New Generation Rollingstock

[mufreight]

I don't know the specs of the 160's to comment for sure but given their age from when originally set out I would find it hard to believe that they would be compliant. So please no one give the state an ideas about buying them we could repeat NGR :-)

Geoff

Why go backwards in tech? No reason a further order can't be based on a (fixed design) of the NGR.

The NGR sets came off the boat with some 400 faults that have taken over 18 months to rectify and get three train sets to the point where they have past their acceptance trials although they still can not be brought into service because they are not disability compliant.
A repeat order based on the 160 series IMU sets would leave open the option of equipment upgrades of a tried platform.

Ordering to the exact same spec as the forst few NGRs that cane off the boat would be quite silly. However, ordering more NGRs with the fixes all in place (as will happen with later NGRs as they are delivered) is much smarter than ordering more out of date 160 class IMUs and waiting another 3 or 4 years or so for them to be delivered.
Also, would the 160s be DDA compliant if they were built today? A wheelchair cannot access the toilet when the toilet is at the other end of the train on a 160.

An updated version of the 160 set would be built as a 6 car set and the internal fitout would be DDA compliant with the toilet module in either the trailing end of the third car or the leading end of the fourth car as was proposed with the NGR trains but compliant.  There have been no problems with the platform that the 160 sets have been built on other than the fitting of sanding equipment as a consequence of the over run at Cleveland.
The traction and control equipment can and would be upgraded where more modern equipment is available and suited for the purpose to improve reliability.
At the present time the 160/260 series trains are proving the most reliable of all the trains currently in service

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/929025033556541440

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/929030304638976000

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

11th November 2017

LNP's plan to fix the rail system?

Good Morning,

Interesting little yarn in today's Couriermail: Queensland Election 2017: LNP's plan to fix rail system

Hate to be negative but there is not much detail there of a real plan.  Hopefully there might be some more substance later today.

For the benefit of Mr Nicholls.  The fundamental issue with the Not Going Right (NGR) trains  at present is their non compliance with the DDA and DSAPT.  A fact that the former Newman LNP Government had a lot to do with.  They were also ordered configured for Driver Only Operation (DOO) by the LNP.  The SEQ rail network is not set up for DOO, it would require around $8 to10 billion just make all the stations fully compliant, and with full Automatic Train Protection on the network, to allow one person train crews.  Not thought out well by the previous LNP Government, or too well by Mr Nicholls et al I am afraid.

Until the Australian Human Rights Commission determines the outcome of the application for temporary exemption, the NGR trains will not be in revenue service.   This could be months yet.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[curator49]

The LNP's "fix" for the NGR is just another thought bubble like the BAT tunnel. No planning and no substance.

[Stillwater]

Like many things to do with transport and infrastructure in Queensland, this issue has been politicised.  The focus has been on which political party is to 'blame', or whose responsibility it is to fix it.  Let's not forget that at the hear of the NGR blunder is a small group of bureaucrats, possibly only two or three, who had charge of the design.  Are they still in government employment?

The cost to fix this problem is more than $100m, not an insignificant sum.

What cultural and corporate environments were allowed to develop whereby public servants were not aware of the DDA requirements, or thought it was okay to disregard them.

While we can all focus on which pollie to blame, or which party, we should be demanding of TMR and QR information about what steps they have put in place to educate their design staff, in particular, of their legislative obligations under the DDA to design transport infrastructure that meets the needs of people with disabilities.  Otherwise, what's to stop this happening again?

[ozbob]

^ You have again highlighted why the Queensland Auditor General should be all over this botch. 

Failing that we have called constantly for a Commission of Inquiry. 

Only by bringing out all the facts, documents and blunders out into clear daylight can this sort of major failure be avoided in the future. 

The  ' cover-up mentality ' that besets both the LNP, ALP and of course DTMR is very very unhealthy and frankly an outrage.

[SABB]

What cultural and corporate environments were allowed to develop whereby public servants were not aware of the DDA requirements, or thought it was okay to disregard them.

While we can all focus on which pollie to blame, or which party, we should be demanding of TMR and QR information about what steps they have put in place to educate their design staff, in particular, of their legislative obligations under the DDA to design transport infrastructure that meets the needs of people with disabilities.  Otherwise, what's to stop this happening again?

A previous GM of QR Network Access Group decided that they didn't want to maintain an internal capability that they could buy outside  i.e. rely on consultants.  The groups that knew the most about DDA were in the Architects, the Rollingstock designers and the Civil Standards section. The Architects went to the Dept of Public Works and the other sections were left to wither on the vine and shrink by way of the redundancy program. I think that this policy of relying on consultants still exists in QR.
I doubt that any of the former QR DDA knowledgeable staff went to TMR.  I also doubt that DTMR looked for any other DDA skilled staff when they took over the NGR project.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/InclusionMoves/status/929178695016656897

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/929198214573522945

[ozbob]

Please note I have added a Menu link to the AHRC on the top of the forum page links.  This will make it easier to check the AHRC website.

Still no change.  Days are sliding by hey?

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/929195500619800577

[ozbob]

Update:

Couriermail --> Queensland Election 2017: LNP plans to stand up to rail unions in promise to fix state's rail fail

QUEENSLAND'S Labor Government has hit out at the Opposition's election plans to fix Queensland Rail, accusing it of copying its own action plan.

The Courier-Mail today revealed the Liberal National Party would make fixing the ongoing rail problems a priority if elected, pushing back against union-backed internal hiring rules for train drivers and guards, overhauling communications and speeding-up training.

However Transport Minister Jackie Trad issued a statement today attacking the policy announcement, saying the Government had already made strong progress implementing the recommendations of this year's independent Strachan Inquiry into Queensland Rail's timetable collapse.

"On-time running is up above 95 per cent, satisfaction is up and cancellations are down," Ms Trad said.

"The Palaszczuk Labor Government has already opened full external recruitment, improved communications and fast-tracked training.

"The LNP are really grasping at straws today. Their plan is a poor attempt at mimicking the work we have undertaken to date."

She also hit out at the LNP's record on managing QR, saying it had suspended driver recruitment and sacked driver trainers.

"They also bought half-price trains from India which did not even meet disability standards - we are also fixing that and the work will be done in Queensland."

Labor earlier this week accused the LNP of copying its plan to build more dams in the state's north. ...

[Stillwater]

Miss!  Miss! Timmy copied my homework. He cheated, Miss.

[Stillwater]

And can this issue get more disturbing?

It looks like we will all have to book passage on a slow boat from Mumbai in order to get a ride on a NGR train.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/new-generation-rollingstock-trains-spent-months-floating-around-south-pacific/news-story/cd75140af28d4d1fabebc91b9a4886aa

[ozbob]

Definitely Not Going Right hey Mr Stillwater ...   

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

Couriermail --> New Generation Rollingstock trains spent months floating around South Pacific


Where Queensland's NGR trains went.

NEW state-of-the-art trains bound for Brisbane from India spent months floating around the ocean and sitting in Vanuatu in a cargo ship amid a high-seas deadlock.

As concerns mount about whether the desperately needed new $4.4 billion train fleet will be running in time for next year's Commonwealth Games, The Sunday Mail can reveal relations between train builder Bombardier and the Palaszczuk Government hit a low point when a shipment of trains was turned away from Queensland and forced to sit idle in the South Pacific for months while behind-the-scenes negotiations dragged on.

The Government is now in a race against time to get 15 trains transported before the recent shipping debacle ready for the Games.

In the western Indian town of Savli, within the bustling Vadodara district, several giant, blue-striped manufacturing sheds can be found abutting a patchwork quilt of farmland.

Dwarfing smaller neighbouring manufacturing plants, the sheds lie just up the road from the busy Vadodara city, known for its palaces, parks, temples, tobacco and heavy industry.

Tourists can stop by for as little as $20 a night and get a meal for just $3.

It was in this factory, owned by Canadian transport firm Bombardier, that the latest of the New Generation Rollingstock trains bound for Brisbane rolled off the assembly line this year.

The 260-tonne trains began their long journey to Australia by road, a trip of about 500km, or eight hours' driving time, to reach the historic shipping hub of Mumbai Port.

Their 10,500km journey across country and oceans was supposed to mirror that of the 15 trains already dispatched to Queensland from early 2016.

Back then, the arrival of the first trains at the Port of Brisbane created a flurry of interest for train enthusiasts and commuter groups, with online photos showing the trains being taken off a cargo ship by crane.

By June this year, the next batch was in storage at the port and awaiting shipment.

Back in Australia, however, trouble was brewing for the billion-dollar project.

It had fallen months behind schedule and concerns were mounting about nagging design issues, ranging from driver-line-of-sight issues to disability access problems.

In March, Deputy Premier Jackie Trad fronted a press conference to announce the Government would halt all orders until the raft of design issues was resolved.

Despite this, the trains back at the port in Mumbai were loaded on to Dutch-flagged vessel Momentum Scan sometime in late June.

It is understood Bombardier made the decision to load the trains over concerns about storage space at the port; however, the company did not respond to questions.

The Momentum Scan, a 116m-long bright green and white cargo ship, was sighted rounding the tip of India, near Chennai, on July 6 as it made speed towards Queensland.

The ship had already made a similar NGR delivery in February without incident, but this time it would face a string of delays, which began with a hold-up at Mumbai Port – most likely over the project impasse back in Australia.

It was on track to deliver its cargo in mid-July but would hit further NGR-related hold-ups.

The ship, unwittingly caught up in a deadlock between Bombardier and the Palaszczuk Government, would spend more than 100 days at sea, mostly sitting idle in Vanuatu, before the ship's captain was finally given the green light to drop off its cargo.

Analysis by The Sunday Mail of ship-movement logs, historical data obtained by tracking website VesselFinder and information from shipping sources has enabled the Momentum Scan's movements to be traced across the ocean.

It shows the ship stopped to refuel in Singapore on July 12 before sailing past Indonesia and reaching Queensland waters just off Hinchinbrook Island on August 1.

It then docked at Port Alma, just north of the central Queensland town of Gladstone, and was due to sail directly from there to the Port of Brisbane, according to government logs.

Despite being just hours from its destination, the freighter suddenly turned away from the Queensland coastline and was plotted in the Coral Sea on August 11.

It pulled into Port Vila in Vanuatu days later, where it appears to have sat idle for nearly two months.

Bored crew were finally given orders to set sail to Brisbane in late September.

The Momentum Scan would still take another two weeks to finally arrive at the Port of Brisbane to offload the two six-carriage NGR trains.

Ms Trad said she had reached an agreement with Bombardier in March that no further trains would be shipped until the Government was ready to accept them.

"In July, we received advice that Bombardier had started to ship two trains to Queensland," she said.

"I was very clear that we would not be accommodating any more trains from India and rang leading members of the consortium to stop the shipment.

"As a result, the ships were docked at countries in the South Pacific Ocean until we provisionally accepted the first train.

"This was at no cost to taxpayers – not one single cent."

A shipping source, who asked not to be named, told The Sunday Mail the months wasted motoring around the ocean and sitting idle was almost unheard of in an industry where fierce competition meant tight shipping margins and carefully managed schedules.

Opposition transport spokesman Andrew Powell said the trains should have been taken off the ship so they could immediately begin working on any problems.

"What instead they have done is let them languish out at sea with now the potential we don't have enough trains for the Commonwealth Games," he said.

He also questioned why the shipping fiasco had not been made public at the time, as well as the cost of the delay.

"It's comical, really, that you've got a large ship sitting in Vanuatu harbour with trains for Brisbane inside," he said.

Just days before the order to return to Queensland, Ms Trad announced the Government would spend about $150 million fixing disability access issues and making other modifications to the fleet, with the money to come from within the NGR budget.

She also revealed it had given the first train provisional acceptance.

Labor this week announced it would give the $150 million in modification work to a local Maryborough plant if re-elected, in an effort to boost the electoral chances of local Labor MP Bruce Saunders.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

12th November 2017

Not Going Right trains get some prolonged ' sea time ' ....

Good Morning,

Definitely not going right are the Not Going Right trains hey?

Goodness, it seems these trains have a curse of sorts.  Latest revelations:

Couriermail --> New Generation Rollingstock trains spent months floating around South Pacific

We repeat our calls for a Commission of Inquiry into this mess and botch.  With the benefit of the retro-spectroscope it is very clear that our request to the Queensland Auditor General (QAG) last March for an audit into this mess was the right call.  Pity the QAG and Audit Office declined our request.

It is appalling the gross mismanagement that has caused Queensland to end up with new trains that are non compliant with the DDA and DSAPT, forcing DTMR/Queensland Rail to apply for a temporary exemption from the AHRC ( http://www.humanrights.gov.au/our-work/legal/exemptions/exemption-applications-under-disability-discrimination-act-1992-cth ). Only by bringing out all the facts, documents and blunders into clear daylight can this sort of major failure be avoided in the future.

The  ' cover-up mentality ' that besets both the LNP, ALP and of course DTMR is very very unhealthy and frankly an outrage.

There is no change at the AHRC website.  It is looking like months yet before an exemption, if granted, would be in effect.
What is the Commonwealth Games rail timetable plan then?  Line closures and severe service reductions on the other lines to support the increased frequency on the Gold Coast line?

Have a great final weeks of campaigning folks.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/929393917463638017

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/929397664117952512

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/929399521301295104

[ozbob]

Hard copy of above article for interest.  Really given the treatment, dual page spread.

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

Sunday Mail 12th November 2017 pages 28 & 29.

High-Seas Deadlock a Trad Deficit

[ozbob]

I feel quite pleased in a strange way that the NGRs visited Port Alma. 

I sailed into Port Alma on the HMAS Tobruk when the 1st Field Hospital was deployed to the Marlborough area for a major military exercise (early 80s from memory).  We disembarked at Port Alma.  The NGRs kept on sailing!   

[red dragin]

I'm not sure what the point of writing that article was?

If the builder decided to send the SS Minnow out 3 months after the orders where halted, at their expense, what's the issue? The trains were wrapped up for sea travel. And it's not like they dumped them somewhere.

If the orders weren't halted and they went for a south pacific cruise, sure, that's news worthy.

[ozbob]

If nothing else it confirms that the last two NGRs are of the same non compliant configuration as the previous 15.

I was hoping that subsequent NGRs will be modified overseas first before going sailing!

Clearly, the editorial staff at CM land figured it was worth a belt.  No surprise. They are after all, very pro-LNP !

Rather cool name for  a ship ' Momentum Scan ' ..   

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/929787882948083712

[ozbob]

Our beloved NGRs, they fly, they sail, they don't do revenue passenger service!



No change at AHRC web site

[Stillwater]

Could they be placed on floating pontoons and pulled by ferries up and down the Brisbane River to provide additional water-transport capacity during peak hour?   

[Stillwater]

Wonder how much the Government paid for legal advice that they could have got for free by reading this thread.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/queensland-rail-trains-on-track-for-legal-disaster/news-story/eba2c304a167cb9bfb8489f0ca0bbf2d

It shows how the government waited until the last minute and exhausted every avenue, wasting time all the while, only to realise they could not escape their legal obligations.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Queensland Rail trains on track for legal disaster

QUEENSLAND Rail was warned by its lawyers that its troubled $4.4 billion NGR train fleet could expose taxpayers to massive legal claims of discrimination if they were used before serious problems were fixed.

The legal advice, viewed by The Courier-Mail, was issued in September and warned the Palaszczuk Government faced a court challenge that could block the new trains from entering service.

Problems include aisles and on-board toilets that are inaccessible to disabled passengers.

In the letter, QR is advised to seek an urgent exemption from disability access laws to guard against any discrimination action.

It says a decision on whether to grant the New Generation Rollingstock trains provisional acceptance was "critical" as it was from this point that legal action could be taken and would also put its indemnity with the company behind the project at risk under its contract.

"The principal risk of non-compliance for Queensland Rail and the State is the risk of claims, particularly injunctive proceedings, brought by affected individuals or representative interest groups," the letter states.

"This risk will crystallise if non-compliant (trains) are operated in passenger service.

"There is also an earlier risk of injunctive action to the extent a court accepts QR or the State intends to operate non-compliant (trains) in passenger service (ie even if has not already done so)."

The Government in September gave the trains provisional acceptance and applied to the Australian Human Rights Commission for an exemption from the disability access laws.

It argued that the trains could not be ready in time for the 2018 Commonwealth Games without the exemption.

However, it is still awaiting a decision, with members of the disability sector vowing to challenge the exemption request at the Commission.

Disability advocate Geoff Trappett said he first warned Transport Minister Jackie Trad in 2015 that the trains were non-compliant, but the problems were not addressed until late this year.

Ms Trad yesterday responded to questions about the legal advice by pointing blame at the previous LNP administration for ordering trains that did not comply with disability standards.

"This Government has been fixing Tim Nicholls' mess and we will be modifying the NGR trains in Maryborough so that they comply with our disability standards," she said.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

14th November 2017

Not Going Right trains - there is more!

Good Morning,

Today the Couriermail reveals legal advice issued last September that confirmed to Queensland Rail ( and to the incompetent DTMR presumably ) that introducing the Not Going Right trains into revenue service in a non compliant condition, without an exemption from the AHRC,  could well expose taxpayers to massive legal claims of discrimination.

Couriermail --> Queensland Rail trains on track for legal disaster

There have been questions raised about the non compliance of the NGR trains for years.  It was only with the looming threat of the Commonwealth Games and the demands that would be placed on the public transport network, and the need to have some of the NGR trains operational ( were due in service in 2016 ), that some decisive action with respect to the non compliance with DDA and DSAPT in terms of an exemption application to the AHRC was taken.

There is no change at the AHRC web site re the temporary application as I write (See  http://www.humanrights.gov.au/our-work/legal/exemptions/exemption-applications-under-disability-discrimination-act-1992-cth ). I can only assume the AHRC is still waiting for the ' further information ' requested weeks ago.  In our view it is unlikely that the exemption for the NGR trains,  if actually granted, would be any earlier than late January or February 2018.

It is also worth noting the Queensland LNP released a policy document ' Better Public Transport ' yesterday ( https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/lnp/pages/3988/attachments/original/1510462421/Policy_Better_Public_Transport.pdf?1510462421 ).  The policy document does not mention that the NGR trains are NOT DDA DSAPT compliant.  This is because the design the LNP signed off on was non-compliant.  See https://www.facebook.com/RAILBackOnTrack/posts/1836183213062524 for more on this.

We again repeat our call for a Commission of Inquiry into this monumental NGR Project Botch.   Very sad for Queensland that the Queensland Auditor General declined our request for an audit into this project last March. All documents, facts and failures need to brought out into the clear light of day, and properly examined. The attitude towards human rights needs to change!

Duplicitous and misleading untruth from the Opposition does not help.  If they were honest players the LNP would release the NGR documents relating to the design and business case they signed off on.  It might be necessary to do that legally in view of their ongoing intransigence.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/930105943618084864

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/930108304285622273

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/930112768677572608

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/930121181415350272

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/InclusionMoves/status/930161822786711552

[ozbob]

No change at the AHRC web site.

It has been suggested to me that the ' further information ' may not be forthcoming till after the election. 
This will put back the application determination even further.   

 

[HappyTrainGuy]

I don't know the specs of the 160's to comment for sure but given their age from when originally set out I would find it hard to believe that they would be compliant. So please no one give the state an ideas about buying them we could repeat NGR :-)

Geoff

Why go backwards in tech? No reason a further order can't be based on a (fixed design) of the NGR.

The NGR sets came off the boat with some 400 faults that have taken over 18 months to rectify and get three train sets to the point where they have past their acceptance trials although they still can not be brought into service because they are not disability compliant.
A repeat order based on the 160 series IMU sets would leave open the option of equipment upgrades of a tried platform.

Ordering to the exact same spec as the forst few NGRs that cane off the boat would be quite silly. However, ordering more NGRs with the fixes all in place (as will happen with later NGRs as they are delivered) is much smarter than ordering more out of date 160 class IMUs and waiting another 3 or 4 years or so for them to be delivered.
Also, would the 160s be DDA compliant if they were built today? A wheelchair cannot access the toilet when the toilet is at the other end of the train on a 160.

An updated version of the 160 set would be built as a 6 car set and the internal fitout would be DDA compliant with the toilet module in either the trailing end of the third car or the leading end of the fourth car as was proposed with the NGR trains but compliant.  There have been no problems with the platform that the 160 sets have been built on other than the fitting of sanding equipment as a consequence of the over run at Cleveland.
The traction and control equipment can and would be upgraded where more modern equipment is available and suited for the purpose to improve reliability.
At the present time the 160/260 series trains are proving the most reliable of all the trains currently in service

Quit with the foam. And the only reason the 160/260 are the most reliable (should still see a couple door locked stickers on a few 260's this weekend) is due to them being the most recent rollingstock in the fleet with plenty of spare parts and modern computer systems that tell you what is wrong with the train - as opposed to the EMUs showing an alert and a tripped circuit breaker that either you, the guard or anyone working on them at mayne has to then find and fix the issue and god forbid should it be on a 6 car unit. The EMUs were meant to be retired by now or in their final stages but the NGR mess keeps rolling around. The fact that a few of the EMUs had parts of their DAA fittout cancelled should show you that. The EMUs are pretty much running on the smell of an oily rag and the SMU200/220s are based directly off the EMUs which is why the 200's are next to be booted out.

Its bs and it will never happen. So save yourself the time.

Oh and the design? The 160/260s are outside the current aus standards with regards to the cabs. That was changed after the tilt train crashes up north and a few bad crashes down south. The NGR are compliant in this regard - of which raised some of the faults. And the 400 faults? Please. The 160/260 had been in production as the Perth B sets ages before we got them and yet we still had faults with them when they were delivered with one of the biggest ones putting the train into a safemode during acceleration after the motors damaged themselves during the phase change. But hey. Who needs working motors on a train.

[ozbob]

No change at the AHRC web site.

It has been suggested to me that the ' further information ' may not be forthcoming till after the election. 
This will put back the application determination even further.   

 

No update at AHRC

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/930929821860864000

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

19th November 2017

Not Going Right (NGR) trains - application  to AHRC stalled

Good Morning,

As we enter the final week of #qldvotes it seems attention about the Not Going Right trains is flagging.  Let's remind you all of the monumental failure this project is.

The first NGR train, number 701 was towed out to Wulkuraka 638 days ago!  The late application for a temporary exemption from the AHRC to run these trains in a non DDA and DSAPT compliant condition has stalled at the AHRC.  [  http://www.humanrights.gov.au/our-work/legal/exemptions/exemption-applications-under-disability-discrimination-act-1992-cth ].  The AHRC requested ' further information from the applicants ' viz. DTMR and Queensland Rail, weeks ago.  It would appear that this information has not been forthcoming.  We assume because the Government does not want the information publicly available till after the election ( the additional information once received would be placed on the AHRC website ). 

Once the ' further information ' is received the application then will go to public consultation process.  This is going to take at least 4 weeks possibly longer as we are now approaching Christmas and the New Year.  At the conclusion of the consultation the AHRC then has to consider and make its determination.  This could take months.  The likelihood that the NGR trains will be granted an exemption any time soon is very unlikely.  It is also possible that the AHRC may decline the application.  What then? Line closures and more service reductions as we approach and during the Commonwealth Games?

Both the LNP and the ALP, together with DTMR have a lot of explaining to do re the NGR project failure.  For a full appreciation of the actuality see  https://www.facebook.com/RAILBackOnTrack/posts/1836183213062524

We again call for a Commission of Inquiry into this NGR blunder.  A previous request  by us in March 2017 to the Queensland Auditor General for an audit into this mess was declined. All documents, facts and failures need to brought out into the clear light of day, and properly examined. The attitude towards human rights needs to change!

Good luck!  We are going to need it.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/931920707931348993

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/931923972618256386

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/932450484396290048

[Stillwater]

NGR train passed through Salisbury Station this morning at 11am, heading south.

Obviously QR still holding out hope they will be available for Commonwealth Games.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/932471384621510656

[mufreight]

Regardless of their success with their application for an exemption under the disability access legislation they still have to train train crew and they have to get each trainset through it's acceptance trials, the sign off on the mechanical side being fit for service.
The feedback does not paint a very promising picture with only a few trainsets getting the sign off approval.
Current problems and the way they have been mishandled by both Bombardier and TMR are doing nothing to enhance Minister Trad's chances of re election. 

[ozbob]

No update at AHRC.

I think we can assume the ' further information ' has been delayed due to an ' operational issue ' until after the election.

Can't have dirty laundry flapping out in the breeze at this time can we? 

My goodness, this is such a major cluster-fuk, even for Queensland where one expects a certain level of cluster-fukedness hey?

[verbatim9]

Milton Station today @ 1415  Click link for video.



https://photos.app.goo.gl/fn7RcCEM9cSHA87z1