New Generation Rollingstock

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Queensland Rail mute on Plan B if Human Rights application fails

Queensland Rail is keeping mum about whether its new trains will stay on the tracks if an application to the Australian Human Rights Commission is rejected.

The New Generation Rollingstock was due to be operational in mid-2016, but delivery was halted due to myriad issues - including the toilets being too small for wheelchairs.

Numerous issues were fixed, but the first of the trains entered service in December, before the toilets were redesigned.

QR and the Department of Transport and Main Roads applied to the AHRC for a temporary exemption to discrimination laws while QR completed works to change the toilet layout to make the NGR trains disability-compliant.

It could take 18 to 36 months to fix the issues, but QR needs about 18 of the trains operational for the Commonwealth Games timetable in April.

There are already five NGR trains on the tracks.

Asked whether the NGR trains already in service would be taken off the tracks if its AHRC application was rejected, QR CEO Nick Easy was circumspect.

"I think it's too early to pre-empt what the decision will be by the Australian Human Rights Commission," Mr Easy said.

"We think that process should run its natural course and we'll see what the outcome is before we pre-empt any other actions."

Mr Easy did not elaborate on whether QR had a contingency plan in case its application was rejected.

"I think the plan is to continue to cooperate with the (Australian Human Rights) Commission on the process, we've supported very clearly the rectification works on the trains, we think that's an appropriate response and we look forward to them processing the application," he said.

Public submissions on the application to the AHRC closed this week, and it was yet to publish a decision.

The Queensland Rail Accessibility Reference Group has called for the application to be rejected, arguing an exemption would prolong discrimination.

The group was also concerned some passengers who required help getting on or off the train could be left behind, due to the guard being located in car six as part of the NGR's design, rather than mid-train next to the boarding point, leaving station staff to provide assistance.

"Being left on trains currently occurs with annoying frequency and the ARG expects that unless a guard cab is provided mid-train ... (this) will escalate from annoyance to become a systemic problem," the ARG wrote in a submission.

On Tuesday, Mr Easy said QR's presence at all Gold Coast line stations had already been strengthened to ensure people with disabilities were supported with staff on the ground from the first to last service, seven days a week.

Shine Lawyers solicitor Jamie Shine said the community should be outraged to learn that people with disabilities were left on trains or missed their stops.

"(They often) aren't simply able to call a cab or Uber when they are left off at the wrong station," she said.

"They often require the support of a maxi van, for example, which requires additional wait times and money."

[ozbob]

Is there a NGR timetable for this week? My 6 year old son wants a ride.

The previous url for the NGR link was made dead a couple of weeks ago now.

Anyone got a current timetable?

[ozbob]

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/queensland-rail-mute-on-plan-b-if-human-rights-application-fails-20180117-p4yyky.html1

The quote "I think the plan is to continue to cooperate with the (Australian Human Rights) Commission on the process..." is the kind that comes back to haunt you. 'I think', who is in charge QR? orders from above again?

Geoff

Interesting dayz ....

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

18th January 2018

What if?  Not going right ...

Good Morning,

Interesting article at Brisbanetimes this morning:  --> Queensland Rail mute on Plan B if Human Rights application fails

Despite comments in the article that seem to suggest that Queensland Rail does not have a contingency plan if the application for a temporary exemption for the non DDA non DSAPT NGRs is declined, I have no doubt that they do.  Probably is to keep running the trains in defiance of the AHRC and Australian law.  The ' State of Queensland ' has already demonstrated its reckless attitude by running the non compliant NGR trains without an exemption.  There is no precedence in Australia for an operator to apply for an exemption and then flout the law by operating non compliant public transport vehicles without the exemption being determined.

It is interesting to speculate on some of the possible outcomes of the exemption application.

1.  Exemption is granted by AHRC as per the State of Queensland's application

Possible actions:

Some groups will no doubt seek a review in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), and possibly higher courts depending on outcomes.

2.  Exemption is granted by AHRC but for a shorter period.

State of Queensland might seek a review in the AAT, with possible higher court proceedings.

Some groups might seek a review in the AAT, with possible higher court proceedings.

3.  Exemption application is declined.

State of Queensland might seek a review in the AAT, with possible higher court proceedings (could end up in High Court of Australia).

if the State of Queensland defies the AHRC and continues to run the trains, possible injunction action to stop them.

It seems now no matter what the AHRC decision, this NGR non compliance will continue to fester for years with complicated legal mumbo jumbo.  Costly legal actions and so forth.

How much better if due attention had been exercised at the original design process?

This project is such a mess that a proper Commission of Inquiry is needed into all circumstances so that the truth is made public.  After all it is us citizens that are paying for this botched project in the end.

Failure on this monumental scale demands that response.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/953665827944869889

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/953669347465031680

[dancingmongoose]

The 5:33pm Airport ex Valley and 5:40pm Gold Coast ex Valley have been an NGR every day for the last couple of weeks

[ozbob]

The 5:33pm Airport ex Valley and 5:40pm Gold Coast ex Valley have been an NGR every day for the last couple of weeks

Thanks.

PS. Happy belated birthday too!   

[dancingmongoose]

The 5:33pm Airport ex Valley and 5:40pm Gold Coast ex Valley have been an NGR every day for the last couple of weeks

Thanks.

PS. Happy belated birthday too!   

Cheers 

[Stillwater]

Reporting on air-conditioning

https://www.broadsheet.com.au/brisbane/city-file/article/brisbanes-new-trains-are-sweaty-mess

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/954209886857936896

[red dragin]

Perhaps a photoshop of 701 wearing a "Happy Birthday" hat for day 701?

[ozbob]

Perhaps a photoshop of 701 wearing a "Happy Birthday" hat for day 701?

' Birthday ' date is Feb 19. If NGR 701 is till on agistment ( expect it will be ) on the 17th (Saturday).  We might have a beer at the Kerwick Hotel, admire the rail photographs on the walls and then proceed to adjacent to the ' agistment ' yard and sing ' Happy Birthday '  ... 

[red dragin]

Perhaps a photoshop of 701 wearing a "Happy Birthday" hat for day 701?

' Birthday ' date is Feb 19. If NGR 701 is till on agistment ( expect it will be ) on the 17th (Saturday).  We might have a beer at the Kerwick Hotel, admire the rail photographs on the walls and then proceed to adjacent to the ' agistment ' yard and sing ' Happy Birthday '  ... 

Couldn't think of a better type of hat, but like your idea more.

Perhaps worthy of a media invitation, have a small cake with the number 2 on it.

[Stillwater]

And if they are still out to pasture by June 2018, RailBOT members should kick in some coin for SIDS and plant a red nose at the front of each NGR train.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/954403137346985984

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/954405636745306112

[tazzer9]

On 706 sitting at Varsity lakes. Did a whole walk through and 2 carriages (front 2) were noticeably cooler than other NGR's I've been on.  But the fun stopped there.  3 of the carriages are around the same temp as outside and 6706 is hotter than outside.  All doors are closed as well.  Where I decided to sit, I'm already starting to sweat a little.

[ozbob]

^ thanks.  We might have to start carrying around thermometers ... 

[tazzer9]

In even bigger news.  They now have integrated PT connections announcements.  "Next stop is Helensvale, customers for movieworld and Wet'n'Wild change to the TX7 bus, customers for surfers paradise and broach beach please change to the light rail."
It's about time.  Hopefully the do it for UQ at Park road.
Broadbeach should be change to 745 bus at Nerang though.

[ozbob]

^

[James]

In even bigger news.  They now have integrated PT connections announcements.  "Next stop is Helensvale, customers for movieworld and Wet'n'Wild change to the TX7 bus, customers for surfers paradise and broach beach please change to the light rail."
It's about time.  Hopefully the do it for UQ at Park road.
Broadbeach should be change to 745 bus at Nerang though.

Was this an automated announcement, or made by the guard? Guards have done self-made announcements for years, but if the announcements have finally become automated, that's great.

By the way, what service ex-Varsity are you on? I'd like to go for a little ride on the NGRs today, would be good if I could catch that service once it gets up to Brisbane.

[tazzer9]

It was an automated announcement.  The service I was on would be around Park road by now.  Not on it anymore

[tazzer9]

It was an automated announcement.  The service I was on would be around Park road by now.  Not on it anymore ex Varsity lakes 10:10am

[tazzer9]

Other trains have the automated announcement as well.  But it uses Coomera as the station for trains towards varsity lakes

[techblitz]

Broadbeach should be change to 745 bus at Nerang though.

when your train and/or trackwork railbus arrives late into Nerang and its 25 mins until the next 745 then getting off at Helensvale suddenly becomes beneficial 

[JimmyP]

Does anyone here know the Wiki user '4TheWynne' by any chance? I have noticed some incorrect information being put on the NGR Wiki page and it is generally being put up by this user.

[MichaelJ]

My advice it to simply ignore the unofficial SMEs. I have noticed the errors too but don't want to share too much before my article is published in Railway Digest.

[Arnz]

Don't treat Wikipedia as a "source" of such, considering anyone can edit it. 

Someone can say the NGRs can fly and some people are gullible enough to believe it until a editor or a admin reverts it.  Also it seems "internal" sources are also frowned upon there as they rely on primary (e.g official websites) or secondary sources (e.g news sites) under their rulebook.

[#Metro]

Does anyone here know the Wiki user '4TheWynne' by any chance? I have noticed some incorrect information being put on the NGR Wiki page and it is generally being put up by this user.

Would not be surprised it if were the spin/PR staff at DTMR or someone within Red Team...

Precedent:

Investigation launched after public servants, staffers caught making offensive Wikipedia edits
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/investigation-into-offensive-wikipedia-edits-made-by-public-servants-staffers-20161026-gsassd.html

Public servants and political staffers appear to have made tens of thousands of anonymous changes to Wikipedia that insult a world leader and a former prime minister, scrub embarrassing information and even claim the Holocaust was "justified".

[MichaelJ]

Joshua Wynne, 18, a self-confessed songwriter is the user's real name.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/954589312925904897

[aldonius]

is the user's real name.

Oi, don't doxx people, it's rude (at best, and life-threatening at worst).

[MichaelJ]

I don't know what you're going on about and frankly, don't care.

The big detective, Google, returned this URL to my search query "4TheWynne."
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:4TheWynne

[InclusionMoves]

I refuse to count Wikipedia as a source whilst no one feels the need to update my photo from when I was 21 (now 38)  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoff_Trappett#/media/File:150600_-_Geoff_Trappett_-_3a_-_2000_Sydney_media_guide_scan.jpg

Does anyone here know the Wiki user '4TheWynne' by any chance? I have noticed some incorrect information being put on the NGR Wiki page and it is generally being put up by this user.

Would not be surprised it if were the spin/PR staff at DTMR or someone within Red Team...

Precedent:

Investigation launched after public servants, staffers caught making offensive Wikipedia edits
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/investigation-into-offensive-wikipedia-edits-made-by-public-servants-staffers-20161026-gsassd.html

Public servants and political staffers appear to have made tens of thousands of anonymous changes to Wikipedia that insult a world leader and a former prime minister, scrub embarrassing information and even claim the Holocaust was "justified".

[ozbob]

^ nice photograph IM. You have a calm look.  I could call it pre-NGR days ...   

No change at the AHRC Web site re NGR exemption application:

> http://www.humanrights.gov.au/our-work/legal/exemptions/exemption-applications-under-disability-discrimination-act-1992-cth#railway

[JimmyP]

Don't worry, I certainly don't use Wiki as a source! More as amusement generally!

[InclusionMoves]

Random question. Was any RBOT member on an NGR that left South Brisbane at 11:30ish today? Got a report of station staff not being particularly accommodating (weren't there) to assist a vision impaired customer as is protocol these days.

Geoff

[tazzer9]

I was on that exact NGR earlier on but got off at loganlea.   My post above was reffering to that service. 

[InclusionMoves]

Thanks Tazzer9 Apparently no station staff were on platforms at Central and South Brisbane. South Brisbane I am not surprised about there is a split platform so its hard to be in two places at once (hence our problem with the model). But Central does surprise me. I have seen up to 5 staff on each platform at times!! 

I was on that exact NGR earlier on but got off at loganlea.   My post above was reffering to that service.

[ozbob]

As more NGRs are out and about I don't think the plan that QR has developed will hold.  There really needs to be a design solution.

We wait the outcome at the AHRC with much interest ... 

[ozbob]

Days since NGR 701 towed to Wulkuraka

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/954815796194103296