Redcliffe Peninsula Line [was MBRL (Petrie to Kippa Ring)]

[Fares_Fair]

Always a good idea to follow the money.. or lack thereof.
These are the facts I have found.

It appears that QR were not totally out of the loop.

These are excerpts out of the report and are in context.
The 65p full report can be found here:
https://www.qao.qld.gov.au/sites/all/libraries/pdf.js/web/viewer.html?file=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.qao.qld.gov.au%2Fsites%2Fqao%2Ffiles%2Freports%2Fqao_rtp_transport_infrastructure.pdf


The Qld Audit Office reported on the MBRL (presented to Parliament in December 2015) and gave it a glowing report, reiterating it is on track.

Queensland Rail were responsible for construction of the Petrie to Lawnton (P2L) section of the project, the brownfield works.
They were NOT left totally out of the loop according to the Qld Audit Office report.

p1
Conclusions
DTMR and Queensland Rail (QR) are effectively delivering the projects we reviewed in accordance with the required frameworks and standards, as per agreed time, cost and scope.


p2
Moreton Bay rail  In May 2014, the then Queensland Treasury and Trade requested that DTMR combine what was originally two projects in the MBRP into one program to clarify roles and responsibilities and improve integration between the projects.  This required minimal structural change to the governance arrangements, with the Moreton Bay Rail Link (MBRL) Steering Committee becoming the MBRP Steering Committee. DTMR and QR have clearly defined the roles and responsibilities across the MBRP.


p4
The procurement activities across the MBRP and the BHUP projects we examined are efficient, timely and achieving value for money. The procurement process is fair and transparent. For example, the tenders for the MBRP identified a new signalling system that provided QR with an alternative to its standard supplier. The new system offers modern technology at a lower price to standard designs. This saved $7 million and provided a diversification of supplier base.


p4
There are robust processes in place to ensure each project is delivering against quality standards. Each element of the design and construction of the program follows TransLink and QR technical standards. QR and DTMR have an agreement to ensure QR's technical capability is used in the delivery and approval phase.


p10
The Moreton Bay Rail Program (MBRP) consists of two interdependent projects: the Moreton Bay Rail Link (MBRL) project delivered by DTMR and the Lawnton to Petrie (L2P) brownfield (developed site with existing infrastructure in place) project delivered by Queensland Rail (QR).


p21
Moreton Bay rail For the first six months of the two-year project timeframe, the Moreton Bay Rail Link (MBRL) and the Lawton to Petrie (L2P) projects were governed as single projects. The Queensland Treasury and Trade review in May 2014 recommended governing the two projects as a single program in order to:
clarify the scope and delivery responsibility for each project or its components
establish a more effective interface between the L2P and the MBRL projects.
Combining the original two projects into one program required minimal change to the governance structure, with the MBRL Steering Committee becoming the MBRP Steering Committee.
DTMR developed an executive business case for the MBRP and implemented new governance arrangements because of the review.

Queensland Audit Office The revised governance structure includes a program steering committee and clearly defined roles and responsibilities across the program. The establishment of an integrated delivery team (that includes officers from DTMR, Queensland Rail (QR), Moreton Bay Regional Council (MBRC) and the contractor) improved communication and reporting at all levels.


p25
Moreton Bay rail DTMR prepares a monthly report for the MBRP Steering Committee. QR and MBRC have input into the report.


and for my benefit:
The 2011 MBRL business case quantifies the project's expected net economic benefits, with a benefit-cost ratio of 1.34 and a net present value of $330 million.
#2tracks benefit cost ratio is 2.28 !

I look forward to the State Govt report into the circumstances that led to this fiasco.

My question:
Is this the first use of a European Traffic Control System (I assume it is ETCS) here in Queensland (provided by the Italian company)?

[#Metro]

p4
The procurement activities across the MBRP and the BHUP projects we examined are efficient, timely and achieving value for money. The procurement process is fair and transparent. For example, the tenders for the MBRP identified a new signalling system that provided QR with an alternative to its standard supplier. The new system offers modern technology at a lower price to standard designs. This saved $7 million and provided a diversification of supplier base.

Perhaps it is the case that the new system works fine, it is just that the system QR currently uses is progressively becoming out of date.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Expert must report on rail bungle by July

A rail expert – to be announced next week - must report to Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe by the end of July on why rail signals in a new $1.1 billion rail project "do not talk" to rail signals in the rest of Southeast Queensland's  rail network.

The very embarrassing bungle – effectively stopping the July opening of the Moreton Bay Rail Link from Kippa Ring to Petrie station for up to six months – was announced by Mr Hinchliffe on Monday.

He said the rail line could not be opened for safety concerns after it was revealed the signalling system was so inadequate it crashed after three trains moved through Petrie Station.

The Rail Tram and Bus Union described the situation as a farce.

Since Monday, Queensland Rail has been investigating how to fix the signalling problems to try to get the $1.1 billion project open as quickly as safely possible.

On Friday, Mr Hinchliffe released the terms of reference for the yet-to-be-announced experts to try to learn how the problem was not identified earlier.

"This review will determine what went wrong and how the signalling system was selected," Mr Hinchliffe said.

The full scope of the review will consider:


    Any signalling system-related issues, risks and/or opportunities arising from the decision in 2012 to bring the project under the auspices of the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR);
    The signalling system elements of the tendering and contract process;
    Contract milestone payments relating to signalling and the grounds upon which any payments have been made; and
    The performance and integration of signalling systems during design and construction.

It will also examine why Queensland Rail was not involved in the construction and design stage of the Moreton Bay Rail Link project.

Mr Hinchliffe said the investigation would examine when Queensland Rail first became aware of problems in the signalling system and how it was able to report those concerns.

The project was announced in December 2010 by the Bligh Labor Government, put in place by Campbell Newman's LNP state government in 2012 and construction began in 2013.

The announcement of the major bungle on Monday precipitated questions of former transport minister Scott Emerson for cutting costs from the project.

However Mr Emerson said the project had largely been built while Labor was in office and questioned why problems were not noticed by former transport ministers Jackie Trad and more recently Mr Hinchliffe.

Meanwhile, rail commuter group Rail Back on Track said the debacle could mean the track opening could be delayed for up to six months.

Stay in touch with Queensland's best news via Facebook.

[ozbob]

Media Release
Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games
The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe

Independent Review of Moreton Bay Rail Link signalling system

The Palaszczuk Government today released the terms of reference for the independent review of the signalling system procurement and governance as part of the delivery of Moreton Bay Rail Link (MBRL) Project.

Minister for Transport Stirling Hinchliffe announced the independent audit on Monday after receiving advice from Queensland Rail concerning outstanding issues with the signalling system for the rail project.

Mr Hinchliffe said the review will consider components of the infrastructure project as they relate to the signalling systems including, governance and contractual processes and the performance and integration of the signalling systems during design and construction.

"On Monday I announced MBRL would not be operational mid-year as previously stated because Queensland Rail testing had determined the signalling system currently installed does not meet the operational and safety standards found across the rest of the network," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"This review will determine what went wrong and how the signalling system was selected.

"This review will run separately to the work being undertaken by Queensland Rail into the requirements of the signalling systems in order for Moreton Bay Rail Link to open."

Mr Hinchliffe said the Queensland Government was in the process of finalising the commercial arrangements of the appointment of an expert to lead the review.

The full scope of the review will consider:

Governance and Contractual processes for MBRL, including:

    Any signalling system related issues, risks and/or opportunities arising from the decision in 2012 to bring the project under the auspices of the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR);
    A review of the signalling system elements of the tendering and contract process;
    Whether the role assigned to Queensland Rail through contractual and/or governance documents and processes provided for appropriate involvement of the rail operator in the assurance processes relating to signalling; and
    Contract milestone payments relating to signalling, and gainshare payments, and the grounds upon which any payments have been made.

Performance and integration of signalling systems during design and construction, including:

    The nature of assurance activities by the project team, Queensland Rail, or other parties to monitor, test, and review signalling systems and signalling system interface/integration;
    The nature of interface/integration issues experienced between multiple signalling systems on the one network; and
    The adequacy of assurance activities, and lessons for future rail contract selection and oversight;
    The processes by which concerns raised by Queensland Rail or other parties regarding the signalling systems or signalling system integration were managed; and
    The assurance program being implemented by Queensland Rail in order to have the project commissioned

The Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Rail and other parties will also provide relevant documents as requested, subject to commercial or cabinet confidentiality. The review will also draw from the Queensland Audit Office report, 2015-16 Transport Infrastructure Projects.

It is expected that the review will be complete, with final reports handed to the Minister for Transport by the end of July.

[Fares_Fair]

p4
The procurement activities across the MBRP and the BHUP projects we examined are efficient, timely and achieving value for money. The procurement process is fair and transparent. For example, the tenders for the MBRP identified a new signalling system that provided QR with an alternative to its standard supplier. The new system offers modern technology at a lower price to standard designs. This saved $7 million and provided a diversification of supplier base.

Perhaps it is the case that the new system works fine, it is just that the system QR currently uses is progressively becoming out of date.

It seems a very short timeframe given the scope of the audit and magnitude of the problem.
The Minister, Hon Stirling Hinchliffe did the right thing in halting the opening for safety reasons.

Is this new technology using ETCS? and has that system been used in Qld before?

[ozbob]

As I understand it is a new system of interlocking, that seems to be incompatible with the present systems.

They thought they might save some dough but looks like going the other way. 

I am fairly certain if QR had been there the standard signalling on the rest of the system would have been the go. 

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Mango Hill Progress Association chief pleads for 12km rail pathway to be opened

MANGO Hill Progress Association president Laurence Christie has called on the State Government to open a shared pedestrian and cycle path to make-up for the major signalling delays on the new Moreton Bay Rail Line.

"We are hoping they will open the shared pathway so the people can ... use something that should already be open," he said.

"It would go some way to relieving the disappointment," Mr Christie said.

A spokeswoman for Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said: "The minister has ­requested the Department of Transport and Main Roads investigate opportunities to open the bikeway in advance of the rail line opening."

Residents in Mango Hill, and North Lakes said they wanted to use the pathway to cycle to Petrie Station and to access the schools on the line.

[red dragin]

Aside from the "slowly slowly" approach to the road intersection construction, the pathway itself could have been opened late last year IMO.

[Fares_Fair]

That's a quick response from Hon Stirling Hinchliffe, Transport Minister, to direct TMR to look into the request.
Good to see.

[mufreight]

TMR obviously now touchy about public oversight will bluster and procrastinate on opening the bikeway, will be interesting to hear what BS excuses they give first to explain why the bikeway is not open yet and to justify further delay.

[Fares_Fair]

A little bit of history.

The Hon Robert Philp KCMG, as Queensland Minister for Railways (1895-97), first proposed a rail line from the Redcliffe peninsula in 1895.
That's 121 years ago.

He became Premier in 1899.

[trail]

Aside from the "slowly slowly" approach to the road intersection construction, the pathway itself could have been opened late last year IMO.

Are you talking about the Dohles Rocks Road works which were slowed down from request of community groups and the local businesses?

[red dragin]

Aside from the "slowly slowly" approach to the road intersection construction, the pathway itself could have been opened late last year IMO.

Are you talking about the Dohles Rocks Road works which were slowed down from request of community groups and the local businesses?

Brays Rd is the one I travel through daily.

[Otto]

My friend has had a lot of issues accessing her property on Dohles Rocks Road . Just on the western side of the rail bridge.

[Stillwater]

The track is there, even if the signalling is buggered.  It may be time for COR (Citizen-Operated Railway).  How hard could it be to get those cars off the roads and onto the MBRL?

[aldonius]

The cynic in me suggests it'll cost at least 7 million on fixing it up now!

(To elaborate and possibly over-extend, I'm suggesting if they rip out the Ansaldo system and replace it with a known-OK system, the cost of the transition alone, NOT including the 'parts cost' of the replacement hardware, will exceed the 7 million... i.e. the grand total spend will be Ansaldo system from-scratch cost, plus known-OK system from-scratch cost, plus at least another 7M.)

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Moreton Bay Rail Link delayed after Queensland Government opts for cheaper signalling option

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

6th June 2916

MBRL Signalling Failure: Queensland Rail Advice Ignored

Greetings,

The Queensland Government has a long history of botching major projects, whether they be in the pre-project stage or in the project stage.

The Sunshine Coast rail line and Cross River Rail are prime examples of how the Queensland Government all political complexions,  struggles to even plan basic infrastructure. Transforming Brisbane's outdated bus network with the 2013 TransLink bus review was also botched, and never delivered by an insipid political leadership.

The Queensland Health payroll, problems at Lady Cliento Hospital and now the Moreton Bay Rail link add to the list of botched projects.

Today, The Courier-Mail revealed that Queensland Rail did not have confidence in the signalling system proposed.

"QR's signalling engineers participated in the technical evaluation of the Moreton Bay Rail Link signalling system in April 2014 and rated Ansaldo's MAcroLok system lower than the alternatives due to it not being type-approved and QR's lack of confidence in the technology being able to be implemented within the timeframe required for delivery of the project,"

Queensland Rail's advice was ignored. Who authorised the decision to go ahead with this signalling system, after discounting Queensland Rail's concerns? RAIL Back on Track again reiterates that the Queensland Auditor General, who has special statutory powers of investigation, is the natural choice for this audit.

Everybody has had enough of the expensive waste that has become the norm in major Queensland Government projects, the constant spin and ' planning ' nonsense for others. Unbelievably, even more blatant waste is on the horizon - Townsville Stadium, which has a poor benefit-cost ratio, and Lord Mayor Graham Quirk's 'Quack' Metro. Quack Metro is in our opinion grossly under-costed and will not add capacity over and above the current busway operations that it is proposed to replace.

Given the great diversity of projects that are botched, we can only conclude that it is a culturally entrenched phenomenon within the Queensland Government bureaucracy.

It is time for action. The Queensland Government should look at many options for changing its culture of error-prone project commissioning. Start putting failed/overcost projects on people's employment records as demerits. Require a mandatory auditor for any project costing more than $100 million. Publish after the fact business cases to see how well the pre-construction business case was adhered to. Cancel bonuses if projects stuff up. There are many things that could be done.

Every time the Queensland Government wastes money, it is more money that is diverted away from health, education, transport and other useful initiatives that we all could use.

Best wishes,
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

References:

Moreton Bay Rail Link delayed after Queensland Government opts for cheaper signalling option http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-government/moreton-bay-rail-link-delayed-after-queensland-government-opts-for-cheaper-signalling-option/news-story/cc3f49fae8b379e7626b62a5571eb1af

Editorial: Culture of denial on state projects must end http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/editorial-culture-of-denial-on-state-projects-must-end/news-story/9a4e2285db8bb50e07b227cfbe9a40b6

[ozbob]

I heard that there are more  ' issues ' with MBRL ...  sources unconfirmed.  Expect that might come out in time ..

MBRL has been a disaster really, goes to show how incompetent political leadership really costs.

NGR trains also have ' issues ' ... 

[#Metro]

I heard that there are more  ' issues ' with MBRL ...  sources unconfirmed.  Expect that might come out in time ..

MBRL has been a disaster really, goes to show how incompetent political leadership really costs.

NGR trains also have ' issues ' ... 

Queensland Government cannot be trusted to deliver Cross River Rail or ANY major project!

Maybe a good thing it got stuck at the 'planning' stage - would be awful to open it and have perhaps no signalling! Or the tunnel built too low for the train. Or have the train platform too short. Or forget that the station complex needs an entrance door. Or something else dumb like that!!

Hope they don't stuff up the Commonwealth Games!

[Stillwater]

Given there has been a stuff-up re signalling, should there not be a safety, structural integrity and quality assurance survey of all components used on the line?  This must be something that's done before handover, but in this case it should be completed by different people to those involved in planning and construction.

[HappyTrainGuy]

 

Hahahahaha!

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Queensland Rail warned against signalling system

[achiruel]

I heard that there are more  ' issues ' with MBRL ...  sources unconfirmed.  Expect that might come out in time ..

MBRL has been a disaster really, goes to show how incompetent political leadership really costs.

NGR trains also have ' issues ' ... 

Queensland Government cannot be trusted to deliver Cross River Rail or ANY major project!

Maybe a good thing it got stuck at the 'planning' stage - would be awful to open it and have perhaps no signalling! Or the tunnel built too low for the train. Or have the train platform too short. Or forget that the station complex needs an entrance door. Or something else dumb like that!!

Hope they don't stuff up the Commonwealth Games!

What an absolute load of bollocks.

Springfield Line had minimal issues, admittedly the lack of grade separation at Darra is not ideal, but that was a problem with design specification not construction and implentation.

The simple fact is that the LNP dunderheads under Newman and Emerson, employing their lapdog Caltabiano, aboslutely rooted this project.

The Beattie/Bligh Governments may not have been fantastic, but they were a damn sight better than the LNP fukwits were.  Excluding QR from the planning and construction of this project (or at the very least, ignoring QR's advice) was just lunacy.  Judgment is still out on Palaszczuk, but not looking brilliant so far.

[#Metro]

What I don't understand is why two products made by the same company don't talk to each other?

This is probably the basis of the 'its cheaper, and we can sort it out any problems' from the project team.

Ansaldo has some explaining to do.

[Fares_Fair]

Newman Government ignored advice about Moreton Bay Rail Link signalling system. @SimoLove #qldpol #7News  https://t.co/EVLWJduSVC

[tazzer9]

Plenty of things made of the same company don't communicate with each other well.   Its all down to the programming and code.   Things get updated, superseded. 
It might be a case of it was designed  not to communicate so customers like QR would be forced to upgrade.

[#Metro]

OMG, the LNP (LSD?) Party really has a mother of scandals on its hand!

LNP TRAINWRECK!

1. Quack Metro
2. LM Quirk's endorsement of the Cleveland Solution 
3. BaT tunnel - BCR and NPV both below the CRR1 proposal, cheaper but also nastier.
4. NGR trains - position of guard issues
5. MBRL - cut corners for signalling (just as glad we lobbied for toilets in the station, those might have not been!)
6. Fare catastrophe and then theatre (raising fares in office only to reverse the fare increase just before an election to look like a net 'cut'
7. 9-then waste fares
8. Bus Reform - LNP fail at both council and state level

I really need another two eff ups here under the LNP to round it out to 10 Sins of the LNP... any ideas?

[HappyTrainGuy]

I dunno how true this is but from what I've heard ld its a bit of both. The programming architecture between the two are different (Micro is 1x1 while Macro is 2x2 whatever that means) which limits the equipment used and how that particular network is configured depending on the existing infrastructure currently in place as it limits how you can configure the Macro system. Apparently its similar to 32bit vs 64bit.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Moreton Bay Rail Link concerns signal lessons for future major infrastructure

QUEENSLAND Rail warned Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe the Moreton Bay Rail Link's signalling system could lead to stopping distance problems for drivers.

In documents viewed by The Courier-Mail, the rail authority told Mr Hinchliffe there was an "increased risk that drivers may not be provided with sufficient stopping distance to the signal in situations when a signal is changed by the train controller from proceed to stop".

QR also believed the system would lead to increased confusion and workload for train controllers, potentially resulting in the need to employ five extra staff to handle the increased workload.

Mr Hinchliffe took the concerns of the authority so seriously he halted the opening last week and ordered an independent audit into the handling of the signalling contract and other issues.

He also ordered the Department of Transport and Main Roads, to co-operate fully with QR.

Mr Hinchliffe said yesterday negotiations were under way to select an independent auditor to probe the handling of the critical rail link.

The independent audit being commissioned by the state would also consider what could be learned to ensure similar issues did not affect future rail projects, such as Cross River Rail.

"It is an important thing to understand and learn for the future of other similar projects or other projects generally," Mr Hinchliffe said.

[ozbob]

Newman Government ignored advice about Moreton Bay Rail Link signalling system. @SimoLove #qldpol #7News https://t.co/EVLWJduSVC

— 7 News Queensland (@7NewsQueensland) June 6, 2016

[Stillwater]

Quote: "He also ordered the Department of Transport and Main Roads, to co-operate fully with QR."

The Minister has to ORDER TMR and QR to cooperate!  Really, it has come to this?   

[Stillwater]

One report states the BCR for the MBRL at 1.38 (one dollar and 38 cents for every dollar spent on its construction).  This is much less than the BCR for the SCL duplication.  The question must be asked .... will the amount of money required to fix the MBRL reduce the MBRL benefit-cost ratio to below 1?

[tazzer9]

no, A fix would need hundreds of millions of dollars injected to put the BCR below 1. 
Considering the biggest issue is with a signalling interface, which is usually one of the cheapest parts of construction, I would highly doubt it.   
The costs go into things like stations and bridges, not a computer program.

[#Metro]

I assume also that it is a software thing. Obviously due to the critical application it will cost $$$

They need to be incredibly careful because this fault has the potential to cause a major accident.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Opinion: Moreton Bay Rail link is a recipe for distrust and disharmony

THIS is a helluva way to run a railroad.

The current fiasco surrounding the opening of the Moreton Bay Rail Link reminds me of this infamous quotation from a 19th century American rail baron when asked to resurrect a failing railway from financial ruin.

It has passed into popular lexicon as a description of a monumental cock-up. We could now use the phrase with some accuracy as this extension to QR's network, funded by local, state and federal governments to the tune of $1 billion, is unable to open due to what appears, at first blush, to be a breakdown in project management discipline.

Drilled into every aspiring project manager is the training bible's three immutable commandments: "Though shalt complete every project firstly fit for purpose, secondly on time, and thirdly within budget".

It appears that the Moreton Bay Rail Link has failed on at least the first two counts, and now, with costly ministerial reviews and maybe additional signalling rectification work, possibly the third as well.

Taxpayers may well ask how our handsomely remunerated senior transport bureaucrats could allow this to happen. Do they not possess well-honed skills in project management delivery?

Were they not monitoring this major project at every step to ensure these time-honoured project management commandments were diligently observed?

Our worthy Transport Minister has, true to form, launched an "independent review" to find out what went wrong.

But maybe he could just ask some simple questions and, without too much technical knowledge, work it out for himself.

In my view the current corporate governance model for public transport in southeast Queensland is flawed. Split responsibilities between three major governmental agencies, Queensland Rail, Brisbane City Council and the Department of Transport and Main Roads can lead to accusatory finger pointing, blame shifting and political posturing when things go wrong.

There is lack of overall accountability for planning and delivering competent, efficient and affordable transport services. Add corporate culture disparities between the three entities to the mix and we have a recipe for distrust and disharmony.

So, Minister, maybe it is time for some bold and innovative policymaking on the public transport front. Perhaps this project management stuff-up can be a catalyst for a bit of a shake-up for the southeast Queensland transport management model.

And rather than trying to shift the blame onto the Opposition to score cheap political points, you could sit down with the new Shadow Minister for Transport and even the Lord Mayor of Brisbane and conduct some serious bipartisan brainstorming on better governance and delivery models.

No matter what our political views and particular party allegiances, the poor beleaguered taxpayer just wants the best bang for his buck. And I would guess the average southeast Queensland commuter would applaud a move to better co-ordinated and affordable public transport services.

After all – we expect our members of parliament as our representatives, no matter what their political persuasion, to work for every constituent and use the taxpayer dollar wisely and effectively.

How about a fresh approach and some imaginative thinking?

Peter Quick is a Sunshine Coast-based transport professional

[ozbob]

^  fascinating.

Peter has given up on TransLink ...  lol

[#Metro]

 

How dumb is it for a rail project to NOT be delivered by the rail company who will run trains on it?

[ozbob]

LOL   

Don't worry 3 car rubber tyre 300 pax metro trains will save us all!

' ALL CHANGE!   MEDIOCRITY NEXT STOP! "

[tazzer9]

How dumb is it for a rail project to NOT be delivered by the rail company who will run trains on it?

Happens all the time, that in itself isn't dumb.   Leaving QR out when they have a good track record is.
Ignoring the rail operators concerns about a critical safety component is criminal and should be investigated.