Skipped Stations

QuoteLARGE spike in the number of trains skipping stations has led to accusations that drivers are trying to fudge figures to boost their on-time performance.

Queensland Rail figures show that station skipping jumped 163 per cent year-on-year in the last seven months with 528 services skipping at least one station compared to 201 services in the same period in 2017-18.

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said station skipping allowed drivers to meet punctuality targets but caused chaos for customers.

"QR was the best-run rail network in Australia under the LNP, but it has been run into the ground under Annastacia Palaszczuk," Ms Frecklington said.

"Passengers are being left behind so QR can fudge its figures.

"Yet again, the Palaszczuk Government is treating passengers with contempt."

November last year was the worst month for skipped stations with 98 missed out of nearly 30,000 scheduled services. Trains skipped 26 stations the previous November.

Despite the jump in skipped stations, on-time performance for November 2018 dropped 0.5 per cent year-on-year.

Nearly 97 per cent of trains ran within four minutes of their scheduled time in January — the most recent figures — with 0.17 per cent of services skipping stations.

LNP Shadow Transport Minister Steve Minnikin said the Palaszczuk Government was fixing its performance figures to hide the scale of its mismanagement.

"Our rail service has become a shambles," Mr Minnikin said.

"Under Labor, we have fewer services, fixed performance figures and trains not even bothering to pick up passengers."

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said only a very small number of services skip one or more stops.

"Generally, Queensland Rail only runs a service express through some stations if the next service is less than five minutes away to minimise disruption to customers," he said.

"In most cases, changes to stopping patterns only affect one to three stops.

"These decisions are not about meeting on-time running targets, but about achieving the best possible outcome for customers and the network overall.

"I expect Queensland Rail to continually improve its services for commuters and that's what they're doing, regularly exceeding on-time running targets that are some of the strictest in the country."

ozbob · March 20, 2019, 01:43:07 AM

Brisbanetimes --> It could take years to hire 200 new train drivers for Queensland Rail

QuoteSince the start of rolling cancellations on Queensland Rail trains shone a light on driver shortages and an unsustainable reliance on overtime, only 66 net new drivers have been recruited.

That is about one new driver every 12 days from October 21, 2016, until February 1 this year, taking into account natural attrition.

Of those, 20 are working as tutors or train operator inspectors, but are available to drive trains when required.

The Strachan inquiry into Queensland Rail's woes recommended 200 new drivers and 200 guards be hired to restore reliability to the timetable.

At the current rate, it would take 1691 days – or until September 19, 2023 – to reach the goal of 200 new drivers on the network.

However, those 200 drivers were supposed to be qualified by June 30, 2019, according to the Strachan report.

In March last year, Queensland Rail chief executive Nick Easy told the ABC he was confident they would reach their driver target by late 2019.

On October 21, more than 100 trains were cancelled across south-east Queensland due to a shortage of train drivers following the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line, with rolling cancellations highlighting serious issues within Queensland Rail.

Queensland Rail introduced a new, reduced timetable to cope, and during last year's estimates hearings, Mr Easy was unable to say when services would be restored.

LNP transport spokesman Steve Minnikin said the current number of new drivers was "woefully short".

"We need 200 drivers to fix rail fail but so far Labor has only managed to recruit 46," he said.

Mr Minnikin said it could take six-and-a-half to seven years to restore the timetable with the current train driver recruitment rate.

Since the driver numbers were revealed following an LNP question on notice, Transport Minister Mark Bailey said there was now a net gain of 69 drivers and 101 guards since October 2016.

Under the Palaszczuk government, 131 drivers and 273 guards had completed their training and were now operating on the Queensland Rail network.

An external recruitment drive from August 2017 had attracted more than 10,000 applications.

Mr Bailey said last year, more guards and drivers were in training than were trained the entire time the LNP was in government.

"It was on the LNP's watch that driver training was cancelled in 2014, and driver recruitment suspended," he said.

"Right now, there are 81 drivers currently in training and a further 35 external offers have been made to commence driver training this year.

"Additionally, training time frames for drivers has decreased from 18 months to an average of 13.45 months."

Meanwhile, commuters have increasingly been left stranded on platforms.

A total of 528 services skipped at least one station in the past seven months, compared with 201 services during the same period in 2017-18.

That was an increase of 163 per cent.

LNP leader Deb Frecklington said station skipping allowed drivers to meet punctuality targets but caused chaos for customers. Services which skip stations can be recorded as on-time.

"This is not a good way to treat the commuters of Queensland," she said.

But Mr Bailey said only a very small number of services skipped one or more stops.

"Just 0.17 per cent of services skipped one or more stops in January 2019," he said.

"These figures represent a tiny fraction of the number of stations trains stop at in the 7828 services delivered by Queensland Rail every week."

Mr Bailey said Queensland Rail generally only ran a service express through some stations if the next service was fewer than five minutes away to minimise disruptions.

"In most cases, changes to stopping patterns only affect one to three stops.

"These decisions are not about meeting on-time running targets but about achieving the best possible outcome for customers and the network overall."

ozbob · April 10, 2019, 11:40:33 AM

Skipped stations Feb 2019 now available @QueenslandRail https://t.co/WKT43Msx7y #qldpol pic.twitter.com/MhcWkeCqQQ
— RAIL_BoT_Forum (@railbotforum) April 10, 2019

ozbob · May 10, 2019, 14:22:22 PM

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1126693867997110274

ozbob · June 10, 2019, 10:53:32 AM

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1137883970719248385

ozbob · June 26, 2019, 11:29:52 AM

Noted this for the Cleveland line information re 29th July timetable https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/about%20us/Media%20Centre/Pages/extra-train-services.aspx

" A slight departure time adjustment will apply to morning peak express services (services departing Cleveland station between 6.00am and 7.30am on weekdays) to deliver improved operational efficiencies. These services will depart Cleveland and Ormiston stations one minute earlier, resulting in a total one-minute extra journey time. "

This is to try to cut down on the Manly starters leaving late and being forced to skip to be on time at Park Road.

Be interesting to see if the skipping is reduced.

ozbob · July 11, 2019, 01:07:19 AM

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1148971390604759040

ozbob · July 13, 2019, 01:54:56 AM

https://www.facebook.com/RAILBackOnTrack/posts/2729099153770921?comment_id=2730539803626856

QuoteJane Gray How does QR record bypassing stations when trains are late? Often on the Cleveland line, late trains run express from Morningside to park road, and the stations in between are reduced to a 30 min service.

https://www.facebook.com/RAILBackOnTrack/posts/2729099153770921?comment_id=2730539803626856

QuoteRAIL - Back On Track Hello Jane Gray QR do report skipped stations here https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/.../service-punctuality... toggle the selection box to ' Skipped stations '. It is at present at historical highs (see attached image). You are spot on Jane, the major contributor is the Cleveland line and situation you describe. This is related to the single line and timings for the morning departures from Cleveland, which then arrive late at Manly and then the Manly starters are held and to get back on time QR Control express them. From the 29th July when the new old timetable is rolled out, there are some timing changes to the Cleveland starters. Hopefully this will mean less ' skipping '. We will be watching closely .. 🧐 Robert

ozbob · August 10, 2019, 07:32:05 AM

Skipped stations @QueenslandRail Citytrain updated for June 2019https://t.co/WKT43Msx7y #qldpol
A lot of these involve the morning peak on the Cleveland line ... pic.twitter.com/SRQzkx8678
— RAIL_BoT_Forum (@railbotforum) August 9, 2019

ozbob · September 10, 2019, 17:20:16 PM

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1171322326433984512

ozbob · September 21, 2019, 01:21:17 AM

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2019/1459-2019.pdf

QUESTION ON NOTICE
ASKED

Wednesday, 18 September 2019

Answer Due: Friday, 18 October 2019

1459 MR S MINNIKIN ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (HON M BAILEY)

With reference to performance and reliability—
Will the Minister outline the number of skipped stations recorded by Queensland Rail per month, since
November 2017 and the top five most frequently skipped stations (listed in order of station)?

ozbob · October 14, 2019, 07:46:27 AM

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1183499042921144320

ozbob · October 18, 2019, 17:38:52 PM

Quote from: ozbob on September 21, 2019, 01:21:17 AM
https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2019/1459-2019.pdf

QUESTION ON NOTICE
ASKED

Wednesday, 18 September 2019

Answer Due: Friday, 18 October 2019

1459 MR S MINNIKIN ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (HON M BAILEY)

With reference to performance and reliability—
Will the Minister outline the number of skipped stations recorded by Queensland Rail per month, since
November 2017 and the top five most frequently skipped stations (listed in order of station)?

Answer:

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2019/1459-2019.pdf

Question on Notice
No. 1459
Asked on Wednesday 18 September 2019

MR S MINNIKIN ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (HON M BAILEY)
QUESTION:

With reference to performance and reliability—

Will the Minister outline the number of skipped stations recorded by Queensland Rail per month,
since November 2017 and the top five most frequently skipped stations (listed in order of station)?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Chatsworth for the question.

The on-time running and reliability of services is a top priority for Queensland Rail and every effort
is made to ensure that services run to the published timetable.

When an unplanned disruption to a service occurs, in some cases, Queensland Rail may make
a decision to run a train express through one or more stations to minimise or prevent delays to
other services on the network. These decisions are not taken lightly and aim to achieve the best
possible outcome for our customers and network overall, by ensuring the effects of a disruption
are minimised.

Generally, Queensland Rail only runs a service express through some stations if the next service
is less than five minutes away. In most cases, changes to stopping patterns only affect one to
three stops.

Queensland Rail is committed to being accountable and transparent and actively publishes a
range of service punctuality and reliability data on its website, including skipped stations results.
Data shows that only a very small number of services skip one or more stops. Just 0.3 per cent
of 391,700 services skipped one or more stations last financial year (2018–19).

The number of skipped stations per month since November 2017 are as follows:

• in November 2017, of an average 31,620 Citytrain services per month, 0.08 per cent or
26 services skipped stops

• in December 2017, of an average 31,620 Citytrain services per month, 0.05 per cent or
14 services skipped stops

• in January 2018, of an average 31,620 Citytrain services per month, 0.05 per cent or
16 services skipped stops

• in February 2018, of an average 31,620 Citytrain services per month, 0.17 per cent or
50 services skipped stops

• in March 2018, of an average 31,620 Citytrain services per month, 0.23 per cent or 73
services skipped stops

• in April 2018, of an average 31,620 Citytrain services per month, 0.16 per cent or 49
services skipped stops

• in May 2018, of an average 31,620 Citytrain services per month, 0.26 per cent or 84
services skipped stops

• in June 2018, of an average 31,620 Citytrain services per month, 0.28 per cent or 91
services skipped stops

• in July 2018, of an average 32,600 Citytrain services per month, 0.23 per cent or 77 services
skipped stops

• in August 2018, of an average 32,600 Citytrain services per month, 0.23 per cent or
80 services skipped stops

• in September 2018, of an average 32,600 Citytrain services per month, 0.23 per cent or
75 services skipped stops

• in October 2018, of an average 32,600 Citytrain services per month, 0.21 per cent or
73 services skipped stops

• in November 2018, of an average 32,600 Citytrain services per month, 0.30 per cent or
98 services skipped stops

• in December 2018, of an average 32,600 Citytrain services per month, 0.25 per cent or
73 services skipped stops

• in January 2019, of an average 32,600 Citytrain services per month, 0.15 per cent or
52 services skipped stops

• in February 2019, of an average 32,600 Citytrain services per month, 0.26 per cent or
75 services skipped stops

• in March 2019, of an average 32,600 Citytrain services per month, 0.32 per cent or
108 services skipped stops

• in April 2019, of an average 32,600 Citytrain services per month, 0.27 per cent or 87
services skipped stops
• in May 2019, of an average 32,600, Citytrain services per month, 0.36 per cent or 121
services skipped stops

• in June 2019, of an average 32,600 Citytrain services per month, 0.35 per cent or 111
services skipped stops

• in July 2019, of an average 35,050, Citytrain services per month, 0.27 per cent or 93
services skipped stops

• in August 2019, of an average 35,050 Citytrain services per month, 0.25 per cent or
91 services skipped stops.

Dating back to November 2017, the five stations which experienced express running more
frequently are as follows:

• Albion

• Wooloowin

• Norman Park

• Coorparoo

• Bindha.

Albion and Wooloowin stations are serviced by Airport, Shorncliffe and Northgate services and
receive trains every 7.5 minutes, or better, during weekday peak times. As these stations are
located in a busy transport corridor where Caboolture, Sunshine Coast, Airport, Redcliffe
Peninsula, Shorncliffe and Northgate services converge, delays to any services in this area can
have a flow on effect to many other trains, including those at key junction stations (Bowen Hills,
Eagle Junction and Northgate). On occasion, Queensland Rail may make a decision to run a
service express through Albion and Wooloowin stations to minimise further delays across the
network, noting that these stations have a high service frequency for customers.

In respect to Bindha station, on the Shorncliffe line, generally a decision to skip this station is
made to ensure the flow of rail traffic is maintained through Northgate and further on at Eagle
Junction station in the event of an unplanned disruption.

Norman Park and Coorparoo stations are located on the Cleveland line where, from Cleveland to
Manly, Queensland Rail's services utilise a single track, and as a result, trains travelling this area
must wait for clearance to safely pass another train.

On the Cleveland line, Queensland Rail may make a decision to run a train express through
stations like Norman Park or Coorparoo to minimise or prevent delays to the entire line. Late
trains on the Cleveland line can also significantly impact the running of other trains on the
Beenleigh/Gold Coast line and any delays risk compounding to other trains travelling between
Park Road and Central stations.

Queensland Rail has been listening to feedback from its customers and introduced a number of
service frequency improvements across South East Queensland in recent months – including on
the Cleveland, Shorncliffe and Northgate lines. Since December 2018, this has included:

• Cleveland line – 59 extra weekly services and 38 existing services upgraded from
three-carriages to six-carriages to boost seated capacity

• Shorncliffe – 20 extra services per week

• Northgate – 95 extra Northgate to Roma Street shuttle trains Monday to Friday.

ozbob · October 19, 2019, 05:37:22 AM

Facebook ...

ozbob · October 19, 2019, 05:49:39 AM

Sent to all outlets:

19th October 2019

' Skipped Stations ' an update ..

A Queensland Parliament Question On Notice #1459 has provided an update on skipped stations on the Queensland Rail Citytrain network ( https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2019/1459-2019.pdf )

Quote:

" Data shows that only a very small number of services skip one or more stops. Just 0.3 per cent of 391,700 services skipped one or more stations last financial year (2018–19). ... "

" ... Dating back to November 2017, the five stations which experienced express running more frequently are as follows:

• Albion
• Wooloowin
• Norman Park
• Coorparoo
• Bindha. ...

Albion and Wooloowin stations are serviced by Airport, Shorncliffe and Northgate services and receive trains every 7.5 minutes, or better, during weekday peak times. As these stations are located in a busy transport corridor where Caboolture, Sunshine Coast, Airport, Redcliffe Peninsula, Shorncliffe and Northgate services converge, delays to any services in this area can have a flow on effect to many other trains, including those at key junction stations (Bowen Hills, Eagle Junction and Northgate). On occasion, Queensland Rail may make a decision to run a service express through Albion and Wooloowin stations to minimise further delays across the network, noting that these stations have a high service frequency for customers. In respect to Bindha station, on the Shorncliffe line, generally a decision to skip this station is made to ensure the flow of rail traffic is maintained through Northgate and further on at Eagle Junction station in the event of an unplanned disruption.

Norman Park and Coorparoo stations are located on the Cleveland line where, from Cleveland to Manly, Queensland Rail's services utilise a single track, and as a result, trains travelling this area must wait for clearance to safely pass another train. On the Cleveland line, Queensland Rail may make a decision to run a train express through stations like Norman Park or Coorparoo to minimise or prevent delays to the entire line. Late trains on the Cleveland line can also significantly impact the running of other trains on the Beenleigh/Gold Coast line and any delays risk compounding to other trains travelling between Park Road and Central stations. ... "

End of quote.

RAIL Back On Track continues to campaign for duplication of the Cleveland line between Manly and Cleveland. The new ' old ' timetable from the 29th July 2019 did adjust some the departure times for services from Cleveland in the morning peak to help reduce the need for the Manly starters to be altered. We note the number of trains skipping Norman Park and Coorparoo appears to have reduced slightly since the 29th July. A better understanding will be obtained in a few more months.

Queensland Rail reports monthly skipped station data for current and prior financial years at https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/aboutus/ourperformance/service-punctuality-and-reliability select ' Skipped stations '.
Unfortunately they do not identify the stations skipped.

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

ozbob · October 23, 2019, 04:38:26 AM

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 23rd October 2019 page 17

Keeping an eye on number of stations being skipped

ozbob · November 08, 2019, 13:37:10 PM

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1192647077861326849

ozbob · November 28, 2019, 01:02:35 AM

Couriermail --> LNP says jump in skipped stops a continuation of rail fail

QuoteCommuters say they are being left high and dry by Queensland Rail as new figures show a spike in another problem plaguing the beleaguered Citytrain network since the restoration of a full timetable in July.

COMMUTERS are being left stranded and late for work after a jump in the number of skipped stops on the Queensland Rail network.

The Courier-Mail can reveal trains left commuters stranded 277 times in between July and September, up from 232 times over the same period last year.

The increase in skipped stops is despite the restoration of a full timetable in July this year, following three years of train driver shortages that caused mass cancellations and slashed services.

The state opposition has slammed the figures as a continuation of "rail fail" and criticised the decision to hand Queensland Rail executives a $2 million pay rise.

"Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to explain why there has been a 20 per cent increase in trains skipping stations in the last three months," shadow transport and main roads minister Steve Minnikin said.

"Commuters are literally being stranded at the station under Labor's ongoing rail fail."

Queensland Rail chief executive Nick Easy however defended the practice, saying only around 0.26 per cent of services skipped stops and that not doing so would result in far greater disruption.

"Queensland Rail only runs a service express through some stations if the next service is less than five minutes away," Mr Easy said.

He said trains would skip stops in the instance of boarding delays, wet weather and incidents requiring emergency services.

"When an unplanned disruption to a service occurs, Queensland Rail may decide to run a train express through one or a small number of stations to minimise or prevent delays to other services on the network."

Coomera resident Greg Huckel commutes daily, and said he frequently is the victim of services skipping Albion station, near his work.

"It's a pain in the arse," Mr Huckel said. "You've spent a day at work, and you've rushed down to get the train."

"You get there on time and you see it go sailing past, and that's another 15 minutes you've gotta wait for the next train," he said.

Mr Huckel said skipping happened more in the afternoon, especially when a train was running more than two minutes late.

Coomera LNP MP Michael Crandon said he empathised with commuters who were being left stranded.

"Greg is like hundreds of commuters being late for work or missing medical appointments because Labor's rail services aren't reliable," he said.

BrizCommuter · November 28, 2019, 07:04:31 AM

QR only skip stations if the next train is less than 5 minutes away? That's a load of rubbish. They often skip stations when there are 15 minute gaps between services. Another issue is (pm peak) Ferny Grove trains going missing in action through South Bank and South Brisbane. Never gets a mention on TransLink's website and often even the QR station staff don't know what is going on.