New Generation Rollingstock

[petey3801]

As said elsewhere, assisted boarding area will remain in the middle, NGR or other.

[SurfRail]

Just how likely a problem is this going to be Pete?  I can see serious dwell issues at unmanned stations.

[mufreight]

702 is supposedly on the water now trying to find out its arrival time at Fishermans Island.

[tazzer9]

Going to create confusion for assisted boarding unless all guards are moved to the trailing end of the trains then all the humps in the platforms such as the ones being built at Dinmore and Graceville in the middle of the platforms will prove to be of little use and something of a waste.

Not really, In sydney guards are at the rear of the train on all V sets, oscars and waratahs.   On the others they are in the middle of the train.  They do have a blue light above where the guard is position on all trains.

[mufreight]

The Sydney system has carriage floor height platforms and most disabled passengers are able to get on and off the trains without needing assistance unlike the mountain climbing efforts at most stations in Brisbane.

[petey3801]

Just how likely a problem is this going to be Pete?  I can see serious dwell issues at unmanned stations.

Unsure at this stage, I believe the processes are still being formulated. Will likely add dwells at some stations, although they may employ a similar system as what I believe Perth uses: Have a 'gang' of customer service personelle roving the network and have a phone number for pax requiring assistance to call before they travel. A customer service rep meets them at their origin station and helps them board and then either travels with them to their destination or another rep meets them at their destination to help them disembark.

Sydney has a lot of platforms that have quite a gap and are not carriage height, however station staff seem to be a lot more prevalent down there and where there are no station staff to assist, the guard gets the pax on and off with the ramp.

[tazzer9]

The Sydney system has carriage floor height platforms and most disabled passengers are able to get on and off the trains without needing assistance unlike the mountain climbing efforts at most stations in Brisbane.

No train in sydney is level with any platform. Its actually kind of weird.  Some platforms have a good sized gap, especially those on interruban lines.    While its not a problem for elderly or other such smaller physical impairments, but it means you must use a ramp for any wheelchair.     

[ozbob]

Sources suggest NGR 702 is due soon.

[mufreight]

In port now probably on the wharf as we speak, will be coupled up and towed to Wulkaraka early in the week

[petey3801]

702 currently being unloaded from the ship now. Will be towed to Wulkuraka in the coming days.

[ozbob]

Two down, 73 to go. We unloaded the 2nd of Queensland's #NGR in Brisbane today. pic.twitter.com/4GhMdqSzom

— BombardierRail (@BombardierRail) June 1, 2016

[ozbob]

Want a job ?   

Closing date
16-Jun-2016

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

https://smartjobs.qld.gov.au/jobtools/jncustomsearch.viewFullSingle?in_organid=14904&in_jnCounter=221517840&in_jobDate=Any+time&in_orderby=scoring

Temporary Contract Manager NGR

Transport and Main Roads (Organisation site)
New Generation Rollingstock; Passenger Transport Services; TransLink; Brisbane 

In the role of Principal Contract Manager Operations you will manage the implementation, administration, review and monitoring of the commercial contract with a specific focus on the payment and performance regime for the operations of the New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) fleet. You will be responsible for the development and provision of strategic advice and options concerning the performance of the NGR contract and ensuring due diligence and accountability in relation to all contract payments.

[ozbob]

^  hmmmm  wonder what happened to the previous NGR Contract Manager, that is, assuming there was one hey?

[mufreight]

There probably was, he/she would have been a Newman/Emerson appointee who has had the hand in the public purse since the contract for the NGR trains was announced sitting in a plush office twiddling his/her thumbs but now the first sets have arrived and there is some actual work to be done which will require some actual abilities and to assume some responsibility has decided that the heat in the kitchen might get uncomfortably hot has now bailed creating the vacancy.
More concerning at this point in time is that the position is under the control of Transport and Main Roads and Translink both bodies who have proven track records of lack of knowledge and expertise in anything related to rail, come on Minister Hinchcliffe time for a shake up and refocusing of the TMR excluding them from anything rail related and let QR run their own race.

[Stillwater]

The job description is wrong.  It should read 'Muggins' -- the person whose employment you terminate if it all goes wrong, while preserving your own job.

[ozbob]

^  hmmmm  wonder what happened to the previous NGR Contract Manager, that is, assuming there was one hey?

Been advised there was a previous NGR Contract Manger.  Position has been vacant for a month or so, I assume someone is acting.

[ozbob]

Twitter

BombardierRail ‏@BombardierRail now

Second Qld #NGR arrived home at new Wulkuraka Maintenance Centre at the weekend.

[SurfRail]

Anybody know what the go is with the running light below the windscreen?

[BrizCommuter]

Anybody know what the go is with the running light below the windscreen?

It's to tell the guard at the back how many passengers are waiting in at the middle of the train for assisted boarding. 

BrizCommuter on Changing of the Guard.
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2016/06/changing-of-guard.html

[petey3801]

Anybody know what the go is with the running light below the windscreen?

As far as I know,it is an 'AWS Cut Out" advisory light if the AWS is isolated.

[tazzer9]

How is that useful on the outside of the cab.   Or is it to make sure a parking brake is manually applied to avoid runaways?

[petey3801]

Unsure of the reasoning, however wouldn't have anything to do with the park brake as it is SOP to apply it whenever the cab is being deactivated, plus, the AWS doesn't work if the cab is isolated/deactivated. Only thing I can think of is an external indicator for someone getting ready to prepare the train maybe?

[BrizCommuter]

Any updates on the rarely spotted NGR?

[ozbob]

Understand that there are 3 sets at Wulkuraka (possibly 4).  QR drivers have done some familiarisation training with the trains in the maintenance facility.  Not aware of any NGR trains that have been out on the network as yet other than towed for delivery.  'Officially' the first NGR trains should be out on the network towards the end of this year.

[tazzer9]

"Officially" they were meant to be part of the network nearly a whole year ago

[BrizCommuter]

"Officially" they were meant to be part of the network nearly a whole year ago

Yes, QR stated that they would be introduced in late 2015 when referring to Ferny Grove and Cleveland Line 3-car overcrowding in Jan 2014.

[ozbob]

Guess it was modified then  ...   

This is today's timelines ..

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/ngr

Key milestones

    December 2013 – Contract awarded to the Bombardier-led consortium called Qtectic
    April 2014 – Works commenced on Wulkuraka Maintenance Centre
    February 2016 – Wulkuraka Maintenance Centre officially opened
    February 2016 – First NGR train arrived in South East Queensland to commence testing
    Second half of 2016 – Expected start of NGR services on the South East Queensland passenger rail network
    Late 2018 – All NGR fleet operational.

Delivery and operation

The NGR project is being delivered under an Availability Public Private Partnership (PPP), which was awarded to the Bombardier-led consortium called Qtectic in 2013. Qtectic is made up of Bombardier Transportation, John Laing, Itochu and Aberdeen Infrastructure Investments Limited.

As operator of the NGR trains, Queensland Rail is also undertaking a significant amount of planning and preparation work to transition the new trains into daily operations and is working closely with the Department of Transport and Main Roads to ensure they meet strict safety and performance standards.

The first train is expected to begin service on the South East Queensland passenger rail network in the second half of 2016. The remaining NGR fleet will be progressively rolled out onto the network until late 2018.

[HappyTrainGuy]

"Officially" they were meant to be part of the network nearly a whole year ago

No, never the case. Rollingstock acceptance testing was to have started in late 2015 before expected running revenue services around the same time as the MBRL opening in mid 2016. Once the first order was done that's when the EMU phase out was to begin.

Just go back a few pages and you can see everything from 2013 still has testing in late 2015. Best bit in bold.

http://www.scottemerson.com.au/media/media-releases/413-preferred-tenderer-for-new-queensland-trains.html

Preferred tenderer for new Queensland trains

18 November 2013

The delivery of 75 new six-car trains for the Queensland fleet is a step closer with Bombardier NGR Consortium being announced as the preferred tenderer.

Premier Campbell Newman said the fleet would be a boost to public transport and would be built to operate on the new and innovative Underground Bus and Train project.

"The New Generation Rollingstock project is the largest order of new trains in Queensland and lives up to this Government's election promise to deliver better planning and infrastructure," Mr Newman said.

"Unlike the previous Labor government we are committed to increasing capacity on our growing network not driving people away by slugging them with 15 per cent fare increases.

"The day after announcing one of the most innovative public transport solutions in the world, we are getting on with the job of delivering a new passenger fleet to travel on the steeper slopes needed for the Underground Bus and Train project."

Treasurer Tim Nicholls said the Government was securing the best deal for Queensland by using an availability payment public-private partnership finance option.

"There has been a rigorous procurement process with tenderers having to demonstrate value for money and innovation in their bids," Mr Nicholls said.

"The project team has entered into negotiations with the Bombardier NGR Consortium, comprising Bombardier Transportation Australia, John Laing, ITOCHU Corporation and Uberior."

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said all 75 trains were to be delivered and in service by December 2018 boosting the existing train fleet to meet the growing demand for rail services in south-east Queensland.

"The contract includes purchasing 75 new six-car trains, maintenance of the trains for a period of around 30 years, and construction and maintenance of a modern, purpose-built maintenance centre at Wulkuraka in Ipswich," Mr Emerson said.

"The contract will be finalised in the coming months with the testing of the first completed train expected to commence in late 2015."

Transport and Main Roads is delivering the project in partnership with Projects Queensland.

[tazzer9]

Running revenue services by say july 2016 usually means all safety and rollingstock checks have been done by December, full network testing by limited drivers/ bombardier drivers done by February. Full QR driver familiarity done by May.  Limited revenue service running on selected services May-july.  July means the trains are able to operated freely and on fully scheduled  services. 

[ozbob]

Railway Gazette --> Treadmaster illuminating the Way

AUSTRALIA: The 450 electric multiple-unit cars which Bombardier is supplying to Queensland under the New Generation Rollingstock PPP contract will be the first rail application for a photo-luminescent material which has been developed by UK company Treadmaster Flooring to highlight evacuation routes in the event of a main power failure.

Treadmaster is supplying more than 22 000 m2 of its TM8 flooring for the EMUs, incorporating photo-luminescent strips in the aisles and vestibules.

'Photo-luminescence seemed like a natural extension to the other safety benefits that our floor coverings offer', said Treadmaster's Business Development Manager Simon Andrews. 'We are delighted that Bombardier Transportation and QNGR are the first to adopt this new technology'.

[mufreight]

How many of the NGR sets are on the ground here now, I have been told that there are four with the fifth set due.
How far have they progressed with the acceptance and accreditation and have they actually commenced their acceptance trials yet.
Answers anyone. 

[BrizCommuter]

I think I'm still more likely to spot a Tasmanian Tiger than an NGR train!

[verbatim9]

They will be out with the opening day of MBRL

[tazzer9]

I know that the front car of one NGR exists.  Saw it two weeks ago with its head sticking out of shed at wulkuraka with a few people in high vis vests around it.  They really looked like they were trying to figure out how to fix something on it. 
The Coupler was exposed, which at this stage probably isn't a good thing.

[verbatim9]

I know that the front car of one NGR exists.  Saw it two weeks ago with its head sticking out of shed at wulkuraka with a few people in high vis vests around it.  They really looked like they were trying to figure out how to fix something on it. 
The Coupler was exposed, which at this stage probably isn't a good thing.

What's wrong with them they are brand new built in India?

[petey3801]

Four at Wulkuraka, fifth shouldn't be too far away. No on-track testing has started yet, only in yard testing. 701 is fully decalled up with 'Test Train Do Not Board' stickers on/next to every door and a version of the QR Red Stripe livery on every carriage with 'New Generation Rollingstock' in the red part below the windows.
Apparently there have been a few mods required to the cabs before testing starts. Unsure of when they will start on track testing, but shouldn't be far away. I also wouldn't hold my breath waiting for an NGR to be at Kippa Ring for opening day, but it also isn't impossible either. It certainly won't be taking passengers anywhere though if it is out there. Will be a static display only.

[tazzer9]

If they open MBRL on a weekend, they might haul an NGR to sit on platform 2 at petrie

[verbatim9]

If they open MBRL on a weekend, they might haul an NGR to sit on platform 2 at petrie

Why haul it the trains can be driven right?

[tazzer9]

Because it hasn't undergone network testing. We really don't know if they even work yet.

[James]

If they open MBRL on a weekend, they might haul an NGR to sit on platform 2 at petrie

I don't think they'll really notice. Provided non-graffitied SMU 260s are doing the shuttle runs Petrie - Kippa-Ring, the average punter honestly won't know the difference. Not worth the effort to haul an NGR from Wulkuraka up to Petrie.