Article: Queensland Rail fined for poor performance

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

Queensland Rail fined for poor performance

Queensland Rail fined for poor performance
Tony Moore
August 7, 2009 - 5:03AM

An 'unacceptable' number of late peak-hour trains means Queensland Rail will be fined for the second year in a row.

Of the 220 trains in Brisbane's morning and afternoon peak hours each day, 91.74 per cent reached their destination on time in 2008/09.

Four years ago, 94.54 per cent of trains ran on time.

It was the second year Queensland Rail's passenger trains failed to meet the Translink performance benchmark of 92.4 per cent. The trend shows figures have been getting worse over the past four years.

This year's figure translates to about 18 trains late each day over Brisbane's designated morning (6am-9am) and afternoon peaks (3.30pm-6.30pm).

According to a Translink spokesperson the fine could amount to at least $100,000 a quarter, still well below the $6.7 million Queensland Rail's passenger rail system was fined last year.

But there is some glimmer of hope for rail commuters with fewer trains cancelled outright in the past 12 months.

This year just 0.2 per cent of train services were cancelled, an increase in Queensland Rail's performance in this area. Two years ago, in 2006-07, 1.2 per cent of trains were cancelled.

Queensland Rail will receive bonuses for the improved "cancellations" performance, but it is unlikely to wipe out the fines - yet to be calculated - for not getting enough trains to the stations on time.

"We would like them to be in the mid 90s, that's true," the Translink spokesman said, adding that steps taken recently should lead to improvements.

Translink's highest priority change is a multi-million dollar public awareness campaign at rail level crossings, the spokesman said.

There have been a string of accidents at Telegraph Road in Bracken Ridge and Robinson Road at Geebung in the past six months causing delays to trains.

"As well as preventing collisions, this also impacts on-time running, with fewer delays following incidents such as boom gate damage," the spokesman said.

Translink and Queensland Rail's Citytrain fleet have still not signed their 2009-10 contract, with a $30 million difference between what Translink has offered for 2009-10 and the figure that QR's Citytrain has demanded.

In 2008-09 QR Citytrain received around $620 million and have asked for $700 million, with Translink allegedly offering around $650 million.

While cuts for platform staff are rumoured, this was dismissed by sources yesterday.

Staff complaints are fairly steady at five per 10,000 trips, with commuters making 600,000 "trips" each day.

Information on customer satisfaction, the Go-Card take-up and overall satisfaction are also included in the Translink "Tracker" to be released online by 9am.

Meanwhile the two new busways which were opened on the weekend took more than 100,000 passengers in their first three days, Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said yesterday.

They cost taxpayers almost $500 million.

[ozbob]

It is an idiocy fining an operator for circumstances they have no control over.  Lack of resourcing by Government and inaction with respect to level crossings is the real problem.

[Derwan]

Events outside of QR's control should be excluded from the on-time performance figures.

I agree that this is hypocritical.  The QLD Government doesn't provide the infrastructure required for timely running of trains and then fines QR for what is essentially the government's own failings.

What we will eventually see is timetables adjusted to allow more travel time and increased dwell times so that QR can avoid these pointless fines.  This will result in trips taking longer and frustrated passengers as on-time trains sit at stations for a minute or two.

Does TransLink fine the council and bus companies for late-running of buses?  From what I've heard, council buses are notoriously late!  Based on the same criteria, they shouldn't be able to use roads/traffic as an excuse!

[Arnz]

IIRC BT has been fined by TransLink before for using the "wrong" buses on various routes which are designated "low-floor" only runs (598/599 GCL is a good example of this).