Queensland Rail - Commonwealth Games timetable

[ozbob]

One of my sisters in Melbourne said she saw me on news there.  So this story (yesterday) went national.

By April our glorious Rail Fail will be on the world stage 

The timetable for everything bar the GC line will probably be in the same league as the 'reduced demand' timetable currently in place.

SEQ: Great place to live if (and only if?) you live less than 100m from work.

Yo!   World clarse effort !!  Can hardly wait ..   

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

1st January 2018

Another year, another year of rail fail!

Good Morning and Happy New Year!

Let's hope that rail fail is put to bed this year.  Punters have had enough of the worst performing railway in Australia and New Zealand.  This is a fact.

Yesterday, during numerous interviews Mr Easy CEO Queensland Rail did not give an absolute committment that there would not be line closures.
(For example https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/947381644729520128 & https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/947381861948391424 )

This is extraordinary considering that the Premier of Queensland Ms Palaszczuk has already given that committment in Parliament on the 16th June 2017.

A question to the Transport Minister by me if the Premier's committment is still valid,  remains unanswered at this point in time. (see > https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/947326893425963010 ).

In view of an absolute denial by Mr Easy we can only assume there will be some line closures.  We have always expected service reductions during the Games as there is still a crewing shortfall at Queensland Rail particularly, and the Gold Coast line will need a considerable frequency increase. We accept that.  When the Premier gave the committment in Parliament last June we were some what comforted that all lines would remain intact.

What has changed?  It is now very uncertain as to what is going happen.  Commonwealth Games volunteers are already receiving their work rosters. We are sure they would like to know the rail timetable in order to start planning their travel, let alone visitors to the Games.

What a sad and sorry mess.  It is now day 458 since the first wave of cancellations associated with rail fail which occurred on the 30th September 2016 ( https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12846.msg194853#msg194853 ).

Public has been suffering cancellations, delays, and reduced service since then.  We are into the third calendar year of rail fail!  Surely this mess could have been sorted by now?  Who comes first?  Union mates or the travelling public?

SEQ is becoming the laughing stock of Australia sadly.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ Attached: https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12829.msg202393#msg202393 ]

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/947701069588525056

Sent to all outlets as well.  Thanks Briz 

Also up on FB > https://www.facebook.com/RAILBackOnTrack/posts/1896139510400227

[not_available]

One of my sisters in Melbourne said she saw me on news there.  So this story (yesterday) went national.

By April our glorious Rail Fail will be on the world stage 

The timetable for everything bar the GC line will probably be in the same league as the 'reduced demand' timetable currently in place.

SEQ: Great place to live if (and only if?) you live less than 100m from work.

Yo!   World clarse effort !!  Can hardly wait ..   

I'm starting to question whether even a monumental collapse of the entire SEQ transport network will be remotely enough to cause change in the PT scene... Even the footpaths will be heavily congested... At least the pedestrians are actually going somewhere

[#Metro]

I was on the Airtrain today, service became a Rocklea terminator (??). When I got off at Roma Street, there were lots of services I had

not seen in a long time (Corinda via South Brisbane resurrected) and GC passengers were told to hop off and wait another 30 minutes.

Pax were warned that most lines were hourly. Glad that the bus network held up quite well.

[JimmyP]

I read elsewhere that due to the tennis, the AirTrain trains that were normally terminating at Roma St (ie: hourly Gold Coast, hourly Roma St) were extended to terminate at Rocklea. Same with the Corinda via South Brisbane trains for the tennis.

[tazzer9]

I was on the Airtrain today, service became a Rocklea terminator (??). When I got off at Roma Street, there were lots of services I had
not seen in a long time (Corinda via South Brisbane resurrected) and GC passengers were told to hop off and wait another 30 minutes.
Pax were warned that most lines were hourly. Glad that the bus network held up quite well.

They are extra's for the tennis.  The rocklea terminators were scheduled and advertised but I don't believe the Corinda via Sth Brisbane services were.  The experiment last easter with the corinda via Sth Brisbane services must have succeeded.  The corinda via south brisbane services were through routed to mitchelton as well. 

A major thing I noticed is that they were no longer "express" through tennyson.  The automated announcements and PID had them as all stops.  Last easter they still had "Stopping all stations EXCEPT Tennyson". 

[Otto]

I was on the Airtrain today, service became a Rocklea terminator (??). When I got off at Roma Street, there were lots of services I had

not seen in a long time (Corinda via South Brisbane resurrected) and GC passengers were told to hop off and wait another 30 minutes.

Pax were warned that most lines were hourly. Glad that the bus network held up quite well.

So i wasn't seeing things today.. It actually was real ! 

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

2nd January 2018

Time for action on public transport for Queensland

Good Morning,

We are now a facing an almost certain disrupted transport situation for the Commonwealth Games. We have a major crisis on our hands.

There is much community concern as they have now suffered 459 days of rail service cutbacks, particularly severe over the period 18th December 2017 through to 21st January 2018.  There has been an erosion of public confidence in the transport authorities, who frankly, have managed to deliver much failure with little success.  The present organisational structures are not working, a proper statutory authority, we suggest Public Transport Queensland (modelled on the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia) is needed. The administration and delivery of public transport and rail must be removed from DTMR.  DTMR is a failed outfit.  The evidence is substantial and stark. In another related DTMR rail fail it does appear that rail cattle trains will cease in Queensland due to DTMR botching the new cattle wagons (see > https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12972.0 ).

The New Generation Rollingstock train project warrants a Royal Commission.  The first two new trains were moved to Redbank Workshops for storage on the 22nd December 2017.  No public explanation.  Rumour has it they are to be scrapped.  How is this possible?  Another example of why we need a Royal Commission. The State of Queensland flaunts due legal process and runs NGR trains without the legal protection of a temporary exemption from the AHRC.  This project has long been off the rails.

Rail fail has lead to a complete loss of confidence by the travelling public in our public transport network.  For example, a quick scan of the Capital cities of Australia that have a rail service reveals the following:

Trains on 1st January - 11am or so.  Roughly equivalent railway lines in all capitals with rail.

Adelaide to Gawler every 30 minutes

Perth to Mandurah every 15 minutes

Melbourne to Dandenong every 10 minutes

Sydney to Liverpool every 7.5 minutes on average

Brisbane to Ipswich every 60 minutes

This is a good demonstration of how poor our rail frequency is in SEQ. What a sad indictment on our transport authorities.  They deliver failure. How can we have confidence in them for the Commonwealth Games?

We are tired of the duplicitous spin and bull. It is high time that Queensland Rail / TransLink stopped the ' reduced demand ' spin is why we ' reduce services '. Demand is reduced because they reduce the services basically, and run the worst rail frequency in Australia and New Zealand with failed connections be they bus or rail.   Far better when they come out with these reduced service timetables to say the truth.  " We don't have enough crew considering leave entitlements, rosters and so forth.  So we have to reduce the services. We know we are incompetent and regret that."

We have confidence in the new Transport Minister Mr Bailey will start to address this festering mess.  Mr Bailey you need to start today!

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/947879096675024896

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 2nd January 2018 page 13

Let's hope new year brings end of rail fail

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/947937891916832768

[Stillwater]

Excellent work, BrizCommuter. 

[ozbob]

Excellent work, BrizCommuter. 

Indeed.  I particularly like the concluding sentence: " Things have reached rock bottom, and it will take a heavy crane to lift that rock! "

[Stillwater]

How many TMR and QR executives hiding under the rock?

[ozbob]

How many TMR and QR executives hiding under the rock?

I think they and their staff might be at the tennis.  Such is the abysmal communications today ...   

[#Metro]

Let them mess up the timetables. All of this builds up pressure for change.

I guess when the Transport Minister has the contract renewal land on his desk, he just sign it automatically again.

Absolute madness to keep signing the renewal contracts. And we are all supposed to believe that QR is the best operator

for the network? They can't even admit that there will be cuts networkwide to other lines. DUMP!!

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

3rd January 2018

Play trains QR not politics please!

Good Morning,

Latest  ' revelations '  Couriermail --> Rail fail: QR attempts to keep union pay rise emails secret

Our suggestion is that Queensland Rail should focus on improving their service standards particularly frequency rather than playing politics and legal games.  They continue to waste our taxpayer funds.  They are now the worst practice rail operator for the entire Oceania region, a tragic outcome for a once great rail operator. We are looking at continuing service reductions with a crisis looming for the Commonwealth Games for 2018 no doubt. This should be the focus.

The Queensland Rail Board is hopelessly compromised now as they have stood off and permitted the operator to run non DDA and non DSAPT compliant NGR trains out on the network without the legal protection of an exemption from the AHRC.  Our submission re the application by the State of Queensland  for a temporary exemption from the AHRC was lodged yesterday with the AHRC.

If the AHRC determines that the application exemption from the State of Queensland is not with merit, or cuts down the period of the exemption application the entire Queensland Rail Board should resign in our view.

Have a nice day now while waiting for yet another delayed train and missed connections.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ Attachment: https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12341.msg202462#msg202462  ]

[ozbob]

91 days to go folks!

Are we ready?    Errr .... not real sure.  Where are the rail timetables?

#askingforafriend

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/948312053244030977

[Stillwater]

Hello, the wheels have started to fall off:

"The Transport Minister has failed to express confidence Queensland Rail can deliver a Commonwealth Games transport option smarter than taking your own car."

https://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/latest-rail-bungle-ruins-nye-as-comm-games-doubts-/3303163/

[InclusionMoves]

Wow!!! Just gave that article an extra shove along. Wasn't getting the credit it was due with that comment in it.

Geoff

Hello, the wheels have started to fall off:

"The Transport Minister has failed to express confidence Queensland Rail can deliver a Commonwealth Games transport option smarter than taking your own car."

https://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/latest-rail-bungle-ruins-nye-as-comm-games-doubts-/3303163/

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Latest rail bungle ruins NYE as Comm Games doubts surface

SUNSHINE Coast residents hoping to travel to the Commonwealth Games by train faced utter chaos unless the State Government addressed the poor management of Queensland Rail head on according to one rail expert who says heads must roll.

Retired rail travel consultant Ken Coulter said unlike Melbourne where services ran all night, all stations and all free, Translink could not even confirm what services were running to and from the Sunshine Coast on New Year's Eve.

He said plans to travel to Brisbane for the fireworks at Southbank had to be cancelled because TransLink couldn't confirm what trains would be running and its promise to resolve the issue with Queensland Rail and post online never eventuated.

Mr Coulter said the Palaszczuk Government needed to start again and sort the mess out before the Commonwealth Games.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey failed to respond to a question about whether he had confidence Queensland Rail could deliver services to the Sunshine Coast that would make rail a preferred Commonwealth Games transport option to using a private vehicle.

But a spokesperson said Queensland Rail was working closely with The Department of Transport and Main Roads to "finalise an integrated public transport model for South East Queensland, from Gympie to the Gold Coast, to manage increased demand during the Commonwealth Games for both spectators and their regular commuters, including those on the Sunshine Coast".

The spokesperson said in addition to regular timetabled services QR provided two post-midnight New Year services to the Sunshine Coast departing Romas Street at 1.03am and 2.03am.

"I am advised by TransLink and Queensland Rail it appears that an error occurred with the TransLink Journey Planner which has since been rectified," the spokesperson said.

"They apologise for any confusion around the communication of these special event services."

Mr Coulter said at 2.30pm New Year's Eve he had checked post midnight services home from a planned trip to Southbank for the fire works.

"TransLink showed information about a train at 12.48 am ex Roma St but nothing made sense about this service on the website," he said.

"Translink site said to take a Redcliffe train and change at Eagle Junction and go to platform 4 for Clayfield. Then Caboolture to Nambour taking one hour 25 minutes arriving Eudlo at 2.41 am.

"Luckily as I use the trains to go to Brisbane I realised this information was totally incorrect.

"On Translink there was not a train showing from Roma St to Nambour until 2.03 am.

"So I phoned and no one there could make sense of the online information and said they would have to check with QR for the times when the trains would actually be operating and for me to check back on line to Translink in an hour."

No update appeared and Mr Coulter scrapped plans to go to Brisbane.

The Translink online site advised him to catch a 12.48am Redcliffe bound train to Eagle Junction and then to get off and go to platform four for the 1.16am connection to Clayfield.

There was then no advice as to what service would get him from Clayfield to Caboolture and onward up the North Coast line to Eudlo.

[Stillwater]

When will the 'people' at QR release the Commonwealth Games train timetable?  Waiting on the decision by the 'folks' at the AHRC, due round about the end of January?  Brace yourselves 'you all'. Reduced services on lines other than the Gold Coast could still be on the cards, 'everyone'.

[BrizCommuter]

Well those ladies and gentlemen (oops!) who are being volunteers would be awfully keen on knowing how they can get to work. QR's failure to even announce frequencies, let alone an actual timetable, is causing a lot of concern for the mother and father (oops!) volunteers.

[Cazza]

I think I may have to report you to the moderator there BrizCommuter, that sort of language will not be tolerated in today's day and age.

[BrizCommuter]

I think I may have to report you to the moderator there BrizCommuter, that sort of language will not be tolerated in today's day and age.

That's just hurt my feelings, and I'll need a duvet day.

[ozbob]

Drain the swamp!

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

9th January 2018

SEQ rail timetable from 22nd January 2018 / Commonwealth Games

Good Morning,

When will the rail timetables for the period from 22nd January 2018, and during the Commonwealth Games be made publicly available please?

Everything is so last minute with TransLink and Queensland Rail. A sign of failure. People would like to plan in advance.

With respect to the timetable from 22nd January 2018 we hope that there is at least a consistent rail service timetable Monday to Fridays, and the lack of PM peak services on the Cleveland Line particularly is addressed.  Some of our members have looked at the journey planner post 21st January 2018 and does seem the ongoing reduced service timetable that punters suffered during 2017 will continue. Surely there are now more train crew to allow some improvements?

It is now 466 days since the first wave of cancellations associated with rail fail (first occurred on the 30th September 2016).  The travelling public has been suffering cancellations, delays and reduced service since then.  It is an appalling situation the collapse of our rail network, now into the third calendar year.  No amount of spin and bull can cover up this fundamental fact.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[#Metro]

They would have draft timetables somewhere in the organisation or out at their contractor.

The way it is at QR and DTMR is to cut up bad news and release it in drips and drabs over an extended period so that it all doesn't look so bad.

This is the "dripfeed" of bad news.

Hit them with RTI request - will probably bring up the draft timetables.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

10th January 2018

Rail fail spreading to southern rail systems ...

Good Morning,

Seems the Queensland rail fail disease is contagious and has spread down south!  Utter chaos on Sydney trains, not too dissimilar to the circumstances that set up our own glorious rail fail hey?  (see > https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8184.msg202887#msg202887  )

Now day 467 of cancellations, delays and reduced service of our own rail fail.  Mechanical issues are still constant and causing much disruption to the already severely reduced timetables ( https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1862.msg202794#msg202794 ).  What is the chance of a reliable service and a connected public transport network for the Commonwealth Games?   Rhetorical question, no need to answer.  The answer is now only 84 days away.

Queensland Rail was a once great rail operator.  Sadly, its reputation is being shredded.  A completely failed culture at TransLink/DTMR does not help hey.  The last monthly TransLink public transport performance snapshot published was July 2017 for example!  ( https://publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/translink-public-transport-performance-snapshots )

Hopeless!

Have a great day as we wallow in mediocrity!

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

9th January 2018

SEQ rail timetable from 22nd January 2018 / Commonwealth Games

Good Morning,

When will the rail timetables for the period from 22nd January 2018, and during the Commonwealth Games be made publicly available please?

Everything is so last minute with TransLink and Queensland Rail. A sign of failure. People would like to plan in advance.

With respect to the timetable from 22nd January 2018 we hope that there is at least a consistent rail service timetable Monday to Fridays, and the lack of PM peak services on the Cleveland Line particularly is addressed.  Some of our members have looked at the journey planner post 21st January 2018 and does seem the ongoing reduced service timetable that punters suffered during 2017 will continue. Surely there are now more train crew to allow some improvements?

It is now 466 days since the first wave of cancellations associated with rail fail (first occurred on the 30th September 2016).  The travelling public has been suffering cancellations, delays and reduced service since then.  It is an appalling situation the collapse of our rail network, now into the third calendar year.  No amount of spin and bull can cover up this fundamental fact.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Latest: Rail fail spreading to southern rail systems ...
> https://t.co/Yw9AJ9YgVV#qldpol > #nswpol fyi #springst
History repeating ... pic.twitter.com/7aoshExHov

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) January 9, 2018

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> QR responds to concerns of Ipswich rail line closure

IPSWICH'S train services will not be closed during the Commonwealth Games but some services could be adjusted, Queensland Rail says.

Responding to concerns voiced by Robert Dow of advocacy group Rail Back on Track, Queensland Rail wanted to assure residents' lines would remain open during the sporting event.

Chief executive officer Nick Easy declared there were "no plans" to close the Ipswich, Rosewood or Springfield rail lines.

"It is inevitable there will be adjustments to some services given the scale of this international event and increases in the demand on the Gold Coast line," he said.

"Queensland Rail is working closely with the Department of Transport and Main Roads to finalise an integrated public transport model for southeast Queensland which will encompass all modes of transport to support travel to and from the Games, and for other customers during Games time."

He said the model will meet demand during the Commonwealth Games and ensure public transport users continue to access services.

Mr Easy said the details of the model would be released to commuters and spectators before the April event.

The senior bureaucrat also moved to defend the progress of the state's $4.4 billion New Generation Rollingstock train fleet after Mr Dow criticised the slow rollout.

"We have deployed two further NGR trains this week, which started passenger services Monday," he said.

Mr Easy predicted more would begin in February.

The slow rollout of the new trains has kept older ones in service beyond their use-by date, Mr Dow said.

He said the age and requirement for constant maintenance of the old trains were causing mechanical problems and delays across the network.

But Mr Easy said Queensland Rail had "consistently met its target" of more than 95 per cent of trains running on time across 840km of network.

"Unplanned disruptions and faults can occur across the network from time to time," he said.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/qld_times/status/950966760584482816

^

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/951008778505265152

[ozbob]

" ... Mr Easy said the details of the model would be released to commuters and spectators before the April event. .. "

Gee, we would hope so hey. Hate for it be released after the event.  What a non-statement.   

" ... integrated public transport model  ... "  one does not have to be a rocket scientist to know what that means troops hey?

Widespread rail service cuts with bus/car replacement ...

[Stillwater]

lol, it takes a 'crisis' to "integrate" transport.  Yes, buses, taxis replacing trains diverted to the Gold Coast Line for the Commonwealth Games.  Why the double-speak?  Why can't QR just be open and honest?

And you can always fiddle the on-time running figures by producing a timetable with fewer services.   

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

11th January 2018

Points of rail fail clarification

Good Morning,

A couple of interesting articles in the Queensland Times the last few days.

1.  Queensland Times --> New trains in storage 'risks Ipswich rail services'

2.   Queensland Times --> QR responds to concerns of Ipswich rail line closure

A couple of general comments.  We are grateful that there has been finally some ' official clarification ' as to why unaccepted NGR trains have been put out to grass at Redbank Workshops.  The smart thing to have done would have been to issue a statement when the trains were first moved on the 22nd December 2017.  Seriously, did the authorities expect no one to notice them as large as life in the front yard of the Redbank Workshops? Because of the communication information vacuum all sorts of silly rumours were circulating.  It is time that the authorities became pro-active not reactive with respect to basic communications.

In the second article the CEO of Queensland Rail is reported as saying  " ... Mr Easy said the details of the model would be released to commuters and spectators before the April event. .. "

We would certainly hope so.  Not much point after the Games is it? People need information in a timely manner. Where are the new 22nd January 2018 onward rail timetables?  Any improvements or do we continue with the failed rail effort as per 2017?

Additionally using ontime running data as proof of success is very flawed, especially as the root problem is the lack of rail services and lack of timely out of peak reporting of ontime running. We would all hope with less rail services ontime running would improve. Not always the case.  We don't buy it sorry.

We also interpret the touted Commonwealth Games " ... integrated public transport model ..." as code for widespread rail service cuts with bus/car replacement.

Show us today we are wrong.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ Attached: https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12829.msg202889#msg202889 ]

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/951138412383281152

[ozbob]

lol, it takes a 'crisis' to "integrate" transport.  Yes, buses, taxis replacing trains diverted to the Gold Coast Line for the Commonwealth Games.  Why the double-speak?  Why can't QR just be open and honest?

And you can always fiddle the on-time running figures by producing a timetable with fewer services.   

They must think we came down in the last shower ... 

[Stillwater]

TMR and QR officials use a phrase, and it appears in media statements also .... it is "THERE ARE NO PLANS"

- to close lines during the Commonwealth Games,  for instance.  THERE ARE NO PLANS ....

It is a very nice line to get around the situation whereby the thing for which there are no plans eventually comes about subsequently.

Of course, these words, taken at face value, expose the flaw in the thinking ... THERE ARE NO PLANS

Exactly, TMR and QR have not planned sufficiently so that spokespersons can say with any certainty 'it won't happen because we have conducted comprehensive modelling and there is a 95 per cent chance the worst won't happen'.  Or words to that effect.

So, the phrase becomes a certainty .... THERE ARE NO PLANS, or there insufficient planning, or there is hope ... non-contemplation of the horrible .... the worse case scenario.  In other words, a failure to plan with any degree of certainty.