New Generation Rollingstock

[SurfRail]

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.

Better late than never.  I haven't observed any yet.

The guards still occasionally give out useless or incorrect information based on what are presumably old scripts (eg get off at Robina to get to Burleigh Heads despite the fact that connection has no existed for 4 years now).

[MichaelJ]

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.

In this case the Guard should assist. I'll have to do some more investigation into the operating model.

For example, ours is Station Staff walk down and inform Guard of BA Pax location, destination and whether destination has been informed then load BA Pax. If there's Staff to assist at the destination, that's great, if not, it's the Guard's duty (using the ramp in the cab), and that's fine too.

Sometimes you'll get BA Pax waiting at the rear of the train to greet you when there is no staff.

On the Northern, North Shore and Western lines, Guards are at the back most of the time so the BA Pax know the script and it doesn't cause any problems.

[ozbob]

Note: Major track closure - CBD and Southern lines for the weekend 17-18 Feb 2018  http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/forcustomers/trackclosures/12monthcalendar  Allow plenty of time. Trains will be running Corinda to Redbank (Ipswich).
If you haven't been to Redbank before well worth a look around. 

If the NGRs are moved by then, will still go through the motions.

Both the Kerwick and the Commercial Hotels are short stroll from Redbank railway station.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/954937018374483968

[InclusionMoves]

Yep thats spot on to how it should go MichaelJ

All fine and good to say station staff will assist but with split stations with some platforms on an island etc staff cant teleport over in an instant.

Geoff 

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.

In this case the Guard should assist. I'll have to do some more investigation into the operating model.

For example, ours is Station Staff walk down and inform Guard of BA Pax location, destination and whether destination has been informed then load BA Pax. If there's Staff to assist at the destination, that's great, if not, it's the Guard's duty (using the ramp in the cab), and that's fine too.

Sometimes you'll get BA Pax waiting at the rear of the train to greet you when there is no staff.

On the Northern, North Shore and Western lines, Guards are at the back most of the time so the BA Pax know the script and it doesn't cause any problems.

[techblitz]

[youtube width=600][/youtube]
I'm jealous...

[MichaelJ]

The Station Staff used to communicate with us via the PEI (that way the Driver and Guard both hear) but one crew member carried on that it was an incorrect use of an emergency device.

I generally work during the day and so most journeys have at least one BA Pax.  Our station staff are really good and normally standing with the ramp at the car where the person is located.  Standard position is Car 6 but in reality the person can request to sit anywhere they wish.

I'm told this was introduced prior to the Olympics in 2000 ... We have Boarding Assistance Reminder Slips where we write down the details of the BA Pax so we don't forget.  These days, we are also encouraged to enter it as a location-based task into our iPad and when the train approaches the station, it sounds reminding us there's someone who needs attention.  The BA Reminder Slips would work well in QLD too!

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Queensland Rail lowers aircon on new trains by 2 degrees to cool tensions

Queensland Rail has turned up the airconditioning on its new trains, lowering the temperature by two degrees after complaints by commuters that they were humid sweatboxes.

QR ran a week-long trial of airconditioning temperature in the new carriages and agreed to drop the temperatures inside the carriages

It followed complaints by commuters that the new trains were "stuffy and sweaty" and were not suited to south-east Queensland's subtropical environment.

That meant the temperature inside a new NGR train will now be in a band from 20 degrees to 24 degrees, according to TransLink.

"We have lowered the target airconditioning temperature 2 degrees Celsius, to achieve a range of 20 to 24 degrees," a Translink spokesman said.

The two-degree temperature drop has been made in all the New Generation Rollingstock trains in the Citytrain fleet.

Five NGR trains are now in passenger service. There are 23 of the 75 trains now in Queensland.

Eighteen of these NGR trains are need for the 2018 Commonwealth Games beginning in April.

Queensland Rail said the changes would be made in all five trains in passenger service and future trains taking passengers.

"The target temperature range was decreased by 2 degrees Celsius across the NGR fleet, currently in passenger service, last week," a spokesman said.

"This was done via software adjustments to each train's airconditioning system.

"This followed a short trial of the adjustment in an NGR train in passenger service."

Public transport lobby group Rail Back on Track last week formally complained to Queensland Rail about the hot and stuffy carriages on the new trains.

Group spokesman Robert Dow said members had noticed the lower temperatures in train carriages this week.

"We've have had a couple of guys who have been on the new trains this week and they've said they've noticed the difference," Mr Dow said.

"So that's been a good result. In a couple of instances it has definitely felt cooler."

Mr Dow said he believed there would variation from rail carriage to rail carriage, but was happy airconditioning temperatures had been reduced by 2 degrees.

"I think they are still sorting it out, but there has definitely been an improvement according to our guys who have been out and about on the trains."

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/955693306775666689

[SurfRail]

First victory for 2018? 

[ozbob]

First victory for 2018? 

[mufreight]

Yes the temprature has been lowered inside the NGR sweatboxs but unfortunately there is a variation between carriages of up to 6 deg.  Rode on one today 22.4 in the first carriage going to 28.1 in the fourth carriage, obviously some fixing to do yet.

[MichaelJ]

Was that the official reading from the computer system?

[tazzer9]

I really don't understand how there is so much variation between carriages.  especially since they have open gangways (normally) between carriages and in most cases having fairly even distribution of passengers and door openings.  (eg, not like the ferny grove line where everyone is at one end of the train due to station exits)
Are the motor carriages warmer due to having poor cooling?

[SurfRail]

It has been noticeably better this week, having already plonked myself onboard 704, 708 and 713 since Monday morning.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/955843702613721088

Latest: CRISIS !
The real extent of rail fail revealed
> https://t.co/MgENF2sBbw#qldpol
After 481 days of #railfail they have only managed 19 more train drivers.#headsmustroll@MarkBaileyMP @SteveMinnikinMP @AnnastaciaMP @QueenslandRail pic.twitter.com/V3VpXeiNpa

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) January 23, 2018

[ozbob]

Had a short interview on ABC Radio Breakfast this morning with Rebecca Levingston and Craig Zonca re NGRs, air con and a few other features of the units.  Also explained why the seats are bit firmer than the other units.

Thanks for the opportunity!

[corners]

710 has been stabled at Mayne this week. It doesn't have the wrap like the others in service.

[tazzer9]

I think the wrapped NGR's have been the sole reason why NGR's haven't been pulled the service.  They seem incredibly popular and a stroke of genius to whoever came up with the idea and authorised it.  Still getting people getting happy snaps of the wraps. 

[MichaelJ]

710 has been stabled at Mayne this week. It doesn't have the wrap like the others in service.

710 isn't in service so that's probably why.

[tazzer9]

There are a few in service that don't have the wraps

[MichaelJ]

All 700 Series EMU in revenue service are decorated accordingly.  EMU 704-706 have the Aboriginal Art and EMU 708/713 have the Standard livery.  EMU 710 is a plain grey, or cleanskin.

[Stillwater]

An interesting entry on the Australian Human Rights Commission website.

To the request to TMR/QR to provide a timetable for each of the steps to be carried out
in the proposed rectification process (for NGR trains.) ...

TMR/QR says: A detailed timetable for each step of the rectification process is still to be developed.

These guys are not serious.

There follows a table that is full of words, but no real action, and no timeframe against which the actions will occur.

https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/Enclosure%202%20-%20Item%2012%20-%20Rectification%20steps.pdf

It is more of the Queensland Government PR spin around this project.

[InclusionMoves]

Exactly right Stillwater

This is largely because the consortium hadn't then and to the best of my knowledge now still hasn't signed off on the works actually being feasible let alone within any kind of time frame. Still very much in design phase. Again just shows the wasted time in this exercise. These discussions could have been started back in August 2015 when first identified. Not mid 2017.

Geoff

An interesting entry on the Australian Human Rights Commission website.

To the request to TMR/QR to provide a timetable for each of the steps to be carried out
in the proposed rectification process (for NGR trains.) ...

TMR/QR says: A detailed timetable for each step of the rectification process is still to be developed.

These guys are not serious.

There follows a table that is full of words, but no real action, and no timeframe against which the actions will occur.

https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/Enclosure%202%20-%20Item%2012%20-%20Rectification%20steps.pdf

It is more of the Queensland Government PR spin around this project.

[ozbob]

Days since NGR 701 towed to Wulkuraka

[InclusionMoves]

Submissions to the AHRC on NGR exemption are publicly up guys and girls. http://www.humanrights.gov.au/our-work/legal/exemptions/exemption-applications-under-disability-discrimination-act-1992-cth

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/956349049979875328

[Stillwater]

Makes for interesting reading:

From the Anti-Discrimination Commission, Queensland:

"That the Queensland Government would in 2013 commission a fleet of trains that do not fully comply with the Transport Standards, and in other respects are likely to discriminate against people with disabilities, is reprehensible.  "A detailed timetable for each step of the rectification process is still to be developed, and the designs for the rectification works are still at the concept stage."

From Queensland Advocacy Incorporated:

"QAI opposes the application. The trains should not be permitted to run until they are DSAPT compliant. The NGR are new trains, and granting an exemption would be inconsistent and undermine the DDA objects. Ensuring that new trains are compliant when they go 'in-service' will advance ' the elimination of discrimination' far more than permitting non-compliant trains to run and be rectified 'in-service'. Exemptions such as these would send a message to transport providers that the AHRC will grant a 'get out of jail free card' to any transport provider who ignores legislative requirements, no matter how flagrantly."

From Community Legal Centres of Queensland:

"People with disability should not be disadvantaged or suffer discrimination over the duration
of any temporary exemption simply because the trains were not designed to current
Australian standards."

Queensland Rail Accessibility Reference Group says:

"The ARG is both encouraged and appalled that the State of Queensland has applied for temporary exemptions. Encouraged because the need for temporary exemptions has vindicated the ARG's long-held position that the design of the NGR train is discriminatory. Appalled because of the deeply flawed procurement process undertaken by TMR, and the shameful treatment of our just concerns over several years by the State of Queensland, that has led to the point where a completely new train requires temporary exemptions. Bearing in mind the deeply flawed process that led to the current debacle, and the egregious waste of two years in which the ARG's concerns could have been addressed, the ARG does not support the granting of any temporary exemptions."

Vision Australia:

"Unfortunately, a lack of full consultation at design stage of the NGR, has resulted in identification of numerous accessibility issues with the NGR trains. The detailed history of the flawed consultation process is addressed in the submission made by the ARG, of which Vision Australia is a member. Vision Australia asks the AHRC to refuse the application for temporary exemptions. It is preferred that the discriminatory aspects of the NGR trains be rectified before the trains enter service. This includes a guard cab being located mid-train."

Queenslanders with Disability Network:

"QDN also draws attention to Queensland's obligations under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD) to which Australia (and Queensland) is a party. QDN opposes the temporary exemption requested by the State and QR as every person with disability has the right to be able to access our Queensland public transport system to get to their destination whether for employment or recreation, when and where they need to.
QDN believes that since the NGR is a new train, it should have been designed correctly meeting all compliance requirements. In light of these design non-compliances listed in the Application for Temporary Exemption, QDN believes that all rectification work should be completed before the trains commence service. People with disability should not be disadvantaged or suffer discrimination over the duration of any temporary exemption simply because the NGR trains were not designed to current Australian standards."

Inclusion Moves:

"Only a full inquiry into the NGR procurement process will bring to light the mistakes made during the early days of the project however even taking that issue off the table given the longevity of time since members of the ARG pointed out to the government of the day that there were issues of disability compliance and functionality (August 2015) there can be absolutely no recourse to continue on unabated to the situation we have before us today.
The State of Queensland has been reticent in the extreme with its dealing with the disability sector. Leaving the sector with absolutely no surety that proposed rectification plans will be enacted. The very fact they were released prior to sign off and detailed engineering examination by the train manufacturer shows this government to be more interested in media optics rather than delivery of human rights for people with disability in Queensland."

Rail Back On Track:

"We support the granting of an exemption till the conclusion of the Commonwealth
Games; with any further extension of the exemption being subject to TMR/QR
submitting to the Commission a full-costed rectification plan applying not just to
those NGR trains that are available to be used currently, but all future trains on order.  All trains (in service and on order) should be fully-compliant within 18 months of the initial exemption being granted or, as a consequence, the Commission should order that non-compliant train sets be removed from service after that period has elapsed.  This 'carrot and stick' approach should apply to Queensland Government agencies that, regrettably, have a past history of recidivism in meeting goals, obligations, budgets or deadlines.  We submit that TMR/QR were fully aware of their obligations under the DDA and the DSAPT at the time the NGR trains were designed and procured, and at every stage since. The evidence is conclusive. It is RBoT's contention that TMR/QR have sought to manage the public engagement process essentially as a stalling tactic, knowing full well the consequences of their actions and with the intent to put into service non-compliant trains in defiance of the legislation and the mandate of the Australian Human Rights Commission."

The bottom line is this ...

The people of Queensland should have faith in their state government to uphold basic human rights. TMR and QR risk breaking the law and seek retrospective approval/pardon for having done so. Having not gained justice in a state jurisdiction, the people have had to go to a higher jurisdiction to force the state to give them what is legitimately their rights under Australian Law and the Conventions of the United Nations. That is where we are at in today's Queensland.

EDIT- Additions

Spinal Life Australia summary:

"A completely new product should not be eligible for a Temporary Exemption and none should be granted. The NGR should be brought to a state of accessibility and compliance before it goes into service. A Temporary Exemption for the NGR only rewards poor procurement practice and legitimises a refusal to consult with the disability sector pre-procurement.

"The procurement process, and the product procured, are inconsistent with the Objects of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). The Qld Government's dismissal, over a two year period, of legitimate concerns regarding the discriminatory design of the NGR disqualifies it from any credible argument that the NGR's design was an oversight or unfortunate accident.

"Material supplied by the Department of Transport & Main Roads (TMR) to the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) confirms that the more discriminatory aspects of the NGR's design, such as the single toilet and guard in car 6, resulted from directions to the Project by the Queensland Cabinet."

MS Queensland view:

"The NGR should be brought to a state of Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliance before it enters service. A Temporary Exemption for the NGR only rewards poor procurement practice and legitimises a refusal to consult with the disability sector pre-procurement. The procurement process, and the product procured, is inconsistent with the Objects of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)."

Physical Disability Australia:

"To this date, the Queensland Government has not responded to PDA's concerns about inaccessibility issues with the NGR trains and we are disappointed to find that no solutions are being sought to address the problems we have sought on numerous occasions to bring to their attention.  PDA opposes granting the Queensland Government a temporary exemption from complying with the relevant statutes of the DDA and DSAPT so that they can operate uncompliant New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) trains in South-East Queensland for up to 3 years.

"If the Queensland Government and Queensland Rail are granted any exemptionsfrom the DDA and DSAPT, they should be required to develop comprehensive plans,procedures, infrastructure and training to ensure passengers who require assistedboarding to board and disembark from NGR trains can do so at all otherwiseaccessible platforms at all times such trains are operating... and that theycommunicate these effectively to the community."

An unattributed submission:

"Whilst I am sure that sufficient public transport is essential to enable the Commonwealth Games to be hosted successfully, I am disappointed to see the Commonwealth Games being cited as a reason to deny people with disability the protection of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth). Denial of the protection afforded by the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) would seem to be at odds with the values and principles contained in the Charter of the Commonwealth.3

"As the Commonwealth Games are promoted as creating commercial opportunities and
conveying economic benefits it would appear that a major factor in putting the NGR trains
into service in a non-compliant state (and therefore necessitating an exemption application
to protect the State of Queensland, to an extent, from claims of disability discrimination) is
commercial advantage."

[ozbob]

Submissions to the AHRC on NGR exemption are publicly up guys and girls. http://www.humanrights.gov.au/our-work/legal/exemptions/exemption-applications-under-disability-discrimination-act-1992-cth

[Stillwater]

Hopefully the journos are onto this.

[InclusionMoves]

You think OzBob and I haven't been working the phones you are sadly mistaken Stillwater :-)

Hopefully the journos are onto this.

[SABB]

From the information in Stillwater's dissertation, 7 out of 8 groups do not want an exemption (even a temporary one) to be granted. It will make for a very interesting Commonwealth Games transport situation if the seven get their way.  Note that I understand that Stillwater did not include the full submissions which may state otherwise.

[InclusionMoves]

Stillwater took the more punchy quotes :-) So its certainly not a case of every group was not supportive of the exemption some were supportive to be truthful. But the key is that of those who were supportive (taking out RBoT out of this as they were supportive but only for a very short period) had very little data to back themselves up. Which is the opposite of those who were not supportive. Lots of data there in the negative.     

This decision comes down to an interpretation of act which has to meet public expectations. Data and evidence is needed for that kind of determination to hold water. Hence I am still quietly confident no exemption will be granted. Separate issue whether the state respects the decision or not though. 

Geoff   

From the information in Stillwater's dissertation, 7 out of 8 groups do not want an exemption (even a temporary one) to be granted. It will make for a very interesting Commonwealth Games transport situation if the seven get their way.  Note that I understand that Stillwater did not include the full submissions which may state otherwise.

[SurfRail]

From the information in Stillwater's dissertation, 7 out of 8 groups do not want an exemption (even a temporary one) to be granted. It will make for a very interesting Commonwealth Games transport situation if the seven get their way.  Note that I understand that Stillwater did not include the full submissions which may state otherwise.

Maybe it will teach the Queensland Government a lesson sufficiently embarrassing they might actually learn from it.  That would be something worthwhile.

[InclusionMoves]

I did suggest its time for government to back down before it gets more embarrassing. They have already put non compliant trains on track so disability sector has nothing more to lose. Its them that has bet the farm.

https://twitter.com/InclusionMoves/status/956368281098625025

From the information in Stillwater's dissertation, 7 out of 8 groups do not want an exemption (even a temporary one) to be granted. It will make for a very interesting Commonwealth Games transport situation if the seven get their way.  Note that I understand that Stillwater did not include the full submissions which may state otherwise.

Maybe it will teach the Queensland Government a lesson sufficiently embarrassing they might actually learn from it.  That would be something worthwhile.

[Stillwater]

For information

The Accessible Public Transport Jurisdictional Committee represents all Australian governments and the HREOC is required to consult it on exemption applications in relation to the DSAPT.

If the Human Rights Commission rules against Qld Govt and denies an exemption, and QR then runs non-compliant NGR trains in defiance of the Commission, it opens itself up to an action being brought against it by a person with a disability who has been discriminated against.  In that case, the Commission is likely to impose severe penalties.

[verbatim9]

I don't think there will be an answer regarding exemptions to after the Commonwealth Games so much consultancy and investigation.

[InclusionMoves]

And Stillwater if that aint a sure sign that all government plan to stall any and all access work till they get the chance to roll back provisions in the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport during the modernisation process I don't know what is!!

For information

The Accessible Public Transport Jurisdictional Committee represents all Australian governments and the HREOC is required to consult it on exemption applications in relation to the DSAPT.

If the Human Rights Commission rules against Qld Govt and denies an exemption, and QR then runs non-compliant NGR trains in defiance of the Commission, it opens itself up to an action being brought against it by a person with a disability who has been discriminated against.  In that case, the Commission is likely to impose severe penalties.

[Stillwater]

Queensland Advocacy Incorporated makes a very powerful point in its submission:

The applicants must do more than modify the NGR trains. They must modify the way they think about persons with disabilities.

"Granting the exemptions as requested undermines community acceptance of the principle that persons with disabilities have 'the same fundamental rights as the rest of the community'. To allow the proposed exemptions is to send a message to transport providers that they can commission services now and seek AHRC exemptions later, and that this is an effective strategy for public transport commissioning, design and provision."

[InclusionMoves]

Yep good to have other orgs out in the open. Was getting lonely :conf

Queensland Advocacy Incorporated makes a very powerful point in its submission:

The applicants must do more than modify the NGR trains. They must modify the way they think about persons with disabilities.

"Granting the exemptions as requested undermines community acceptance of the principle that persons with disabilities have 'the same fundamental rights as the rest of the community'. To allow the proposed exemptions is to send a message to transport providers that they can commission services now and seek AHRC exemptions later, and that this is an effective strategy for public transport commissioning, design and provision."