Safety and security issues, articles, discussion.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Queensland Rail job cuts reduce safety: Opposition

[mufreight]

Look at the background behind the woman boarding the train, I think that you will find that photo was taken platform 3 at Park Road.

I don't think Park Rd has the blue and yellow 'vomit' colour scheme of Indro 
You can even see it reflecting on that highly polished train body.

So true but working with my laptop from a hospital bed without the benefit of my glasses should border on a reasonable excuse for my error, now I am back at home I realised that I was wrong and that it is Indroopilly platform 4

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson
Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Labor failed on rail safety

New figures show Queensland's rail safety and reliability is vastly improving under the Newman Government after Labor oversaw the worst results for more than three years.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said the opposition had an appalling record on rail safety and reliability when in government.

"In our first 12 months in office there was a 10 per cent drop in category A safety incidents compared to the final year under Labor," Mr Emerson.

"The last three months under former Transport Minister and now Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk were the worst transport safety figures since July-to-September 2009."

There were 38 Category A safety incidents in January to March 2012, compared to 20 in the same period this year.

In the final year under Labor there were 126 safety incidents, compared to 114 between April 2012 and March 2013, under an LNP Government.

"In February and March 2012 hundreds of thousands of passengers were disrupted over several days due to network failures under Ms Palaszczuk's watch," Mr Emerson said.

"We've managed to return rail reliability from a three year low in January to March 2012 to an eight year high.

"Staff numbers in corporate areas such as corporate services, marketing and finance increased by between 60-120 per cent over the last two years under Labor.

"I've told Queensland Rail to refocus its business on providing more train crew to deliver 150 additional weekly services and reduce the number of back office staff.

"At the same time we are continuing to ensure the network is safe, with the Department's rail safety regulator maintaining five investigators – the same number as under Labor."

Category A incidents range from serious passenger slips and falls to major incidents such as derailments.

[petey3801]

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson
Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Labor failed on rail safety

New figures show Queensland's rail safety and reliability is vastly improving under the Newman Government after Labor oversaw the worst results for more than three years.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said the opposition had an appalling record on rail safety and reliability when in government.

"In our first 12 months in office there was a 10 per cent drop in category A safety incidents compared to the final year under Labor," Mr Emerson.

"The last three months under former Transport Minister and now Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk were the worst transport safety figures since July-to-September 2009."

There were 38 Category A safety incidents in January to March 2012, compared to 20 in the same period this year.

In the final year under Labor there were 126 safety incidents, compared to 114 between April 2012 and March 2013, under an LNP Government.

"In February and March 2012 hundreds of thousands of passengers were disrupted over several days due to network failures under Ms Palaszczuk's watch," Mr Emerson said.

"We've managed to return rail reliability from a three year low in January to March 2012 to an eight year high.

"Staff numbers in corporate areas such as corporate services, marketing and finance increased by between 60-120 per cent over the last two years under Labor.

"I've told Queensland Rail to refocus its business on providing more train crew to deliver 150 additional weekly services and reduce the number of back office staff.

"At the same time we are continuing to ensure the network is safe, with the Department's rail safety regulator maintaining five investigators – the same number as under Labor."

Category A incidents range from serious passenger slips and falls to major incidents such as derailments.

I hate using all caps, but seriously... STOP WITH THE LABOR BLAME GAME AND GET ON WITH RUNNING THE STATE PROPERLY!! FFS!  Someone needs to tell the Libs that they're actually in Government now, nobody cares about the blame game, people just want the state to be run like a state should run!

There have also been a much larger amount of fatalities on the network so far this year compared to previous years, but we don't hear everyone blaming the Libs for that! I am so sick of this Government! Next election can't come quick enough...

Edit: I also don't recall a train crashing into a station building while Labor was in power, either...

[ozbob]

The above  Ministerial statement is nothing short of petulant and pathetic I agree Petey.

Time they got on with it ...

Few less slips, less passengers ... perhaps that might be one reason as well ...

[SurfRail]

I don't recall any station buildings being unexpectedly renovated by an IMU under Labor.  Obviously it's their fault though since they ordered the rollingstock.

Sigh...

[somebody]

I don't recall any station buildings being unexpectedly renovated by an IMU under Labor.  Obviously it's their fault though since they ordered the rollingstock.

If it happens at Ferny Grove it probably will be Labor to blame for building the station in that way.  But the Nationals built Cleveland.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Edit: I also don't recall a train crashing into a station building while Labor was in power, either...

No but the nationals did do some renos and landscaping with a couple disels back in the 80's. And I forget who is responsible for....

[colinw]

The way rail discussions have become so politicised makes me want to barf ....    Aaaargh! 

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Caboolture Railway Line trains become the booze express

[ozbob]

Nine News --> Group assaulted on Queensland train

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Illegal rail line crossings top 1500 on Caboolture line in 2012, according to Queensland Rail

[ozbob]

Twitter

mXBrisbane mXBrisbane ‏@mXBrisbane 1m

Brissie commuters feel safer on trains than people in other major cities. In @mXBrisbane today, read about @QueenslandRail's 5 star rating.

[Gazza]

150 additional weekly services?
Is that the Ferny Grove stuff, or something new?

[HappyTrainGuy]

A couple extra Gold Coast and Airport services too.

[ozbob]

A sad warning for all ...

NEWS CANADA --> Montreal-area woman slips between subway cars while looking at her cellphone, dies

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 26th April 2013 page 1

A safer journey costs

[HappyTrainGuy]

Which is why everyone legs it as fast as they can as soon as they take a step outside the station grounds at night 

[ozbob]

http://www.canstarblue.com.au/travel/city-trains/

Full results ...

Interesting ....

[somebody]

http://www.canstarblue.com.au/travel/city-trains/

Full results ...

Interesting ....

Mind blowing.

Just shows how low people's expectations are in Brisbane.

[ozbob]

Canstarblue appears to be based in Brisbane.  I think they also do the TransLink Customer Satisfaction surveys ...

https://connectonline.asic.gov.au/RegistrySearch/faces/adf.task-flow?adf.tfId=panelSearch&adf.tfDoc=/taskflows/panelSearch.xml&searchType=OrgAndBusNm&searchText=142285434

Name:   CANSTAR BLUE PTY LIMITED
ACN:    142 285 434
ABN:    60 142 285 434
Registration date:    26/02/2010
Next review date:    26/02/2014
   
Status:    Registered
Type:    Australian Proprietary Company, Limited By Shares
Locality of registered office:    Brisbane QLD 4000
Regulator:    Australian Securities & Investments Commission

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Government rail safety campaign featuring coffin made of railway sleepers to appear on Ipswich line at Central Station

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Train passengers safer in Brisbane: survey

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robyn Ironside ‏@ironsider 5m

Great work by two women after man fell on to tracks at Wooloowin minutes before train was due.
http://t.co/L31tSByAzZ

[HappyTrainGuy]

Wasn't there a Citybound service already on platform 3 when that happened?

[ozbob]

Wasn't there a Citybound service already on platform 3 when that happened?

Arrived  just before happened.  Vid --> Bystanders pull man from train tracks

[ozbob]

https://smartjobs.qld.gov.au/jobtools/jncustomsearch.viewFullSingle?in_organid=14904&in_jnCounter=221366141&in_skills=senior+network+officer&in_orderby=scoring%20desc

Senior Network Officer
Transport and Main Roads (Organisation site)
Passenger Rail;Passenger Transport Services; TransLink Division;Brisbane

Accountabilities include:

• The provision of high-quality customer assistance to passengers travelling on the TransLink network in South East Queensland by professionally responding to their requirements.

• The performance of revenue protection duties via the checking of ticketing products including paper tickets and go cards and the issuing of Penalty Infringement Notices and other compliance activities across bus, ferry and rail services on the TransLink network.

• Proactive management of the safety of passengers travelling on the TransLink network and the identification and response to personal safety incidents and medical emergencies.

• Professional and discrete communication and liaison with TransLink Division's business partners and key stakeholders including Queensland Rail, bus operators and the Queensland Police Service.

• Preparation of detailed written reports on offenders for the Queensland Police Service and other relevant parties, and the preparation of court documentation if and when required.

• Provision of support to network service delivery including participation in major events and responding to network interruptions or major changes.

• Participation in all mandatory training and maintain the level of professional skills required to perform the role of Senior Network Officer.

• This role reports to a team of Network Shift Supervisors and will operate in partnership with another Senior Network Officer when deployed onto the TransLink network.

Applications to remain current for 12 months.

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times click here!

Smokers cough up $260,000 in fines

Smokers cough up $260,000 in fines
Geoff Egan 3rd Jun 2013 6:00 AM

GOODNA station ranked as Ipswich's top hotspot for smoking fines in south-east Queensland over the past year.

Twenty-nine fines were handed out at the station, the 10th most in the TransLink network.

According to TransLink, smokers across the south-east shelled out close to $263,000 in fines in the last financial year for smoking illegally on the public transport network.

Releasing the figures on the World Health Organisation's No Tobacco Day on Friday, Transport Minister Scott Emerson said they were a stern reminder that smoking is not tolerated on public transport.

"Fines and infringements are helping to stamp out smoking on our network," he said.

"TransLink senior network officers, transit officers and rail-squad police are out on force to monitor and protect against all types of anti-social behaviour, including smoking in smoke-free areas.

"Officers handed out more than a thousand fines in the 2011-12 financial year (1195), and have already handed out 401 fines so far this year.

"Those caught smoking on train or busway stations, ferry terminals or in even in some cases onboard services, face a fine of $220."

Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said he had observed a lot of smoking on the Goodna platform, but in defence of smokers, he called for more signage to distinguish non-smoking areas.

"There needs to be clarification as to what constitutes a non-smoking area because of the potential confusion with the overhead foot bridge at Goodna," he said. "Smoking on the station platform is clearly prohibited. I have noticed some smokers congregating down the Ipswich end where they can hide to some degree and this gives them some confidence that they are out of sight."

Mr Emerson said busy train stations such as Roma St, Bowen Hills and Central were common spots for nabbing those illegally lighting up.

"What offenders may not realise is that there are more than 9000 CCTV cameras across the public transport network including monitoring 24-7," he said.

[ozbob]

today tonight Public transport mayhem

Passengers have reached their tipping point and are running a public shame campaign to expose what they see on public transportation.

--> http://au.news.yahoo.com/today-tonight/video/watch/17611263/public-transport-mayhem/

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Nurse Kay Semour nominated for Pride Of Australia bravery honour after daring rail track rescue

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Police crackdown on bayside rail network after finding a man transporting a gun under his seat

[techblitz]

Brisbane Times --> Off-Duty Police Officer Assaulted on Caboolture Line

[HappyTrainGuy]

Typical scumbags.

[ozbob]

Twitter

QPS Media Unit ‏@QPSmedia 2m

A 20-year-old man has been charged following investigations into an incident on a train at Bald Hills on August 10. http://fb.me/Mk4WolhF

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Queensland Rail releases footage of commuters tumbling down stairs for Rail Safety Week

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Commuters slip up at Queensland stations

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> More than $300,000 recovered this year from Queensland motorists who damage boom gates

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2013/9/18/man-cheats-death-in-front-of-express-train

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson
Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Man cheats death in front of express train

Shocking footage of a pedestrian narrowly escaping death after darting in front of an express train is a reminder to all about the dangers of ignoring signs and signals at railway crossings.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said the 20-year-old man was lucky to be alive after he pushed through closed pedestrian gates at Cannon Hill station last month and crossed the tracks in front of a train travelling at about 60 km/h.

"This incident could have easily turned into a tragedy as the man was so close the train hit his leg and knocked him to the ground," Mr Emerson said.

"The man was transported to hospital and thankfully escaped serious injury, however it's horrific to think what would have happened to the man if he was a second slower.

"The incident shows how easy it is for a pedestrian to miss the danger of a second oncoming train and taking an unthinkable risk which could have been fatal.

"The pedestrian gates at Cannon Hill were closed at the time of the incident – all it takes to stay safe at railway crossings is to pay attention to the signs and signals."

The man appeared in court and was charged with entering a rail crossing when warning signals were operating, an offence carrying a maximum penalty of $2,200.

Mr Emerson said the Newman Government was committed to doing everything possible to keep people safe on the network, but people need to play their part.

"People of all ages need to be aware that trespassing, taking shortcuts and unsafe behaviour near railway tracks is not a joke," he said.

"It is illegal and it is risky behaviour that endangers not only their lives but also the lives of traincrew and passengers,"

Near misses at railway crossings across the state decreased from 489 to 351 or by nearly 30 per cent since the 'Crosses' campaign was launched in June last year.

Footage is located at (external site)

[ENDS] 18 September 2013 

 

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 18th September 2013 page 1

Dash of death

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Authorities say there are far too many near misses