Improving public transport access

[ozbob]

http://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/chester/releases/2017/december/dc390_2017.aspx

Improving public transport access


    Whole of Journey guide calls for thinking 'outside the square' to improve public transport accessibility for travellers with a disability.

    The guide provides industry, government and the community with guidance on how public transport can address missing links in the system by considering the whole journey.

Making public transport more accessible for people with a disability is the focus of a new guide released today aimed at finding solutions to gaps in the public transport network.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said the Whole Journey: A guide for thinking beyond compliance to create accessible public transport journeys was developed with the direct input of people with a disability, transport planners, transport operators, architects, engineers, builders and certifiers.

"People with disability have the right to participate in social, economic and cultural aspects of the community which is often reliant on the public transport network," Mr Chester said.

"This guide highlights that it is better to consider the whole journey at the start of the transport planning process, and that it can go beyond regulations to achieve a better outcome.

"Aspects of the journey include pre-journey planning, through to accessing public transport, disruptions to business-as-usual, return journey planning, and supporting infrastructure.

"Strong progress has been made in improving accessibility in recent years but the guide has identified accessibility gaps such as accessing bus stops and train stations, and negotiating interchanges.

"To make further progress, we need all jurisdictions to cooperate and it was pleasing to have the Whole Journey guide endorsed by State and Territory Ministers, at the Transport and Infrastructure Council in November.

"Improvements in accessibility can benefit all Australians, including the elderly, speakers of language other than English, people travelling with young children, and people travelling in unfamiliar areas," Mr Chester said.

For a copy of the guide, visit http://infrastructure.gov.au/transport/disabilities/whole-journey.

[ozbob]

The Guardian --> Travelling while disabled is hell. We need major change – and kindness

If transport workers or members of the public see someone who looks like they need help, please treat them as individuals

Every day brings news of novel, cruel and unusual indignities inflicted on a human daring to travel while disabled. In the latest demoralising example, Steve Smithers was prevented from flying for the crime of carrying spanners, in case he used them to "dismantle the plane" instead of adjusting his wheelchair. It would take a time-rich, engineering-genius-meets-world's strongest man to do that, not someone paralysed from the chest down.

I am disabled because of MS, which causes restricted mobility and impaired vision, both of which are worsened by stress. I dread travelling, even by bus. I can't fully see to flag down the correct one, and, boy, do Glaswegian drivers hate it when I explain why I stopped the wrong one. See me trying to count the exact change (mandatory in Glasgow) with my restricted vision, while an impatient driver snorts. And despite my walking stick, passengers hog seats near entrances reserved for the likes of me, spreading across two seats until asked to move.

Train journeys are an ordeal. When checking the departure platform, I am often gruffly directed to the information board, which is bit of a walk. Worse, is being met with silence after asking a question. Silence, because I then say: "You're pointing, aren't you?" If I can't see, what good is that? Don't absentmindedly direct me on to the wrong train, as happened once when I called the rail company helpline. Steps on trains and at stations can be high: try hoisting yourself up steps, let alone carrying heavy luggage or shopping (fellow travellers rarely help).
What is life really like for disabled people? The disability diaries reveal all
Read more

Elsewhere, prohibitive rules can be callously, inappropriately and rigidly applied – occasionally, new ones are invented on the spot. I once encountered a German tourist on a train, who nervously asked for my advice. She had booked extra assistance in advance because of walking difficulties and, bless her, honestly believed that help would arrive. The ticket collector reassured her but nobody appeared. When we saw him walk away, we tapped the window. He smiled and waved cheerio.

I then asked station staff for assistance and we both watched in shock as a man slowly, deliberately (and unnecessarily) rolled out a ramp. Disabled means "ramp", you see, even if you are deaf. I politely asked him to find a porter. Testily, he kept on unravelling that damn ramp, explaining righteously: "Excuse me, but I am helping a poor disabled lady." He'd had training and everything. Desperate, she raced off for her connecting train after, eventually, someone sensible helped her with luggage and directions, but not, I suspect her blood pressure.

    Be kind and pleasant. Respect a passenger's dignity. Don't assume disabled equals ramp

It's not the same in every country. Travelling to Bilbao from Manchester airport with worse vision than I have now, but better mobility, I checked in and asked for help, but was abandoned and forced to fend for myself. Landing in Spain, the contrast was so marked that I felt like royalty. They collected my bag from the carousel and insisted on carrying it for me. They would, I suspect, happily have washed my feet had I asked. Later, at Barcelona airport, I was obligingly given the help I needed (directions, with added luggage carrying) but not patronised with a one size fits all ramp. Indeed, posters in Catalonia explain that helping disabled people benefits everyone; wheelchair ramps can be helpful to pram users, for example.

Major training and institutional change are required, but, mostly, kindness is needed. This extends to obvious and sensible requirements such as wheelchair adjustment spanners on planes, as well as generous assistance for people with multiple issues, including "invisible" disabilities (including mental health problems). Be kind and pleasant. Respect a passenger's dignity; discreetly guide those who need such assistance to the lavatory (which will, of course, be clean and supplied with lavatory paper – oh, my innocent soul...). Don't assume disabled equals ramp: if passengers ask for help with luggage, or directions to trains and planes, do it promptly and willingly, responding to individual needs.

Fellow passengers: look up from your phone and offer help. And companies, I am not asking for a golden carriage pulled by miniature Shetland ponies dyed green to match to my eyes. All I really need is a porter.

Penny Anderson is a writer and artist

[ozbob]

ABC News --> The 'unconscionable' state of Australia's train stations

This is a very good research article.  Some extracts:

" There are around 960 train stations across Australia. "

" By the end of 2017, each state was supposed to have ensured that 90 per cent of their stations met accessibility standards. "

" By 2022, 100 per cent of the stations are supposed to be accessible. "

" Piecing together publicly available station information and data supplied by transport authorities, ABC News found that more than one in four stations in Australia is not independently accessible. "

" Meaning if you're in a wheelchair, have mobility issues or even use a pram, chances are you can't use around 270 stations in Australia. The main issue with those stations is steps. According to ABS data, 40 per cent of people who reported difficulties using public transport in Australia had issues with steps. "

" But that's only part of the picture. Many accessibility issues people face can often be less obvious and harder to identify. "

" We conducted a survey and received more than 1300 responses from a wide range of Australians affected by accessibility ranging from the elderly, people living with disabilities or temporary injuries and pram users. "

" The survey highlighted accessibility issues at a further 179 stations across Australia. "

" 87 had issues with lifts being out of order. "

" A further 70 had issues with ramps being too steep. "

" 10 had car parking issues. "

" Other issues included lack of audible announcements at stations, poor signage and issues with adequate staffing at stations. "

" About 37 per cent of Western Australia's metro and regional train services are not independently accessible. "

" In New South Wales, the figure is closer to 44 per cent. "

" While 44 per cent of stations across the Queensland network are also inaccessible. "

" All stations in Victoria can be accessed independently except for one and South Australia was the only state to not provide any information on its services, but its website suggests all stations are accessible for people with mobility issues. "

" It's important to note that even though stations are listed as independently accessible it does not necessarily mean they are compliant with federal transport standards. Victoria, for example, has conducted audits of its stations and identified issues at numerous stations across the network. "

[ozbob]

^

https://twitter.com/abcnews/status/1034550699458101249

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ABCaustralia/status/1034592559182618624

[ozbob]

Interview on ABC Radio Brisbane 29th August 2018 Drive with Kelly Higgins-Devine and Geoff Trappett OAM (Inclusion Moves) re station access issues.

Also features a number of talk back callers ...

Interview --> https://backontrack.org/docs/abcbris/abc29aug18GT.mp3 35MB

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1035261900097867776

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1035643065673822208

[Cazza]

I just noticed the bus stops at Oakwal Lane (outside Homezone Windsor) have some blue signs to do with improving disabled access or something along those lines. I didn't get a good look as a I only saw it out of the corner of my eye driving past.

[ozbob]

Not good this, not good at all ..

https://twitter.com/JWMartin07/status/1037965691301679104

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/InclusionMoves/status/1037969485007704064

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/JessMumme/status/1037972513744015361

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1037980027302768640

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1037988611721842690

[#Metro]

New operators please!

[techblitz]

The fact that someone was kicked off and just left there is beyond words.....this could potentially become world news if it goes viral...
QR better pray it doesn't....

Policies:

https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/PolicyCentre/Pages/Accessibility.aspx

https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/PolicyCentre/Pages/AccessibilityFAQ.aspx

https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/PolicyCentre/Pages/AccessibilityFacilities.aspx

https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/PolicyCentre/Pages/Travelling-with-a-Carer.aspx

Manual Wheelchair

For customers in manual wheelchairs which need to be pushed from behind it is recommended they arrange for a companion to assist them with boarding and disembarking the train if possible.

While our staff will be happy to offer assistance, it may not be safe for them to perform the task in some instances which may impact on the customer being able to travel with us.

If family or friends are required to assist customers to board the service, they should notify an onboard staff member on the day when they are travelling. This is to assist the customer to board safely and to ensure that the people assisting can safely disembark prior to the doors being locked for departure.

I use a wheelchair and would like to know what facilities are provided onboard the train to cater for my travelling requirements?


The Tilt Trains and Spirit of Queensland offer a modern service, including wheelchair accessible facilities. When you board and disembark the Tilt Train or Spirit of Queensland, a staff member will deploy a ramp that can be used to assist you on and off the service. An allocated space is available for you to remain in your wheelchair, or you may transfer to a seat if you are able to do so. Additionally, the Tilt Trains and Spirit of Queensland have accessible bathroom facilities, including a baby change table with an accessible shower on the Spirit of Queensland.
The traditional style of rail travel offered by our other services is not fully accessible to people who use a wheelchair due to narrow door and aisle ways. However, a small onboard chair is available for use once inside the train. Please discuss your exact requirements with your travel consultant to determine if you will be able to safely use the service.

Onboard and Station Staff Assistance



Our staff will strive to make your journey as comfortable as possible. Please advise your consultant of any assistance you may require at the time of booking. Please note that for health and safety and legal reasons there are some limitations to the assistance our staff can provide.

Onboard staff can provide customers with a disability the following assistance:

• Boarding and disembarking the train by setting up ramps for customers to use
• Guiding to or from their seat or sleeping berth^
• Assistance with carrying small hand held luggage (7kg max)
• Assistance with carrying mobility aids under 20kg in weight e.g: walking frames, canes etc
• Guiding to or from their seat or sleeping berth to toilet and shower facility entrances^
• Serving meals to their seats if required


^ Staff may use the onboard wheelchair when assisting customers if required and safe to do so.


Onboard staff cannot provide the following assistance:

Driving or pushing large mobility devices up ramps until a safety risk assessment is completed
unacceptable


Lifting customers in any way (including helping customers in or out of toilet/shower area)

unacceptable 

Giving injections or administering medication
unacceptable 


Large carry on luggage items (over 7kg)
It is recommended that customers check in larger luggage items (20kg maximum) that they are unable to carry easily themselves


unacceptable 

Assistance with meal and beverage consumption
unacceptable 

Washing customers or emptying colostomy bags, urine bottles or similar equipment

unacceptable 

If assistance of this nature is required, customers will need to arrange for a capable carer to travel with them. Please refer to information on our Travelling with a Carer

Travelling with a Carer ​


Queensland Rail Travel's policy allows an approved, capable carer to travel for free in seats on Queensland Rail Travel services when accompanying a customer with a disability who requires their care and assistance.

Capable Carer Definition - Queensland Rail Travel & Tourist
1.A carer provides personal care, support and assistance to a travelling customer due to disability, medical condition, including terminal or chronic illness, mental illness or is frail and aged.
2.A carer may be a young person under 16 years of age provided they can provide the required care and support.
3.Responsibilities for a carer on our services include help and support in any of the daily activities of the person being cared for.
4.It may include physical and personal care and assistance such as dressing, lifting, showering, and feeding. It also may include providing assistance to join or depart our services as well as luggage handling and movement around the train once onboard.
5.Carers may be responsible for the management of medications during travel and provide emotional, social or financial support throughout the journey.

Queensland Rail Travel and Tourist staff at staffed stations and on our services are able to assist customers and their carers in situations that require additional support however there are specific assistance requirements that staff are not able to provide to customers. These are listed in the section "Onboard and Station Staff Assistance"

An individual is not considered a carer for a customer merely because he or she:

(a) is the spouse, de facto partner, parent, child or other relative of an individual, or is the guardian of an individual; or

(b) Lives with an individual who requires care.

A Carer's fare is accessed in the following two ways:
1.The customer requiring a carer (using Queensland Pensioner Rail Entitlements) must provide a letter from a doctor or a community organisation for people with a disability) with details of their disability and the requirement for a carer to travel with them. The letter allows access to carer's fares and will be valid for 2 years from the date of issue.
2.The customer requiring a carer holds a Companion Card, the card can be used to access carer's fares.

The following conditions apply in both circumstances above:
•Travel for carers must be the same class, carriage and journey as the accompanying customer they are providing care for.
•Additional charges such as berth fees and meals are not covered under the Carer's Policy and must be paid by the customers.
•A family member may be approved as a carer and are expected to provide any carer support, including assistance with mobility and associated tasks joining and leaving the train and during the journey.

You can view details of our onboard and station staff assistance in Accessible Facilities.


Travel arrangements for Carer Travel




Spirit of Queensland



Accessible wheelchair spaces on The Spirit of Queensland are located in Car E Premium Economy Seat carriage.

Two (2) accessible RailBeds are located in carriage B.

Please check our Accessibility page below for more information.



Remain in your own wheelchair

Customers choosing to remain in their wheelchair using an accessible space can travel for an Economy Seat fare.


Transfer to a Seat / RailBed

Customers choosing to transfer to a Premium Economy Seat or RailBed will be charged the applicable fare for the travel class chosen.




Carers will pay the applicable concession fare for the chosen travel option.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/SteveMinnikinMP/status/1038002724304908288

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

8th September 2018

Passenger in a wheel chair left behind at Townsville by Queensland Rail

Greetings,

If you haven't caught up with the latest blunder with Queensland Rail have a quick review here:

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1037980027302768640

Mr Richard Corduke, a former Paralympian was denied travel on the Spirit of Queensland from Townsville to Bundaberg, because Queensland Rail decided arbitrarily that this gentleman could not travel independently, despite him successfully undergoing a test of transferring from wheelchair to passenger seat and back again which he passed.   Mr Corduke has been travelling independently for many years.  He had planned to go a wedding, now a lost opportunity.

Frankly, all of us at RAIL Back On Track, are extremely disappointed, disgusted and embarrassed that a passenger in a wheelchair was denied carriage and left abandoned on the platform at Townsville railway station.  The Spirit of Queensland train does have wheelchair accessible spaces ( https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/PolicyCentre/Pages/AccessibilityFAQ.aspx ).

On behalf of RAIL Back On Track members we apologise to Mr Corduke for this shocking treatment.  We note the Minister for Transport has called for an investigation into the circumstances of this most regrettable incident.

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

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1038101227869855745

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1038119585151516672

[Stillwater]

A new low for Queensland Rail.  How many times do we see an organisation that promotes fine words and policies then fails to live up to those words?  Give undertakings they don't keep? They fail themselves.

Remember, this is an organisation that seeks exemptions to operate OUTSIDE THE LAW when it comes to the design of trains that, by law, must cater for the needs of people with a disability.  We are shocked by third world failed countries controlled by despots that deny people their human rights, so we must stand up when organisations such as QR show this level of uncaring insensitivity.  The staffer concerned must be transferred to other duties pending the investigation conclusions.

Mr Corduke has grounds to bring a Human Rights prosecution against QR, which he has launched, and I hope he wins that battle in the courts.

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1038143530743418880

[STB]

Unfortunately these sorts of judgements by abled bodied people of disabled people (of all types of disabilities, both invisible and visible disabilities) are quite common in society, found from people from the top of the tree (eg: Parliament House in Canberra) right down to everyday life.

[ozbob]

Unfortunately these sorts of judgements by abled bodied people of disabled people (of all types of disabilities, both invisible and visible disabilities) are quite common in society, found from people from the top of the tree (eg: Parliament House in Canberra) right down to everyday life.

Very well said STB.  Thank you.

[#Metro]

Was #RailFail now #DisabilityFail.

[ozbob]

Was #RailFail now #DisabilityFail.

#DDAfail -  it has always been there together with #railfail #busnetworkreformfail #RPLfail #Cattlerailfail #NGRfail #Datafail

[InclusionMoves]

If this isn't evidence that even the best policies and procedures don't mean a thing if the values of the staff are sub par then I don't know what does.

Sadly many PWD including myself were involved in developing those policies and procedures. On a volunteer basis ofcourse,

Geoff

The fact that someone was kicked off and just left there is beyond words.....this could potentially become world news if it goes viral...
QR better pray it doesn't....

Policies:

https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/PolicyCentre/Pages/Accessibility.aspx

https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/PolicyCentre/Pages/AccessibilityFAQ.aspx

https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/PolicyCentre/Pages/AccessibilityFacilities.aspx

https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/PolicyCentre/Pages/Travelling-with-a-Carer.aspx

Manual Wheelchair

For customers in manual wheelchairs which need to be pushed from behind it is recommended they arrange for a companion to assist them with boarding and disembarking the train if possible.

While our staff will be happy to offer assistance, it may not be safe for them to perform the task in some instances which may impact on the customer being able to travel with us.

If family or friends are required to assist customers to board the service, they should notify an onboard staff member on the day when they are travelling. This is to assist the customer to board safely and to ensure that the people assisting can safely disembark prior to the doors being locked for departure.

I use a wheelchair and would like to know what facilities are provided onboard the train to cater for my travelling requirements?


The Tilt Trains and Spirit of Queensland offer a modern service, including wheelchair accessible facilities. When you board and disembark the Tilt Train or Spirit of Queensland, a staff member will deploy a ramp that can be used to assist you on and off the service. An allocated space is available for you to remain in your wheelchair, or you may transfer to a seat if you are able to do so. Additionally, the Tilt Trains and Spirit of Queensland have accessible bathroom facilities, including a baby change table with an accessible shower on the Spirit of Queensland.
The traditional style of rail travel offered by our other services is not fully accessible to people who use a wheelchair due to narrow door and aisle ways. However, a small onboard chair is available for use once inside the train. Please discuss your exact requirements with your travel consultant to determine if you will be able to safely use the service.

Onboard and Station Staff Assistance



Our staff will strive to make your journey as comfortable as possible. Please advise your consultant of any assistance you may require at the time of booking. Please note that for health and safety and legal reasons there are some limitations to the assistance our staff can provide.

Onboard staff can provide customers with a disability the following assistance:

• Boarding and disembarking the train by setting up ramps for customers to use
• Guiding to or from their seat or sleeping berth^
• Assistance with carrying small hand held luggage (7kg max)
• Assistance with carrying mobility aids under 20kg in weight e.g: walking frames, canes etc
• Guiding to or from their seat or sleeping berth to toilet and shower facility entrances^
• Serving meals to their seats if required


^ Staff may use the onboard wheelchair when assisting customers if required and safe to do so.


Onboard staff cannot provide the following assistance:

Driving or pushing large mobility devices up ramps until a safety risk assessment is completed
unacceptable


Lifting customers in any way (including helping customers in or out of toilet/shower area)

unacceptable 

Giving injections or administering medication
unacceptable 


Large carry on luggage items (over 7kg)
It is recommended that customers check in larger luggage items (20kg maximum) that they are unable to carry easily themselves


unacceptable 

Assistance with meal and beverage consumption
unacceptable 

Washing customers or emptying colostomy bags, urine bottles or similar equipment

unacceptable 

If assistance of this nature is required, customers will need to arrange for a capable carer to travel with them. Please refer to information on our Travelling with a Carer

Travelling with a Carer ​


Queensland Rail Travel's policy allows an approved, capable carer to travel for free in seats on Queensland Rail Travel services when accompanying a customer with a disability who requires their care and assistance.

Capable Carer Definition - Queensland Rail Travel & Tourist
1.A carer provides personal care, support and assistance to a travelling customer due to disability, medical condition, including terminal or chronic illness, mental illness or is frail and aged.
2.A carer may be a young person under 16 years of age provided they can provide the required care and support.
3.Responsibilities for a carer on our services include help and support in any of the daily activities of the person being cared for.
4.It may include physical and personal care and assistance such as dressing, lifting, showering, and feeding. It also may include providing assistance to join or depart our services as well as luggage handling and movement around the train once onboard.
5.Carers may be responsible for the management of medications during travel and provide emotional, social or financial support throughout the journey.

Queensland Rail Travel and Tourist staff at staffed stations and on our services are able to assist customers and their carers in situations that require additional support however there are specific assistance requirements that staff are not able to provide to customers. These are listed in the section "Onboard and Station Staff Assistance"

An individual is not considered a carer for a customer merely because he or she:

(a) is the spouse, de facto partner, parent, child or other relative of an individual, or is the guardian of an individual; or

(b) Lives with an individual who requires care.

A Carer's fare is accessed in the following two ways:
1.The customer requiring a carer (using Queensland Pensioner Rail Entitlements) must provide a letter from a doctor or a community organisation for people with a disability) with details of their disability and the requirement for a carer to travel with them. The letter allows access to carer's fares and will be valid for 2 years from the date of issue.
2.The customer requiring a carer holds a Companion Card, the card can be used to access carer's fares.

The following conditions apply in both circumstances above:
•Travel for carers must be the same class, carriage and journey as the accompanying customer they are providing care for.
•Additional charges such as berth fees and meals are not covered under the Carer's Policy and must be paid by the customers.
•A family member may be approved as a carer and are expected to provide any carer support, including assistance with mobility and associated tasks joining and leaving the train and during the journey.

You can view details of our onboard and station staff assistance in Accessible Facilities.


Travel arrangements for Carer Travel




Spirit of Queensland



Accessible wheelchair spaces on The Spirit of Queensland are located in Car E Premium Economy Seat carriage.

Two (2) accessible RailBeds are located in carriage B.

Please check our Accessibility page below for more information.



Remain in your own wheelchair

Customers choosing to remain in their wheelchair using an accessible space can travel for an Economy Seat fare.


Transfer to a Seat / RailBed

Customers choosing to transfer to a Premium Economy Seat or RailBed will be charged the applicable fare for the travel class chosen.




Carers will pay the applicable concession fare for the chosen travel option.

[InclusionMoves]

Complaint to Queensland Discrimination Commisioner was lodged yesterday Stillwater :-)

A new low for Queensland Rail.  How many times do we see an organisation that promotes fine words and policies then fails to live up to those words?  Give undertakings they don't keep? They fail themselves.

Remember, this is an organisation that seeks exemptions to operate OUTSIDE THE LAW when it comes to the design of trains that, by law, must cater for the needs of people with a disability.  We are shocked by third world failed countries controlled by despots that deny people their human rights, so we must stand up when organisations such as QR show this level of uncaring insensitivity.  The staffer concerned must be transferred to other duties pending the investigation conclusions.

Mr Corduke has grounds to bring a Human Rights prosecution against QR, which he has launched, and I hope he wins that battle in the courts.

[InclusionMoves]

Exactly right STB this is a case of employees adding their own values judgement in above policies and procedures. There should not be room for that.

Geoff

Unfortunately these sorts of judgements by abled bodied people of disabled people (of all types of disabilities, both invisible and visible disabilities) are quite common in society, found from people from the top of the tree (eg: Parliament House in Canberra) right down to everyday life.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/EJGriffiths/status/1038983642918178817

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

12th September 2018

Lift outages are major disruptions

Good Morning,

We have noted a problem  with the reliability of lifts at railway and bus stations.  Presently on the TransLink service disruption page
( https://translink.com.au/service-updates ) there 7 lift outages listed and one ' No lift access'.  The lift outages are described as ' informative ' when in fact they should be described as  ' major disruptions ' in our view, such is the impact on PWD and others who find stairs and/or steep ramps challenging ( elderly, people with prams, luggage etc.). For a passenger in a wheel chair or using another mobility device a lift outage can mean great inconvenience to their travel.  TransLink and Queensland Rail need to improve the notification of lift outages and take steps to improve the reliability of lifts generally.

We also think TransLink should set a separate web page for lift outages that passengers can quickly check prior to travel or provide a simple option on the service disruption page that selects only lift outages.  The present long list of service disruptions where lift outages are embedded is hard to discern quickly, and an outage could easily be over looked.

The public transport network in SEQ is struggling with a reduced service rail timetable, a failing bus network, and poor connections. 
Even plucking low hanging fruit appears to be beyond the abilities of the bumbling transport authorities these days. 
Leadership starts at the top.  There is a vacuum of leadership and it permeates through the transport bureaucracy like a rotten contagion.

Best wishes,

Robert

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

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1039554289910181891

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1039620713433391104

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1039623473574735872

[ozbob]

How to do it on twitter ..

https://twitter.com/metrotrains/status/1039594425024823297

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

13th September 2018

Re: Lift outages are major disruptions

Good Morning,

Stunned silence.

Strong response on our Facebook post on this subject:

> https://www.facebook.com/RAILBackOnTrack/posts/2231631540184354

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

12th September 2018

Lift outages are major disruptions

Good Morning,

We have noted a problem  with the reliability of lifts at railway and bus stations.  Presently on the TransLink service disruption page
( https://translink.com.au/service-updates ) there 7 lift outages listed and one ' No lift access'.  The lift outages are described as ' informative ' when in fact they should be described as  ' major disruptions ' in our view, such is the impact on PWD and others who find stairs and/or steep ramps challenging ( elderly, people with prams, luggage etc.). For a passenger in a wheel chair or using another mobility device a lift outage can mean great inconvenience to their travel.  TransLink and Queensland Rail need to improve the notification of lift outages and take steps to improve the reliability of lifts generally.

We also think TransLink should set a separate web page for lift outages that passengers can quickly check prior to travel or provide a simple option on the service disruption page that selects only lift outages.  The present long list of service disruptions where lift outages are embedded is hard to discern quickly, and an outage could easily be over looked.

The public transport network in SEQ is struggling with a reduced service rail timetable, a failing bus network, and poor connections. 
Even plucking low hanging fruit appears to be beyond the abilities of the bumbling transport authorities these days. 
Leadership starts at the top.  There is a vacuum of leadership and it permeates through the transport bureaucracy like a rotten contagion.

Best wishes,

Robert

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

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1039911736722128896

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1040824982102654978

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

17th September 2018

Useful link for lift outages

Good Morning,

Our contribution to Disability Action Week had been to try to get some awareness of the impact of lift outages on the SEQ public transport network.

As it seems to difficult for TransLink to put a simple tick option for lift outages on their Service updates page (  https://translink.com.au/service-updates ) we have set up our own convenient link using the TransLink Services notices RSS feed.

To access a filtered list of lift outages go to > https://railbotforum.org/rss/rss2html.php?XMLFILE=https://siftrss.com/f/ZnxyWrB0bl3&TEMPLATE=https://railbotforum.org/rss/lift-template.html

or as a shortened link  > https://tiny.cc/liftoutages

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

12th September 2018

Lift outages are major disruptions

Good Morning,

We have noted a problem  with the reliability of lifts at railway and bus stations.  Presently on the TransLink service disruption page
( https://translink.com.au/service-updates ) there 7 lift outages listed and one ' No lift access'.  The lift outages are described as ' informative ' when in fact they should be described as  ' major disruptions ' in our view, such is the impact on PWD and others who find stairs and/or steep ramps challenging ( elderly, people with prams, luggage etc.). For a passenger in a wheel chair or using another mobility device a lift outage can mean great inconvenience to their travel.  TransLink and Queensland Rail need to improve the notification of lift outages and take steps to improve the reliability of lifts generally.

We also think TransLink should set a separate web page for lift outages that passengers can quickly check prior to travel or provide a simple option on the service disruption page that selects only lift outages.  The present long list of service disruptions where lift outages are embedded is hard to discern quickly, and an outage could easily be over looked.

The public transport network in SEQ is struggling with a reduced service rail timetable, a failing bus network, and poor connections. 
Even plucking low hanging fruit appears to be beyond the abilities of the bumbling transport authorities these days. 
Leadership starts at the top.  There is a vacuum of leadership and it permeates through the transport bureaucracy like a rotten contagion.

Best wishes,

Robert

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

[ozbob]

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