Random observations around the network ...

[300LA]

I've been noticing more of the 160IMUs north of Northgate over the last few weeks, especially in the morning peak.
What i can't figure out is why he toilet module is in the leading car and not centrally located?
Often these units are couples with a SMU, which means no toilet would be available to DDA pax who are centrally boarded.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1030319210302341120

[red dragin]

Proof of the effectiveness of green energy 

Wasn't it a coalie that jumped off the rails at Oakey a few weeks ago? Probably damage wagons from that train.

[PoliticalFootball]

I've been noticing more of the 160IMUs north of Northgate over the last few weeks, especially in the morning peak.
What i can't figure out is why he toilet module is in the leading car and not centrally located?
Often these units are couples with a SMU, which means no toilet would be available to DDA pax who are centrally boarded.

Not always possible. The 5 end cab may have an issue making the unit a 'one wayer'

[not_available]

Emu 72/20 sitting in the northern Mayne yard. Next?
Also 730 spotted just south of the valley on the mains heading north

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1032774616832401408

[HappyTrainGuy]

Emu 72/20 sitting in the northern Mayne yard. Next?

Should be on the move today. Quite soon actually.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1032810437841047552

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1032774616832401408

This unit was fairly dirty. How often are they washed etc.?

[JustSomeTrainGuy]

Wait... So the IMU 160/SMU 260 class have a "Bombardier" badge on them (from memory) just below the driver's door... What part/s of these are built by Bombardier?

Edit: According to Wikipedia, these were manufactured by Downer in partnership with Bombardier. The more you know...

[Gazza]

I went to the workshops rail museum for the first time on Sunday.
Did you guys know they use the workshop there as extra space for electric rolling stock maintenance?!

They had an SMU 100 series there.

[jesse]

I went to the workshops rail museum for the first time on Sunday.
Did you guys know they use the workshop there as extra space for electric rolling stock maintenance?!

They had an SMU 100 series there.

Funnily enough they do! Imu 109 currently resides in the workshops and has been there for quite a bit of time now (perhaps months). Heard that it suffered a minor derailment of some sorta around the mayne area?

[HappyTrainGuy]

Yep. They do other work out there aswell to do stuff in-house.

[PoliticalFootball]

IMU109 derailed in Mayne yard a while back. The impact broke the main cabling from the transformer to the traction converter. There is a spare run in the same area but engineering chose to just replace the broken one.

It is taking so long because they have no jigs to actually remove any components. Aurizon sold them to progress rail who have since destroyed them.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> New laws to fine passengers for bad behaviour on public transport

PUBLIC transport passengers could be slapped with a $261 fine if they use more than one seat or if they put their feet up, under new laws to roll out across the state this weekend.

It will also become illegal for anyone to litter on or in public transport infrastructure.

In a bid to align penalties across different modes of public transport, the State Government's Transport Operations Passenger Transport Regulation 2018 has been adjusted.

While it is currently an offence to put your feet on a seat of a train or to occupy more than one seat, it does not apply across other transport modes.

It will become illegal to do so on a bus or light rail vehicle unless the person has the permission of the operator or driver.

A person will not be discriminated against because of their weight or size.

It is also currently illegal to leave litter on a busway, busway transport infrastructure or light rail platforms.

However, under the new adjustments you could be slugged with a $130 fine if you litter across any public transport including buses, bus stations and on light rail vehicles.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said it was important to offer support for people who used public transport.

"It is basically aligning the penalties across different modes of transport," he said.

"Same offence, same penalty."

Mr Bailey said if someone placed their dirty feet on a tram, train or bus seat, the penalty should be the same.

"It's a $261 fine for using seats improperly though in most cases warnings are issued," he said.

"If you're larger than average you won't be fined for that and never will be."

Mr Bailey said existing senior network officers would enforce the new provisions.

"They (officers) roam around fairly regularly," he said.

"It'll be enforced by the usual officers making sure that standards are maintained.

"As the vast majority of people do, if you use public transport respectfully you won't get fined for anything.

"We have to ensure people don't behave inappropriately."

[burgo]

I went to the workshops rail museum for the first time on Sunday.
Did you guys know they use the workshop there as extra space for electric rolling stock maintenance?!

They had an SMU 100 series there.

Nearmap imagery from late July shows a 3-car EMU stabled on the far side of the facility. Could this be a preserved set?

[not_available]

SMUs 268 and 269 have  nice "heavy metal stops for no one" stickers on the front ends. They actually look rather nice and not out of place.

[ozbob]

3.57am UP Goodna NGR lite, reduced speed.

[HappyTrainGuy]

SMUs 268 and 269 have  nice "heavy metal stops for no one" stickers on the front ends. They actually look rather nice and not out of place.

We're done a couple weeks back also in part with white ribbon.

[ozbob]

^

https://twitter.com/QueenslandRail/status/1035271895921262592

[JustSomeTrainGuy]

SMU276 wreaks of something that smells like urine. Also, not in the best condition considering it’s barely a decade old. I’ve noticed this a few times whilst travelling on the Springfield line.

[achiruel]

Saw the northbound Gympielander (5 car ICE, which I've not seen for a while, but don't get up here much) and southbound Spirit of Maryborough doing the dance while waiting for the southbound train at Eudlo. NCL duplication, wherefore art thou? Although I guess only duplicating to Landsborough won't help this.

[not_available]

Just saw a very slow "out of service" EMU 84/73/72/48 roll through central. 12 cars!?

[ozbob]

Just saw a very slow "out of service" EMU 84/73/72/48 roll through central. 12 cars!?

Off to the graveyard, or perhaps recovery of a failed set? 

[red dragin]

Just saw a very slow "out of service" EMU 84/73/72/48 roll through central. 12 cars!?

Or a bath at the car wash?

[not_available]

Just saw a very slow "out of service" EMU 84/73/72/48 roll through central. 12 cars!?

Or a bath at the car wash?

They did look quite dirty... especially 72 &73

[ozbob]

Down cattle at Goodna, 5.40pm.

Train was comprised of the new type cattle crates  - looks like the problems have been sorted

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/QueenslandRail/status/1041130519889502208

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Python's peak hour rescue from train tracks at Chelmer

A 2M python caused a stir during peak hour this morning when it was spotted coiled up on train tracks at Chelmer in Brisbane's southwest.

Helene Wiley saw people gathering around looking at something on the tracks.
The snake on the train line at Chelmer. Photo: Helene Wiley

"They were taking photos and then I saw what they were looking at," she said.

"There were a couple of people in their high vis shirts keeping an eye on it."

And while the snake didn't choose the best spot for a sleep, Ms Wiley said it could've been worse.
A snake catcher safely removed the snake.

"It was on the platform that doesn't get used much. It was lucky," she said.

A Queensland Rail spokesperson said the snake was first spied around 6.30am.

"A member of the public reported seeing a large snake on the tracks (around 2m in size) to our staff at Chelmer station," he said.

"To ensure the snake's safety, the snake was closely monitored by our staff until a qualified snake catcher arrived at around 8.30am, when it was captured and released to safety."

The spokesman said there were no delays to services as a result.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1044411212853702656

[kram0]

Spotted this old beauty at Yeronga this morning.

[JustSomeTrainGuy]

Another day, another faulty NGR. 710 (Brisbane Airport service) terminated at Central (onboard PID displaying “Out of Service”) with another NGR to the rescue arriving on the opposite platform

[ozbob]

On-board down Darra to Milton express
On the down sub
Not sure why 

[ozbob]

On-board down Darra to Milton express
On the down sub
Not sure why 

As we went through Auchenflower I noted station staff with ramp in the middle of the down sub platform waiting for the NGR behind us.

[Cazza]

https://translink.com.au/service-updates/200701

"Travel to Westfield Coomera

Northern's Gold Coast's newest retail, lifestyle and entertainment destination, Westfield Coomera, opens its doors on Thursday 11 October.
Services to Coomera station
Coomera train and bus station is just a short walk from the new centre.
To get to Coomera station you can you take the following services:
Bus - Routes 721, 722, 723, 725, 726, 727, TX7
Train - Gold Coast line
Tram -  take a G:link tram to Helensvale station, then connect with a train heading towards Brisbane, then travel one stop to Coomera station.
Traffic congestion
During the opening week, there may be higher than normal traffic around the new shopping centre and train station.
Increased traffic may cause delays to some bus services and impact on train connections.
To avoid missing your connecting train service, consider catching an earlier bus to arrive with plenty of time to spare, if possible."


So... if I'm reading this correctly... instead of creating new timetables to reflect the changing traffic conditions... they... tell people to catch an earlier bus? *deep sigh*

MOST OF THESE BUS SERVICES ARE HOURLY AND YOU SUGGEST TAKING AND EARLIER ONE? WHAT KIND OF JOKE IS THIS?

What about on weekends when the 721, 722, 723 and 726 run every 2 hours?

I'm aware it says during the opening week, but I doubt the traffic will magically disappear after one week

The bottom line is this: if you are predicting an increased level of traffic in the area, reflect it in your timetables so people, that don't just happen to stumble upon this little notification while trawling the Translink website, aren't in complete shock when there bus runs late into Coomera Station, ultimately missing their connecting service.

[STB]

https://translink.com.au/service-updates/200701

"Travel to Westfield Coomera

Northern's Gold Coast's newest retail, lifestyle and entertainment destination, Westfield Coomera, opens its doors on Thursday 11 October.
Services to Coomera station
Coomera train and bus station is just a short walk from the new centre.
To get to Coomera station you can you take the following services:
Bus - Routes 721, 722, 723, 725, 726, 727, TX7
Train - Gold Coast line
Tram -  take a G:link tram to Helensvale station, then connect with a train heading towards Brisbane, then travel one stop to Coomera station.
Traffic congestion
During the opening week, there may be higher than normal traffic around the new shopping centre and train station.
Increased traffic may cause delays to some bus services and impact on train connections.
To avoid missing your connecting train service, consider catching an earlier bus to arrive with plenty of time to spare, if possible."


So... if I'm reading this correctly... instead of creating new timetables to reflect the changing traffic conditions... they... tell people to catch an earlier bus? *deep sigh*

MOST OF THESE BUS SERVICES ARE HOURLY AND YOU SUGGEST TAKING AND EARLIER ONE? WHAT KIND OF JOKE IS THIS?

What about on weekends when the 721, 722, 723 and 726 run every 2 hours?

I'm aware it says during the opening week, but I doubt the traffic will magically disappear after one week

The bottom line is this: if you are predicting an increased level of traffic in the area, reflect it in your timetables so people, that don't just happen to stumble upon this little notification while trawling the Translink website, aren't in complete shock when there bus runs late into Coomera Station, ultimately missing their connecting service.

My guess is that there's simply no funding to increase services.  GC isn't the only area that hasn't really seen a proper increase in services in quite a while (barring the changes when the G-Link opened).

[red dragin]

Once the "new, shiny shopping centre, lets go have a look" effect wears off, there won't be a problem. Similar issues around North Lakes when Ikea & Costco both opened.

[SurfRail]

My guess is that there's simply no funding to increase services.  GC isn't the only area that hasn't really seen a proper increase in services in quite a while (barring the changes when the G-Link opened).

The money exists, it just isn't being spent where it should be and there is no political willingness to fix it.  Unlike people in the bush who would cry like stuck pigs if you suggested cancelling the Westlander because it is a hideous waste of money, comparatively nobody is interested in outer suburban buses.

I genuinely believe TransLink has no interest in making the case for marginal improvements which would have been seen as pretty basic and essential a few years ago.  The prevailing sentiment seems to have been "let Uber fix it".  Everything they have (not) done, and the prevailing tenor of any direct discussions I have had, has been to the effect they simply aren't interested, so there is no internal pressure to change anything and no external pressure beyond what a few of us can apply.  It's ridiculous.

[achiruel]

The frequency and span of every bus route that services Coomera Station is atrocious. Hourly from about 8:30-5pm for most of them, a couple run a bit later, and two-hourly on weekends. I'm surprised anyone uses them.

Changing these routes span to 7am-7pm and half hourly would probably see a massive uptake in patronage, but it seems like TL just can't be bothered.

[Cazza]

A few days ago, I was standing at Roma St Station P1 waiting for my bus when V2805 pulled into the opposite platform (2) for a 340 to Woolloongabba. I glanced over and didn't think anything of it at first. But, when I had a double take, it looked like it had 2 back doors (as in, a double leaf side door, similar to the TAGs and new Volgren bendys). Now, as most know, the windows on the Optimus' are heavily tinted and I only caught I quick glance as it was driving past, but I swear it was a double back door.

According to the bus enthusiasts guide (see here: http://www.brisbanetransport.info/index.php), both 2805 and 2806 were delivered to Virginia this month (2nd and 12th respectively).

Was I just tripping out or are they actually trialling and/or introducing double leaf back doors?