Safety and security issues, articles, discussion.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> School bus windows smashed by projectiles while on run through Molendinar

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Bus driver injured by knife-carrying teen

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Bus driver is cut by a young passenger

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Gold Coast bus assaults down

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Man knocked out after falling onto train tracks

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Bus drivers under attack

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Two Brisbane Citytrains loaded with passengers came within metres of colliding when train failed to stop at red signal

[ozbob]

http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/AboutUs/MediaCentre/MediaReleases/Pages/closingtraindoors.aspx

Don't push your luck through closing train doors

11/06/2014

Passengers are being warned to not push their luck rushing for the train, following an increase in the number of people getting caught in closing doors.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said it was alarming that nearly 100 people last financial year ignored the warning signals and were caught in closing train doors.

"This causes unnecessary injuries to passengers on and across our network," Mr Emerson said.

"More than eight people each month are getting caught in train doors at stations across the network; this is a 13 per cent increase from the previous financial year.

"A quarter of these incidents are occurring at CBD stations.

"With more and more people pre-occupied on their mobile phones or listening to music through headphones, they're not paying attention to what's going on around them.

"We are concerned at the number of people who are distracted and rushing for their train, missing important warning messages when the train is about to depart.

"There is no excuse for carelessness, with the high frequency inner-city stations recording a quarter of all incidents, and half of all incidents happening in peak hour.

"The number of injuries could be drastically reduced by passengers planning ahead and being at the platform two minutes before their train was due to arrive.

"We're asking passengers to pay attention to warnings and follow directions from station staff."

[dancingmongoose]

Helps if trains run on time. Sick of having to run through closing doors to make a train because it's leaving 90 seconds early and I am not going to wait half an hour for the next one

[techblitz]

so how does one avoid this? Door hop? By the time they actually find a carriage they can get into the doors are closing.
At least with a bus there is a person of authority to tell passengers to move back and make way for others

I just had the doors shut right on me at corinda station. I was in the process of moving into the carriage and a bunch of school kids were not budging and I got smashed by the doors. Nearly lost my bag and now my arms are incredibly sore.

facebook post this morning

[ozbob]

Commonsense ..

It is always interesting observing commuter behaviour in Melbourne when I visit.  They have DOO of course and the public generally know not to push the envelope ...

[SurfRail]

Also worth observing that this happened WITH a guard in the middle of the train.

[techblitz]

the little train etiquette posters on trains dont seem to be working........perhaps time to add another automated announcement to the memory bank...advising passengers to make way at the doors and move down aisles....loop it every 2 minutes at peak hour....should work wonders

[ozbob]

^   

We have been trying for a while now, there is a certain ' resistance ' in the Queenslander brain  ...   

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

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=96.msg187#msg187

Media Release 22 November 2006  re-released 9 November 2010

Make room for more, please move away from the door!

RAIL - Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community organisation for the promotion of rail throughout Australia has said that recent announcements concerning the acquisition of new trains for CityTrain in Brisbane are timely, and are urgently needed to increase passenger accommodation on the network.  However, to help ease overcrowding today, an advertising campaign encouraging passengers to move down aisles towards the centre of carriages, freeing up room at the doors will help ease commuters' frustrations.  This will also assist in keeping trains on time.

Robert Dow, on behalf of RAIL Back On Track said "On my journey by train to Roma Street this morning, it was very congested around doorways.  If folks were encouraged to move down the carriages in the aisles this would help ease congestion.  If passengers are not held up boarding and leaving the trains, timetables are better able to be maintained as well."

"I am sure a catchy slogan could be found. For example 'Put a smile on a commuter's dial, move along the centre aisle'  or 'Make room for more, please move away from the door' or something similar."

"Thanks to CityTrain staff and crew for the great job they do under trying conditions at times. Well done!"


Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[HappyTrainGuy]

Also worth observing that this happened WITH a guard in the middle of the train.

You have to remember this is the state where people have in the past tried to board the train James Bond style by jumping onto the side of the moving train.

Tip: This does not work.

[ozbob]

Jamie-Lee Crawford - Queensland Rail - Improving operational safety through innovation and technology from Informa Australia

[dancingmongoose]

Sand anti-slip braking systems set to keep South East Queensland trains on the right track -> http://www.news.com.au/national/sand-antislip-braking-systems-set-to-keep-south-east-queensland-trains-on-the-right-track/story-e6frfkp9-1226988891311

[ozbob]

Sand anti-slip braking systems set to keep South East Queensland trains on the right track -> http://www.news.com.au/national/sand-antislip-braking-systems-set-to-keep-south-east-queensland-trains-on-the-right-track/story-e6frfkp9-1226988891311

This is here --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9567.msg144210#msg144210

Thanks!

[dancingmongoose]

Ha whoops, looks like you beat me to it

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> School bus fire shock: Owner fears it won't be last

THE owner of the school bus which burst into flames on Tuesday fears more buses could suffer the same fate because of stringent new regulations to cut emissions.

Paul West, of West National Coaches, said he watched in horror and sadness the video film of his near new bus ablaze on the Bruce Hwy.

The bus was carrying students and teachers from Maroochydore State High.

While the investigation into the cause is ongoing, Mr West said there had been an increase in the number of fires in buses in Australia and across the world.

He said new environmental rules which forced engine manufacturers to get emissions down could be the cause of the problem.

"Because of the change, there is an enormous amount of pressure put on diesel," he said.

"Aviation fuel normally can't burn, but under pressures it burns beyond belief."

Mr West was backed by Bus Industry Confederation executive director Michael Apps.

"There is no doubt the newer low emission vehicles, in order to achieve a reduction in pollution, do operate higher ambient temperatures," Mr Apps said.

"There is a greater risk of a fire igniting after there has been leaking fluid such as coolant."

Figures supplied to the Daily by bus safety campaigner Leon Hain suggest more than 30 Australian buses, including many school buses, have been gutted by fire in the last decade.

Mr Apps was unable to confirm the figure.

He said the industry began research into the causes of bus fires 12 months ago and the findings are expected to be presented in September.

Mr Apps said there was no "silver bullet" solution.

Mr West said the coach destroyed on Tuesday was one of his newer buses and had just been serviced. It had only 110,000 kilometres on the clock.

[SurfRail]

Most buses don't have fire suppression systems in them.  Brisbane Transport has been retrofitting some of its buses with them.

[ozbob]

Australian Trains - The Dedication

Behind every headlight there is someone who needs you to stop at level crossings...do your part.

[techblitz]

found by a passenger @ darra on an inbound ipswich line train today. 

[ozbob]

found by a passenger @ darra on an inbound ipswich line train today. 

Do you know what is was?  Stick? Nail??

[petey3801]

A nail, according to the person who posted it. Something different..

[ozbob]

A nail, according to the person who posted it. Something different..

Hopefully some CCTV can be viewed to find out who put it there?

[techblitz]

A nail, according to the person who posted it. Something different..

Hopefully some CCTV can be viewed to find out who put it there?

Lets hope so! Its quite concerning..

[Golliwog]

A nail, according to the person who posted it. Something different..

Hopefully some CCTV can be viewed to find out who put it there?

Lets hope so! Its quite concerning..

Indeed. I've found a safety pin the the back cushion once before as well. Luckily I had only lent back slightly before feeling something.

[ozbob]

For awareness ...

Brisbanetimes --> Train forces two women to run for their lives

[ozbob]

Worst Train Station Falls | 9 News Queensland

[ozbob]

7 News --> Train hits man asleep on tracks in MidWest

[ozbob]

Twitter

SteveMinnikinMP ‏@SteveMinnikinMP

Presented our 10 latest graduating Translink Senior Network Officers with their badges today. Well done! #qldpol http://t.co/h8HdmfKyBf

[dancingmongoose]

Passenger fails to mind the gap at Stirling train station, commuters work together to free him --> http://www.news.com.au/national/western-australia/passenger-fails-to-mind-the-gap-at-stirling-train-station-commuters-work-together-to-free-him/story-fnii5thn-1227015379624

[ozbob]

Passenger slipped and leg was wedged between carriage and platform edge. Passenger was freed, no injuries of note.

Team effort to move carriage slightly, passenger freed leg.

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

Twitter

Tom Elliott ‏@TomElliott3AW

People power at its finest. Perth commuters have freed a man when his leg became stuck between the platform and train

[ozbob]

Twitter

Peter Doherty ‏@PeterDoherty7

If you only switch the TV on tonight for 1 story - make it this one. Remarkable human effort to save trapped man

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Woman sexually assaulted on Brisbane train





Police have called for anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Queensland Rail ‏@QueenslandRail

Today marks the start of Rail Safety Week. Last year there were 285 near misses at our level crossings.  http://fb.me/2eBkmCHSL

[ozbob]

QPS --> Traffic crash, Gatton

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Damage cost '$600 a minute'

SIX hundred dollars per minute.

That's how much it cost Queensland Rail when Mark Matthew Whelan took a train out of commission by smashing a window.

Ipswich District Court was told Whelan, 18, was waiting for a train at Ebbw Vale station on August 7 last year when he overheard a threat from a group to bash a minor and stepped in.

He told one of the people in the group to leave the teenager alone and a fight broke out.

When the next train arrived Whelan jumped on, despite not having a ticket, while the other man stayed at the station.

Frustrated, he kicked a door, smashing the window.

The train had to be stopped for over an hour, costing Queensland Rail more than $40,000.

Whelan pleaded guilty to wilfully damaging a railway, endangering a person on a railway, obstructing a train service and evading a train fare.

Crown prosecutor Jessica Goldie said the damage done to the train had cost taxpayers a huge amount of money to fix and inconvenienced numerous commuters.

Defence lawyer Peter Sloane said the cost worked out to be around $600 for every minute the train was out of service.

"He got on and kicked the door out of frustration," he said.

"He was quite astounded at the restitution amount. He had no idea it cost $600 a minute if the train is taken off the line."

Judge Deborah Richards said while it only cost $359 to repair the window the, delay to commuters and cost of taking the train out of service was the major impact of Whelan's single kick.

She said in the year since the offence had taken place Whelan had worked to stop offending, and had found support groups after a trouble upbringing.

"You seem to be making some real efforts to turn your life around," she said.

He was ordered to serve 240 hours of community service.

These are the sort of true costs of bridge and boom gate strikes.  Time they were hit with these in addition the damage, traffic fines and sanctions - preferably off the road.