Random observations around the network ...

[Golliwog]

The 6.15am Ferny Grove to Cleveland service was operated by a 3 car IMU this morning. However, it seemed justified as the toilets were out of service and had locked stickers on the door.

[STB]

The 6.15am Ferny Grove to Cleveland service was operated by a 3 car IMU this morning. However, it seemed justified as the toilets were out of service and had locked stickers on the door.

I cannot wait for the day that peak hour three car services are history!  The 5:49pm Cleveland express for example that used to be a six car train is definitely scheduled to be a three car train now and can be packed!  Some of that patronage seems to have gone elsewhere too since that downgrade I've noticed, where you would expect it to carry a six car load, like it used to but now carries a three car load (heavy load at that).

[Golliwog]

The 6.15am FG being 3 car is justified. It's been a 3 car service for as long as I've occasionally caught it, which was back at the start of this year, before the changes came it. Though what about whatever else that train goes on to form, I don't know.

[HappyTrainGuy]

It forms the 8.10am Bowen Hills service from Cleveland IIRC.

[Stillwater]

Channel 7 Local News on the Sunshine Coast reported tonight that police had caught five vandals defacing a train at Gympie North overnight.

[Fares_Fair]

Great news!

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[ozbob]

Taringa, some of the upgrade works ..







On the curve into (down) Toowong



Photographs R Dow 16th October 2011

[ozbob]

Corinda, end of the line for this weekend ..









Photograph R Dow 16th October 2011

[Arnz]

ICEs out of action today.  IMU104/122 on the daytime Gympielander and EMU4x on the counterpeak 7:53am Caboolture-Nambour shuttle.  

The Gympielander substitute IMUs must've been pulled off GC line duties today (instead of usually pulling a 6-car IMU off Nambour off-peak duties).  Sighted SMU225 and partner on the (around) 9am service to Gold Coast today.  Both older SMUs were sighted still on those duties this afternoon, seen heading to the Airport just before 4pm.

[BrizCommuter]

07:17 from Mitchelton was cancelled this morning. 07:06 ex Ferny Grove thus became all stations, but left an estimated 400+ passengers behind from Alderley to Windsor as it was filled up to potentially dangerous overcrowding levels (i.e. more than 1000 passengers per 6-car train) at Alderley. For those who couldn't board, there would have been a 29 minute service gap since the previous train.

[ozbob]

White ribbons on trains





Corinda









Photographs R Dow 24th October 2011

[ozbob]

Noted two new PN 8000 class locomotives at Roma St Platform 3 around 1.30pm.  Understand some sort of naming ceremony.

[ozbob]

Redbank - 28 a 24 and three 1720's



Photograph mufreight 24th October 2011

[Gazza]

Arrrgh so if were gonna have 3 car Richlands starters in peak, please make sure they all use the 3 car stopping mark. This morning the train was stopping right at the down end, so people who did the right thing and waited in the middle were made to run down the platfom.

[somebody]

Was on a 88 northbound at Buranda right behind a 111.  111 reached KGSBS before the 88!  I'd say that the Queens Wharf Rd route isn't particularly fast.

[ozbob]

Down coal train eases through Corinda. Train is on the freight line.

R Dow 24th October 2011

[ozbob]

UP QRN freight train Goodna, around 5pm 29th October 2011.  These containers are being used for grain export (sorghum), train is heading out west for loading.

Photograph R Dow 29th October 2011

[ozbob]

Oxley on a pleasant Sunday morning ..







Photographs R Dow 30th October 2011

[ozbob]

Ipswich

















Photographs R Dow 1st November 2011

[ozbob]

The fact that Ipswich Transit Centre is still not operational is a disgrace ...

Hello?  Does anyone care??

Queensland Times --> Future looks murky for bus station

Queensland Times --> LNP slams dithering over bus station

[ozbob]

And  the clocks are still locked into Dr Who, hello, what time is it Mr Woof?

This was around 2.30pm.



Photograph R Dow 1 November 2011

[SurfRail]

And  the clocks are still locked into Dr Who, hello, what time is it Mr Woof?

This was around 2.30pm.



Photograph R Dow 1 November 2011

Can't find a picture of a Railcorp LED clock, but that is what I would post by way of comparison.  They have 100% accurate timekeeping all over NSW - even if the trains aren't quite at that standard of reliability...

[ozbob]

Now that we know what station we are at (the new station signs being rolled out), time we knew the time.

The clocks at Ipswich rail station irritate me.  Either fix them, or remove them please.  Yes we know that in some respects the 'smart' state is behind time but this is a killer .. 

The time when these photographs were taken was 3.05pm





Photographs R Dow 2nd September 2011

I received a response that this would be followed up on September 4. 

Have raised it again ... response

========================

Twitter

QueenslandRail Queensland Rail
@robert_dow @PDScurrah Thanks, we'll follow this one up today.
Nov 02, 7:12 AM

[ozbob]

Travelled from Buranda to Ormiston earlier this morning.  All car parks full at all stations, with overflow street parking.

Counterpeak was quite good loads of pax.

Had a look at Southbank, and then back to Buranda.  All on time.

[ozbob]

Travelled from Buranda to Ormiston earlier this morning.  All car parks full at all stations, with overflow street parking.

Counterpeak was quite good loads of pax.

Had a look at Southbank, and then back to Buranda.  All on time.

Buranda





Ormiston



















Photographs R Dow 3rd November 2011

[somebody]

Aboriginal Guy and Girl get on last Ipswich train last night, rear of car 3.  Girl is "allegedly" assaulting guy in front of security.  Security tell both to get off the train, which neither do.  Security repeatedly tell both to get off the train.  "Alleged" assaults continue for a while and they get off, without security ever physically intervening or calling police.  Trains departs as "alleged" assaults continue.  Zero (C)harm or security just not doing their job?

[Stillwater]

Today's northbound GympieLander halted for four minutes at Eudlo.  Message to passengers was not to worry as 'the delay had been factored into the timetable - no time would be lost on the scheduled run.'  At Palmwoods, the train was delayed another 3-4 minutes because of a red signal.  The helpful female voice explained that the driver needed a 'signed form' to proceed past the red light.  Apparently, he got it, because the train proceeded on, but was late into Nambour due to the red light.  Sidings were loaded with freight trains at Woombye and Nambour.  At Mooloolah, the GympieLander had to reverse back from the station to allow a southbound passenger train to pass on the main line.  At Palmwoods, the southbound Rail Bus was passing through the streets.  There's no beating this world class/first class PT system.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Aboriginal Guy and Girl get on last Ipswich train last night, rear of car 3.  Girl is "allegedly" assaulting guy in front of security.  Security tell both to get off the train, which neither do.  Security repeatedly tell both to get off the train.  "Alleged" assaults continue for a while and they get off, without security ever physically intervening or calling police.  Trains departs as "alleged" assaults continue.  Zero (C)harm or security just not doing their job?

Did you-whoever/other passengers/security alert the guard who can directly request police assistance/attendance and stop the train/monitor/relay updates/give descriptions of the offenders via cctv if available?

Security can really only observe, check to see if they have a valid ticket for travel, get their details and ask them to leave/stop the under their powers where as the railway squad have the right to phisically detain, hit them with night sticks, zap them, spray them with some pepper or capisum and arrest them.

[somebody]

Aboriginal Guy and Girl get on last Ipswich train last night, rear of car 3.  Girl is "allegedly" assaulting guy in front of security.  Security tell both to get off the train, which neither do.  Security repeatedly tell both to get off the train.  "Alleged" assaults continue for a while and they get off, without security ever physically intervening or calling police.  Trains departs as "alleged" assaults continue.  Zero (C)harm or security just not doing their job?

Did you-whoever/other passengers/security alert the guard who can directly request police assistance/attendance and stop the train/monitor/relay updates/give descriptions of the offenders via cctv if available?

Security can really only observe, check to see if they have a valid ticket for travel, get their details and ask them to leave/stop the under their powers where as the railway squad have the right to phisically detain, hit them with night sticks, zap them, spray them with some pepper or capisum and arrest them.

Not that I was aware of, but I cannot imagine that this kerfuffle escaped the notice of the guard only a metre or two away.  Perhaps the cops came after the train left.

[Otto]

the railway squad have the right to phisically detain, hit them with night sticks, zap them, spray them with some pepper or capisum and arrest them.

Could I have the railway squad ride on my bus please ?

[HappyTrainGuy]

I don't see why not considering as the railway squad is a branch of the QPS rather than QR.

[p858snake]

Now that we know what station we are at (the new station signs being rolled out), time we knew the time.

The clocks at Ipswich rail station irritate me.  Either fix them, or remove them please.  Yes we know that in some respects the 'smart' state is behind time but this is a killer .. 

The time when these photographs were taken was 3.05pm





Photographs R Dow 2nd September 2011

I received a response that this would be followed up on September 4. 

Have raised it again ... response

========================

Twitter

QueenslandRail Queensland Rail
@robert_dow @PDScurrah Thanks, we'll follow this one up today.
Nov 02, 7:12 AM

I wonder if they are powered ones that someone accidently turned off and never worked out how to turn back on.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Maybe someone cut the wire during reno works....

[Fares_Fair]

Maybe they are preparing to send them to the Sunshine Coast, where time stands still for rail infrastructure ...

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[WTN]

Maybe someone cut the wire during reno works....

Or the battery died and wasn't replaced lol.


I rode the 202 bus this morning peak from Cultural Centre to Edward St (corner of Mary St). Bus was maybe 1/3 full (about right for this route). But the number of road users who wouldn't give way to this bus in this short stretch was shocking. First stop outside Myer Centre - car parked at stop until the bus driver beeped them. Then when he tried to change to the right lane outside Wintergarden, a truck driver, a cyclist, and possibly another car refused to give way. We weren't far from missing the Edward St right turn. Then bus could not stop on the corner of Elizabeth and Edward St - 2 trucks were parked in it. At stop 145, we able to stop, but a tight squeeze for a standard bus. If it was a bendy, the back would stick out (and it has happened before with the 555's stopping there).

[Golliwog]

I don't see why not considering as the railway squad is a branch of the QPS rather than QR.

No idea, but mentioning them, they had a set up at Mitchelton tonight. Was reading a book so not sure if we were delayed (we were at Mitchie for what felt like a little bit longer than usual, but only got to Keperra just before the inbound service cleared the single track). A number of QR ticket checkers going along checking tickets with Police following afterwards with a sniffer dog. When we left, there were a couple of guys "assisting police with their inquiries" 

[ozbob]

Now that we know what station we are at (the new station signs being rolled out), time we knew the time.

The clocks at Ipswich rail station irritate me.  Either fix them, or remove them please.  Yes we know that in some respects the 'smart' state is behind time but this is a killer ..  

The time when these photographs were taken was 3.05pm







Photographs R Dow 2nd September 2011

I received a response that this would be followed up on September 4.  

Have raised it again ... response

========================

Twitter

QueenslandRail Queensland Rail
@robert_dow @PDScurrah Thanks, we'll follow this one up today.
Nov 02, 7:12 AM

I wonder if they are powered ones that someone accidently turned off and never worked out how to turn back on.

Good news, the major problem of humankind, to wit the non functioning clocks at Ipswich railway station, I am advised by Queensland Rail has been fixed.

Thank you!!

[mufreight]

Since with the continuous time display on the platform PID's the simple answer would have been to remove them.
Will have to have a look to see what has been done tomorrow morning.

[Arnz]

IMU161 has their "QR CITYTRAIN" stickers replaced with the red "QUEENSLANDRAIL" stickers like the ones on SMU277-280.

[Fares_Fair]

Now that we know what station we are at (the new station signs being rolled out), time we knew the time.

The clocks at Ipswich rail station irritate me.  Either fix them, or remove them please.  Yes we know that in some respects the 'smart' state is behind time but this is a killer ..  

The time when these photographs were taken was 3.05pm







Photographs R Dow 2nd September 2011

I received a response that this would be followed up on September 4.  

Have raised it again ... response

========================

Twitter

QueenslandRail Queensland Rail
@robert_dow @PDScurrah Thanks, we'll follow this one up today.
Nov 02, 7:12 AM

I wonder if they are powered ones that someone accidently turned off and never worked out how to turn back on.

Good news, the major problem of humankind, to wit the non functioning clocks at Ipswich railway station, I am advised by Queensland Rail has been fixed.

Thank you!!

Well done QR 

Regards,
Fares_Fair.