24 July 2010: SEQ: Bridge strikes continue amidst the chaos ...

[ozbob]

A general idiot alert is still in place ...

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

From the Queensland Times click here!

Truck gets stuck under rail bridge

Truck gets stuck under rail bridge

9th November 2010

IT WAS not a case of third time lucky for a poor old truckie who got his semi stuck between two bridges at Goodna yesterday.

The red-faced driver, a man aged in his 60s, became the third person in charge of a big rig to hit trouble on the Layard Street underpasses this year.

Witnesses said that at about 11am the B-double scraped its way under the 4.4m Ipswich Motorway bridge, before the driver realised there was absolutely no way he would get under the lower railway bridge.

After performing a difficult U-turn, in which he knocked over a street sign and did even more damage to his truck, the driver decided to park on a large gravel ramp off the side of the road.

The drama caused major traffic disruptions for manic Monday motorists, with traffic backed-up along Woogaroo Street and around to the Goodna turnoff on the Ipswich Motorway Brisbane-bound.

Traffic was also affected on the southern side of the Ipswich Motorway, with police conducting traffic control at either entrance to Layard Street while towing crews worked out the best way to get the truck out of its precarious situation.

It was the third time a truckie has come to grief on busy Layard Street this year, with a man towing a shipping container getting stuck under the railway bridge on May 12, and a driver in charge of a B-double becoming wedged under the motorway on July 8.

[johnnigh]

Note the roll-out of height indicator bars on, eg, Long St Graceville. New one on the west side appears ready for mounting. The east side indicator was quickly vandalised, following which modifications made it more difficult to muck it up. I cycled by when the repairs were being made, with some difficulty due to inappropriate equipment and/or technique to get the weights back into place!

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Truck crash delays northside trains

Truck crash delays northside trains
Cameron Atfield
January 10, 2011 - 11:00PM

Train services on the Ferny Grove are returning to normal after they were thrown in chaos this afternoon when a truck was driven into a bridge at Enoggera.

Translink has advised commuters could still face delays of up to 30 minutes.

The delays frustrated commuters at Central Station, with one telling brisbanetimes.com.au there was a lack of information passed on to passengers.

[Golliwog]

I would agree with that, my father was coming home and we gave him a call to see when he would be home so we could all have dinner together, he was on the train while it sat at Bowen Hills and he was saying it had been very stop start from Central, I had heard about the bridge strike already and told him I thought it would be and that was the first he had heard of it.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

19 January 2011

Greetings,

http://www.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1295383079

Ipswich Line delays

The Ipswich Line may experience delays of up to 30 minutes due to a traffic accident at the railway crossing on Station Road at Wacol.

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

The tough run continues.  Bridge strikes, fools driving into boom gates and the like.  It is time the Queensland Government finally heard the message.  These idiots should not be on the roads. Full cost recovery for the damage and delays they cause, licence suspensions 2 years for a first offence, second life.  Dangerous fools who drive around or through activated rail crossings (i.e. race trains or drive around activated boom gates) should be suspended for life.

It is pleasing that attempts will be made now to recover the costs of the damage done by the graffiti grubs.  The tagging of the trains whilst they were moved to high ground during the flood (they are  normally kept in wire cages to help protect them from the grubs) is almost in the same league as looting.  It was very wise to move the trains to high ground to ensure trains operational after the floods.  It is time now to sort out the grubs.

The community is tired of the failure to sort these issues.

After pleading for a number of years, some bridge protection devices have been installed of late. These have reduced the bridge strikes at those locations.

Time to sort out the rest.

Best wishes
Robert

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

And yet another ...

===========

Twitter

TransLinkSEQ
 
Trains suspended Sth Bank - Sth Bris stns due truck hitting bridge. Trains via Tennyson loop. Expect delays.
about 1 hour ago via TransLink SEQ

[ozbob]

And another,  what bridge?

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

Twitter

TransLinkSEQ
 
Caboolture line trains delayed btwn Morayfield & Caboolture, only one line open due to a truck hitting a rail bridge.
about 3 hours ago via TransLink SEQ

[ozbob]

Bridge,  is there a bridge?   

Oxley Road Corinda, another bridge strike ...

Tennyson line affected with this strike, see http://bit.ly/hFI2LV  for map.  Oxley Road, just down from Martindale.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

31st January 2011

Greetings,

Yet another bridge strike Oxley Road Corinda.

How many more this week?  How many more fools driving into boom gates?

Lets pretend it doesn't happen.

Best wishes
Robert

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org


On 19/01/2011 6:56 AM, RAIL Back On Track Admin wrote:

Greetings,

http://www.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1295383079

Ipswich Line delays

The Ipswich Line may experience delays of up to 30 minutes due to a traffic accident at the railway crossing on Station Road at Wacol.

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

The tough run continues.  Bridge strikes, fools driving into boom gates and the like.  It is time the Queensland Government finally heard the message.  These idiots should not be on the roads. Full cost recovery for the damage and delays they cause, licence suspensions 2 years for a first offence, second life.  Dangerous fools who drive around or through activated rail crossings (i,e. race trains or drive around activated boom gates) should be suspended for life.

It is pleasing that attempts will be made now to recover the costs of the damage done by the graffiti grubs.  The tagging of the trains whilst they were moved to high ground during the flood (they are  normally kept in wire cages to help protect them from the grubs) is almost in the same league as looting.  It was very wise to move the trains to high ground to ensure trains operational after the floods.  It is time now to sort out the grubs.

The community is tired of the failure to sort these issues.

After pleading for a number of years, some bridge protection devices have been installed of late. These have reduced the bridge strikes at those locations.

Time to sort out the rest.

Best wishes
Robert

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

This is an outrageous situation.  Hundreds of millions of dollars spent on a public transport, all sorts of initiatives to encourage public transport (there by maximising the economic benefit to the community) and the authorities skimp and lack purpose in addressing both level crossing and bridge strikes incidents.  It is interesting that since the red light camera has gone in at Telegraph Rd crossing Bald Hills, what was an almost weekly or more frequent incident has effectively ceased - proves that the flashing red light runners are one of the main issues.

Since the protection as gone into Sylvan Road at Toowong and Long St east Graceville been no bridge strikes there.

The rail bridge at Corinda across Oxley Road has no effective protection other than a few signs on the bridge itself.  It is clear that operators of heavy vehicles cannot read signs.  Putting up protective cross beams brings them to a halt prior to the bridge.  Still causes disruption to road traffic etc.  So there is a need to further consider changing behaviours.   Being nice to people hasn't worked.  Time now for severe sanctions backuped with full cost recovery.  Driving vehicles on roads has significant obligations.  It a driver cannot meet those obligations, time to get on the train and bus.

[shiftyphil]

It really sounds like this is a easily solvable problem, so something we should push hard for.

The closer we get to absolute capacity, the more every delay hurts.

[#Metro]

The rail bridge at Corinda across Oxley Road has no effective protection other than a few signs on the bridge itself.  It is clear that operators of heavy vehicles cannot read signs.  Putting up protective cross beams brings them to a halt prior to the bridge.  Still causes disruption to road traffic etc.  So there is a need to further consider changing behaviours.   Being nice to people hasn't worked.  Time now for severe sanctions backuped with full cost recovery.  Driving vehicles on roads has significant obligations.  It a driver cannot meet those obligations, time to get on the train and bus.

Nobody reads signs anymore- too busy texting or talking on the phone probably!

[ozbob]

And yet more ..

From the Queensland Times 1st February 2011 page 3

Truck wedged under Goodna overpass

[ozbob]

I understand the fine has been increased, no official confirmation at this stage though.

In the past eight years, rail bridges have been struck by over-height vehicles 332 times on the South East Queensland network.  This doesn't include the road bridge strikes.  Shocking indictment on driver behaviour is it not?

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Fines quadruple for stuck truck drivers

Fines quadruple for stuck truck drivers
Daniel Hurst
March 7, 2011 - 4:06PM

The fine issued to careless truck drivers who plough into railway bridges will be quadrupled in Queensland.

New Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said the penalty for drivers who disregarded clearance height signs and hit bridges or tunnels would soon increase from $100 to $400.

The practice would also attract four demerit points, up from the current penalty of three.

Ms Palaszczuk said 340 over-height vehicles had hit rail bridges in southeast Queensland in the past eight years.

"The penalty for causing damage to tunnels and bridges has been increased because the community is sick and tired of the cost and inconvenience caused by a small minority of careless truck drivers," she said in a statement.

"It may not seem like much, but when a truck hits a tunnel, or in particular a rail bridge, there is immediate disruption to the road and rail network.

"The bridge must be checked to ensure that there is no structural damage before trains can travel over it again which can mean public transport services have to be delayed or cancelled."

In August last year, the state government said the worst bridges for over-height truck strikes included Pine Street at Wynnum, Park Road at Woolloongabba, Sherwood Road at Rocklea, Long Street East at Graceville, Sylvan Road at Toowong and Pickering Street at Gaythorne.

It said it would try to stop further truck crashes at six low-height bridges with a $1 million program to install height gauges.

Ms Palaszczuk said the newly installed height gauges chimed loudly when an over-height vehicle hit them, providing a clear warning that there was a low-level bridge ahead.

But she said ultimate responsibility lay with the driver.

The new fines will take effect at the end of the month.

[#Metro]

WOW, Ms Palaszczuk is kicking butt!!! 

[somebody]

What do you mean?  That it's taken so long?  I thought you are getting what you want here?

[ozbob]

The penalties are mediocre.  Needs to be full cost recovery.

Fines should be in the order of thousands of dollars and licence suspensions.  If a train is derailed in one of these strikes and falls off the bridge all hell will break loose ..

[Golliwog]

Actually, random factoid. Even if the train did derail on the bridge, it shouldn't fall off as they install catch rails outside the tracks just before the bridge, and between the tracks on the bridge to stop the train falling off. There would still be substantial damage and injuries though (depending on speed), but at least they avoid falling off the bridge.

[ozbob]

$4000 instead of $400 might give them cause to think ..

From the Queensland Times click here!

Truck stuck under motorway

Truck stuck under motorway

Andrew Korner | 10th March 2011

A TRUCK which had been stuck between two low bridges at Goodna was able to reverse out of trouble this morning.

Witnesses said the driver passed under the Ipswich Motorway underpass on Layard Street before bringing the vehicle to a stop ahead of the lower railway bridge.

The incident was report just before 8am and the scene was cleared before 9am.

[ozbob]

Another bridge strike at Allwood St Indooroopilly this afternoon, and one same bridge last week as well.

So much for the tap on the wrist.  TIME TO GET THESE IDIOTS OFF THE ROADS.  Impotent Government and TMR ...

[Fares_Fair]

Actually, random factoid. Even if the train did derail on the bridge, it shouldn't fall off as they install catch rails outside the tracks just before the bridge, and between the tracks on the bridge to stop the train falling off. There would still be substantial damage and injuries though (depending on speed), but at least they avoid falling off the bridge.

F=ma
Force = mass times accceleration.

Would the catch rails be enough to restrain an already derailed train?
or would the changed direction of force and momentum (and center of gravity of the train) relative to the rails - simply make it topple over the rails?

I wouldn't want to find out ...


Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[#Metro]

Yes, but what about direction and inertia?

A train might only fall off if it is traveling at a very wide angle. The rails might not be a barrier to stop the train, but instead guide it forward and off the bridge in the forward direction, rather than just "falling off" the side. I also don't think points are placed on bridges either.

I can't remember any case of a train falling of a bridge in any modern passenger train system.

http://www.news.com.au/train-derails-off-bridge-disrupting-melbourne-sydney-services/story-e6frf7kx-1225942636745?from=public_rss

[Golliwog]

Actually, random factoid. Even if the train did derail on the bridge, it shouldn't fall off as they install catch rails outside the tracks just before the bridge, and between the tracks on the bridge to stop the train falling off. There would still be substantial damage and injuries though (depending on speed), but at least they avoid falling off the bridge.

F=ma
Force = mass times accceleration.

Would the catch rails be enough to restrain an already derailed train?
or would the changed direction of force and momentum (and center of gravity of the train) relative to the rails - simply make it topple over the rails?

I wouldn't want to find out ...


Regards,
Fares_Fair.

They should be. As most bridges are straight, or on a big enough curve that you can say they are, they aren't going to be going sideways much as the main (and almost only) cause of derailment would be a track fault/break or something similar, not the other option of too fast round a corner. So most of your force will be directed straight ahead (and down), not sideways through the rail. Overturning is a possibility, but a train isn't a point load and so the load on the opposite side of the train would help hold it down.

[ozbob]

Another bridge strike at Buranda this morning, truck under the freight line ...

Hopeless,  Government fails to grasp the message ...

[Golliwog]

Another bridge strike at Buranda this morning, truck under the freight line ...

Hopeless,  Government fails to grasp the message ...

I went past that on a bus. Whole bunch of people working to get it out.

[Stillwater]

Increase truck rego -- put additional money into a 'crash fund' or 'bridge repair fund' or insurance policy against crashes.  Hit the truckers in the hip pocket.

[ozbob]

Media Release 24 July 2010 re-released 23 November 2011

SEQ:  Bridge strikes continue amidst the chaos on south-east Queensland roads

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has again called for urgent action to bring bridge strikes under control (1). The implementation of a policy that works to eliminate rail and road bridge strikes by heavy road vehicles should be well within the bureaucratic capability of Queensland Transport.

"Yesterday, yet another heavy vehicle struck a rail bridge on the Ipswich railway line.  Clearly, the present system of drivers theoretically knowing the travelling height and width of their vehicle before they start a journey is not working.  Warning signs are ignored."

"There is increasing frustration at the local government level and within the public transport community generally at the failure to roll out solutions to fix this problem."

"Warning devices such as tell tails, and protective crossbeams on busy thoroughfares on the approaches to over bridges should be mandatory, and with today's electronic and satellite navigation systems further back up warning alerts are possible. Full cost recovery for the chaos caused by bridge strikes and licence sanctions are also necessary."

"It is farcical that these bridge strikes are allowed to occur month after month with seemingly little action to address the fundamental issues.  A Government is elected to act.  It is time that action was taken."

"The serious risk of bridge strikes is that eventually a major incident may occur with possible loss of life."

"The disruption to the transport network that follows these bridge strikes is costly for the community.  We call on Queensland Transport to snap into gear and address the problem of bridge strikes with some urgency. We call on the Minister for Transport to direct that Queensland Transport snaps into gear!"

Reference:

1.  29 May 2009 Queensland:  Bridge strikes, level crossing incidents continue unabated - action demanded today
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2327.0

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Twitter

QPSmedia QPS Media Unit
#bnetraffic truck stuck under rail bridge, Annerley Road, Dutton Park, reports road blocked both directions avoid the area
2 minutes ago

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

[ozbob]

Bridge strike at Corinda this afternoon by a truck. Complicated by asbestos sheet spill.  Oxley Road closed ... 

[Mozz]

Yes indeed was still closed 30 mins ago - silly me thought I would take the short way home on the bike, until I got to Corinda where Oxley road was completely closed still 

Thus a detour around the back blocks of Corinda to get to Oxley. It was a bit hairy as many of the drivers were not in the best of moods about the detour and most didn't know where to go, traffic was heading off in all directions ... and there were no signs or traffic controllers anywhere to be seen except on Oxley road.

[ozbob]

Milton 24th May 2012

Gee, my truck won't fit .... goose!

https://twitter.com/__TommyB__/status/205544655901822977/photo/1

[Fares_Fair]

Milton 24th May 2012

Gee, my truck won't fit .... goose!

https://twitter.com/__TommyB__/status/205544655901822977/photo/1

"Missed it by that much"

[SurfRail]

I think it's time to give up on elaborate solutions and just erect big, f##k off steel arches which will stop any wayward vehicle in its tracks before contacting a bridge.  If you target it at the worst locations, surely that would be better than inconveniencing thousands of people every time this happens and hoping against hope that truck drivers will magically pay better attention to their surroundings next time...

[Stillwater]

  

[O_128]

I think it's time to give up on elaborate solutions and just erect big, f##k off steel arches which will stop any wayward vehicle in its tracks before contacting a bridge.  If you target it at the worst locations, surely that would be better than inconveniencing thousands of people every time this happens and hoping against hope that truck drivers will magically pay better attention to their surroundings next time...

Totally agree, scrap the bulls*** with all the tech solutions, A nice big metal arch will stop these idiots. Is it really that hard?

[ozbob]

Bridge strike Long St Graceville ... delays on the Ipswich/Richlands lines ..

[Fares_Fair]

Send them the bill for the cost of the engineers and emergency service personnel and the damage, even if It's just repainting.

[ozbob]

Media Release 24 July 2010 re-released 6 June 2012

SEQ:  Bridge strikes continue amidst the chaos on south-east Queensland roads

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has again called for urgent action to bring bridge strikes under control (1). The implementation of a policy that works to eliminate rail and road bridge strikes by heavy road vehicles should be well within the bureaucratic capability of Queensland Transport.

"Yesterday, yet another heavy vehicle struck a rail bridge on the Ipswich railway line (2).  Clearly, the present system of drivers theoretically knowing the travelling height and width of their vehicle before they start a journey is not working.  Warning signs are ignored."

"There is increasing frustration at the local government level and within the public transport community generally at the failure to roll out solutions to fix this problem."

"Warning devices such as tell tails, and protective crossbeams on busy thoroughfares on the approaches to over bridges should be mandatory, and with today's electronic and satellite navigation systems further back up warning alerts are possible. Full cost recovery for the chaos caused by bridge strikes and licence sanctions are also necessary."

"It is farcical that these bridge strikes are allowed to occur month after month with seemingly little action to address the fundamental issues.  A Government is elected to act.  It is time that action was taken."

"The serious risk of bridge strikes is that eventually a major incident may occur with possible loss of life."

"The disruption to the transport network that follows these bridge strikes is costly for the community.  We call on Queensland Transport to snap into gear and address the problem of bridge strikes with some urgency. We call on the Minister for Transport to direct that Queensland Transport snaps into gear!"

Reference:

1.  29 May 2009 Queensland:  Bridge strikes, level crossing incidents continue unabated - action demanded today
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2327.0

2.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4141.msg99786#msg99786

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Another bridge strike at Goodna.  Sent this out again.