Security at Stations

[ozbob]

The Queensland Times has published an article (12th Oct, page 5) highlighting concerns that station staffing may be reduced following the roll out of the Smart card and the eventual withdrawal of paper tickets other than machines.

PDF Click here!

Regards
Ozbob

[ozbob]

I noticed a sign at Oxley station.  Photograph below.
Although only a minor reduction in hours, is this the thin edge of the wedge?



Photograph R Dow 28 March 2008

This means the early birds who catch the 5.06am service (Mon to Fri) from Oxley will not be able to purchase weekly tickets.
This could present problems for those who don't transit to staffed stations.
There is a reasonable loading for this service and I checked this morning.

[mufreight]

One might consider this to be a trial of a further means to force commuters to take up the No Go Card,
This way no one can say that they have withdrawn weeklies they just wont open the stations to sell them.
Your thoughts on this further example of typical Queensland bureaucracy at its devious and duplicit worst.

[ozbob]

The Queensland Times has published an article (12th Oct, page 5) highlighting concerns that station staffing may be reduced following the roll out of the Smart card and the eventual withdrawal of paper tickets other than machines.

PDF Click here!

Regards
Ozbob

As predicted ...

[Fares_Fair]

Feedback received, thank you.

I agree with your thoughts on the 'unmanning' of stations such as Palmwoods, especially when the service on our line is not as consistent as would be at some of the other stations listed.

In catching the train from Eumundi (another unmanned station which also has no ticket machine) I have had the issues you have listed plus more:
Card readers not working (seek assistance) = no-one around to assist and with the recent news that the Transit Officers are working to a ticket quota, more chance to be fined as a result (unless you swipe at another station along the way)

Ticket sales machine not working (or non-existent) so no way to top card up = see above re Transit Officer quotas

Don't worry about women - I've walked along the station at Eumundi and had to push through a group of youths to get to my car and that was unnerving for me, let alone a women.

I've seen elderly people arrive/depart the train at Eumundi station with no idea of where they need to go next - it's only commuters who assist them (possibly not an issue for QR but an issue nonetheless)

Train delays - I have found out that the Gympie North train is experiencing lengthy delays or is not running at all by waiting until it is late and then logging in myself to the Translink website to then find I need to drive to Nambour. There is no ability to send an announcement through to a public address system and no staff to tell you of issues being faced with the service. I believe with a recent power outage passengers experienced no or little communication at Palmwoods and this was with those stations being manned.

Ticket prices - so now for the additional we pay we are not just getting a reduction in service on the trains, but in the support mechanisms for those trains.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[ozbob]

Feedback received, thanks.

referring to the article in the paper regarding Dakabin station having the highest crime rate. What this station desperately needs is a car park. On any given day passengers are risking their lives by having to park some several hundred metres away on the sides of busy roads. There is no lighting on the roads and passengers must walk hundred of metres to the cars in pitch black darkness. This is extremely dangerous. I have raised this with QR before and had no response? It seems they are not concerned with safety after all.

[BribieG]

Have they cut back on transit officers as well? I haven't seen a TO on the Caboolture line since around Easter - I travel Fri Sat Sun offpeak hours when half the passengers seem to be travelling for free - at least between Caboolture and Strathpine. (rarely see them touching off at the card readers). Most of the TOs seem to be clustered around at the Valley ticket gates catching clubbers who have headed into town without buying a ticket and who assume they can get one at the window when they arrive at the Valley. Good way to get the stats up.

[ozbob]

Twitter

AnnastaciaMP AnnastaciaPalaszczuk
New cutting edge thermal technology has been installed on some @QueenslandRail stations to prevent trespassers. http://twitpic.com/7qjx1m

[#Metro]

Twitter

AnnastaciaMP AnnastaciaPalaszczuk
New cutting edge thermal technology has been installed on some @QueenslandRail stations to prevent trespassers. http://twitpic.com/7qjx1m

THIS is what we need at train depots. Thermal imagine! Catch the graffiti grubs..

[ozbob]

Channel 7 News --> Thermal imaging used at stations

[HappyTrainGuy]

Mate, who says there aren't any

[Golliwog]

Twitter

AnnastaciaMP AnnastaciaPalaszczuk
New cutting edge thermal technology has been installed on some @QueenslandRail stations to prevent trespassers. http://twitpic.com/7qjx1m

[Fares_Fair]

Twitter

AnnastaciaMP AnnastaciaPalaszczuk
New cutting edge thermal technology has been installed on some @QueenslandRail stations to prevent trespassers. http://twitpic.com/7qjx1m

Great move.
It will save lives as well as help defeat graffiti vandalism.   

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

According to Ch7, this technology will be rolled out to train stabling yards.