Queensland Rail

[ozbob]

ICYMI

Interviews with Steve Austin Mornings ABC Radio Brisbane 29th September 2017

Robert Dow > here !  MP3

Kevin Wright > here ! MP3

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Former Queensland Rail exec blames State Government for network woes

Former Queensland Rail (QR) chief operating officer Kevin Wright says he was made a "scapegoat" for the network's train woes in the past year.

A driver shortage left the network plagued with cancellations, prompting the Queensland Government to order an inquiry into the south-east Queensland rail system.

Speaking to ABC Radio Brisbane, Mr Wright said he told the State Government the issues could have been fixed with a new timetable if the unions had worked with them.

"I think that I was a scapegoat for something that could have been fixed, had the right people taken action to listen to how it could have been put back on track again," he said.

"I resigned as they weren't going to go back to the existing enterprise agreement and the standard rostering practises outlined in that agreement.

    "We could have fixed the problem virtually straight away."

However, the Strachan Inquiry found emerging train crew risks were not resolutely acted upon by Mr Wright.

"First, in the commission's view, the chief operating officer did not seek sufficient confirmation of the adequacy of train crew supply," the report said.

"Second, the chief operating officer did not address the lack of long-term planning capacity in Train Service Delivery.

"Third, the chief operating officer's team lacked sufficient stability of leadership.

"Fourth, the chief operating officer did not report to the chief executive officer and board the risk of a train crew shortfall as it emerged."
Government says network has improved

The State Government rejected Mr Wright's criticism.

A government spokesman said QR had worked hard to stabilise operations, with peak on-time running now at more than 94 per cent and cancellations significantly reduced.

"The Palaszczuk Government will continue to work with QR as we implement all of the recommendations of the Strachan Commission of Inquiry including commencing full external recruitment.

"QR has worked hard to stabilise operations and deliver a number of improvements in key areas, including returning peak on-time running to more than 94 per cent and significantly decreasing service cancellations.

"We have recruited more than 100 trainee drivers and 260 trainee guards, and 35 drivers and 96 guards are now fully qualified and working out on the network."

However, Opposition transport spokesman Andrew Powell said the Labor Government was solely to blame for the rail problems.

"Kevin Wright's admission today that the Palaszczuk Government could have fixed the timetabling problems 'straight away' if the unions weren't calling the shots is an indictment on the Labor Party and their union masters," he said.

The rail crisis brought about the end of Mr Wright's career — a move he was disappointed with after 52 years in the industry.

"It's a shame that it wasn't a good way to retire but I've put that behind myself now," he said.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/913670922355146752

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/913799663941124101

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/913800954016800768

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Ex-QR executive Kevin Wright predicted trouble in a 2013 report

A FORMER Queensland Rail executive who complained he was made a scapegoat for the rail fail actually predicted the impending trouble almost to the day in a 2013 report that lay hidden for three years.

Former chief operating officer Kevin Wright – who was forced to retire in the aftermath of the Christmas Day bungle that saw a third of services cancelled – yesterday broke his silence to blame the union and Government for the saga.

He said union-negotiated crew breaks that complicated rostering were squarely to blame for mass cancellations that plagued the network from October last year after the opening of the Redcliffe line and introduction of a new timetable.

But a secret report written by Mr Wright in May 2013 shows that, even before the new rules and timetable, he foresaw the impending trouble.

His Workforce and Resource Plan 2013-18, seen by The Courier-Mail, said demand would far outstrip driver numbers by December 2016 – just three months after the problems actually happened.

"If services continued under current operating models (ie 'business as usual'), a gap of 28 drivers per month and 33 guards per month (averaged over five years) has been identified over coming years," it said.

"This gap exists over and above ongoing training programs."

But Mr Wright told the ABC there would have been no issues last year if it hadn't been for the new union breaks.

Dropping them would have fixed the problem "straightaway" and he had been "very frustrated" former transport minister Stirling Hinchliffe had not listened to his advice, he said.

Former chief operating officer Kevin Wright – who was forced to retire in the aftermath of the Christmas Day bungle that saw a third of services cancelled – yesterday broke his silence to blame the union and Government for the QR rail fail. Picture: David Clark

"I think that I was a scapegoat for something that could have been fixed had the right people taken action to listen to how it could have been put back on track again," Mr Wright said.

"I see it (those people) as (the) Government."

Mr Hinchliffe refused to be drawn on the allegation, and said only: "I believe the Strachan report speaks for itself."

The report references the 2013 plan, saying that although the risk of train crew shortfall was identified as far back as then, "these forecasts were not acted on or used to inform responses to address the growing shortfall".

The Strachan report repeatedly singles out Mr Wright and his team for blame, noting he did not act or pass on shortfall warnings to the chief executive officer or the Board.

Despite that, yesterday's QR annual report reveals he was paid $151,000 in bonuses in 2016 and 2017.

Drivers' so-called comfort breaks were discontinued earlier this year.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

30th September 2017

Rail fail - happy first birthday !

Good Morning,

The BIG DAY!   Happy birthday RAIL FAIL !  Oh dear ...

It is all unraveling now.  You know, when I first suggested that it was the ' 20 minute comfort break ' that broke the system I was laughed at.  Who is laughing now hey?

In case you haven't be able to follow the ' birthday celebrations ' here is a consolidated list for your reading ..

The tweet that informed the then Minister for Transport, there was a problem, a bloody big problem.



Interviews on ABC Radio Brisbane with Steve Austin Mornings 29th September 2017:

Robert Dow > here !  MP3

Kevin Wright > here ! MP3

hence ...

Couriermail --> Queensland rail fail: Former QR executive denies blame

Brisbanetimes --> Former QR exec denies blame for rail fail

LNP Rail Fail facts – former QR exec points finger at Palaszczuk Labor Government
https://www.betterqueensland.org.au/rail-fail-facts-former-qr-exec-points-finger-at-palaszczuk-labor-government

ABC News --> Former Queensland Rail exec blames State Government for network woes

Couriermail --> Ex-QR executive Kevin Wright predicted trouble in a 2013 report

Not a bad 1st Birthday effort hey?

Don't forget on this Sunday and Monday we have worst service frequency of any rail network in Oceania!  Worse than Adelaide and Wellington ... oh the shame ( https://translink.com.au/service-updates/143386 ). Two hour train frequency on the Sunshine Coast Line is an utter disgrace.

Don't eat too much cake!  It is not good for you in large doses .. a little piece is fine.

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.msg198532#msg198532 ]

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/913807848479498240

[techblitz]

Kevin Wright is no longer working there in large part because of HIS responsibility for the rostering mess, so I view this with extreme skepticism.

he has physically tabled items to the courier mail.....
besides.......all parties involved in #railfail should be freely able to put forward their case without being accused of running some massive public conspiracy against QR...
Personally I think its great kevin wright has finally mustered up the strength and come out of the woods.The more the better.....im eagerly awaiting a response from QR and/or RBTU on this....

[ozbob]

Kevin has made some very informed and welcome comments.  The only thing I am not onboard with is his view of the NGR botch.  Granted new trains often have ' teething ' issues, but not 588 days worth and non-compliance with the DDA.  This is very abnormal and most unsatisfactory - which is going to resonate negatively for many years sadly.

[BrizCommuter]

Happy Birthday #RailFail
https://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2017/09/1-year-of-rail-fail-no-end-in-sight.html

[#Metro]

^ CRU not working after all?

[ozbob]

Happy Birthday #RailFail
https://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2017/09/1-year-of-rail-fail-no-end-in-sight.html

Sent to all outlets too. Cobber it is Oceania .. fixed!  The trains are not fixed hey?  What a f**** up!

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/914004321808740352

[ozbob]

[BrizCommuter]

Kevin Wright is no longer working there in large part because of HIS responsibility for the rostering mess, so I view this with extreme skepticism.

+1. I wouldn't trust a word that comes out of his mouth, along with "how does he still have a job" Scales, and politicians from both sides.

[#Metro]

> EBA agreement signed with 3rd party restrictions --- due to MPs intervention
> CEO selection overruled --- due to MPs intervention
> Job ad wording modified --- due to MPs intervention
> Key Employees Cut  --- due to MPs intervention
> QR continuing to have its contract renewed no matter what --- due to MPs intervention

> RPL signalling messed up --- due to MPs intervention
> NGR train ordering messed up --- due to MPs intervention


I am sure there are others I have not thought of yet.

There are lots of problems with Queensland Rail, but they all come up through a single common pathway.

When MPs in the gov't decide they don't like something, they can virtually phone up QR and direct it what to do. 

Despite whatever the QR board or executives might think. Regardless of whether it is in the interests of the organisation or not.

And that is the key to understanding the source of where the problems are. QR isn't separate from the state, it is the state.

It must do as directed. Can you imagine the CEO or Directors openly defying ministerial direction? I can't. And it might be unlawful

to do so.


(The last two I have separated as I am not 100% sure that even under competitive contracting these could be avoided. But then again,

a private operator has its own independent PR team that is free to criticise and push back against the gov't. Something QR will never

do - speak out against the executive or Premier).

[ArchieLuxury]

Rail advocate Paul Pluta did more than anyone to make change happen.

PAUL PLUTA was responsible for the sacking of a (sorry he left on his own terms - sic)/change of Minister, the CEO and chairman going in disgrace!

Somebody should give this guy a medal........

How many other people had the balls to come out swinging?

It is easy after the event to lay blame...... but to stand up and make a stand is either very brave or very stupid!

[techblitz]

What has been the result of Rail Fail?

•Decline in patronage on QR's network (taking into account opening of Redcliffe Peninsula Line) - though statistics have gone "missing in action".
•Increased road congestion.
•Permanent damage to QR's reputation - privatisation almost inevitable when the LNP next gain power.
•Damage to Brisbane and SE Queensland's reputation - including lower liveability than other Australian capitals.
•High risk of Cross River Rail getting axed.
•Due to massive number of 1 star reviews on Facebook, QR removed all Facebook reviews, and started concentrating on posts irrelevant to running a train service - trying to hid the truth QR?

> high probability of damage to future bus reviews within Brisbane region as there is now even more distrust in rail from bus users who currently have bus services running direct to the city......in other words your going to see more knitted bus stops and bigger petitions....

No better example than the 566 Windaroo to CBD......no-one jumps off at Beenleigh onto the express services anymore.....they all prefer to just stay on the bus so they can:

1. actually get a seat instead of being forced to stand between beenleigh and the city.
2. not get messed around with operational and/or increasing mechanical issues...

[ozbob]

Happy Birthday #RailFail
https://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2017/09/1-year-of-rail-fail-no-end-in-sight.html

Sadly you are right on the money IMHO Briz.  The only thing that will save Queensland Rail is if ALP get elected again in the forth coming election.

Polling published in the CM today suggests the most likely outcome for #qldvotes will be a LNP Minority Government with either PHON or Katter Party support (possibly both).  But polling is not always accurate.  If the ALP are getting the same results for their own polls they may hang on and go next year, even after the Games.  This might allow more committment to Cross River Rail.  I think if they go the polls now, they are gone unless they can campaign very well and nullify support for the minors and LNP.  I don't think they can.

CRR is also not going to proceed under the LNP Minority Government, both PHON and Katter will not support it as they want stuff for their own patch.  Possibly the upgrade of the Sunshine Coast Line may get a start.  The Brisbane ' bi-artic Metro ' will get done.  I think the LNP will run the line that the ETCS L2 will provide a capacity boost and that will be it.

A new operator may try to go DOO.  This will require some investment in station upgrades and systems for the drivers to have a clear view along the trains.  Not sure how assisted boarding will work.

[#Metro]

The only thing that will save Queensland Rail is if ALP get elected again in the forth coming election.

Queensland Rail should be Bahnned from the network. (Get the joke?  )

http://db.de/

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/914256975390580736

[verbatim9]

ICYMI

Interviews with Steve Austin Mornings ABC Radio Brisbane 29th September 2017

Robert Dow > here !  MP3

Kevin Wright > here ! MP3

Great interviews there. Proves the point when the forum was discussing the EBA agreement how inadequate and unbalanced it was, especially from an operational perspective  It's a shame that the EBA is how it is, with such an expensive payroll structure and very generous conditions compared to other professions in the state. $$$$$$. "No need to play lotto when employed with QR you have won it already"

[techblitz]

posted on TL facebook page today from disgruntled Ormeau commuter....fairly concerning.....especially the first paragraph...

I am writing to your office to make you aware of the disgraceful mismanagement of track work rail replacement arrangements on the weekend of the 30th September 2017.

Signage at Ormeau Station, the usual station I catch services from, indicated that track work would be commencing on the 1st of October this weekend. I was disappointed to discover that in fact the works had commenced in the early hours of Friday morning, the 30th September, when I arrived to catch my usual service for work. This disappointment was compounded when I discovered that Translink had determined that they would not put into place rail replacement buses travelling north from Ormeau to Beenleigh to reconnect with the rail network. Initially the staff at Ormeau station did not know what arrangements had been put in place, and therefore could not advise travelers on how to complete their journey. Signage at the station referred to a bus service that was not running on the day. Eventually after extensive delays staff offered the options of bussing south to Coomera and catching northbound buses from there to Beenleigh, or arranging our own transport to Beenleigh.

This arrangement is an unnacceptable failing of your commitment to service to travelers in South East Queensland. What staggers me is that the decision was made to conduct these works on the weekend of Riverfire, the second largest public transport night of the year in SEQ. Train services southbound in the evening were already inadequate to carry the massive outflux of passengers back to the coast, with many passengers forced to stand all the way from South Bank Station to Beenleigh. That you would plan to transfer all passengers at this point onto buses for further travel is an astounding lack of foresight on the part of your organisation.

Recently Translink has been trialling hourly services on school holiday weekends because they are are reportedly unable to adequately staff train services on all lines. I am very disappointed that this inability to service your commitments has begun to impact the main rail route between the Gold Coast and Brisbane, but it is unfathomable to me that you would, once more, make this arrangement on a trackworks weekend when delays of up to an hour are already expected. Signage at your stations encourages me to "allow delays of up to an hour" when making travel plans, and to use the Translink website to plan my journey. Unfortunately the Translink website offers no information about Rail Replacement service running times. Similarly, your staff appear to be in the dark about when and at what times rail replacement buses will run. Yesterday I waited 40 minutes at Ormeau station for a rail replacement bus that could only take me in the opposite direction. This morning, in an attempt to streamline the process, I arranged for private transport to Coomera station, only to find that the rail replacement buses were not running to the same timetable as yesterday, and once more, waited 40 minutes for transport. This was compounded by the fact that hourly services meant that I have waited another 40 minutes for a connecting rail service at Beenleigh station.

Yesterday I arrived at Southbank at 0750, on a day when I would normally arrive at 0650. Today I will be arriving at 0900. These are delays of far more than "up to an hour". I would be willing to allow an extra hour travel time but because Rail Replacement buses start later than the rail services they are intended to replace, I cannot even do this.

I am a shift working employee that relies on public transport. This weekend Translink has consistently failed in its commitments to travellers in SEQ and I have been hours late for work.

The following feedback is commonsense and should be a minimum standard for managing trackworks in future:

- Stations should be attended by staff who are aware of what rail replacement arrangements are in place so that they can advise travelers;
- ‎Rail replacement services should start at a sufficiently early time to allow travelers to reach their destination at the earliest time rail services would have reached it. I would be happy to catch a rail replacement bus an hour earlier than normal if it meant reaching my destination on time;
- ‎The time of the first rail replacement services, and approximate running times thereafter, should be available to travelers, both on your website and in signage at stations;
- ‎Track works should be planned not to coincide with massive public events and other reductions in service on your network that compound delays even further.

I have been a regular user of the public transport network in SEQ for three years and whilst I have suffered delays due to trackworks before, never have I been so disappointed in your level of service as I have been this weekend.
I hope to see an improvement in the level of service offered by Translink in the future. Perhaps some of the money being spent on non-essential cosmetic improvements to Ormeau, Coomera and Helensvale stations could be redirected to allow Translink to continue to offer it's core business - timely public transport services in SEQ.

[ozbob]

TB can you post a link to the above post please?

[SurfRail]

Rail advocate Paul Pluta did more than anyone to make change happen.

PAUL PLUTA was responsible for the sacking of a (sorry he left on his own terms - sic)/change of Minister, the CEO and chairman going in disgrace!

Somebody should give this guy a medal........

How many other people had the balls to come out swinging?

It is easy after the event to lay blame...... but to stand up and make a stand is either very brave or very stupid!

You keep telling yourself that.

[techblitz]

TB can you post a link to the above post please?

https://www.facebook.com/TransLinkQLD/posts/2126940190665368

fyi: first 729 of the day to Beenleigh from ormeau does not depart til 8.01am

https://jp.translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/timetables/bus/t/729/north/2017-10-13?pageDirection=After&pageTo=0800

[verbatim9]

^^So I wasnt the only one caught out with a line shut down on the Gold Coast. I will be happy with line shut down alerts pushed through to Google Maps via GFTS, but nothing at the time a couple weeks ago. Or a push alert via the Translinlk app. Push alerts should be periodical to notify people of line shut downs and maintenance work. Not just an one and only push alett.

Rail replacement buses can be better organised with better communication with onsite security and station staff. The bus companies have GPS,s in the bus and know how long a journey takes between locations.  Security, Station staff and bus drivers all have access to mobile phones.

[ozbob]

TB can you post a link to the above post please?

Thanks TB.

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/914361622939840512

[#Metro]

Or a push alert via the Translinlk app. Push alerts should be periodical to notify people of line shut downs and maintenance work. Not just an one and only push alett.

I don't like push alerts, it seems that every app now wants to push all sorts of rubbish on my phone.

So I have disabled the function.

[verbatim9]

It seems a preferred way to inform people. You can keep push alerts active but just disable push individually on the  annoying apps that push irrelevant info. Google maps don't do push it feeds into the returned jounrey query.

[#Metro]

^^ You have to consider the quality of the push alert as well. If it just says "Ormeau, operational issue" that will not help.

[verbatim9]

That's something that Translink should be wary of

[BrizCommuter]

TransLink tend to send push notifications well after the event (train service cancellation, expressing, etc) that they are often next to useless anyway.

[ozbob]

TransLink tend to send push notifications well after the event (train service cancellation, expressing, etc) that they are often next to useless anyway.

I received a notification around 11am via TransLink app that today is a public holiday timetable ..

Always off the ball is TransLink 

[techblitz]

https://www.facebook.com/QueenslandRail/posts/1715656065119413

How can Queensland rail have a time table and trains leave before due time. Train was suppose to leave Landsborough station at 328pm today 2 October 2017 and it left at 3.26pm . Passengers were running for train but it left early now they are stranger in Landsborough station for another 2 hours due to your timetable

Hi **, we apologise for the inconvenience and understand your frustration. Could you please use the help phone on the platform so that we can help arrange your journey forward? Many thanks

Good to see that QR are offering them alternative arrangements.

[ozbob]

Service frequency on the Sunshine Coast Line is a major major embarrassment ..

Edit:  Link above is now dead TB.  I wonder if it has been removed ...

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Rail bosses say goodbye to bonus pay thanks to Jackie Trad

DEPUTY Premier Jackie Trad has stepped in to end the gravy train at problem-plagued Queensland Rail – ordering the axing of tens of thousands of dollars in executive bonuses.

Ms Trad yesterday confirmed the beleaguered rail operator's bosses would miss out on generous performance bonuses as the transport body battles to recover from a crippling driver shortage.

It comes a year after the inception of the "rail fail," which led to the sudden cancellation of hundreds of services and forced the introduction of a heavily scaled-back rail timetable.

The decision to freeze bonuses follows criticism last year of a $77,000 performance payment awarded to QR's former chief operating officer Kevin Wright at the height of the rail dramas.

Mr Wright resigned just two months later after another rail meltdown on Christmas Day.

Ms Trad, whose portfolio includes transport, yesterday said she and the QR board had ruled out any bonuses being awarded for the performance of executives in the 2016-17 financial year.

The bonuses would ordinarily hit executives' bank accounts sometime this month.

"I knew that there was work to do to get Queensland Rail back on track so the board and I directed QR not to award executive bonuses this year," Ms Trad said yesterday.

"As we have been doing all year, we are getting on with the job of fixing the trains and delivering reliable, convenient services that Queenslanders can rely on," she said.

QR shelled out $286,000 in executive bonuses in 2016, according to its annual report.

Its then chief executive officer Helen Gluer earned a total pay of $735,000 in 2015-16.

Ms Gluer resigned amid the mass service cancellations last October, with the latest annual report showing she was paid $519,000 that financial year when factoring in long service leave.

Executive bonuses have traditionally been tied to meeting targets, such as running trains on-time.

As revealed by The Sunday Mail last month, services counted as running on-time in official statistics include all-station train services suddenly switched to run express to avoid running late.

QR documents reveal the practice was questioned internally, but defended by QR executives.

A TransLink spokesman also defended the practice, saying the number of services that skipped stations equated to 0.08 per cent of services in July this year.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

8th October 2017

Bonuses and OTR at Queensland Rail

Good Morning,

Someone has seen some sense.  Well done Deputy Premier. The cash bonus gravy train has had an ' operational issue ' hey?

Couriermail --> Rail bosses say goodbye to bonus pay thanks to Jackie Trad

There is further mention of  ontime running (OTR) data not reflecting altered services ( stations skipped to bring services back on time at arrival ) in the article.

The number of altered services is relatively small, but OTR should be altered such that an altered service is deemed  ' not on time at the skipped stations ' and the overall count for that time period adjusted.  It will not really alter the OTR percentages much at all but will project transparency and honesty.  Why continue to argue against that, particularly when internally Queensland Rail staff question this lack of honesty?

Far more important to us is the lack of daily OTR reporting for out of peak services.  This should be reported daily as for the peak performance.

What is there to hide?

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ Attached:  https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12772.msg198765#msg198765 ]

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/916710262085947393

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/916711005329162240

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/916713793786322944

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Queensland government freezes QR executive bonuses

Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Jackie Trad has announced Queensland Rail executives will have their bonuses frozen for the year after 12 months of problems for south-east Queensland rail commuters.

Queensland Rail faced cascading rostering issues a year ago, which led to a series of service cancellations, and has been working to improve recruitment as well as implement new trains, which had hundreds of issues.

Ms Trad said with that in mind it wasn't appropriate to have bonuses for QR bosses.

But the opposition has challenged her to expand that policy to electricity company bosses as they've proposed.

Liberal National Party frontbencher Scott Emerson said his party had proposed freezing power company executives bonuses until power prices came down.

"Talk to Queensland families out there who are paying record electricity prices and tell them that the premier's saying they've never had it so good," Mr Emerson told reporters on Sunday.

"And all they hear from Labor now is those bonuses for power bosses are great and they'll continue."

Ms Trad rejected that claim, saying Queensland Rail and Queensland power companies weren't directly comparable.

"I think when you look at the fact that we have merged the energy companies here in Queensland what that has delivered is more than $3 million worth of savings in executive salaries," she told reporters.

"I don't think what has happened with the energy companies and Queensland Rail is exactly comparable."

The deputy premier said Queensland Rail's board agreed with her that it wasn't an appropriate time for bonuses, but stressed the organisation was "improving dramatically."

Queensland Rail paid out $286,000 in executive bonuses in the 2015-16 financial year.

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 9th October 2017 page 15

Bonuses at QR