Random observations around the network ...

[red dragin]

The most recent line diagram I can find shows they do, but I think there is a more recent one than that one online.

*Edit*
Found the most recent one. October 2019 - still QR - Sheet 26 (page 29)
https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/business/acccess/Access%20Undertaking%20and%20related%20documents/Network%20Infrastructure%20Ownership%20Diagrams.pdf

[Bretto1082]

Fisherman island is still owned and maintained by qr the emu smu imu units are there awaiting there turn for scraping or maintenance ant ipswich or Maryborough the only part of the island that qr don't own is the bmt container loading area. RORU were there because the units would be getting moved so removing the red boards in front of the units and putting blocks on the roads around the  trains for the shunters to lash up the dels

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1204559371067281408

[ozbob]

Some random photographs from travels in 2019!

  https://backontrack.org/images/year19/year2019compress.mp4 6MB

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1211808074173837313

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1215449598950395904

[CQRail]

Does anyone know when Darra had these platform humps installed? Can't recall them being there when I was last here late-2019.

[ozbob]

^  not sure.  I recall seeing them a few weeks ago myself.

I have asked QR.

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1217273918798454784

[verbatim9]

^  not sure.  I recall seeing them a few weeks ago myself.

I have asked QR.

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1217273918798454784

They were completed at Christmas when I was there last. Actually a while now because I remember them being there back in November.

[ozbob]

^^

https://twitter.com/QueenslandRail/status/1217670920275361792

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Queensland Rail employs workers to chase away birds

QUEENSLAND Rail has admitted it is paying employees to clap and clang bamboo in an effort to remove swallows from the car park of a Brisbane pub.

Patron John James filmed two men in high-visibility workwear near the Ferny Grove Tavern on Sunday.

One was armed with two lengths of bamboo bashing them together "at the first sight of an approaching bird", while the other was simply clapping his hands.

Mr James said the men told him they were employed by Queensland Rail to discourage swallows from nesting in the Ferny Grove Station car park overnight.

The men drew public attention and rancour.

"It provided some entertainment for the patrons of the tavern after Conor McGregor abruptly dispatched his opponent," Mr James said.

"(But) it seems an absolute waste of taxpayer money and not exactly a 'high tech' solution."

In response to a query about the incident, a Queensland Rail spokesperson said the railway operator had "engaged environmental specialists" to safely relocate the swallows from the car park.

The men have been employed since "early-January".

"The specialists are continuing to actively monitor the birds' movement most evenings this week and employing passive and noise-based dispersal activities," the spokesperson said.

"The works are being undertaken in response to customer feedback."

The spokesperson said Queensland Rail expected the "monitoring and dispersal activities" would be completed by the end of the week.

[JustSomeTrainGuy]

How close are trains allowed to follow? Just saw a Roma St terminating NGR service on platform 5 at Central and an SMU ~ 20 m behind it quite a way past the Fortitude - Central tunnel portal. Didn't get a chance to see where the signals are but I'm 99% sure this was a SPAD

[SurfRail]

As long as it is in a different signal block they are still kosher.  Trains can close up quite a bit on 5 since there are no turnouts like on 1 and 2.

[JimmyP]

Just had a chat to a mate of mine in the railway, apparently there are signals quite close on approach to both Central platforms 5 and 6, allowing trains to get very close.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Signals are very close in the inner core mains.

[jesse]

How close are trains allowed to follow? Just saw a Roma St terminating NGR service on platform 5 at Central and an SMU ~ 20 m behind it quite a way past the Fortitude - Central tunnel portal. Didn't get a chance to see where the signals are but I'm 99% sure this was a SPAD

And what are you basing that off? Signalling blocks are generally closer together in the CBD to allow greater capacity within the area. Can't just say it's a SPAD  :conf

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1224803680387358720

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1224829205881339904

[Otto]

On the 5:09 service from Cleveland.
Guard has just announced that we will run Express from
Cannon Hill to Park Road.
The Cleveland line single track curse strikes again !

[Arnz]

Onboard the 5:28pm Nambour train.  The VAS has been updated with the "Now arriving at Elimbah station.. if this is your station.. prepare to disembark" and the obligatory "Mind the gap" at each station.
I'm assuming the updates are related to the NGR introductions on Monday.

The Sunshine Coast Line must be the second last line to get the updated VAS announcements.

Rosewood and I'm assuming Gympie North still has the older VAS announcements (the version without the obligatory "Mind the gap".)

Most Nambour patterns (excluding the Weekday AM ex-Rosewood train) has been updated with the "Mind the gap" version.

[Arnz]

According to the AnyTrip GPS, the following morning services from Nambour this morning peak have been allocated/replaced with the NGR trains.
Listed NGR services thus far per AnyTrip GPS

5:38am Nambour to Ipswich
5:56am Nambour to Roma Street
6:38am Nambour to Ipswich
7:26am Nambour to Roma Street

[Arnz]

Onboard 739 this evening in Car 4739.  5:28pm Nambour service.

[ozbob]

Onboard 739 this evening in Car 4739.  5:28pm Nambour service.

Thanks for the reports!   

[BrizCommuter]

4pm South Bank (presumably ex-Coopers Plains) to Ferny Grove is a 3-car unit today. This train will be probably be leaving behind passengers at Central!

[brissypete]

4pm South Bank (presumably ex-Coopers Plains) to Ferny Grove is a 3-car unit today. This train will be probably be leaving behind passengers at Central!

That's probably the one that comes back through South Bank at 5:30 to Beenleigh, it was a 3 car yesterday too so wondering if this is a feature of the new timetable that started this week. If so it's quite stupid as the service I mention is also quite a busy one too.

Sent from my G8141 using Tapatalk

[Paul B]

turning off the TL facebook comments works a treat
363 40mins delayed, 341 25mins delayed (at rbwh) but nothing mentioned anywhere

[BrizCommuter]

4pm South Bank (presumably ex-Coopers Plains) to Ferny Grove is a 3-car unit today. This train will be probably be leaving behind passengers at Central!

That's probably the one that comes back through South Bank at 5:30 to Beenleigh, it was a 3 car yesterday too so wondering if this is a feature of the new timetable that started this week. If so it's quite stupid as the service I mention is also quite a busy one too.

Sent from my G8141 using Tapatalk

I seriously hope it isn't a feature of the new timetable, as the train was full.

[Arnz]

Been reported 3-car trains on most of the Suburbans lines this week (Cleveland/Shorncliffe and Beenleigh/Ferny Grove namely). 

In addition to the mould issues on a few of the NGRs and a unreported NGR failure at Woombye recently (which led to one of the Nambour to City morning peak service being a last minute 3-car IMU on that day).

Like most timetable changes at QR, it RARELY ever goes smoothly for the first week.

[SurfRail]

I half expect it is NGR availability - which is probably a bit lower than it was before, given the SCL deployment, and units needing to be serviced to have HVAC issues sorted out.

They really need to get cracking on the next order and more stabling capacity, pronto.  We need to be in a position where:

- every train is a 6-car train except west of Rosewood

- we have enough to run 20tph at least on all tracks through the city (including CRR) in the peaks

- we have enough to run at least 15 minute frequency service out of peak (including at weekends) to every station in the entirety of the area bounded by Ipswich and Caboolture (including Doomben and the Gold Coast).

Anything short of that is just wasting time.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1237889025358180354

Brakes still noisy ...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1237891425133400066

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1237896474232385536

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1237920215008071681

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1245059020722802689

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1259761890596515840

[red dragin]

Noted an ICE/EMU Hybrid at Caboolture, both stowed and another day heading north through the week. Lead and one trailer of 155 and all of 51.

Looks a bit odd with the intercarriage connection of 155 against the cab of 51.

There's a few photos getting around Farcebook at the moment, none of them mine, showing this set up.

[ozbob]

Yo. Interesting that the ICE/EMU combo has made a comeback.
A farewell of sorts? I wonder if a bit short of units at present.

[JimmyP]

Mate of mine said it was purely a tuition train, no passengers.

[BrizCommuter]

Just saw in ICE head north through South Bank. Unusual sighting!

[HappyTrainGuy]

Test run via Tennyson.