New TransLink CEO

[SurfRail]

What about the roads and traffic lights?

TMR and local councils.  TMR should be responsible for more of the signalling so a priority system can be developed.

Likewise, QR would be responsible for ownership of the rail network, signalling system, track access and other bits and pieces like The Workshops and heritage fleet.  They don't need to be responsible for operations, because they clearly don't have a clue about land-use planning, off-peak service improvements or any of the other stuff operations like Transperth have down pat.

[dwb]

What about the roads and traffic lights?

TMR and local councils.  TMR should be responsible for more of the signalling so a priority system can be developed.

Likewise, QR would be responsible for ownership of the rail network, signalling system, track access and other bits and pieces like The Workshops and heritage fleet.  They don't need to be responsible for operations, because they clearly don't have a clue about land-use planning, off-peak service improvements or any of the other stuff operations like Transperth have down pat.

Haven't other jurisdictions (and here) shown that WHERE the service operates, ie the track/road, ALSO must be controlled by the service operator to maintain sufficient reliability, priority, etc?

[#Metro]

As far as I am concerned, TransLink should have control of the entire network - QR's city operations, BCC bus fleet and ferries and closer ties to the private operators.  Transperth functions in this manner and the advantages are very clear.

TransPerth's buses are contracted out to private operators http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/AboutUs/AboutTransperth.aspx

About us
Transperth is part of the State Government's Public Transport Authority (PTA), and is the brand name through which the Western Australian Government provides public transport services in the Perth metropolitan region. This includes Perth's public buses, trains and ferries.
The Transperth system comprises approximately*:
Operates over 11,200 timetabled bus services, 1,000 train services and nearly 400 school bus services on a typical weekday.
80 ferry services operate on a typical weekday from September to April, and 60 services from May to August.
Has a fleet of over 1,100 buses, 222 rail cars (which can be coupled in configurations of two, three, four or six-car trains) and two ferries.
In the last financial year it operated around 66 million service kilometers with over 131 million passenger boardings.
The Transperth bus network is run by three bus operators – Swan Transit, Path Transit and Southern Coast Transit.
Transperth bus services are split into ten contract areas:
Contract area

Operator

Morley               
Path Transit
Marmion
SwanTransit
Belmont
Swan Transit
Canning
Swan Transit
Claremont
Swan Transit
Kalamunda
Swan Transit
Midland
Swan Transit
Southern River
Swan Transit
Joondalup        Southern Coast Transit
Central Area Transit (CAT)
Southern Coast Transit
Fremantle/Cockburn
Southern Coast Transit
Rockingham/Mandurah
Southern Coast Transit

Transperth train services are operated internally by Transperth, under a Service Level Agreement with Transperth Trains Operations.

Transperth's ferry services operate between Barrack St Jetty and Mends St Jetty and are run by Captain Cook Cruises.
Transperth also has a range of Facility Management contracts to manage and operate the Transperth system. Contracts include security, building maintenance, cleaning, signage contracts, information & call centre services etc.

Transperth has about 100 contracts in operation at any one time to assist with the operation of Perth's public transport system. These contracts are worth approximately $300 million a year and generate annual revenue of approximately $70 million.

*Effective as of 5 April 2011.

[HappyTrainGuy]

What about the roads and traffic lights?

TMR and local councils.  TMR should be responsible for more of the signalling so a priority system can be developed.

Likewise, QR would be responsible for ownership of the rail network, signalling system, track access and other bits and pieces like The Workshops and heritage fleet.  They don't need to be responsible for operations, because they clearly don't have a clue about land-use planning, off-peak service improvements or any of the other stuff operations like Transperth have down pat.

Its more of a Translink issue in funding/approving additional train services rather than QR not knowing how to run its operations.

[dwb]

Its more of a Translink issue in funding/approving additional train services rather than QR not knowing how to run its operations.

If you look at the level of subsidy to QR since Translink's operation, it would have increased substatially more than services or costs. Where's our bang for buck?

[SurfRail]

TransPerth's buses are contracted out to private operators

I should clarify that the BCC fleet would be owned by TTA but contracted out in the same fashion as Perth.  The government owns and supplies the fleet, so it can set a minimum standard.  All buses in Perth have the same basic suite of signage, appearance and fittings, no matter which contractor operates them.

Knowing how things work in this country, if this were to happen here you might even end up being the same contractors (ATE/Hornibrook = Path Transit, Transit Systems = Swan Transit, and Veolia Transdev = Southern Coast Transit).

Mind you, they appear to be doing alright without having franchised the rail service.

[SurfRail]

Haven't other jurisdictions (and here) shown that WHERE the service operates, ie the track/road, ALSO must be controlled by the service operator to maintain sufficient reliability, priority, etc?

No.  Vertical integration is actually not that common for railways anymore.

QR has responsibilities that extend outside of SEQ, TransLink doesn't.  It does not make sense to create another network just for the sake of it, especially where you have intrastate and interstate freight sharing tracks with passenger trains.

[dwb]

It's something that I'd need more education on, still I didn't actually talk about commonality, I talked about a perception of outcome, and I'm thinking London here. My understanding is that the split in vertical operations has caused problems that they're trying to get out of now. Melbourne too yeah? I could easily be wrong.

Roads on the other hand... Brisbane seems unusual in that BCC is a very large and powerful council in control of roads that a state would normally be in control of, and their interests aren't necessarily as PT focussed as they should/could be. Altho that is not saying that the state gov would be any better, but a regional transport authority might be.

[Stillwater]

 I wonder whether the new CEO of Translink, Mr Neil Scales, has slipped quietly into Brisbane yet.  He left his old job on December 13th.

Who knows, he might be among us this Australia Day, having brought the Pommy weather with him, and enjoying a lamb and rosemary sausage on a bit of soggy bread for lunch.

Not everyone is sad to see him leave old Blighty, as this blog entry shows.

http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/07/liverpool-european-capital-ofbad.html

Something about sculptures, so not too much damage done.  Let's hope they are sculptures, not people frozen in time while waiting for a Merseyside train.

Seriously though, once he gets his feet under the desk, perhaps he could collect his thoughts and agree to an open forum with RailBOT members – that is, if his political masters will allow him to do so in the lead-up to a state election.

[mufreight]

Most unlikely that Madam B Liar would allow a puppet of Mr Scales stature and pommy pedigree to associate with the knowledgible and inteligent people who make up the bulk of those involved in RBoT.
There would be considerable fear that he might hear the truth of the flaws in the public transport system under Transtink and either decide to make changes to resolve some of the shortcomings or decide to return to the Mersy fishmarkets before the lynching if he makes matters worse.

[somebody]

It makes no sense before the election, politically, but after the election it might be a possibility especially if there is a change of government.

[mufreight]

Methinks that Dictator No Policies Newman may well be less than enthused with the idea as well for exactly the same reasons.

[Stillwater]

Does anyone know the date on which Mr Scales will start duties?

[somebody]

Reply 5 said "March 2012".  So it is likely before the result of the election but after the caretaker period starts.  An interesting time to start a new job.  Not really allowed to do anything.

[SurfRail]

Reply 5 said "March 2012".  So it is likely before the result of the election but after the caretaker period starts.  An interesting time to start a new job.  Not really allowed to do anything.

But an excellent time for learning the basics like geometry of the network, senior staff/structure, basic business rules etc.  He will be thrust right into in when the government inevitably changes though.

[Stillwater]

  Makes for an interesting first meeting with the minister, whomever he or she might be.

[ozbob]

I wonder when Mr Scales starts?

[Stillwater]

Being used to Britain's fairy pee rain, perhaps Mr Scales should familiarise himself with the consequences of torrential rain and flood affecting parts of the track, or get his mind around what damage the odd pigeon can do to his/our network.

[BrizCommuter]

Being used to Britain's fairy pee rain, perhaps Mr Scales should familiarise himself with the consequences of torrential rain and flood affecting parts of the track, or get his mind around what damage the odd pigeon can do to his/our network.

The UK has plenty of pigeons, but they tend to be less suicidal.

The UK has to contend with snow, which isn't much of an issue in SE Queensland!

[ozbob]

Being used to Britain's fairy pee rain, perhaps Mr Scales should familiarise himself with the consequences of torrential rain and flood affecting parts of the track, or get his mind around what damage the odd pigeon can do to his/our network.

The UK has plenty of pigeons, but they tend to be less suicidal.

The UK has to contend with snow, which isn't much of an issue in SE Queensland!

2 450s deppart pokesdown over 40 min late with sparks  in snow ...

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/media-releases/release/444

New TransLink CEO to continue network growth

Wednesday 14 December 2011

One of the United Kingdom's most influential senior public transport executives has been appointed to continue the growth in public transport across South East Queensland.

TransLink Transit Authority's Chairman Geoff Harley welcomed the appointment of Neil Scales as Chief Executive Officer following a national and international search for a world class executive.

"I congratulate Neil on his appointment, which is a significant coup in TransLink's ongoing goal of making travel easy for customers," Mr Harley said.

"Neil will bring more than 30 years of public transport experience to TransLink.

"His enviable resume includes executive experience across the north of England, a consultant to the World Bank and the European Commission and 12 years in his current role as Chief Executive and Director-General of Merseytravel.

"In 2005, Neil was awarded an OBE for services to transport.

"He is credited with making Merseytravel one of the best transport authorities in the UK, which makes him an ideal person to lead the TransLink Transit Authority.

"He will take up his position in March 2012, with Matt Longland continuing to serve as interim CEO until then."

Mr Scales said he was looking forward to continuing to build TransLink's reputation as one of the leaders in integrated transport in Australia.

"I'm excited by the opportunity to work with the customers, state and local governments, local operators and the talented staff at TransLink to deliver the best possible outcomes for South East Queensland," Mr Scales said.

"I'm impressed with the significant investment being made by the Queensland Government and the willingness to deliver services and infrastructure for public transport across the region.

"Without doubt, improving the mode share of public transport will be vitally important for the future livability of the South East Queensland region for future generations and I look forward to delivering that to the best of my ability."

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

[ozbob]

Welcome to Queensland Mr Scales!

:bi

[somebody]

Welcome to Queensland Mr Scales!

:bi

Did he just get here?

[HappyTrainGuy]

Translink is sabotaging the network so it would look better with a new CEO

[ozbob]

Welcome to Queensland Mr Scales!

:bi

Did he just get here?

Not sure when, but I understand the new CEO is here.

[Stillwater]

On another thread, I suggested Mr Scales could be nicknamed The Phantom, since he is probably keeping his head down until after the election.  Perhaps a kinder name that might stick is 'Fish' (scales).  Until he gets his legs amid the rough and tumble of the Queensland transport environment, he will be a 'fish out of water'.

[Fares_Fair]

Translink is sabotaging the network so it would look better with a new CEO

No need for them to do that ...

[mufreight]

Translink is sabotaging the network so it would look better with a new CEO

No need for them to do that ...

It would be most difficult for them to make the Translink operation look worse.

[somebody]

Translink is sabotaging the network so it would look better with a new CEO

No need for them to do that ...

It would be most difficult for them to make the Translink operation look worse.

There's still parts they haven't gotten around to breaking yet.

[mufreight]

Translink is sabotaging the network so it would look better with a new CEO

No need for them to do that ...

It would be most difficult for them to make the Translink operation look worse.

There's still parts they haven't gotten around to breaking yet.

Shush! don't let that get out, Translink will have to bring in another dozen seat polishers and set up a new investigative team to figure out how they can.   

[Stillwater]

A sign of things to come under Mr Scales' management?  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEDc1TAXQEM&feature=related

Community 'ownership' of railway stations.


Communities can 'adopt a station':


Volunteers maintain station landscaping:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=hc_UUX-rsz8

All supported by Neil Scales, new CEO of Translink.

[ozbob]

Twitter

ABC Radio Brisbane ‏ @612brisbane

RT @SpencerHowson: New @TransLinkSEQ CEO joins me in studio tomorrow 7.15am - get your questions ready

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

That is 7.15am 612 ABC Radio Brisbane Tuesday 10th April 2012.

[ozbob]

612 ABC Brisbane Radio Breakfast with Spencer Howson

Click --> here!

New Translink CEO

10 April 2012 , 8:04 AM by Spencer Howson

Translink has a new CEO. Neil Scales comes to us from the UK - and is in the studio this morning to listen to your ideas about public transport in southeast Queensland:

[#Metro]

 

Core Frequent Network
Core Frequent Network Map

[somebody]

Bummer.  Missed it.

[Fares_Fair]

ozbob has the link to the interview just above.
In the interview, Robert Dow gets a good wrap from Spencer Howson and Mr Neil Scales.
Mr Scales said that he has a meeting with Robert at 10am this morning.

[somebody]

ozbob has the link to the interview just above.
In the interview, Robert Dow gets a good wrap from Spencer Howson and Mr Neil Scales.
Mr Scales said that he has a meeting with Robert at 10am this morning.

Yes, but it's too late to provide feedback.

[Stillwater]

Did Mr Scales enjoy his trip on the Sunshine Coast Line and what observations did he make?  I hope he got to witness the 'dance of the trains.'   

[Fares_Fair]

Has he made the trip?