2018 Commonwealth Games

[ozbob]

What use will 8tph to the Gold Coast do if people can't transfer onto it from other lines because they've all been cut.. 

Exactly.  Life still goes on too for the population of SEQ.  A relatively small % will be going to the games.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

20th April 2017

We don't trust DTMR or TransLink Minister Jones!

Good Morning,

Interesting article in today's Couriermail [ Couriermail --> Queensland Rail: Train chaos tipped for Commonwealth Games ]  see below.

How can we have any confidence in the DG of TMR and TransLink  Minister Jones?  They were no doubt confident about the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line, look what happened then.  DTMR and TransLink have botched the New Generation Rollingstock train project.  None in service after they have been in country for about 15 months. Their track record is abysmal.

Unless Queensland Rail is back on full rail timetable by January 2018 it will be another rail fail and public transport meltdown, that will highlight just what a mediocre public transport administration and delivery we have in Queensland.

Time for real change and action, not more platitudes, spin and denial.

Best wishes,

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

SOUTHEAST Queensland is on track for another "rail fail'' around next year's Commonwealth Games, public transport advocates are warning.

Rail services between Brisbane and the Gold Coast will be doubled to eight per hour under a transport plan announced by the State Government this week to reduce road congestion for the two-week event in April next year.

But RAIL Back On Track spokesman Robert Dow says that will result in chaos for other parts of the train network unless Queensland Rail fast-tracks improvements.

"If someone doesn't sound the alarm now, it will be calamitous,'' he said, adding that trains and crews will have to be taken from other areas to boost the Gold Coast services.

"They will probably need to close some lines down altogether for the period of the Games."

The Palaszczuk Government's own plan, in response to the chaos that ensued when the new Redcliffe Peninsula Line opened last year, does not expect a full-service timetable to be in place before the end of 2018, even relying on overtime.

Mr Dow said that QR was "limping along'' in recruiting the hundreds of extra train drivers needed.

And the $4.4 billion order of new trains is on hold while flaws are addressed.

Only 13 of the 75 New Generation Rolling Stock have been delivered.

"We don't know how many of the new trains will be here and available by the time of the Commonwealth Games,'' Mr Dow said, adding that it was "critical'' that QR speed up recruitment and training of additional drivers so a full timetable was in place by January 2018, ahead of the event.

Asked about the risk of another rail fail debacle from extra stress on the network during the event, Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones yesterday said: "We are very confident that both TransLink and the Director-General of Transport and Main Roads have given their assurance that we can deliver the additional capacity."

[ Attached:  https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12341.msg191204#msg191204 ]

[ozbob]

^ Good work. Brizcommuter has an in-depth article on likely service cuts currently being written.

Thanks.  I think someone has to sound a warning.  It is very clear that to service the GC ( it will be around the clock), other lines are going to be impacted under the Queensland Rail fail scenario.  Buses are not going to be that abundant either.

Unless they can get their act together I am guessing but I reckon  they will take out Doomben, Rosewood and Shorncliffe, and outside chance Cleveland.  Remaining lines will have further service reductions.

Can anyone really take any guarantee from these previously proven incompetents seriously?  Past form is true form ..

If they had cleared the decks properly last October, we would be in a much better place now.  Incompetent bumbling Government as well.

[BrizCommuter]

QR to axe train services during the Commonwealth Games.
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2017/04/qr-to-axe-train-services-during.html

An in depth look at how QR will have to cut train services during the Commonwealth Games.
Probably needs tweeting to Kate Jones!

[ozbob]

Done.  About to push it out to all outlets as well

BrizCommuter:
QR to axe train services during Com'wealth Games
> https://t.co/oENfBijUMv#qldpol@katejonesqld @jackietrad @AndrewPowellMP pic.twitter.com/pZ43r8x9Sg

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) April 20, 2017

[ozbob]

Just completed an interview with Ben Davis 4BC Brisbane Live for replay later this afternoon on impacts for rail network etc. CG.

(Grand child pick up after school didn't allow a live interview this afternoon).

Thanks for the interest Ben and 4BC.

[Stillwater]

I wonder if we would get Kate Jones to say this: "As the principal stakeholder Minister in the Commonwealth Games and recognising that public transport efficiency will be a crucial element of their success, I have investigated and established to my personal satisfaction that QR and Translink have the resources and expertise to deliver additional train and connecting transport capacity that will ensure that all additional passenger movements generated by the Games can be accommodated without major disruption to the network generally."

[BrizCommuter]

I wonder if we would get Kate Jones to say this: "As the principal stakeholder Minister in the Commonwealth Games and recognising that public transport efficiency will be a crucial element of their success, I have investigated and established to my personal satisfaction that QR and Translink have the resources and expertise to deliver additional train and connecting transport capacity that will ensure that all additional passenger movements generated by the Games can be accommodated without major disruption to the network generally."

The state government needs to admit that there are going to have to be reductions to train services during the games, and state what service is to be expected (as in actual frequency, not spin) as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, the most likely outcome based on recent mediocrity from QR and TransLink is that an "interim" timetable will be quietly released a week out from the Games.

[ozbob]

Oh dear ...

=================

Couriermail --> Commonwealth Games chiefs warned State Government event at "significant risk" over transport

COMMONWEALTH Games chiefs in London wrote to the Palaszczuk Government warning the event was at "significant risk" due to the magnitude of transport planning problems faced.

The dire appraisal came in a blistering letter to Games boss Peter Beattie and former Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe.

The Government yesterday insisted it had fixed the problems days after releasing a plan to solve traffic snarls for commuters heading to the Games.

The plan was hastily announced as the The Sunday Mail neared the end of a three-month Right to Information battle to obtain the letter which takes a blowtorch to the planning progress.

The letter was later obtained outside the RTI process and shows Commonwealth Games Federation vice-president Bruce Robertson warned the Government on December 12 that "solutions have not yet been identified to manage up to 1.2 million spectators and 50,000 contractors in addition to meeting the workforce and Games Family's requirements".

"Consequently the partnership does not have a viable transportation solution for the Games and the overall operation framework is in significant risk," Mr Robertson, who is also Federation Co-ordination Commission chairman, continued.

He warned the chief body "does not see any path forward, in structure or in plans, that can solve the magnitude of the current problem".

Mr Robertson set out 14 proposed measures, including a greater use of shuttle buses — not limited to Games venues — to reduce dependence on hire cars for visitors, and collecting data from ticket purchasers on their transport and accommodation plans.

"The above items must be addressed within the next three months otherwise the knock-on effects will potentially see delays and cost risks in many other areas," he said.

He urged local organisers to urgently stop relying on "physical infrastructure" to solve their problems and concentrate on "effectively influencing people's behaviours".

Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones last week revealed congestion-busting measures for the Games ahead of tickets going on sale tomorrow, including rushing athletes and officials down the shoulder of the Pacific Motorway under police escort.

Mr Beattie yesterday said there had been "enormous progress" and that he had an undertaking from Queensland Rail it could deliver the doubling of train services, but "how they do it is entirely a matter for them".

Mr Beattie wrote to the federation on December 19 to allay their fears, but correspondence shows the head office maintained its concerns and replied: "Our fear is that if the pattern of the last few years continues to hold, that is excellent work but no final decision on a workable (not perfect) solution, the knock-on impacts will become significant."

The Government is still to solve its public transport headache, with Easter services cut to as few as one train every two hours, and a derailed $4.4 billion train building project.

[ozbob]

Scathing letter tips transport trouble > https://t.co/63b8db2mCx ... #qldpol
oh dear, as I suggested cluster-fuk looming #railfail #gamesfail

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) April 22, 2017

^

Hey @SmartState1 #railfail gets worse mate. @AnnastaciaMP govt & @jackietrad out of their depth now.
New NGR trains basket case.#qldpol https://t.co/BOK5Vc9Pcs

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) April 22, 2017

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

23rd April 2017

Must have faith in public transport for Commonwealth Games ...

Good Morning,

Seems our warning of transport problems for the Commonwealth Games was very well founded.  As we suggested denial, delusion, bluster and spin was not going to fix the problems.

Sunday Mail --> Commonwealth Games chiefs warned State Government event at "significant risk" over transport

Unless the public has confidence in the public transport for SEQ the risks are very real and will make Queensland look rather silly come Games time. People will not use public transport unless they have faith in the network, they will add to the road congestion mess.

We have had feedback along the lines that it is all very well to encourage Games visitors to use public transport but the public transport has to be in place, reliable and frequent. Two key characteristics which are lacking at present.  Queensland has the worst suburban rail network in the country, as was well demonstrated over Easter and the preceding weekend.  A point made in the Sunday Mail article, services on the Sunshine Coast Line were two hourly!  Feedback also suggests that due to the probable transport issues they cannot be bothered going to the Games.  Sad outcome hey?

There is still time to sort it if anyone will listen.

1.  Cut the union nonsense at Queensland Rail.

2.  Accelerate train crew training - 9 months should be target.

3.  Outline a revised full rail timetable introduction process.  We have suggested that Queensland Rail needs to be able to deliver the full October 2016 timetable by late January 2018.  This will restore confidence and bed down the network properly prior to the Games.

4.  Come clean about the New Generation Rollingstock trains and what is being done to accelerate their delivery to actual revenue passenger service.  Mechanical failures are proving to be a major disruption factor on the rail network as aging train fleet issues become more difficult for Queensland Rail to manage. This is becoming critical. These new trains are needed for the Games.

There is still time to sort it if anyone has the will.

Best wishes

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

[ozbob]

Media: ' Must have faith in public transport for Commonwealth Games ... '
> https://t.co/pI1Q5wnns0#qldpol@jackietrad @SmartState1 pic.twitter.com/nhTWP0QPtc

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) April 22, 2017

^

Nobody does cluster-fuk like Queensland hey?#auspol #nswpol #springst #politas #qldpol #saparli #ntpol #wapol #actpol https://t.co/fm9ZFkRUHt

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) April 22, 2017

[Stillwater]

Pretty damning words: "The partnership does not have a viable transportation solution for the Games and the overall operation framework is in significant risk."

Now we have Mr Beattie also saying he is confident that he has an assurance from QR that the train capacity will be there:

QUOTE: Mr Beattie yesterday said there had been "enormous progress" and that he had an undertaking from Queensland Rail it could deliver the doubling of train services, but "how they do it is entirely a matter for them".

He is confident he has an 'undertaking', just like the Minister.  Is it worth anything?  That is entirely a matter for QR, he says.

No-one knows anything and those who are supposed to don't want to peek beyond seeking an 'assurance' from Neil Scales / QR that things will be okay.  Can this assurance be verified independently please ... maybe by the Citytrain Response Unit, which seems to have sunk without trace.

'I have an assurance' essentially is a bum-protection exercise for when the brown stuff hits the fan at the subsequent Public Inquiry.

Racing athletes to events via police escort along the breakdown lane of the M1 involves hope on optimism, and straight away tells everyone that the M1 will be a car park come the Games.

[ozbob]

 

[BrizCommuter]

A few updates on the BrizCommuter blog post - adding comment on the CM article, and EMU unreliability.
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2017/04/qr-to-axe-train-services-during.html

[ozbob]

 

BrizCommuter: QR to axe train services during Commonwealth Games (updated)
> https://t.co/oENfBijUMv#qldpol
FYI @SmartState1 @jackietrad pic.twitter.com/SZseeFgMhQ

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) April 22, 2017

^

#prayforusOz#auspol #nswpol #springst #politas #qldpol #saparli #ntpol #wapol #actpol https://t.co/Uf36WrbSYY

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) April 22, 2017

[ozbob]

Increased train services, stage two of the light rail,13 park 'n' ride sites with 10,000 car spaces linked directly to venues by 1,000 buses pic.twitter.com/P3wJ9gi0uI

— Peter Beattie (@SmartState1) April 22, 2017

@SmartState1 @katejonesqld The problem is the rest of the public transport network in SEQ. Going to be very difficult for folks to get there ...#qldpol

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) April 22, 2017

[darthcaligula666]

the only way they are going to be able to deliver extra consistent and regular services on the gold coast line is to pull from the other lines. i will be very surprised if we dont get relegated to bus services here on the rosewood line again. not ideal for the disabled or mums with prams.

[#Metro]

Everybody get out and push the train  Heave!

On a more serious note - real possibility that one train has "mechanical fault" and the whole timetable falls like a house of cards.

[ozbob]

the only way they are going to be able to deliver extra consistent and regular services on the gold coast line is to pull from the other lines. i will be very surprised if we dont get relegated to bus services here on the rosewood line again. not ideal for the disabled or mums with prams.

Yo.  The CEO of QR has denied that.

4BC Brisbane Live

Is psychometric testing for train drivers necessary?

Ben Davis speaks to the CEO of Queensland Rail, Nick Easy about the psychometric tests potential train drivers have to sit

> http://www.4bc.com.au/podcast/is-psychometric-testing-for-train-drivers-necessary/

Well worth listening too. Nick Easy states towards the end of the interview that there will not be service changes/line closures as a result of Commonwealth Games.  He acknowledges our claim for full service delivery by January 2018, looking at it although no indication that will be achieved.

15 drivers and 40 guards already qualified.  More on the way.  With accelerated training programs a better timetable by Jan 2018 is looking possible.

[I have saved the MP3 file -- could come in handy  ]

[Mr X]

Like that lady on twitter asked- how frequent will trams be?

[red dragin]

Hold on to the best of the EMU's and devote NGR sets (assuming they are in service) to Gold Coast runs?

The games does fall during school holidays, we might see a slight reduction in peak services to keep driver overtime down.

[ozbob]

The games does fall during school holidays, we might see a slight reduction in peak services to keep driver overtime down.

Of course we will see ' cuts ' despite the assurances otherwise  . 

The fact is life goes on for SEQ and the entire public transport network has to be functional or people will not use PT to get to the games, and for the people still working etc. they need to get around.

It is highly probable that we might have a new Government towards the end of this year.  What a basket case they are going to be lumped with.  But I guess they will be able to blame the present mob, but that is not really going to help much in the end.

It is has to be sorted, and sorted now.  Or there will be more ...

[ozbob]

Like that lady on twitter asked- how frequent will trams be?

I have seen that recently.  Not sure where though, SurfRail may know ..

[wbj]

I hope that the extra driver and rolling stock resources allow extra services to be provided during the games on the Airport - Gold Coast line without detriment to services on the other lines.  Desirable for a new improved timetable to be running by 2018; but essential minimum is return Fridays to normal running and for no setback leading up to and during the games.

It's essential that all future changes be enhancements and no fallbacks for any reason.  Can QR achieve this with the staffing and rolling stock restraints?  I don't know.

[ozbob]

Yo wbj.  Fridays need to be  ' normalised ' pronto.  Fridays are currently a major mess for many.

I reckon they could do that now.  First step.  Second step is plug some of issues in the present Mon <> Thu timetable, eg. Cleveland PM peak.

[ozbob]

Nine News --> Qld premier defends CommGames transport

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has defended her government's Gold Coast Commonwealth Games transport plan, after a letter from a senior bureaucrat emerged slamming the preparations.

The letter, obtained by the Courier Mail, featured Commonwealth Games Federation vice-president Bruce Robertson criticising the preparations to move up to 1.2 million spectators and tens of thousands of contractors at the 2018 event as "not viable".

However, the premier on Sunday defended the transport plan, saying Mr Robertson had written to the government after that letter was sent, revising his assessment and calling the current transport plan "the best (he) had ever seen".

Ms Palaszczuk said she was now the chair of the commonwealth games committee, and was impressed with the work that had been done to put a transport plan in place.

"It involves shuttle services, it involves utilising the Gold Coast light rail, it involves extra bus services, extra train services, so it is very comprehensive," Ms Palaszczuk said.

Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/national/2017/04/23/10/29/qld-premier-defends-commgames-transport

It is not so much the Gold Coast that is the real worry, it is the rest of the network ...

The powers to be are struggling to grasp that fact ...

[ozbob]

An Open Letter to the Premier of Queensland, Ms Annastacia Palaszczuk

23rd April 2017

Commonwealth Games Transport Concerns

Dear Premier,

There is concern with the transport plans for the Commonwealth Games.  It is not so much with the local transport arrangements on the Gold Coast using the Light Rail and the shuttle buses and so forth, but how the rest of the public transport network in SEQ is going to function.  It is highly likely that rail services to boost the Gold Coast Line will result in poor service on the rest of the network.

Queensland Rail is having constant problems now with the aging train fleet.  Delays with New Generation Rollingstock trains are not helping reliability.

The public doubts the veracity of claims that all will be well. Why?  Well they look at the failures with the Redcliffe Peninsula Line (RPL), not only the fact that ' rail fail ' service crisis was precipitated by the opening of the RPL itself, but the signalling issues that delayed the opening and the fact that we still do not know if these issues have been resolved.

We note the ongoing issues with the New Generation Rollingstock trains.  Still none in passenger revenue service.

The public has suffered a succession of reduced service rail timetables in SEQ.  Culminating in the recent Easter Train Timetable (and the preceding weekend) that saw service levels go back to the 1970s.  The public sees no evidence of improved services, as they cope with the present mediocre Monday <> Thursday rail timetable, with even more rail service reductions on Fridays! 

Assurances are meaningless, there must be demonstrated service delivery improvements to restore confidence of the public.

Yours sincerely,

Robert

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

[ozbob]

An Open Letter to the Premier of Queensland @AnnastaciaMP
> https://t.co/fv39LJtbkz#qldpol@jackietrad @AndrewPowellMP @QLDLabor @LNPQLD pic.twitter.com/OBuliXIXBH

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) April 23, 2017

[ozbob]

^ 4BC News have followed up.  Thanks for the interest 

[wbj]

Yo wbj.  Fridays need to be  ' normalised ' pronto.  Fridays are currently a major mess for many.

I reckon they could do that now.  First step.  Second step is plug some of issues in the present Mon <> Thu timetable, eg. Cleveland PM peak.

Third step, change 3 car services to full 6 car services.  These steps need to be completed within 6 months.  Summer reduced holiday service could be for 2-3 weeks, not months.

[ozbob]

 

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Commonwealth Games: Beattie dismisses scathing letter bagging public transport

South-east Queensland's public transport will be able to cope with huge demand during the 2018 Commonwealth Games, chair Peter Beattie says, despite UK bosses warning logistics could unravel the event.

The Commonwealth Games Federation sent a letter in December, released Sunday, to Mr Beattie and Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe saying the region did not yet have a solution to manage up to 1.2 million spectators and 50,000 contractors.

"[There is not] a viable transportation solution for the Games and the overall operational framework is in significant risk," vice president and coordination commission chair Bruce Robertson wrote.


Some of the 14 recommendations:

    Consider expanding rail and road capacity
    More shuttle buses to Games' venues to reduce hire cars
    Increase frequency of trains between Brisbane and Gold Coast
    Prioritise Games' traffic on M1

    "[We do] not see any path forward, in structure or in plans, that can solve the magnitude of the current problem."

Fourteen steps were outlined to improve the situation, including expanded train services, more shuttle buses, prioritising Games' traffic on the M1 between Brisbane and the Gold Coast and a new taskforce to spearhead issues.

"The above items must be addressed in the next three months otherwise the knock-on effects will potentially see delays and cost risks in many other areas, for example overlay, security, workforce," Mr Robertson said.

In a response to the federation, Mr Beattie said the letter had not taken into account the planning that was underway.
Work is carried out on the widening of the Pacific Highway near springwood, south of Brisbane, Monday, June 24, 2013.

That included initial planning - for an announcement finally revealed last week - to confine trucks to the left lanes of the M1, as well as more train services and shuttle buses.

"The 14 recommendations are presented as if there was no progress," Mr Beattie wrote back to the federation.

"In my view, it would have been appropriate for the letter to acknowledge the work that the partners have undertaken and plan to take."

The federation replied in the days following, acknowledging that while planning and modelling were in place and some of it was "the best" ever seen, final decisions needed to be made.

"Significant and excellent work has absolutely been undertaken," Mr Robertson wrote.

"Our fear is that if the pattern of the last few years continues to hold, that is excellent work but no final decision on a workable (not perfect) solution, the knock-on impacts will become significant."

In response to the release of the letters, Mr Beattie hit back this morning, saying it was under control.

    "Only an idiot would think that transport is not a problem and only an idiot would not plan for it," he said.

"We have planned for it, and we have a plan released a year before the Games.

"Whenever you have an event where there are 1.2 million spectators, of course there are challenges.

"One of them is transport, but we've come up with a plan to do that.

"That letter was just part of the planning and work being done."

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said concerns were addressed in the transport plan released last week.

    "We have been taking our time to get it right," she said.

"It involves shuttle services, it involves the Gold Coast light rail, it involves extra bus services, extra train services, so it is very comprehensive."


External Link Letter to Peter Beattie from Bruce Robertson
External Link Letter to Bruce Robertson from Peter Beattie

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Commonwealth Games transport up to standard

Transport options for the upcoming Gold Coast Commonwealth Games will be up to standard, says organising committee boss Peter Beattie, after a senior Games official raised concerns.

Commonwealth Games Federation vice-president Bruce Robertson sent a letter to Mr Beattie on December 12 last year, outlining concerns he had about the preparations to move up to 1.2 million spectators and tens of thousands of contractors at the 2018 event.

Mr Robertson outlined a series of 14 concerns, "Including, but not limited to" the expansion of public transport and the capacity of the M1 to cater for the higher-than-normal traffic volumes during the event.

"The partnership does not have a viable transportation solution for the Games and the overall operational framework is in significant risk," Mr Robertson wrote.

Mr Beattie on Sunday released his letter in response to Mr Robertson as well as Mr Robertson's reply, both sent back in December, to give a "clearer picture" of the "robust process" he said was occurring at the time.

In the third letter dated December 22, Mr Robertson has more praise for the organising committee's plans but still stresses that if "the pattern of the last few years continues to hold ... the knock-on impacts will become significant."

Mr Beattie said since those letters were sent, the issue has been resolved, largely by the Palaszczuk government's M1 management plan for the Games, released last week.

"The process that was started here in these letters, we got what we wanted out of it (the M1 traffic plan) and he got what he wanted," Mr Beattie told reporters on Sunday.

"There will always be some delays on the M1, I won't insult people's intelligence by claiming otherwise, but we've got the best possible plan on the M1 prior to it being upgraded, which won't happen until after the Games."

The state opposition has seized on the reports, with LNP leader Tim Nicholls concerned it took a Right to Information request by News Corp to bring the letters to light.

"Why the cover-up? Why the fight to release this information?" Mr Nicholls asked reporters on Sunday.

"The issue here is both about the plan, and the cover-up mentality."

But Mr Beattie said he wasn't aware of the RTI request, and would have released the letters himself if he'd known.

"You could have had the damn letters, I released all three of them today," he said.

"We've got nothing to hide here, all we've got here is planning in progress."

The state government has announced a raft of measures aimed at reducing traffic congestion on the Pacific Motorway while the Games are being held between April 4 and 15 next year.

Speed limits will be reduced by 10km/h, trains operating between Brisbane and the Gold Coast will be increased, and 4.5-tonne trucks will be confined to the two left lanes.

Ticket-holders will have free public transport from Brisbane but the government is urging spectators to stay on the coast if they can to reduce the volume of people moving on the M1 corridor.

AAP

[ozbob]

[Stillwater]

QUOTE: "South-east Queensland's public transport will be able to cope with huge demand during the 2018 Commonwealth Games, chair Peter Beattie says, despite UK bosses warning logistics could unravel the event."

How can Mr Beattie speak for PT across all of SEQ?  How does he know this is the case?

It is Sunday.  Today's Sunday Mail had Mr Beattie saying:

that he had an undertaking from Queensland Rail it could deliver the doubling of train services, but "how they do it is entirely a matter for them".

This morning he didn't know the circumstances .. 'that is a matter for them' (QR) ... this afternoon he is saying that, across SEQ, public transport will be able to cope with the huge demand during the Commonwealth Games.

Did he get a briefing at midday?

Has he got another 'assurance' from Translink and Neil Scales that everything will be okay?  Is he confident he has an assurance?

OR IS HE SURE?

Remember, it took an observation from the other side of the world for the Queensland Government to act.  It reacted.  It was not on the front foot, aware of the same problems identified from London, due to some independent monitoring of the situation by a home-grown team of observers.

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

QUOTE: "South-east Queensland's public transport will be able to cope with huge demand during the 2018 Commonwealth Games, chair Peter Beattie says, despite UK bosses warning logistics could unravel the event."

How can Mr Beattie speak for PT across all of SEQ?  How does he know this is the case?

It is Sunday.  Today's Sunday Mail had Mr Beattie saying:

that he had an undertaking from Queensland Rail it could deliver the doubling of train services, but "how they do it is entirely a matter for them".

This morning he didn't know the circumstances .. 'that is a matter for them' (QR) ... this afternoon he is saying that, across SEQ, public transport will be able to cope with the huge demand during the Commonwealth Games.

Did he get a briefing at midday?

Has he got another 'assurance' from Translink and Neil Scales that everything will be okay?  Is he confident he has an assurance?

OR IS HE SURE?

Remember, it took an observation from the other side of the world for the Queensland Government to act.  It reacted.  It was not on the front foot, aware of the same problems identified from London, due to some independent monitoring of the situation by a home-grown team of observers.

Exactly.

The response today from Mr Beattie and the Premier is good as it has this issue right up front now.  Which really was the aim.

There are grave risks moving into a #qldvotes environment without addressing the wider PT concerns. 

Election will be later this year is the 'hot goss' ... long before the Games.

I say, ' let the games begin '   

[wbj]

I'm a little surprised about concerns with the M1.  Much of the games traffic will be in the opposite direction to peak periods commuter traffic.  And surely the Gold Coat would be the preferred accommodation option rather than visitors staying in Brisbane.  And isn't there an athletes village for those competing on the Gold Coast?

[ozbob]

It has been said there is accommodation available on the GC for 30,000.  I expect a lot of that has already been booked out.

There are real reasonable concerns with M1 traffic.  If they can get a decent connected PT network going that will help a lot.

If they do the dirty and drop frequency to one hour over Easter 2018 etc. (like this years Easter fail) punters will drive regardless.