Phase 2 timetables - bad news!

[Arnz]

PS: Since when is there 2 guards west of Ippy on 6-car trains? I've never had a second guard out there...

If I recall correctly, this was initially the case for "6-car" through trains to Rosewood when Zero-Harm was initially introduced.  3-car Rosewood shuttles only had the one guard as always.  I've been told this was no longer the case for 6-car Rosewood trains, which you later confirmed on this board some months back.

Also in another if I recall moment, "two guards" was also the case initially for the Tennyson Line, and the "6-car" Nambour and Gympie services prior to platform "extensions" beyond Landsborough.  The "2nd guard" was removed with the opening of Platform extensions.

[somebody]

That's good news.

[Gazza]

Mechanical wheelchair ramps are only fitted to some of the low-floor buses delivered pre-2004/2005 (ie what is currently a minority of all low-floors).  There are reasons I will not go into here out of respect for BT staff, but suffice to say there is basically a moratorium on these being fitted to any new buses.

I've only been in Brisbane 3.5 years, and I guess I've never come across one.

But the point I was making is that the vast majority of buses don't have this luxury (Certainly none of those new  "Bus number XXX of XXX buses for Brisbane" aquistions) so the vast majority of drivers have to get out of the seat.

Just want to say that it may result in significant delays with Wheelchair passengers as the driver must isolate the cab and lock away the key before leaving the cab (even if it was to help a wheelchair). When the Driver gets back into the cab, they need to then re-energise the cab, pump up the air (which can take a while in some trains, ie: >30secs) and do the cab tests which need to be performed every time a cab is energised.

I don't know about the specifics, but I think in DOO this process would be expidited with some modifications to the cab, eg some sort of interlock that allows critical systems to remain live so you don't have to go through the whole drama of pumping up the air etc every time a passenger needs help.

[justanotheruser]

With regards to weather it could be a series of matters. Internal fogging of the screen/lens. Mist. Dirt build up inside. Lens flare are a few.

Oh for goodness sake, stop:


Honestly, what year do you think we are in with respect to CCTV camera technology? 1980?

OK then smarty pants, if these technologies don't work in all weather, then how come places that get cold and wet like Melbourne, Europe, Japan etc can rely on it?

It only works if you get the right equipment. Will we get the right equipment? It only works if set up correctly. Will it be set up correctly or will it be like the street safe cameras that are easy to avoid detection on?

Which is?

Does it actually matter?

Admittedly, I don't know about their operations to that level of depth, but whatever it is, someone has thought about it, and it has to be working on a day to day basis.
It's the outcome, not the process that matters.

with all due respect Gazza yes it does matter.  If the process is wrong then the outcome does not work.  It is possible that in other places they just haven't had an incident that highlights the problem in the public eye however privately the staff have issues with it. That is common.

[justanotheruser]

In Melbourne wheelchair pax must use the first door of the first carriage AIUI.  To be near the driver.

and as long as people are happy with the delays this can cause that is fine. I also think the quiet car policy would have to be changed. People on these boards have made it quite clear that people with a disability who are prone to making noise should not travel in the quiet car.

[Gazza]

with all due respect Gazza yes it does matter.  If the process is wrong then the outcome does not work.  It is possible that in other places they just haven't had an incident that highlights the problem in the public eye however privately the staff have issues with it. That is common.

But for the purposes of this discussion, where we are experiencing it at the passenger level, then how they go about making it reliable doesn't really concern us.
It's up to QR to brief tenderer on the performance of the equipment required. An extensive testing period follows, then it goes into use.

As a passenger, do I really care how they go about maintaining tracks/trains and signals so they work properly? Not really to be honest, it just has to work so I can have a reliable train service!
Same deal with CCTV..

and as long as people are happy with the delays this can cause that is fine. I also think the quiet car policy would have to be changed. People on these boards have made it quite clear that people with a disability who are prone to making noise should not travel in the quiet car.

As a side point, the quiet car should really be the middle carriage of each set anway, so there can be permanent signage. Two problems solved at once! (Though I don't advocate segregating disabled passengers because they might be noisy, I'm not that harsh!)

Will we get the right equipment?

Nah look you're right. Let not go DOO in case they buy the wrong type of cameras.

[#Metro]

Look, there are issues, there always are.
BUT most problems have workable solutions.

Seems a bit strange that everybody in South East QLD should be forced to endure 1/2 frequency there would otherwise be because... the lens might fog up...

[mufreight]

The technology already exists and is in use where the cameras are located in fixed positions on the platform and feed to monitors on the train with a split screen setup that allows for up to four images simultaneously.  These same cameras also feed to a central control room for security and are continuiously active so there is no problem with the technology needed to ensure passenger safety.
Platforms at carriage floor height not only facilitate unassisted disability access but have the side benefit of enhancing the safety for all boarding or detraining and from the operational perspective reduce dwell times to load and unload passengers.
The other requirement is the provision of ATP signaling that will bring a train to a halt in the event of overunning a signal at stop.  A more advanced version of ATP also regulates the speed of trains to ensure that track speed is not exceeded and that the speed is reduced on passing a signal at a caution indication.
No this will not happen overnight but the infrastructure to support DOO should be the minimum standard applied to all new infrastructure and refurbishments as a progressive investment in the future of improved service levels.

[Derwan]

From http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/north/rail-commuters-get-100-more-car-parks-at-busy-sandgate-station/story-fn8m0rl4-1226090445074

The construction of the facility will start later this year and is expected to finish in early 2012.

``The park 'n' ride upgrade is the first stage of a major upgrade to Sandgate train station.''

It's interesting to note that the timetablers said that the Sandgate upgrade was "a given" for the phase 2 timetables.  The upgrade they were referring to was access to platform 2 to allow regular services to depart from that platform.

If the car park is the "first" stage of the upgrade and it won't be finished until "early 2012", where does that put the phase 2 timetables?