Public transport highlights and lowlights for 2011

[ozbob]

A highlight for me was the early commencement of rail services to Richlands.

Lowlight was the Ekka ticket meltdown ...


First down service about to depart Richlands 17th January 2011 5.12am SMU210/207. 
History, first new public metropolitan line since 1918 (Mitchelton)







Photographs R Dow 17th January 2011

[Fares_Fair]

A highlight for me was the new $15m, 5:28pm train service from City to Nambour to reduce the gross overcrowding caused by the timetable rewrite on June 6.

Lowlights were ... the loss of weekly, monthly, six and 12 month tickets (or Go card equivalent) promised for review by the Minister, but nothing has been done to honour the commitment.



How do you do that blue link name thing, ozbob?
Should I get the cone of silence?  

[somebody]

Highlights: Departure of Peter Strachan and Rachel Nolan.  Appointing a TL CEO who I have some cautious optimism in.  Also 100, 120, 180, 196 BUZ and 15 minute frequency extending as far as Darra.  Abolishing all stoppers to IPS and CAB in peak/peak direction.

Lowlights: Continuing under performance on the INB, particularly with the 393.  Poor counter peak services remain on the Ipswich line.  All stopping to Northgate for CAB/NBR.

[Stillwater]

Highlight:  The extension of the Cooroy-terminating daytime train to become the midday Gympielander and its warm reception by the people of the hinterland towns north of Cooroy.

[ozbob]

Highlight:  The extension of the Cooroy-terminating daytime train to become the midday Gympielander and its warm reception by the people of the hinterland towns north of Cooroy.

The inaugural weekday "Gympie-Lander" at Roma St





Pomona!





Cooran!









Gympie North







Photographs R Dow 6th June 2011

More --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5795.msg58869#msg58869

[Mr X]

Highlights:
1. new BUZes (100, 120, 180, 196, 222) and abolished 197
2. removal of a certain potentially deadly bus stop near HBU's home (worth mentioning, they are concerned about the "small stuff" too)
3. Richlands rail station
4. new Northshore citycat terminal
5. good handling of services during and after the floods by Translink
6. P88 indooroopilly change
7. Sth Brisbane upgrade
8. Eastern busway and new 590

Lowlights:
1. 15% fare increases
2. the big inner city transport meltdown that occurred in September/October, where trains had to terminate at Bowen Hills and Roma Street, commuters left stranded for hours
3. constant rail network failures and track closures like #2, but on a general level
4. 192 debacle, unhappy commuters left waiting for non-existent bus services...
5. still no fix for the eastern suburbs aside from route 222, which gives a BUZ service to no one who didn't have one before. Looking at you, 230/235!

[ozbob]

...
How do you do that blue link name thing, ozbob?
Should I get the cone of silence?  

Click --> here!

[#Metro]

Geez, are they in the cone with respect to train frequency?

[ozbob]

Another highlight is an improved fare structure for the go card, although not actually implemented until 2012 (Jan 2).

[SurfRail]

For the Gold Coast:

Highlights = continuing construction of GCRT, opening of Coomera bus depot, cross-town services (747 continued, 740 introduced), double deckers 

Lowlight = last new train for 2 years delivered, no firm timeframe on Coomera River duplication, political uncertainty over Cross River Rail, limited new buses delivered to take advantage of new capacity.

[ozbob]

Forest Lake  100



Photograph R Dow 26th October 2011

[ozbob]

Another highlight is the 590 bus.  Going well from reports I have received.



Photograph R Dow 29th August 2011

[ozbob]

Traveston, a highlight for me!



Photograph R Dow 22nd November 2011

--> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7027.msg76438#msg76438

[ozbob]

An ongoing lowlight is the poor frequency, particularly out of peak.  And not so good counter peak where it is needed.

[Golliwog]

While the meltdown where the bird knocked out power to the suburbans for ages was bad, the way it was handled was a highlight (I think so anyway). The number of staff they had at Central helping direct passengers around the platforms to try and get as many people through as they could. I also think the addition of an all day CCB route (P88) is a definite plus. I also agree the way the floods were handled in terms of the PT network was excellent. As were the massive number of improvements across the PT network throughout the year.

I think a low light is probably how long it took to organise the 535 Springfield to Richlands feeder bus.

[Fares_Fair]

Traveston, a highlight for me!



Photograph R Dow 22nd November 2011

--> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7027.msg76438#msg76438

Ah yes, Traveston how could I forget that memorable day.
Starting with the impossible train switcheroo at Roma Street station (some say it cannot be done, but ozbob and I witnessed it with our very eyes), then on to the famous dance of the trains at Mooloolah, with the piece de resistance being the renovation/reconstruction of old Traveston Station.

For the history buffs, in June 1925, Traveston was the site of Queensland's worst rail disaster (up to that point in time).
9 died and 48 were injured when a train wheel derailed, travelling along the tracks for about mile and a half before finally breaking free of the rails and sending the carriage down a 10.5m embankment. The carriage was described as splinters, literally all that was left.
A toddler was seen crawing out from the wreckage with dummy in mouth, sadly it's mother died in the crash.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[aldonius]

Lowlight is the continued absence of Google maps integration. This was hoped for by 'end of year' as stated by TransLink in the middle of 2010! 

TransLink has been working hard on this project as we do recognise that it is a beneficial tool for our passengers to utilise when travelling on the network. We are planning to roll out the Google Transit by the end of the year.

http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2010/07/brisbane-promises-google-maps-transport-integration-by-year-end/

[HappyTrainGuy]

My highlights was the entire Queensland PT network during the December-January floods and northern cyclone. The recovery trains for people living up north. Buses and passenger trains across/to Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Sunny Coast, Rocky, Bundaberg, Cairns, Townsville etc still operating (where possible) throughout the entire December-February period. Especially the effort that went into maintaining bus/train services in Brisbane during the January floods. Buses still running on modified city routes/via riverside expressway and just how quick all the PT infrastructure in Brisbane/Ipswich and up north after their floods and cyclone Yasi was returned to normal operation. Cairns and qconnect also get a good mention.

Lowlights are still the entire Translink network frequency, everything still going to the city and increasing fares.

[Stillwater]

Highlight:  The MVHR 'Silver Bullet' shuttle that connected both sides of Gympie during the flooding at the start of the year - conveying people, but more essentially, milk from the Mary Valley and bread from the one bakery left operating in town.

[ozbob]

Another highlight was the rapid recovery of the railway line up the range to Toowoomba.  Amazing what ' black diamonds ' achieve ..

I have often pondered if we offered to carry a lump of coal each on the Ippy down PASS services we might get a decent out of peak frequency ...   

[ozbob]

Another highlight, the continuing Community Reference Groups (CRGs) for the major lines, and Travel Train by Queensland Rail.

Lowlight, TransLink still not grasping the need or the benefits for them and the community  for bus CRGs for the bus regions.  I did raise it at the PTAG as well.

[ozbob]

Highlight:  The P88 bus having rear door loading

Lowlight:  First P88 bus I boarded at the rear door was not set for rear door loading and I received a fixed fare ...  

[somebody]

Highlight:  The P88 bus having rear door loading

Not much of a highlight.  This run isn't even that busy in my experience, so what difference does rear door boarding even make?

[ozbob]

Its the principle, Simon, the principle ... 

[Mr X]

Might I say a highlight could be the dumping of a certain transport minister? 

[somebody]

Might I say a highlight could be the dumping of a certain transport minister? 

Well, I already did, in reply 2!

[BrizCommuter]

Highlights:
More high frequency bus routes
Successful and well designed new Ipswich/Caboolture timetable
Recent turn in transparency/misleading info - Passenger Load Survey, Non-misleading TransLink advertising campaign

Lowlights:
Another 15% fare increase
Delay of phase 2 timetables, and no information on when they will be introduced
Strong reports of no 15 min off-peak in phase 2 timetables
No more trains till at least 2014
Government still in denial over fare increases decreasing patronage
Opposition's transport policies being non-existent and/or disappointing
Inner Northern Busway still suffering from overcrowding

[Cam]

Highlights:
Removal of all stoppers to/from Ipswich & Caboolture for about 1.5 hours per day in each direction

Lowlights:
No increase in off peak rail frequency past Darra & Northgate
Poor counter peak frequency to ipswich in the June timetable
No express services to Ipswich/Rosewood outside the peak hour & a half
15% increase in fares
Further padding added to the Ipswich & Caboolture timetables
2 x 3 car services from Ipswich in the morning peak that are not likely to be replaced with 6 car services until new trains arrive in 2014
The realisation that there will only be minor improvements in SE Queensland's public transport for the foreseeable future

Expected highlight for 2012:
Removal of the Queensland government

Expected lowlights for 2012:
The incoming LNP government:

1) Defers CRR indefinitely & begins to waste considerable money on a band aid solution

2) Doesn't reverse the 15% increase in fares & hold future increases to inflation

[#Metro]

Expected highlight for 2012:
Removal of the Queensland government

2 x 3 car services from Ipswich in the morning peak that are not likely to be replaced with 6 car services until new trains arrive in 2014

Do we need more trains? Might be a media release material?

[HappyTrainGuy]

A media release would be pointless imo. NGR is in its final stages. It will get a green light once the final assessment of Wulkuraka has been completed. Even if there were more trains stabling and maintaince would be a bigger issue. Once the NGR gets the go ahead maintainence, the number of trains and stabling would all be addressed at the same time. Also expect to see more services out of Ipswich/Rosewood as a result.

[Cam]

Also expect to see more services out of Ipswich.

I hope you are correct.

[mufreight]

A media release would be pointless imo. NGR is in its final stages. It will get a green light once the final assessment of Wulkuraka has been completed. Even if there were more trains stabling and maintaince would be a bigger issue. Once the NGR gets the go ahead maintainence, the number of trains and stabling would all be addressed at the same time. Also expect to see more services out of Ipswich/Rosewood as a result.

It would be a logical move to extend the current build of 160 series IMU sets and build a further six three car sets each year for the next two years, this would allow an increasing amplification of services and provide sufficent IMU sets to remove the need to operate non toilet equiped rolling stoch on the longer runs to the Gold Coast and Nambour/Gympie
Transperth has extended their orders and this extension of the build of more sets for QR could be done at minimal cost and provide more sets compatabile with the current IMU 160 series fleet.

[BrizCommuter]

Do we need more trains?

Quite obviously. We have the phase 2 timetables due, there aren't many trains in Mayne in the peak, and there are still 3-car services on both the mains and suburbans. Oh dear!

[HappyTrainGuy]

IMU160s would be good but really what's the point considering the new rollingstock (NGR) is basically just a stones throw away (The manufacture should be publicly announed early/mid 2012. They've done the majority of all the impact studies, already have preliminary development approval from the Ipswich Council and aren't long off from submitting the final development approval for construction of the new maintainence/stabling facility at Wulkuraka). From what I've heard the NGR would be constructed faster than previous orders from up north anyway. IMU100s are getting software upgrades/refurbed with ATP to operate with a sole driver past Caboolture. Newer timetables will address issues with IMU utilisation on the Gold Coast/Airport line/Nambour lines. The new timetable changes for the east/south and Ferny Grove are still a while off. The same with Springfield/Kippa Ring/Gold Coast extensions.

[Stillwater]

NGR - Latest Newsletter:
http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/NetworkServices/BuildingandMaintainingourNetwork/Documents/queensland-rail_NGR-project-update_november2011.pdf

[Golliwog]

Do we need more trains?

Quite obviously. We have the phase 2 timetables due, there aren't many trains in Mayne in the peak, and there are still 3-car services on both the mains and suburbans. Oh dear!

I noticed the Mitchelton starter that follows the 7.06 ex FG service was a 3 car service this morning (IMU I think).

[HappyTrainGuy]

Is that the one that runs to Cleveland? I don't think it is but there's one service ex-Ferny Grove line that runs on to Cleveland as a 3 car setup. And its usually an IMU from the times I've come across it. Might be the ~6.14am service actually. The first Caboolture-Rosewood service is also usually a 3 car service too which ends up travelling back to the city in the middle of peak. I can also recall Doomben having something similar due to safeworking procedures preventing local control to the second platform (A scheduled SMU260 series would arrive and it was split into 2x 3 car services or vice versa).

[Golliwog]

Is that the one that runs to Cleveland? I don't think it is but there's one service ex-Ferny Grove that runs on to Cleveland. And its usually an IMU from the times I've come across it. Might be the ~6.14am service actually.

Yeah from my experience, the 6.15am ex-FG is a 3 car service and goes to Cleveland. But the one I was talking about being 3 car was the 7.17am Mitchelton to Y'pilly service, which is normally a 6 car service as it picks up all the pax Alderley-City who have just had their 20+minute gap.

[somebody]

It would be a logical move to extend the current build of 160 series IMU sets

Would have been logical a few years ago, but I think that ship has sailed now.

new maintainence/stabling facility at Wulkuraka).

I heard there was to be no stabling here.

[mufreight]

It would be a logical move to extend the current build of 160 series IMU sets

Would have been logical a few years ago, but I think that ship has sailed now.

new maintainence/stabling facility at Wulkuraka).

I heard there was to be no stabling here.

Both maintainence for NGR and stabling, Redbank is effectively a waste of money and Wulkuraka could at this time have provided more space at less cost.
The argument for Redbank was apparently that it would be better sited to provide rolling stock for the Springfield line services.