortfall in drivers that by then could not be patched-up by tweaking the roster.

"There was a culture of complacency, rather than taking proactive steps to understand and address the causes of prior operational issues," the report found.

It continued that there was even a template used by QR's chief operating officer that had been designed with a "positive skew" and a damning report on the shortages was described to the board as having "identified business improvement recommendations."

And having the head of operations travelling abroad at the most crucial of times did not help, the report points out.

While information on the looming crisis was not passed up the ladder to QR's chief executive officer, then CEO Helen Gluer's leadership comes in for some criticism, with the report pointing out she did not appear to have "proactively challenged assurances" that a beefed-up timetable rolled out on October 3 could be delivered.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Queensland Rail: Phillip Strachan report recommends action to fix train issues

Queensland Rail needs to boost its staff numbers to end a reliance on overtime and open recruitment for drivers and guards to people from outside the organisation, a report into Brisbane's train failures has revealed.

But despite work being done behind the scenes, Queensland Rail only expects to recover full timetabled services by late 2018, "which is not likely to meet public expectations", the report reads.

Commissioner Phillip Strachan handed down his report into Queensland Rail's issues on Monday, following multiple cancellations after the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line in October, pointing out it was not a single event or issue that caused the fiasco, rather several that compounded over time.

Mr Strachan has also recommended a Rail Review Office be established to monitor, independently audit and report on QR's recovery plan and how it implements the agreed recommendations.

There was also "no clear accountability deep in the organisation" for train crew forecasting, Mr Strachan said, and numerous communication failures.

Middle management did not escalate issues around a need for more train drivers, and a senior manager for train service delivery believed they had accountability for short and medium term forecasting, but not longer term.

Another employee was inexperienced and new to their role and did not have the confidence to "raise the red flag to take appropriate action", Mr Strachan said.

The chief executive officer, Helen Gluer, was not appropriately informed of emerging issues, relied on risk-management processes that were not properly applied and did not actively investigate whether adequate measures were being taken, the report says.

The board was also not appropriately informed about the risk and therefore did not report this to the government or public.
QR preferred to operate with undersupply of crew

While there was a 9 per cent increase in services, there were no training intakes from February 2014 to February 2015.

There was also a 7 per cent drop in train crew productivity due to more restrictive crewing rules agreed between unions and QR's management.

The supply of qualified drivers declined by 4 per cent over the same period, reaching 471 drivers in December 2016, due to QR preferring to operate with a 5-10 per cent undersupply of crew, driven by a practice of providing overtime opportunities and restrictions on the ability to recruit externally.

Training times for new crew also increased, with eight students taking about 13 months to be trained in 2012, increasing to 22 months for a class intake of six students that began in 2013.

The latest two classes have 18 and 20 students enrolled.

To compile the report, the commission reviewed more than 7900 documents, conducted 102 interviews and received written statements from eight people.
Strachan recommends COO role be scrapped

Mr Strachan made 36 recommendations, including that negotiations with unions address the restrictive rules regarding continuous working time, meal breaks and rostering processes.

He said the chief operating officer's role should be scrapped and replaced with an executive general manager responsible for passenger rail in south-east Queensland, and an executive general manager responsible for travel and tourism.

Organisational layers should be minimised - with a maximum of five layers from the chief executive officer to frontline operations - to improve information flows and allow issues to be escalated.

Mr Strachan also recommended that communications to the government needed to be overhauled to simplify and streamline matters reported and proactively report potential issues with enough time for action.

The government has frequently complained in recent months of not being told about issues until it was too late.

QR should also maintain a surplus of crew so operations could be conducted without the systemic reliance on overtime, the report recommended.
Recommendations could take up to two years

Mr Strachan said it could take up to two years for several of the recommendations to be implemented.

He also criticised the way the public was informed about issues with services, saying people often only found out about cancellations after the fact.

The report was handed to the government on January 31, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk discussing it with Mr Strachan on February 3, and a response formulated at the weekend.

The inquiry was sparked following the cancellation of more than 100 services in October after the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line due to a shortage of train drivers.

About two-thirds of services were also cancelled on Christmas Day and about 50 train services cancelled on September 30.

The debacle has already resulted in the resignations of chief executive officer Helen Gluer, chairman Michael Klug and chief operating officer Kevin Wright, with the head of train service delivery also being stood down.

The public airing of reports by Indec and GIRO confirmed some in QR knew about the driver shortage and issues with the timetable long before the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line.

Mr Strachan was appointed in October to investigate QR train crewing practices and the failed implementation of the new timetable.

He was tasked to look at QR scheduling, rostering, training, recruitment, arrangements in place to support the new timetable for the Redcliffe Peninsula Line and when deficits in train crew were known and what action was taken.

It was upgraded to a Commission of Inquiry in November after Mr Strachan told Ms Palaszczuk he had not received documents he had requested from the QR board.

Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls said commuters would not have confidence in the rail system unless Ms Palaszczuk sacked Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe.

Mr Nicholls said the LNP had co-operated with Mr Strachan's inquiry, releasing documents from their time in government as requested.

"We've received no notification since those interviews," he said.

[ozbob]

.@StirlHinchliffe has quit the Palaszczuk cabinet after commuter rail fails @PatrickCondren @katrinablowers #7News https://t.co/gaFaBIQVXv

— 7 News Queensland (@7NewsQueensland) February 6, 2017

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Queensland rail report warns of cancellations, risk to Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

COMMUTERS can expect ongoing train cancellations until at least the end of 2018, a damning report into southeast Queensland's rail fail has found, with no new drivers out of the 200 promised fully trained.

The timeframe to fix the driver shortage could put at risk services to the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and cause further issues during school holiday periods.

The Strachan Commission of Inquiry into Queensland Rail, released today, has found the organisation has major cultural issues and an overly complex structure which prevented information about the impending timetable crisis being brought to the attention of those who could solve it.

"There was a culture within the Operations team of intuitive decision-making, complacency, and reluctance to sharing bad news," the report said.

The Inquiry confirms that senior QR figures were warned four times about the driver shortage, with the earliest formal notification in March 2015.

But QR management kept the rail operator's board, Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe and Treasurer Curtis Pitt in the dark about how bad the problem would become.

"For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission has concluded that the Responsible Ministers were not appropriately informed of the risk of a train crew shortfall prior to the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line nor of the magnitude and longevity of the issues faced from October 2016," the report states.

The Inquiry found the first time the State Government was directly notified by QR about the driver shortfall was on October 2, just two days before the new timetable for the Redcliffe Peninsula Line was due to take effect.

It also warns the problems within QR are so bad there may be "the existence of further cultural issues across the broader organisation", which were not discovered by the Inquiry.

The risk-management processes used by QR receive criticism in the report, along with the actions of former chief executive Helen Gluer — and three other senior managers — for not questioning the advice she was receiving in relation to the looming driver shortage.

"As a result of the inadequacies in the execution of Queensland Rail's risk management processes, it was only on 1 October 2016 that the Chief Executive Officer became aware of the seriousness of the train crewing deficit, after being forwarded an email detailing the extent of the issue," the report said.

"This email identified that Queensland Rail then had a shortfall of approximately 62 drivers and 83 guards and that the timetable to be implemented on 4 October 2016 would exacerbate the shortfall of train crew."

It also found restrictive workplace conditions agreed to with the rail unions contributed to the rail fail. After the Redcliffe Peninsula Line was opened there were an increase in services of nine per cent, according to the initial timetable, but about the same time there was a seven per cent drop in train crew productivity — this coincided with the introduction of a 20-minute comfort break given to all staff who had worked more than 2.5 hours.

One of the Commission's recommendations includes opening up the recruitment processes to external applicants. The current policy in the enterprise agreement between the unions and QR heavily favours existing staff, which have to be offered the opportunity to apply first.

The Strachan Inquiry included 36 recommendations to improve QR's performance and reporting to the State Government.

RECOMMENDATIONS

— Establish a Rail Review Office to monitor and independently audit QR's response and recovery plan and the progress of the Commission of Inquiry's recommendations

— Task the Rail Review Office with investigating and implementing a "closely integrated public transport service" model

— Undertake an assessment of the capabilities of the Executive and Senior Leadership teams and recruit new people if deficiencies are found

— Overhaul and simplify communications to the State Government

— Overall QR's risk management approach

— Implement a communications plan to restore public confidence in the CItyTrain network

— Conduct a comprehensive cultural assessment of QR and develop a multi-year action plan

— Open recruitment for drivers and guards to external applications

— Develop five-year rolling forecast of demand and supply for train crew to prevent further critical shortages

[Stillwater]

Is it the case that we just grin and bear it for the next two years until sufficient drivers are trained and are brought into service, together with the NGR trains?

Do we expect that the government will try and to a better job of coordinating buses with a reduced number of train services?

What of the possibility that we might not have enough drivers to meet Commonwealth Games transport obligations?

Will we seek an assurance from government that fares won't go up because revenue targets won't be met due to a poorer level of service from QR?

What is to be salvaged from this, from a commuter perspective?

[#Metro]

Central to Carrara Stadium Rocket Bus 🚀

Via South East Busway