Random observations around the network ...

[ozbob]

Oxley, late Sunday morning, a train frequency the rest of the network would like too ...  

One of the new PIDs needs centring ...















Photographs R Dow 6th November 2011

[Arnz]

IMU 176 has joined IMU 161 in the replacement of the "CITYTRAIN" stickers with the red "QueenslandRail" stickers.  All 160/260 MUs will eventually get those stickers.

Excuse the photo quality - It was a quick mobile shot.

[ozbob]

EMU03 on the Exhibition Loop



Photograph R Dow 7th November 2011

[ozbob]

SMU296 front unit, 6 car train lining up for a counter-peak run to Ipswich (8am), and left Roma St with approx 600 pax ...



Photograph R Dow 8th November 2011

[Arnz]

IMU 176 has joined IMU 161 in the replacement of the "CITYTRAIN" stickers with the red "QueenslandRail" stickers.  All 160/260 MUs will eventually get those stickers.

Just got off IMU184, lead by 178.  Both now have the red QueenslandRail stickers on the front/back cabs.  They must be moving fast on the CityTrain stickers replacement

[ClintonL94]

SMU 291 also has the new QueenslandRail on the front of both it's cabs.

[ozbob]

The grand station building platform 3 Roma St looks as though it is having a major clean, refurbishment etc.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Yep, on the weekend they shutdown the subs to erect the scafholding.

[Fares_Fair]

Incident at Strathpine station. 3:34 pm Nambour service stopped at Carseldine

[HappyTrainGuy]

The delay shouldn't be long

[Fares_Fair]

Moving now... Not as delayed as the NCL upgrades.

[Golliwog]

The grand station building platform 3 Roma St looks as though it is having a major clean, refurbishment etc.

Theres a sign on the side of the scaffolding facing towards the majority of the platforms if you're interested. I saw it from my train but didn't get to read it.

As a random observation, the first 169 of the day this morning was late on arrival to Boggo Rd, and left full leaving half a dozen people on the platform. Apparently it had been much fuller until PA Hospital where a number got off. Normally wouldn't be an issue but at that time of morning the next bus doesn't come for another 15 minutes (another 169). But this is exam time so it is hard to anticipate loadings. It didn't help though that it was one of the old standard size buses.

[p858snake]

The grand station building platform 3 Roma St looks as though it is having a major clean, refurbishment etc.

Theres a sign on the side of the scaffolding facing towards the majority of the platforms if you're interested. I saw it from my train but didn't get to read it.

I tried to read it the other day, But My glasses aren't that good from Plat 8&9 and I didn't have my camera as a I was comming back from a job interview, Although I'm surprised there is no signage in the concourse about it (at least that I saw)

[barnesy]

went thru south brisbane station, the awnings on platform have been pulled down and the station had a few little excavators driving in out with rubbish

[Arnz]

The daytime Gympielander is 30 mins late heading back to Brisbane, according to somebody on the train.  the reason is recurring mechanical issues.

Also the following T5X6 Nambour to Ipswich is 10 mins behind the delayed Gympielander to Brisbane

[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

Clocks now fixed.

  Correct time, 2.04pm.

Photograph R Dow 15th November 2011

[Arnz]

onboard SMU279 on the 3:34p to Nambour. 6-8 standees each per Doorway.  Just about to pass through Petrie, but not scheduled to stop there, as its express Northgate to Caboolture.

[Fares_Fair]

onboard SMU279 on the 3:34p to Nambour. 6-8 standees each per Doorway.  Just about to pass through Petrie, but not scheduled to stop there, as its express Northgate to Caboolture.

no toilets then, hang on Arnz. 

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[WTN]

Some observations from yesterday's trip to a Gold Coast theme park.

No toilets either were on the Saturday 8:03am (ex South Bank) train to the Gold Coast. We got SMU260s. The station toilets at Helensvale were temporarily busy on our arrival!
Fortunately, there were toilets on other services, including the 8am (arriving South Bank) and the 6:05pm ex Helensvale.

The 2nd last TX5 service from the theme parks to Helensvale Station turned up to Wet n Wild at 5:45pm, about half seated. It left full standing from the huge line of people from the stop. There should be an additional service given the previous service came nearly an hour ago (4:50), but the next one is in 30 minutes (6:15). Rather unusual NOT to run more services shortly after the parks close at 5pm (and plenty of people leave around closing).

[SurfRail]

A train comprised of Lander cars made a pick-up at Central P3 this evening, en route to Ascot I believe.  (Associated with the conference?)

[petey3801]

A train comprised of Lander cars made a pick-up at Central P3 this evening, en route to Ascot I believe.  (Associated with the conference?)

Correct. Picked up at South Bank and Central, heading to Ascot. Turn on Pinkenba balloon and waiting at Doomben for a couple hours before taking the people back to Central/South Bank. 1620 and a SX set also ran the same route around 1/2hr? later.

[O_128]

Got an ICE set from nambour at 2:25 this afternoon, after thinking you were all just bitching and complaining I am now 100% for the duplication after having to wait at palm woods for a train to pass then reversing back to let another one through WTF seriously. Duplicate the god damn thing. No resin why 30mins can't be cut off the entire trip.

[ozbob]

The ' Dance of the trains ' .....   

Queenslander!!

[kw]

Construction started yesterday on installing lifts at Sandgate station.

[Fares_Fair]

Got an ICE set from nambour at 2:25 this afternoon, after thinking you were all just bitching and complaining I am now 100% for the duplication after having to wait at palm woods for a train to pass then reversing back to let another one through WTF seriously. Duplicate the god damn thing. No resin why 30mins can't be cut off the entire trip.

Thanks O_128.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Gazza]

One thing I have wondered, but there is an IMU running around that looks like it used to be an SMU.

Basically, the scrolling information signs look like they were bolted to the roof as an afterthought, the seats look like lowback seats with this extra cushion segment attached to the top, and the doors between carriages aren't the arch shaped ones with starfish and surfers, rather it is the normal doors, with a yellow wavy line.

What's the full story?

[Arnz]

I think you caught the refurbished SMU201 or SMU202 Gazza.  They're currently refurbishing that lot (12x 3-car sets).

[BrizCommuter]

Was at Indro at approx 1:15 on Thursday. Two inbound out of service passenger trains passed through p4 followed by the Westlander within a 10 mins period (as well as an inbound passenger service through p2). Find it difficult to see how 8tph cannot be possible!

Also rode an 88 for the first time (max 8 pax) from Roma St to Indro, and saw a chartered CityCat at Riverside.

[O_128]

Was at Indro at approx 1:15 on Thursday. Two inbound out of service passenger trains passed through p4 followed by the Westlander within a 10 mins period (as well as an inbound passenger service through p2). Find it difficult to see how 8tph cannot be possible!

you lie, we all know thats totally impossible and the only way 8tph is possible is an octopluplication of the ipswich line.

[O_128]

Anyone know why there are 2 random go card readers at the southern end of the O/B platform at ormeu? saw them yesterday and they seem so random.

[somebody]

There was a light engine movement approaching Toowong on the up main at around 8:25am this morning.  Seems like conflicts at Roma St West are overblown (mostly by me).  On the other hand, the junction is free from timetabled passenger services from 8:18am to 8:24am.  Easily enough to squeeze a movement (or two) through.

[ozbob]

Down coal Goodna

Photograph R Dow 28th November 2011

[ozbob]

Caboolture service at Redbank



Photograph R Dow 28th November 2011

[Golliwog]

I was in the CBD today, and noticed 2 chartered Thompson's double decker buses heading down Edward St. What surprised me as they went past though was that both appeared to have Translink ticketing machines on board. Do these double deckers see regular use on the Thompson's network?

[Arnz]

I was in the CBD today, and noticed 2 chartered Thompson's double decker buses heading down Edward St. What surprised me as they went past though was that both appeared to have Translink ticketing machines on board. Do these double deckers see regular use on the Thompson's network?

Thompsons also operates some TransLink funded School services, so normally you may find those on some school services.

[Arnz]

SMU261 with it's partner got swapped to the delayed 1pm Brisbane to Nambour service today as a result of today's Eagle Junction signal failure delays around lunchtime.

No toilet, but the trade off is FREE Internet.  Sadly though the 5pm Brisbane-Ipswich commuters didn't get this train as a result of leaving Nambour around 20 minutes late.  I was told in the past by a guard that the 5pm Central to Ipswich service usually has a empty running set operating to Caboolture for the 4:14pm departure from Caboolture if the train from Nambour is running very late.  That's some long dead running, although I do understand Nundah to Albion would've gotten screwed on a service otherwise.

[Arnz]

SMU239 and partner seen heading to GC around 3:30 this arvo

[Arnz]

Onboard IM171 with 167 leading.  Crossed IM102 leading IM123 on a outbound service at Beerwah, a waiting 28** series locomotives with a outbound freighter at Beerburrum and ICE152 with the Gympielander at Burpengary.

On another note, guard mention of working toilets in 171.  167's was out of order.

[Arnz]

Onboard IM171 with 167 leading.  Crossed IM102 leading IM123 on a outbound service at Beerwah, a waiting 28** series locomotives with a outbound freighter at Beerburrum and ICE152 with the Gympielander at Burpengary.

On another note, guard mention of working toilets in 171.  167's was out of order.

Had EMU85/EMU7x for the return leg to Caboolture connecting to IMU102/IMU123 operating the 4:23pm departure on Sunday.  Return sightings: Delayed Tilt at Caboolture, and PN005 carrying empty wagons waiting at Landsborough.

It's not often I do the all stations + connection to shuttle, but it's considerably 30 mins longer (3:05pm departure and 4:53pm arrival including waiting time), as opposed to the equivalent Monday-Friday 3:34pm express usually arriving 1-2 minutes early at Landsborough (3:34pm departure and 4:53pm arrival (4:55pm timetabled arrival)).

[Fares_Fair]

Santa Claus cannot find the Sunshine Coast for the second year in a row ...
List the reasons here.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.