RAIL Back On Track New Generation Rollingstock Public Inquiry - discussion

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1004766873152466944

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

8th June 2018

NGR Inquiry and the Queensland Auditor General

Good Morning,

Yesterday in an Editorial in the Couriermail ( Government's veil of secrecy a disservice to public copy below) they made the point with respect to investigating and reporting on the NGR Project that "  .. this issue is ideally suited to Queensland's Auditor-General and his staff, a respected and independent office skilled to probe the financial and performance elements of this project. ... "

We thought that as well and did make a request to the Queensland Auditor General and the Audit Office to do the same.  We made that request March 2017 but it was declined a few months later.

We prefer a Commission of Inquiry into the NGR Project, however, if that is not to occur we would be happy for the QAG to proceed with a forensic examination both in terms of finance and process, in line with our earlier request in March 2017.



Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ Attached: https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=13073.msg209589#msg209589 ]

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1004819938140291072

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Campbell Newman: 'My rail plan would have halved fares'

FORMER Premier Campbell Newman says train fares could have been halved under the LNP's original driver-operator-only design for the troubled $4.4 billion new commuter train rollout.

The ex-Liberal National Party leader has defended his administration's decision to order trains that scrapped train guards, saying it was on advice that guards actually "do not do anything".

He said a planned inquiry into the New Generation Rollingstock fiasco, which has bipartisan support, would reveal the Palaszczuk Government wasted taxpayer funds in cowering to union demands in 2015 for guards to be allocated a "workstation" in the last train carriage.

It was one of the first deals after Labor's shock LNP defeat and cost about $50,000 to retrofit each train with CCTV so that guards, whose base pay is $92,315, could monitor the curved train platforms to look out for people who need help boarding and give the all-clear.

But guards could no longer fulfil one of their chief duties of helping disabled people board NGR trains under the change, because the rear cab is too far from the special-needs boarding point mid-platform. Station platform staff have taken over the boarding task on NGR trains.

Mr Newman said his government had advice train fares could be halved by getting rid of guards.

"I would be absolutely certain that the inquiry, if it's done properly and independently, will show that people in southeast Queensland could have had a lower-cost operation that could have led to lower fares, if train guards had been removed," Mr Newman said.

"Those trains were purchased on the basis of having no guard," he said. "The reason is the guards do not do anything.

"It's the year 2018. You go to international cities. They don't even have train drivers.

"The train guard doesn't guard you. If there's a problem on the train it's the rail police who are the ones to come to your assistance. It's, frankly, a job that the union have won for their members".

Mr Newman has previously said the entire $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project could have been avoided by the introduction of driverless trains, such as those to be used on Sydney's new Northwest Metro line. Writing for The Courier-Mail's Future Brisbane series late last year, he said a move to modern control systems and driverless trains would dramatically improve the frequency of services on southeast Queensland's existing network.

A Rail Tram & Bus Union circular in 2015 said it had a "firm commitment" from Deputy Premier Jackie Trad that guards would remain on the trains. Ms Trad did not comment. Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the LNP "botched the NGR contract" when it got rid of the guard's cab in the middle of the train and "ordered half-price non-disability complaint trains, sending hundreds of jobs overseas".

QR chief executive Nick Easy said guard tasks including communicating information about connecting train services and responding to critical incidents and emergencies.

There you go.  Not that there was any doubt but the NGRs were ordered for DOO as the LNP plan was to get rid of guards. The nonsense spin by Nicholls et al that the guards were going to roam the trains was bullsh%t, and we have called that out before.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1008735290670714880

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1008736684333154305

Follow up:

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1004766873152466944

[#Metro]

"I would be absolutely certain that the inquiry, if it's done properly and independently, will show that people in southeast Queensland could have had a lower-cost operation that could have led to lower fares, if train guards had been removed," Mr Newman said.

This is probably true. Perhaps not half, but in the ballpark. The largest portion of operational (note, not CAPEX) costs for PT is staff wages. The more something costs, the less of that something you can afford. Goes without saying.

This raises some questions:

- Is the Gold Coast line DOOable?

- If not, is it DOOable with minor adjustment (e.g. not stopping at some older stations such as Altandi)

- What made Mr Newman think that DOO could be introduced without ATP on the network? Was there a proposal to put ATP on the network that we didn't know about?

- Have Blue Team members misled parliament by spinning a narrative about their intentions and "guard cubby holes" when they just wanted to DOO Queensland Rail but were too weak/afraid/concerned about a bad look to openly defend what they actually believed - that the network should go DOO??

[ozbob]

 

[verbatim9]

Couriermail --> Campbell Newman: 'My rail plan would have halved fares'

FORMER Premier Campbell Newman says train fares could have been halved under the LNP's original driver-operator-only design for the troubled $4.4 billion new commuter train rollout.

The ex-Liberal National Party leader has defended his administration's decision to order trains that scrapped train guards, saying it was on advice that guards actually "do not do anything".

He said a planned inquiry into the New Generation Rollingstock fiasco, which has bipartisan support, would reveal the Palaszczuk Government wasted taxpayer funds in cowering to union demands in 2015 for guards to be allocated a "workstation" in the last train carriage.

It was one of the first deals after Labor's shock LNP defeat and cost about $50,000 to retrofit each train with CCTV so that guards, whose base pay is $92,315, could monitor the curved train platforms to look out for people who need help boarding and give the all-clear.

But guards could no longer fulfil one of their chief duties of helping disabled people board NGR trains under the change, because the rear cab is too far from the special-needs boarding point mid-platform. Station platform staff have taken over the boarding task on NGR trains.

Mr Newman said his government had advice train fares could be halved by getting rid of guards.

"I would be absolutely certain that the inquiry, if it's done properly and independently, will show that people in southeast Queensland could have had a lower-cost operation that could have led to lower fares, if train guards had been removed," Mr Newman said.

"Those trains were purchased on the basis of having no guard," he said. "The reason is the guards do not do anything.

"It's the year 2018. You go to international cities. They don't even have train drivers.

"The train guard doesn't guard you. If there's a problem on the train it's the rail police who are the ones to come to your assistance. It's, frankly, a job that the union have won for their members".

Mr Newman has previously said the entire $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project could have been avoided by the introduction of driverless trains, such as those to be used on Sydney's new Northwest Metro line. Writing for The Courier-Mail's Future Brisbane series late last year, he said a move to modern control systems and driverless trains would dramatically improve the frequency of services on southeast Queensland's existing network.

A Rail Tram & Bus Union circular in 2015 said it had a "firm commitment" from Deputy Premier Jackie Trad that guards would remain on the trains. Ms Trad did not comment. Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the LNP "botched the NGR contract" when it got rid of the guard's cab in the middle of the train and "ordered half-price non-disability complaint trains, sending hundreds of jobs overseas".

QR chief executive Nick Easy said guard tasks including communicating information about connecting train services and responding to critical incidents and emergencies.

There you go.  Not that there was any doubt but the NGRs were ordered for DOO as the LNP plan was to get rid of guards. The nonsense spin by Nicholls et al that the guards were going to roam the trains was bullsh%t, and we have called that out before.

"I would be absolutely certain that the inquiry, if it's done properly and independently, will show that people in southeast Queensland could have had a lower-cost operation that could have led to lower fares, if train guards had been removed," Mr Newman said.

This is probably true. Perhaps not half, but in the ballpark. The largest portion of operational (note, not CAPEX) costs for PT is staff wages. The more something costs, the less of that something you can afford. Goes without saying.

This raises some questions:

- Is the Gold Coast line DOOable?

- If not, is it DOOable with minor adjustment (e.g. not stopping at some older stations such as Altandi)

- What made Mr Newman think that DOO could be introduced without ATP on the network? Was there a proposal to put ATP on the network that we didn't know about?

- Have Blue Team members misled parliament by spinning a narrative about their intentions and "guard cubby holes" when they just wanted to DOO Queensland Rail but were too weak/afraid/concerned about a bad look to openly defend what they actually believed - that the network should go DOO??

Driver only operation should be an aim for QR at least to run the Airport, Gold Coast, Doomben and Sunshine Coast lines. Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide all have Driver only operation. Some Sydney lines going Driver only soon.

This can lead to more funds being spent on train infrastructure and better services (20 mins or better ), or cheaper fares.

[ozbob]

The issue here was that the LNP covered up the fact that the trains were actually designed and ordered in a DOO configuration.

This is a very deliberate move by former Premier Newman to come out with the fact.  I welcome it.  Another piece of the puzzle solved.

When they lost Government they subsequently  spun a story about ' roaming guards ' in an attempt to bury the fact.

[techblitz]

QR chief executive Nick Easy said guard tasks including communicating information about connecting train services and responding to critical incidents and emergencies.

In hindsight...roaming guards would be better. Useful for enforcing train etiquette. eg: feet on seats,loudness in the quiet carriage,eating on trains......stuff which clearly isn't enforced enough.
They are paid 90k.....they need some more 'hazards' to warrant that sort of income.
One such hazard would be copping the odd bit of flack/backchat when they tell someone to take their feet off the seat or keep their voice down.

[verbatim9]

QR chief executive Nick Easy said guard tasks including communicating information about connecting train services and responding to critical incidents and emergencies.

In hindsight...roaming guards would be better. Useful for enforcing train etiquette. eg: feet on seats,loudness in the quiet carriage,eating on trains......stuff which clearly isn't enforced enough.
They are paid 90k.....they need some more 'hazards' to warrant that sort of income.
One such hazard would be copping the odd bit of flack/backchat when they tell someone to take their feet off the seat or keep their voice down.

Yeah or had the opportunity to apply for SNO jobs and Driver jobs. Or those that wanted Customer Service/ Back Office/Tech jobs, if there were to be?

[ozbob]

QR chief executive Nick Easy said guard tasks including communicating information about connecting train services and responding to critical incidents and emergencies.

In hindsight...roaming guards would be better. Useful for enforcing train etiquette. eg: feet on seats,loudness in the quiet carriage,eating on trains......stuff which clearly isn't enforced enough.
They are paid 90k.....they need some more 'hazards' to warrant that sort of income.
One such hazard would be copping the odd bit of flack/backchat when they tell someone to take their feet off the seat or keep their voice down.

You would need a team of two guards to roam.  There are WHS rules.  That is why security / SNOs are always two or more.

The roaming guards was a throwaway line to cover up the DOO plan.

There is no ATP on our suburban network.  Guards are required for safe working.  All DOO in Oz has ATP.  The Melbourne one is very basic (stop blocks on red signals ) but it works.  Sydney is upgrading to ATP but still not in general operation - hence guards, like Brisbane.

[techblitz]

ah yep forgot those pesky rules.....might to be time to look at an etiquette shaming site 

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Transport chief Neil Scales ducked questions on troubled $4.4 billion project

THE state's most senior transport official Neil Scales dodged questions about his role in design troubles plaguing Queensland's $4.4 billion order of 75 new commuter trains.

Emails released to The Courier-Mail under Right to Information reveal Mr Scales instructed staff not to respond in detail to media questions about his role in the heavily delayed project.

"We are not playing (the journalist's) game, this is the total response and wait for them to chase up," Mr Scales, who is the state's Transport Director-General, says in one email to a TransLink media adviser about questions and an interview request in December.

The media adviser replied: "I just wanted to clarify. You are OK for the response to be sent, but just delay sending it?" A two-paragraph response was issued five hours later.


Mr Scales and then transport minister Jackie Trad's office also massaged an earlier response to questions, deleting details about the design problems and rectification works.

A reference to the State Government's request for an exemption from the Australian Human Rights Commission so it could be ready for the Commonwealth Games was also removed.

Questions had included when Mr Scales first knew the trains failed Australian disability access standards and what action he took to fix problems, including non-compliant aisles and toilets.

Mr Scales yesterday declined to comment.

He has previously confirmed he is a member of the New Generation Rollingstock Program Steering Committee, formed after the project contract was signed in December 2013.

Head-hunted from the UK's Merseytravel in late 2011, he took up the top job at TransLink, and in late 2012 became the Transport and Main Roads Director-General.

His time at the top has coincided with testing times, including the ongoing NGR project issues and the 2016 "Rail Fail", during which he briefly stood in to lead Queensland Rail.

The NGR project is being delivered by a public-private partnership between the State Government and the Qtectic consortium led by Canadian train builder Bombardier.

But it has run into a series of dramas, with the Palaszczuk Government last September revealing it would spend an extra $150 million correcting disability access design issues.

The Government and State Opposition this month agreed to release confidential documents showing what went wrong, which would likely be overseen by an independent third party.

But former premier Campbell Newman – who triggered the move after seeking advice on the release of NGR-related Cabinet papers – and commuter advocate Rail Back on Track want a full commission of inquiry into the project's failings.

Rail Back on Track's Robert Dow said it had launched its own public inquiry to find out who signed off on the original design and why trains that breached legislation were ordered.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1009099180936028160

^

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1009100919395401728

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1009102489730203648

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Palaszczuk Government figures reveal Queensland Rail train crews remain a male domain

....

The existence of guard jobs has also come under criticism.

Former Premier Campbell Newman yesterday claimed train guards were being paid to "not do anything" on the state's new $4.4 billion trains.

Mr Newman said the original train design abolished guards for that reason, but they were later reinstated by the Palaszczuk Government in 2015 after union lobbying.

But Ms Frecklington yesterday disagreed with her former leader, saying she supported guards on trains.

[ozbob]

FIRE !



SHOT OVER !

[ozbob]

 

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1009179282181115905

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1009472698320220160

[Stillwater]

Err, there's nothing like an open and transparent government, is there ...

[ozbob]

Err, there's nothing like an open and transparent government, is there ...

It is a grim situation to be sure ...

[ozbob]

Interesting RTI  https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/About-us/Right-to-Information/Disclosure-log/2017-Disclosure-log

12 December 2017 135/05414

Emails to/from Neil Scales, Director-General, Department of Transport and Main Roads relating to any Courier-Mail questions and/or newspaper stories about (or linked to) the New Generation Rollingstock Project. This should include any emails mentioning reporters Kelmeny Fraser or Jessica Marszalek. Timeframe: 1 February  2017 - 12 December 2017.

>> https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/-/media/aboutus/rti/disclog/r_135-05414---Released-Documents.pdf

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/MarkBaileyMP/status/1011452470378156033

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1011500999897280513

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1011502887724183553

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1011648407109169154

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1012710405066522624

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1012712408891047937

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1014215645624295424

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1016065328877453312

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1017507753525252096

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

14th July 2018

Why all the disruptions?  Here are some clues ..

Good Morning,

Still no explanation for the very unusual procession of service delays and cancellations on our rail network yesterday.

One can only assume that the aged EMUs are becoming increasingly unreliable, and the NGRs are having more ' juvenile failures '.  The thought has occurred it might also be an industrial problem ' work to rule ' or other such thing.

Thanks to 7 News Brisbane for their interest in this most odd day https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1017683878775910400

" Hundreds of commuters have struggled to get to work on time this morning, after more train cancellations and a break down on the problem-plagued rail network.  "

Queensland Rail battle on with a problem not of their primary making.  The botched NGR project demands a proper and full inquiry by Government.  The delays with the introduction to service of the NGRs, and the unreliability of the NGRs themselves apparently, have brought our rail network to its knees.  A reduced service, unreliable disconnected mess.

Well done bumblers at TMR.  I guess you all be in line for more cash bonuses this year, whilst the rail network fails around your ears.

Shambles!

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

Sent to all outlets:

13th July 2018

Abnormal number of service disruptions on rail network today 13th July 2018

Greetings,

There has been an abnormal number of rail service disruptions today.  As of now there has been around 23 separate service disruption notices reported by https://twitter.com/TransLinkSEQ today, mainly due to rollingstock issues and mechanical issues.

This is a very high number of disruptions. Queries to Queensland Rail remain unanswered/ignored.

What is going on?  Is there some kind of industrial problem?  Or is it just the tired EMUs and broken NGR trains failing?

Please explain!  The rail network is collapsing!

Best wishes,
Robert

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

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1017813014865588224

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1017815118665605121

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1017968528689807361

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1017993709822984192

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1017996936471646208

[ozbob]

Inclusion Moves and myself have just completed an interview re NGR Project and Inquiry with a Canadian journalist (Tom Yun)
from Macleans News Magazine -Toronto ( https://www.macleans.ca/ ). 

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1018346854461857792

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1018348107766030338

[ozbob]

DTMR has been responsible for the NGR project since July 2012.

Why has there been no action (at least publicly) to hold to account the department for the monumental botch that the NGR project represents?

Key bumblers are still there bumbling on. 

The impact now on the ability of Queensland Rail to deliver a reliable service is very serious.
 
The situation is such, that it is difficult to envisage a recovery with the present personnel at DTMR,  and the flawed organisational structures in my opinion.

A series of Governments that lack real leadership and acumen.   Captured by bumblers!

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1018640107866210304

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/InclusionMoves/status/1018666119635206145

[Stillwater]

It is the usual 'mirror response' from Government: "We are looking into it."

[ozbob]

It is the usual 'mirror response' from Government: "We are looking into it."

Mark time! 

"The matter is currently under consideration"

Where there is life there is hope I guess. 

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Queensland Rail network fails again with service cancellations and delays

QUEENSLAND'S ongoing "Rail Fail" has bitten commuters once more as waves of service cancellations and delays trigger major disruptions across the state's brittle train network.

Still recovering from the October 2016 timetable meltdown, Queensland Rail has recorded 50 service cancellations or delays since it was gripped by a series of "Freaky Friday" failures on Friday the 13th last week.

Another three issues on Sunday were caused by congestion and "heavy passenger loading".

Some services were delayed up to 45 minutes, TransLink's Twitter notifications show.

The rolling disruptions follow a July 7 incident in which one of the state's newly commissioned New Generation Rollingstock trains damaged overhead lines, triggering 20-minute network-wide delays.

Sixty passengers were trapped in another train for an hour in a tunnel due to the power issue.

QR yesterday said the problems on Friday were caused by multiple separate issues, most notably an electrical fault, a mechanical fault and two separate medical issues.

Chief executive Nick Easy said six NGR trains had also been removed from service as a precaution to be inspected by the manufacturer as a result of an earlier mechanical fault.

He said the trains were returned to service yesterday morning.

Mr Easy said the disruptions equated to only 2.11 per cent of the 1192 services on Friday.

But Rail Back on Track advocate Robert Dow said the latest problems reinforced the need for an inquiry into the heavily delayed $4.4 billion NGR contract to buy 75 new trains.

"I understand a lot of it's to do with the aged trains that should have been replaced in 2016 but because of delays with the NGR project they are still up and running," he said.

"We are seriously concerned because it seems the NGR trains are still being very slow to be introduced into service and this is having an impact in terms of increases in mechanical issues, rollingstock issues and unreliability. The root problem is that the NGR trains are late."

He said frustrated commuters were "abandoning the rail network" because of its unreliability.

The NGR trains are to be modified at a cost to taxpayers of at least $150 million to fix design issues, including a failure to comply with disability access legislation.

QR stated in September the trains were "urgently required to replace an ageing fleet".

Both the Palaszczuk Government and State Opposition have committed to releasing secret Cabinet papers in a bid to show how the NGR project hit problems.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1018888106898960385