New Generation Rollingstock

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/894768568985821184

[ozbob]

Media release 15 July 2017 re-released 19 July 2017 re-released 8 August 2017

Queensland: Call for a commission of Inquiry into the New Generation Rollingstock Project

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has called for a Commission of Inquiry into the botched New Generation Rollingstock train project.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"It is disturbing that Queensland's transport authorities, lead by the incompetent former Newman  LNP Government, have managed to order new trains, the New Generation Rollingstock trains, that are not compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) (1).

"Equally perplexing is the fact that it took nearly two years for the Department of Transport and Main Roads to acknowledge that the trains are not compliant (2).  Disability Advocates have been pressing this for around two years now. Valuable time has been wasted as the trains languish out at Wulkuraka, and Transport and Main Roads personnel remained in denial.

"RAIL Back On Track has previously made a request to the Queensland Auditor General to have this projected audited. This was denied.

"There is little recourse now other than a full Commission of Inquiry.  It is clear to us that the secrecy around this project is clearly designed to protect failure within the Government bureaucracy.

"It is clear that we are in a major rail meltdown with no resolution in sight. There are 15 non DDA compliant NGR trains at Wulkuraka and the rest (60) are overseas because importation of the new trains was ceased last April. Queensland Rail's service delivery is plagued by constant mechanical issues with the aging train fleet, which causes ongoing service cancellations and delays, let alone the reductions in service already impacting severely in SEQ.  The situation is very, very grim.

"The inevitable public transport network collapse during the Commonwealth Games will be very embarrassing to say the least.

"We call on the Government to form a Commission Inquiry into this major failure.

"The public deserve to know the level of incompetence that is transport policy in Queensland."

References:

1. Media releases from Inclusion Moves - a number
https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3706.msg195056#msg195056

2. Interview Geoff Trappett OAM Inclusion Moves with Steve Austin ABC Radio Brisbane concerning DDA issues with NGR trains
https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3706.msg195217#msg195217

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org

Discussion --> https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3706.msg196332#msg196332

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Hansard

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2017/2017_08_08_DAILY.pdf

PRIVATE MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

8th August 2017

Queensland Rail

Mr POWELL (Glass House—LNP) (10.23 am): Labor's rail fail has evolved. In the words of the
member for Maryborough, it is now a rail debacle. Over the past 24 hours, one of the world's largest
rail operators, Deutsche Bahn, has panned Labor's rail fail in a whole-of-business review of Queensland
Rail. Deutsche Bahn—or DB—is a company with 5.5 million passenger transport customers each and
every day. It operates more than 40,000 services daily on its 33,000-kilometre long rail network, which
includes over 5,500 railway stations. Unlike that mob opposite us, one could say that DB knows a thing
or two about running trains.
The Strachan inquiry requested this report. Over six weeks, an export rail team from DB reviewed
all of QR, interviewing 82 managers from QR and TMR, including the CEO and the director-general,
embarking on four operational QR site visits and reviewing 250 documents. With 30 findings and
recommendations, reviews do not come more thorough than this one. What did DB find? I ask members
to remember that last week the Premier said that she had been fully briefed and was very optimistic.
DB says that 18 new generation rolling stock trains are required to service the Commonwealth Games
timetable—a timetable that commuters still have not seen. That is another secret from a secretive
government. Given that nobody else on that side seems competent enough to do it, perhaps the
member for Maryborough could do the people of South-East Queensland a favour and release that
Commonwealth Games timetable. DB says that 18 NGR trains are required for the Commonwealth
Games but, in its conservative view, those 18 NGR trains will not be ready. So much for optimism! As
we learned at estimates, there are only 15 NGR trains in the state and only five of them have done
on-track testing. So much for optimism! DB warns that there is a risk—
Ms Jones interjected.
Mr SPEAKER: Pause the clock. I hear the interjections of the Minister for Education. I urge you
to consider your interjections in the future.
Mr Cripps: You'll have the chook run.
Mr SPEAKER: Yes, you might too be down to the chock run.
Mr POWELL: Deutsche Bahn warned that there is a risk that there will be not enough train crew
either. The Deputy Premier's last-ditch, 11th hour opening of train crew recruitment will not save the
games. So much for optimism! DB also warned that there is a risk of increased rolling stock failures as
a result of having to rely on ageing trains—trains that have contributed to 84 per cent of the major rail
fails over the past 12 months. So much for optimism! At the same time, DB tells us that Queensland
Rail's NGR and Commonwealth Games teams are understaffed. So much for optimism!
Today, the Premier is breathing a sigh of relief, because today is the day that she loses the
mantle of Queensland's—
(Time expired)

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Hansard

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2017/2017_08_08_DAILY.pdf

PRIVATE MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

Queensland Rail

Hon. JA TRAD (South Brisbane—ALP) (Deputy Premier, Minister for Transport and Minister for
Infrastructure and Planning) (10.27 am): One of the recommendations of the Strachan commission of
inquiry was to undertake a whole-of-business review into Queensland Rail. This review was undertaken
by a world-leading industry expert from Germany, railway operator Deutsche Bahn. I now table for the
benefit of the House the report.
Tabled paper: DB Engineering & Consulting, Whole of Business Review of Queensland Rail, Report prepared for the Citytrain
Response Unit, July 2017.
Mr Strachan's recommendation was all about proactively identifying any other areas of
Queensland Rail's business that can be improved. This report shows that our plan to fix the trains is
working. This report notes that Queensland Rail is working hard to overcome issues and has
established appropriate recovery and response measures. The report also says that Queensland Rail is performing strongly in daily operations, including on-time running, and has a state-of-the-art railway
management centre.
This report also tells us what the Strachan commission of inquiry already has: there are
challenges in Queensland Rail and we need to continue taking steps to address them. That is exactly
what we are doing. We are not like those opposite, which took the low road of cuts. We are not like
those opposite, which ordered half-priced trains from India.
Honourable members interjected.
Mr SPEAKER: I remind members when I am on my feet to not continue their interjections or I
will take the appropriate action.
Ms TRAD: For the benefit of those opposite I table a copy of the press release, titled 'New trains
for half the price'.
Tabled paper: Media release, dated 29 January 2014, by the former Treasurer and Minister for Trade, Mr Tim Nicholls MP, and
the former Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Mr Scott Emerson MP, regarding contract for 75 new trains in South East
Queensland
We have been working hard to resolve the issues that have occurred since the LNP ordered
these cut-price trains from India and I am confident that they will be on the network by the end of the
year.
I am also confident that we will have the staff required. Currently, there are 85 drivers in training—
the largest school Queensland has ever had. In contrast, what we saw from the LNP was a freeze on
driver recruitment and sacking of driver trainers. Those opposite sacked 14,000 public servants,
including those training train drivers. They gutted Queensland Rail. They gutted the Department of
Transport. That is the legacy we inherited from those opposite.
It is clear that it is only the Palaszczuk Labor government that can and will fix the trains and
provide Queenslanders with the world-class public transport system that this region so desperately
needs. Anything else from those opposite is throwing stones from the sidelines. They are not interested
in fixing the trains, they are interested in throwing stones.

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Hansard

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2017/2017_08_08_DAILY.pdf

Questions without notice

Queensland Rail, New Generation Rolling Stock

Mr PEGG: My question is for the Deputy Premier. Can the Deputy Premier update the House on
the progress of fixing the trains?
Ms TRAD: I thank the honourable member for the question. I know that he, like everyone on this
side of the House, is interested in fixing the trains, unlike those opposite who are interested in creating
problems, then ducking and hiding and throwing stones.
The Premier gave me the task of fixing the trains and that is exactly what I am doing. Those
opposite like to criticise this government for commissioning reviews and seeking expert opinion until it
suits their purpose. When the Deutsche Bahn review came down, did those opposite condemn this
government for commissioning that review? No, they used the expert findings from that review to come
into this place and continue to throw rocks.
Let us talk about the facts. Phillip Strachan recommended 200 additional drivers be recruited on
to the system. We have 107 in training and 28 have already qualified since October last year. We have
more guards in training than we need because we know we need to move from an undersupply to a
surplus in terms of train crew. That is what we are doing. When I became transport minister there were
almost 500 outstanding critical issues that had to be addressed on the new generation rolling stock—
almost 500. In five months we have whittled them down to 41, with a team of 140 diligent officers
working through all of the critical outstanding issues including eight Queensland Rail engineers.
As the Premier said, we make no apology for putting the delivery of these trains on hold until we
have resolved all of the outstanding critical issues. We want these trains to pass through our certified
engineering standard, and we make no apology for that. The people who should be apologising to the
people of Queensland—the people who should be apologising to the workers of Queensland—are
those opposite. Those opposite came into this place and crowed about half-price trains from India.
Those opposite went out and said, `We've got a made-in-India policy.' This side of the House has aMade in Queensland policy. We know how desperate people in regional Queensland are in terms of
jobs in their community. That is why the Palaszczuk Labor government has introduced a new
procurement policy. Had that policy been in place, these trains would have been made in Queensland.

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

Queensland Rail, New Generation Rolling Stock

Mr POWELL: My question without notice is to the Premier. Given the statement by the transport
director-general last year about the NGR trains that 'the design problems aren't really problems' and
'Oh yeah, I fixed them', why are commuters facing more delays every day because of Queensland's
ageing train fleets, with some trains now nearly 40 years old, due to Labor's inability to commission the
new trains?
Ms PALASZCZUK: I thank the member for the question. I thought he was a member of cabinet
when they were in office. Usually when a member is in cabinet they sit around and listen to the
submissions. There would have been a submission that came in that talked about purchasing new
trains.
Ms Trad: A $4.4 billion contract.
Ms PALASZCZUK: It was pretty significant. One would have thought that someone sitting
around the cabinet table would have paid a little bit of attention to that.
Mr Bleijie interjected.
Mr SPEAKER: Pause the clock! Member for Kawana, if you persist I will take the appropriate
action. I find your comments are designed to disrupt the Premier in answering the question. I would
urge members to allow Hansard to record what is spoken in our chamber.
Ms PALASZCZUK: As we know, this contract was signed by the Newman-Nicholls government.
What my government is doing is this. We are remedying the faults in the trains that have come over to
ensure that they are safe and compliant to transport passengers on the rail network. It is pretty clear.
Ms Trad: We don't make any excuses for that.
Ms PALASZCZUK: I take that interjection. We make no excuses for getting it right. We will not
put those trains on the network and we will not put passengers on that network until it is safe to do so.
The number of issues that need to be remedy have gone down to 41. I have had a briefing from
both the CEO of Queensland Rail and the chair of the board, Phillip Strachan. They have given me
every confidence that these details are being rectified as quickly as possible so that we will have the
new rolling stock on the network by the end of the year.
Any fault with those trains lie clearly with the people who signed that contract. It is a basic
principle of contract law. There is a buyer and a seller. They rushed in and signed it without due care
and consideration. Now I have my Minister for Transport, the Deputy Premier, fixing the mess left to us
by the former government. That is what is happening. We are fixing their mess—their debacle. That is
what we are fixing. I have every confidence that we are going to remedy those issues and get trains on
the network as soon as possible.

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

Queensland Rail, New Generation Rolling Stock

Ms BATES: My question without notice is to the Premier. Can the Premier guarantee that 18
NGR trains will be operational for the Commonwealth Games given the member for South Brisbane
has stopped the delivery of any more trains?
Ms PALASZCZUK: We are entirely optimistic that we will have those new trains.
Mr Seeney: Entirely optimistic?
Ms PALASZCZUK: Yes, absolutely. We are always optimistic, unlike the three years of what you
delivered for Queensland. I am always optimistic. I promised a better way and there is a better way. Let
me make a couple of points because the member for Mudgeeraba raised the Commonwealth Games.
Mr Boothman interjected.
Mr SPEAKER: Pause the clock. I think that was the member for Albert. You are warned under
standing order 253A. If I can find your sparring partner, I will warn that member as well.
Ms PALASZCZUK: Of course we have a comprehensive transport plan when it comes to the
Commonwealth Games. On this side of the House we are absolutely determined to deliver the best
Commonwealth Games ever. I had the opportunity last week as part of governing from the Gold Coast,
where I spent the entire week down there—not flying in, flying out, as the member for Kawana would
have us believe—to meet with people and we were updated about the Commonwealth Games venues.
All of the Commonwealth Games venues have now been completed, except for the games village,
which we expect the commissioning and handover of that to be in October this year. The
Commonwealth Games are on track, on time and on budget.
In relation to the M1, in terms of transport, it was our government that had to fight with the federal
government to get the funding for the M1. We did not hear any noises from those opposite when it came
to fighting Canberra to get the funding for the M1. Secondly, I do not know at the time the
Commonwealth Games were announced that they even supported the Commonwealth Games. It was
not until after we won the games that they hopped on the games express.
Let me address another issue. Last week I had the opportunity to see the golden weld, which is
the final welding linking the Gold Coast Light Rail so people will be able to travel from Brisbane all the
way down to the Gold Coast. We expect to have that light rail up and running. It is due to commence
early next year. Fingers crossed that it might be able to operate by the end of this year. It is great to
see that there was someone out there backing in that project.
Ms Trad: Who was that?
Ms PALASZCZUK: 'The last weld on Stage 2 of the Light Rail to Helensvale. So pleased this is
now only a few months away from happening.' That was the member for Southport! At least there is
one member on that side who supports the light rail. We have not heard the Leader of the Opposition
support the light rail. In fact, when we were arguing for the funding of the second stage of the light rail
they did not even support that. We will deliver the infrastructure that is needed for the Commonwealth
Games.
(Time expired)

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

Queensland Rail, New Generation Rolling Stock

Mr HART: My question without notice is to the Premier. Premier, we are told that there are only
15 NGR trains in Queensland right now and that the delivery of the rest have been stopped by the
member for South Brisbane.
Ms Jones interjected.
Mr HART: Of those, 10 of the NGR trains have not travelled a single inch on the network.
Honourable members interjected.
Mr SPEAKER: Pause the clock. I cannot hear the question. Can you please start again, member
for Burleigh?
Mr HART: The member for Maryborough does not want to hear this question.
An opposition member: No, it's Yeerongpilly.
Mr HART: The member for Yeerongpilly, is it?
Mr SPEAKER: Before I invite the member for Burleigh to start again, I could take issue with that
interjection but I could also take issue with an interjection by the Minister for Education in relation to the
question that was asked. Will you please repeat the question, member for Burleigh?
Mr HART: Premier, we are told that there are only 15 NGR trains in Queensland right now and
that the delivery of the rest has been stopped by the member for South Brisbane. Of those, 10 of the
NGR trains have not travelled a single inch on the network. I ask the Premier: which train services on
other lines will be forced to be cut to ensure there are enough trains for the Commonwealth Games?
Ms PALASZCZUK: I note that there have been a lot of questions today from the Gold Coast
MPs. They must have loved our visit to the Gold Coast last week. They loved it! They loved having us
down there. I love the Gold Coast. We love the Gold Coast.
Mr Bleijie: The more you are on TV their poll numbers go up.
Mr SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Kawana. It won't be long and you might be on TV too.
Ms PALASZCZUK: Do you want us to release the polling on you?
Mr SPEAKER: Thank you, members. Are we ready?
Ms PALASZCZUK: I am happy to put the member for Kawana in a focus group any day,
Mr Speaker!
Mr SPEAKER: All right.
Ms PALASZCZUK: I will even personally pay for it.
Ms Trad: We'll chip in.
Ms PALASZCZUK: Pass the hat around—crowd funding.
Mr SPEAKER: Thank you, Premier. I will stand on my feet and wait. I call the Premier.
Ms PALASZCZUK: I thank the member for Burleigh for that question. I love going to Burleigh. I
will be spending a lot more time down there over the coming months. I will be spending a lot more time
down there. We are coming to get you. Yes, we are.
Mr SPEAKER: Premier, can you make your answer relevant to the question?
Ms PALASZCZUK: In all seriousness, the cabinet enjoyed the week down there. It was a great
opportunity to meet with people from the business community to different interest groups. I know that
all of my ministers got out and about.
Mrs Frecklington interjected.
Ms PALASZCZUK: Don't worry. I am coming to Kingaroy, too, soon. Yes, I am. There is so much
good news in Kingaroy and the electorate of Nanango.
Mr SPEAKER: Thank you, members. I would urge members not to bait the Premier, who is
answering the question.
Mrs Frecklington interjected.
Mr SPEAKER: Thank you, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Premier, can you come back to the
question please?
Ms PALASZCZUK: We are doing everything we can to make sure that the 41 issues that have
been identified on the new generation rolling stock are rectified as quickly as possible. To that end,
Queensland Rail has a large team working on the NGR, including approximately 130 staff on this
project, fixing issues created not by this government but by the former government—by the two people
sitting across from me, the member for Indooroopilly and the member for Clayfield. There are more
than 40 Queensland Rail staff who are working on closing out the rolling stock compliance matters as
quickly as possible.
To go the heart of your question, which is why those trains have not yet gone on to the system,
it is because we will not compromise safety. I will not compromise safety for any reason. We will
continue to rectify those issues as quickly as possible. Let me once again reiterate in this House: the
contract for half-price trains from India was signed under the Newman-Nicholls government. It was
signed by them and it is being fixed by us.
Mr SPEAKER: After question time I will look back at some statements I have made about the
appropriate way to refer to the previous government.

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

Queensland Rail, New Generation Rolling Stock

Mr LANGBROEK: My question without notice is to the Premier. Will the Premier order the
member for South Brisbane to backflip on her decision to stop delivery of the new NGR trains so that
there are enough trains for the Commonwealth Games?
Ms PALASZCZUK: We are going to be delivering trains for the Commonwealth Games. I thank
the member—another Gold Coast member—for asking the question.
Ms Trad: He sat at the cabinet table.
Ms PALASZCZUK: That is right: he sat at the cabinet table and was obviously privy to these
deals when they were made. As the Deputy Premier said, and as I and my whole caucus have been
saying, we want to put Queenslanders first. We want to put Queensland workers first and Queensland
jobs first. If those opposite go out there and start listening to people they will understand that is exactly
what they want as well.
The Deputy Premier mentioned that there are a number of people working on remedying these
NGR issues, and I want to thank those hardworking men and women who are doing everything they
can to bring the number of issues down from more than 500 to 41. We will continue to work with
Queensland Rail. We will continue to implement the Strachan recommendations that my government
commissioned, and we will continue to work diligently to ensure that the issues are rectified as quickly
as possible.

[Otto]

Just heard an interesting interview by Ben Davis 4BC with Dep Premier Trad re NGR, Comm Games, Cyber security.

http://www.4bc.com.au/podcast/trouble-down-the-line/

[red dragin]

I see Labor is starting to wind up the pressure on who signed the contract, must be an election coming.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Reports says trains may not be ready for Commonwealth Games

Queensland's new trains may not be ready in time for the Commonwealth Games, an independent report has revealed.

The New Generation Rollingstock trains have been mired in problems, with delivery put on hold while numerous issues were fixed, including disability access.

Despite the dramas, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has been "optimistic" the issues will be fixed in time for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

But a review by German railway operator Deutsche Bahn found the 18 NGR trains required for the Commonwealth Games timetable would not be ready in time, and there was a risk that not enough train crew would be available to meet the proposed timetable.

In estimates, it was revealed that 10 of the 15 NGR trains in Queensland had not travelled any kilometres.

The trains must be tested fault-free for 500 kilometres before being put in service.
Advertisement

The DB review, completed last month but released publicly on Tuesday, found there were 140 issues with the NGR trains, including door and brake control.

But Ms Palaszczuk said significant progress was made since that time, bringing the number of issues down to 41.

The DB review said due to the retiring train models - EMU and ICE - operating at 94 per cent of availability for the Games, there was a high risk of delays due to failures.

"For example, the Citytrain rollingstock reliability report from May 2017 states that since April 2016, of the 19 highest delay contributing incidents, 16 were caused by the EMU fleet," it reads.

Consultants also observed a general lack of trust and partnership between QR and Translink/TMR.

"This appears to have developed over time with the changing relationship between the parties and the shifting of responsibilities away from QR," the DB review reads.

DB also identified examples of QR's "siloed working culture" where divisions are primarily focused on the achievement of their own targets, which was preventing it from fully addressing its challenges.

The review also found various ICT business units acted as "islands" with their own systems, data centres and testing environment, leading to an increased risk of cyber security attacks and a lack of a co-ordinated strategy.

The Commonwealth Games has been identified as a "stress period" on the QR network, according to a review of the train timetable.

Ms Palaszczuk said QR had 130 staff working on fixing the issues with the NGR trains.

She said the NGR trains had not been added to the network because the government would not compromise on safety, and she pointed out the contract was signed under the LNP government.

Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Jackie Trad said the DB report showed QR's plan to fix the trains was working.

"This report notes that Queensland Rail is working hard to overcome issues and has established appropriate recovery and response measures," she told Parliament.

"The report also says that Queensland Rail is performing strongly in daily operations including on-time running and has a state of the art rail management centre."

Ms Trad said there were challenges in QR and steps needed to be taken to address them.

"And that's exactly what we're doing," she said.

Ms Trad said she was confident the NGR trains would be on the network by the end of 2017 and QR would have the staff required.

Ms Palaszczuk and Ms Trad are due to meet with the global head of Bombardier, which is providing the NGR, on Thursday.

[ozbob]

Slowly, slowly, the truth is filtering out, despite the attempts to bury it hey?   

Ha!  The Corps I served with, the RAAMC (Royal Australian Army Medical Corps) motto is Paulatim - little by little  ... Ha!

[ozbob]

" Mr POWELL: My question without notice is to the Premier. Given the statement by the transport
director-general last year about the NGR trains that 'the design problems aren't really problems' and
'Oh yeah, I fixed them', why are commuters facing more delays every day because of Queensland's
ageing train fleets, with some trains now nearly 40 years old, due to Labor's inability to commission the
new trains?  ... "

Oh dear ....   

[ozbob]

Just heard an interesting interview by Ben Davis 4BC with Dep Premier Trad re NGR, Comm Games, Cyber security.

http://www.4bc.com.au/podcast/trouble-down-the-line/

Thanks Otto.  Listening to it now.  Been a mad-house day today ...  NGR is hot!

[#Metro]

Disgusted Trad keeps repeating "half price train from India".

If you order a lemon with lemon specifications, why the surprise when an actual lemon arrives?

No surprise QR's different divisions are not working as a team.

Whether they work well or don't, contract will get renewed no matter what.

Bring on the pressure of external competition to bear so that they are always up to standard.

[James]

It was TMR who designed the NGRs, not QR. QR had been neutered and turned into a Statutory Authority long before the NGR contracts were signed...

It will be very interesting to find out who is actually responsible for the botch job. If the plans were wrong, it is TMRs fault, if the trains were not built to specification, it is Bombardier's fault. Regardless, it is pretty sad to see Jackie Trad ripping into the Indians over something which could very well prove to be the fault of her own department.

[InclusionMoves]

Disgusted Trad keeps repeating "half price train from India".

If you order a lemon with lemon specifications, why the surprise when an actual lemon arrives?

No surprise QR's different divisions are not working as a team.

Whether they work well or don't, contract will get renewed no matter what.

Bring on the pressure of external competition to bear so that they are always up to standard.

Agree re India. I won't have my name anywhere near that comment. Procured in Australia by Australians is a slogan I am trying to get up :-)

Geoff

[ozbob]

For interest ...

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2014/1/29/new-trains-for-half-the-price

Media Statements

JOINT STATEMENT

Treasurer and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Tim Nicholls

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

New trains for half the price

A multi-billion dollar contract to deliver 75 new trains in South East Queensland will save taxpayers more than $11 million per train.

Treasurer Tim Nicholls and Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said Bombardier NGR Consortium has been contracted to design, build, finance and maintain the new trains under a 32-year contract valued at about $4.4 billion.

"Under this deal we are delivering 75 six-car trains at almost half the price of what the previous Labor government paid for its rollingstock," Mr Nicholls said.

"The contract will deliver the new trains over the next five years and maintenance for a 32-year operational period, at a fixed price, so there are no hidden surprises for taxpayers.

"This project is a perfect example of the Newman Government delivering on its election promises by providing better infrastructure and better planning, working with the private sector to deliver cost-effective projects."

Mr Emerson said this was the largest single public transport investment by any Queensland Government and would expand the existing fleet and replace old rollingstock.

"This project will provide almost 500 full-time local jobs, including 150 full-time new ongoing maintenance positions at the modern, purpose-built maintenance facility at Wulkuraka in Ipswich West," Mr Emerson said.

"This investment will increase the capacity of our rail fleet by about 30 per cent and will mean more trains more often.

"Unlike the previous Labor government we have been able to deliver new trains for less by paying around $13.7 million per six-car set compared with Labor who paid almost twice that amount.

"All new trains will be fitted with modern features to increase passenger comfort and safety and will be compatible with the existing rail network and the new Underground Bus and Train network."

Bombardier Transportation Senior Adviser Dan Osborne said Bombardier was pleased to continue its long-term relationship with Queensland.

"We're continuing to support the state's rail system, as we have done since the 1970s," Mr Osborne said. 

Arrival and testing of the first of the new trains will begin in late 2015.

[ENDS] 29 January 2014

[ozbob]

 

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/tennewsqld/status/894823844317241344

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/894835286718283776

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/894834488605237249

[SABB]

Let us be MORE correct here. It was the previous Newman LNP Government that signed off on a tender based on the botched design specification prepared by TMR when Anna Bligh was Premier. Under the normal rules for tendering, the tender would have to be recalled if anyone had noticed the deficiencies of the original tender specification. The only people who could have done this were TMR. No tenderer would have pointed this out.

[BrizCommuter]

" Mr POWELL: My question without notice is to the Premier. Given the statement by the transport
director-general last year about the NGR trains that 'the design problems aren't really problems' and
'Oh yeah, I fixed them', why are commuters facing more delays every day because of Queensland's
ageing train fleets, with some trains now nearly 40 years old, due to Labor's inability to commission the
new trains?  ... "

Oh dear ....   

Don't believe anything out of the mouth of the DG TMR! He also thinks that "rail fail is a media beat up".

[tazzer9]

Agree re India. I won't have my name anywhere near that comment. Procured in Australia by Australians is a slogan I am trying to get up :-)

[/quote]

It seems to be stolen off V/lines "Made in Victoria, for Victorians"  motto.

[InclusionMoves]

Agree re India. I won't have my name anywhere near that comment. Procured in Australia by Australians is a slogan I am trying to get up :-)

It seems to be stolen off V/lines "Made in Victoria, for Victorians"  motto.
[/quote]

Damn oh well lost my claim to fame :-)

[ozbob]

For information ... has some relevance to #NGRfail ...

Sent to all outlets:

9th August 2017

Whole of Business Review of Queensland Rail - July 2017 - comment

Good Morning,

RAIL Back On Track welcomes the public release of the ' Whole of Business Review of Queensland Rail - July 2017 '.
( Available > https://www.cru.qld.gov.au/reports.html ).

The report confirms many of the issues and causes we have been raising constantly for months.  It is a shame though that the key stakeholders - Queensland Rail's Passengers were not consulted as part of this review.

On time running - was that assessed for peak and out of peak, or just peak? A low frequency service which is generally the case out of peak on our rail network in SEQ is chaotic when a single service is late or cancelled (which is increasingly the case of late due to train fleet unreliability).  This leads to very long journey times as often connections - be they rail/rail or rail/bus are broken.

New Generation Rollingstock - we requested the Queensland Auditor General conduct an audit into this project.  This was refused ( see > https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12854.msg195397#msg195397 ).  We have now requested a Commission of Inquiry into this botched project ( see > https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12853.0 ).  It is of great concern as to why this project is so compromised.  It is all very well to say 130 people are working around the clock to resolve the issues, but why did the fact that the trains are not DDA compliant, and why did the many other issues actually occur?  The available evidence to us suggests that Queensland botched the design.  Queensland Citizens have a right to know why?  This project is in the order of $4.4 Billion of our money.

We have also been highlighting the increasing unreliability of the aging Queensland Rail train fleet for many months now.  When you couple this unreliability to the reduced service timetables it is little wonder that our public transport network is in crisis.  There was no greater demonstration of the poor internal culture within Queensland Rail for when they introduced a reduced service timetable and moved from clock-face times and in so doing breaking bus/rail connections particularly.  This showed scant negligent regard for the impact on their passengers sadly. The fact that TransLink allowed this to occur is scandalous.

It is clear to us there will be even more service reductions as we move towards the Commonwealth Games in April 2018.

This whole rail fail crisis has put public transport back decades in SEQ.  We are tiring of reports stating the obvious - what needs to happen is real action and accelerate train crew training to get the timetable back to normal service levels by January 2018.  A failure to achieve this will see SEQ public transport network collapse come the Commonwealth Games.  The road network will be a mess of congested gridlock.

Best wishes,
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org

[SteelPan]

Let us be MORE correct here. It was the previous Newman LNP Government that signed off on a tender based on the botched design specification prepared by TMR when Anna Bligh was Premier. Under the normal rules for tendering, the tender would have to be recalled if anyone had noticed the deficiencies of the original tender specification. The only people who could have done this were TMR. No tenderer would have pointed this out.

Let's be even MORE correct SABB - any govt has the right to sign-off on a train build contract, if they believe, as they should be able to, that a 150yo old experienced rail operator, like QR, is even remotely on top of its job.

QR built successful units [EMU's] back in the 70's - so here's an advanced management technique > grab those plans and use them, as a basic guide, to make sure anything you now do, is within the bounds of what's going to work on the Brisbane network....I know...incredible...who'd have thought!

QR Facts
> #1 costs are huge
> #2 running around saying some version of the old "buy Oz" is great - but see point #1.

Trad and her team have watched over the effective complete professional collapse of QR and dragged the chain to act....and simply saying "the LNP did it".....nah....they [the LNP] may, in truth, be as dis-interested in rail as the ALP, but Premier Trad's wearing this one!

The truth is, in Qld, few if any politicians, over the last 30yrs, have given rail any serious thought, the FEW projects they have, fffiinnaaalllyyyy embraced, they've more often than not been dragged kicking and screaming to....Qld's so far behind in our rail infrastructure  - it really is now scary!

Just so people know that I don't hold political favours for anyone, whilst Trad's not my brand, I'm not expecting wonders if/when the other mob take govt! I'll give them the chance, to knock my socks off and stun me with their HUGE PRO RAIL plans....but I strongly believe more disappointment is sadly all we'll get.

It's all bad...REALLY bad!

[HappyTrainGuy]

Define successful. Wheel spinning at 80kph in the rain? Leaking in the rain? Electronics and computers that are less advanced than mobile phones? The EMUs have a lot of design faults and flaws. Some still aren't even DAA compliant. A lot of guys that work on them love them for their simplicity and redundancy but at the same time hate them because of that simplicity and that redundancy. On newer trains the driver or the train itself can fix a fault. On the EMUs the driver has to radio the guard and tell them the fault to see if its on his part of the train and to fix it.

The EMUs are like an old beat up car. We all love them. We love riding them. We love working on them. But if something goes wrong its "I'M GOING TO HIT YOU WITH THIS 20KG SLEDGE HAMMER IF YOU DON'T WORK DAMNIT!!! ARGHHHHH"

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/hurstb/status/895145232068628480

[ozbob]

There is a high level meeting today - Deputy Premier and the Consortium building the NGR trains.

Wonder if there will be a statement?

[SteelPan]

Define successful. Wheel spinning at 80kph in the rain? Leaking in the rain? Electronics and computers that are less advanced than mobile phones? The EMUs have a lot of design faults and flaws. Some still aren't even DAA compliant. A lot of guys that work on them love them for their simplicity and redundancy but at the same time hate them because of that simplicity and that redundancy. On newer trains the driver or the train itself can fix a fault. On the EMUs the driver has to radio the guard and tell them the fault to see if its on his part of the train and to fix it.

The EMUs are like an old beat up car. We all love them. We love riding them. We love working on them. But if something goes wrong its "I'M GOING TO HIT YOU WITH THIS 20KG SLEDGE HAMMER IF YOU DON'T WORK DAMNIT!!! ARGHHHHH"

I think your been a bit harsh there, the facts are, the EMU's were an incredibly successful generation of rolling-stock for Qld. Naturally, given their age issues come to the fore - I also wasn't getting that "deep" into the specifics, I was simply saying that some decades ago, QR WAS able to successfully introduce newgen rolling stock - self evidently, for all the bells-n-whistles they now have to work with...that appears to no-longer be the case!

[HappyTrainGuy]

Depends how you define successful. You could say the same thing when the SX cars were introduced.

And most people are being nostalgic when they say the EMUs are the best. Yeah they are great fun to remember them wheel spinning in the rain. The traction motors screaming and howling into stations. The way the train vibrates at speed making it feel like its going a lot faster than it is. The wind rushing around the doors. The brake smell in the carriages. The different types of brakes. The pre DDA days where the doors slammed shut. Dual AC units that had 2 settings - off and full blast. The different suspension. The mechanical popping sound in neutral sections of track. The old strong cleaning chemicals that required a full face mask to be used. It had and you can still find it on one set that has an old mechanical feel. You had to force open the doors with a handle and not press a button.

Others can say similar things about the IMU100s when it hits 130-140kph. Same with the Tilts how its just glides along begging you to take it to the next level.

And Im just telling the truth. Anyway you can say that to most of the fleet as many of the trains were great out of the box to your average joe but doesn't mean they weren't full of problems behind closed doors. The EMUs had quite a few bugs early on and have been having serious problems for about 15 years now and there's still a few problems they've been having for decades - with rain being the worst. They've also had several fixes during refurbs. Not to mention their limitations. You would have remembered about nearly 10 years ago now there was a massive problem with the doors which had been a building issue for a while. You would have also noted that the vents near the doors are now gone although mostly cosmetic due to a few things being removed. The SMU200s were based off the EMUs right down to the double AC units and they too are on the way out and they only came in around 95 (they also shared the door issues). They too are just full of problems now. The 220's??? well. They've had a checkered past. Many of the upgraded HS models (just a software mod) totally destroyed the train with massive amounts of excessive wheel wear and vibration. God forbid should there be a flatspot. Other than that they have been somewhat reliable. The SMU260/IMU160 order couldn't come soon enough as more and more 220's were breaking down or had quicker mtce cycles due to the HS upgrades. And the 260/160s. They were a off the cuff purchase as they were cheap due to already being in production for Perth (who had a set budget) with a few mods to suit Queensland running. The biggest problem that the public heard about them was the ac units scraping the tunnel on the subs to Ferny Grove. They had quite a lot of issues early on which have been sorted.

Everything is done on the cheap now. Its as simple as that. That started back with the EMUs. 2 driving cabs or a single cab??? with less traction motors??? Lets call them the EMU 60-79s.... and lets get an extra 8 as we need more driveable 3 car units. They did similar modifications with the 220/120 compared to the similar units built a few years earlier. The Tilts were the last rollingstock in the fleet that had a substantial amount of funding behind it. Even now you can look at some parts of the suburban trains and you can see where they've cheaped out to cut costs. Even during refurbs to make a more standardised series of components for across the fleet you can see where costs have played a part. Or a new government got in and asked that all the green seats be changed to blue or changed to red. New trains should have a coastal them - no change them back to red.

Bottom dollar. Its all about cost.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

11th August 2017

Ekka shows that rail timetable improvements are achievable NOW !

Good Morning,

According to news reports there was a  high level meeting yesterday between the Deputy Premier and the New Generation Rollingstock Consortium.

Any chance of a public statement as to what the meeting was about and the outcomes please?  After all, it is all of us paying for this monumental botch.

Has the path to full Disability Discrimination Act compliance  for the NGR trains been worked out?  Have the remaining issues been sorted?  So many questions, so very few answers. For your information, today is 538 days since the first NGR train, 701 was towed out to Wulkuraka.

Today the Brisbane Ekka commences.  We also have the ' Friday timetable ' today - more service reductions on an already poor reduced service Monday to Thursday timetable.  The fact that Queensland Rail can provide the additional Ekka train shuttles (albeit assisted by a steam locomotive and the SX carriage set) is perhaps a sign that they can as a priority get rid of the ' Friday timetable ' and introduce a consistent Monday to Friday timetable, with the additional PM peak services so urgently needed on the Cleveland line?  We live in frustrated hope ..

Today is 315 days since the first wave of cancellations associated with #railfail which happened on 30th September 2016
Public has been suffering cancellations, delays and reduced service since then.  Good luck with #qldvotes !

Enjoy your day!

Best wishes,
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/895692404212105216

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/895697219323445249

[ozbob]

Delhi Metro - The most disabled friendly public transport in India

[tazzer9]

Depends how you define successful. You could say the same thing when the SX cars were introduced.

When you compare it to other trains from around australia from a similar time, they have aged very well.   They are without a doubt better than the S-sets.  V-sets were superior but they have massive issues these days, far bigger than the EMU's or even the ICE's.  The EMU's are still better than anything electric that has graced the victorian network.   They spawned a successful ICE train, and while that has problems now, at the time, along with the Mainline upgrade and mainline electrification revolutionised and revitalised rail travel in qld.   Also note that the ICE is the most comfortable train in the world, so it isn't too bad when you get stuck in the middle of nowhere.  Most of the problems the EMU's had, was because they were good and fairly advanced.

[BrizCommuter]

It's the inaugural 2017 BrizCommuter caption competition - with an NGR theme!
https://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2017/08/brizcommuter-2017-caption-competition.html

[ozbob]

  & sent to all outlets:

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/896771109789483008

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/896773294187200512

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/896775419159920640

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/897954258707820544

https://twitter.com/InclusionMoves/status/897955328653803521

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/898220314361970689

[ozbob]

Queensland: Call for a commission of Inquiry into the New Generation Rollingstock Project
> https://t.co/bT3Yzndv9r#qldpol pic.twitter.com/FpK6NMYedW

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) August 17, 2017

[SteelPan]

FOR URGENT RELEASE
The Personal Assistant to the Personal Assistant
Queensland Dep...just say PREMIER - Jackie Trad

Attn the People of Queensland - well....those of you who know we actually have a "rail system".....well, let's call it a system......your great...great granddad and his mates built it and not much has changed but it's there....somewhere...I've never actually seen it....no-one's actually seen a train on it in while, I'm told we do run.....but.....anyway.......my statement:

Re the Advanced Stealth B4 Hyper Train...AKA NGR

I simply don't know what anyone's complaining about...they called them the NEXT GENERATION Trains...and that's EXACTLY what they'll be.....your kids will likely see them enter service!

So STOP Complaining and go watch the Mighty Morons...I mean MAROONS in the Maroon Festival....see...smart state....we took the word "maroon" and combined it with a "festival".......beat that Vic...with ya "stem cells" and "biotech hubs".....where's your "maroon" haaa?

Signed
PA to the PA of the Premiers Office
Smart State-World Class EVERYTHING HQ
Supreme Commander Moron Festival Planning Team
Chief Cheerer for the ...what's it called...ohhh yeah "Commonwealth Games 201...8"
Note to self...God I hope someone buys some tickets to it.....

-end-

ps...but I bet it doesn't.....