Reported service disruptions rail - no longer in use

[ozbob]

No, the bus system is in meltdown already.  The rail system has the potential for real capacity increases, once they sort out their maintenance issues ... and infrastructure deficits.

For the past ten years most of the investment and so forth has been in bus.  Rails turn now ..

[Arnz]

Converting parts of the busier suburban rail lines to Busways, is as Brizcommuter puts it.. the "Trainspotter fantasy file".

[ozbob]

Slipped from mid to late afternoon on the Ipswich line ..

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

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1324081992

Buses replacing trains Dinmore - Goodna

Buses will replace trains between Dinmore and Goodna due to a track fault at Redbank. Trains will be suspended from approximately 11am until late afternoon. Customers should allow an extra 30 minutes when travelling during this time. TransLink apologises for any delays.

[petey3801]

Slipped from mid to late afternoon on the Ipswich line ..

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

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1324081992

Buses replacing trains Dinmore - Goodna

Buses will replace trains between Dinmore and Goodna due to a track fault at Redbank. Trains will be suspended from approximately 11am until late afternoon. Customers should allow an extra 30 minutes when travelling during this time. TransLink apologises for any delays.

Trains had started running by around 1600 or so. I have heard the redbank issue was a broken rail. The Shorncliffe line issue was apparently to do with the car/truck accident on the Gateway at Boondall, by what I have heard anyway..

[HappyTrainGuy]

Yep, indeed the Shorncliffe track fault was a result of todays crash on the gateway. The crash/fire was located directly above the railway line with a few bits and things falling onto the track along with the protective anitclimber fence above the wires being damaged. The anticlimber fence on the opposite side also somewhat limited how the firies tried to put it out.

[ozbob]

Well, guess what?

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

erail 4.56am

18 Dec 2011

Disruptions on North Coast Line due to track fault. Expect 30 mins delay. Service to resume by 9:45 AM.


Alt. transport operating between Nambour and Caboolture.

[ozbob]

Serious questions need to be asked?   Rail systems were never this fail prone once ... 

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

18th December 2011

Constant track failures on the rail network

Greetings,

This weekend there have been a number of very disruptive ' track faults ' on the rail network in SEQ.

Constant track closures are also taking its toll.

Serious questions need to be asked.  Is the present rail maintenance regime preventative or failure based?

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

The Observer -->  Line outage stops tilt train

... NORTH and south bound QR passenger services have ground to a hault following line issues between Gladstone and Rockhampton. ...

just another 'unfortunate coincidence' no doubt ... and plenty of apologies all round ..

[ozbob]

Well, guess what?

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

erail 4.56am

18 Dec 2011

Disruptions on North Coast Line due to track fault. Expect 30 mins delay. Service to resume by 9:45 AM.


Alt. transport operating between Nambour and Caboolture.

There was no mention of this ' track fault ' on twitter by @TransLinkSEQ or @QueenslandRail, and nothing on the TransLink web site.  Christmas must have started early ...

Inconsistent information dissemination, but what's new?

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

erail 9.28am

18 Dec 2011

Services for Nambour Line have resumed as normal.

[ozbob]

Hold on, has now appeared on the TransLink web site, but folks it finished an hour and 20 minutes ago ... crikey, what a shambles ...  

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

10.55am


http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1324160905

Buses replacing trains Nambour - Caboolture


Buses are replacing trains between Nambour and Caboolture, following an earlier track fault on the line. Customers may experience delays of up to 30 minutes in both directions.

[#Metro]

What moniker should we apply to the SC Line. We all know thanks to the Courier Mail that The Gold Coast is Bombay,

so I suggest the Sunshine Coast be dubbed The Shambles Express and hitherto be referred to as the Shambles Coast Line

[ozbob]

I have tweeted both TransLink and QueenslandRail for some sort of explanation as to the state of the line operations at present.  Open or closed?

Always possible there is yet another track fault ...  waiting ...

[ozbob]

Last erail has the SCL operating normally.

TransLink web site has it as a major disruption.

No responses on twitter.

Customer service par excellence ....  what a joke ...

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

18th December 2011

Confusion too Re: Constant track failures on the rail network

Greetings,

To give some idea of the confusion that goes for the travelling public.

At 4.56am this morning, an erail alert was received by me.

18 Dec 2011

Disruptions on North Coast Line due to track fault. Expect 30 mins delay. Service to resume by 9:45 AM.

Alt. transport operating between Nambour and Caboolture.

At 6.17am a further erail alert.

18 Dec 2011

Disruptions on Nambour Line due to power fault. Expect 30 mins delay. Service to resume by 9:45 AM.

Alt. transport operating between Nambour and Caboolture.

At 9.28am this morning, another email alert was received by me.

18 Dec 2011

Services for Nambour Line have resumed as normal.

No further erail alerts received.

However on the TransLink web site there is this Major alert notice.

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1324160905  12.04pm

Buses replacing trains Nambour - Caboolture
 
Buses are replacing trains between Nambour and Caboolture, following an earlier track fault on the line. Customers may experience delays of up to 30 minutes in both directions.

I have sent a number of tweets to TransLinkSEQ and QueenslandRail asking for clarification.  No response.

May I suggest that if TransLinkSEQ and QueenslandRail are going to use social media for essential communication they do it properly, and around the clock.

I would imagine there is more than a few bewildered pax around wondering whether the trains are actually running or not.

Yours in confusion,

Robert

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

On 18/12/2011 5:07 AM, RAIL Back On Track Admin wrote:
Greetings,

This weekend there have been a number of very disruptive ' track faults ' on the rail network in SEQ.

Constant track closures are also taking its toll.

Serious questions need to be asked.  Is the present rail maintenance regime preventative or failure based?

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration

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

[HappyTrainGuy]

Sorry but all forms of social media should not be responsible for keeping everyone in the loop as a private source for updates and questions 24/7. This is where problems occur when one group issues an update while another doesn't issue the update. Social media is more of a promotional and marketing tool rather than a information database for those with computers, smart phones, tablet computers, wifi and fridges with internet. If there are any concerns about public transport and services running the dedicated 24/7 Translink phone service is what should be used by calling 13 12 30. They will generally have more information available to them than the people that maintain the twitter feeds (Usually because the people that maintain the twitter feeds are in different departments). Its also stated on their twitter pages that its not monitored at nights and on weekends.

@TransLinkSEQ
Tweeting major service disruptions, public transport news, upcoming service changes and events in SEQ. We're usually online 9-5 Mon-Fri.

@QueenslandRail
Queensland Rail's official account: monitored 7am-6pm M-F. All other times please call 13 12 30. RT does not necessarily imply endorsement.

[ozbob]

Sorry but all forms of social media should not be responsible for keeping everyone in the loop as a private source for updates and questions 24/7. This is where problems occur when one group issues an update while another doesn't issue the update. Social media is more of a promotional and marketing tool rather than a information database for those with computers, smart phones, tablet computers, wifi and fridges with internet. If there are any concerns about public transport and services running the dedicated 24/7 Translink phone service is what should be used by calling 13 12 30. They will generally have more information available to them than the people that maintain the twitter feeds. Its also stated on their twitter pages that its not monitored at nights and on weekends.

@TransLinkSEQ
Tweeting major service disruptions, public transport news, upcoming service changes and events in SEQ. We're usually online 9-5 Mon-Fri.

@QueenslandRail
Queensland Rail's official account: monitored 7am-6pm M-F. All other times please call 13 12 30. RT does not necessarily imply endorsement.

Disagree.  Both TL and QR are using twitter extensively for updates as they occur when it suits them.  In fact today there has been a tweet from Queensland Rail about geese laying eggs.

Other jurisdictions eg. MetroMelbourne are on constant 24/7 with the issues ( I subscribe to their twitter feed).  I think with both TL and QR attitude is symptomatic of wider issues, don't you??

And why is there conflict between the web site and erail and SMS then?  

You don't have to be an apologist for QR all the time mate.  It is pathetic the confusion.  QR have made a great song and dance of how great they are with twitter. Well let's see it used effectively hey?

[ozbob]

But then again Metro is reasonably 'customer' focussed ...


Twitter

metrotrains Metro Trains
Minor Delays - Epping/Hurstbridge line: in both dirs(earlier track fault at Clifton Hill). Delays to 10 minutes. #Metrotrains
2 hours ago

[ozbob]

Twitter

QueenslandRail Queensland Rail
Isn't it Christmas time? I spotted six geese-a-laying at Sunnybank. Eggcellent! #QR12Days
5 hours ago

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

But letting punters know if trains are running or not is too hard?  

Hopeless ...

Twitter was shown to be an extremely effective communication tool during the floods, and is something that needs to be used properly.  Some would argue that twitter/face book is now much more pressing in terms of communication effectiveness than email in disseminating alerts and so forth.

[#Metro]

Other jurisdictions eg. MetroMelbourne are on constant 24/7 with the issues ( I subscribe to their twitter feed).  I think with both TL and QR attitude is symptomatic of wider issues, don't you??

And why is there conflict between the web site and erail and SMS then? 

I think this is something that can be fixed quickly. Have someone at the TransLink Serco call centre do the updates- isn't that open 24/7?

Can't they monitor each-other?

Maybe 5 years ago it would have been OK, but now with the explosion of Android and iPhone and all that, it's becoming standard now.

[ozbob]

Sure needs to be sorted.

I have had verified reports of pax sitting on a rail station platform during a track closure, ringing the TransLink call centre and asking when the trains are coming.  To be told the next timetabled rail service.  The fact that no trains were running and buses were substituting escaped the call centre completely ... lol

Pax want to use the tools they have. Not waste time and money ringing a call centre that has a dubious track record.

The thing is when it suits them TransLink and Queensland Rail they do the track faults and what not overdrive on twitter.  Maybe the new CEO might bring them into the real world ...

[HappyTrainGuy]

Haha, I'm not being apologetic. Having done part of a marketing course that involved social media (Facebook, twitter etc) are more promotional aspects for many companies. It gives them a voice and casts/gives a better perception of the company along with providing a place for additional marketing and promotion for the company as opposed to a boring and bleek company that has no communication and no interaction with the public. All you have to do is go look at a company twitter page and see how they interact with users. QR has made that really obvious that their twitter feed is more customer friendly and interactive (Going by some posts it would not surprise me one bit that it's just the marketing department that is maintaining the twitter feed, putting small random things like geese laying eggs, eggcellent jokes and putting a couple calls through to find why a couple services are running late - thus giving the impression that they are human, they really care about each individual and would go the extra step to help the passenger which then improves their overall image).

But its all up to how the company goes about it and what department it gets put into. Promotional/update specific/image/interaction/mix of all. In this case QR has taken on the more interactive/image/promotional side with using social media.

[ozbob]

Many agencies use twitter around the clock for alerts and so forth.  This is effective use of the tools.

Some examples, check them out.

Queensland Police Service  Media  https://twitter.com/#!/qpsmedia

EWN Alerts https://twitter.com/#!/EWNAlerts

Social media?  Too right, but used effectively, something TransLink and Queensland Rail are still to learn. Perhaps we can help them ...

[ozbob]

The TransLink web site now has the Sunshine Coast Line as green - Normal.

Now the question is.  Who was correct as to the time the trains resumed?

Queensland Rail with its advice at 9.28am?  Or TransLink at approx. 2pm?

Hopefully someone was travelling and can let us know ...

[ A little tweet at say 10am would have clarified it nicely now ... ]

[#Metro]

The TransLink web site now has the Sunshine Coast Line as green - Normal.

The Shambles Coast line should be PERMANENTLY stuck on Yellow, for obvious reasons. There is nothing 'normal' about service on that line!

[ozbob]

Both TL and QR are using twitter extensively for updates as they occur when it suits them.

I want to expand on this point.  The fact they do regularly use twitter for alerts for disruptions, all modes, means that it becomes an important communication channel.  To not use it some times is only going to result in confusion. Either use it around the clock or don't use it at all for alerts and so forth. Confine the chatter to geese with golden eggs then.

Real world TransLink.  Queensland Rail just retweets TL tweets on rail disruptions in any case. TL puts out constant bus disruptions via twitter as well.

[HappyTrainGuy]

For the record I don't have a problem with them using Facebook/Twitter for updates and I believe social media can be a very powerful tool if used correctly. Its just how they use it now thats the current issue with retweeting service issues, advising to use the other twitter page, random small updates and with the more marketing and promotional appearance especially for the QR twitter feed (Maybe tweet what department is responsible for the twitter feeds ).

[ozbob]

I think Shambles Coast Line is a bit harsh.  I like Sometimes Coast Line ....  not so harsh and very much in line with the hit and miss nature of train movements ...

sometimes it is a train, sometimes it is a bus, sometimes it is a waltz at Mooloolah, sometimes it is a line dance ...  lol

[HappyTrainGuy]

Not to mention a good view outside the window  

"We're just like British Rail. We may be late, but we'll get you there". 

[#Metro]

Fare's Fare, do you have any suggestions for a moniker? 

[Arnz]

I think Shambles Coast Line is a bit harsh.  I like Sometimes Coast Line ....  not so harsh and very much in line with the hit and miss nature of train movements ...

sometimes it is a train, sometimes it is a bus, sometimes it is a waltz at Mooloolah, sometimes it is a line dance ...  lol

Not to mention the unhomengenous service patterns!! 9, 13, 14, (sometimes 18) and 20 stations skipped.  Alongside some of the weekend train shuttles.

[ozbob]

TransLink do update the website around the clock.  Who ever does that could also send a tweet when there is an update.  Takes seconds.

Meanwhile .. this reminds of the SCL ...

[#Metro]

Not to mention the unhomengenous service patterns!! 9, 13, 14, (sometimes 18) and 20 stations skipped.  Alongside some of the weekend train shuttles.

The buses that replace trains are pretty bad too. Sometimes it goes via X sometimes stopping via Y and sometimes via Z

[Fares_Fair]

Fare's Fare, do you have any suggestions for a moniker?  

Hello All,

Just catching up on all of this, knew nothing about it as my erail alerts stopped being received many months ago and there have been absolutely no tweets on this major disruption.
I did get a 'stupid' tweet about six geese a laying however.
What nonsense, I say stupid because they had a tweet for that but not for a major disruption to the SC line.


It's a shambles once again...

Anyway, in answer to your question TT, the Sometimes Coast line by ozbob fits the bill perfectly.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Fares_Fair]

Twitter

QueenslandRail Queensland Rail
Isn't it Christmas time? I spotted six geese-a-laying at Sunnybank. Eggcellent! #QR12Days
5 hours ago

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

But letting punters know if trains are running or not is too hard?  

Hopeless ...

Twitter was shown to be an extremely effective communication tool during the floods, and is something that needs to be used properly.  Some would argue that twitter/face book is now much more pressing in terms of communication effectiveness than email in disseminating alerts and so forth.

... it's appalling.
This requires a full explanation.

I see you issued a notice to all outlets, thank you ozbob. 


Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Fares_Fair]

Another question, just where exactly did this track fault occur?
Somewhere between Nambour and Caboolture?

It is incredibly light on the specific detail, is it not?
Does that mean it was a single line track related issue, again?

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[ozbob]

This is how it is used, around the clock ..

Twitter

metrotrains Metro Trains
The 6:06 PM citybound train from Craigieburn has been cancelled (vandalised train). #MetroTrains
26 minutes ago

[ozbob]

Another question, just where exactly did this track fault occur?
Somewhere between Nambour and Caboolture?

It is incredibly light on the specific detail, is it not?
Does that mean it was a single line track related issue, again?

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

Despite my security classification (Control agent level 12, not the CONTROL but Max's Control) haven't a clue ..

Started off as a ' track fault ' 1st erail,  then went to a ' power fault' 2nd erail, and then back to a ' track fault ' on the TransLink web site notice.

Maybe two koalas were having it off on a point motor, and shorted the system, whilst a wombat attacked a rail joint with such ferocity to break the circuit?

It will no doubt, always remain a great mystery to control agents and pax generally ...

[Fares_Fair]

It's great when it is used and a disaster when it's not.

How do I find out where the actual problem was located, or what exactly it was?
Tomorrow's news perhaps.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Fares_Fair]

Another question, just where exactly did this track fault occur?
Somewhere between Nambour and Caboolture?

It is incredibly light on the specific detail, is it not?
Does that mean it was a single line track related issue, again?

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

Despite my security classification (Control agent level 12, not the CONTROL but Max's Control) haven't a clue ..

Started off as a ' track fault ' 1st erail,  then went to a ' power fault' 2nd erail, and then back to a ' track fault ' on the TransLink web site notice.

Maybe two koalas were having it off on a point motor, and shorted the system, whilst a wombat attacked a rail joint with such ferocity to break the circuit?

It will no doubt, always remain a great mystery to control agents and pax generally ...

lol, and a mystery to TransLink as well ... or they were waiting for the tweet.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.