Random observations around the network ...

[#Metro]

I agree with the toilets thing. New thread...

[stephenk]

I agree with the toilets thing. New thread...

Do we need a new thread? It has been discussed many a time before, and QR know about it!

[Jon Bryant]

Does anyone know why trains entering platforms 4&5 at Central from Roma Street have to travel so slowly? It is adding about 3-4 mins to the trip and must be holding up trains behind.

[Arnz]

I spotted a Gold Coast train as a EMU this morning around 7:00am at Coopers Plains. The 6:29 Beenleigh to Ferny Grove was a IMU 160 train but the Gold Coast train was a EMU... they both come from the same depot in the early morning too..

Us Landsborough/Nambour commuters are used to peak-hour journeys without toilets, and our Journey is longer than the trains from Varsity Lakes.  There is only 2-3 services on the Sunshine Coast Line (out of the 5 peak services each-way) that are scheduled to be toilet-equipped. 

The toilet equipped runs are the 6:00am Nambour to City and 7:00am (ex-Nambour) Gympie North to City and 5:13pm City to Nambour and 5:44 City to Gympie North.  The 4:40am early bird Nambour-City is usually a 3-car IMU as well.

The rest of the peak services are EMU/SMUs.

[Golliwog]

Does anyone know why trains entering platforms 4&5 at Central from Roma Street have to travel so slowly? It is adding about 3-4 mins to the trip and must be holding up trains behind.

Not a clue, but perhaps it could have something to do with that derailment that happened on platform 4 last year? Did they ever release what the cause of that was?

[mufreight]

Have been told that a broken bolt was the cause of the problem but have to question the low speed approaches to platforms 4 & 5 as platform 5 handles traffic in the direction of Roma Street and platform 4 together with platform 3 operates in the opposite direction again a little research and thought would have made for a more credible post.

[stephenk]

Does anyone know why trains entering platforms 4&5 at Central from Roma Street have to travel so slowly? It is adding about 3-4 mins to the trip and must be holding up trains behind.

Are you referring to platforms 3 and 4? There are two likely reasons:
1) If the platform starting signal is red, the trains have to approach it slowly as there will be a short signal overlap due to the converging/trailing junction. If the starting signal is green, then trains should be able to approach the signal at the usual speed limit for that track section.
2) There may be speed restrictions across the diverging/facing junction on approach to Central platforms 3 and 4 which may also result in slow platform approaches. 

[Jon Bryant]

Sorry you are right. I meant Platform 3 & 4.  Not sure of the signal status but it is the same every day. Very anoying.  If we are to ramp up the frequencies I assume something needs to be done to fix either or both of these problems.  The trains need to scream into these station, load/unload and move on just as quick.

[Golliwog]

The trains need to scream into these station ...

Sorry, but does anyone remember those cartoony things they had back late 1990s early 2000s? Like Gus the Bus and  Felicity the Ferry and stuff? I can't remember the name of the train one but that just gave me the mental image of the train with a face screaming as it pulls into the station.

[Jon Bryant]

Have been told that a broken bolt was the cause of the problem but have to question the low speed approaches to platforms 4 & 5 as platform 5 handles traffic in the direction of Roma Street and platform 4 together with platform 3 operates in the opposite direction again a little research and thought would have made for a more credible post.

Forgive a person a typo before attacking them!!!

[somebody]

I spotted a Gold Coast train as a EMU this morning around 7:00am at Coopers Plains. The 6:29 Beenleigh to Ferny Grove was a IMU 160 train but the Gold Coast train was a EMU... they both come from the same depot in the early morning too..

Why the same depot?  Only if the train's first runs were Ferny Grove, and Roma St-Airport or Bowen Hills-Varsity Lakes.

[ClintonL94]

I spotted a Gold Coast train as a EMU this morning around 7:00am at Coopers Plains. The 6:29 Beenleigh to Ferny Grove was a IMU 160 train but the Gold Coast train was a EMU... they both come from the same depot in the early morning too..

Why the same depot?  Only if the train's first runs were Ferny Grove, and Roma St-Airport or Bowen Hills-Varsity Lakes.

They both start from Mayne,

6:29am Beenleigh to Ferny Grove originates from 4:54 Bowen Hills to Beenleigh
and
6:00am Domestic Airport to Varsity Lakes Express originates from 5:20 Roma Street to Domestic Airport

[stephenk]

Sorry you are right. I meant Platform 3 & 4.  Not sure of the signal status but it is the same every day. Very anoying.  If we are to ramp up the frequencies I assume something needs to be done to fix either or both of these problems.  The trains need to scream into these station, load/unload and move on just as quick.

If the train screams into Central with a red starter signal, there would be two potential safety breaches. Signalling and safety is there for a reason!

[Jon Bryant]

Not trying to undermine saftey as it is paramount but I was interested in what can be done to avoid/fix the problem.  I don't think our trains are travelling that close together..yet.

[somebody]

Not trying to undermine saftey as it is paramount but I was interested in what can be done to avoid/fix the problem.  I don't think our trains are travelling that close together..yet.

As the train is approaching Platform 4, the departure would be set to Platform 3, so in peak you would need to be approaching fairly slowly.  Vice versa if you are going to Platform 3.

As for the trains travelling close together, I think you'll find that they are pretty close in that area.  It's the most congested part of our network (Park Rd-Bowen Hills on the suburbans).

CityRail have intermediate trips for the ATP system, but that isn't present in Brisbane.

[#Metro]

Not trying to undermine saftey as it is paramount but I was interested in what can be done to avoid/fix the problem.  I don't think our trains are travelling that close together..yet.

As the train is approaching Platform 4, the departure would be set to Platform 3, so in peak you would need to be approaching fairly slowly.  Vice versa if you are going to Platform 3.

As for the trains travelling close together, I think you'll find that they are pretty close in that area.  It's the most congested part of our network (Park Rd-Bowen Hills on the suburbans).

CityRail have intermediate trips for the ATP system, but that isn't present in Brisbane.

Jonno and Somebody have raised important points. There is going to be more rail traffic now and into the future, this is both from freight growth and commuter services. Is the current signaling system in need of an upgrade to handle these increases?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Train_Control

[Derwan]

I think platform 4 is particularly slow because of the points set-up on the approach.  It's a shame because it almost defeats the purpose of having the dual platform.

I think platform 3 is generally okay but as people have mentioned, they might have the red at the end of the platform which means they have to go slowly.

[somebody]

6:29am Beenleigh to Ferny Grove originates from 4:54 Bowen Hills to Beenleigh
and
6:00am Domestic Airport to Varsity Lakes Express originates from 5:20 Roma Street to Domestic Airport

Hmm.  The journey planner shows no such service as a 4:54am Bowen Hills to Beenleigh.  First Beenleigh outbound service leaves Ferny Grove at 5:30am, and Central at 6:01am

[stephenk]

6:29am Beenleigh to Ferny Grove originates from 4:54 Bowen Hills to Beenleigh
and
6:00am Domestic Airport to Varsity Lakes Express originates from 5:20 Roma Street to Domestic Airport

Hmm.  The journey planner shows no such service as a 4:54am Bowen Hills to Beenleigh.  First Beenleigh outbound service leaves Ferny Grove at 5:30am, and Central at 6:01am

The 4:54 journey is in the timetable!

[somebody]

The 4:54 journey is in the timetable!

Indeed it is.  Doesn't show in the journey planner if you select Beenleigh as the destination as the coastie overtakes it.

[ClintonL94]

My sister was on a EMU(she's not sure what numbers) from Caboolture to the City yesterday and she said that the train had 2 automatic announcements both saying Test 1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8..9..10. But she did also say it had the new buttons for doors. Maybe automatic announcements for the EMU's soon?

[Golliwog]

Only 2? Or two per stop? I remember a couple of times last year, catching a train from Ferny Grove to the city, instead of between stations saying "The next station is ______" and arriving at the station saying "This is ______, platform is on the left/right" every single time we got the automated voice recording "This is a test message. Testing. 1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10. This is a test message" It was driving everyone nuts. We just assumed the guard was hitting the wrong button on the intercom panel or something though. Either that or he hated everyone on the train

[ClintonL94]

Only 2? Or two per stop? I remember a couple of times last year, catching a train from Ferny Grove to the city, instead of between stations saying "The next station is ______" and arriving at the station saying "This is ______, platform is on the left/right" every single time we got the automated voice recording "This is a test message. Testing. 1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10. This is a test message" It was driving everyone nuts. We just assumed the guard was hitting the wrong button on the intercom panel or something though. Either that or he hated everyone on the train

Only 2 for the whole journey

[longboi]

Only 2? Or two per stop? I remember a couple of times last year, catching a train from Ferny Grove to the city, instead of between stations saying "The next station is ______" and arriving at the station saying "This is ______, platform is on the left/right" every single time we got the automated voice recording "This is a test message. Testing. 1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10. This is a test message" It was driving everyone nuts. We just assumed the guard was hitting the wrong button on the intercom panel or something though. Either that or he hated everyone on the train

No the VAS works automatically and is controlled by the driver. It sounds like it might not have been updated correctly or some other glitch and the driver/guard haven't realised(probably because no one bothered to tell them).

[ozbob]

Inbound on the 6.38am sweeper ex Oxley SMU 205, on the main down for a change.

[mufreight]

Always was under the impression that the VAS was operated by the guard hence the sometimes better than average presentation of information

[longboi]

Always was under the impression that the VAS was operated by the guard hence the sometimes better than average presentation of information

The guard makes manual PA announcements if that's what you mean but the auto one is switched on/off by the driver.

[Nightwriter]

Hi All,

I've just been told by a colleague that the walkway is currently unusable at Narangba train station - the wood bridge is broken apparently.  Its been all blocked off, however patrons can't access the opposite platform (they are being driven around to the other side by buses!).  This is apparently the second week that the walkway has been unusable.  It seems to be causing quite a few problems!!

Has anyone heard anything about this? Any potential timeframe on when it may be fixed?

[ozbob]

1.25pm Sunlander Brisbane to Cairns,  Roma St platform 10



Photograph R Dow 20th May 2010

[ClintonL94]

I am not sure if anyone has seen this, but here is my photo album of QR

http://photosbyclinton.fotopic.net/c1776907.html

[ozbob]

Ipswich line, subs UP and Down closed Roma St through to Sherwood.  UP road at Indooroopilly has been partially removed west of the platform.  Might be the start of the track lowering ...

Track closure on the Ipswich line this weekend Corinda to Rosewood as well.

[O_128]

Ipswich line, subs UP and Down closed Roma St through to Sherwood.  UP road at Indooroopilly has been partially removed west of the platform.  Might be the start of the track lowering ...

Track closure on the Ipswich line this weekend Corinda to Rosewood as well.

just at indro, freight carriages of different designs were lined up along platform 2 with people measuring heights etc

[ozbob]

Goodna, some trains earlier today (24th May)







Photographs R Dow 24th May 2010

[ozbob]

Track geometry and overhead vehicle platform 2 Central around 10am this morning





Photographs R Dow 27th May 2010

[ozbob]

On an UP Ipswich service (EMU37)  on the main UP line (Roma St - Sherwood, crossed back to sub at Sherwood)

[ClintonL94]

The 8:29am Beenleigh to Bowen Hills Express was a 6 car EMU this morning.
This train is usually a 3 car unit - the train that terminates at Beenleigh at 8:04am decouples the 2x3 cars and one forms the 8:08am Beenleigh to Bowen Hills and the other 3 car is the 8:29am..I wonder if a extra train came down to form the 8:29am and the 8:08am stayed as a 6 car?

[ozbob]

Outbound on UP Rosewood, SMU243  on  the main UP again Roma St - Sherwood Corinda.

[ozbob]

Onboard EMU78, 6.36am sweeper ex Oxley, now with The Valley on PIDs and train with Brunswick St desto ...

The Valley Flyer !!

Guard just announced this train  will be 'terminating at Fortitude Valley this morning' ...

[ozbob]

I am at Dutton Park station, platform 2.  Unannounced  EMU44/29 Desto Cleveland saunters into platform 2 from City 

Doors remained closed, train is given the right of way by guard and train reverses back out.  Can only assume some issue which has stopped direct access to the branch line from Park Road ...

Never a dull moment ..  

[ozbob]

Now on EMU22  inbound platform 3 Park Road, platform one closed ...  that explains the 'lost' Cleveland service.

Southbank, Cleveland service in platform 3 ...