Independent audit into Queensland Rail ...

[ozbob]

Interesting tweet ...

mXBrisbane ‏ @mXBrisbane

If your train is late, @scottemersonmp wants to know about it. He tells @mXbrisbane he's launched an independent audit into @QueenslandRail.

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

Guess more will be revealed later today ..

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robyn Ironside ‏ @ironsider

Rail network to be independently audited to improve reliability, says Transport Minister Scott Emerson.

[#Metro]

There is a difference between accuracy and reliability (precision).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accuracy_and_precision

Accuracy is the ability for the train to be on time (on target)
Reliability is the ability for the train to come at the same time, each time, every time (reproducibly).

I think what is irritating for passengers is the low frequency of services and terrible span
which results in a very high impact if late (half an hour time loss, lost connections).

It is funny that we focus so much on train on time when buses carry just as many people and are actually *WORSE* in terms of on time performance. Self reporting is also all over the bus network...hardly independent

If services were more frequent, being late would not be such a big issue, because the next service would not be far away, less people would also injure themselves running for a train.

The thing about QueensLand Rail is that it continues to talk about customer service, when the best service is DECENT FREQUENCY and DECENT SPAN ALL DAY. You don't need an audit to tell you that.

[SurfRail]

An audit could however identify misallocated or improperly prioritised spending on maintenance etc and work out how that could be done better, so I'm all for it.  That would likely be more of a focus, rather than paying somebody to tell them to run trains more often.

[ozbob]

612 ABC Brisbane Radio Drive with Tim Cox are highlighting this after 4pm today.

An audit might show up some areas of improvement. I also think that the entire system needs and audit as well! 

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Transport minister orders full rail audit

Transport minister orders full rail audit
April 12, 2012 - 2:40PM

Queensland Transport has been ordered to conduct an audit of the maintenance problems on southeast Queensland's city rail network by new Transport Minister Scott Emerson.

Queensland Rail holds the maintenance contract for the city train network.

An interim report must be finished by May 31 and the final report finalised by June 30.

In his first media conference since winning office at the state election, Mr Emerson said he wanted to restore public confidence and improve the reliability of the rail network after major problems last month.

In mid-March maintenance faults twice shut down large swathes of the city train network, leaving tens of thousands of commuters stranded for hours.

After one failure, then-Premier Anna Bligh ordered a day's free public transport to apologise to commuters for the problem.

Mr Emerson said the audit would look at equipment and maintenance processes to eliminate systematic problems in the network.

''So it is about improving the reliability, ensuring the commuters can have confidence in the system,'' he said.

''And I think what we saw in those incidents in late February and March was that the public's confidence in the system was undermined.''

Translink now demands at least 93.77 per cent of Queensland Rail services must be on time.

The audit will identify what went wrong during the two previous maintenance breakdowns and what the situation was that led to the breakdowns, he said.

They will have to complete ''rail-by-rail'' inspections of the rail network, including the overhead structures, the power systems and the future maintenance plans for the rail network.

''And, more importantly what needs to be done to stop similar failures occurring in the future,'' he said.

The audit will be done in-house and will not cost taxpayers anything outside Queensland Transport's budget, Mr Emerson said.

He said part of the reason why rail patronage figures were falling was partly due to the unreliability of the rail network.

''Affordability, but also reliability. Let's not forget that we have seen four million fewer trips taken in the six months up to December, compared to the same period the previous year.''

Translink has scheduled annual 15 per cent fare increases on January 1 each year.

The LNP Government has pledged to halve these annual increases to 7.5 per cent.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/transport-minister-orders-full-rail-audit-20120412-1wvkq.html

[#Metro]

Yes Mr Emerson, however the GEOMETRY of the network takes everything from everywhere and funnels it through a single core section consisting of Roma Street - Central - Brunswick Street - Bowen Hills.

If ANYTHING (suicide/power fault/broken train/track fault/signal fault/insert whatever disruption here) occurs within the core ALL LINES ON THE ENTIRE NETWORK WILL FAIL.

It is the WEAKEST LINK

The only way to change the geometry is to get Cross River Rail.

[HappyTrainGuy]

If they are going to be throwing around audits I want an audit on translink and an audit on why buses are so sh%thouse when it comes to their on time running. The P88/111 at 8MP can't even arrive to start the journey on time. There have been plenty of times where I've been waiting for a bus to connect to a nearby train service yet it rocks up 2-15 minutes late making me miss my train connection.

The thing about QueensLand Rail is that it continues to talk about customer service, when the best service is DECENT FREQUENCY and DECENT SPAN ALL DAY. You don't need an audit to tell you that.

Customer service is pretty much all QR can do since Translink was formed and took their public service rights away. They are providing Translink the requested service, not the public (Translink makes it public with intergrated ticketing) which really annoys me as the provider can obviously see areas that need improving yet its an outside party that says "okay, you can do that" which inturns affects how they operate to some extent

I also think that the entire system needs and audit as well! 

Agreed. Something that should have been done in 2005-2006 after Translink settled in.

He said part of the reason why rail patronage figures were falling was partly due to the unreliability of the rail network.

Or because of Translinks incompetence in organising and maintaining a proper rail and bus network that works with each not against each other.

[somebody]

part of the reason why rail patronage figures were falling was partly due to the unreliability of the rail network.

I think that is a fair call.  Except for the "falling" part.  It's grown in the last year, but poor reliability is constraining growth.

[Derwan]

What's the bet that one of the outcomes of the audit will be, "Improve redundancy"?

Ah - looks like we'll need CRR after all. 

[HappyTrainGuy]

Subs would be closed as platforms 3/4 would be closed off for medical access along with unauthorised personal on the tracks.

[Fares_Fair]

Story on Seven Local News tonight regarding the Sunshine Coast line duplication.

Andrew Powell MP, Glass House, said; "I will keep knocking on the Transport Ministers door to get the rail duplication happening sooner than the former government's 2031 deadline."

Jeff Addison from Rail Back on Track; said "Yesterday, Scott Emerson (Transport Minister) said that the Sunshine Coast rail duplication was part of a pipeline of projects, and the Sunshine Coast needs it to be at the head of that pipeline."

[ozbob]

http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=78972

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Independent Audit into reliability of Queensland Rail's City Network

The Newman Government has moved quickly to improve the reliability of the city rail network which suffered major failures in the lead up to the State election.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Scott Emerson, said today he had directed his department to conduct an independent audit of the city rail network to assess the reliability and integrity of the network.

"The LNP is a passenger-focused government that is committed to growing patronage," Mr Emerson said.

"But for more commuters to choose to take public transport they need to have confidence in the reliability of the rail network."

The failure of the network on two occasions just prior to the last election left tens of thousands of commuters stranded and late for work.

"Commuters were justifiably annoyed that the system had let them down," Mr Emerson said.

"I have now directed the department to conduct an independent audit to find out what went wrong, what circumstances led to the system reaching such an unreliable state and, more importantly, what needs to be done to stop similar failures occurring in the future."

Mr Emerson said the audit would focus on the reliability of the rail network, the third plank in the Newman Government's approach to improving public transport patronage.

"During the election campaign we outlined measures to improve affordability for commuters and to increase the frequency of services through a trial on the Ferny Grove line.

"Now, I'm pleased to announce we are addressing the issue of reliability.

"I expect the independent auditor to be appointed by the end of this month, and a report to be finalised by 30 June.

"An interim report, to be delivered by 31 May, highlighting significant issues which have emerged to that date will also be provided so any urgent remedial action can be implemented without delay.

"The auditor will be required to conduct complete inspections of the rail infrastructure, including civil structures and track, signalling, telecommunications, and power systems and electrical overheads.

"I also want the auditor to comment on the relationship between rolling stock maintenance and network issues, as well as review Queensland Rail's current and future maintenance and capital investment plans for SEQ."

Mr Emerson said Queensland Rail will co-operate fully with the audit, and the auditor will be given free access to all previous Queensland Rail reports, audits and studies.

[ozbob]

Good to see the LNP is a "passenger-focused government ..."   

[Fares_Fair]

Thumbs up logo here

Will the report be made public, including line by line breakdown (no pun intended) ?


PS I cannot select the thumbs up icon from the icon menu, no icons are selectable :-(

[Stillwater]

Not only passenger-focussed, perhaps, soon after the audit, the LNP will declare Queensland's rail operations 'world clarse'.

[somebody]

PS I cannot select the thumbs up icon from the icon menu, no icons are selectable :-(

Works for me.

[Fares_Fair]

Nothing, that's odd. None work for me.   :-(

[ozbob]

Nothing, that's odd. None work for me.   :-(

Working fine.  Suggest you shutdown your web browser and restart, that might help.  Also if you are behind a corporate firewall they might have stopped images or something.  Stranger things have happened ..

Can you see these 4 icons -->   

[Fares_Fair]

yes, I can thank you Bob.
will reload.
didn't work, maybe it is a firewall thingy.   :-(

[mufreight]

Yes Mr Emerson, however the GEOMETRY of the network takes everything from everywhere and funnels it through a single core section consisting of Roma Street - Central - Brunswick Street - Bowen Hills.

If ANYTHING (suicide/power fault/broken train/track fault/signal fault/insert whatever disruption here) occurs within the core ALL LINES ON THE ENTIRE NETWORK WILL FAIL.

It is the WEAKEST LINK

The only way to change the geometry is to get Cross River Rail.

Only on more extreme events. Someone jumping on the tracks for Plat 5 Central will not see suburbans stop and more likely platform 6 nth bound. CRR won't be entirely independent either as probably source traction power from same location and still part of same signally and control system. Probably a bit more could be done to seperate mains and suburbans than current but thats just an assumption.

CRR is needed for other reasons, you don't spend $6B to eliminate about 12hr a year of disruption that was unfortunate in timing and had it appened on Sunday morning at 2am it may not have even been reported.

regards
Shane

Sometimes I realy wonder about some of these posts.
CRR would logicaly be an independent system between Bowen Hills and Yeerongpilly, it would no share the power supply with the existing CBD lines nor is there any need for the power supply from the grid to the substations to be drawn from the same point as the power supply for the existing CBD lines power supply.
As for the signaling, again logic would indicate that the CRR line would be independent from the existing system between Bowen Hills and Yeerongpilly.
This all comes under the asset management heading of providing redundency capabilities in the system.   

[somebody]

There is a limit to what can be achieved.  I've heard of blackouts in the states affecting entire states, plural!  Obviously there is little which could be done in those scenarios.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

4th May 2012

More is needed ...

Greetings,

Channel Nine News Brisbane ran a short story highlighting the  poor on time running for the first quarter 2012 and the audit into Queensland Rail in the 6pm News Bulletin 3rd May 2012, an audit previously announced by Transport Minister Emerson on 12th April 2012 ( http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=78972 0 ).

Queensland Rail does publish peak on time running on their website daily.  A summary of the this data for 2012 is as follows.  The aim is to be above 93.8%

January 2012: 93.9%

February 2012: 87.9%

March 2012:  89.8%

April 2012:  92.3%

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2002.0

The on time running performance for rail is an accurate representation.  As can be noted the incidents in February and March have pushed down the average performance.  Overall Queensland Rail has been doing well on a national comparison, not only with respect to on time running but other service characteristics.

The on time running performance figures that are made available for bus are nonsense.  (see -->  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8060.msg94505#msg94505 ).

There is a need to audit the bus system particularly.  It is unreliable, has much waste and needs to be reorganised so that a high frequency core network that is properly supported by feeder buses to rail and bus stations.  The issue of Brisbane Transport needs to be resolved as well in order that we can move forward with a properly structured and integrated network (  SEQ: Brisbane Transport should be removed from Brisbane City Council  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8221.0 ).

In 2010 the Former Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Mr Newman wanted the state government to take over Brisbane Transport.  Now is the time for Premier Newman to achieve that, and in so doing better place the public transport network for the future.  ( Lord Mayor Campbell Newman wants State Government to run buses  http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/campbell-newman-wants-state-government-to-run-buses/story-e6freoof-1225839337936 ).

An audit into Queensland Rail will show what previous audits and studies have shown.  There is a need to sustain maintenance expenditure,  improve the infrastructure and more track amplifications, particularly the operational constraints such as the single line north of Beerburrum,  and provide redundancy and more capacity  on the network through a project such as Cross River Rail.  Importantly provision needs to be made for new rolling stock to replace the older trains and provide enough rolling stock to meet future demands as projects such as Springfield and Moreton Bay Rail commence operations.

As was seen yesterday, the road network is precarious, and so is the public transport network as a consequence of the  past imbalance between road and public transport funding.

We have the ability to much improve congestion problems in south-east by making our public transport system efficient, integrated and frequent.

The LNP claims it is a " ... is a passenger-focused government that is committed to growing patronage ", something we welcome.   Time for the big decisions.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail 4th May 2012 page 15

Failures hit train services

[somebody]

Big deal.  10% late by 4 minutes+.  What is the portion late by 10 minutes+ or cancelled?

[Jonno]

I loved the "a Channel 9 investigation has revealed...." as intro (deep concerned tone used).  I like how looking at a series of reports on a web page is an investigation!!! :-)

[Fares_Fair]

My statistics for the Sunshine Coast line show that a line by line breakdown is required to see exactly where the issues are.

[SurfRail]

My statistics for the Sunshine Coast line show that a line by line breakdown is required to see exactly where the issues are.

+ 1,000

[ozbob]

Remember this? --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4075.0

A few months of line by line, and then  it stopped.

Any attempt since to get transparent complete data resisted.  I don't think the problem is with QR per se but higher.  The LNP made a committment for improved transparency yadda yadda.  Now is their chance to make good.

[ozbob]

http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=79142

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson
04/05/2012

Labor's trifecta of failure shows need for rail audit

An audit into Queensland Rail's maintenance has become even more urgent with new data revealing reliability of peak services fell to a three year low during the final months of the Labor government.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said reliability of the south-east Queensland rail network dropped to 90.01 per cent for peak on-time running in the January to March 2012 period - the lowest result since 2009.

"This latest data underlines Labor's trifecta of failure in public transport with its appalling record on affordability, reliability and patronage," Mr Emerson said.

"The collapse in reliability of rail services came at the same time as Labor drove up the cost of public transport affordability with on-going 15 per cent annual fare increases, making it among the most expensive public transport systems in the world.

"Labor also drove away passengers with four million fewer trips taken in July to December 2011 compared to the same period the previous year."

Mr Emerson said the LNP will be a passenger-focussed government with a clear plan to rebuild confidence in our public transport and reversing the decline in passenger numbers by improving affordability, reliability and frequency of services.

"The interim report of the audit of the city rail network, which I ordered last month, is due at the end of May and will focus on ways to improve reliability," he said.

"The Newman Government is also tackling affordability with free travel after nine journeys to be introduced by July 1 and halving Labor's planned 15 per cent fare rises.

"We are also tackling frequency by trialling additional daytime peak services on the Ferny Grove line.

"When I catch public transport, affordability, reliability and frequency are the issues that passengers raise with me and they are the reasons people are walking away from public transport and hopping back into their cars.

"If we are going to get people back on to public transport then these issues need to be addressed."

[ENDS] 4 May 2012


Peak trains on time

2008/9 Q1
   
93.28%

2008/9 Q2
   
92.30%

2008/9 Q3

92.00%

2008/9 Q4
   
89.39%

2009/10 Q1
   
94.26%

2009/10 Q2

92.04%

2009/10 Q3

91.60%

2009/10 Q4
   
92.94%

2010/11 Q1

93.46%

2010/11 Q2

93.87%

2010/11 Q3

92.2%

2010/11 Q4

92.75%

2011/12 Q1
   
93.11%

2011/12 Q2
   
94.54%

2011/12 Q3
   
90.01%

• NOTE: The on-time running measure is within 3.59 minutes of the timetable or 5.59 minutes for Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast trains. Peak services are those arriving at Central station between 6am and 9am or departing Central between 3.30pm and 6.30pm on weekdays.

[#Metro]

Yes. The ALP were definetly caught with their pants down on failing to have a core frequency policy, even though we told them multiple times, and then caught again on GoCard integration with CityCycle. Almost like policy by media release... very reactive, and therefore not proactive and well-thought-out.

Mr Emerson said the LNP will be a passenger-focussed government with a clear plan to rebuild confidence in our public transport and reversing the decline in passenger numbers by improving affordability, reliability and frequency of services.

[Jonno]

Yes. The ALP were definetly caught with their pants down on failing to have a core frequency policy, even though we told them multiple times, and then caught again on GoCard integration with CityCycle. Almost like policy by media release... very reactive, and therefore not proactive and well-thought-out.

Mr Emerson said the LNP will be a passenger-focussed government with a clear plan to rebuild confidence in our public transport and reversing the decline in passenger numbers by improving affordability, reliability and frequency of services.

Bring all 3 on Now!!!

[ozbob]

Mr Emerson et al, this is how it is done ...

--> TransPerth December 2011 rail OTR

[SurfRail]

I'm sick of ministerial media releases having all this party political bollocks in them.  Both sides are as bad as each other in that respect.

The LNP have nearly 90% of the seats in Parliament, so can they just put out the pertinent stuff and not engage in crapping on about how Labor did or didn't do anything right?  Clearly the public believed them given the vote.

It's their problem to fix now, and I for one am no longer interested in the ALP's performance AT ALL.  That is in the past.

[Jonno]

I'm sick of ministerial media releases having all this party political bollocks in them.  Both sides are as bad as each other in that respect.

The LNP have nearly 90% of the seats in Parliament, so can they just put out the pertinent stuff and not engage in crapping on about how Labor did or didn't do anything right?  Clearly the public believed them given the vote.

It's their problem to fix now, and I for one am no longer interested in the ALP's performance AT ALL.  That is in the past.

+1

[colinw]

+2!

The tone of ministerial releases has not altered at all since the election. Still the same tired phrasing. Still the same lack of content with 50% of each release devoted to slagging off at the other team.

But, seriously, who expected any different?

[#Metro]

The more thing change, the more they stay the same.

Labour needed a good kick up the bum, they sure got it, next time perhaps they'll come up with some real policies and proper initiatives.

[SurfRail]

^ I agree, but I would prefer that ministerial announcements were actually concerned with their portfolio and nothing else.

[colinw]

Anyone willing to place bets as to what date the words "world class" will first be uttered in an LNP Government press release?

Or have they already?

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 4th May 2012 page 1

Slow trains crisis