Queensland Rail - Commonwealth Games timetable

[Stillwater]

[ozbob]

>> https://www.gc2018.com/transport

Still " You are not authorized to access this page. "

The countdown is on ...   

[Stillwater]

Will someone PLEASE ask these questions of Minister Bailey tomorrow:

Minister: You are restricting services on other lines at weekends during the Commonwealth Games so as to maintain frequent services on the Gold Coast Line, due to a driver shortage.

- Is the timetable you are releasing today also dependant on the NGR trains currently in service continuing to run, and perhaps one or two more being available to run between the Airport and the Gold Coast?

- What happens should the AHRC disallow your government's application for an exemption to the DDA for NGR trains, which have non-compliant toilets?  Will you take those trains out of service, further depleting the fleet of trains?  And what might the impacts be for the travelling public should that occur?  Still more reductions in service on other lines, or buses replacing trains?

- Will your government defy the AHRC should an adverse adjudication be brought down and, should fines a penalties be incurred as a result, will they be met by the state government or from the Commonwealth Games organising committee budget?

[#Metro]

^ It isn't in the minister's political interest to generate negative news stories about himself.

Might need to divide your expectations of government by a factor of ten.

Valid points though!!

[STB]

What an absolute disgrace! Massive fail for passengers (including GC2018 visitors workers) who have to connect with the Gold Coast Line. Massive fail for those who have to get to work in Brisbane. This should be making world news!

There will be a BrizCommuter blog post when the actual timetable is released.

Well come on, be constructive, stop whinging about it and be constructive, and I say that to every member on this forum, including Ozbob.

We know there is a limited number of trains and a limited number of train crew, we know there is going to be greater demand to/from Commonwealth Games venues, especially on the GC portion of the network.

So stop b**tching about it and be constructive, all I see on this forum at the moment is constant whinging, nothing constructive that takes into the account of the real life limited options and constraints we have on the SEQ network.

Frankly I'm getting rather bored of this forum after being here for many years, it's appearing to be less constructive and more about having a whinge.

[ozbob]

Not bitching, simply stating the facts. 

Where are you these days STB?   Sydney?  They are having their issues as well.

[BrizCommuter]

What an absolute disgrace! Massive fail for passengers (including GC2018 visitors workers) who have to connect with the Gold Coast Line. Massive fail for those who have to get to work in Brisbane. This should be making world news!

There will be a BrizCommuter blog post when the actual timetable is released.

Well come on, be constructive, stop whinging about it and be constructive, and I say that to every member on this forum, including Ozbob.

We know there is a limited number of trains and a limited number of train crew, we know there is going to be greater demand to/from Commonwealth Games venues, especially on the GC portion of the network.

So stop b**tching about it and be constructive, all I see on this forum at the moment is constant whinging, nothing constructive that takes into the account of the real life limited options and constraints we have on the SEQ network.

Frankly I'm getting rather bored of this forum after being here for many years, it's appearing to be less constructive and more about having a whinge.

What is there to be constructive about? This is a fail of epic proportions. The only hope is that there may be so much embarrassment that something might actually get done about the basket case that is SEQ public transport.

[ozbob]

Much better to call it as it is.  No sugar coating.  We remain constructive.  Last week I had meetings with Queensland Rail, Minister for Transport and Staff. Spoke with a number of media.  Most of that discussion was concerning constructive suggestions for improvement.  This coming week I will be meeting with the Opposition Shadow Transport Minister.

I spoke with a number of journalists.  Every time we suggest ways for improvement, even though the game is ' if it bleeds it reads '.

Today I have done some media. Hello, it is Saturday.  I don't have days off, I just keep working for an improved public transport system.

Today, I have handled a number of pieces of correspondence from punters who are totally over it.  They are whinging, maybe, but with damn good reason.   

Keep whinging folks, it is fine by me.  It all helps to drive change in the end.

[Mr X]

To be honest QR's solution isn't that much of a surprise at all to me.

This is going to sound controversial but instead of trying to cover everything and failing, how about we reprioritise resources into the lines we need them most- Ipswich, Caboolture and Beenleigh, and keep a proper service on these. Shut down Doomben line completely (run a frequent railbus from the Northern busway, past Eagle Junction and through Clayfield/Hendra etc.). Replace Springfield with railbuses from Darra. Run the Redcliffe lines as a short shuttle and run Ferny Grove as an hourly service. Then make up whatever gaps with railbuses.

Yes it's not a good solution. Yes it looks bad leaving infrastructure unused. Yes buses are slower. But if we don't have enough drivers, then no whinging in the world can solve that so it's time to think out of the box and look at how to get people from A to B.

[ozbob]

^ thanks. Yes, I and others have suggested just that.  Keeping the core at a better frequency ( at least 30 minute or better ) and closing some of the branches makes sense in the #GC2018 context.  But it was torpedoed apparently by the committment given in Parliament by the Premier last June 2017 ' there will be no line closures '.

Who knows, we might still be surprised tomorrow but the leak by the Couriermail suggests that mediocrity outside the Gold Coast and the GC line will be the status quo.

[STB]

Much better to call it as it is.  No sugar coating.  We remain constructive.  Last week I had meetings with Queensland Rail, Minister for Transport and Staff. Spoke with a number of media.  Most of that discussion was concerning constructive suggestions for improvement.  This coming week I will be meeting with the Opposition Shadow Transport Minister.

I spoke with a number of journalists.  Every time we suggest ways for improvement, even though the game is ' if it bleeds it reads '.

Today I have done some media. Hello, it is Saturday.  I don't have days off, I just keep working for an improved public transport system.

Today, I have handled a number of pieces of correspondence from punters who are totally over it.  They are whinging, maybe, but with damn good reason.   

Keep whinging folks, it is fine by me.  It all helps to drive change in the end.

What I'm after from all of you is 'What would you do in the exact same situation?'.  Whinging doesn't really help, it's just emotions talking, and that's rather pointless in the greater scheme of things.

I'm involved in much bigger advocacy groups (with paid staff) that work alongside Govt outside of RBOT, and the way they work is way different to how RBOT operates, and I'd like to see RBOT operate with more professionalism and actually think about what one would do in the exact same situation and be more public about that too.

Leave the whinging to social media where it's more appropriate for people to whinge.

For now, what's going to be locked in is going to remain locked in, that's fact!  No amount of whinging is going to change anything, what can change though is explaining properly what you would do in the same situation (that can apply to any future major events) and see if Govt is open working alongside you with developing future policies regarding this stuff.

I like what Mr X has posted.  Formulate ideas and put together a cohesive policy that RBOT can take to Govt and the media.

[ozbob]

Good for you STB.  We don't have paid staff etc.  Just a group of people who want to see better outcomes.

You must have posted as I put up the earlier post.  What Mr X suggested we have put forward a number of times directly to the transport authorities.  We also explored the notion of rail shuttles on the branches in conjunction with a better frequency on the main corridors.
You don't seem to have an appreciation of the constant effort many here put in.  The forum is only a small part, many here make representations constantly to their local members and so forth.

We do a lot of work for just unpaid volunteers.   And it is my choice to pay for the IT costs.  I like that, I do not want to be obligated to any funding regime or political process.

Have a good day!

[STB]

To be honest QR's solution isn't that much of a surprise at all to me.

This is going to sound controversial but instead of trying to cover everything and failing, how about we reprioritise resources into the lines we need them most- Ipswich, Caboolture and Beenleigh, and keep a proper service on these. Shut down Doomben line completely (run a frequent railbus from the Northern busway, past Eagle Junction and through Clayfield/Hendra etc.). Replace Springfield with railbuses from Darra. Run the Redcliffe lines as a short shuttle and run Ferny Grove as an hourly service. Then make up whatever gaps with railbuses.

Yes it's not a good solution. Yes it looks bad leaving infrastructure unused. Yes buses are slower. But if we don't have enough drivers, then no whinging in the world can solve that so it's time to think out of the box and look at how to get people from A to B.

QR's plan doesn't surprise me at all either, they've been given the constraints of 'No line closures' by the Govt's committee, and so QR has had to formulate a plan around that constraint and the already known constraints of train crew shortages and what rollingstock is available.

If I were in the same situation, having to form a plan for it (and I was part of that many years ago when I was working in the transport industry), I'd probably would've formed the exact same plan myself, not something I would've enjoyed by a long shot, but on a practical logistical level, what else could you do.

[Mr X]

^ thanks. Yes, I and others have suggested just that.  Keeping the core at a better frequency ( at least 30 minute or better ) and closing some of the branches makes sense in the #GC2018 context.  But it was torpedoed apparently by the committment given in Parliament by the Premier last June 2017 ' there will be no line closures '.

Hmm ok I didn't realise it had been suggested. Seemed like a better solution than their "hourly on all lines" solution.

Saying "we're not shutting anything down" is a really poor comment to make. A bus every 15mins beats a train every hour.

[techblitz]

Frankly I'm getting rather bored of this forum after being here for many years, it's appearing to be less constructive and more about having a whinge.

STB may I suggest you do what petey has done....for your own sanity take a break from the forum until QR get their F*ing sh%t together....see you in about 2 years.
Its clear as day from here and on your 'to QRs defence' posts on social media that you really do hate whinging train users......
Reality check...if you think everyone should be like you and keep their mouths zipped while they wait 50 minutes for a railbus @ north Boondall....then your a dill.....
For your enjoyment

https://www.facebook.com/QueenslandRail/posts/1856073541077664

[ozbob]

^ thanks. Yes, I and others have suggested just that.  Keeping the core at a better frequency ( at least 30 minute or better ) and closing some of the branches makes sense in the #GC2018 context.  But it was torpedoed apparently by the committment given in Parliament by the Premier last June 2017 ' there will be no line closures '.

Hmm ok I didn't realise it had been suggested. Seemed like a better solution than their "hourly on all lines" solution.

Saying "we're not shutting anything down" is a really poor comment to make. A bus every 15mins beats a train every hour.

I will say something in support of the Premier and Deputy Premier when that committment was given (June 2017).  I think they might have been relying on the raw figures and projections of crew and trains at that time.  There didn't seem to be a realisation there was also a crew attrition rate to account for.  On average QR loses 2 drivers per month.  Resignations, retirements, re-allocations and so forth.  Things have gone bad with the NGRs and crew gains at present are only very small.  Hence the basket case we have today.

[ozbob]

You like Pizza TB?   

(Rail replacement is expressly free too, did I mention that?)

https://twitter.com/levelcrossings/status/959652670108704769

[Stillwater]

I am amazed constantly at the combined skillset of people who contribute to these forums.  Peppered throughout the threads are practical suggestions from small to large.  My experience is that improvements, no matter how small, are praised here - and we see incremental progress, albeit slow.  We also see monumental cock-ups of a scale that requires investigation by institutions such as the Auditor-General and the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Where Queensland differs from other states - and this is where much of the blame lies - is in the politicisation of public transport and in its bureaucratic structure.  Too often the Premier, Trad etc make political statements for political reasons that force a straight jacket onto the public servants.  Pollies are too close to the day-to-day operations and should back off.  We only have to look to the Fitzgerald Inquiry to see what happens when the political arm and the executive arm of government become too inter-meshed.

QR, TMR and TransLink are administrative structures that are hamstrung by silo thinking (the Auditor-General says this) and by left-hand, right-hand activities that trip over each other, or allow the buck to be passed back and forth.

Fix those things (and this forum has put forward a constructive model - the WA model) and things will improve dramatically.  The other aspect that needs attention is that in SEQ we are not just running trains on rails and buses on roads.  We are MOVING AND CONNECTING PEOPLE and generating commerce and economic activity through the efficient movement of freight and the proper functioning of cities and towns.

The greater Brisbane urban conurbation is on track to be the most congested in the nation, making efficient public transport solutions and investment more critical than at any time in our evolution.  Radical and clever thinking is necessary, including new ways of revenue-raising and collection.  A new tax may be necessary, but then the politicians will interfere and declare NO NEW TAXES - further hampering our chances of crawling from the mire of mediocrity.

[ozbob]

Yo.  Always appreciate the feedback observations and suggestions. 

Deputy Premier just posted this by the way.  Interesting ..

https://twitter.com/jackietrad/status/959618467665096707

https://twitter.com/jackietrad/status/959618625895153664

https://twitter.com/jackietrad/status/959618799862366208

>> http://jackietrad.com.au/tms/

[ozbob]

Back to the Commonwealth Games Timetable.  We will need to look at the peak timetables carefully as well.  I feel that there might be reductions down to the Summer School Holiday Timetable level as well, despite no mention of that yet.  I hope not.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Weekend train services halved during Commonwealth Games

Queensland Rail has not denied reports weekend train services in south-east Queensland will be halved to meet demand during the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Weekend services across the network will be cut from half-hourly to every hour, while the Gold Coast line will run on an accelerated schedule with trains arriving every 15 minutes from April 4 to 15, according to News Corp.

This will enable Queensland Rail to free up drivers, who are scarce, for the duration of the event.

In response to questions regarding details of the cuts, Queensland Rail CEO Nick Easy failed to deny the reports in a statement.

"Queensland Rail has been working closely with The Department of Transport and Main Roads to deliver an integrated public transport plan for south-east Queensland," Mr Easy said.

"(This) will encompass all modes of transport to support travel to and from the games, and for other customers across south-east Queensland during games time.

"The scale of this major international event, which coincides with school holidays, will bring more than 620,000 visitors to the Gold Coast and generate more than 6 million extra trips on our transport network.

"We've always said there would need to be some adjustments to other parts of the rail network as we increase services on the Gold Coast line to meet this unprecedented demand."

The GC2018 public transport timetable was set to be launched on Sunday, giving commuters two months to prepare and plan their journey.

"Queensland Rail staff will be out across the rail network from Monday morning, speaking with commuters and assisting them to plan their journey ahead of these changes," Mr Easy said.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey promised trams would run every six minutes during peak event periods at the games.

The minister said the trams would operate in conjunction with the train network, thanks to a connection between light and heavy rail services at Helensvale Station.

Mr Bailey said the light rail network would operate 24 hours a day during GC2018, with three more trams to be added to the network for the major event.

He also highlighted recent tram patronage numbers which showed 110,863 trips had been made from Gold Coast Light Rail Stage Two stations, about a month-and-a-half after they opened.

"There is going to be a massive influx of people during the games, but we are confident we have done the planning to make sure this is an incredibly successful event," Mr Bailey said.

"The overall increase in patronage across Gold Coast Light Rail since stage 2 opened, when compared with the same period last year, was 27 per cent or an extra 245,259 trips."

However, LNP deputy leader Tim Mander said Labor needed to address concerns that traffic chaos was going to grip the M1 heading towards the Gold Coast during the games.

"What they (Labor) should be doing is standing up to the unions and making sure that we recruit more train drivers," Mr Mander said.

"The lack of planning so far has led to this situation, they have given us no reassurance so far that the traffic is going to flow down the coast.

"A recent survey of Gold Coast residents says that 90 per cent of them expect chaos, 65 per cent are still going to have the same travel requirements, so we're going to have chaos and this government doesn't seem to be concerned about it whatsoever."

[ozbob]

We will all have THE plan tomorrow hey?   

[ozbob]

" ... "Queensland Rail staff will be out across the rail network from Monday morning, speaking with commuters and assisting them to plan their journey ahead of these changes," Mr Easy said. ... "

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/brisbanetimes/status/959667768416088064

[ozbob]

There is some dissension within the rail operator concerning the weekend service reductions informed sources have revealed. 
There are staff within QR who are of the view that they do have enough resources to not do that.   
An interesting if depressing juxtaposition. 

[Cazza]

Just an idea, but do you think the 555 should be extended from the Hyperdome to Beenleigh Station during the games? It will play the role as a core route to provide a direct connection between the SE Busway (more importantly Garden City Interchange and 8 Mile Plains PnR) and Beenleigh Station (to connect onto GC Line services) to help encourage PT use in this SE corner of the City.

Would this work? I know traffic on the M1 will be a killer, but it could (if traffic is worse at specific times) divert via local roads through Springwood and Daisy Hill.

[#Metro]

Where Queensland differs from other states - and this is where much of the blame lies - is in the politicisation of public transport and in its bureaucratic structure.  Too often the Premier, Trad etc make political statements for political reasons that force a straight jacket onto the public servants.  Pollies are too close to the day-to-day operations and should back off.  We only have to look to the Fitzgerald Inquiry to see what happens when the political arm and the executive arm of government become too inter-meshed.

Well, it is politicised because it is being directly operated by politicians. And that's what people wanted.
Perhaps there are few exceptions to agencies that escape politicisation of some form - law courts and universities spring to mind.

When the regulator and operator become legally separated through competitive contracting, then there will be a curtailment of ministerial interventions like overriding the choice of the CEO, including staff in mass public servant cuts programmes, micromanaging what words appear in job advertisements or directing the QR board to sign on to particular EBAs containing particular conditions.

The "let's put DDA-non compliant trains on the network and run them anyway" business will evaporate because there will no longer be the protection of the deep pockets of Queensland Treasury to bail out fines for the operator, but the risk of stiff fines that the operating company would have bear itself.

The separation will mean that the government can come out and present operator performance as it really is - unsugared - unlike now, where lots of PR is involved as it might reflect badly on the minister or administration of the day.

The regulator will actually have the power to regulate, not monitor, as is the case now.

[ozbob]

Just an idea, but do you think the 555 should be extended from the Hyperdome to Beenleigh Station during the games? It will play the role as a core route to provide a direct connection between the SE Busway (more importantly Garden City Interchange and 8 Mile Plains PnR) and Beenleigh Station (to connect onto GC Line services) to help encourage PT use in this SE corner of the City.

Would this work? I know traffic on the M1 will be a killer, but it could (if traffic is worse at specific times) divert via local roads through Springwood and Daisy Hill.

Good idea.  I expect to see some extra bus routes for the games, not down on the Coast but around Brisbane to get to the Gold Coast line where practicable.  One can hardly rely on the rail network generally sadly.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/959699699635638272

[ozbob]

>> https://www.gc2018.com/transport

Still " You are not authorized to access this page. "  so while we are waiting with great expectations of not much enjoy !

[ozbob]

Away we go ..

https://twitter.com/eastTMoore/status/959942883963883522

[Cazza]

Beenleigh Line RailBus: https://translink.com.au/service-updates/166881

Com Games Train Frequencies: https://translink.com.au/service-updates/165881

[ozbob]

Essentials.

Gold Coast and Beenleigh combined.  This means some stations will not be served by rail but by bus.  All trains (Beenleigh or Gold Coast) will stop at a limited number of stations Park Road <> Beenleigh.
By doing that can increase frequency to 6 to 8 per or hour or slightly better at times.

Rest of network will have one hour frequency prior to and after the Games period.  For the two working weeks there will be peak reductions.

No line closures..

TransLink journey planner should be updated today to show 12 weeks in advance.

Understand actual timetables may be distributed later on.

[ozbob]

https://translink.com.au/service-updates/166881

Beenleigh line bus services 5 April to 15 April

From Thursday 5 April to Sunday 15 April 2018, buses will replace trains for some stations on the Beenleigh line. This will allow for increased frequency of Gold Coast trains during the Commonwealth Games.

High frequency Gold Coast trains will stop at the following Beenleigh line stations:

    Beenleigh
    Loganlea
    Woodridge
    Altandi
    Coopers Plains
    Yeronga

For other stations, see below for bus services from your station. Please check back closer to the Games for any updates.

[ozbob]

Commonwealth Games travel information

> https://translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/event-transport/gc2018

Also

Get Set for the Games >> https://www.getsetforthegames.com/

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/959946938614407168

[ozbob]

Changes to train services

From Friday 30 March to Friday 20 April, there will be service changes across the Queensland Rail network in order to meet the demand for high frequency Gold Coast trains during the Games.

If you intend to travel by train during this time, you will need to plan ahead and allow additional travel time.

>> https://translink.com.au/service-updates/165881

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/959948140638978048

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/959950738771165185

[ozbob]

 Summary:

1. Beenleigh line notionally gone for the period Thursday 5 April to Sunday 15 April 2018. See for bus replacement > https://translink.com.au/service-updates/166881

2. Gold Coast trains will service the Beenleigh line by stopping at:

Yeronga
Coopers Plains
Altandi
Woodridge
Loganlea
Beenleigh

3. Back to reduced peak and one hour frequency weekends and public holidays, 2 hour Sunshine Coast, basically the same as the recent Summer School Holiday Timetable (except for the 24 hour trains on the Gold Coast line) from Friday 30 March to Friday 20 April 2018.

[Cazza]

1. Beenleigh line notionally gone for the period Thursday 5 April to Sunday 15 April 2018.

2. Gold Coast trains will service the Beenleigh line by stopping at:

    Yeronga
    Coopers Plains
    Altandi
    Woodridge
    Loganlea
    Beenleigh

To be fair, I do think this is probably the best solution for the GC/Beenleigh Line corridor with the available resources and capacity restraints. I can see people up in arms about having to get a bus rather than train. That's fair. However, with the GC trains making additional stops at Yeronga, Coopers Plains and Woodridge, the most stations between a "Beenleigh Line" station and a "GC Line" station is 4 (between both Yeronga and Coopers Plains and Altandi and Woodridge).

I understand that it is not preferable to run rail replacement services, but given that there hasn't been much to celebrate lately in regards to passenger rail services in SEQ, it is the best they can do.