Safety and security issues, articles, discussion.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Bundaberg rail death: Teen electrocuted in train yard

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Bus driver punched in head as man tries to steal coins: police

[ozbob]

Light rail new safety campaign to try to prevent injuries to tram passengers @TomHartley_7 https://t.co/r5zJxEaeyU

— 7 News Queensland (@7NewsQueensland) August 15, 2016

[ozbob]

Twitter

QPS Media Unit ‏@QPSmedia 9 minutes ago

A man has been hit by a tram on Gold Coast Highway at Broadbeach. Please avoid the area as police respond. #GCTraffic

[verbatim9]

And the Safety campaign has just been ramped up. No excuses for complacent, vague and negligent behavior from pedestrians, cyclists and motorists

[ozbob]

Twitter

QPS Media Unit ‏@QPSmedia 9 minutes ago

A man has been hit by a tram on Gold Coast Highway at Broadbeach. Please avoid the area as police respond. #GCTraffic

^

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Man hit by tram in Broadbeach

A MAN has been taken to hospital after he was hit by a tram in Broadbeach this afternoon.

The man, who was believed to have been riding a push bike, was hit just after 2pm on the Gold Coast Highway line.

He suffered a shoulder injury and was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a stable condition.

Multiple emergency services responded and all Gold Coast Highway northbound lanes except one were closed for at least an hour.

The circumstances surrounding how he was hit are unknown at this stage.

The driver was questioned by police and passengers remained on board the tram following the accident.

The crash caused major traffic woes and motorists are advised to avoid the area.

[ozbob]

Enough is enough : One in five bus drivers attacked on the job - Yahoo7 https://t.co/ScwKAuIrJz via @Yahoo7

— QBIC (@_QBIC) August 21, 2016

[ozbob]

Australasian Bus & Coach --> Most QLD drivers experience assault

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Bus driver assaults: 26 physical attacks in past year

BRISBANE bus drivers have been physically assaulted more than 20 times over the past financial year.

And one in 10 buses did not have CCTV systems installed as of July 29 this year.

The statistics, revealed in council meetings, show there were 26 physical assaults — which included spitting — on council buses in the past financial year.

This was a decrease on the previous financial year, when there were 42 incidences of physical violence on council buses.

Rail Tram and Bus Union Queensland assistant state secretary Tom Brown said even one assault was too many and he called for tougher penalties for offenders.

"Jail time is the biggest deterrent to potential offenders," he said.

"Every driver should be able to come to work and work in safety."

Mr Brown said Brisbane bus drivers were being spat at, verbally abused and physically assaulted.

"It can have catastrophic effects down the track for the driver. It's what happens later, when the driver thinks they're going to be in a similar situation again," he said.

Mr Brown said a 70-year-old male driver was bashed on August 12 just after noon at Red Hill, being struck in the head, after the alleged offender refused to pay the fare.

"(The driver) has been off work ever since," he said.

"You never know what's going to happen next. The assault was in the middle of the day at Red Hill.

"Not night time in a secluded place."

Public and Active Transport chairman Councillor Adrian Schrinner said council took assaults against bus drivers very seriously.

"Our bus drivers are on the frontline every day providing essential public services and it is absolutely deplorable that anyone would abuse or attack them for doing their job," Cr Schrinner said.

Cr Schrinner said anyone who witnessed an assault against a passenger or driver should report the behaviour to police immediately.

"We remain committed to improving the safety and security of Brisbane's bus network and have implemented numerous measures to deter anti-social behaviour and improve safety for our drivers," he said.

"This includes the installation of shatter-proof windows, two-way radio communication, emergency buttons, duress alarms and extensive training to assist drivers in dealing with difficult situations."

Cr Schrinner said every new bus in council's fleet had CCTV and older vehicles without CCTV would be retired over the next two years.

"This suite of safety improvements has seen a 38 per cent reduction in instances of assault year on year and we will continue to work to reduce this number," he said.

[Derwan]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2016/9/9/police-get-new-weapon-to-help-keep-rail-network-safe

Police get new weapon to help keep rail network safe

Queensland Rail has partnered with the Queensland Police Service to boost security on the rail network and enabled remote access to 7000 rail station based CCTV cameras at Police Headquarters.

Minister for Transport Stirling Hinchliffe and Police Minister Bill Byrne welcomed the partnership and said it would give the Queensland Police Service access Queensland Rail's extensive CCTV network in real-time at the Police Communications Centre and improve responses to anti-social behaviour on the rail network.

"New remote CCTV access will enhance safety and security on our rail network, by providing vital real-time CCTV access for our Police to monitor and respond," Mr Byrne said.

"Police will now be able to log into station based cameras monitoring an incident on the rail network and coordinate their response appropriately, improving the current process of Queensland Rail security monitoring officers providing information verbally.

"It makes sense for Police to have instant access to the eyes and ears provided by Queensland Rail's cameras and will ensure they are able to better respond to incidents.

"This is a powerful new tool targeting anti-social behaviour, allowing Police to monitor and react to incidents from crime through to crowd control and other issues surrounding big events like RiverFire or New Year's Eve."   

Mr Hinchliffe said new remote access for Police is in addition to Queensland Rail's new 'Intelligent Media Wall' unveiled at the $40 million Rail Management Centre opened earlier this year.

"Police access to real-time CCTV will complement the new media wall located at the Queensland Rail Management Centre, which is more than triple the size of the previous one," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"A security monitoring team at Queensland Rail are now able to better monitor CCTV, with technological enhancements which improve detection and response to crime on the network.

"Queensland Rail's commitment to safety has delivered excellent results, with the number of serious weapon based offences on the South East Queensland rail network dropping by half over the past two years."

Mr Hinchliffe said technology advancements were in addition to eight new police officers as part of the dedicated Police Railway Squad, as well as six new Authorised Officers operating on the South East Queensland rail network.

"A team of 78 police officers work specifically on the rail network and out of seven purpose built police beats to address anti-social behaviour," he said.

"Fortunately, serious crimes or injuries on the railway network are few and far between and those involved in assaults or altercations are often known to one another."

In 2015 Queensland Rail was rated the safest metropolitan railway network in Australia by independent research agency Canstar Blue.

[techblitz]

this is excellent news and especially needed on ippy.cabooolture and Beenleigh lines....will also improve the `safety` rating for trains on the translink tracker...

[ozbob]

Queensland Police link to 7000 cameras at train stationshttps://t.co/hDobjR5n6D

— Brisbane Times (@brisbanetimes) September 9, 2016

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Safety concerns soar on SEQ train network

Not quite what it seems ...

[ozbob]

Lucky escape for passengers on a bus at Underwood after the vehicle caught alight on Logan Road. #9News pic.twitter.com/EBRE5zCj0S

— Nine News Brisbane (@9NewsBrisbane) September 13, 2016

[ozbob]

Bus drivers are demanding Translink drastically change how it approaches bus driver safety. @7NewsSC pic.twitter.com/3vmWUG2GKS

— Dante Ceccon (@dantececcon) September 15, 2016

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Train derailment puts Newlands line out of action

[ozbob]

Two elderly tourists showered with glass when their bus was pelted with rocks at Palm Beach. @Bianca_Stone reports. https://t.co/dVyzrBKDzH

— 7 News Queensland (@7NewsQueensland) September 19, 2016

[ozbob]

Report on 4BC radio bus v. train Alderley ..

waiting confirmation.

[ozbob]

oops ...

Alderley crossing #bnetraffic pic.twitter.com/IgtEGIJljy

— Liam Clancy (@ldclancy) September 20, 2016

[ozbob]

#BREAKING: Train v bus at Alderley. South Pine Road is closed in both directions. https://t.co/o1yrqGOjxn #bnetraffic #7News pic.twitter.com/j87hu69Z3v

— 7 News Queensland (@7NewsQueensland) September 20, 2016

[ozbob]

Well judging by the photographs looks like a low speed impact fortunately.  Bus still upright.

CCTV will tell all.

[tazzer9]

If only there were audio and visual cues along with a physical barrier to help car and bus drivers know of an approaching train.

[ozbob]

About to speak to a passenger on this bus - hit by a train at Alderley @NewsTalk4BC #BrisbaneLive pic.twitter.com/j9lFoUCBxm

— Ben Davis (@BenDavis74) September 20, 2016

[tazzer9]

Would be terrifying being a passenger.  Both doors are still shut so it looks like nobody made a last second dash. 
Hopefully the book gets thrown at the driver. 

[ozbob]

Comments from 4BC interview:

Passenger on bus " Faith: Bus was stuck in traffic, sitting across the train tracks.  [ uh oh ... ]

After a while passengers realised that a crash was imminent - lights started to flash, passengers demanded to get out of the bus. Everyone is fine. Two people were still on the bus when train impacted. "

[ozbob]

Would be terrifying being a passenger.  Both doors are still shut so it looks like nobody made a last second dash. 
Hopefully the book gets thrown at the driver.

Serious offence.  A vehicle must not enter a level crossing unless clear other side.

[tazzer9]

Would be terrifying being a passenger.  Both doors are still shut so it looks like nobody made a last second dash. 
Hopefully the book gets thrown at the driver.

Serious offence.  A vehicle must not enter a level crossing unless clear other side.

Because he's acting as a driver of a public passenger vehicle, a whole other bunch of charges get added along with the usual dangerous driving related charges.


On the positive side, This might act as the trigger for a grade separation.

[ozbob]

Train & bus collision at the Sth Pine Rd level crossing at Alderley #bnetraffix #chopperview 🚍🚂 🚁 pic.twitter.com/1hjfCu2CpK

— Dave Andrews (@chopperdaveqld) September 20, 2016

[ozbob]

If I was on a bus, or in a taxi or other hire vehicle or whatever and the vehicle entered a crossing when it was not clear to exit I would go bananas!

Bus drivers are put under time pressure but there are certain rules that should never be breached.

The two elderly women killed at Surrey Hills last week when a Metro train hit their car also entered the crossing when it was not clear to exit.

. @NewsTalk4BC Unfortunately bus drivers are put under a lot of time pressure.
An easy mistake to make sadly ..
A WARNING FOR ALL https://t.co/8aDrupzqN6

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) September 20, 2016

Never enter a crossing (i.e. never go
beyond the stop line on the road) if you
cannot exit the crossing at the time
you enter it.#qldpol

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) September 20, 2016

[ozbob]

Wacol is another crossing that has problems with vehicles entering when not clear the other side.  Fatalities have occurred.

We highlighted it a number of years ago as did QPS.  Some additional traffic control lights were added to the set up, but it still confuses those not familiar with the location often.

[ozbob]

Legislation:

http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/T/TrantOpRURR09.pdf

Transport Operations (Road Use Management—Road Rules) Regulation 2009

Part 11 Keeping left, overtaking and other driving rules

Page 130 Current as at 1 September 2015

A driver must not enter a level crossing if—

(a) warning lights (for example, twin red lights or rotating
red lights) are operating or warning bells are ringing; or
(b) a gate, boom or barrier at the crossing is closed or is
opening or closing; or
(c) a train or tram is on or entering the crossing; or
(d) a train or tram approaching the crossing can be seen
from the crossing, or is sounding a warning, and there
would be a danger of a collision with the train or tram if
the driver entered the crossing; or
(e) the driver can not drive through the crossing because the
crossing, or a road beyond the crossing, is blocked.
Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.
Example for paragraph (e)—
The crossing, or a road beyond the crossing, may be blocked by
congested traffic, a disabled vehicle, a collision between
vehicles or between a vehicle and a pedestrian, or by stock on
the road.
124 Leaving a level crossing
A driver who enters a level crossing must leave the level
crossing as soon as the driver can do so safely.
Maximum penalty—20 penalty units

[ The penalty unit value in Queensland is $121.90 (current from 1 July 2016)  https://www.qld.gov.au/law/crime-and-police/types-of-crime/sentencing-fines-and-penalties-for-offences/ ]

[aldonius]

There's no particularly good way to grade separate here IMHO. I suppose once the Trouts Rd corridor goes in, Alderley will need to be completely rebuilt anyway, so it will be a natural fit to do then.

[techblitz]

lets just be thankful it wasn't in the morning where:
1. Potential for a heavily loaded inbound p343
2. 'special' destoed express trains heading to ferny grove...

[#Metro]

QR Train vs BCC Bus, BCC comes off second best!

[Golliwog]

There's no particularly good way to grade separate here IMHO. I suppose once the Trouts Rd corridor goes in, Alderley will need to be completely rebuilt anyway, so it will be a natural fit to do then.

Not easy but wouldn't be hard either. Resume (likely only temporary) the 3 houses on the western side of South Pine Rd (possibly also the childcare centre to take the resumptions all the way back to Railway St (all depends on how steep an approach you can get away with). Put a temporary road detour using the green space between the police compound and South Pine Rd and the now resumed houses and build a road over rail bridge where the current road is (or build it in the green space - I think this is a local drain though so you would need to look at flood impacts).

[HappyTrainGuy]

Gonna need more space than that mate.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Alderley bus and train crash investigations continue

[ozbob]

Do not enter a level crossing unless you can get out the other sidehttps://t.co/qVlJDTdhIo
It's the law & besides drive to survive#qldpol

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) September 21, 2016

[ozbob]

Two thirds of Brisbane buses are not fitted with fire-suppression technology. https://t.co/n1EMXHFUTp #bnetraffic https://t.co/c4fm7pIacU

— 7 News Queensland (@7NewsQueensland) September 22, 2016

[ozbob]

Drink driver slams into tram at Broadbeach overnight https://t.co/rrK874hWgO

— Gold Coast Bulletin (@GCBulletin) September 24, 2016