New Generation Rollingstock

[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.

710 has the standard livery, just not the aboriginal art wrap.

It isn't in service. The livery is applied just before revenue service after acceptance testing.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Queensland Rail: New trains fail disability test

THE Queensland government has defended rolling out new trains with no disability access, saying it's cleaning up a mess left by its LNP predecessors.

Queensland's anti-discrimination commissioner Kevin Cocks has labelled the move "reprehensible" in a submission to the Australian Human Rights Commission.

"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," Mr Cocks said in his submission.

"And in further defiance and disregard for the law, the NGR trains have been put in use without any rectification work and without the benefit of an exemption granted by the Commission,"

Transport Minister Mark Bailey today put the blame on the previous Newman LNP government, which was in power when the trains were ordered.

"The problem that we've had is that the Newman government ordered cheap trains from overseas that didn't comply with disability standards. In fact, they deleted specifications out of the contract," he told reporters in Brisbane.

The minister defended not waiting until the trains had been fixed before putting them into service, saying the network needed extra capacity to deal with demand from the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April.

"It is essential we have every bit of rolling stock, every staff member that we have out on the system transporting people to games venues, and that's a reality we just have to do."

Mr Bailey also announced 13 new drivers have started training to work at Queensland Rail, as the public transport operator works to rebuild its staff in the wake of cascading rostering failures.

Of those, 12 have prior driving experience with QR while the 13th transferred from Emerald.

Since October 2016, a total of 145 trainee drivers and 262 trainee guards have been selected, with 51 drivers and 158 guards now fully qualified and working on the SEQ network. ...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/COBrienBris/status/957813595273814016

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/957819875971407872

[#Metro]

#DisabilityFail

[MichaelJ]

I like the training numbers. QR simply doesn't have the resources to train so many in such a time (and do the job correctly, ensuring the staff have safety and train operations).

[ozbob]

I confirmed today with QR that the figures quoted previously by the Couriermail with respect to the 51 drivers trained, 31 retired or reallocated for a gain of around 20 is correct. QR driver loss rate is on average 2 per month (retirement etc.).

[InclusionMoves]

710 rolled out of Wulkuraka as I was waiting to do Channel 7 interview.

I did make sure to watch the whole way to see if it stopped under its own power :-)

I confirmed today with QR that the figures quoted previously by the Couriermail with respect to the 51 drivers trained, 31 retired or reallocated for a gain of around 20 is correct. QR driver loss rate is on average 2 per month (retirement etc.).

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/957888848196902912

[verbatim9]

Regarding my present journey and the Air-conditioning. I am in the quiet carriage second from the front and the air conditioning is cool and comfortable.

[ozbob]

 

[ozbob]

Spinal Life Australia --> Spinal Life call for right decision in train pain debacle

Spinal Life Australia is calling upon the Australian Human Rights Commission to uphold the rights of Queenslanders with a disability with its imminent decision on the State Government's New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) trains.

The Commission is currently deciding whether to approve the State Government's application for a three-year discrimination law exemption to place the NGR trains into service, despite major accessibility concerns.

Chief Executive Officer Michael Powell said he had faith in the Commission to support Queenslanders with a disability by rejecting the application.

"If the exemption request is granted, it sends a message that it's acceptable to leave behind Queenslanders with a disability and our laws of inclusiveness and equality are free to be ignored," Mr Powell said.

"The right to accessible and reliable transport services should be mandatory, not an optional extra."

A petition launched by Spinal Life Australia calling on all future Queensland transport services to be fully accessible has received more than 1,400 signatures and counting in the five days since it was launched.

The NGR trains have been criticised for including toilets inaccessible to most wheelchair users and a guard cab located at the rear of the train, instead of the centre.

As passengers with a disability or aged passengers wait for boarding assistance mid-platform, the guard is placed at a lengthy 70 metre distance from passengers requiring assistance, greatly increasing the risk of passengers being overlooked or unassisted.

"A solution has been offered in the form of additional platform staff to help with passengers requiring boarding assistance, however ensuring staff members are available for all stations across all operating hours would come at a long-term cost that would be likely unsustainable," Mr Powell said.

"Accessible transport services for Queenslanders with a disability and the aged should be a right, not a privilege."

Mr Powell said Spinal Life Australia has lodged a submission to the Australian Human Rights Commission urging them to reject the State Government's application for a three-year exemption of discrimination laws.

The submission is available for viewing at www.spinal.com.au/ngr-trains-submission.

The petition can be found at http://chn.ge/2EjqwOK.

[Stillwater]

AHRC - 'imminent decision'?  (news report)

lol, we don't hear the Qld Government saying 'the Australian Human Right Commission has all the information it needs to make a quick decision in Queensland's favour' in the same way it uses the language when it comes to multi-million dollar federal government investments in complex infrastructure packages.

Given the number of submissions to the AHRC and the details, I would have thought a decision at the end of February would be appropriate.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/958745535988445189

[Stillwater]

Why is Minter Ellison associated with this submission to the AHRC by QR?

https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/Enclosure%201%20-%20Item%207%20-%20Customer%20Education%20Material_1.pdf

[ozbob]

Good question.

For information https://www.minterellison.com/  is a Law firm that does Legal and Consulting services among other things.

I get the impression that money spent on legal firms and services seems to be a bottomless pit with respect to the ' State of Queensland '.
After all it is not their money IT IS OURS!

[#Metro]

Simple answer is that they already assembled a legal team for when a test case against the NGR lands in court / in front of the AHRC?

Even the QR brochure attached shows that large parts of the network have major accessibility issues.

[InclusionMoves]

Nice pick up Stillwater. I knew external counsel had been engaged to walk the state through the process but had never been able to nail down who they engaged. Am led to believe there are multiple firms of which we can now confirm Minter Ellison is one. 

Both sides are lawyering up don't you worry. This isn't over by a long shot. As evidenced by the fact the minister has refused to answer whether he will pull non compliant trains if they do not get exemption. That pushes things into legal territory. 

Geoff

Simple answer is that they already assembled a legal team for when a test case against the NGR lands in court / in front of the AHRC?

Even the QR brochure attached shows that large parts of the network have major accessibility issues.

[#Metro]

Would AHRC consider a daily noncompliance penalty for each day non-compliant services are run?

Coming to think about it, even issuing an exemption is free. Surely, charging a daily exemption fee for an exemption means that the non complying party will expedite the process and ensure that conversion to compliance is no longer than absolutely necessary.

[InclusionMoves]

I don't believe I have seen it done before #Metro but AHRC has ability to impose conditions not sure there is too many specifics around those conditions so certainly not saying its an impossible. Totally agree it would expedite the process.

The dollar figures in this are truly phenomenal. Personally I believe we have all undersold the price tag for the staffing solution to the NGR issues. But dollar figures seem to be inconsequential to political commitments to this government. So even if we had got it right I am not 100% sure it would have made a difference.

Geoff 

Would AHRC consider a daily noncompliance penalty for each day non-compliant services are run?

Coming to think about it, even issuing an exemption is free. Surely, charging a daily exemption fee for an exemption means that the non complying party will expedite the process and ensure that conversion to compliance is no longer than absolutely necessary.

[ozbob]

Cost of labour for the ' Staffing solution ' has to be in the range $800M to $1Billion!

[ozbob]

When you think about it there is a lot of public monies being spent on defining and defending the indefensible. How much better if those funds were simply directed to fixing the NGRs?

Once the AHRC determination is made I intend to again make a formal request to the Queensland Auditor General for a proper audit into this mess.

[InclusionMoves]

Commission is only way to get the final dollar figure on the mess.

I certainly will be doing my bit to ensure PWD don't end up coping the blame for the price tag. 

When you think about it there is a lot of public monies being spent on defining and defending the indefensible. How much better if those funds were simply directed to fixing the NGRs?

Once the AHRC determination is made I intend to again make a formal request to the Queensland Auditor General for a proper audit into this mess.

[ozbob]

We will certainly keep pushing for a Commission of Inquiry. I would expect an audit would be part of that. There seems to be no political will for a commission but an audit is not dependent on politics in the same way.

[MichaelJ]

To be honest, I think the Guards not having the external cameras displayed on a screen on the back wall of the cab is a much bigger safety issue at this point.

Straight platforms are no problem but curved ones with no cameras aren't safe.

[InclusionMoves]

Can you explain more MichaelJ for the slightly dumb ones in the class (like me) we have been constantly assured CCTV cameras had full coverage in an NGR context? 

To be honest, I think the Guards not having the external cameras displayed on a screen on the back wall of the cab is a much bigger safety issue at this point.

Straight platforms are no problem but curved ones with no cameras aren't safe.

[verbatim9]

To be honest, I think the Guards not having the external cameras displayed on a screen on the back wall of the cab is a much bigger safety issue at this point.

Straight platforms are no problem but curved ones with no cameras aren't safe.

How many curved platforms on the Airport Gold Coast line?

I thought guards walk onto the curved platforms to have look before pressing the bell. Drivers also control the doors apparently so I guess they check the cams prior to closing the doors. There are also customer service platform staff to meet each train. I think safety is well taken care of.

[MichaelJ]

The external cameras do have full external coverage.

The problem is, that when standing at the cab door (to observe the platform), the Guard can't see the cameras very well because they're displayed on a small screen on the Driver's console in the centre of the cab.

I'm Sydney, we have the cameras on a large screen on the rear wall of the cab door so we can see the cameras and the actual platform where we stand.

The rear wall display screen is going to be fitted but it is still months away.

[MichaelJ]

To be honest, I think the Guards not having the external cameras displayed on a screen on the back wall of the cab is a much bigger safety issue at this point.

Straight platforms are no problem but curved ones with no cameras aren't safe.

How many curved platforms on the Airport Gold Coast line?

I thought guards walk onto the curved platforms to have look before pressing the bell. Drivers also control the doors apparently so I guess they check the cams prior to closing the doors. There are also customer service platform staff to meet each train. I think safety is well taken care of.

Many. Robina, Nerang, Ormeau, Beenleigh, Park Road, South Bank, Roma St, Eagle Junction,

Stepping out to check is always a good practice but one still can't see the front of the train at times - like EGJ1 and EGJ2.

Many staff aren't safeworking qualified so their right of way might as well come from a passenger.

[InclusionMoves]

Thanks MichaelJ am big enough and ugly enough to know that I know the disability parts of the equation but don't know everything,

Geoff   

To be honest, I think the Guards not having the external cameras displayed on a screen on the back wall of the cab is a much bigger safety issue at this point.

Straight platforms are no problem but curved ones with no cameras aren't safe.

How many curved platforms on the Airport Gold Coast line?

I thought guards walk onto the curved platforms to have look before pressing the bell. Drivers also control the doors apparently so I guess they check the cams prior to closing the doors. There are also customer service platform staff to meet each train. I think safety is well taken care of.

Many. Robina, Nerang, Ormeau, Beenleigh, Park Road, South Bank, Roma St, Eagle Junction,

Stepping out to check is always a good practice but one still can't see the front of the train at times - like EGJ1 and EGJ2.

Many staff aren't safeworking qualified so their right of way might as well come from a passenger.

[MichaelJ]

Most of my work in Sydney is from the rear of the train so I know how important the cameras can be to the safe operation of a train.

Our InterCity Guards work from the rear position with no cameras as well but a qualified worker is always provided for right of way procedures.

[verbatim9]

^^There has been conversations on here before about safety and where the guards are placed, platform heights and the curved platforms at Park Road. The conclusion from those conversations is that only some stations required retrofitting. The screens being fitted for guards to see the exterior view from cameras would be for the trains being used on other lines into the future. It would be good once the stations on the Gold Coast line are upgraded so we can seriously move to Driver Only Operation.

Caught the NGR to Helensvale and also on the return trip yesterday. They are very well built trains. Nothing wrong with Bombardier trains. (Except the toilet issue) which I wasn't sitting near. You could look to all over the world with new trains, cars, and buses and there is always something that should of been built or tweaked into the design and manufacture phase.

[Stillwater]

I am warming to the idea that the Queensland Government has called in the legal people because they are prepared to fight this (exemption application) through the legal process if necessary.  Anything that went to the AHRC from the Queensland Government and its agencies went via Minter Ellison for vetting.  An option would be to defy any AHRC request to remove non-compliant trains from service for the duration of the Commonwealth Games.

Premier Palaszczuk has said the transport planning has been run past the Commonwealth Games organisers and I wouldn't mind betting that a back-room deal has been done for any compensation sought by a person with a disability adversely affected by NGR operations or a 'daily fine' incurred for operating NGR trains in defiance of any AHRC order simply being rolled into the Commonwealth Games budget.

This would allow pollies to say something along the lines of: 'this decision has not resulted in one extra cent of taxpayers money being spent.'

This whole project gets murkier by the day.

[SurfRail]

Don't make too much out of a law firm's involvement in this stuff.  It's VERY routine for lawyers to be called on to advise on any number of things (and clients don't always listen to us).

[InclusionMoves]

Exactly SurfRail like I said always knew they had retained services just a bit sloppy to leave it up for us to find who they were.

Even if the expertise to write the application existed within government hiring external consultants on any aspect of a project is sometimes just a handy way of ensuring you can look hands off when things fall apart.

Translink has PwC running customer experience projects as we speak.

Geoff

Don't make too much out of a law firm's involvement in this stuff.  It's VERY routine for lawyers to be called on to advise on any number of things (and clients don't always listen to us).

[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 a short stroll from Redbank railway station.

[ozbob]

 

Executive General Manager (Accessible Transport Networks)

> https://smartjobs.qld.gov.au/jobs/QLD-267055-18

As the Executive General Manager (Accessible Transport Networks) you will guide the Department to be a world leader in seamless journeys for all public transport users and delivery of accessible services. Formulating both the vision and drive for accessible services to all transport users, with a major focus on ensuring accessibility for network patrons living with a disability. In addition you will shape a cultural transformation ensuring all transport services and departmental products are accessible to all customers. You will enjoy working in a challenging environment and have an enthusiasm for transport accessibility and services.

Executive General Manager, Accessible Transport Networks

• Key Leadership Role

• Exciting opportunity to shape transport accessibility across Queensland

The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads is responsible for the state-wide delivery of a single integrated transport network that is accessible to everyone.

The Department is seeking to appoint an Executive General Manager (EGM) that will guide the Department to be a world leader in seamless journeys for all public transport users and delivery of accessible services, particularly for patrons living with a disability.

The EGM will be a key member of the Department and will provide a strategic leadership, direction and vision for accessible services to all transport users.

This is a very exciting opportunity that will require the EGM to:

• Explore innovative and transformative initiatives to enhance passenger transport and deliver a service that is cost effective and environmentally sustainable for all users, especially users with a disability

• Create opportunities for the Department to engage and work with the community to identify, understand and respect the differences in requirements for accessibility access to the transport network

• Manifest a Department wide culture of integrated planning to ensure that public transport design and planning takes a holistic perspective and focusses implementing a transport network that is accessible to all users

You will have a successful track record as a leader in a large and complex organisation with a specific experience in leading transformative change on an organisational level. You will have proven skills and knowledge of the disability sector a strong working relationships with this sector. You will have highly developed influencing skills and apolitical and commercial acumen. Tertiary or post graduate qualifications in Business, Law, Marketing, Economics, Psychology and / or Leadership.

[ozbob]

^  I assume this is a new position. Better late than never.

There is an element of ' getting ducks in a row ' no doubt, but nonetheless quite necessary.

Particularly with DDA compliance deadlines looming in 2022.

[Stillwater]

Will the Executive General Manager (Accessible Transport Networks) be a single 'trophy' employee who sits in the office down the end of the corridor?  Please, TMR, can we have some more detail about the support staff this person will have and how will their functions sit within the corporate hierarchy? Will they be a group of people producing more glossy brochures to be distributed to the desks within the organisation or will they be fully integrated into the organisation?  Can we see a revised corporate structure please?

[InclusionMoves]

Just so everyone knows. Yes I have seen this. A massive and heartfelt congrats to the DG and Minister for seeing the need for it. Does show leadership is still there despite our issues. I probably won't say much more about role publicly though however as I don't want to be seen as influencing given my profile,

Geoff 

Will the Executive General Manager (Accessible Transport Networks) be a single 'trophy' employee who sits in the office down the end of the corridor?  Please, TMR, can we have some more detail about the support staff this person will have and how will their functions sit within the corporate hierarchy? Will they be a group of people producing more glossy brochures to be distributed to the desks within the organisation or will they be fully integrated into the organisation?  Can we see a revised corporate structure please?

[Stillwater]

Sunday Mail story:

"Queensland trains will continue to be built in India with non-compliant toilets, meaning they will have to be ripped apart and fixed at a cost to taxpayers of $100m."