Reported service disruptions rail - no longer in use

[ozbob]

It is World Car Free day today --> http://www.worldcarfree.net/

:bi

[O_128]

Friend just called and said he's been stuck just I/B just before bowen hills for about 20 min, no announcement at the station when boarding.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Lowood.... No wonder why she's been waiting ages for a train 

[somebody]

Is Zero (C)Harm a factor with fixing this one?

[Stillwater]

Customer to George Street ... I think we have a problem .....

SUNSHINE COAST LINE DELAYS AND CANCELLATIONS

2 August 2011 –  Overhead power loss and signals fault between Bald Hills and Zillmere.

5 August 2011 – General delays, Caboolture and Sunshine Coast lines, 6.14am train from Nambour to the city delayed by 15 minutes.  In addition, inbound services on the Sunshine Coast Line delayed 10 minutes by signal fault at Northgate.

9 August 2011 – 5.56am Gympie North-Roma Street service delayed by 10 minutes due to mechanical issue.  The 4.30pm Nambour-City service ran up to 45 minutes late due to a number of signal faults around Nambour.  The 5.04pm City to Nambour service delayed and arrive 10 minutes late into Palmwoods due to a broken down train ahead.

12 August 2011 – Geebung level crossing incident

18 August 2011 – General delays, Sunshine Coast line.  The 5.04pm train from Roma Street to Nambour was 30 minutes late getting to Caboolture.  The train terminated at Cooboolture and passengers stranded, forced to catch a subsequent train.

19 August 2011 – An overhead power fault at Eudlo forced the suspension of services between Landsborough and Eudlo.  Gympie North train stopped at Nambour and shuttle buses used between Landsborough and Nambour.  Delays of up to an hour were experienced through the peak period.

23 August 2011 – Minor delays for the 5.45pm Brisbane-Gympie North service (up to 10 minutes).  Other trains delayed due to a track fault at Beerburrum. 

24 August 2011 – Services on the Sunshine Coast line between Caboolture and Nambour were delayed due to a track fault at Beerburrum.  Passengers endured delays of up to 20 minutes.

13 September 2011 – The 5.04pm service from Roma Street to Nambour ran slow to Beerburrum, where it was stopped to allow a crossing movement with another train.  The train was 21 minutes late in getting to Palmwoods.

15 September 2011 – For the 5.04pm train, the same fault occurred two days later and was 12 minutes late getting into Landsborough.

20 September 2011 – A track fault at Mooloolah delayed the 5.25am Nambour-Brisbane train by seven minutes and the 5.50am inbound service by 12 minutes.  Up to 20 minute delays for subsequent trains on the Sunshine Coast Line.  In the evening, those who caught the morning services to the city and who climbed aboard the 5.04pm service for the journey home endured a 10 minute delay.

22 September 2011 – Just when the frustrated customers thought it was okay to get aboard the 6.14am Nambour–Roma Street service, it suffered a mechanical fault that resulted in delays of 15 minutes.  In the evening, a major overhead wiring fault resulted in major delays, cancellations and a long bus ride home for many.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Avoid trains: Translink

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Power problems stop trains at Valley; Airtrains not running 

[HappyTrainGuy]

Is Zero (C)Harm a factor with fixing this one?

Overheads are being replaced.

[Golliwog]

Friend just called and said he's been stuck just I/B just before bowen hills for about 20 min, no announcement at the station when boarding.

Yeah, not sure what going on, but I'm assuming crew changes are trying to be sorted. My FG train ended up sitting at platform 4 at Bowen Hills for at least 5 minutes, if not more, and I know it wasn't just waiting for the points to be set.

They still had at least 3 trains stuck that I saw. 1 on platform 1 BH, 1 on platform 2 FV and 1 on platform 3 at Central. PIDs were useless, staff down on the platforms and control the PA regularly told commuters to ignore them and to listen to announcements. As well as Doomben being cancelled, they announced that Richlands was being suspended as well. Assuming all trains were going to run all stops? At the station, they did fairly well at keeping everyone informed of what train was next to arrive and when to expect it. They had to ask a few times for people to move down the platforms away from the stairs. Though they did well at Park Rd too, the one staff member there was announcing everytime she got an update about cancelled or late services, as well as taking questions from those near the ticket office.

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

Power fault sparks major train delays

Power fault sparks major train delays
Bridie Jabour
September 22, 2011 - 5:28PM

The power outage that caused Central Station to close for three hours today was a "rare" event but there are bigger issues at stake, according to commuter lobby group Back On Track.

Spokesman Robert Dow said trains were getting more unreliable though he conceded the power fault was not Queensland Rail's fault.

"The power fault was a serendipitous event, major power faults will occur," he said.

"It's a fairly rare event but what we're seeing a lot of which concerns us is maintenance problems such as mechanical train breakdowns and track faults.

"It seems we are having some sort of disruption daily."

Some trains have resumed at Central after all services at the station were suspended for three hours today due to a power fault.

However, commuters are still being urged to use alternative transport to get home where possible, as "major delays" continue to plague all lines.

A spokesman for Translink said "limited" trains were running through the CBD after two tracks reopened but he could not say which lines were running.

"They've been running since just after 3pm and there are also some extra shuttle buses," he said.

"But the message for people who have to get home this afternoon is still to consider alternative transport if they can.

"So use the CityCats, buses or a private vehicle if it is possible."

Trains through Central and Fortitude Valley stations were suspended at midday after a power problem near Fortitude Valley station.

Extra chairs and bottles of water were brought in to Central Station for the hundreds of would-be passengers stranded waiting for trains to resume.

People planning to catch the airport train sprinted out of the station after the announcement was made that all trains were suspended.

Declan Lunch was waiting for a train to take him to Nerang.

"They herded us out of the main part and now we are just waiting," he said.

"It's annoying, but it's not as if it happens often.

"We just have to suck it up."

Buses were called in to transport passengers from Central to South Brisbane.

Further advice is available from the public transport authority's website.

- with Daniel Hurst

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/power-fault-sparks-major-train-delays-20110922-1kmj6.html

[colinw]

Wow, some of the people commenting on the Courier-Mail article sure are rocket scientists.  I'm glad I don't work for QR, every time something happens the CM & hangers-on comes out with every below the belt shot they can.

[STB]

Just read that apparently a pigeon managed to bring down the powerlines near Brookes St earlier today.  Not sure if one can confirm it though, nevertheless, you can't blame TL or QR this time for it.  If true, if it's something that a wayward bird, or something else 'nature like' that caused it, then you can't blame maintenance or call it a 'world class meltdown' IMO.  Simply a freak accident outside the control of anyone.  This was going to happen no matter what you did to prevent it, it just happened to be on a weekday, rather than a weekend. 

[johnnigh]

Freal Accident??
If a lowly pigeon can bring down QR's power, then the problem IS QRs! Poor design or maintenance rendering the system vulnerable...
But I rather would like to wait until some stronger information arrives. I'm not one to readily excuse anyone or condemn anyone without hearing the story.
But for commuters it was 

[Derwan]

I think I should stop taking days off work.  Major disruptions always seem to happen on my days off.

Instead of being stuck in the city, I was reading the eRail updates from queue lines at Dreamworld and Movie World.   

[Golliwog]

Wow, some of the people commenting on the Courier-Mail article sure are rocket scientists.  I'm glad I don't work for QR, every time something happens the CM & hangers-on comes out with every below the belt shot they can.

Things I just learnt from reading CM comments:

• The Ekka loop/station isn't owned by QR, thats why they couldn't use it.
• Central Station will be closed from next month until December.
• Everything is Bligh's/Translink's/QR's fault
• 18 months of closures on the Ipswich line, and this still went wrong

[STB]

Ah human beings, never happy with what they have got nor with what they get given (not just with transport but with everything).  And no, that's not personal opinion, that was taught to me at uni last semester in one of my subjects, on the basics of human nature (whether we like it or not).  Turns out it's true if you step back and think things objectively rather than putting your own personal spin on things.

Personally I don't think it was a pigeon, there are plenty of birds that land on the wires daily without problem.  While it's annoying, it doesn't happen that often (the overheads coming down).  Commuters just have to suck it up and learn to be patient, it's not the end of the world!  That pigeon bit came from The Courier Mail comments, and I wouldn't trust any of those commentors as a source of reliable information.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Freal Accident??
If a lowly pigeon can bring down QR's power, then the problem IS QRs! Poor design or maintenance rendering the system vulnerable...
But I rather would like to wait until some stronger information arrives. I'm not one to readily excuse anyone or condemn anyone without hearing the story.
But for commuters it was  

Yeah I doubt a germ bag could do that but you'll be suprised what wildlife can actually damage. Snakes have been known to constantly play around with substations and local track/point circuits. One brought the NCL to a halt for about 7 hours after it kept tripping and connecting circuits around Bald Hills. Another decided to make a big ol mess out of a transformer. Let alone when larger wildlife get on the tracks and decide to rip half the fronts of the tilts off.

And Golliwog, most of the states problems are her fault

[Stillwater]

Minister Palaszczuk can't just be a 'good time gal' -- turning up at the opening of busways and new railway stations and not fronting the media to give an explanation for tonight's fiasco, or to put it in context.  It is interesting how the media and customer relations side of this was handled.  Translink turned out 'spokespersons' to talk about the temporary arrangements and to apologise for the inconvenience caused.  Not a polly in sight.

[ozbob]

Great photo at the Couriermail ...


http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2011/09/22/1226143/854678-no-go-zone.jpg

From Power problems stop trains at Valley; Airtrains not running

[ozbob]

Minister Palaszczuk can't just be a 'good time gal' -- turning up at the opening of busways and new railway stations and not fronting the media to give an explanation for tonight's fiasco, or to put it in context.  It is interesting how the media and customer relations side of this was handled.  Translink turned out 'spokespersons' to talk about the temporary arrangements and to apologise for the inconvenience caused.  Not a polly in sight.

At least a statement, briefly outlining the circumstances.  Why does everything have to be a secret?

If a bird shorted the grid, so be it.  These things do occur occasionally.  In the USA around 10% of power outages are due to birds I recall ...

You have probably seen the odd flying fox hanging dead on power lines.  They do it all they time, like birds, but only very occasionally does it short, and they are fried ..

[david]

• 18 months of closures on the Ipswich line, and this still went wrong

OMG! How did we ever survive with 1.5 years of the entire Ipswich line being closed down??? 
Seriously, CM needs to get someone to read the comments before they post them up.

And, wouldn't this be a perfect opportunity to seize on the desperate need for CRR. There is no alternative. Newman's plan to quad South Brisbane and South Bank would not have done jack to assist in this afternoon's delays. WE NEED CRR

[ozbob]

erail 7.53pm

22 Sep 2011

Disruptions on CBD Line due to power fault. Expect 30 mins delay. Service to resume by 10:00 PM.

[HappyTrainGuy]

• 18 months of closures on the Ipswich line, and this still went wrong

OMG! How did we ever survive with 1.5 years of the entire Ipswich line being closed down???  
Seriously, CM needs to get someone to read the comments before they post them up.

I reckon some comments are posted for sh%ts and giggles. They would have to be lol.

[BrizCommuter]

http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com/2011/09/meltdown.html
Oh dear!

[ClintonL94]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1316656449

Buses replace Brisbane CBD & Ferny Grove trains

Buses will replace trains in Brisbane City and along the Ferny Grove train line from 10pm Thursday night to allow overhead power line repairs near Fortitude Valley train station.

Tracks are being closed between Central and Bowen Hills train stations from 10pm Thursday to 4.30am Friday to allow the repairs.

Buses will replace all trains, on all lines between Roma Street and Albion.

Trains will still run north of Albion station on the Caboolture and Shorncliffe lines and on all lines south from Roma Street station, but with possible delays of up to 30 minutes.

Normal train services are expected to resume Friday morning.

However, the 4.15am Central-Ferny Grove train and the 5am Ferny Grove-Bowen Hills train will be replaced by buses on Friday.

The website is being updated. Please check back regularly for the latest information.

Affected Services:

• Airport line
• Beenleigh line
• Caboolture line
• Cleveland line
• Doomben line
• Ferny Grove line
• Gold Coast line
• Ipswich Rosewood line
• Shorncliffe line
• Sunshine Coast line
• Richlands line

[O_128]

Caught a train from the valley to south bris at about 6:30, PIDs down, all trains through platforms 3 and 4 one train still at platform 2. Seemed to be running a cycle timetable i.e. Ipswich, Cleveland, GC, Beenleigh, Ipswich etc. As usual great work to QR staff about 10 staff on the concourse and platforms.

[Otto]

I think I should stop taking days off work.  Major disruptions always seem to happen on my days off.

Instead of being stuck in the city, I was reading the eRail updates from queue lines at Dreamworld and Movie World.   

That's where I was today as well ( with OH ) on a day off !! OH is sure glad she did not go to work today..

[Arnz]

The 4pm Nambour train was actually the late running 3:30pm service today, as a result we only had a 3-car unit (IMU104).  It was pretty much closing in on Sardine Can conditions (not as bad as the old 5:22 service), but equalization eventually occurred at Landsborough.  I didn't mind standing for the 60 mins of the 80 min trip (Myself and a buddy gave up our seats to a elderly couple that boarded at Northgate).

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

Commuters promised train services back to normal after lone pigeon flew into high voltage wires and closed down Brisbane's busiest stations

Commuters promised train services back to normal after lone pigeon flew into high voltage wires and closed down Brisbane's busiest stations

    Andrew MacDonald and Robyn Ironside
    From: The Courier-Mail
    September 23, 2011 12:00AM

COMMUTERS have been promised train services will be back to normal this morning after a lone pigeon closed down Brisbane's busiest stations, turning afternoon peak hour into commuter chaos.

The bird flew into high voltage wires near a steel bridge at Fortitude Valley, causing an "arc" which shorted out an overhead line, bringing it down and killing the pigeon.

Nearby workers reported hearing a "bang" over the train tracks in Brookes St about 11.45am.

"It sounded like a car crash and when we looked out the window we could see the overhead wires on the railway smoking and sagging," a witness said.

The effect was dramatic and far-reaching, with Central and Fortitude Valley stations forced to close, halting across-city train services for more than three hours.

As frustrated commuters gathered at the stations, Translink and Queensland Rail scrambled to organise shuttle buses and hand out cab vouchers.

Road traffic exploded as stranded workers called friends and family to pick them up.

Just after 3pm, two of the four train lines were reopened and 41 additional buses began running between the city and key suburban stations, including Milton, Eagle Junction and South Bank.

A Queensland Rail spokesman said the ensuing chaos affected all of the 65,000 afternoon commuters with every train service delayed, some by more than an hour.

Peak-hour crowds of up to 500 at a time were held up at entry points to Central Station. Extra Translink and security officers were brought in.

Lowood resident Lillian Camilliri, who had been staying in Brisbane since Tuesday, said she arrived at Central about 1pm when she learned of the delays. By 4pm she had arranged a lift home with a friend.

Boondall resident Jake Taylor said he decided to go shopping for an hour after learning of the delays.

The spokesman said repairs to the high-voltage lines would continue through the night, with services expected to resume at 4am today.

Robert Dow from commuter advocacy group Back on Track said it was a "fairly random sort of event" with a severe impact.

"I think occasionally you're going to have major power problems," he said.

[ozbob]

erail 9.11pm 22 Sep 2011

22 Sep 2011

Disruptions on Ferny Grove Line due to track fault. Expect 30 mins delay. Service to resume by 23 Sep 2011 5:00 AM.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

23rd September 2011

Public transport disruptions

Greetings,

The power problems with the rail network yesterday was an unexpected major disruption.  These sorts of things happen anywhere from time to time.
In the USA for example around 10% of power outages are due to birds.  Overall on this count I think we do OK.

Queensland Rail, TransLink and bus operators, traffic staff and others all did a good job under the circumstances, thank you.

We do have some concerns though with the constant mechanical issues with the trains, signal and track faults, as well as some power issues on a smaller scale that have been locally very disruptive of late.
Similarly there are many reports of constant no shows by buses, and many constant bus fulls with long waits by passengers to board buses.  Up to 30 minutes on the Inner Northern Busway!

It is clear to us that public transport is not being adequately funded.

Funding must shift from a road centric future to a sustainable transport future.

As was clearly demonstrated yesterday, public transport is fundamental to a major city.

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

erail 4.28am

22 Sep 2011

Disruptions on Ferny Grove Line due to track fault. Expect 30 mins delay. Service to resume by 23 Sep 2011 5:30 AM.

Alt. transport operating between Roma Street and Ferny Grove.

[ozbob]

Twitter

612brisbane ABC Radio Brisbane
QR finishes repairs at 4.57am following yesterday's power problems. Lots of delayed trains this morning.
20 minutes ago

===============

612brisbane ABC Radio Brisbane
QR expects trains on time by 6.
18 minutes ago

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Trains back to normal after power woes

[ozbob]

A letter to the editor Couriermail 24th September 2011

Trouble on the tracks routine



Others are likewise concerned ..

Sent to all outlets:

23rd September 2011

Public transport disruptions

Greetings,

The power problems with the rail network yesterday was an unexpected major disruption.  These sorts of things happen anywhere from time to time.
In the USA for example around 10% of power outages are due to birds.  Overall on this count I think we do OK.

Queensland Rail, TransLink and bus operators, traffic staff and others all did a good job under the circumstances, thank you.

We do have some concerns though with the constant mechanical issues with the trains, signal and track faults, as well as some power issues on a smaller scale that have been locally very disruptive of late.
Similarly there are many reports of constant no shows by buses, and many constant bus fulls with long waits by passengers to board buses.  Up to 30 minutes on the Inner Northern Busway!

It is clear to us that public transport is not being adequately funded.

Funding must shift from a road centric future to a sustainable transport future.

As was clearly demonstrated yesterday, public transport is fundamental to a major city.

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ClintonL94]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1316863125

Trains suspended: Booval station

Ipswich/Rosewood line trains are suspended at Booval due to a police incident. Police are currently on site. Delays of 15-30 minutes are expected.

Affected Services:

• Ipswich Rosewood line

[HappyTrainGuy]

Ummm... Isn't the main reason of most delays is to prevent something serious or life threatening from happening? No one sends a train flying through a level crossing with faulty boomgates or a train through a set of points/signals if its playing up. After reading that article to me Mr Copson sounds like someone that when the check engine light comes on when driving would continue to drive for another 300km past 30 service stations  

[Golliwog]

Ummm... Isn't the main reason of most delays is to prevent something serious or life threatening from happening? No one sends a train flying through a level crossing with faulty boomgates or a train through a set of points/signals if its playing up. After reading that article to me Mr Copson sounds like someone that when the check engine light comes on when driving would continue to drive for another 300km past 30 service stations  

But I want to catch my train home NOW!

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1317067619

Some outbound train delays (Redbank area)

Some outbound trains travelling between Redbank and Ipswich may be delayed up to 10 minutes due to a track fault.

Queensland Rail electricians are en route to fix the fault.

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1317104274

Beenleigh, Cleveland and Gold Coast train delays

Beenleigh, Gold Coast and Cleveland line trains between will experience delays of up to 15 minutes between Roma Street and South Brisbane stations due to a signalling fault.