Timetable from 22nd January 2018

[ozbob]

Blown the whistle!

1,418 People reached 687 Engagements

Thanks for joining in with the April 1 spirit all. I have been hiding comments that mentioned 1 April to see how the post went. I will now unhide all comments. As Ben has posted, there is a bit of truth behind this. It is late in the day to still be running 3 car services during peak on the Ippy line. Hopefully they will be converted to 6 car soon. 😎😄 Have a great day and tight couplers to all! Robert

[ozbob]

Update: 3,225 People reached 1,457 Engagements   

I think we need to get into the ' fake news ' business ...   

[red dragin]

Update: 3,225 People reached 1,457 Engagements   

I think we need to get into the ' fake news ' business ...   

Work's for the pollies! 

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

1st April 2019

Re: The 7.27am Ipswich to Bowen Hills service to be steam hauled from Monday 8th April

Greetings,

Yes today is the 1st April 2019.  We got a few ...   

But there is a message to this.

It is late in the day to still be running 3 car services during peak on the Ippy line. Hopefully they will be converted to 6 car soon.

Response on Facebook was amazing https://www.facebook.com/RAILBackOnTrack/posts/2541798315834340

3,402 People reached 1,507 Engagements presently!

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

The 7.27am Ipswich to Bowen Hills service to be steam hauled from Monday 8th April

RAIL Back On Track welcomes today's announcement that the 7.27am Ipswich to Bowen Hills service Monday to Fridays is to be steam hauled.

Problems with rostering 6 car units on all peak services on the Ipswich line have led the authorities to introduce the steam hauled service to free up more electric trains so that 3 car services at peak can be eliminated.

The engine to be normally rostered on this service will be BB18 1/4 1079 (1, 2).  This engine is in fine condition and will never have pantograph issues commented Robert Dow, Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track. " We welcome this interim improvement to free up more trains for the Citytrain network and the busy Ipswich line. It will be wonderful to see steam back in regular service " said Robert Dow.

Local commuter Dann Hammer said " I will certainly try to catch the 7.27 train when I can.  I do like steam engines and the whistle. ".

Steam locomotive 1079 will haul 7 SX carriages so there will be plenty of room for passengers.

Contact

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

References:

1. BB18 1/4 1079 blasts through Wacol



2. Queensland Rail Steam Locomotive 1079 passenger train departing Indooroopilly

[ozbob]

Update: 3,225 People reached 1,457 Engagements   

I think we need to get into the ' fake news ' business ...   

Work's for the pollies! 

Now 3,907 People reached 1,749 Engagements 

I think we should go for the big one next ... MONORAIL !! 

[red dragin]

Noice!

Jump on and make the most of it. Facebook seems to reward you with good coverage with the next few posts, as long as they are interesting and have a photo.

Perhaps a "everyone loved the idea of a service improvements, lets have it then Mr Minister" post or similar.

[ozbob]

The team is on it ...   



Update: 4,017 People reached 1,812 Engagements

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

5,085 People reached 2,254 Engagements -  a successful effort!   

[ozbob]

Minister Bailey has just announced in Parliament that extra services will be introduced from 13th May 2019.

Shorncliffe, Cleveland, Redcliffe Peninsula, Springfield, Ferny Grove  maybe another ..

Details to come ..

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> 14,000 more train seats for peak times

Transport Minister Mark Bailey has revealed Queensland Rail will begin restoring services to the train network in peak hours from next month, about two and a half years after the "rail fail".

Mr Bailey said the 32 extra weekly services in peak times would add another 14,000 seats to the southeast Queensland train network.

"These additional services will put more trains back into services when customers most need them – in the morning and afternoon peak," he said.

He said from Monday May 13 new services would run on the Shorncliffe, Cleveland, Redcliffe Peninsula, Ferny Grove, Springfield, Gold Coast and Airport lines.

Mr Bailey also said train patronage had increased by 1.7 million trips in 2017/18 with 52.7 million total trips recorded.

"Confidence is returning to the rail system," he said.

The pressure we have put on the past weeks has paid off!

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1112901371399790592

[ozbob]

Additional services from 13th May 2019

[ozbob]

TransLink - An extra 32 weekly train services

https://translink.com.au/service-updates/225006

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1112963314588381184

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 4th April 2019 page 17

Extra peak services welcome

[ozbob]

5,085 People reached 2,254 Engagements -  a successful effort!   

https://www.facebook.com/RAILBackOnTrack/posts/2541798315834340

Final update: 5,799 People reached 2,462 Engagements   

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Shorncliffe resident welcomes return of 7.39am train

QUEENSLAND Rail's decision to add an extra 32 weekly services at peak times is very welcome news for Shorncliffe resident Sharon Westwood, who petitioned for the return of one of those services.

Ms Westwood started a campaign about a year ago calling for the return of the 7.39am train from Shorncliffe to Central Station.

It had been a regular weekday service but was changed to only run on Fridays when the Redcliffe Peninsula line opened in October 2016.

This week Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey announced the 7.39am Shorncliffe service (among others) would return, running Monday to Friday from May 13.

Ms Westwood said she was very happy with the decision.

"Removing the 7.39am service reduced the number of services on the Shorncliffe line to three between the peak times of 7am and 8am, in comparison to the Redcliffe line of six services for the same time period," she said.

"There is a 30-minute wait between peak services in the morning which is a terrible public transport service for an Australian capital city.

"The removal of the 7.39am train increased the number of passengers on the trains on either side, particularly the 7.24am train, causing a risk to public safety. It was a real crush on the trains.

"There were not always enough hand holds for commuters to hold which makes it unsafe if the train stops or starts suddenly

"The crowding, particularly on the three-car carriages, meant that school kids in particular were often pushed around and found it difficult to get off the trains at the stops required.

"There was not enough ventilation to cope with the additional passengers and I saw an increase of people fainting on the train during the summer months."

Ms Westwood started a petition and collected more than 1000 names in just nine days.

"I was seeking support from those commuters directly impacted by the cancellation of the Monday-Thursday 7.39am service, so the 7.24 and 7.54.

"I didn't make it all the way through the carriages on those days as the numbers of passengers increased the closer we got to the city, making it impossible to move through the carriages.

"I notified my local member, Stirling Hinchliffe, and he was supportive. I sent the petition and a letter to the chief executives of Queensland Rail and TransLink and to the Minister of Transport and Main Roads.

"Mr Hinchliffe facilitated a meeting with these executives and the minister's advisers in June 2018. I didn't receive a written response until months after, however, I did speak directly with the Minister earlier this year."

Ms Westwood said the response from other commuters was "overwhelmingly positive".

"It was actually great to see the generation of much chat between commuters about a common issue for them," she said.

"I had people raising their hands all the way down the carriages waiting for me to get to them so they could include their signature to the petition.

"I had passengers telling me of their particular issues including the access problems for people with disabilities on crowded trains such as the Shorncliffe 7.24am.

"The community and I were not asking for anything additional, just one critical service to be reinstated.

"I am pleased to see that politicians do listen and that together communities can make change happen."

Member for Sandgate Stirling Hinchliffe said the reinstatement of the 7.39am Shorncliffe service was welcome.

"This announcement is particularly welcome news for the many commuters in my electorate, like Sharon Westwood of Shorncliffe, who have spent many hours of their own time campaigning alongside me for the reinstatement of this popular peak-hour service."

[techblitz]

good news for 691 users as well......no more 24 min wait til the next inbound train...

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Ferny Grove line commuters will get just one of the 32 extra train services a week

Commuters on the Ferny Grove line will get just one of the 32 extra train services a week from May 13.

State Labor Member for Stafford Dr Anthony Lynham said a new 7.25am Ferny Grove to Central (arriving 7.57am) service would run on Fridays, adding to the existing Monday to Thursday service at the same time.

"We've listened to customer feedback, and analysed patronage data, customer wait times, and operational efficiencies to identify 32 priority weekly services we know will benefit our customers right now," Dr Lynham said.

State Labor Member for Ferny Grove Mark Furner said Queensland Rail said these additional services would put more trains back into service when customers needed them most.

Queensland Rail chief executive officer Nick Easy said the extra services had been prioritised based on patronage modelling, wait times at stations and customer feedback.

"The extra Friday morning service for the Ferny Grove line, departing Ferny Grove station at 7.25am, will close a 15-minute gap between 7.17am and 7.32am, reducing the wait time down to seven minutes and adding 450 extra seats during this peak travel time," Mr Easy said.

"We are working hard behind the scenes to deliver further timetable improvements across southeast Queensland in 2019, including the Ferny Grove line, and will communicate more details once the appropriate operational readiness and assurance processes have been completed."

The extra services come as the State Government announced 51 of the troubled NGR (New Generation Rollingstock) trains were now available for use.

The State Government also said 76 drivers were in training, adding to the 136 drivers who had completed their qualifications and were working on the network.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/QueenslandRail/status/1123760829315338240

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/TransLinkSEQ/status/1126671351337480192

>> https://translink.com.au/service-updates/225006

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1127659017524826112

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1127712598818844672

[ozbob]

Interview with Robert Dow RAIL Back On Track and Craig Zonca ABC Radio Brisbane Breakfast 13th May 2019 about the re-introduction of 32 weekly services on the Citytrain network from 13th May 2019.

Interview --> https://backontrack.org/docs/abcbris/abcbris_rd13may19.mp3 MP3 6MB

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1127710785205985280

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/MarkBaileyMP/status/1127714610797137920

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1127716058033319936

[ozbob]

Just completed an interview with 7 News and will be doing another on 4BC around 4.20pm.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/SteveMinnikinMP/status/1127783175487279104

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1127819395860799488

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1127851572229099521

[ozbob]

BrizCommuter: Extra train services = Restored train services
https://brizcommuter.blogspot.com/2019/05/extra-train-services-restored-train.html

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2019/5/13/new-train-services-hit-the-track-running

Media Statements

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Mark Bailey

Monday, May 13, 2019

New train services hit the track running

Thirty-two new train services will start this week, adding 14,000 seats to south east Queensland's rail network.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the new services would operate during key peak times, following feedback from passengers.

"Queensland Rail is working hard to deliver an improved timetable, putting more trains back into service when customers need them most," Mr Bailey said.

"A record 182 million trips were taken on public transport across the south east last financial year, and we're on track to beat that number this year.

"Queensland Rail has listened to customer feedback, and analysed patronage data, customer wait times, and operational efficiencies to identify 32 priority weekly services we know will benefit our customers right now.

It follows the addition of 46,000 weekly seats to the rail network last year with upgrades of 193 three-carriage services to six-carriage services.

"With the Palaszczuk Government's Fairer Fares initiative and investment in key projects like $5.4 billion Cross River Rail, we're seeing more Queenslanders taking up public transport.

"The 32 new services add to new customer initiatives, including the $114 million park 'n' ride upgrade program, live train information on the MyTransLink app, station platform raising and the rollout of new passenger information displays across the south east.

"Queensland Rail is on track to deliver further timetable improvements later this year, following the largest driver recruitment and training campaign in its history.

Mr Bailey said delivering a new timetable was a complex task that involved managing traincrew resources and rostering, planning, stabling and maintenance of trains, and scheduling daily train movements.

"It's important any changes are implemented reliably and sustainably. We will announce further service improvements later this year."

For more information visit www.queenslandrail.com.au (external site)

[ozbob]

 

[ozbob]

Interview on 4BC Drive host Mark Braybrook with Robert Dow RAIL Back On Track 13th May 2019, discussing the 32 restored services on the QR Citytrain network and some of the broader issues with the public transport network.

Here --> https://backontrack.org/docs/4bc/4bc_rd13may19.mp3  MP3 8.5MB

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1128024780882366470

[ozbob]

Facebook ...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/MarkBaileyMP/status/1128202613562888192

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1128322868830507011

[ozbob]

Redland City Bulletin --> Cleveland's 'misery line' benefits from 32 extra train services

A TOTAL of 32 extra weekly train services started on Monday, adding 14,000 seats to south-east Queensland's rail network.

Redlands MP Kim Richards said the services included a Friday 5.32pm Central to Cleveland train, a Monday to Friday 6.39am Cleveland to Central train and a Monday to Friday 5.09pm Central to Cleveland train.

In August the train service to Cleveland was dubbed the Misery Line by commuters frustrated that services were not frequent enough and unreliable.

Responding to the announcement of the new services, Opposition transport spokesman Steve Minnikin said that 440 further services were still needed to fully restore the transport system.


Ms Richards said that the additional services had put more trains back into service when customers needed them the most.

"Queensland Rail has listened to customer feedback and analysed patronage data, customer wait times and operational efficiencies to identify 32 priority weekly services we know will benefit our customers right now," Ms Richards said.

She said the move came after 46,000 weekly seats were added to the rail network last year with the upgrades of 193 three-carriage services to six-carriage services.

"Queensland Rail is on track to deliver further timetable improvements later this year, following the largest driver recruitment and training campaign in its history," Ms Richards said.

She said that delivering a new timetable was a complex task that involved managing train crew resources and rostering, planning, stabling and maintenance of trains and scheduling daily train movements.

She said further service improvements would be announced later in the year.

Mr Minnikin said it was taking the government too long to get train services back on track.

"The Palaszczuk Labor government is giving themselves a pat on the back for restoring 32 train services," Mr Minnikin said.

"But make no mistake, Labor's rail fail is still very much alive.

"Thirty-two services down, only 440 to go.

"Based on the current projections of 32 services being restored in two and a half years, it will take more than 36 years to give Queenslanders a fully restored schedule."

[techblitz]

People coming into Brisbane wanting to get to the gold coast are still being greeted with that 1 hour gap on a Friday mid-morning...
And everyone knows that whenever there is a big event down there...plenty of interstate/overseas travellers will head down on the Friday...not a good look at all...