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

[SABB]

I am a former QR employee. My contacts tell me that the MBRL signalling system was selected by the TMR Project Manager (not by Campbell Newman or Scott Emerson) to save $7M. QR's view was that the system selected was a high risk solution although no one could prove that it wouldn't work at the time. 

[ozbob]

^ Thanks.  There is a problem within TMR, they are roads really.  Rail expertise is severely lacking IMHO ..

That is why we want rail taken away from TMR, and moved to a new authority that has the expertise and knowledge to manage and improve rail properly.

[SABB]

The problem is that politicians stick their noses into areas that they don't understand.  A very old retired QR employee told me that, back in 1950 (when Labor was in power), QR wanted to add a ring-rail system to the existing network. This was to run Cleveland - Kingston - Wacol - Ferny Grove - Deagon. The ring-rail system would allow QR considerable flexibility in delivering services. Unfortunately, Labor lost the next election and the proposal was scrapped.  Not giving up so easily, QR went to the new Minister for Railways and asked that funds be made available to, at least, purchase the land (at that time land cost for undeveloped land was one shilling per acre). The Minister said that because this was a Labor idea, it had to be completely abandoned.  The same sort of thing is still happening. The current state government is trying to DE-Campbell Newman anything that was started by the LNP.

[Stillwater]

Useful information.  TMR also in charge of SCL duplication and upgrade project and the job has been re-scoped to cut costs.  The project is in the electorate of the Opposition transport spokesperson.  Do we see Mr Powell seeking a public assurance from the government that the deficiencies that emerged during the Redcliffe Peninsula Line build won't be repeated in the SCL?  No!

Nicholls/Powell too eager to go after the political scalp of Jackie Trad and the new Transport Minister than they are about ensuring a good standard project for the travelling public.  The pollies are so much into themselves that they ignore the plight of the common man and woman.

[ozbob]

TMR/TransLink is also ' managing ' the NGR project ....   

[Stillwater]

Say no more .... as you say, the problems extend to other 'silos'.  The government just doesn't want to acknowledge it, the agencies want to stay quiet, just as the QR people did.  Hide the problem is still the preferred way of doing things.  Look at what QR did to actively defeat the Strachan Inquiry investigations.  That is the preferred way of doing things in the Queensland Public Service - even to the extent of hiding things from Minister and Government.

[#Metro]

Say no more .... as you say, the problems extend to other 'silos'. 

There is an explosion of public sector bodies every time something needs to be done. We now have Building Queensland to do the cost-benefit business case calculations, we have Cross River Rail Authority, we have a Queensland Rail CityTrain Response monitoring unit...

They just keep creating authorities every time something needs to be done. Strachan report went into detail about how the QR CEO was split five ways and had very little time to look over the core business - running trains.

1. Department of Transport and Main Roads
2. Minister for Transport
3. QR Board
4. Treasurer (why are they involved??)
5. Queensland Treasury

Ministerial shares should be removed from the Treasurer as QR is not an income generating business.

Regional freight and travel/tourism should also be removed from QR.

[ozbob]

Here it is folks ... finally released ( late Friday afternoon ... LOLOL )

Moreton Bay Rail Link - Independent Investigation into the Signalling System
https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/tabled-papers/online-tabled-papers

Moreton Bay Rail Link Independent Investigation into the Signalling System report, prepared by RM and HM Smith Pty Ltd, dated 11 August 2016
http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/TabledPapers/2017/5517T812.pdf

Summary of comments from Ansaldo STS, dated 15 February 2017, to the Department of Transport and Main Roads, on the Moreton Bay Rail Link Independent Investigation into the Signalling System report
http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/TabledPapers/2017/5517T814.pdf

Summary of comments from CPB Contractors Pty Ltd, dated 14 February 2017, to the Department of Transport and Main Roads, on the Moreton Bay Rail Link Independent Investigation into the Signalling System report
http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/TabledPapers/2017/5517T813.pdf

Letter, dated 21 February 2017, from Mr Rob Smith, Independent Auditor, Moreton Bay Rail Link, to Mr Graham Fraine, Deputy Director General Policy, Department of the Premier and Cabinet, regarding the Independent Investigation into the Signalling System for the Moreton Bay Rail Link
http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/TabledPapers/2017/5517T811.pdf

[ozbob]

^ total of 68 pages main report.  Had a quick scan.   

Seems to have been a lot confusion between DTMR, QR and others ... also ' that the processor selected by Ansaldo for MBRL, the Central Control Unit (CCU), " has not been used for a central interlocking application ... previously " '(Page 8 ) and it just gets worse from there ..

Not clear if it has been finalised either.

Why is it that other projects went well but this went off the rails?

[Stillwater]

The general tone seems to suggest QR was at fault.  As they say in government you do not appoint a committee or commission a report unless you know the outcome at the outset.

[ozbob]

The general tone seems to suggest QR was at fault.  As they say in government you do not appoint a committee or commission a report unless you know the outcome at the outset.

Certainly is the sentiment of the main report to blame > QR. 

But the whole project was so fractured that the ultimate overall fault still remains with the overseer DTMR. They do not understand rail at all.

Time heavy rail ripped off them.  Total cluster-fuk is public transport administration, management and delivery in Queensland!

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

27th May 2017

Reports: Moreton Bay Rail Link - Independent Investigation into the Signalling System

Good Morning,

Late Friday afternoon, the reports relating to: Moreton Bay Rail Link - Independent  Investigation into the Signalling System, were made available on the Parliament web site (see below).  No doubt the timing was to try to minimise news and adverse reaction to the release of the reports.  It is little wonder that we are now very cynical of politics. The contempt from above continues.

The reports are interesting reading.  They confirm the mismanagement and blunder that is now characteristic of public transport administration, management and delivery of public transport in Queensland.

This failure with MBRL (now known as Redcliffe Peninsula Line) just confirms the need for a proper authority for public transport in Queensland.

We suggest Public Transport Queensland, similar to the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia.

[ See > https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12341.0 ]

Does anyone know if the signalling issues with the RPL have now been finally fixed? Still not clear is it?

Thank you.

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

References:

Moreton Bay Rail Link - Independent Investigation into the Signalling System
https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/tabled-papers/online-tabled-papers

Moreton Bay Rail Link Independent Investigation into the Signalling System report, prepared by RM and HM Smith Pty Ltd, dated 11 August 2016
http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/TabledPapers/2017/5517T812.pdf

Summary of comments from Ansaldo STS, dated 15 February 2017, to the Department of Transport and Main Roads, on the Moreton Bay Rail Link Independent Investigation into the Signalling System report
http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/TabledPapers/2017/5517T814.pdf

Summary of comments from CPB Contractors Pty Ltd, dated 14 February 2017, to the Department of Transport and Main Roads, on the Moreton Bay Rail Link Independent Investigation into the Signalling System report
http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/TabledPapers/2017/5517T813.pdf

Letter, dated 21 February 2017, from Mr Rob Smith, Independent Auditor, Moreton Bay Rail Link, to Mr Graham Fraine, Deputy Director General Policy, Department of the Premier and Cabinet, regarding the Independent Investigation into the Signalling System for the Moreton Bay Rail Link
http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/TabledPapers/2017/5517T811.pdf

[ozbob]

Latest media: Moreton Bay Rail Link - Independent Investigation into the Signalling System
> https://t.co/tizTxdhLaF#qldpol#RPLfail pic.twitter.com/7cC5gavw5U

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) May 26, 2017

[ozbob]

The Australian --> Delay to Qld rail justified, report finds

An investigation into the delayed opening of Queensland's Moreton Bay Rail Link last year has found the hold up was justified.

The audit went ahead after the state government learnt there were outstanding issues with the long-awaited railway's signalling system.

The stalled opening was justified and necessary, the examination found.

However, Queensland Rail's identification of safety as a reason to delay the commissioning was not supported.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Transport Jackie Trad said 16 of the report's 40 recommendations had been addressed.

"The remaining 24 recommendations relate to lessons learned and future projects and are all being addressed," she said in a statement.

The line provides 650 train services between Kippa-Ring and Brisbane each week, with trains running every six to 12 minutes during peak times and every 30 minutes during off peak and weekends.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Moreton Bay Rail Link opening delay 'justified'

Have the signalling issues actually been completely fixed?#qldpol
' justified ' = project botched https://t.co/scDsP4kaEq

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) May 27, 2017

[Stillwater]

Deputy Premier and Minister for Transport Jackie Trad said 16 of the report's 40 recommendations had been addressed.  "The remaining 24 recommendations relate to lessons learned and future projects and are all being addressed," she said in a statement.

It would be good to hear that from the Citytrain Response Unit.  How is it going?

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

If Queensland Rail said there was an issue with safety, and this was a reason to delay the project, then I am with Queensland Rail.

Clearly there were enough issues with the system to call it out.  Well done Queensland Rail.

I take this somewhat redacted report with much circumspection.

[ozbob]

Deputy Premier and Minister for Transport Jackie Trad said 16 of the report's 40 recommendations had been addressed.  "The remaining 24 recommendations relate to lessons learned and future projects and are all being addressed," she said in a statement.

It would be good to hear that from the Citytrain Response Unit.  How is it going?

Nothing much happening over at the CRU > http://www.cru.qld.gov.au/index.html

Website last updated 8 March 2017 ...  bit like a slow train to Nambour ....

[HappyTrainGuy]

If Queensland Rail said there was an issue with safety, and this was a reason to delay the project, then I am with Queensland Rail.

Clearly there were enough issues with the system to call it out.  Well done Queensland Rail.

I take this somewhat redacted report with much circumspection.

Nonsense. When the whole area goes offline and control can't see where the trains are.... that's not a safety issue.... 

[ozbob]

 

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Flawed QR contract signalled Redcliffe rail fail

QUEENSLAND Rail chose a signalling system for its new Redcliffe rail line without properly checking it could do the job.

A litany of failures are detailed in the long-awaited review that found QR signed a flawed contract with suppliers and bungled the rollout after failing to check bogus claims the system was already working well around the world.

The report – written in August but quietly released late on Friday – found it was the right decision to delay the planned opening of the new rail line last year because of the unstable system, but rejected QR's claims that safety was the reason for the delay.

It said "minimal due diligence" was performed in the short week QR gave itself to select the MAcroLok system, meaning QR did not realise claims about the system's performance were untrue.

In fact, the rollout of the system for what QR wanted to use it for was a "world first". And once it did find out, it did not properly plan to avoid problems, include any deadlines in its contract, or properly explain to the contractor and supplier how the system needed to work.


"The signalling performance issues have been caused primarily by the gap between what QR expected the system to deliver and what the contract specified," the report says.

The report found even though a fallback scenario had been planned, there was no actual detail around when that Plan B should be enacted.

The governance structure also failed when QR and the Department of Transport and Main Roads disagreed on commissioning dates that resulted in the Government receiving separate, conflicting advice.

The report comes as the troubled New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) project continues to be delayed.

Asked if she was confident the same mistakes were not being repeated on the NGR project, Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said the issues raised "weren't comparable", and she pointed to a change in QR's management since then.

Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls said QR was a "basket case". He also criticised the Government for ­trying to sneak the report out late on a Friday to avoid scrutiny.

[ozbob]

TMR is really trying to involve others for their constant failures IMHO.

TMR have overseen these debacles.  Frozen like rabbits in the headlights of failure ...

[BrizCommuter]

"It said "minimal due diligence" was performed in the short week QR gave itself to select the MAcroLok system, meaning QR did not realise claims about the system's performance were untrue." translates to TMR only gave QR one week to review the product.

[Stillwater]

^^ Spot On BrizCommuter.

It is a bit disconcerting to read this in the Queensland Level Crossing Safety Strategy, which, presumably, applies across the board.

Transport and Main Roads is Queensland's Rail Safety Regulator. We work with the rail industry to enhance rail safety by:

   conducting regular safety audits of operators
   investigating rail safety incidents
   overseeing compliance with rail safety legislation
   working with rail operators on potential opportunities to improve safety management
   collecting and analysing rail safety incident statistics.

If Transport and Main Roads is Queensland's Rail Safety Regulator, why is it not held more accountable in this instance?  Why is there not a stand-alone "Office of Transport Safety" in Queensland?  It seems so much of QR is now under the thumb of TMR and they don't seem to be doing a better job of it.

[red dragin]

Qld now falls under the national regulator as of Jan 1st this year I believe?

[Stillwater]

Thanks for the update.  The document to which I referred was prepared in the days when Scott Emerson was Transport Minister.

[ozbob]

A report into the Moreton Bay Rail Link delay has justified the decision to hold off on opening the long-awaited rail project. #7News pic.twitter.com/jatc7E2Wye

— 7 News Queensland (@7NewsQueensland) May 28, 2017

[SurfRail]

One year old.

It'd be nice to get an indication on how its going, but not sure how given the secrecy around passenger counts and train loading.

[ozbob]

Thanks for the reminder.  Other states such details are available ..

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/915736042291863552

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/915737496792662016

[ozbob]

8 March 2017

Couriermail Quest --> Rail patronage figures for Redcliffe Peninsula Line below expectations

ABOUT a fifth of the number of passengers forecast to travel on the Redcliffe Peninsula Line each day are using the service, according to TransLink figures.

Data for October showed there were 4312 passenger movements each day, and 4431 each day in November. Figures for December and January were not provided.

Forecast usage data included in a 2011 report on the project predicted a total of 20,358 passenger movements each day when the line opened.

Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said timetabling problems caused by a shortage of drivers had an impact.

"It's a bit unfortunate the whole saga has affected it to some degree. It has affected all lines," Mr Dow said

Mr Dow said reliability had improved but had been an issue since the line opened, particularly during afternoon peak periods.

He said the track layout at Kippa-Ring station could be partly to blame as it was difficult for trains to turn around using single crossover tracks rather than a double crossover layout.

Mr Dow said trains also needed to run every 15 minutes in non-peak times instead of 30 minutes.

Transport Minister Jackie Trad said: "I am determined to work as hard as I possibly can to turn things at Queensland Rail around for the people of Redcliffe, Moreton Bay and all of southeast Queensland. We have committed to implementing all the recommendations of the Strachan Report to ensure we are delivering confidence in our network".

The rail line, which was funded by the Federal Government, Moreton Bay Regional Council and the State Government, was touted as a solution to gridlock on the Bruce Highway, with each six-carriage train taking 600 cars off the road.

RACQ spokeswoman Renee Smith said trains had to be a reliable alternative to driving for motorists to make the switch.

"The Bruce Hwy carries up to 155,000 vehicles per day, so there would have to be a very large shift to rail patronage to have a significant impact on travel speeds/congestion relief," she said.

Federal LNP Member for Petrie Luke Howarth said the line should be "abuzz with commuters" but confidence had taken a battering "as a result of the Palaszczuk Government's subservience to the unions and their global failure to effectively manage the line".

"The rail line has the capacity to ease congestion on a number of thoroughfares. However until the Palaszczuk Government can ensure a safe and reliable service, congestion will persist and people will continue to drive - they simply can't risk waiting for a train which may or may not show up," Mr Howarth said.

Mayor Allan Sutherland said while there had been some issues experienced with the operational rollout of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line, he was optimistic these were short term issues.

"Our region has waited more than a century for this project to be delivered, and while we know these short-term issues have been frustrating for local residents, our focus must continue to be on the benefits the new line can bring to our region," Cr Sutherland said.

"Already, we're seeing unprecedented growth and economic uplift along the new rail corridor, with the number of jobs, businesses, residents, new developments and investment along the rail corridor increasing at rapid rates."

CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS:

■ October: 4312 passenger movements per day

■ November: 4431 passenger movements per day

■ 20,358 passenger movements per day forecast in 2011

■ 155,000 vehicles use the Bruce Hwy per day

■ Each six-carriage train should be taking 600 cars off the roads

[ozbob]

11 July 2018

Couriermail Quest --> The Redcliffe Peninsula Line has improved but still well short of expectations

The $1.15 billion Redcliffe Peninsula Rail Line is moving about a quarter of the passengers it was predicted to carry.

TransLink would not disclose the total figure, but said the average daily movements had increased by 31 per cent since the line opened in October 2016.

Quest Community News reported the line moved 4312 passengers per day in its first month – about a fifth of the 20,358 forecast in initial reports.

Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said the line's opening coincided with 167 Citytrain services being cancelled that month.

"I'm surprised it's gone up 31 per cent," he said. "2016 was when we had a real problem with the rail timetable and the whole network took quite a hammering in terms of patronage. They haven't done anything to dramatically improve it. It's still the same butchered timetable as January 2017.

"Growth is a good thing ... under the circumstances."

Each full Peninsula line service was projected to take 600 cars off the road but RACQ spokeswoman Lucinda Ross said the service "was never going to completely fix the Bruce Highway's traffic issues" but it could relieve congestion.

"Hiring more train drivers and resolving the issues with the new trains needs to be a priority so we can get more services on the line and encourage people to swap their car for a train."

State Labor MP for Redcliffe Yvette D'Ath said she was "proud" of the service.

"The feedback I'm getting is that this rail line is a valuable asset for commuters, students and tourists."

A TransLink spokesman said it had reduced fares in the south east by 44 cents, 13.5 per cent, since December 2016 to entice commuters to use train services.

[#Metro]

Similar story in Brisbane Times.

"It's too slow"

Well, everyone wanted a station near their house... ?

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Fewer than one-third of predicted passengers use new Redcliffe rail

Fewer than one-third of 21,000 daily passengers predicted for south-east Queensland's newest train line are actually using the train line two years after it opened, TransLink statistics show.

The main reasons for the poor passenger demand are no express services in peak hour, poor connections with buses and a slow service with trains stopping "all stations".

South-east Queensland's Petrie to Kippa-Ring train line (Redcliffe Peninsula line) opened in October 2016, amid major rail controversy over train drivers and services.

n the first month in October 2016 there were only 4709 daily passengers.

In November 2016, that dropped to 4645 passengers per day.

By May 2018, the number passengers using the Petrie to Kippa Ring rail line had grown to 6451 daily passengers.

However, this is still fewer than one-third of the 20,358 daily passengers that were predicted when the Petrie to Kippa-Ring rail line was developed in 2010.

Robert Dow from rail travel lobby group Rail Back on Track listed five reasons why passengers were not using the rail line as frequently as predicted.

    Hornibrook's feeder-bus network to the rail line is perceived as "not the best";
    The rail service has a perception of reliability;
    There remains a perception that fares are still a bit too expensive;
    The trip from Kippa-Ring takes 40 minutes; whereas it is 20 minutes from Sandgate;
    The timetable does not include peak hour express services.

"I think there is a case – when they recover the timetable – to try to give them some express peak services," Mr Dow said.

"But they certainly can't do it at the moment because of the nature of the timetable," he said.

Mr Dow said feedback they received from passengers was bus company Hornibrook needed to look at better connections between bus and rail.

"I really think there is a need to look at the feeder bus network to the line," he said.

"That's important."

He said the other complaint Rail Back on Track received was "it takes too long".

"Passengers would like some express services in the peak times," he said.

"What happens is the trains stop all stations from Kippa-Ring through to Petrie," he said.

"Then they run all stations from Petrie to Northgate."

By contrast the Sunshine Coast (Caboolture line trains) run express from Petrie to Northgate.

"So there is a little bit of express envy there," he said.

Mr Dow agreed that passengers could get off the Kippa Ring to Petrie train and wait for an express service from Petrie to Central.

"But the services aren't always optimal for that," he said.

Mr Dow said their group was waiting for TransLink to provide 2017 and 2018 travel data so they could check to see if the Shorncliffe line had seen a major patronage bump since October 2016.

"That is patronage that could potentially have gone on the Petrie to Kippa-Ring line," he said.

"Some of it could be going on to the Shorncliffe line."

He said some passengers were also going to Dakabin station, north of Petrie, as well as using the faster Sandgate line because they had express services.

TransLink said it had added extra express services to the Petrie to Kippa-Ring rail line.

"To reduce travel times for customers on the Redcliffe Peninsula line, Queensland Rail runs Redcliffe Peninsula services express through the inner-northern area from Northgate to Bowen Hills, stopping only at Eagle Junction station," a Translink spokesman said.

The Redcliffe Peninsula line services share tracks with Caboolture and Sunshine Coast line services between Petrie and the CBD.

"Our current timetable and stopping patterns are designed to ensure an equitable service frequency at each station along the northern corridor," the Translink spokesman said.

Queensland Rail said the state government did reduce fares in December 2016.

In December 2016 the Queensland government cut prices for public transport through the Fairer Fares package.

"Fares in the South East are now about 44¢, or 13.5 per cent, lower on average per eligible adult trip than they were before the introduction of Fairer Fares," the spokesman said.

Queensland Rail said the initial customer demand was based on projected growth in suburbs north of Brisbane, which has not met expectations.

[ozbob]

Initial projected pax 21,000 daily

Now carrying 6451 daily (May 2018)

= 31% of the projected pax.

[BrizCommuter]

To run expresses would be problematic as a decent level of service would need to be provided to stations between Petrie and Northgate. Ultimately it would result in a lower frequency service for many commuters.

[ozbob]

^ Yo.  Locally there has been a lot of feedback suggesting express services following earlier articles etc. but it is not going to happen.
Those who are really keen can change at Petrie, but connections are not always optimal.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Schrinner/status/1038931629287174144

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1038940652342468608

[red dragin]

Those who are really keen can change at Petrie, but connections are not always optimal.

I thought all RPL services where timed to allow cross platform interchange in both directions at Petrie? Certainly witnessed (and even participated in) the change over the few times I've caught a train since opening.

[ozbob]

^ feedback suggests that it doesn't always work out ...