Improving services Sunshine Coast line

[Stillwater]

Today's Gympie Times has story with a somewhat confusing headline: Rail Group Wants Gympie-Brisbane Train Scrapped.

[ozbob]

Today's Gympie Times has story with a somewhat confusing headline: Rail Group Wants Gympie-Brisbane Train Scrapped.

Ha! That's a good hook to lead into the shuttles..
If you could grab a copy of the paper please be grateful.

[not_available]

Today's Gympie Times has story with a somewhat confusing headline: Rail Group Wants Gympie-Brisbane Train Scrapped.

Ha! That's a good hook to lead into the shuttles..
If you could grab a copy of the paper please be grateful.

Would doing the shuttles Rosewood-ish-style (in peak it goes all the way roma st to Gympie North) work at all?

[ozbob]

It could, but  to get the counterpeak as well between Nambour and Gympie it might be best to just stick to the shuttles.

Also because of the ATP requirements and crew rationalistation shuttles would be more crew efficient.

Also reliability will be improved if they stick to the shuttles only between Nambour and Gympie North.   I reckon it would be around 98% OTR.

[Stillwater]

Gympie Times 22nd January 2019 page 3

Transport group suggests solution to Gympie train trouble




From today's Gympie Times:

Transport group suggests solution to Gympie train trouble

A community group advocating for "sustainable" public transport and rail commute solutions has tabled its idea to address long-term problems on the Gympie North Line.

Rail Back On Track has suggested scrapping the long-dogged Gympie North to Brisbane route in favour of a regular shuttle service between the Gold City and Nambour.
Shuttles would depart Gympie five times a day under the proposal and allow travellers more opportunities to commute, Back On Track Administrator Robert Dow said.

Mr Dow said public transport advocates had become "pretty distressed" over the "long standing issue".

"It seem like every day these services are either being delayed or cancelled," he said. "The railways are there, the stations are there, but there aren't enough train services at the moment.
"The InterCity Express trains are getting a bit long in the tooth, and with station upgrades completed at Cooran and under way at Pomona, it's time to improve services on the Sunshine Coast and further north. "This is achievable and useful, and it's so far overdue."

Mr Dow said Back On Track suggested shuttle services leave Gympie North at 5.30am, 8.30am, 11.30am, 2.30pm and 5.3opm and arrive at Nambour for direct connections to Brisbane trains.

He said Back On Track had contacted State MPs and would approach Queensland Rail.

Recent QR data revealed 134 of 414 total delays on the Gympie to Brisbane line over the past two years were caused by rolling stock problems.

Additional information: The Rail Back On Track proposal is for shuttle trains to leave Nambour, heading north to Gympie North Station at 7am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm.

[ozbob]

Thanks.  414 delays over ~  730 days = 414/730 = ~57% chance of a delay on a given day ... 

With 32% of the delays being due to rolling stock issues. 

Shocker! 

[Stillwater]

The under performance of the Gympie North trains is hidden in the Sunshine Coast Line on-time performance measure.  The consolidated figures were what Mr King was quoting in his ABC Radio interview.  This distorts the picture.

There is an urgent need for Nambour-Gympie North services to be measured separately in the on-time performance data measurement.

Two return services a day ... 57 per cent chance of a delay on any given day!

Obviously not good enough.

In any business, you tackle the worst problem first.  QR is engaged in a cover-up when it says on-time performance on the 'Sunshine Coast Line' is 93 per cent.

Fix Gympie North services and the Sunshine Coast line performance levels improve too, but the problem is Nambour-Gympie North.

So QR, lets stop the obfuscation and numbers manipulation and address the real problem.

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 22nd January 2019 page 17

Rail line reliability remains a concern



https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1087494170053246976

The Gympie Lander on-time running is sadly a travesty ...   

[ozbob]

Facebook ..

3,391 People reached 992 Engagements

3,439 People reached 1,000 Engagements   

4,025 People reached 1,083 Engagements   

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1087746433426440192

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

23rd January 2019

Improving rail services between Gympie North and Nambour an urgent task

Good Morning,

Strong support for improving the rail services between Gympie North and Nambour on Facebook.  See > https://www.facebook.com/RAILBackOnTrack/posts/2419454511402055 presently 4053 people reached with 1086 engagements.  This is not rocket science, and it  doesn't require massive infrastructure expenditure.  It is simply using the existing rail asset for the community that in part has paid for.

In an article in yesterday Gympie Times https://www.gympietimes.com.au/news/rail-group-wants-gympie-to-brisbane-train-scrapped/3627785/ it was reported that "  .. Recent QR data revealed 134 of 414 total delays on the Gympie to Brisbane line over the past two years were caused by rolling stock problems. " This means if we are interpreting correctly, equates to  414 delays over ~  730 days = 414/730 = ~57% chance of a delay on a given day, with 32% of the delays being due to rolling stock issues. This is most unsatisfactory. It is appalling.  The Gympie North on-time running data is hidden in the overall Sunshine Coast data, we have also requested that the Gympie Line on-time running be reported separately from now on.

We call on the Minister for Transport and Queensland Rail to act immediately to address the reliability issues and give serious consideration to increasing the number of rail services between Nambour and Gympie North.  We believe introducing regular rail shuttles to connect at Nambour with the Brisbane services will fix the reliability issues and provide a base level of service that is now warranted.

Enough of mediocrity, it is time for action!

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[Attached: https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9032.msg218611#msg218611 ]

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1087802693437902850

[Stillwater]

The number of people following this on Facebook is indicative of the pent-up interest in and demand for improved rail services to Gympie North and to the towns back to Nambour.  If a reliable service was provided, at convenient times, a significant increase in patronage could be achieved.

QR marketing should get on board ... some new livery for the Shuttle train(s).  Give them a name .. something along the lines of 'The Hinterland Hare'.

So, people can say 'I caught The Hare to Nambour' ...

[tazzer9]

I'm all for more shuttle services.   But getting rid of the through services wouldn't be very popular.  Should be keeping at least 1 through service to roma street.   Even making the through service run express through some of the sunshine coast line stations (I would be pushing for them to run express through elimbah and beerburrum due to low patronage and large potential time savings)

[ozbob]

Facebook ..

3,391 People reached 992 Engagements

3,439 People reached 1,000 Engagements   

4,025 People reached 1,083 Engagements   

4,434 People reached 1,161 Engagements  still getting a lot of attention ..

[Stillwater]

At 8am weekdays, Happy Little Vegemites pack the platform at Caboolture, all hoping to get on board the train from Gympie North for the fastest run of the day into Brisbane.  The train gets in Caboolture pretty full.  On a busy day, they sit in the aisle of an ICE train, students find a spot in the luggage racks.

Under the Shuttle proposal, a train from Gympie North would get to Nambour about 6.30am (as opposed to the Gympielander arrival time of just after 7am).  So, a connecting train might leave about 6.40am, getting to Caboolture about an hour later (7.40am).  Allow for the Caboolture pattern express running pattern, this train would get to Roma St ahead of the Gympielander current time.  Granted, the journey time would be longer.

Maybe skip stops south of Beerwah, running express through Caboolture.  Landsborough and Nambour are the stations with the greatest numbers of passengers north of Caboolture.

It is hard to see running time chopped south of Caboolture, as any train north of there (apart from the current Gympielander) would have to follow the travel pattern of trains originating from Caboolture in the morning peak.

[not_available]

At 8am weekdays, Happy Little Vegemites pack the platform at Caboolture, all hoping to get on board the train from Gympie North for the fastest run of the day into Brisbane.  The train gets in Caboolture pretty full.  On a busy day, they sit in the aisle of an ICE train, students find a spot in the luggage racks.

Under the Shuttle proposal, a train from Gympie North would get to Nambour about 6.30am (as opposed to the Gympielander arrival time of just after 7am).  So, a connecting train might leave about 6.40am, getting to Caboolture about an hour later (7.40am).  Allow for the Caboolture pattern express running pattern, this train would get to Roma St ahead of the Gympielander current time.  Granted, the journey time would be longer.

Maybe skip stops south of Beerwah, running express through Caboolture.  Landsborough and Nambour are the stations with the greatest numbers of passengers north of Caboolture.

It is hard to see running time chopped south of Caboolture, as any train north of there (apart from the current Gympielander) would have to follow the travel pattern of trains originating from Caboolture in the morning peak.

There are a few Nambour-bound/starters during both peaks that run Express Caboolture ↔ Petrie.

[Stillwater]

The morning Gympielander stops only at Petrie and Northgate on its run into town from Caboolture.

It hits Nambour at 6.57am, then all stations to Caboolture (7.59am), then express to Petrie (8.15am), then express to Northgate (8.30am) then express again to Bowen Hills (8.40am) ... Central at 8.46am, in time for people to make it to the office or city appointment at 9am.

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 24th January 2019 page 15

Enough of mediocrity, it's time for action

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1088154625671233537

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1088180872925175808

[ozbob]

Facebook ..

3,391 People reached 992 Engagements

3,439 People reached 1,000 Engagements   

4,025 People reached 1,083 Engagements   

4,434 People reached 1,161 Engagements  still getting a lot of attention ..

5,014 People reached 1,238 Engagements   

[Stillwater]

Noosa News 25th January 2019 page 2

Rail transport group's solution



===========

From Noosa News, Friday 25 January 2019

RAIL TRANSPORT GROUP'S SOLUTION

A community group advocating for sustainable public transport and rail commute systems has tabled its idea to address long-term problems affecting Noosa Hinterland commuters.
Rail Back on Track has suggested scrapping the Gympie North to Brisbane route in favour of a regular shuttle service between Gympie and Nambour.

"With station upgrades completed at Cooran and under way at Pomona, the time is right to set up the Sunshine Coast for better services," Rail Back on Track Administrator, Rod Dow, said.
Pomona will be completed mid-year to be followed by reconstruction of the Eumundi Railway Station by the end of 2019
.
Shuttles would depart Gympie five times a day under the proposal and would allow travellers more opportunities to commute, Mr Dow said.

"The InterCity Express trains are getting a bit long in the tooth and it's time to improve services on the Sunshine Coast and further north. "This is achievable and useful, and it's so far overdue."

Mr Dow suggested shuttle services depart Gympie North at 5.30am, 8.30am, 11.50am, 2.30pm, and 5.30pm, arriving at Nambour for direct connections to Brisbane trains. Back on Track has contacted state MPs on the issue and would approach Queensland Rail directly.

[ozbob]

^   

[ozbob]

Facebook ..

3,391 People reached 992 Engagements

3,439 People reached 1,000 Engagements   

4,025 People reached 1,083 Engagements   

4,434 People reached 1,161 Engagements  still getting a lot of attention ..

5,014 People reached 1,238 Engagements   

6,104 People reached 1,352 Engagements   

[Stillwater]

Cooran community to discuss this.

https://www.facebook.com/dontdividepomona

[ozbob]

Day 4 for no reported disruptions to the GympieLander services ...

Best run for a while ... 

[ozbob]

Railway station at Cooran c.1926

https://trove.nla.gov.au/version/167835056

[AnonymouslyBad]

I'm all for more shuttle services.   But getting rid of the through services wouldn't be very popular.  Should be keeping at least 1 through service to roma street.   Even making the through service run express through some of the sunshine coast line stations (I would be pushing for them to run express through elimbah and beerburrum due to low patronage and large potential time savings)

Wouldn't skipping more stations further affect reliability? The express runs to Gympie are already really inefficient use of track.

At that point QR may as well buy some more tilts. Which probably isn't a bad idea, actually. The sooner QR stops pretending Gympie North is a metropolitan station the better for everyone, including Gympie.

[ozbob]

Facebook ..

3,391 People reached 992 Engagements

3,439 People reached 1,000 Engagements   

4,025 People reached 1,083 Engagements   

4,434 People reached 1,161 Engagements  still getting a lot of attention ..

5,014 People reached 1,238 Engagements   

6,104 People reached 1,352 Engagements  

7,491 People reached 1,515 Engagements 

[ozbob]

I'm all for more shuttle services.   But getting rid of the through services wouldn't be very popular.  Should be keeping at least 1 through service to roma street.   Even making the through service run express through some of the sunshine coast line stations (I would be pushing for them to run express through elimbah and beerburrum due to low patronage and large potential time savings)

Wouldn't skipping more stations further affect reliability? The express runs to Gympie are already really inefficient use of track.

At that point QR may as well buy some more tilts. Which probably isn't a bad idea, actually. The sooner QR stops pretending Gympie North is a metropolitan station the better for everyone, including Gympie.

Yes, a few years ago QR people told me the ICE GympieLanders were a real problem in the midst of the peak timetables.  It could be a while before there are more tilts etc.  The best thing is to do what should have been done years ago.  Drop the through Gympie-North services, run shuttles as we have suggested and all Nambour <> Roma St services run exactly the same stopping pattern essentially.  This is more efficient and allows  better timetabling and more effective use of the available train paths.

[ozbob]

Facebook ..

3,391 People reached 992 Engagements

3,439 People reached 1,000 Engagements   

4,025 People reached 1,083 Engagements   

4,434 People reached 1,161 Engagements  still getting a lot of attention ..

5,014 People reached 1,238 Engagements   

6,104 People reached 1,352 Engagements  

7,491 People reached 1,515 Engagements 

8,265 People reached 1,640 Engagements

[ozbob]

Day 4 for no reported disruptions to the GympieLander services ...

Best run for a while ... 

Unfortunately that ended yesterday when ICE returned for duty after a short absence

Well, it was good while it lasted ...   

The 5.51am Gympie North to Roma Street train is delayed 30 minutes due to a rollingstock issue.
This train is now due to arrive at Roma Street station at 9.09am.

Couple IMUs replaced it recently as parts were swapped between ICE sets.

[ozbob]

Facebook ..

3,391 People reached 992 Engagements

3,439 People reached 1,000 Engagements   

4,025 People reached 1,083 Engagements   

4,434 People reached 1,161 Engagements  still getting a lot of attention ..

5,014 People reached 1,238 Engagements   

6,104 People reached 1,352 Engagements  

7,491 People reached 1,515 Engagements 

8,265 People reached 1,640 Engagements

9,195 People reached 1,803 Engagements

[ozbob]

Facebook ..

3,391 People reached 992 Engagements

3,439 People reached 1,000 Engagements   

4,025 People reached 1,083 Engagements   

4,434 People reached 1,161 Engagements  still getting a lot of attention ..

5,014 People reached 1,238 Engagements   

6,104 People reached 1,352 Engagements  

7,491 People reached 1,515 Engagements 

8,265 People reached 1,640 Engagements

9,195 People reached 1,803 Engagements

10,125 People reached 1,904 Engagements

[Stillwater]

Wow    I hope TMR/QR are observing this level of interest.  Maybe they will investigate further.

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1090268489992986624

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

30th January 2019

Re: Improving rail services between Gympie North and Nambour an urgent task

Good Morning,

Yet another wipe out for the the Gympie North rail service yesterday evening.

" The 5.49pm Central to Gympie North train has been cancelled from Strathpine station due to a rollingstock issue. " https://twitter.com/TransLinkSEQ/status/1090170358353809408

There has been an extraordinary response to our Facebook Post:

' Unreliability of Gympie North rail service is a major concern - is Queensland Rail up to it? '
https://www.facebook.com/RAILBackOnTrack/posts/2419454511402055 10,456 People reached 1,933 Engagements!

The Sunshine Coast Community is becoming mobilised.  It is time this unacceptable situation was resolved. We have detailed how, it is time for the Government and Queensland Rail to act.  If your rail service had around a 57% chance of a delay/cancellation on a given day you would be concerned and frustrated as well.  What is going on?

We made a request for the on-time running performance data for the Gympie North services (July > December 2018) on the 16th January 2019.  We have not even received a courtesy response to the initial correspondence and a further follow up request on the 25th January 2019.  What sort of outfit hides their head in the sand?  Our next step will be to write to the Queensland Rail Board ( it is time they did something meaningful ) followed up by RTIs.  Obviously there is a big mess to hide.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ Attached:  https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9032.msg218540#msg218540]

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1090275366411763713