Citytrain - new logo?

[ozbob]

Photograph R Dow 26 Feb 2008

Citytrain is blanked out on many of the suburban trains of late ...

[SockGap]

I spoke to a friend who's a CityTrain driver yesterday while we were standing on Bowen Hills platform.  He noticed the logo had been blanked on the EMU that was stopped near us - he said it was the first time he'd seen it.

He'd not heard anything about it.  And had just got a new QR shirt that morning - complete with CityTrain logo.

[Zoiks]

The railpage and transportaustralia boards are reporting this is widespread over many of the new and older trains. They all believe that it is part of the rumours of further breaking CityTrain from QR.

I think it sucks though. CityTrain is a good brand. NSW has CityRail and hell we still have the CityCat's

[ozbob]

This may be a clue as to what is going on:

http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=54366

Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

BLIGH GOVERNMENT TO CREATE NEW TRANSIT AUTHORITY

Patrons of public transport will benefit from the creation of one new authority to manage all public transport services in south east Queensland, Premier Anna Bligh and Minister for Transport John Mickel, announced today.

Ms Bligh said the new authority would make it simpler and easier for customers offering a one stop shop for scheduling, customer needs and complaints.

?This will be a serious and significant shake up of public transport services in the south east ,? Ms Bligh said.

?The new authority will be more accountable to the needs of customers and have greater control over service delivery.

"At the moment there is a lot of confusion from the customer's point of view over who is responsible for public transport.

"Sometimes it is TransLink, sometimes it is the Brisbane City Council, sometimes it is QR or a private operator depending on where you live.

?We are going to create one authority to coordinate the myriad of 17 different bus, ferry and public transport service providers that currently service the region.?

Ms Bligh said the State Government would seek the input of SEQ Mayors, unions and service providers on the development of the new authority.

She said a model for public consultation would be released and a new authority up and running by July next year.

?The new authority will have real grunt,? Ms Bligh said.

"It will consolidate responsibility for public transport under one organisation, greatly improving accountability to the customer.

"For example, a transit authority will have greater freedom to redeploy resources, like buses, to different areas in South East Queensland as needed based on demand.

"It will also mean the introduction of complex, system wide initiatives such as real-time passenger information and smart card ticketing will be much smoother.

Queensland Rail passenger services - incorporating the Citytrain and TravelTrain division - will be structurally separated from QR?s other operations.

The new entity will have primary responsibility for delivering improved rail passenger services and ensuring a renewed customer service focus for our passengers. Its services will be contracted by the new Transit Authority

The focus will be solely on passenger services - unlike current arrangements in which QR passenger services are just one part of a larger organisation incorporating other businesses such as freight and coal.

This will allow Queensland Rail to clearly delineate between their separate businesses and focus on their continued expansion into the national freight market.

Minister for Transport John Mickel said the State Government would look at a number of models for the new transit authority, with the different options to be presented to Cabinet.

"One option is the model used by Transport for London," he said.

"Transport for London ties together public transport in the London area through subsidiaries that operate different activities across the city such as bus, underground, light rail and so on.

"When appropriate, Transport for London also partners with commercial providers to deliver services where specialised expertise is required.

"This model has been very successful and is being considered by a number of other cities around the world such as Dublin."

Minister Mickel said a new transit authority would provide an opportunity for local government to have greater input in the transport decision making process.

"Local government has always been an important stakeholder when it comes to planning for public transport," Mr Mickel said.

"Providing local government with a direct say in how public transport is planned is one option under a new urban transit authority."

Ms Bligh said the new authority would build on the work already undertaken to improve public transport services in the region.

?We have allocated close to $10 billion over the next twenty years to improve public transport infrastructure in SEQ,? she said.

?More than $950 million is being spent in the region on bus, train and ferry services this year alone.

?Four years ago we created Translink. Since then they have successfully implemented integrated ticketing, provided additional services including 500 new buses and are rolling out Smart Cards.

?Patronage has grown by more than 30% and trips have increased from 119 million trips per annum to more than 160 million trips per annum.

?However Translink does not undertake scheduling of services across the region.

?The new authority will be a one stop shop that will provide a better and improved service for customers.?


9 October, 2007

[Derwan]

Perhaps the various modes of transport will be combined under a single brand (i.e. the new transit authority).  This would give the perception of a unified organisation rather that different ones trying to work together (Citytrain, Brisbane Transport, etc).

This may mean that we say goodbye to the CityCat brand as well!   

Considering it is the "Citytrain" part - and not the QR part - that has been blanked, it would suggest that "QR" is to be retained.  (The trains are still run by QR after all - even with the restructure.)

[ozbob]

From Brisbane mX 26 Feb 2008 page 2  not online

One to rule all

Anna Edwards

A new transit authority to coordinate the regions' train, bus and ferry services will be up and running July.

The new authority, which would build on TransLink, will manage services between the 17 operators in the transit network, coordinating and deploying buses, trains and ferries to meet peak demand across south-eastern Queensland.

In October, mX reported a steering committee for the authority would report to State Cabinet early this year with a preferred model and structure.

Today, a spokesman for Transport Minister John Mickel said the committee was expected to be presented to Cabinet in the next few weeks.

The spokesman said the new authority would start in July.

Still nameless, it would be the one point of contact of commuter timetables, complaints and feedback.

Meanwhile, TransLink had begun to make progress on their plan to remove all CityTrain logos from QR's suburban trains.

"It is part of an agreement that was worked out last year and this is the start of it," a spokesman from Mickel's office said.

Eventually all CityTrains on the QR network would bear only the Translink logo, he said.

[ozbob]

Let us hope that the new transit authority is actually commuter focussed in a meaningful way.

There is much disappointment with the present Translink in terms of communication.  Simply sending out form letters in response to communication from public transport users, with just varying salutations is not responding to feedback or questions in an empathetic or proper manner IMHO.

Let us hope that staff with public transport backgrounds and qualifications are part of the new transit authority.

Let us hope that the community consultation that has been promised re this process is actually conducted and treated in a considered manner.  Not just simply dismissed, as has the community outrage with the inequitable fare structure on the Go Card.

There are opportunities for improved integration.  There must be a true spirit of cooperation between Government, the transit authority, the operators and perhaps importantly the public transport commuters for these opportunities to be realised.

Admin

[ozbob]

Another blanked out Citytrain on an EMU this afternoon (Feb 27) Roma St



Photograph R Dow 27 Feb 2008

[ozbob]

The new IMUs have had the Citytrain covered over on the front.

Not the best photo ...




Photograph R Dow 27 Feb 2008

[Huggies]

I noted that some units still have Citytrain on them and some don't so if want some photos before it all changed I would out crushing the Suburban lines. Gold Coast & Airport lines would be best as you would get the 160's and 220's.

It's interesting to note that the QR Logo is still present on most of the units with the Citytrain Logo removed. I wonder if the QR Logo will stay.

Also wonder about the future of the Brisbane Transport name and if it is safe.

[ozbob]

Yes indeed Huggies,  wonder if the CityCat brand will stay?

[ozbob]

EMU 386 at Oxley 28 Feb 2008



Photograph R Dow 28 Feb 2008

[ozbob]

Soon to be gone apparently ..



Photograph R Dow 29 Feb 2008


Another unit with the Citytrain blanked.



Photograph R Dow 29 Feb 2008

[ozbob]

Some reports of a new logo starting to appear on the urban trains  QR - Translink.

Anyone seen it yet?  I will be keeping an eye out.

Cheers
Ozbob

[ozbob]

One of the new IMUs showing the front.



Photograph R Dow 19 Mar 2008

[Otto]

Has anyone noticed that the headlights flash on the new IMU's when the driver sounds the horn... ( the 2 below the windscreen )

[Huggies]

Has anyone noticed that the headlights flash on the new IMU's when the driver sounds the horn... ( the 2 below the windscreen )

Yes when 161 first come down here. If I remember rightly the P.U.R.D. unit's were the same.

[ozbob]

I have emailed QR requesting confirmation of the query 'disappearing Citytrain brand'.

No response received as yet.

According to the mX article above only Translink is going to appear on the trains.

What is the future of CityCat and CityFerry as a brand.

Why discriminate against rail?  LOL

[Otto]

I'm guessing as QR is owned by the QLD govt, they have no problem with rebranding trains, but the ferries are owned by BCC so they need to come to an agreement with BCC before they can rebrand the ferries. I think the BCC would resist the change as the ferries/Citycat are regarded as a Brisbane icon.

[ozbob]

Good point Otto.  One could argue that Citytrain is also part of the set though ... CityCat, CityFerry, CityTrain!!

Hope they all don't get painted green!!  LOL

[Otto]

Interesting thought ozbob..

In the late 70's when the B59 buses started to roll out into the streets of Brisbane, They were painted in the new orange livery and branded as 'CB' which people presumed to mean City Bus. Above the passengers, the vent outlets were labled 'C Breeze'. This branding did not seem to last long .  The branding soon changed to the Council logo with CityBus beside it. CityBus branding has long gone since becoming Brisbane Transport.

CityBus livery

[ozbob]

Thanks for the link Otto. 

I vaguely remember orange buses, I was stationed at Yeronga early seventies and was back again late seventies.

We still might yet see orange and green!!

[monkey]

How about a new slogan to go with the new logo?

Queensland Rail - Bringing people closer together

...in reference to sardine can trains :-(

[ozbob]

Have noticed the following on signs starting to appear around the rail network:

QR Limited


Is this it?

[Derwan]

QR Limited

Is this it?

Some might say QR is very limited!!

[Derwan]

Today I noticed a white strip BELOW the TransLink logo on a new IMU as well as above (covering the QR logo).  With the sun reflecting on it, I could make out what was underneath the white strip.  It has the QLD government logo (Beattie Burger) and wording something like, "This service is funded by Queensland Government."  Not sure of the word "funded" - it was hard to make out.

I'm guessing these will be revealed from tomorrow (1 July).

[yobborobbo21]

I think they were blanked out at the same time as citytrain. Some Sunbuses here on the Sunshine Coast had some of those slogans but i haven't seen them for a while now.