Reported service disruptions rail - no longer in use

[STB]

From the TransLink website:

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/28781/details

Shorncliffe line trains are suspended between Roma Street and Shorncliffe stations due to a tree over the tracks at Banyo.

[STB]

Quite a few frustrated although understanding (for the most part) commuters out there who are currently stuck in the city.  Yours truly got lucky and missed it, catching the 3:47pm Cleveland train from Central, with a nice little light and sound show on the way to Cleveland.

[darthcaligula666]

wow that photo of the valley is unbelievable! poor karen is stuck in the city; she said people arent being allowed in to central station. just out of curiosity, any word if graceville has flooded?

here at emerald hill we got virtually nothing: it was a wasted effort to move the dehydrated pot plants out to the driveway for some free water from the sky. it clearly must have intensified craploads as it traveled eastbound.

perhaps it was a good thing to ride trains this morning before heading home for the cricket this afternoon, otherwise i could have been stranded god knows where. im with bob on this one, go the steamers!

[ozbob]

A flying roof has brought down OHT at Nundah ...  good night nurse!

[ozbob]

https://www.facebook.com/QueenslandRail/posts/890261690992192

Queensland Rail

UPDATE: Storms and flash flooding have affected our network.

We are experiencing multiple issues, which include water over the tracks, which has required the overhead power to be turned off through the CBD.

A direct lighting strike at Yeerongpilly has caused an overhead power issue which is affecting the Gold Coast and Beenleigh lines and a fallen tree at Banyo is affecting the Shorncliffe line.

A roof has been blown onto the tracks at Nundah and caused the overhead power lines to come down.

Significant delays are being experienced and we ask that our customers seek alternative transport.

Buses are being arranged to run between Central and Geebung, for Caboolture and Sunshine Coast line customers.

Buses are also being arranged to run between Central and Shorncliffe.

We thank our customers for their understanding as we work to overcome these weather related issues and return our services to normal.

[BrizCommuter]

Major service disruptions like this, make BCCs duplicate bus network seem incredibly useful!

Now I thought that QR tracks were supposed to handle 100mm/hour rainfall? Obviously not at Fortitude Valley today.

[darthcaligula666]

you raise a good point, and it has me wondering, how would the proposed bat tunnel handle an event like this, since the valley clearly didnt cope well. i hope the planners have given that some thought...

[Derwan]

I'm still stuck in the city. Hopefully I'll get home sometime tonight!

[James]

Major service disruptions like this, make BCCs duplicate bus network seem incredibly useful!

Now I thought that QR tracks were supposed to handle 100mm/hour rainfall? Obviously not at Fortitude Valley today.

Until the bus network collapses as well. Can't speak for the north, but for the west the buses weren't going to get you to Indro any faster than the trains...

[HappyTrainGuy]

Major service disruptions like this, make BCCs duplicate bus network seem incredibly useful!

Now I thought that QR tracks were supposed to handle 100mm/hour rainfall? Obviously not at Fortitude Valley today.

Thats 100mm/hr, I believe another poster mentioned almost that in 10min. Photos on WWW of streets in Brisbane city with cars floating also seem to reflect a very high rate of rainfall. Could also be a blocked drain or something.

As for the BAT/CRR/whatever. Considering the issues the surface system is facing, its likely trains wouldn't run anyway. Underground pumping systems should have in their design a very high rate of standard and emergency pumping capacity for events such as this.

I've heard that some man hole covers were also blown off along Kingsford Drive and surrounding areas which created massive delays in both directions.

[red dragin]

Most north bound buses full at RBWH at about 6.30pm.

My friend walked from Bowen Hills to RBWH, caught the first northbound bus that had space (she described it as the milk run route). I met her at Stafford and dropped her at her car at Petrie at 8pm.

[BrizCommuter]

BrizCommuter took the bus home (351), but would have been stuffed getting home using the "proposed bus network".

[techblitz]

125 outbound into a 120buz inbound saved the day for me @ salisbury station

[pandmaster]

Around 1815 this afternoon police were directing traffic one direction at a time at the Zillman Road level crossing at Hendra as the boomgates were down. A train was parked and powered off (with the driver's door left open) a few hundred metres towards Doomben.

[bcasey]

I didn't fare very well tonight in terms of my trip home. Since the trains weren't operating, I ended up walking about a km or so in the rain (no umbrella, silly me), got to Roma Street Station completely soaked, and Bus Platform One was packed. I got up there at about 5:45pm, then waited until 7:45 pm for the first 325 during that time to show up. There were many buses that bypassed Roma Street due to being full. If I was smart, I probably could have taken a bus from Roma street to RBWH, then catch the 335 there, but I didn't really want to risk it not showing up as well.

Real-time data can't come quick enough, it would have been a godsend tonight.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Saw 335's at standing capacity heading out of Chermside this arvo. That being said I didn't see many buses Chermside-Albany Creek (maybe 5 in all - 3 were while I was stuck in traffic on Gympie Road). Either they were stuck in the same traffic I was in or they were cancelled.

[ozbob]

All lines except Caboolture showing green this morning .. might just reflect train positioning issue ..

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

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/28796/details

3.52am Caboolture to Bowen Hills train replacement

Last updated: 3.35am Thursday 20 November 2014
Train replacement service

Due to Wednesdays severe weather in South East Queensland affecting Queensland Rails train network, buses will be replacing the 3.52am train between Caboolture and Bowen Hills stations.

[ozbob]

BrizCommuter took the bus home (351), but would have been stuffed getting home using the "proposed bus network".

Hardly a reason to continue with high cost failed network design, with worlds worst fares is it?  The bus network was majorly stuffed as well.  Some areas fine, you were one of the lucky ones ..

An occasional wipe out is par for the course I would think.  In Queensland, perhaps more attention to drain cleaning might be a worthwhile exercise, might be a strong choice of sorts?

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/28801/details

3-Car trains: Nambour to Roma Street stations

Last updated: 3.30am Thursday 20 November 2014

The following trains will run as three-carriage services this morning from Nambour station to Roma Street station due to an operational issue.

    The 4.34am Nambour to Roma Street train
    The 5.25am Nambour to Roma Street train

[#Metro]

BrizCommuter took the bus home (351), but would have been stuffed getting home using the "proposed bus network".

Yes, but on the other 364 days of the year, everyone else would be getting better service for their buck, including Albany Creek, Yeronga, the entire Centenary Suburbs and Bulimba.

It's easy to put too much weight on exceptional circumstances, but it is also useful to know what the baseline scenario is too.

Bus system also fell over as well.

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/28806/details

5.09am Shorncliffe to Northgate station replacement service

Last updated: 5.23am Thursday 20 November 2014

The 5.09am Shorncliffe to Central train will be a rail bus service between Shorncliffe station and Northgate station.

Customers can changes to a train departing Northgate station at 5.27am

The next Shorncliffe to Central train is due to leave Shorncliffe at 5.39am

[BrizCommuter]

BrizCommuter took the bus home (351), but would have been stuffed getting home using the "proposed bus network".

Hardly a reason to continue with high cost failed network design, with worlds worst fares is it?  The bus network was majorly stuffed as well.  Some areas fine, you were one of the lucky ones ..

An occasional wipe out is par for the course I would think.  In Queensland, perhaps more attention to drain cleaning might be a worthwhile exercise, might be a strong choice of sorts?

I agree, but certainly system redundancy is something that needs discussing when it comes to overall network design. 

[ozbob]

Yo, redundancy and resilience ... something that needs attention in a big way for our transport systems.

Queensland Rail spokesperson on 4BC radio just now " Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong ...  " 

The review of these events should be another learning opportunity?

[BrizCommuter]

BrizCommuter took the bus home (351), but would have been stuffed getting home using the "proposed bus network".

Yes, but on the other 364 days of the year, everyone else would be getting better service for their buck, including Albany Creek, Yeronga, the entire Centenary Suburbs and Bulimba.

It's easy to put too much weight on exceptional circumstances, but it is also useful to know what the baseline scenario is too.

Bus system also fell over as well.

I understand the improvements with your planned bus network, however events like these do need to be taken into consideration in network design (even if they are ultimately dismissed). You do need to consider that if the Ferny Grove Line goes belly up (weather, boomgate issues, power failure, etc) then all the services feeding into it (incl. from Albany Creek/Old Northern Rd) also effectively go belly up. At the moment, most stations from Mitchy to Windsor have a half-decent alternative bus option, and Albany Creek/Old Northern Rd corridor is served directly. Under your proposed network only Windsor and Alderley would have a half-decent alternative bus option.

[SurfRail]

you raise a good point, and it has me wondering, how would the proposed bat tunnel handle an event like this, since the valley clearly didnt cope well. i hope the planners have given that some thought...

Floodgates at all portals and major ingress points.  As I understand it the floodgates proposed for CRR would have worked adequately if faced with a Jan 2011 flood.

[#Metro]

Something like this might happen once per year.

Therefore.... (1/365) x 100 = 0.27%

It would justify changes to the network, but only in an actual emergency. There would be no need to run an 'altered system' during usual days when there is no actual emergency.

Toronto operates a feeder and transfer system to rail. Toronto temperatures range from -30 deg C (Winter) to + 40degC in summer. Snowstorms, fog, high winds and storms also feature. Yes, they make people transfer even when it is snowing and it is well below zero.
Makes complaining Queenslanders look silly.

I think it is Perth and Melbourne that has a disrupted network system plan where rail replacement buses run along a defined route to dedicated replacement stops in the event of rail disruptions. Buses replace rail lines. Again, system only operates in emergencies.

[ozbob]

I would like to state that the recovery by Queensland Rail from the mess that was is excellent.  Well done!

[#Metro]

The review of these events should be another learning opportunity?

Why was there water flushing through Fortitude Valley Rail? That central section is a real problem, its the weakest point in the network because all lines must travel via Roma St-Central-Valley-Bowen Hills. We saw this with the wire snap a few years back that shut down peak hour.

One possibility is to run South trains to South Brisbane and terminate. North trains could terminate at Ekka, people could then walk across to the RBWH busway.

The central section could be strengthened - place the whole section under cover/underground. Overseas trains use third rail for reliability - doesn't get knocked down like OHT can. Also, Perth uses overhead rigid conductor rail (basically a rail stuck to the roof). Much more reliable than wires which can snap.

The new tunnel is be the first in Western Australia to use a rigid overhead conductor rail instead of overhead wires, the same system as used in the Madrid Metro. With overhead wires, the clearance between the planned tunnel and the existing Joondalup Line tunnel is only 75 cm. By using a conductor rail, the new tunnel can be of a smaller diameter, allowing for an increased clearance between the two.[6] The new tunnel became operational on 18 July 2013.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fremantle_railway_line

[ozbob]

Feedback from a punter, makes a very good point.

In regard to the comms from QR yesterday. You would think they could at least over ride the screens at stations to say there are major delays. Eagle Junction at 9.30pm last night had the usual departures and arrivals scrolling through when it evidently wasn't the case. And yes there were people walking around wondering what was happening, using the emergency phones to get information. Not everyone is on twitter and facebook. Cheers

[techblitz]

I would like to state that the recovery by Queensland Rail from the mess that was is excellent.  Well done!

i would just like to state the crap that BT had to contend with (extra cars on the road and shuffling a lot of rail passengers out of the city)...thier job was even better

[ozbob]

I was referring to the overnight work tasks.  Get the chip off your shoulder ...

[James]

I understand the improvements with your planned bus network, however events like these do need to be taken into consideration in network design (even if they are ultimately dismissed). You do need to consider that if the Ferny Grove Line goes belly up (weather, boomgate issues, power failure, etc) then all the services feeding into it (incl. from Albany Creek/Old Northern Rd) also effectively go belly up. At the moment, most stations from Mitchy to Windsor have a half-decent alternative bus option, and Albany Creek/Old Northern Rd corridor is served directly. Under your proposed network only Windsor and Alderley would have a half-decent alternative bus option.

Briz, same could be said for terminating all but the CentenaryGlider at Indooroopilly. If rail goes belly up, CentenaryGlider would go full sardine can, and hence some would not be able to access routes at Toowong/Indro. In a scenario like yesterday, James would have been stuffed if trying to catch the replacement home (rail/400 + 911), with rail dead and 400 a sardine can. May I say that under LDT's network, you could have used the 374/380/385 and changed to a 911 and gotten home that way. Briz, with all due respect, the only reason you seem to have gone against this review is the "don't cut my bus" attitude you have taken to Route 390.

Finally, may I mention that the bus network also went belly up yesterday thanks to road congestion. The only reason why things went so badly is the flooding at Fortitude Valley, and is probably an example of how the 'core' section needs to be weather-proofed.

[techblitz]

I was referring to the overnight work tasks.  Get the chip off your shoulder ...

no amount of alternative bus network proposals could have avoided yesterday.Bottom line is though...many people made it home earlier yesterday thanks to BT...really no other way to put it...

[bcasey]

A revised integrated bus/train network that is based more on a grid-like network would be far more resilient in situations like last night compared to the network we currently have in Brisbane, since there would be multiple options for getting to your destination. Sure, you may need to transfer and catch an extra bus or two, and having a journey planner that uses real-time information would definitely help in this regard. Should we analyse how well our proposed network would work in a situation where parts of the network are disabled, particularly the rail portion?

Sorry if this is getting a bit off-topic for this thread.

[techblitz]

the bus network folded specifically because of so many extra cars on the road from assisted pickups of regular rail passengers.....there were many furstrated regular drivers on the road...some were in such a rush that they were breaking a lot of road rules....neve seen so much road rage before....

back onto QR....recently they outlined how much money they lose when a peak hour train goes out of service (remember the guy who kicked the door in on the ipswich line?)
i shudder to think how much money they lost yesterday...phenominal amounts...add in the costs of fixing up thier network.....things cannot go on like this....a better weather proof/network needs to be implemented...i shudder to think if we get more storms like this....

http://www.sankosha.co.jp/en/case/case_railroad/
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/East-Coast-Railway-comes-up-with-lightning-proof-signals/articleshow/25665349.cms

melbourne recently had a storm where a lightning strike took out thier signals...resulting in hour long delays...

[#Metro]

Given the 0.27% chance...

Bus system for Brisbane, flash flood proof! ---> 

[SurfRail]

Also, Perth uses overhead rigid conductor rail (basically a rail stuck to the roof). Much more reliable than wires which can snap.

Only in the City Link tunnel (ie already shielded from aerial impact), which is probably less than 400m at a guess, and only because it has to sit on top of the dive Joondalup trains use to get to Perth Underground.  Rest of the system is still very much wired OHLE.

[ozbob]

612 ABC Brisbane Breakfast with Spencer Howson

'When it comes to weather, we have memories like goldfish'

20 November 2014 , 9:11 AM by Spencer Howson

'When it comes to weather, we have memories like goldfish'. That's how one listener this morning explained why Brisbane grinds to a halt when it rains!

Senior forecaster Michelle Berry talks about the prospect for storms today (not expected to be as severe as yesterday), Rail Back on Track's Jeff Addison talks about his commute home to the Sunshine Coast last night (flooding at Fortitude Valley station caused a complete shutdown of trains through the CBD), then Rebecca Masci from Queensland Rail thanks and applauds QR crews on getting the network back up and running in time for this morning's peak hour

>> http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2014/11/when-it-comes-to-weather-we-have-memories-like-goldfish.html?site=brisbane&program=612_breakfast

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

TransLink have indicated that go cards will be auto-adjusted for any fixed fares resulting out of yesterdays disruptions.