Queensland Rail - Commonwealth Games timetable

[ozbob]

As identified in the ' Stress Test ' report, the Commonwealth games is obviously a critical period.

A question has been asked today in Queensland Parliament to the effect of are there any planned line closures for the Games.

The response was no.

I think we will certainly see reduced services on all lines except Airport/Gold Coast, nothing surer.  Maybe that is the next question that should be asked?

[ozbob]

^ I am assuming that the election has not been held and Queensland Rail still exists!

[tazzer9]

I feel like its safe to say rosewood and doomben is going to get the cull.   Two of the lower patronised lines.  Along with the two easist to substitute with a bus.  Might also see stations along the beenleigh line get expressed such runcorn and fruit grove along with fairfield and yeronga (easy to provide a bus shuttle between altandi - kuraby and dutton park - yerrongpilly) along with being able to sustain more express trains to GC.   
Might see some morning peak ferny grove replaced with buses running part express to the cbd,then to the gold coast. 
I feel like Boggo road bus station will become heavily used with some trains terminating at park road then a bus to the cbd.

Sydney Substituted some lines and stations with buses during  the Olympics, So its not like its unprecedented.   

[ozbob]

I will wait till I can get the Hansard, but the response in Parliament according to my sources was no closures.

Will be available later today.

I don't have any faith left in Queensland Rail or TransLink to deliver an optimal timetable at all to be frank.

I think I might go to Adelaide for the games ... 

[BrizCommuter]

No closures, but they'll be plenty of axed services!

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/9NewsGoldCoast/status/875542635754213379

[ozbob]

Nine News --> No line closures during Comm Games: Govt

The Queensland government insists there will be no rail line closures due to the extra demand on southeast Queensland's transport system during next year's Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Shadow Transport Minister Andrew Powell asked the Premier during Question Time if the government had modelled the effects of any line closures during the Games.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Trasnport Minister Jackie Trad had advised her there would be no line closures and Queensland Rail Chief Executive Office Nick Easy is backing that assertion.

"Today I have advised the Queensland Government that while detailed work is underway in preparation for the Commonwealth Games, no modelling has been undertaken by Queensland Rail to close any rail lines during this period," he said.

But Mr Powell later said the government did not have to shut down lines to cause significant disruptions for commuters in other parts of the southeast during the games.

"The devil might still be in the details, you could literally have one service coming in from Sandgate in the morning, and one going out in the evening, and justifiably say the track's not closed," Mr Powell told AAP.

"But every other service would be on a bus, and I think it's only fair southeast Queensland commuters are told up-front what to expect."

[tazzer9]

Hourly services for all but the airport and gold coast lines.  The hourly springfield and ipswich services will run to corinda, turn down to tennyson and run express to the GC for ease of convience to all.

[ozbob]

No closures, but they'll be plenty of axed services!

Too right there will! 

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Hansard

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2017/2017_06_16_DAILY.pdf

16th June 2017

Questions without notice

Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Rail Closures

Mr POWELL: My question without notice is to the Premier. Can the Premier confirm that the
Palaszczuk government is modelling the closure of the Shorncliffe, the Redcliffe and the Rosewood
lines for the duration of the Commonwealth Games to free up drivers for the Gold Coast line? Will the
Premier rule this out, guaranteeing that no train lines will close during the Commonwealth Games?
Ms PALASZCZUK: I am more than happy to get back to the member about that.
Opposition members interjected.
Ms PALASZCZUK: I am not the line minister. What we do know is that we will need extra drivers
because there will be the pressure points coming up for the Commonwealth Games. Of course we will
be working through all of those issues with Phillip Strachan and the CEO. We will make sure that we
get it right. If there are any changes or any impacts to any other line, we will actually ensure that the
public is updated and knows well in advance.
Mr POWELL: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. Given the discussion earlier, can I confirm
that under 113(3) the Premier has given a commitment to come back to the House on that matter?
Mr SPEAKER: I do not think she has given a commitment.
Mr POWELL: Mr Speaker, on the point of order—
Mr SPEAKER: I will check the Hansard records.
Mr POWELL: Thank you.
Ms PALASZCZUK: I am more than happy but the Minister for Transport has advised me
categorically that there will be no line closures.
Mr SPEAKER: Thank you. Are you happy, member for Glass House?
Mr Powell interjected

[#Metro]

Here we go. They KNOW there is a problem. Out comes all the technical language like did the Premier say there will be no cuts or no cuts*?

#RailFail will go on steroids in the lead-up to the Commonwealth Games. They will very likely have to cut services across the entire network

(Doomben is DOOMed, lol) and also cut Sunday services in the weekends prior to stabilise the overtime. The NGR trains will likely not be ready

at all by then.

Better hope that there is no 'mechanical fault' on the train, will be absolute chaos if that happens.

[ozbob]

...

I don't have any faith left in Queensland Rail or TransLink to deliver an optimal timetable at all to be frank.

I think I might go to Adelaide for the games ... 

Yes Adelaide it is.  I like Adelaide. Very interesting from the public transport perspective - variety!

I will go to Perth/Melbourne again next January.  Adelaide in April 2018, might spend a few days in Sydney on the way back as well.  Light rail will be well advanced and the NW Metro.

WTG Bob!! #FleeQLD

[BrizCommuter]

The spin from Trad in the CM is sicking - "no line closures", but no mention of the services that will have to be axed!

[#Metro]

Yes Adelaide it is.  I like Adelaide. Very interesting from the public transport perspective - variety!

Better stay away from places like Auckland, Hong Kong etc - then you will be really blown away!

[ozbob]

I am happy to stick to Oz these days  ...   as long as it is #FleeQLD

Be a good time to get out of this festering mess, should be some cheap flights - counter peak if you like ..

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Gold Coast Commonwealth Games: No Queensland Rail fail, says Government

THE Queensland Government insists there will be no rail line closures in the state's southeast due to the extra demand on the transport system during next year's Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Transport Minister Jackie Trad said today a full report into how services would be affected by the Games would be released next month, but no closures were planned.

"Let me make clear, there is no modelling around closing lines for the Commonwealth Games, and no lines will be closed," she said.

"Let's wait until the report comes out, let's wait until the transport planners have done their work, and we will ensure that report is in the public domain."

But Opposition transport spokesman Andrew Powell said the Government did not have to shut down lines to cause significant disruptions for commuters in other parts of the southeast during the games.

"The devil might still be in the details, you could literally have one service coming in from Sandgate in the morning, and one going out in the evening, and justifiably say the track's not closed," Mr Powell said.

"But every other service would be on a bus, and I think it's only fair southeast Queensland commuters are told up-front what to expect."

It follows stress testing done on the southeast Queensland rail network which identified the Commonwealth Games as a key stress point over the next 12 months which would require careful management.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/875754259697946625

^

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/875754916316233728

[ozbob]

The other thing I find amazing, Queensland Rail needed a ' stress report ' to tell them Commonwealth Games is a critical event?

[#Metro]

The other thing I find amazing, Queensland Rail needed a ' stress report ' to tell them Commonwealth Games is a critical event?

Not surprising really. There seems to be a gulf between what the transport minister of the day knows and what Queensland Rail knows.

All the mess that has happened has been at the direction of democratically elected public politicians. It is not because of some greedy company

this is the mess and meddling of politicians.


You know, the fact that the Commonwealth Games timetable is now very likely impacted by having to rip trains off other lines is an implicit

admission that they will not have sorted the #RailFail out by January 2018. Now, given that RBOT members would like the trains fixed by

say, January 2018, this suggests that perhaps we should get another operator to run services SEQ.

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Premier, QR quizzed on Ipswich line closure for games

QUEENSLAND Rail and the State Government are under pressure to guarantee that Ipswich passenger services won't be sacrificed during the Commonwealth Games.

The State Opposition has accused QR of developing modelling ahead of the April, 2018 Games, in which the Shorncliffe, Redcliffe and Rosewood lines would be closed for the duration of the sporting event to free up drivers for the Gold Coast.

Shadow transport spokesman and MP for Glass House, Andrew Powell, asked the Premier about the supposed Commonwealth Games modelling during State Parliament question time on Friday morning.

"Can the Premier confirm whether the Palaszczuk Government is modelling closing the Shorncliffe, Redcliffe and Rosewood Lines for the duration of the Commonwealth Games to free up drivers to work on the Gold Coast and will the Premier rule this out, guaranteeing that no train lines will close during the Commonwealth Games?" Mr Powell asked.

Ms Palaszczuk initially tried to cut the response back to a simple, "I'll get back to you", but after jeers from the opposite side of the room, she offered a non-committal explanation.

"What we do know is that we will need extra drivers because there will be pressure points during the Commonwealth Games," she said.

"I will be working through those issues with (Queensland Rail Chairman) Phillip Strachan and the CEO (Nick Easy).

"If there are impacts to other services we will make sure the public is updated and knows in advance."

Queensland Rail CEO Nick Easy said while he expected the Commonwealth Games to place a high level of stress on the transport network, there were currently no plans to close any other lines during this period.

Following the question from Mr Powell on Friday, Mr Easy said he updated the Premier on the latest on QR's modelling ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

"I have advised the Queensland Government that while detailed work is under way in preparation for the Commonwealth Games, no modelling has been undertaken by Queensland Rail to close any rail lines during this period," he said.

"Queensland Rail is working with the Department of Transport and Main Roads, which is building an integrated public transport solution for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

"The robust stress test undertaken by Queensland Rail has identified the Commonwealth Games as a key stress point over the next 12 months which will require careful management.

"We will continue to work with DTMR on a transport plan that services the Commonwealth Games and south-east Queensland commuters during this time."

[Cazza]

Here's an idea to keep all lines (except Doomben) open:
https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12830.0

[ozbob]

^^ Just completed a live interview on River 949 FM (Ipswich) about possible closures and reduced services leading up to the games.

Stated that in Parliament the other day, line closures was ruled out, but nothing ruled out about reduced services.  Based on the Winter School Holiday Sunday timetable I made the point that service reductions are highly likely.

I also mentioned the changes in normal times and the need for listeners to check the timetables carefully.

General discussion on rail fail ... 

"The best predictor of future behaviour is ... past behaviour"

[ozbob]

20th June 2017

Call for free travel on June / July school holiday train timetable

Good Morning,

The travelling public will be subjected yet again to more mediocre rail timetables on Sundays 25th June, 2nd July and 9th July 2017.
[ https://translink.com.au/service-updates/132261 ]

Reduced services AND timetables moved from standard clock face times so breaking many bus/rail connections and making the misery a lot worse than it needs to be.  We highlighted this problem the last time this reduced ' holiday timetable ' was inflicted (Easter 2017 and the weekend prior https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12713.0 ) only to be largely ignored.  It does seem Queensland Rail does what it wants with no regard to the integrated nature of the public transport network, and subsequent impacts on journey times when they change the standard timings.

It is appalling that the frequency on the Sunshine Coast Line is further reduced to 2 hours.  What happens when the inevitable ' mechanical issue ' occurs?  Four hour gap between services?

Below is a map of the Western bus region.  It demonstrates well the integrated nature of the Ipswich railway line and the bus network. It is unbelievable that TransLink would stand by and allow connections to be broken in this careless manner.  Shame! Shame!

In view of the mediocrity, reduced service and long journey times,  it is only appropriate that travel on the public transport network, bus and rail, be declared free travel on these days. The acting Premier should declare the same forthwith!

SEQ's rail operator is delivering failure, now the worst rail operator in Oceania in our opinion.  The longer rail fail goes on the worse it gets sadly.  One can only imagine the mess leading up to and during the Commonwealth Games next year!

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Reference:

Western Map Jan 2017
https://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/resources/plan-your-journey/maps/161219-western-network.pdf

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Labor MP says Comm Games event transport planning is a 'debacle'

A LABOR backbencher says his government's transport planning for the Commonwealth Games is a "debacle" and there is no guarantee enough new trains will be on the Gold Coast line next year.

Maryborough Labor MP Bruce Saunders, who has access to the latest Commonwealth Games briefings as a member of a parliamentary tourism committee, has given a stunning inside view of the frantic preparations for next April's event.

"I'm on the Commonwealth Games committee and inside the Labor Party and we're pulling our hair out at the moment," Mr Saunders said yesterday towards the end of his regular Triple M Fraser Coast radio spot.

"I'll be quite honest with people, these trains were supposed to be up and running before the Commonwealth Games.

"At this stage we may have one set up and running, at this stage we've got 15 other sets cannibalised to get one on the ground. We are going to have a transport debacle."

Mr Saunders said the Government was "working feverishly behind the scenes" to make sure enough buses and trains could get fans to Coast venues and the cycling at Boondall.

"We're struggling, no use lying to people saying everything is all good and the people are really trying to get the transport thing up and running for the Commonwealth Games," he added.

LNP Shadow Transport Minister Andrew Powell said Mr Saunders had "let the cat out of the bag" on a looming Games transport disaster.

"We already knew there was a chance the new trains wouldn't be ready to go for the Games and today Bruce Saunders has fessed up," Mr Powell said.

"It has now been 10 months of rail fail under this Palaszczuk Labor Government with no end in sight.

"Labor have trained only 28 of the 200 drivers required to fix rail fail. Unless they get cracking, spectators and visitors will be stranded at stations during the Games."

Mr Powell fears the Coast and Queensland, with the "eyes of the world on us", is headed for a public relations disaster.

He said Mr Saunders had countless opportunities during Estimates in the past week to question the Commonwealth Games Minister on the Games transport strategy.

"We asked the Government on multiple occasions during Estimates hearings if the transport strategy for the Commonwealth Games was on track and we were told 'nothing to see here, all fine'.

"Clearly this was not the case. How are we supposed to trust the do-nothing Government when their track record on rail speaks for itself?"

Queensland Rail has 15 NGR trains in the State and last week indicated five of those were undergoing testing on the South East Queensland rail network.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad at the time said: "On-track testing is the final testing before the trains are accepted and able to safely carry passengers.

"We are confident the first NGR trains will commence on the network by the end of this year and they will be used exclusively on the Gold Coast line until after the Commonwealth Games."

[ozbob]

Looking very grim.  Even Government MPs are calling it out now.

[#Metro]

Maybe they will convert trains to 3-car units to maintain frequency and services on the lines.

Would need more staff though to act as guards and drivers.

By cutting trains into two smaller halves they can stay within the letter of their promises perhaps?

[Stillwater]

Behavioural scientists have identified a tendency for people willing something good or worthwhile to happen to be over optimistic in their planning and management, such that they do not see the pitfalls due to wild optimism.  It is the same inner-strength that a mountain climber has - knowing he will get to the top of Mt Everest.  Ms Trad is aiming for Everest with the capability to climb Mt Coo-tha.

[#Metro]

Looking very grim.  Even Government MPs are calling it out now.

#FleeQLD

At least NSW could organise an Olympic Games. 

[BrizCommuter]

The MP's concerns completely forget about the lack of driver issue!

[ozbob]

It has been suggested to me that this article is a deliberate strategy to start softening up the public.

Government realises it is going to have some major problems selling more service reductions to the overall network to support the improved GC frequency.

NGRs are months away yet ...

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> MP Bruce Sanders given dressing down over Commonwealth Games 'transport debacle' comments


There were fears the Gold Coast would not have enough trains for the Commonwealth Games Photo: Supplied

GOVERNMENT insiders say outspoken Labor MP Bruce Saunders has been given a dressing down by the party after his comments that the Commonwealth Games was looming as a "transport debacle".

The Bulletin yesterday reported Mr Saunders's remarks on a local radio station that the Government was struggling to have enough trains before next April's event.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad played down the comments, saying they simply underlined the Member for Maryborough's dedication to his constituents.

"Bruce is quite a colourful and passionate advocate for his community and we know that Maryborough is a rail manufacturing community," she said on the Gold Coast yesterday.

"We have only late last month released our transport operation plan for the Commonwealth Games and we are meeting all of our commitments with the Commonwealth Games Federation in terms of supplying them with all of the information around the transport task for the Commownealth Games and we are very confident that we will have a number of the new trains in passenger service ready for the Commonwealth Games to make sure that they are the best Games that Australia has seen."

Political sources in George Street yesterday were chuckling and admitted Mr Saunders had "received a kick from up high".

On his Facebook page, Mr Saunders put up a photograph of his tent as he began door knocking in Burrum Heads after meeting with union officials. He made no mention of his remarks about the Games.

A colleague told the Bulletin: "Bruce is an outspoken (Labor) member. I don't think he's a happy camper.

"This was very typical of Bruce. He has a habit of having his foot in his mouth. He will keep going."

State Development Minister Dr Anthony Lynham on the Coast yesterday defended the ALP backbencher.

"I know Bruce very, very well from Maryborough. He's an absolutely passionate local member," Dr Lynham said.

"If you've met Bruce, you will know no one is more concerned for his community than Bruce.

"I can assure you that the Deputy Premier (Jackie Trad) — these trains are on track, things are sorted and they will be ready for the Games."

Dr Lynham blamed the former Newman Government for the transport challenges which left Labor "inheriting a mess".

[tazzer9]

Looking very grim.  Even Government MPs are calling it out now.

#FleeQLD

At least NSW could organise an Olympic Games. 

The Olympics is a great example because even sydney had to cull services on other lines to support the olympic services.   The Main south between cabramatta and lidcombe was fully culled from memory.  Only express services through there.    But they were also smart and had bus shuttles running to stations on the main north to avoid cramming on the main suburban line.

[ozbob]

^ but there was still good frequency overall on the rail network and pax could get around.  One does wonder what will happen in SEQ ....

Disconnected & dysfunctional no doubt ..

[tazzer9]

It was good frequency.  But Sydney was honest.  They knew they couldn't provide train services everywhere as they didn't have the trains or infrastructure.   Our politicians know that lines closures (sorry, i mean hourly frequency) are going to happen but they openly lie to us about it. 

[ozbob]

Sunday Mail 6th August 2017 page 64

Traps with Peter Cameron

Transport debacle

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/893960988847775744

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Internal review warns of staff shortage to deal with Games rail planning

THE State Government has not employed enough staff to deal with the transport crisis around new trains and extra services for the Commonwealth Games, according to an internal review.

Leaked documents obtained by the Bulletin show the Government is being urged to employ staff from less urgent Queensland Rail projects.

After the Strachan Inquiry into the rail crisis, QR commissioned a "whole of business" review by German rail operators Deutsche Bahn to determine operational issues of immediate concern.

The consultants found positives in terms of daily operations and QR's risk management centre, but highlighted the new New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) project and the Games as business areas needing urgent action.

"The QR NGR and Commonwealth Games project teams do not appear to be adequately staffed," the consultants found.

"In contrast, a major project such as the ETCS appears to have sufficient staff at this early procurement tender stage.

"As the NGR and Commonwealth Games are priority projects, there may be an opportunity to temporarily redeploy staff between the project teams."

The Government committed to a rollout of the $634 million European Train Control System (ETCS) where improved signalling will enable more trains to travel through the Brisbane CBD.

But the major challenge created by a driver and guard staffing crisis has been whether the Government can deliver a Games timetable without closing other rail services.

On the Gold Coast last week for community Cabinet, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she was "optimistic" transport services would be ready on time for the Games.

Opposition transport spokesman Andrew Powell yesterday said the latest internal review cast doubt on Labor being able to fix the rail mess.

In Estimates hearings, the Government admitted a Games timetable had yet to be completed due to uncertainty about the NGR units bought as part of a $4.4 billion upgrade.

"How hard can Labor be working to fix the problem if the QR teams looking after the new trains and the Games are understaffed," Mr Powell said.

"We're meant to be showcasing the Gold Coast to the world but at this rate we'll be lucky if the trains are even running.

"It's not good enough — when are Annastacia Palaszczuk and Jackie Trad going to be held accountable for their repeated rail stuff-ups?"

Estimates was told 10 of the 15 NGR units which had arrived in Queensland had yet to be tested and the trains would require 500 kilometres fault-free running to be commissioned.

At least $12 million is being provided for NGR "operational readiness projects" which include new sight lines or markings on the platforms at Coast stations for drivers.

Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Jackie Trad at Estimates said her focus was on getting the NGRs back on track "following the LNP's botched procurement process".

The availability of the new trains on the fully duplicated Gold Coast line to Brisbane is critical because the only alternative will be to cut back services on other lines during the Games to meet the demand.

Senior Transport bureaucrats have given a commitment that no rail closures will occur during next April's event.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/894608402810191872

It gets even more worse ...#shocker#railfail#NGRfail#GC2018railfail#qldpol
> https://t.co/jDhfZxqITI

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) August 7, 2017

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/894609568944214016

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/894641910408593408

[BrizCommuter]

Good to see that the press have finally picked up on the impending GC2018 Rail Fail - only half a year behind!

[ozbob]

Good to see that the press have finally picked up on the impending GC2018 Rail Fail - only half a year behind!

LOL

Goodness this a mess hey?