Independent audit into Queensland Rail ...

[ozbob]

Rail patronage actually increased ...

--> http://translink.com.au/resources/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/2011-12-quarterly-report-oct-to-dec.pdf  page 4

--> http://translink.com.au/resources/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/2011-12-quarterly-report-jul-to-sep.pdf  page 4

[ozbob]

Metro Melbourne On Time data  --> here

Even ' gun ' operators find it difficult to run on time on neglected networks ...

Makes Queensland Rail look good!

[ozbob]

Media release 5 May 2012

SEQ: It is not a 'state-secret' in other states

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has called for the routine public release of detailed and accurate, performance and load data for public transport, as in other states of Australia.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Detailed load and performance data for public transport in south-east Queensland is not made publicly available as in other states (1,2,3). The TransLink Tracker has some summary data but no breakup."

"From July 2010 for a few months rail line specific summary data was made available then disappeared again into the secret cloisters of Government, TransLink and Queensland Rail (4)."

"We call on the Minister for Transport Mr Emerson to direct TransLink to make publicly available timely and accurate performance and load data for all railway lines, bus and ferry routes."

"Why is it necessary to resort to Right To Information requests for data that is made readily available in other states?"

References:

1.  Metro Melbourne http://corp.ptv.vic.gov.au/managing-victoria-s-public-transport-network/track-record/track-record-monthly-performance-bulletin-trains-metropolitan/

2.  TransPerth http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/AboutUs/Surveysandstatistics/Archivedontimerunningstatistics.aspx

3,  Sydney CityRail http://www.cityrail.info/about/our_performance/

4.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4075.0

Contact:

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

[somebody]

Rail patronage actually increased ...

--> http://translink.com.au/resources/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/2011-12-quarterly-report-oct-to-dec.pdf  page 4

--> http://translink.com.au/resources/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/2011-12-quarterly-report-jul-to-sep.pdf  page 4

They were talking about peak patronage, but that increased too unless they are looking at figures we don't have such as Q4 2011.

2nd half of 2012 hasn't happened yet, so it would be a neat trick to calculate that.

Minister Emerson said "patronage wouldn't increase until the trains ran on time" !! ??  What a load of rubbish.  Look at AKL's system which has miserable reliability and is growing significantly albeit off a low base.

4 million fewer in a half year?  I don't believe that at all.

[ozbob]

Yes, bollocks really.

[ozbob]

The ' 4 million ' has been mentioned before but only as a total overall all modes.  I think it might have got a little twisted this time. Rail actually increased.

It is UNACCEPTABLE that the data so freely available in other states is just not made publicly available here.  It smells, it  leads to distrust and misinterpretations of the data that is difficult to refute. 

The LNP said they would be accountable and transparent, lets see that in action. TransPerth's stats is the way to present the data ( click through on the various months eg. March 2012 )

[somebody]

Even in PER they seem obsessed with the OTR rather than patronage.

AKL have reasonably freely available info.

It is noteworthy that patronage did drop between Q3 2009 and Q3 2010.

[ozbob]

TransPerth patronage is in their annual reports --> http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/Portals/0/annualreports/2011/pta2011v4/transperth/transperth-trains.html

A line by line as for the OTR would complete it.

[somebody]

I knew it would be around somewhere.  Point I was making is that the focus is on OTR rather than patronage.  Something Ron Christie was scathing about in NSW.

Pretty sure I've seen line by line for WA in the past.

FWIW, in NSW while the STA & Cityrail figures are reasonably freely available, stats for the private operators isn't.  I'm inclined to ascribe this to incompetence rather than malice in NSW.

[somebody]

I want the audit to include the costs/benefits/feasibility of increased services to Richlands, FYG, CAB, SHC, MNY and Coopers Plains.

[Fares_Fair]

Tweet from Chris O'Brien ‏@ChrisOBrienABC
Transport Minister tells parlt Audit of QR SE network finds no immediate safety issues need to be addressed

Retweet  9:48 AM - 7 Jun 12 via TweetDeck · Details

[Golliwog]

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/rail-disruptions-preventable-audit-20120607-1zxnv.html

Rail disruptions preventable: audit
June 7, 2012 - 11:41AM
Daniel Hurst

Two incidents that caused major disruptions on Brisbane's rail network in the lead up to the March election were preventable, an audit team has found.

Transport Minister Scott Emerson, who commissioned an audit into the rail network's reliability soon after he was sworn in, said the team had advised him it found no immediate safety issues requiring the attention of the Rail Safety Regulator.

The final report is yet to be completed, but Mr Emerson said the team had also provided him with details about the cause of two major incidents that caused disruption in February and March.
Advertisement: Story continues below

Thousands of travellers were left stranded for hours from the morning of February 28 after an electrical fault stopped trains from passing through inner-city train stations, prompting the former Bligh government to announce a day of free travel as compensation.

Mr Emerson said the February 28 incident was the result of a "dewirement" about 500 metres west of Roma Street station at 4.25am.

"A wedge clamp that holds the overhead wires was found to have been installed incorrectly about five years ago," he said.

"Queensland Rail has now inspected a further 29 wedge clamps in the Roma Street precinct, issued a maintenance alert for all wedge clamps across the network and reviewed and assessed the installation procedure for this type of wedge clamp."

Mr Emerson said the incident that prompted disruptions early on the morning of March 14 was caused by three-metre Bougainvillea canes growing about 300 metres west of Milton station coming into contact with the overhead power equipment.

"A routine inspection prior to the incident had identified the vegetation growing on the face of a cutting as a potential hazard but corrective action had not occurred at the time of the incident," he said.

"Queensland Rail has now removed the overgrown vegetation from the face of this cutting and is reviewing their vegetation management and inspection processes."

Mr Emerson, who is due to receive the audit team's final report at the end of the month, said the government was committed to addressing maintenance issues in a bid to restore public confidence in the rail network.

He said he was concerned the previous government did not have the funding to replace infrastructure like switches that had reached their life limit or replace transposed rail lines.

The former government rejected a Queensland Rail request for money to repair 30 ageing points and 100 kilometres of transposed rail lines, Mr Emerson said.

However, Mr Emerson did not outline any new funding commitments in his speech to Parliament this morning.

During question time, Premier Campbell Newman and ministers stressed budgetary constraints and the need to rein in debt during their responses to other issues.

[Fares_Fair]

HANSARD record to end of question time.

07 Jun 2012 Legislative Assembly 625
THURSDAY, 7 JUNE 2012

Queensland Rail City Network, Audit
Hon. SA EMERSON (Indooroopilly—LNP) (Minister for Transport and Main Roads) (9.45 am):
Shortly after coming to government, I ordered an independent audit of Queensland Rail's South-East
Queensland rail network to find out why reliability under Labor had dropped to a three-year low. Most
members would remember two particular incidents on 28 February and again on 14 March that
combined to affect 297 services, including 124 cancellations, causing massive morning disruptions for
commuters and businesses. Those incidents and the former Labor government's mismanagement led to
the lowest peak on time running in almost three years. As a result, people were losing confidence in our
rail network—just as they had lost faith in the Bligh Labor government, which, let us remember, had run
up such huge debt that it could not afford to replace rail assets that had degraded to such a point that
they presented a significant risk to the network.
The audit is examining rail reliability and includes physical assessments of track and civil
structures, signalling, telecommunications, overhead line equipment and rolling stock. I inform the
House of the progress of the audit ahead of the final report being presented to me at the end of this
month. I am advised by the audit team that no immediate issues of safety requiring the attention of the
rail safety regulator were identified during the physical inspections of the network infrastructure and
rolling stock. That is certainly good news, because the safety of the travelling public must remain our
No. 1 priority. I have also been provided with details on the cause of the two incidents on 28 February
and 14 March. The 28 February incident was the result of a dewirement about 500 metres west of Roma
Street station at 4.25 am. A wedge clamp that holds the overhead wires was found to have been
installed incorrectly about five years ago. Queensland Rail has now inspected a further 29 wedge
clamps in the Roma Street precinct, issued a maintenance alert for all wedge clamps across the network
and reviewed and assessed the installation procedure of this type of wedge clamp.
The 14 March incident occurred at 5.45 am and was caused by three-metre-long bougainvillea
canes growing about 300 metres west of Milton station coming into contact with the overhead power
equipment. A routine inspection prior to the incident had identified the vegetation growing on the face of
a cutting as a potential hazard, but corrective action had not occurred at the time of the incident.
Queensland Rail has now removed the overgrown vegetation from the face of this cutting and is
reviewing its vegetation management and inspection procedures. Let me reassure rail passengers that,
while the previous Labor government had a head-in-the-sand approach towards rail maintenance, the
628 Ministerial Statements 07 Jun 2012
Newman government does not. We are committed to addressing maintenance issues and restoring
public confidence in our rail network as part of our wider plans to make public transport services more
affordable, frequent and reliable.

[Stillwater]

Is it a 'world clarse' railway network when a pigeon with a death wish and a bit of bougainvillea waving in the breeze can bring the suburban passenger network to a halt!   

I wonder whether QR can identify the person who installed that wire clamp the wrong way around and can go check on his handiwork elsewhere?

[Fares_Fair]

From what Mr Emerson states, QR issued an alert to check all wedge clamps in the entire network.
Apparently it was installed upside down.

Not sure about the Bougainvillea being checked for the entire network. 

[Fares_Fair]

Article: Citytrain delays on February 28 due to wrongly installed wedge clamp on powerlines, inquiry finds
From: The Courier-Mail
by Robyn Ironside
June 07, 2012 2:46PM

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/citytrain-delays-on-february-28-due-to-wrongly-installed-wedge-clamp-on-powerlines-inquiry-finds/story-e6freoof-1226387606055

A CLAMP that came off overhead rail lines in February, throwing Brisbane's Citytrain network into chaos, had been installed upside-down, an investigation has found.
Every morning peak service was delayed on February 28 when the lines came down 500m west of Roma St station.

As a result, the then Labor government declared all commuters could travel for free the next day.

Transport Minister Scott Emerson told Parliament today inspections found the wedge clamp, which holds the powerlines up, had been incorrectly installed five years ago.

"Queensland Rail has now inspected a further 29 wedge clamps in the Roma St precinct, issued a maintenance alert for all wedge clamps across the network and reviewed and assessed the installation procedure form this item," Mr Emerson said.

Another incident on the same stretch of track just two weeks later, which also caused widespread chaos for commuters, was found to have been caused by overgrown Bougainvillea canes.

"A routine inspection prior to the incident identified the vegetation growing on the face of a cutting as a potential hazard but no action was taken," he said.

"Queensland Rail has now removed the overgrown vegetation from the face of this cutting and is reviewing its vegetation management and inspection processes."

He said the team auditing reliability on Queensland Rail's city network had also assured him the train system was safe.

[ozbob]

http://www.scottemerson.com.au/media-releases/rail-audit-confirms-safety-and-disruption-causes.html

Rail audit confirms safety and disruption causes

Thursday, 07 June 2012 15:48

Work to address the cause of major train network disruptions in February and March is now underway, after the source was confirmed by an independent audit into Queensland Rail's maintenance.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Scott Emerson said an update from the team auditing reliability on Queensland Rail's city network had also assured him the system was safe.

"This is welcome news because the safety of the passengers must remain our priority," Mr Emerson said.

"However I'm concerned the previous government didn't have the funding to replace infrastructure like switches that had reached their life limit or replace transposed rail lines."

When Queensland Rail asked for money to repair the 30 aging points and 100 km of transposed lines it was rejected by the former Transport Minister and current leader of the opposition, Mr Emerson said.

"Passengers would remember two particular incidents on February 28 and again on March 14 that combined to disrupt 297 services, including 124 cancellations," he said.

"These incidents caused massive morning chaos for commuters and businesses and led to the lowest peak on-time running in almost three years.

"Labor's failure on public transport demonstrated by these incidents saw passenger lose confidence in our rail network."

The February 28 incident was the result of a dewirement about 500 metres west of Roma Street station at 4.25am.

"A wedge clamp that holds the overhead wires was found to have been installed incorrectly about five years ago," he said.

"Queensland Rail has now inspected a further 29 wedge clamps in the Roma Street precinct, issued a maintenance alert for all wedge clamps across the network and reviewed and assessed the installation procedure for this item."

The March 14 incident occurred at 5.45am and was caused by three-metre Bougainvillea canes growing about 300 metres west of Milton station coming into contact with the overhead power equipment.

"A routine inspection prior to the incident identified the vegetation growing on the face of a cutting as a potential hazard but no action was taken," Mr Emerson said.

"Queensland Rail has now removed the overgrown vegetation from the face of this cutting and is reviewing its vegetation management and inspection processes.

"The Newman Government is committed to addressing maintenance issues and restoring confidence in our rail network as part of our wider plans to make public transport services more affordable, frequent and reliable."

[HappyTrainGuy]

Switches?? Yahooo, looks like we got some yankee talk. Better get in my rented Neesan and pick up my pick up truck from the dealership.

[justanotheruser]

"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.

So will a audit be called for every time there is an accident on a road that causes trafic delays? If not then isn't this a bit hypocritical?



Sad to see my fears confirmed that people were happy to ignore. The Newman govt is refusing to do anything much because of financial constraints.

[Fares_Fair]

Will the audit report be made public?

[Gazza]

e. The Newman govt is refusing to do anything much because of financial constraints.

Who didn't see that coming. In the election campaign the level of debt was always talked up by Newman. I reckon it will be a get out of jail free card for anything and everything. Even election promises could be suspended...."Oh sorry, we have to pay off the debt!".

[justanotheruser]

e. The Newman govt is refusing to do anything much because of financial constraints.

Who didn't see that coming. In the election campaign the level of debt was always talked up by Newman. I reckon it will be a get out of jail free card for anything and everything. Even election promises could be suspended...."Oh sorry, we have to pay off the debt!".

It was impossible to not see that coming as Newman actually said during the campaign that if debt was big promises would not be actioned. So I guess he is only doing what he said he would!

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

6th July 2012

Rail audit?  Where is it??

Greetings,

On the 12th April 2012  a Ministerial Statement indicated that an independent audit into the reliability of the rail network would be finalised by the 30th June 2012.   http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=78972  Independent Audit into reliability of Queensland Rail's City Network

Has this audit been finalised?  Will citizens of Queensland be actually informed as to the outcome, factually,  and free from misrepresentations, spin and bluster?  We can always hope ...

Best wishes
Robert

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

[david]

Anyone heard anything about this yet?

Perhaps the findings weren't as damming against the Labor government as the LNP wanted them to be, hence the cover-up?

[ozbob]

Media are aware and have been pressing ...

[Stillwater]

The Auditor-General is also preparing a report into Queensland Rail and will bring down his findings in November.  The A-G report will be made public.

[Fares_Fair]

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson
09/08/2012

Report will restore confidence in rail travel

Work to restore reliability to south-east Queensland's rail network will begin immediately as the Newman Government implements 26 audit report recommendations costing almost $60 million.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said restoring passenger confidence in train travel was a priority following major disruptions during the final months of the Labor government which led to the lowest on-time running in almost three years.

"One of my first tasks when coming to government was to order an independent audit of the city rail network following major disruptions on February 28 and March 14 impacting 297 services, including 124 cancellations," Mr Emerson said.

"This report and its recommendations highlight Labor's failure to address one of the most basic requirements of any public transport system - a reliable service.

"Money was wasted with 'a piecemeal approach to planning significant capital investment, including their asset replacement and enhancement programs'.

"Three of the 26 recommendations specifically address the wedge clamp issues that caused commuter chaos on February 28 and two recommendation address the vegetation issue that caused the shut down on March 14.

"Other recommendations will address staff training, maintenance and asset management.

"Work is already underway to identify the savings within corporate areas of Queensland Rail's budget to start funding these crucial upgrades."

All 26 recommendations will be delivered by a Transport Executive Committee consisting of the Director-General and two Deputy Directors-General of the Department of Transport and Main Roads and CEO of Queensland Rail, reporting directly to the Minister.

The report noted that signalling infrastructure is almost at capacity.

"Labor has been aware of the approaching capacity crisis on rail since 2005, but failed to deliver any solutions," he said.

"The LNP is a passenger-focused government that is committed to growing patronage but for more commuters to choose to take public transport they need to have confidence in reliability.

"The reliability of the rail network, along with affordability and frequency are the three planks in the Newman Government's approach to improving public transport patronage."
[ENDS]

[Fares_Fair]

Full audit can be found here --> http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Travel-and-transport/Rail/Audit-of-SEQ-Rail-Network.aspx

[ozbob]

Had a quick scan, some sensible stuff in this.

Hopefully maintenance funding will be adequate from here ...

Some big expenditures coming up .... signalling, rolling stock, track infrastructure.   

The long term years of neglect are catching up, not only in Brisbane but all the major capitals. 

Days of wine, roses and cars, coming to an end?

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Rail network maintenance 'piecemeal': minister

Rail network maintenance 'piecemeal': minister
August 9, 2012 - 9:17AM
Daniel Hurst

Maintenance on the southeast Queensland rail network has occurred in a piecemeal way, the transport minister says.

The state government has today issued the results of a passenger rail network audit commissioned soon after the election. It outlines 26 recommendations, largely dealing with technical issues, costing almost $60 million to implement.

Transport Minister Scott Emerson told an engineering breakfast in Brisbane the audit had found maintenance spending had increased by about 30 per cent in five years.

However, he said that figure was eclipsed by Queensland Rail's spending increases in other areas such as finance (166 per cent rise over two years) and marketing (68 per cent).

Mr Emerson indicated the $60 million of work recommended would be funded throught savings from within Queensland Rail's corporate areas.

"One [of the issues] was there had been a piecemeal approach to some of this maintenance. In key maintenance areas there were staff shortages," Mr Emerson said.

"We'll be now working forward to try to implement these reforms because we want to get reliability back, because reliability breeds confidence and confidence breeds more people back on public transport."

The report says in the last two years Queensland Rail has been moving towards a new asset management approach which would improve maintenance.

"The audit team noted that significant rail capital investment has been forecast and programed for southeast Queensland, with further requirements identified for the coming years to meet the business needs of Queensland Rail,'' it says.

"The report notes that at times Queensland Rail has demonstrated a piecemeal approach to planning significant capital investments, including their asset replacement and enhancement programs.''

Soon after taking office, Mr Emerson ordered his department to conduct an audit of the maintenance of the southeast Queensland passenger rail network.

It followed several major rail disruptions ahead of the March 24 election.

Thousands of travellers were left stranded for hours on February 28 after an electrical fault prevented trains from passing through inner-city stations, prompting the then Bligh government to announce a day of free travel as compensation.

Passengers also experienced disruptions early on the morning of March 14 after vegetation growing about 300 metres west of Milton station came into contact with the overhead power equipment.

In June, Mr Emerson told Parliament the initial advice from the audit of the rail network had suggested both incidents were preventable.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/rail-network-maintenance-piecemeal-minister-20120809-23vh2.html

[somebody]

Interesting stat re:dead running.  1.4 million km against service-km of 65 million km.  It did increase by 40% though.

Doesn't show an out of control problem.  However, there are in-service trips which are largely for positioning purposes.

[Stillwater]

It's interesting .... is one government's 'world clarse transport network' another government's 'passenger focussed transport network'?

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

Citytrain maintenance 'piecemeal': audit

Citytrain maintenance 'piecemeal': audit

    by: Robyn Ironside
    From: The Courier-Mail
    August 09, 2012 11:28AM

AN audit of Queensland Rail's Citytrain network has made 26 recommendations to improve reliability after finding there had been a piecemeal approach to maintenance.

The independent audit prepared by the Department of Transport and Main Roads was ordered by Transport Minister Scott Emerson after two incidents in Febraury and March brought the network to a halt.

Mr Emerson told an Engineers Australia breakfast today, in key maintenance areas of Queensland Rail there were staff shortages.

"The budget for maintenance had actually gone up quite considerably over the last five years but the issue I have is what the maintenance budget was being spent on," Mr Emerson said.

"Money was wasted with a 'piecemeal approach to planning significant capital investment, including their asset replacement and enhancement programs'."

He said another issue was that the maintenance budget grew at a much slower rate than other areas such as the corporate head office.

"So while maintenance went up 30 per cent in five years, in just two years we saw a 166 per cent increase in the finance section of Queensland Rail, a 68 per cent increase over two years in the marketing section and 65 per cent increase in the corporate areas," said Mr Emerson.

He said work to restore reliability to the rail network would begin immediately.

The report also found more than a third of the rollingstock used by Queensland Rail is more than 25 years old.

Since 2008, 64 new trains have been delivered, but the rest of the 207-strong fleet mostly pre-date 2000, and 87 were built between 1979 and 1986.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

9th August 2012

Independent Audit into the reliability of Queensland Rail's south-east Queensland network - Final report

Greetings,

RAIL Back On Track welcomes today's public release of the Independent Audit into the reliability of Queensland Rail's south-east Queensland network - Final report
http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/b0db146e-ff1f-4603-9717-76f8b0bd1af9/independentrailauditfinalreport.pdf

We thank the Minister for Transport, the Audit Team from Transport and Main Roads, and Queensland Rail for the report.

The report highlights many issues that passengers have been suggesting such as age of rolling stock, network and signalling issues and a failure to move with critical track capacity improvements.

Particularly we have noted page 54 which has highlighted the impacts of prolonged closures on the North Coast Line.  The single line between Beerburrum and Nambour is the busiest single line railway in Australia.  It is a critical part of the rail network for timely freight and passenger services.   The planned track amplification between Beerburrum and Nambour must be accelerated.  It is essential for Queensland's economy and future transport success that this be done.   ( see:  The Sunshine Coast Case Report Rail duplication Beerburrum to Nambour  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6647.0  ).

Despite the issues (and successes) identified in the report the fact that Queensland Rail can achieve better ontime performance with tighter time limits than other states is a credit to their operation. Particularly when you consider the amount of freight traffic on the network.  Our rail network is over a 100 years old.  It has choke points.  Many of the stations were built in a different era.   It takes time and funding to bring it up to speed.

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Major rail problems on downward trend

Major rail problems on downward trend
August 10, 2012 - 1:00AM
Daniel Hurst

The number of major incidents on the southeast Queensland rail network has been on a downward trend over the past three years, an audit has found.

Despite the decrease, individual events have the potential to cause huge disruptions to Queensland Rail passengers, as was the case in February and March this year.

A report commissioned by new Transport Minister Scott Emerson investigates the reliability of the southeast Queensland rail network, triggered by concerns over major disruptions in the lead up to the March state election.

It says Queensland Rail has sometimes "demonstrated a piecemeal approach to planning significant capital investments", as reported yesterday.

But the report by the Department of Transport and Main Roads also highlights a downward trend in major network incidents in recent years.

A particularly bad spell in late 2009 saw major incidents occurring at the rate of about 15 a month.

This number has declined over time with about two or three incidents a month early this year.

The report points out that a low number of specific incidents can still have a big impact on train timeliness, known as On-Time Running (OTR).

"Although there is an improvement in major incident counts, some of these incidents, due to the location and time they occur, have a large scale impact on the OTR (network) performance," it says.

"For example, in November 2011 there was only one major incident recorded; however this incident had significant impact on the OTR (network) performance; similar observations are made for the February and March 2012 incidents."

Transport Minister Scott Emerson said because of the former government's management of the rail system and the failure to plan properly, any minor incidents had greater impacts.

Commuter lobby group Rail Back on Track suggested the southeast Queensland network had a "long standing maintenance deficit", but the downward trend in major incidents showed improvements were being made.

"It indicates to me that the moves they've done in the last few years to sort out some issues is obviously having an effect," group spokesman Robert Dow said.

"That is a good sign in itself because it indicates there has been some improvement in their approach to maintenance and, indirectly, reliability."

The report says 50 per cent of incidents affecting on-time running performance are related to network and rolling stock (train) issues.

Trains are classed as being on time if they reach their destination within about four minutes of the scheduled arrival time.

Between July last year and March this year, the average on-time running performance achieved by Queensland Rail was 92.87 per cent, falling short of a 93.77 per cent peak time target.

The report says TransLink issued the rail operator with a "performance improvement notice" in April this year calling for an explanation of the performance decline and how it would be fixed.

The report takes a detailed look at the two incidents that caused massive disruption in the lead up to the March election.

It says the February 28 incident was caused by the early-morning dislodgment of a wire about 500 metres west of Roma Street and led to all trains being terminated at South Brisbane, Milton and Fortitude Valley stations.

The glitch affected 245 trains, of which 110 train services were cancelled, 85 were delayed and 50 were terminated as close to the city as possible.

A further 212 services experienced flow-on delays and buses and taxis were called in to move passengers.

The report says an offending wedge clamp, incorrectly installed by Queensland Rail, was of a design no longer used in new constructions but still used in repair and modification work.

The report's 26 recommendations include calls for better training.

A separate incident on March 14 was pinned on overgrown vegetation 300 metres west of Milton Station. Overhead line equipment was tripped and signalling faults occurred as a result.

The incident affected 52 trains, with 14 services being cancelled.

The report says four prior weekly routine inspections in the area should have identified vegetation at the location as a potential hazard.

It says staffing levels in two Queensland Rail teams that carry out day-to-day asset management work are "inadequate".

"A process to review the quality of maintenance appeared to be lacking. Due to staff shortages, no internal audits on the quality of work are being performed."

The report also argues that due to limited track access, minor maintenance work is often not addressed until the priority for corrective action is raised to a higher level.

Staffing in the Track Protection Officers team is also inadequate, it says.

The 26 recommendations, largely dealing with specific technical issues, are expected to cost $60 million to implement.

Mr Emerson, who is yet to confirm the specifics regarding Queensland Rail job cuts, indicated the recommendations would be funded through savings from within the rail operator's corporate areas.

"There's no safety issues of concern at the moment which is great but there are concerns in terms of how maintenance is managed," he said.

"It's not just about spending more money ... it's about making sure that money is spent in the right areas."

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/major-rail-problems-on-downward-trend-20120809-23wu3.html

[ozbob]

I think TransLink should be issued with a ' performance improvement notice ' to explain what on earth is going on with Park n' Rides?

Eg Klumpp Road and Jindalee ??

[somebody]

I think TransLink should be issued with a ' performance improvement notice ' to explain what on earth is going on with Park n' Rides?

Eg Klumpp Road and Jindalee ??

I can remember reading that Strachan is in love with park n ride.  Perhaps things will improve looking forward.

[Stillwater]

It is obvious that a lack of adequate funding to Queensland Rail has created these issues identified in the audit report:

The report says 50 per cent of incidents affecting on-time running performance are related to network and rolling stock (train) issues.

Staffing levels in two Queensland Rail teams that carry out day-to-day asset management work are "inadequate".

Staffing in the Track Protection Officers team is also inadequate.

Minor maintenance work is often not addressed until the priority for corrective action is raised to a higher level.

So the solution would appear to be a boost to asset management and maintenance crews and application of the old adage that 'a stitch in time saves nine'.

However, it is worrying that the minister, Mr Emerson, sees costs estimated at $60 million having to be met within the existing (trimmed) QR budget.  Does he mean that more QR workers need to be sacked to raise the money to fix the problem created by too few people working in essential maintenance areas?  It sounds like a corporate dog chasing its tail.

[somebody]

I'm going to say it will be interesting to see the detail. Having worked in a production area where the MTCE Super pulled $1mpa two years in a row out of the MTCE budget, and made the aging equipment alot more reliable and it was sustainable, never say never.

I think zero (c)harm went the exact opposite way.

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times 11th August 2012 page 7

QR put its marketing before maintenance



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