Random observations around the network ...

[dancingmongoose]

Most random thing I've ever seen was in June my train to the CBD was just leaving Milton station as another train went past with Robina signage.

[ozbob]

Welcome, might have been going via Tennyson?  Not sure why would have Robina desto, maybe Varsity Lakes wasn't on the system or something. 

[dancingmongoose]

Yeah, Tennyson was my first thought but I really don't know, I don't remember seeing people on it (though I can't be entirely sure), it was an older model (ie not led signage, so could be why it said robina as opposed to gc of vl) but it could just be going to a yard somewhere and they haven't bothered to change it.

And now I just saw a Mitchellton train go my place (between Darra and Oxley), headed towards the CBD.

[STB]

Either an empty runner, a driver tuition train, or was diverted via the Tennyson loop (for example, scheduled track work on the Beenleigh line).  Not really out of the ordinary.

[James]

Welcome, might have been going via Tennyson?  Not sure why would have Robina desto, maybe Varsity Lakes wasn't on the system or something.

All the trains to Robina/Varsity Lakes have always carried the 'Gold Coast' destination symbol, never seen a coastie without it. It seems strange that it'd have a 'Robina' desto. The via Tennyson part isn't really a surprise.

[HappyTrainGuy]

More than likely if it was an EMU Gold Coast/Varsity Lakes might not be programmed into that particular set hence displaying Robina. There could have also been a glitch with the system. Also depends on what the driver inputs eg driver training/empty movements/test trains etc. You'll be surprised what you can actually make trains say via the destos. TTs still have Gold Coast programmed into their displays. If the driver was really lazy they could just program City into the desto

[petey3801]

It could have also beeb a footy train if it was a Fri/Sat/Sun. Often the footy trains for Cararra/Skilled Park terminate at Robina instead of Varsity, and diverted via Tennyson.
As for the Ferny Grove train on the Ipswich line, there is an empty train from Ipswich to the City that forms a Ferny Grove train in the afternoon/evening, so the driver probably just put the number in for the Ferny Grove run from Ipswich (ie 1Exx instead of 2Exx).

[ozbob]

Been around a while, but worth noting.

The advertising screens on the wall (down)  Fortitude Valley ...  brighten it up and simple to update.  Ads are projected onto screens.
When a train approaches the platform they turn off.  Train departs, back on again ..







Photographs R Dow 21st August 2013

[dancingmongoose]

It could have also beeb a footy train if it was a Fri/Sat/Sun. Often the footy trains for Cararra/Skilled Park terminate at Robina instead of Varsity, and diverted via Tennyson.

Nah I was on a 12:10pm train from Oxley on a Wednesday, and there wasn't maintenance cause I then got on a Beenleigh train at Roma St.

[STB]

At best guess, a driver tuition train with an incorrect set desto.  Not really that noteworthy IMO.

[techblitz]

hmmm
my outbound 12.52 Ipswich train from Corinda was delayed 20 minutes due to bridge strike at Milton. anyone else hear about this?

[ozbob]

hmmm
my outbound 12.52 Ipswich train from Corinda was delayed 20 minutes due to bridge strike at Milton. anyone else hear about this?

There was another one a few days ago too I recall.  They seem to be keeping it quiet ...

[HappyTrainGuy]

hmmm
my outbound 12.52 Ipswich train from Corinda was delayed 20 minutes due to bridge strike at Milton. anyone else hear about this?

I heard there was a crash involving a truck on the ICB overpass at Milton... might have been it?

[Golliwog]

hmmm
my outbound 12.52 Ipswich train from Corinda was delayed 20 minutes due to bridge strike at Milton. anyone else hear about this?

I heard there was a crash involving a truck on the ICB overpass at Milton... might have been it?

I thought that was the crash that was causing the bus delays (411, 412, etc) which was a truck vs concrete barrier on one of the flyovers at the Coro Dr - Hale St intersection.

[techblitz]

hmmm
my outbound 12.52 Ipswich train from Corinda was delayed 20 minutes due to bridge strike at Milton. anyone else hear about this?

I heard there was a crash involving a truck on the ICB overpass at Milton... might have been it?

I thought that was the crash that was causing the bus delays (411, 412, etc) which was a truck vs concrete barrier on one of the flyovers at the Coro Dr - Hale St intersection.

yep would have been that bus delay. This bridge strike i've mentioned was announced over the pa at Corinda. Perhaps if a delay is minimal  (not classed as major eg: under 20 mins) then they simply don't worry about posting the incident to TL?

[Arnz]

TL Bus Review advertising at Kawana Shoppingworld Food Court this afternoon.

[HappyTrainGuy]

hmmm
my outbound 12.52 Ipswich train from Corinda was delayed 20 minutes due to bridge strike at Milton. anyone else hear about this?

I heard there was a crash involving a truck on the ICB overpass at Milton... might have been it?

I thought that was the crash that was causing the bus delays (411, 412, etc) which was a truck vs concrete barrier on one of the flyovers at the Coro Dr - Hale St intersection.

yep would have been that bus delay. This bridge strike i've mentioned was announced over the pa at Corinda. Perhaps if a delay is minimal  (not classed as major eg: under 20 mins) then they simply don't worry about posting the incident to TL?

Ah gotchya. I heard there was a crash involving a truck in that area so I thought that might have had something to do with it.

[James]

There was another one a few days ago too I recall.  They seem to be keeping it quiet ...

Agreed. I was heading into the City from Toowong and chose to catch the train in. Walked on to the platform, found the usual obvious signs of a delay - a train due 20 minutes ago saying '1 min' and a train due 5 minutes ago saying '5 min'. I waited around and eventually decided to catch the 412. In that time there were no actual announcements, and there was no sign of delays on the TransLink website either. There had been a previous incident at Auchenflower, but the services that were due had not been impacted by it.

Communication is key, even with minor delays. A 5-minute delay can cause passengers to miss connections which on a low-frequency network, can mean waits of up to an hour. At least if passengers know in advance they can postpone their journey or seek an alternative if they need to get somewhere by a certain time. Had I known there were delays on the Ipswich line, I'd have gone to the 415/425/430/433/435/444/445/453/454/460 stop (most of which aren't running or only on hourly frequency, but anyway).

[bcasey]

There was another one a few days ago too I recall.  They seem to be keeping it quiet ...

Communication is key, even with minor delays. A 5-minute delay can cause passengers to miss connections which on a low-frequency network, can mean waits of up to an hour. At least if passengers know in advance they can postpone their journey or seek an alternative if they need to get somewhere by a certain time. Had I known there were delays on the Ipswich line, I'd have gone to the 415/425/430/433/435/444/445/453/454/460 stop (most of which aren't running or only on hourly frequency, but anyway).

I definitely agree. At the moment, social media is probably the main form of communication available for this, but if you are relying on Translink's feed, its not necessarily the quickest. Maybe there is a delay somewhere between QR and Translink in getting these messages out?

Translink are definitely looking at providing real-time data though, check the Transport session from the Open Data Mixer, but with many things, it very much depends on money. Once it does become available though, you will most likely find a wealth of real-time apps that consume the feeds and giving you this information when you need it.

[Otto]

A question.
Just observed the signals adjacent to countess street change from green to double yellow on the Ekka loop. 2 minutes later at 11:11am, a travel train passed through.
Why would the signal change from green to double yellow ?

another dog post using Tapatalk paw.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Track configuration ie the points futher up changed.

[Otto]

Track configuration ie the points futher up changed.

Thanks

another dog post using Tapatalk paw.

[techblitz]

new Sherwood displays
Well done to QR and Translink for getting these organised. This new addition as well as the top displays will help stop platform confusion (especially at peak hour for non-regular users). Handy also for people who want to squeeze in a quick shop at Sherwood central while waiting for their train

[James]

On board IMU187 to the Gold Coast, running 12 minutes late due to an apparent incident in the city. Anybody have any idea what it could be? No updates from translink. It's not good news for anybody making bus connections either...

[bcasey]

According to http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/651/details, its a track fault at Central Station

[ozbob]

Inter-peak stabling at Roma St station







Photographs R Dow 15th October 2013

[PollyWouldLikeASeat]

Steam Engine was being worked on, at Albion end of Mayne yards this morning. 

[techblitz]

interesting incident @ petrie rail yesterday that could have been a lot worse since there was no prams or wheelchairs deboarding at the time...

Train pulls in (coming from the city)
Doors open and passengers start to deboard
While this is happening train starts to roll back 
Rolls back a good 3-4 metres before finally stopping
While the rollback wasn't too fast...definitely fast enough to cause troubles if prams or wheelchairs involved due to height between platform & train.

Reasons? braking issue or?

[minbrisbane]

Sounds like a premature brake release?

[ozbob]

Noted steam1089 and DEL 1620 with heritage passenger carriages heading west UP Goodna shortly after 10am.

Returning home after last week's activities ...

[petey3801]

I'll be heading out on the Westlander this evening, so will give a feew updates re: consists, sightings and loadings where I can..

[ozbob]

I'll be heading out on the Westlander this evening, so will give a feew updates re: consists, sightings and loadings where I can..

Rippa!  Enjoy the trip!!

[STB]

Currently on the  Gold Coast ex  806 ex Park Rd, about a 3/4 load in the 3rd car,and
a few in the 2nd car.

[petey3801]

Westie had 22 ex RST, with about another 4 or 5 on at Ippy. Ran non-stop to Toowoomba from there, by which time I was fast asleep.. Arrival into Charleville was early at 11:40ish am.

[ozbob]

Head to the RSL for lunch?  Nice spot ..

[petey3801]

Head to the RSL for lunch?  Nice spot ..

Just missed out on lunch, but had a refreshing drink and a win on the pokies, so that made up for it! Getting ready to head off again now, back to Brissy by late morning!

[ozbob]

Happy travelling!

[Gazza]

Hahahaha just went through Chelmer and somebody was there with an angle grinder and welder fixing up that silly stair hand railing that was at the wrong angle (bottom was at arm level,  top was literally 10cm off the ground)


When I get to uni ill post a pic of how it used to be.



http://i.imgur.com/cZBKK71.jpg

[minbrisbane]

The westie prepared for departure...

[STB]

Headed up to Noosa today with the intent of checking out the bus infrastructure, but got forced back by one of my medical things playing up.  The 7:20am route 649 failed to show (was actually running 25mins late), but thank goodness, IMU102 saved me with the 7:53am departure.

A handful of people heading up there, mostly school kids, some going from Caboolture to Glasshouse Mountains.