New Generation Rollingstock

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1037743959374585856

The story I've heard is one of the carbon strips on the pan came loose. The overhead line then got caught between the carbon strip and the pan head, taking out all the dropper wires along the way.

They had to physically remove the pan from the unit to get it untangled.

During the period 11th Dec 2017 to 12th jul 2018 there are 9  separate pantograph issues listed ( https://backontrack.org/docs/ngr/NGRadmin31aug18.pdf ) that either led to delay or cancellations.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1038203814468182016

[not_available]

703 704 705 706 707 708 709 710
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25? 1 third of 75?

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> QR continues rollout of new commuter train despite rail fail

QUEENSLAND Rail will push on with a wider rollout of its new model commuter trains today amid an ongoing two-month probe into a rail drama caused by one of the units.

Passengers on the Redcliffe Peninsula and Springfield lines will be able to board one of the New Generation Rollingstock trains from today as QR expands their use.

But transport bosses are yet to find an answer for an incident involving one of the NGR trains damaging overhead lines on July 7, leaving 60 passengers trapped in another train for an hour.

State transport authority TransLink has told The Courier-Mail a "detailed and thorough investigation into what caused the overhead line damage is ongoing".

A spokesman said seven NGRs had been sidelined after the July 7 incident as a precaution but had since been inspected and passed tests to confirm they were safe for operation.

But commuter lobby group Rail Back on Track's Robert Dow said passengers deserved an explanation into what went wrong, especially as the NGRs were being rolled out to new lines.

He said Government data shows it wasn't an isolated incident involving one of the NGR's pantographs. A pantograph is the apparatus that connects trains to the overhead lines.

"It's now been two months since that incident and we think it's time that Queensland Rail or TransLink came out and explained to passengers what happened," he said.

Transport Department data detailing all NGR faults from when the first train rolled out in December to July 13 this year show there were eight pantograph incidents that caused service delays or cancellations, including an issue with the unit involved in the July 7 incident.

Train door faults were the most common failure, causing 51 delays and 12 service cancellations, the data reveals.

In an explanatory note on the data, the Department states the rate was falling and door faults were one of the highest occurring failures across all types of rollingstock.

It continued that it was normal for faults to be found as equipment began to be heavily used.

An inquiry is probing the NGR trains procurement after it was revealed the Government-approved design failed disability access laws and would cost taxpayers $100 million to fix.

TransLink refused to reveal the total cost of the stuff-up on Friday, saying it was commercial-in-confidence.

Printed version of the ^

Couriermail 10th September 2018 page 5

QR rolls out new trains despite earlier failure

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1038817169167998976

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1038819806395289600

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1038823732767117313

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1038888683665911808

[ozbob]

It really is a circus this set up with TMR and the Qtectic Consortium, they hide behind walls of bumble and ' commercial in confidence '. 

QR cannot do much when NGRs involved.  There have been dewirements in the past.  QR simply states it is a ' dewirement ' and there it ends essentially from the public perspective. 

Been said before ... it's going to a long long 30 years ..... 

[ozbob]

Been booked for interviews with 10 News and 7 News later today ..   

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1039010551035129856

[ozbob]

^ Mr Easy confirms that 27 NGRs now in revenue service and that the power issue on the 7th July 2018 was ..... surprise  A DEWIREMENT !!

Gracious me,  what. a. surprise.   



https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1039014443139575809

[tazzer9]

So sydney trains have recently introduced another class of rollingstock without a massive bungle.  what makes us different.

[ozbob]

So sydney trains have recently introduced another class of rollingstock without a massive bungle.  what makes us different.

TMR ... TfNSW actually knows what it is doing ...

[SurfRail]

Not exactly a revolutionary new type in their case.  Every introduction of a new type down there has been marred with some problem or another until just recently.

[ozbob]

7 News

https://www.facebook.com/7NewsBrisbane/videos/vb.130736376939223/843261002547486/?type=2&theater

[ozbob]

^

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1039054260770496512

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/1039065121182511104

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/tennewsqld/status/1039072448258301954

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> New trains to run on 139 services, but no express trains for Redcliffe

As Queensland Rail chief executive Nick Easy announced almost new trains would run on 140 services, he was unable to explain why only one-third of the expected passengers are using the Petrie to Kippa-Ring rail line.

It has emerged that the Redcliffe Peninsula (Petrie to Kippa-Ring) line carried fewer than one-third of the expected 21,000 daily customers.

"I think that is question that TransLink needs to answer," Mr Easy said when quizzed on the line's poor performance.

Mr Easy announced on Monday that two additional New Generation Rollingstock trains had been added to the CityTrain network.

That meant 27 of the 75 new trains were now in service.

The two new trains will run on the Redcliffe Peninsula and the Springfield lines and provide 139 additional services a week.

However, Mr Easy also said the new trains did not mean extra express services to the Redcliffe line, despite calls for these services by commuters on Monday.

"At this point in time our focus in that we consistently provide the current timetable," he said.

"So the resources that we have, supports that current timetable.

"We have recently seen in the June and July period and in the (August) holiday timetable for the Ekka, there was no downgrading in services."

Mr Easy said that was because Queensland Rail had extra train crew.

"At this point in time I am not in a position to comment on other increases to services," he said.

The Redcliffe Peninsula line will receive an extra 22 services, but not express services.

Mr Easy said there was a "one-seat journey", which took 55 minutes, from Kippa-Ring to Brisbane Central on the line.

Public transport advocacy group Rail Back on Track has cited a lack of express services and poor bus connections with Hornibrook Bus Lines as major problems.

Hornibrook referred all enquiries about its bus services to TransLink.

Mr Easy would not comment on the connection between bus lines and rail lines, although he has on other occasions.

"Queensland Rail is not responsible for the bus services or the connections," he said.

"But what we will continue to do is work with TransLink and all the authorities in relation to the delivery of the timetable."

The Queensland government will pay $4.4 billion over 32 years to add 75 of the latest trains and carriages to the CityTrain network.

The roll-out of the trains, which are assembled at purpose-built rail yards at Wulkuraka near Ipswich, have been marred by design flaws, driver shortages and union problems.

Mr Easy said "testing" of the trains would influence how quickly the remaining 48 trains would be added to the CityTrain network, but declined to give any indication to reporters.

"The timing for the deployment of the future lines is something that we will communicate to our customers in due course," he said.

Mr Easy said the incident where one of the NGR trains came into contact with overhead power lines on July 7 was still being investigated by Queensland Rail.

"We do know there was an issue with the pantograph," he said.

The pantograph is the structure on top of a train which connects to the electrical power supply.

"That led to the delinement (sic), but what we will do is conclude that investigation," he said.

"That particular train was withdrawn from service and that matter has been rectified and the train has been returned to the network."

Mr Easy also declined to answer a question about a possible merger of QR and TransLink into a single public transport authority.

"That is question you will have to address to the state (government)," he said.

In March, independent experts recommended a merger of Queensland Rail and TransLink after identifying "a serious culture of mistrust" between the two bodies.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story stated the NGR trains would add 139 services to the timetable. The NGR trains will instead replace older trains on existing services.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1039293062961221632

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2018/9/10/ngr-charges-on-to-springfield-and-redcliffe-peninsula-lines

Media Statements

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Mark Bailey

Monday, September 10, 2018

NGR charges on to Springfield and Redcliffe Peninsula lines

The New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) fleet has successfully rolled out to the Springfield and Redcliffe Peninsula lines today (10 September 2018), as part of the fleet's continued commissioning on the South East Queensland (SEQ) network.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said the fleet made its inaugural debut on the lines bright and early this morning, first servicing the 3.46am Kippa-Ring to Springfield Central service.

"There are now 27 NGR trains fully commissioned and available for service across the South East Queensland network," Mr Bailey said.

"This builds upon the initial rollout of the trains to the Gold Coast and Airport lines in mid-December 2017, Doomben line in May 2018 and Northgate to CBD services in July.

"It's great to see the fleet continuing to service customers across SEQ and entering the Springfield and Redcliffe-Peninsula lines.

"I'm told Queensland Rail has already received messages from excited train enthusiasts eager to catch a glimpse of the trains servicing these stations for the very first time.

"As more trains are commissioned and successfully undergo testing and safety assessments, the NGR fleet will gradually commence rolling out on other lines across the SEQ network.

"Queensland Rail will continue to keep its customers informed ahead of deployments to other lines."

To support the next stage of the rollout, Mr Bailey said Queensland Rail had strengthened its customer service presence at stations along the Springfield and Redcliffe Peninsula lines as part of the organisation's customer service model for the NGR fleet.

"We are committed to providing boarding assistance for our customers and, from today, all stations along the Springfield and Redcliffe Peninsula lines will be staffed from first to last NGR service to ensure we accommodate this," he said.

"This change will not only  ensure customers requiring boarding assistance are supported from first to last NGR service, but will also boost our customer service presence at these stations for other queries or assistance customers may require which is a great customer outcome overall."

Mr Bailey said rectification works were underway in consultation with the accessibility sector.

"This has been done through a series of co-design workshops to ensure that the modified trains will meet functional requirements for all customers, as well as meeting the compliance standards required by the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport (DSAPT)," he said.

"Qtectic, Bombardier and Downer EDI are progressing with detailed design work and preparation of the Maryborough workshops for the train upgrades."

ENDS

[HappyTrainGuy]

Stations had staff cuts to keep costs down now their employed at more stations than before 

[ozbob]

Yes, we advocated against a lot of the station staff cuts.  As more NGRs are extended to other lines the same is going to happen.  Queensland Rail is going to have a very large labour cost, but there are benefits of having station staff around.  Toilets can be kept open too! 

[Stillwater]

^Safety boosted also.

[Arnz]

Some of the staff from the attended stations will also have to be stationed at the unattended stations for the duration of the NGR services.  In a similar arrangement to the Doomben NGR services.

For example, when NGRs start on a limited amount of Nambour services sometime next year (most likely), station staff from Landsborough would also have to attend Mooloolah and Eudlo.  Nambour station staff would have to attend Woombye, Glasshouse Mtns station staff would have to attend Beerburrum and Caboolture station staff would have to attend Elimbah.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Not full time attendance. More than likely back to/swapping hours ie attended at peak only.

[aldonius]

If we ever get to the point where we have more trains running in the off-peak than we do stations, it will actually make sense to go driver-only and have an attendant at every station. I think we're just about there in peak now.

[verbatim9]

If we ever get to the point where we have more trains running in the off-peak than we do stations, it will actually make sense to go driver-only and have an attendant at every station. I think we're just about there in peak now.

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[verbatim9]

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[ozbob]

Just been interviewed by 7 News Brisbane re ongoing door issues with the NGRs.

They have RTI evidence of ongoing problems which is corroborated by our Admin RTI release 135/05907.

[ozbob]

Just been interviewed by 7 News Brisbane re ongoing door issues with the NGRs.

They have RTI evidence of ongoing problems which is corroborated by our Admin RTI release 135/05907.

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1044137177553100800

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1044137953457401856

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1044143877018443781

[ozbob]

I have also heard the doors on a NGR service from the Gold Coast last week failed completely one side (right) of the train.  It was the last evening service so the train was operated wrong road essentially to give platform access from the other side.   

Of course there are problems and 7 News are to be congratulated on breaking through the charade of bumble that is this project, management by TMR.

No wonder Queensland Rail have had a gut full.

[ozbob]

Diamonds!   

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

25th September 2018

New Generation Rollingstock - revealing news report

Good Morning,

Sadly more evidence of the New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) train issues was revealed by 7 News last evening.

See  https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1044137177553100800

or https://www.facebook.com/7NewsBrisbane/videos/302555340475202/

This is a very disturbing report.  We have long suspected that there a lot more issues with the NGR trains and project than that is publicly available.

It is a sad day for Queensland that media and ourselves are forced to RTI action for some indication as to what is really occurring.

Thanks to 7 News for this very significant report.

Best wishes,

Robert

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

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1044267494188306432

[ozbob]

I think the best thing forward from here with the NGR project is transfer control of the project from TMR/TransLink to Queensland Rail.

TMR have demonstrated more interest in spin and bumble then really sorting out the issues.

If the ' middle muddler men ' are bypassed maybe some better progress can be made.

I have zero confidence left in TMR now. 
Appalling stuff revealed by 7 News really. We always suspected this was the case but now we know for certain.

[Stillwater]

Minister Bailey made to look a fool by his own department when the department told him there was a small number of door incidents when, in fact, the problem was much worse.  The minister went public with the figure he had been given, to be contradicted by the RTI findings.  Good journalism by Channel 7, bad move TMR.  It's okay to put the best gloss on a poor outcome, it is something different to perform the spin on your own minister and his staff. The media don't like being misled and, more likely, will dig even deeper, as Sarah Greenhalgh has done.

[ozbob]

Minister Bailey made to look a fool by his own department when the department told him there was a small number of door incidents when, in fact, the problem was much worse.  The minister went public with the figure he had been given, to be contradicted by the RTI findings.  Good journalism by Channel 7, bad move TMR.  It's okay to put the best gloss on a poor outcome, it is something different to perform the spin on your own minister and his staff. The media don't like being misled and, more likely, will dig even deeper, as Sarah Greenhalgh has done.

[ozbob]

Days since NGR 701 towed to Wulkuraka

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1044403798125371393