Reported service disruptions rail - no longer in use

[HappyTrainGuy]

Seems that something needs to be done to improve drainage at Fort Valley.

There's not much that can be done. Brunswick Street floods as a result of the surface roads not being able to handle the amount of water. Because the railway is 'below ground' it acts as a giant drain. Recent developments over the years have also added to this effect.

[ozbob]

Around midnight ..

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Twitter

Queensland Rail ‏@QueenslandRail 3 hours ago

At police request, All CBD trains delayed Central-Roma St. Customers can expect delays up to 20 min.

[ozbob]

Seems that something needs to be done to improve drainage at Fort Valley.

There's not much that can be done. Brunswick Street floods as a result of the surface roads not being able to handle the amount of water. Because the railway is 'below ground' it acts as a giant drain. Recent developments over the years have also added to this effect.

In years gone past I cannot recall flooding at Brunswick Street/Fortitude Valley station being the issue it is now.  I guess BCC planning has gone awry again?   Nothing suprises me with respect to BCC I am afraid.

Do you know if anything is being done to try to resolve the issue?  It is rather farcical that moderate rain leads to network shutdowns.

[STB]

Seems that something needs to be done to improve drainage at Fort Valley.

There's not much that can be done. Brunswick Street floods as a result of the surface roads not being able to handle the amount of water. Because the railway is 'below ground' it acts as a giant drain. Recent developments over the years have also added to this effect.

In years gone past I cannot recall flooding at Brunswick Street/Fortitude Valley station being the issue it is now.  I guess BCC planning has gone awry again?   Nothing suprises me with respect to BCC I am afraid.

Do you know if anything is being done to try to resolve the issue?  It is rather farcical that moderate rain leads to network shutdowns.

Conspiracy theory...this is all part of BCC's plan to undermine and destroy the railway so BCC's buses can be king of the public transport mode in the city! 

[Arnz]

<tinfoil hat> If BCC had their way, the railways around the state would be disbanded and we'd have busways throughout the entire state.  A few years later some of that mob breaks into federal and argue for the remaining railways around Australia to be disbanded for Busways.  Maglev Rocket bus from Brisbane to Gympie (peak hour only) anybody?  Maglev Rocket Bus from Brisbane to Sydney (ALSO peak hour only) anybody?<tinfoil hat/> 

The Tilt Trains to Rockhampton and Cairns would be replaced with double decker maglev buses   

[ozbob]

Grow a set .. 

[ozbob]

Seems that something needs to be done to improve drainage at Fort Valley.

There's not much that can be done. Brunswick Street floods as a result of the surface roads not being able to handle the amount of water. Because the railway is 'below ground' it acts as a giant drain. Recent developments over the years have also added to this effect.

In years gone past I cannot recall flooding at Brunswick Street/Fortitude Valley station being the issue it is now.  I guess BCC planning has gone awry again?   Nothing suprises me with respect to BCC I am afraid.

Do you know if anything is being done to try to resolve the issue?  It is rather farcical that moderate rain leads to network shutdowns.

Conspiracy theory...this is all part of BCC's plan to undermine and destroy the railway so BCC's buses can be king of the public transport mode in the city! 

No conspiracy theory, just typical council incompetence, short-cuts and a failure to properly factor in the altered flows that result from developments and surface changes. Same council that has permitted residential development on known risky flood plains and then acts surprised when homes flood! 
Idiots!!

[HappyTrainGuy]

Seems that something needs to be done to improve drainage at Fort Valley.

There's not much that can be done. Brunswick Street floods as a result of the surface roads not being able to handle the amount of water. Because the railway is 'below ground' it acts as a giant drain. Recent developments over the years have also added to this effect.

In years gone past I cannot recall flooding at Brunswick Street/Fortitude Valley station being the issue it is now.  I guess BCC planning has gone awry again?   Nothing suprises me with respect to BCC I am afraid.

Do you know if anything is being done to try to resolve the issue?  It is rather farcical that moderate rain leads to network shutdowns.

Conspiracy theory...this is all part of BCC's plan to undermine and destroy the railway so BCC's buses can be king of the public transport mode in the city! 

No conspiracy theory, just typical council incompetence, short-cuts and a failure to properly factor in the altered flows that result from developments and surface changes. Same council that has permitted residential development on known risky flood plains and then acts surprised when homes flood! 
Idiots!!

I don't know what's being done to minimise it sorry. As I understand the flooding isn't just related to the train station as quite a few of the areas surrounding the station starts to 'flood' during heavy rain as well. Even Eagle Street now has a similar problem in recent years where the current drainage can't cope and floods the surrounding road area outside the Riparian Plaza building... you know... one of those few new 50-60 something plus story buildings in the direct area.

[ozbob]

Thanks HTG.  Development can have very serious consequences if not properly considered.  Eg. the flash floods in Toowoomba, in part due to concrete and clay replacing a lot of natural vegetation and so forth.  Flooding of FV station really does need to brought under control.  Hopefully it survives the rain squall happening now in town.

[James]

Hopefully it survives the rain squall happening now in town.

Sorry to disappoint Bob....

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CBD trains northbound suspended

Last updated: 6.03pm Sunday 22 March 2015

All Northbound line trains are suspended in both directions between Roma Street and Bowen Hills stations due to extreme weather conditions. Customers can expect delays of up to 30minutes.

[ozbob]

Uh ... oh ...

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

22nd March 2015

SEQ Rail network - rain resilience

Greetings,

It seems that flooding on the rail network, with consequent significant disruptions is now a routine event in the CBD.

Is this due to a number of recent developments altering rain water run-off flows?  In years gone past the network was much better able to withstand heavy rain falls.

Maybe it is time the Brisbane City Council reviewed the rain water run-off that is causing the flooding at stations, particularly at Fortitude Valley railway station and surrounding precinct.

It is becoming very frustrating for all concerned the constant network disruptions.

Best wishes
Robert

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



Fortitude Valley railway station during heavy rain. November 2014 Pic: Dorian Gray/Twitter

[#Metro]

I wonder if Climate Change is, or will, significantly impact the QR network?

Storm frequency or intensity or both could be potential impacts, both from flooding and flying debris interfering with the network.

At some point a line would need to be decided on about what is a 'rare event' (say total network shut down once each year) and an infrequent but more regular event. The core cannot be shut down, shutting every line in SEQ, every time there is a shower!

The central core section is high-value, so it would be worth looking at major mitigation strategies. Upgraded drainage, pumping stations, enclosure. 

We cannot adjust the wind but one can adjust the sails.

I would like to see no further line extensions on the QR network until the current network is upgraded to a better standard.

[ozbob]

Beenleigh, Cleveland and Gold Coast line trains are suspended between South Brisbane and South Bank stations due to a bridge stike at Earnest Street, South Brisbane. Customers can expect delays of up to 30 minutes.

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/40966/details

[ozbob]

I have lived in Queensland since 1969 on and off, mainly on.  I seem to recall a lot more rain in the 70s and 80's then a drier period.  We seem to be going to be to what it was like when I first arrived here in banana land.  I think with the all the developments during the drier period the drainage was not really tested to the degree it is now as more frequent rain returns.

In any case something has to be done.  It is getting farcical the way the network is being constantly shut down when a flying fox micturates (p%sses) ...

[HappyTrainGuy]

I think it's Gotha Street that can also really 'flood' under heavy rain in a quick period (next to the train line) along with Warren Street (next one over). Constance Street is another road that can 'flood' from memory. As too can St Pauls Terrace near the Jubilee Hotel/Alexandera Street (also next to new developments). And just up the road near the old school are also new apartments being built.

[STB]

I have lived in Queensland since 1969 on and off, mainly on.  I seem to recall a lot more rain in the 70s and 80's then a drier period.  We seem to be going to be to what it was like when I first arrived here in banana land.  I think with the all the developments during the drier period the drainage was not really tested to the degree it is now as more frequent rain returns.

In any case something has to be done.  It is getting farcical the way the network is being constantly shut down when a flying fox micturates (p%sses) ...

I think it's certainly a lesson in what happens when you have a centralised network like the one we have here in Brisbane, you only need one minor issue and it can cause the entire network to go down.  Pity Brisbane didn't invest in its network properly in years gone by, and really shows how we badly need Cross River Rail and a decentralised network so alternative routes can be found when something goes wrong, Tennyson is a nice little example of that where you can divert Gold Coast and/or Ipswich/Springfield trains via Tennyson if something happens in the inner city area.

[James]

Climate change or not, Brisbane is a city which experiences heavy, tropical rainfall. Floods and cyclones are a part of life here. The issue is hundreds of thousands of people have moved to Brisbane in the last 10-20 years, and people's perception of Brisbane climate has been designed around the dry years of the late-90s/2000s. This is also why everybody now runs around like headless chickens over Wivenhoe Dam and ex-tropical cyclones. Fact of life folks...

There does need to be a serious investigation into why Fortitude Valley station is flooding, though. This has only started occurring very recently - we didn't have these problems until this recent storm season, particularly to the scale shown there, and we've still had significant rain events before the last 12 months (Oswald being the obvious one, as well as numerous heavy storms).

I think it's Gotha Street that can also really 'flood' under heavy rain in a quick period (next to the train line) along with Warren Street (next one over). Constance Street is another road that can 'flood' from memory. As too can St Pauls Terrace near the Jubilee Hotel/Alexandera Street (also next to new developments). And just up the road near the old school are also new apartments being built.

The 'gully' of St Pauls Tce near Bowen Hills and around the Ekka grounds is a big flash flood hotspot - this is where the media gets their 'flooding cars' footage from about 80% of the time (the other hotspot being Milton around Frew Park or Deshon St).

[#Metro]

Climate change or not, Brisbane is a city which experiences heavy, tropical rainfall.

This is neither a cyclone nor a flood event. It is not unreasonable to think that the core section, which if interrupted will force whole-of-network shutdown, should have some mitigation against repeated inundation.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

23rd March 2015

Re: SEQ Rail network - rain resilience

Greetings,

The fact that our rail network all concentrates on the core section Roma St <-> Bowen Hills does little for network resilience or redundancy.

The frequent network shut-downs due to issues on the core section highlights just how useful Cross River Rail will be in terms of improved resilience and redundancy.

Years of transport neglect and tardiness are now seriously impacting.  Will we see improvements or worsening of the transport networks in SEQ?

Queensland's poor reputation is spreading.  A comment from the Sunday Mail yesterday, Around the traps with Peter Cameron.

NUP, NO MEDALS



Fair comment don't you think?

Best wishes
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

22nd March 2015

SEQ Rail network - rain resilience

Greetings,

It seems that flooding on the rail network, with consequent significant disruptions is now a routine event in the CBD.

Is this due to a number of recent developments altering rain water run-off flows?  In years gone past the network was much better able to withstand heavy rain falls.

Maybe it is time the Brisbane City Council reviewed the rain water run-off that is causing the flooding at stations, particularly at Fortitude Valley railway station and surrounding precinct.

It is becoming very frustrating for all concerned the constant network disruptions.

Best wishes
Robert

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



Fortitude Valley railway station during heavy rain. November 2014 Pic: Dorian Gray/Twitter

[Stillwater]

This is an area in which the government must show leadership.  I am talking the government (politicians), not the bureaucrats.  The bureaucrats are too afraid to even look at the problem because, whatever the solution, it will cost money they don't have; so why bother in the first place.

If TMR/QR were to look into causes, they would be restricted by jurisdictional limitations.  For sake of argument, of the cause of the problem were a blocked drain or a broken stormwater pipe under the control of the Brisbane City Council, and away from railway land, TMR would be reluctant to venture outside railway land when looking at possible causes.  More than likely, QR would search for broken pipes and blocked drains on QR land only, even though the problem might be right next door on land (or sewers) controlled by the BCC. "All our drainage is working fine," they would say.

TMR/QR alone looking at the problem, most likely, would come up with strange solutions that would relate strictly to their jurisdictional area of responsibility and not look at the wider picture.  Again, for the sake of argument, if QR's solution was a giant pump to displace floodwater, BCC would seek compensation for the volume of additional water it would have to manage through its stormwater system.

In short, a department and QR solution would be fraught with bureaucratic hurdles.  But let's not get ahead of ourselves.  The solution follows the identification of the problem; and that won't cost much.

We should note the assessment by a Sunday Mail columnist that Queensland's infrastructure and main roads authorities are regarded by Canberra as being the worst in the country.  That should be a worry for Neil Scales.

The Minister should step in.  She should pick up the phone and instruct Mr Scales to form a 'panel of experts' -- probably engineers, with one from BCC, one from QR and one from TMR and possibly a respected industry person or hydrologist.  Some terms of reverence should be set up and jurisdictional impediments identified.  The panel may need some staff allocated temporarily from the department.  They should be given six months to report their finding and recommendations.

Without Ministerial intervention, this will drag on and on.  One would have thought that a course of action would have been followed to investigate the flooding problem at Fortitude Valley station after the 2014 rain event.  The fact that it wasn't illustrates the point that outside stimulus is required -- and that involves leadership from the Minister's office.  Ministerial direction, under these circumstances, is perfectly justified.  In this instance, it would not be the Minister involving herself in the day-to-day running of the department.

Good governance is about the Minister giving the department a gentle kick up the bum on matters of public importance.  This is one such case and the Minister should act swiftly.  A case could be put for her to do so with almost no notice, apart from a courtesy call to the Director-General to say that he should switch on his TV in five minutes time to listen to her press conference.  Otherwise, the department will want to negotiate with the Minister's office an arrangement where this is dealt with 'in house', where it receives the Sir Humphrey treatment.

The Minister should square away the process with the Lord Mayor's office, because the BCC is likely to be part of the solution.  (Bear in mind, BCC's attitude is, most likely, 'problem-belong- state government'.)  The council is approving more development at Fortitude Valley, involving more roof area and more concrete.  What's the betting the capacity of underground pipes has not been seen to for some time?

The Minister needs to step up to the plate and state forcefully:  "Today I have instructed my department to appoint an expert panel of engineers and hydrologists to investigate and report back within six months on ways to overcome regular and disruptive flooding at Fortitude Valley railway station that impacts on the functioning and reliability of the entire Brisbane train network.

"I have informed the Lord Mayor of my decision, because it is more likely that this issue is not confined solely to railway land, but has wider implications for the stormwater capacity under council control in the streets around the station proper.  And I want to know whether proposed new developments at The Valley will exasperate the problem in future, with the railway station being a low point in the local topography...."

People look to governments for leadership on such issues.  The Minister should exercise her power for good in respect of this matter.

[ozbob]

... We should note the assessment by a Sunday Mail columnist that Queensland's infrastructure and main roads authorities are regarded by Canberra as being the worst in the country.  That should be a worry for Neil Scales. ...

Certainly should ..   :conf

[HappyTrainGuy]

Climate change or not, Brisbane is a city which experiences heavy, tropical rainfall. Floods and cyclones are a part of life here. The issue is hundreds of thousands of people have moved to Brisbane in the last 10-20 years, and people's perception of Brisbane climate has been designed around the dry years of the late-90s/2000s. This is also why everybody now runs around like headless chickens over Wivenhoe Dam and ex-tropical cyclones. Fact of life folks...

There does need to be a serious investigation into why Fortitude Valley station is flooding, though. This has only started occurring very recently - we didn't have these problems until this recent storm season, particularly to the scale shown there, and we've still had significant rain events before the last 12 months (Oswald being the obvious one, as well as numerous heavy storms).

I think it's Gotha Street that can also really 'flood' under heavy rain in a quick period (next to the train line) along with Warren Street (next one over). Constance Street is another road that can 'flood' from memory. As too can St Pauls Terrace near the Jubilee Hotel/Alexandera Street (also next to new developments). And just up the road near the old school are also new apartments being built.

The 'gully' of St Pauls Tce near Bowen Hills and around the Ekka grounds is a big flash flood hotspot - this is where the media gets their 'flooding cars' footage from about 80% of the time (the other hotspot being Milton around Frew Park or Deshon St).

Always has been but I can't recall it being as bad as it has been these past few years compared to the last few decades.

Edit: Looking back by few years I meant the last decade now. Boy time really does fly haha.

[Stillwater]

BOM says we are in a weather pattern of fewer rain days, but bigger dumps of rain per episode.  Also, lots of new development has occurred in The Valley.  Bigger roof space, more concrete, but has the drainage system been expanded to cope?

[nathandavid88]

I've noticed some comments posted on QR's Facebook page over the last few days from someone who is detailing what the drainage issues around FV Station. The two issues he mentioned include a main drainage pit behind the Green Square Buildings on St Pauls Terrace that has been "blocked for a few years now", and a spoon drain around the station itself that has been "full of ballast ever since they relayed(sic) the track."  This is just hearsay on Facebook of course, but these do sound like they could potentially be the source of the issues.

[SurfRail]

The guy has a serious bug up his arse about Queensland Rail generally, so take that with a grain of salt.

As with most things, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

[ozbob]

Queensland Rail launches inquiry into train-line flooding 

See >>  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11340.0

[James]

Investigation into the flooding has made all the major TV/radio news channels... Well done RBoT.

Hopefully won't be an issue come next summer!

[pandmaster]

Maybe an inquiry into fares could be tied into it?

[Stillwater]

^^ "Commuters Cry Flood of Tears at Fare Costs"   

[#Metro]

So much fun can be had with captioning that photo of the flooded FV Station.

"QR to sponsor Olympic Swimming Event"

"Spectators line up to inspect new QR-sponsored Olympic Swimming Pool"

"Lord Mayor announces Valley Olympic Swimming Venue"

"Entire train network to be suspended in for 200m Olympic Swimming Event"

[ozbob]

Overnight ..

Twitter

Queensland Rail ‏@QueenslandRail 4 hours ago

Cleveland line trains suspended both directions btwn Hemment-Cleveland due to overhead power issue.

[ozbob]

Overnight ...

Twitter

Queensland Rail ‏@QueenslandRail 7 hours ago

Ipswich-Springfield trains suspended both directions between Milton-Sherwood stations due to a bridge strike.

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[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/42221/details

Trains suspended: Kuraby to Altandi

Last updated: 5.36am Wednesday 1 April 2015

At the request of police and emergency services, Gold Coast and Beenleigh line trains are suspended both directions between Kuraby and Altandi stations. Customers can expect delays of up to 30 minutes.

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/42226/details

Trains suspended: Lota-Thorneside

Last updated: 7.14am Wednesday 1 April 2015

Cleveland line trains are suspended in both directions between Lota and Thorneside stations due to a track fault at Thorneside. Customers can expect delays of up to 60 minutes between Lota and Cleveland.

Technicians are on site.

Alternative buses are being arranged to transport customers.

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/42256/details

10 mins delays due to signal fault [FG line]

Last updated: 7.17am Wednesday 1 April 2015

Ferny Grove line trains are delayed up to 10 minutes inbound due to a signal fault at Alderley.

Technicians are on site.

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/42461/details

Trains suspended: Park Road-South Bank

Last updated: 12.03pm Wednesday 1 April 2015

Beenleigh, Gold Coast and Cleveland line trains are suspended in both directions between Park Road and South Bank station due to a fallen tree at Park Road. Customers can expect delays of up to 30 minutes.

Technicians are en route.

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/42461/details

Trains suspended: Park Road-South Bank

Last updated: 12.58pm Wednesday 1 April 2015

Beenleigh, Gold Coast, Airport, Ferny Grove, Shorncliffe and Cleveland line trains are suspended in both directions between Park Road and South Bank station due to a fallen tree at Park Road. Customers can expect delays of up to 60 minutes.

Beenleigh, Gold Coast and Cleveland line trains will be diverted via the Tennyson loop to transport customers to and from CBD stations. Alternative transport is being arranged to transport customers between Roma Street and South Bank stations.

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Tennyson has a moment in the sun, again ..   

[dancingmongoose]

Sun, what sun?

[ozbob]

Tennyson is the door to the sun ..