19 Apr 2009: Queensland: Tilt train fiasco beyond farce

[ozbob]

Media Release 19 April 2009

Queensland:  Tilt train fiasco beyond farce

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 called for a clear statement of circumstances from the Rail Regulator as to why there is a now a further delay in the resumption of services of the diesel tilt train.  It is clear from statements by QR and Minister Nolan that there is nothing wrong with the tilt train at all.  It does appear that a failure to seek data in a timely manner has lead to bureaucratic bungling and delays, leaving QR, and the Minister in the firing line, and the travelling public inconvenienced and confused.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Last Tuesday, the 14th April I was at Beerburrum railway station to watch the Q150 Steam train pass through on the way to Gympie.  At 10.10am the Diesel Tilt train, carrying no passengers,  passed through on the way to Brisbane.  There was nothing stopping the tilt train from running last Tuesday, four days after services were suspended."

"In view of this fact, we call on the Regulator to clearly state why there is ongoing delay and inconvenience to the travelling public.  QR has indicated that incomplete data has contributed to this suspension of services. This investigation has been going on for months, why only now has further data been sought from third parties?"

"Rail transport is considerably safer than road transport.  As a community we should be moving heaven and earth to get travelers back on rail, rather than force them to run the gauntlet of death and chaos on Queensland's roads.  A point that Queensland Transport seems incapable of grasping."

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[Mick_L]

Hi Bob,

In the intro to this release that was posted to the email list, there was this statement:

It is farcical that QR and to a lesser extent the Minister are gagged and the Regulator, who has a responsibility to inform the public remains, silent creating more FUD - fear uncertainty and doubt. 

And this from QRIG:

Most unsatisfactory performance. The regulator has a responsibility to
inform the public.

As an operator that has regular dealings with the office of the Regulator, I don't see where they have a responsibility to inform the public per se. Their role is defined in the Transport Infrastructure act (1994) which provides no requirement to 'keep the public informed'. Sensitive matters pertaining to the safety of  a rail manager or operator should not be divulged by the regulator - this is sensitive commercial information. If the regulator places conditions or restrictions on a rail operator, then it is up to that operator to make the public statements.

A lot is being made of the incomplete details in an interim report. After a major incident, there is a requirement to produce an interim report within a certain timeframe, and is followed up by a final report later. In an investigation where it is possible that certain design and testing specifications have been brought into question, it might not be possible to have all the information provided in time to publish the interim report - and unfortunately this does not absolve the requirement for the reports release.

And no, I am not sticking up for the regulator just because I have an audit next month 

[ozbob]

Thanks Mick. 

Unfortunately IMHO there does need to be some clarification as the confusing statements from QR and Minister that the train is fine, but in interests of safety we don't wan't to run it.

As people have commented elsewhere "The silence can lead to all kinds of speculation".

[ozbob]

The notice at http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/resources/file/eb5e954a4200ce0/Amended_terms_of_reference_mundoo_020109.pdf  indicates RSO  interim or final report to be tabled by 31st March.

If I am interpreting this act correctly, and heck I am no lawyer, under the act the report needs to be tabled in the Legislative Assembly within 14 days after the Minister receives the report, which has to be within 14 days from the due date as such.  This means one would expect the report to be tabled no later than April 28.

http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/T/TranstInfA94.pdf  S216

There may not be an absolute legal requirement at this time, but I certainly believe in view of the confusion a clarifying statement needs to be forthcoming.

And further Section 226
http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/T/TranstInfA94.pdf

226 Inquiry to be held in public other than in special
circumstances
(1) An inquiry must be held in public.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Tilt train saga 'beyond farce'

Tilt train saga 'beyond farce'
Daniel Hurst
April 19, 2009 - 10:37AM

A rail lobby group has labelled Queensland Rail's decision to cancel the diesel Brisbane-to-Cairns Tilt Train service without explaining the exact nature of the concerns a "farce".

Last Sunday, QR announced it was suspending the diesel train indefinitely after it received preliminary advice from the Rail Safety Regulator, but played down safety fears.

The regulator is investigating a fatal collision between the Cairns Tilt Train and a B-double truck at Rungoo, south of Cairns, on November 27 last year in which two people died and dozens of people were injured.

Both QR and the State Government have refused to outline the exact issues that prompted the suspension, saying only that they involved "the design, testing and construction of the train's locomotive".

The lobby group Rail Back On Track today called on the rail regulator to explain why there were further delays in the resumption of services of the diesel tilt train.

Spokesman Robert Dow said it was clear from statements by QR and Transport Minister Rachel Nolan that there was nothing wrong with the Tilt Train at all.

"It does appear that a failure to seek data in a timely manner has lead to bureaucratic bungling and delays, leaving QR, and the Minister in the firing line, and the travelling public inconvenienced and confused," he said.

Mr Dow said he saw the Tilt Train in operation when he attended the Beerburrum railway station last Tuesday to watch the Q150 Steam train pass through on the way to Gympie.

"At 10.10am the Diesel Tilt train, carrying no passengers, passed through on the way to Brisbane," he said.

"There was nothing stopping the tilt train from running last Tuesday, four days after services were suspended.

"In view of this fact, we call on the Regulator to clearly state why there is ongoing delay and inconvenience to the travelling public.

"QR has indicated that incomplete data has contributed to this suspension of services.

"This investigation has been going on for months, why only now has further data been sought from third parties?"

Ms Nolan, in a statement on Friday, defended her decision not to release details about the concerns that prompted the suspension last weekend.

"There is no suggestion that these issues caused the crash but they do relate to the safety of the train - and so the train has been withdrawn from service until the issues can be resolved," she said.

"Under the Transport Infrastructure Act (1994), the investigation is established as what is called a `no blame' investigation - meaning in essence that information is provided to the investigator, considered by the investigator and then released at the end.

"I have clear advice that if I was to provide further detail now I would breach the Act and jeopardise the integrity of the investigation.

"I have, however, made a clear commitment to release the information when the investigation is complete.

"We are putting safety first - safety first now by withdrawing the train from service until the Rail Safety Regulator is satisfied, and safety first into the future by protecting the integrity of the investigation."

Mr Dow said authorities should be acting quickly because rail transport was safer than road transport.

"As a community we should be moving heaven and earth to get travellers back on rail, rather than force them to run the gauntlet of death and chaos on Queensland's roads - a point that Queensland Transport seems incapable of grasping," he said.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Every day a killer on Qld roads: police

Every day a killer on Qld roads: police
Amelia Bentley
May 3, 2009 - 5:55PM
Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson.

Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson.

More than one person has been killed on Queensland roads every day this year, police say.

Following the deaths of two teenagers north of Toowoomba last night and a woman who was killed in a crash on the Gold Coast this morning, the 2009 Queensland road death toll was up to 124.

Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson said the figure represented more than one life lost for every day this year and showed 18 more lives have been lost compared to this time last year.

"If we keep going this way it will be worst road toll in 12 years,'' he said.

Commissioner Atkinson said the Labour Day long weekend had been so far 'a terrible weekend of tragedy.'

He said the Toowoomba crash had involved eight people - seven of them Toowoomba teenagers in one sedan returning home from a function about 10pm.

Police believed two of the teenagers from the sedan had been travelling in the boot when it crossed a median strip on the New England Highway and collided head-on with another vehicle, injuring the driver, a 58-year-old Kingaroy man.

One of the dead teenagers had been in the boot when the `horrific' accident occurred, he said.

Three other teenagers were in hospital in critical conditions with life-threatening injuries, one was in a serious condition and a seventh teenager had minor injuries.

Police say some of the occupants were trapped in the sedan, which caught fire soon after the crash.

Commissioner Atkinson said the crash was devastating for all those involved.

"Our condolences go out to the families. It must be just unimaginable that their children go to a function and don't come home,'' he said.

A police officer at the scene of the crash knew one of the passengers through his association with a local football team and was 'quite devastated,' he said.

It was not yet known if alcohol had played a part in the accident or if any of the passengers in the sedan had been wearing seatbelts and investigations were continuing, he said.

On the Gold Coast, a woman died after being trapped in a car after being involved in a four-car crash near Burleigh this morning.

A total of six other people were injured in the crash which happened just off the Pacific Motorway about 7am.

Commissioner Atkinson said that accident was also caused when one of the cars involved crossed a median strip and collided with traffic travelling in the opposite direction.

The impact of the collision caused the 4WD to roll three times, one of the sedans to become engulfed in flames and the second sedan had its roof ripped off.

"Every single one of our fatalities could have been avoided,'' he said.

"They are completely avoidable tragedies that impact (on people's lives) forever.''

Police investigations into that accident are also continuing.