Reported service disruptions rail - no longer in use

[#Metro]

Maybe Metro is a plant trying to get a contract for Metro? Who knows. Regardless, s/he seems to ignore the fact that probably the best-run railway in this country (TransPerrth) is government-owned.

Err. No.

I'm not a current or former employee of QR, so don't expect me to defend the organisation. They have their own PAID PR team that can do that.

TransPerth is government owned, but if someone like Campbell Newman were elected to WA, you could have a similar chain of events with similar outcome. That's because politicians can choose both the board and the executive, and it was through that root cause/mechanism a chain reaction was set off in QR. Being public servants meant that the cuts program could then apply.

Perth's bus network and ferries are privatised and run on contract. As is Auckland's. Who died?

Remember, not so long ago QR was also good. Many decades ago, the politicians actually wanted to close the entire Perth train network starting with the Fremantle line. And replace it with buses.

Also, does anyone remember how woeful Connex was?

Yes, and they got the boot. As they should! That's what contracting allows you to do - enforce service standards through EXIT. Penalties stick. Management gets cleaned out in one sweep.

If we bring in contracting, maybe we can pay TransPerth to come over. For a fee, of course.

Look at the current mess - almost everybody on the ELT and QR board still has their job!

Maybe when they fix the problems and bring in contracting to cut off political selection of the CEO, board etc, I will no longer have something to complain about.

[ozbob]

If the preferred model for public transport organisation gets up - PTQ, Queensland Rail will be forced to compete.  Whether it remains as Government or Private is largely up to the Governments.  Transperth does deliver, there is no reason why Queensland Rail could not deliver under a proper structure either as public or private.

The present mess simply must be fixed, and fixed pronto > https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12341.msg187153#msg187153

Further discussion re ownership etc.  > https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12341.msg187153#msg187153

Please stick to service interruptions generally in this thread.

[ozbob]

https://translink.com.au/service-updates/114156

Redcliffe Peninsula line trains are delayed up to 60 minutes

Redcliffe Peninsula line trains are delayed up to 60 minutes both directions between Kippa-Ring and Petrie station due to a signal fault.

Replacement buses have been arranged.

Technicians are en route.

[ozbob]

https://translink.com.au/service-updates/114191

8.03am Roma St-Caboolture train cancelled

The 8.03am Roma Street to Caboolture train has been cancelled due to an earlier mechanical issue at Booval station. The next Roma Street to Caboolture train will depart Roma Street station at 8.30am.

[ozbob]

Multiple changes/cancellations etc. this morning.  Can't be bothered to keep up.

Check out > https://twitter.com/TransLinkSEQ  &  https://twitter.com/QueenslandRail

All round cluster-fuk.  Is anyone really surprised the signalling Pertrie/Kippa-Ring has gone US ?

No, I didn't think so ...

[ozbob]

Delays of up to an hour on the Redcliffe Peninsula rail line due to signalling issues: https://t.co/oSOlkiRPea #9News

— Nine News Brisbane (@9NewsBrisbane) January 29, 2017

[ozbob]

Sources suggest the problems Petrie/Kippa-Ring are not junction issues per se but communication issues (telemetry ? ) between Kippa-Ring and Petrie.

[ozbob]

https://translink.com.au/service-updates/114156

Redcliffe Peninsula line trains resumed residual delays up to 15 minutes

Redcliffe Peninsula line trains have resumed, customer can expect residual delays of up to 15 minutes both directions between Kippa-Ring and Petrie station due to a telemetry fault.

Replacement buses have been arranged to transport customers between Kippa-ring and Petrie stations.

[ozbob]

https://translink.com.au/service-updates/114221

9.47am Central-Cleveland train has been cancelled

The 9.47am Central to Cleveland train has been cancelled due to a operational issue.

The next Central to Cleveland train will depart Central at 10.17am.

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

[achiruel]

So an hour between trains on a major suburban line? That's just completely unacceptable. Does QR not have standby crew? If so, where are they? Are they all based at Mayne, or are they spread around the network?

[petey3801]

Quite likely that with all the things that happened this morning (telemetry issues, failed trains etc), all the as required crews were already out working trains i'd say.

[ozbob]

https://translink.com.au/service-updates/114236

Ipswich line trains resumed: Darra-Goodna, both directions

Ipswich line trains travelling in both directions have resumed between Darra and Goodna stations following an earlier police incident.

As a result, the following two trains have been altered:

    The 11:28am Central to Ipswich train has been delayed up to 35 minutes. This train is now due to arrive at Ipswich station at 1.01pm.
    The 12.37pm Ipswich to Central train has been cancelled between Ipswich and Darra station. The next Ipswich to Central train departs Ipswich station at 1.07pm.

[ozbob]

^  that's another hour gap between services.  But that is what happens when police incident and the service is only low frequency anyway.

Ippy punters get one hour gaps often sadly.  Makes using the system very difficult for anything that is time sensitive.  You really have to factor in the chance that will be a long gap and travel accordingly.

[techblitz]

there has just been a cancelled Redcliffe service 2.39....message came through at roma st at 2.37...next service 2.57......rolling stock issues given as reason....

[petey3801]

there has just been a cancelled Redcliffe service 2.39....message came through at roma st at 2.37...next service 2.57......rolling stock issues given as reason....

Had radio and comms problems after leaving Mayne to start the service

[ozbob]

https://translink.com.au/service-updates/114336

6.30pm Roma Street -Springfield Central train delayed 20 min

The 6.30pm Roma Street to Springfield Central train is delayed 20 minutes due to an earlier operational issue. This train is now due to arrive a Springfield Central station at 7.29pm.

[ozbob]

https://translink.com.au/service-updates/114461

9.05pm Rosewood-Ipswich train replaced by a bus

The 9.05pm Rosewood to Ipswich train has been cancelled due to an operastional issue.

A bus will replace this train.

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

Better bus than nothing ... really is a shambles these days QR ...

[ozbob]

https://translink.com.au/service-updates/114461

9.05pm Rosewood-Ipswich train replaced by a bus

The 9.05pm Rosewood to Ipswich train has been cancelled due to an operastional issue.

A bus will replace this train.

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

Better bus than nothing ... really is a shambles these days QR ...

Advised crew member was ill at very short notice, replacement not possible.

[STB]

Not really a "shambles" if a crew member was sick at short notice and it was too late to find a replacement.   Talk about jumping the gun on an opinion before knowing the circumstances (I have very little time for people who do that nowadays).

[ozbob]

Not really a "shambles" if a crew member was sick at short notice and it was too late to find a replacement.

Well the problem is this STB.  The generic descriptor ' operational issue ' has come to mean roster stuff up.

I have requested now, a number of times that clear reasons be given for delays.  This will avert a lot of confusion, anger and allows people to understand what the cause of the service alteration is.  It is not rocket science is it?

Once I was advised as to the true nature of the service variation I updated.

Yes, it is a shambles I am afraid.  On that you and I might beg to differ.  Have a good day. 

[techblitz]

honestly don't know why you even bothered responding to that ozbob...
You rescinded your original statement by confirming real reason. Good enough for me.Now according to STB....each time we are affected by 'operational issue' we should shut our mouths until the full reason is given so as to not offend..

STB well then perhaps QR should have bloody come straight out and said 'sick driver' so as to put anyone affected at immediate piece of mind.....instead of just coming out with the generic 'operational issue'.

Lets take it back a few days to australis day shall we?? QR and translink both put out 'operational issue'  as the reason for the roma st to gympie north cancellation......but was then later revised to 'mechanical issue' and only after ozbob,fares_fare requested answers.

In other words STB your in no position to criticise if a customer 'shoots their mouth off' especially if they are fobbed off with the wrong reasonand/ or generic 'operational issue'.

[#Metro]

Agree with techblitz here. QR public relations and communications are abysmal. Not the first time either. Giving actual reasons builds trust, using generic "zero information content" PR jargon destroys trust and is completely unnecessary.


If you were running late to a friend's event, or couldn't make it into work one day, you wouldn't tell your boss that you were at home with "Operational issues".

Sorry, but I think now the PR team can be made redundant please, along with the board and executive. They still haven't explained the smiley emoji that appeared on the QR twitter account that day heaps of services were cancelled.

Clearly a deep problem with QR and information. Why do so many documents have legal privilege attached to them, like the INDEC report??

End of the line I am afraid.

[ozbob]

It is crazy.  We have had 1000s of cancellations and service variations due to '  operational issue ' the past months of #railfail.

Most are now conditioned to ' operational issue ' being code for more of the same.

It is so simple, all these have been covered under the broad ' operational issue ' from time to time  ... specify and people generally accept the delay.

Mechanical train issue.

Sick passenger.

Sick crew.

Person struck by train.

Bridge strike.

Level crossing strike.

Signal fault.

Track fault.

Points failure.

Telemetry fault.

Rostering problem.

Trespasser in corridor.

Police incident.

Power failure.

Vegetation on line.

Vehicle on line.

Broken rail.

And so forth ...

[tazzer9]

Sydney and melbourne do not use such basic wording such as "operational issues".   They do give fairly good explanations, many which do not reflect well upon metro or sydney trains.

Every day there is a rail service in NSW cancelled due to a train requiring mechanical repairs and have even seen them using the exact phrase "staffing issue".

[ozbob]

^ yes they do.  At least you know what is going on those systems.  Here in SEQ it is all bit of a guess at times ..

Sydney trains get knocked around a bit by freight train failures at times too.  Another one we could add to the above list ...

Victoria has problems with heat restrictions as well at times (more so V/Line), and the ' train congestion ' issue ..

A typical service disruption notice in NSW just now.  Clear, concise, you know exactly what has happened and to do.

#SouthCoastLine 15:41 Kiama to Bomaderry service is cancelled & replaced by a bus due to urgent signal equipment repairs at Berry.

— NSW TrainLink South (@TrainLinkSouth) February 1, 2017

[techblitz]

the way I see it...if QR can accurately and promptly notify affected pax the reason for the operational issues then they will avoid more of those 1 star ratings on facebook....QR staff/family are literaly so devasted with those reviews that we now have partners of QR stationhands leaving 5 star ratings which state 'clean,ontime,frequent trains'......out of sheer desperation.....

[James]

the way I see it...if QR can accurately and promptly notify affected pax the reason for the operational issues then they will avoid more of those 1 star ratings on facebook....QR staff/family are literaly so devasted with those reviews that we now have partners of QR stationhands leaving 5 star ratings which state 'clean,ontime,frequent trains'......out of sheer desperation.....

'Operational issues' is almost as frustrating as 'police incident' a few years ago. I remember being stuck between two stations on a train affected by a 'police incident'... only found out there was a dead body on the tracks when it was broadcast on the news. Greatly frustrating.

Sad to see that QR staff are being so offput by this... all the more reason to put the broom through ELT & the QR Board. OUT!

Clearly a deep problem with QR and information. Why do so many documents have legal privilege attached to them, like the INDEC report??

I believe this was established elsewhere in the forum/in Paul Pluta videos that this was a way of hiding documents from the Strachan Inquiry. Bad culture etc.

[Stillwater]

^^ Bad habit going back to Joh days -- dragging documents before Cabinet and tabling them so that they then become 'Cabinet-in-Confidence' reports subject to secrecy provisions.

[SurfRail]

After seeing rail operations in NZ over the past week, I am now convinced QR's actual function is to generate new WHS practices like a giant living laboratory. 

I've seen things this week in NZ that would make QR management sh%t its collective pants (and more than a few crewpeeople I expect - petey again excepted). Safeworking in the field.  Guards performing safeworking outside the cab and providing actual customer service.  A loco being run around and turned on a turntable ALL BY HAND.  Train manager riding the loco's footplate.

Burn the whole thing down and piddle on the ashes so a proper operation can be installed please.

[wbj]

the way I see it...if QR can accurately and promptly notify affected pax the reason for the operational issues then they will avoid more of those 1 star ratings on facebook....QR staff/family are literaly so devasted with those reviews that we now have partners of QR stationhands leaving 5 star ratings which state 'clean,ontime,frequent trains'......out of sheer desperation.....

'Operational issues' is almost as frustrating as 'police incident' a few years ago. I remember being stuck between two stations on a train affected by a 'police incident'... only found out there was a dead body on the tracks when it was broadcast on the news. Greatly frustrating.

Sad to see that QR staff are being so offput by this... all the more reason to put the broom through ELT & the QR Board. OUT!

I agree the "police incident" explanation can be frustrating but I suspect it is avoid copycat behaviour by the attention seekers or mentally unbalanced.  See the delicate treatment of suicide reports in the media these days.  I'm happy that if its described as a "police incident" it's a fairly serious or dangerous situation and beyond the control of QR. 

[#Metro]

After seeing rail operations in NZ over the past week, I am now convinced QR's actual function is to generate new WHS practices like a giant living laboratory. 

I've seen things this week in NZ that would make QR management sh%t its collective pants (and more than a few crewpeeople I expect - petey again excepted). Safeworking in the field.  Guards performing safeworking outside the cab and providing actual customer service.  A loco being run around and turned on a turntable ALL BY HAND.  Train manager riding the loco's footplate.

Burn the whole thing down and piddle on the ashes so a proper operation can be installed please.

Auckland and Wellington Rail operations are contracted TransDev NZ http://www.transdev.co.nz/ 

[ozbob]

https://translink.com.au/service-updates/114856

Cleveland line trains suspended Thorneside-Lota

At the request of police, Cleveland line trains are suspended both directions between Thorneside and Lota stations. Customers can expect delays of up to 30 minutes.

Rail replacement buses are being arranged to transport customers between Thorneside and Manly.

[petey3801]

Fatality, i'm hearing.

[ozbob]

https://translink.com.au/service-updates/114856

Cleveland line trains suspended Thorneside-Lota

At the request of police, Cleveland line trains are suspended both directions between Thorneside and Lota stations. Customers can expect delays of up to 30 minutes.

Rail replacement buses are being arranged to transport customers between Thorneside and Manly.

^ Services have resumed.

[ozbob]

Twitter

TransLink ‏@TransLinkSEQ 2 hours ago

The 11.48pm Beenleigh-Bowen Hills train cancelled from Coopers Plains to Bowen hills due to an operational issue. http://bit.ly/2ljRScF

[ozbob]

Commuters were left stranded at the @gunsnroses concert last night, despite being promised free travel. @LauraDymock https://t.co/wJpEtX8X7P

— 7 News Queensland (@7NewsQueensland) February 8, 2017

[BrizCommuter]

Apparently getting passengers onto buses to get the train was a complete screw up, causing loads of people to miss the last trains. Concerned about the Commonwealth Games?

[ozbob]

Apparently getting passengers onto buses to get the train was a complete screw up, causing loads of people to miss the last trains. Concerned about the Commonwealth Games?

As I said previously, IMHO collectively Queensland Rail, TransLink and TMR could not organise a birthday party at the golden arches ...

Just a sad mess ...

[Stillwater]

   This shows the mess  goes beyond just QR.  The govt limiting the clean-up to QR alone is a political move to contain the issue -- it is not a move to SOLVE the issue, which also extends into TransLink and TMR.  A separate PT Authority and stand-alone Minister required.  Which will be the first political party to adopt this as policy going to the next state election?  Anyone?

[ozbob]

WTF?   

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

https://translink.com.au/service-updates/115506

15 min delays: Bowen Hills station

All train services excluding Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast lines may experience delays up to 15 minutes due to scheduled maintenance at Bowen Hills station.