Reported service disruptions rail - no longer in use

[stephenk]

I hope that questions are going to be asked in parliament about this latest series of severe failures. Not good timing for terrible reliability considering the fare rises are only a month away!

Today I travelled from Landsborough to Mooloolah, to walk back through along the path of the old railway line. The 11:09 arrived approx 20mins late, probably as it had to wait for the replacement bus at Bald Hills. The connecting bus services to the Sunshine Coast had already left 10 mins earlier. Given that some passengers would have already have suffered two replacement bus services, I'm sure quite a few would have very annoyed to have missed the connecting bus at Landsborough as well. The failure of public transport in this way, just promotes Australia's unsustainable car culture.

[ozbob]

6 Dec 2009

50 mins delay for services on Nambour Line due to police incident. Service to resume by 4:00 PM.

2.57pm via erail

[ozbob]

Some comments from Mrs Ozbob on her experiences at Central around 1pm, major disruptions had been occuring for around 6 hours at that time.

"Confusion, no clear directions where to go for the bus both oral and written. Misinformation from some staff as well. Nothing like the signs at Oxley when the buses are running, pat on the back for Oxley and Corinda for their good signs [Ed.  ], they are very organised people and signage for example 'this bus is going to Ipswich' and so forth."

 

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Power fault brings trains to standstill

Power fault brings trains to standstill
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Paddy Hintz

December 06, 2009 11:00pm

QUEENSLAND Rail has once again said sorry to its frustrated passengers - this time for a seven-hour shutdown that will cripple Brisbane if repeated during peak-hour.

Three of the city's busiest stations – Central, Fortitude Valley and Bowen Hills – were affected yesterday because of a power outage, causing delays for more than 100 services.

Passengers were herded off trains and on to buses between Albion and Roma St stations and Mitchelton and Bowen Hills.

Queensland Rail also paid for taxis to get some passengers to the airport as tempers were tested on a hot day.

The power fault between Fortitude Valley and Bowen Hills stations occurred around 6am, closing two inner-city lines. Two other lines were undergoing safety upgrades at the time. Power was not restored until just before 1pm.

Queensland Rail did not make any of its senior employees available for interview, leaving a spokeswoman to explain their latest problem.

"QR apologises to its customers following today's disruptions," she said.

"We are continuing on substantial upgrade projects to improve the Southeast Queensland network and we thank all our customers for their patience while we carry out these upgrades."

It is the latest in a string of signal failures and track faults that have plagued the network in the past few weeks.

Last month, thousands of weekend travellers were caught up in disruptions to the Cleveland, Beenleigh and Gold Coast lines.

Shortly after that incident, Transport Minister Rachel Nolan was forced to apologise twice in two days after computer failures ground the QR network to a halt with up to 40,000 commuters caught up in delays.

A power fault between Bowen Hills and Fortitude Valley is also believed to have delayed travellers late last Thursday night.

The QR spokeswoman said there was no way of knowing how many taxi vouchers had been given out to affected passengers.

"We literally had people out there moving at a frantic pace to get people moving as quickly as they could," she said.

Some ticketholders to the Stereosonic festival at Eagle Farm missed the first two hours of the concert because of the power outage.

"We had to get a bus from Roma St to here," Matt Hutton, 29, of Ipswich, said.

"We've missed the first two hours of the concert."

Fellow traveller Belinda Donohoe, of Ipswich, said trying to get a taxi was impossible.

"There just weren't any cabs around," she said.

[STB]

Something that worries me about the messages given out is that they stop short of explaining the actual situation.  Power fault is a rather general term really, not as bad as the old days when they used to say technical problems for vitually every delay and cancellation.

I noticed that Metro Trains Melbourne gave a media release which gave very good details of the train that had a damaged pantograph, it even went into explaining exactly why it was damaged, why the trains had to stop and how a pantograph worked, in laymans terms.  If this had happened to QR they would simply say 'Train Fault' and nothing more.

There is a long running culture in QR of "hush hush", simply explain that there is a fault for example but don't give details.  There is even a policy that if broken can result in dismissal known as "Ringfencing", while this would be neccessary for business deals within QR, I think it would be going too far if they say it for messages to the public.

As a passenger, I would want to know exactly what caused the power fault, why it took such a long time to fix, and exactly which trains were affected and an estimate of how long it will take to fix.

The Metro Trains Melbourne media release can be found at http://www.metrotrains.com.au/About-us/News/Damaged-train-equipment-found-to-be-the-cause-of-Glen-Waverley-disruption.html

[ozbob]

Media Release 7 December 2009

SEQ:  Public transport fail apologies are not enough

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has previously called for some sort of compensation scheme be put in place to allow some redress of the financial impacts of a rail service constantly disrupted due to mainly network problems and buses overloaded and often not showing up (1).  Public transport users are facing very significant fare increases from the 4th January (2). Why should commuters pay more for a service not delivering? Also of great concern is the overall state of the go card ticketing system (3).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Many public transport commuters are at breaking point.  A public transport network that is beset with failure and looming massive fare increases.  Why should commuters pay massive fare increases for constant failure?"

"Apologies are wearing thin.  How about some clear statements as to what the real cause of the disruptions are and more importantly what is going to be done to sort it?  We have had enough!  Government is failing, as is Queensland Transport.  The botched nature of transport planning was identified recently by the Queensland Auditor General.  Will the real culprits come forward?  Hardly likely, more spin and bluster is the modus operandi."

"The constant disruption on bus and rail is costly for many commuters (4).  There is a need for a formal scheme for commuters to claim back some of the personal financial impacts such as loss of wages, emergency taxi fares,  missed appointments, additional child care costs and so forth when there is disruption."

"Public transport operators are performing at heroic levels as they desperately cope with constant infrastructure failures be it rail or the hopelessly inadequate road network.  At the front line of commuter disenchantment and frustration they continue to provide a service that does get the majority around the majority of the time.  The problem is though that constant disruption and the uncertainty of travel is having a significant impact on many, and causing  great hardship for the community and must be affecting the morale of the operators."

"Rather than simply dismissing calls for compensation how about consideration of the real impacts?  Consult with the community, inform the community, listen to constructive suggestions.  Move out of the 'silos' of isolation into the 'fields' of improvement.  QR Passenger has a shown a lead with Community Reference Groups (5), time others got with it."

References:

1.   1 May 2009: SEQ:  Call for a public transport compensation scheme for poor service outcomes by TransLink and its Operators http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2211.0

2.   http://www.translink.com.au/fares2010.php

3.   13 Nov 2009: SEQ: Please fix the go card system http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3009.0

4.   10 Oct 2009: SEQ: Rail commuters concerned with rail network reliability http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2849.0

5.   Community Reference Group http://www.citytrain.com.au/promotion/crg/overview.asp

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

http://www.translink.com.au/alert.php?id=316

Beenleigh line delays - effective 7 December 2009

QR has advised there are delays for passengers at Eden's Landing station due to debris on the track.

Brisbane-bound trains will not stop at Eden's Landing station.

Passengers wanting to stop at Eden's Landing should disembark at Bethania and catch a Beenleigh train back to Eden's Landing.

Outbound trains will stop at Eden's Landing.

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

How hard can it be to remove debris from the track?   

[STB]

2 words - Zero Harm.

[ozbob]

No, zero charm ...

I thought some commonsense was at long last prevailing again,  apparently not.

[ozbob]

8 Dec 2009

30 mins delay for services on Cleveland Line due to crossing issue. Service to resume by 10:00 AM.

Via erail

And

Tweet

612brisbane
 
QR: A boom gate on the Cavendish Road level crossing at Coorparoo has been damaged. Trains halted both directions. less than a minute ago from iTweet

[ozbob]

Time these fools were a:  immediate licence suspension  b:  cost of repairs and disruption.

[ozbob]

http://www.translink.com.au/alert.php?id=319

Cleveland line delays - effective 8 December 2009

QR has advised TransLink that train services on the Cleveland line are currently suspended at Coorparoo due to a incident at the Cavendish Road level crossing about 8.15am.

Police have been called to direct traffic on scene.

Passengers can expect delays up to 20 minutes.

[Jon Bryant]

Plus the cost of refunding all the tickets to those delayed.  These acts truely are selfish!!!!!  The 'me me me' society strikes again!!!

[Otto]

CBD line delays - effective 8 December 2009

QR has advised that train services in the CBD are currently delayed by 30 mins due to a signaling fault.. Services to resume by 8:00pm

received at 6:46..

[Otto]

Ipswich/Rosewood line delays - effective 8 December 2009

QR has advised that train services on the Ipswich/Rosewood line are currently delayed by 30 mins due to a signaling fault.. Services to resume by 8:00pm

received at 6:47..

[Otto]

Gold Coast line delays - effective 8 December 2009

QR has advised that train services on the Gold Coast line are currently delayed by 30 mins due to a signaling fault.. Services to resume by 8:00pm

received at 6:48..

[Otto]

Beenleigh line delays - effective 8 December 2009

QR has advised that train services on the Beenleigh line are currently delayed by 30 mins due to a signaling fault.. Services to resume by 8:00pm

received at 6:50..

[Otto]

Cleveland line delays - effective 8 December 2009

QR has advised that train services on the Cleveland line are currently delayed by 30 mins due to a signaling fault.. Services to resume by 8:00pm

received at 6:52..

[ozbob]

Presently at Cewntral, trains slowly sorting out.  The 7.35pm Ippy is now due 7.54 pm ...

Tweet

612brisbane
 
Listener Charles tells 612: Computer fault caused QR to temporarily lose all trains on Citytrain network, according to station staff.

[Otto]

Just received updates for above lines.. 30 minute delays due to signaling fault.. Services to resume by 10:00pm..

[ozbob]

Presently outbound Taringa,  running but late ..

Herein the problem

8 Dec 2009

30 mins delay for services on CBD Line due to signalling fault. Service to resume by 10:00 PM.

As Otto has indicated all lines experiencing some delays.

[Derwan]

My train was 20 minutes late.  It was actually lucky as I was arriving 10 minutes early for the next train and jumped straight on!   

[stephenk]

I was delayed 21mins (ironically) after the CRG meeting.

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Commuter chaos hits again

Commuter chaos hits again
Article from: The Courier-Mail

December 08, 2009 07:11pm

COMMUTER trains across Brisbane have been thrown into disarray again by another signalling fault. Services won't be back to normal until about 10pm.

Translink has advises passengers may have delays up to 45 minutes as services recover from the disruption.

A Translink media spokesman said a network-wide signalling fault about 6.20pm caused the problem.

"The signals were down for about 10 or 20 minutes but they had to stop all trains as a basic precaution, which has caused the flow-on problems,"' he said.

[ozbob]

http://www.translink.com.au/alert.php?id=336

Central station delays - effective 9 December 2009

QR has advised TransLink that trains from Cleveland, Beenleigh/Gold Coast and Ipswich/Rosewood lines arriving at Central station will be delayed up to 10 minutes due to a track fault at Central.

All trains from these lines will stop on platform six until further notice.

Technicians are en route to fix the problem.

[ozbob]

http://www.translink.com.au/alert.php?id=337

Ipswich line delays - effective 9 December 2009

QR has advised TransLink that inbound trains on the Ipswich line may face delays up to five minutes due to a track fault between Milton and Auchenflower stations.

[Derwan]

http://www.translink.com.au/alert.php?id=338

Nambour/North Coast line services currently suspended - effective 9 December 2009

QR has advised TransLink that all train services on the Nambour/North Coast line are currently suspended due to a level crossing incident at Landsborough.

Regular Sunbus and QR RailBus services that stop at Landsborough station are also impacted by this incident.

[ozbob]

11 Dec 2009

Disruptions on Shorncliffe Line due to crossing issue. Expect 30 mins delay. Service to resume by 8:30 AM.

via erail

[ozbob]

Report from member

"Stuck at Banyo.  Vehicle struck both boom gates, vehicle left scene."



Small mobile phone image

[Derwan]

FINALLY some excitement on the Shorncliffe line!  We were feeling left out!

Accident happened just before 7:30. We were under way again just before 8:00.  Pretty good when you consider QR staff had to get to the scene during the peak period.

The vehicle left the scene, with police asking, "Did anyone see what happened?" when they arrived.  Plenty of cars driving straight through until the police got there and started turning cars away.

Sorry for the poor quality photo.  It was sent via MMS.  I got a bunch of photos so I'll download them tonight and post them.  (I can't on the work computer.)

The boom gate in the photo was bent around and obstructing the track.  Fortunately there was no train going the other way.  If there was, it would have struck the boom gate with potentially disastrous consequences for anyone standing nearby.

eRail updates were very timely - within a couple of minutes of both the initial disruption and restoration of services.

Edit: Photos are now available:  http://www.derwan.com/photography/album.asp?album=47

[ozbob]

15 Dec 2009

40 mins delay for services on Ipswich/Rosewood Line due to track fault. Service to resume by 11:40 AM.

via erail

Twitter

TransLinkSEQ
 
Delays of up to 30 minutes on the Ipswich line due to a track fault between Corinda and Oxley. 6 minutes ago from API

[ozbob]

Services resumed on the Ippy. At Oxley rail, the 12.09 is now showing 12.26 ... still catching up following the track fault. 17 minutes behind.

[Otto]

I wondered what had happened on the Ipswich line today ( Tuesday ). I was driving a Great Circle 599 and as I approached Sherwood Level Crossing at about 10:30ish, I saw a coalie going through heading towards Roma Street. I thought this was a strange sight as the coalies usually go via tenneson... I can only guess that the coalie can only be turned around via the city / exhibition loop to go back across the merivale bridge to fisherman islands.
I stopped at the stop just prior to the crossing and picked up an unusually large number of passengers all wanting to go to the City.
As I loaded, I noticed an Ipswich service just sitting at Sherwood station on the main line. As I departed the stop, the boom gates lowered and as I waited, another Ipswich service arrived on the suburban line. Then oddly, the boom gates went up to allow traffic through and the 2 Ipswich trains were both sitting at Sherwood prior to the Crossing. As I now continued along Honour Ave towards Indooroopilly, I noticed a Corinda Service sitting at Graceville on the main line. Futher along I saw another Ipswich service sitting at Chelmer also on the main line. When I passed Indooroopilly station, there was yet another train sitting at the station on the main line..
It was certainly a change of scenery with seeing all the trains sitting still..

[ozbob]

18 Dec 2009 5.47am

Services on Cleveland Line are cancelled between Cleveland and Thorneside due to track fault. Service to resume by 6:30 AM.


Via erail

Services have now resumed ...

[ozbob]

http://www.translink.com.au/alert.php?id=357

Service disruption - Nambour Line - effective 18 December 2009

QR has advised TransLink that train services on the Nambour line have been affected by a truck hitting the boom gate at Landsborough station. No train services are able to pass through Landsborough station. Long delays are expected as heavy traffic congestion as a result of an accident on the Bruce Highway will impact on personnel attending to re-open the line.


----------------

Will the truck driver and company be held responsible for the full costs of this farce?  Hardly likely ...

[Derwan]

http://www.translink.com.au/alert.php?id=359

Service disruption: Ferny Grove, Shorncliffe, Doomben, Airport, Caboolture and Nambour lines - effective 18 December 2009

QR has advised TransLink that outbound trains on the Ferny Grove, Shorncliffe, Doomben, Airport, Caboolture and Nambour lines may be delayed up to 15 minutes due to a track fault at Fortitude Valley station.

Inbound services are not affected.

[ozbob]

http://www.translink.com.au/alert.php?id=363

Service disruption: Nambour line - effective 20 December 2009

QR has advised TransLink that trains on the Nambour line may be delayed up to 20 minutes due to a points failure at Beerburrum. Electricians are en route to fix the problem.

[ozbob]

http://www.translink.com.au/alert.php?id=362

Service disruption: Gold Coast, Beenleigh and Cleveland line - effective 20 December 2009

QR has advised TransLink that trains on the Gold Coast, Beenleigh and Cleveland lines may be delayed for up to 10-15 minutes due to a train fault on the Merivale Bridge between Roma Street and South Brisbane stations.

[ozbob]

erail

22 Dec 2009

30 mins delay for services on Caboolture Line due to extreme weather. Service to resume by 6:00 PM.

[ozbob]

erail

22 Dec 2009

30 mins delay for services on Shorncliffe Line due to extreme weather. Service to resume by 6:00 PM.