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Category: Rail Transport / Public Sector / State Parliament

Will problems with new QR trains make matters worse for commuters?

Wednesday, 1 Mar 2017 13:42:07 | Nick Wiggins

No more NGRs will be delivered until problems are solved, the Minister said. (Supplied: Transport and Main Roads)

The Queensland Government ordered 75 new trains from a manufacturer in India for a total cost of $4.4 billion, but that order is on hold until a list of problems can be addressed.

They are known as New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) and so far 13 have been delivered, with two more on the way.

But as the NGRs underwent testing in recent months, problems emerged.

This morning, Transport Minister Jackie Trad said even more design problems had been found, meaning the State Government would not accept any more until the problems were fixed.

What's wrong with them?

The design issues include problems with braking systems, air-conditioning, ventilation, and sightlines for train drivers, the Minister said.

While people in wheelchairs can get into the trains, the doors between carriages are not wide enough, which is a problem if someone in a wheelchair wants to use one of the on-board toilets.

How will all of this be fixed?

Concept art for New Generation Rollingstock train Photo: The NGR delivery time could affect Commonwealth Games services. (Supplied: Department of Transport and Main Roads)

The State Government said the sightline issue (limiting the driver's view of where to stop at a station) would be fixed by painting new lines of paint on platforms and installing new signs.

The other problems are harder to fix.

Essentially the Government is negotiating with the manufacturers about which of the design issues can be fixed and how much more it will cost.

But Ms Trad indicated it might not be possible to make the doors between carriages wider to fix the disability access issue.

She said people in wheelchairs might need to signal to QR staff if they needed to move between carriages to go to the toilet.

Will it affect your train commute?

Driver shortages mean the network is already running with reduced services.

QR can continue to run services across south-east Queensland with the trains already on the tracks.

But public transport advocate Robert Dow from Rail Back on Track is concerned a delay in getting new trains could eventually make matters worse, especially by the time the Commonwealth Games start next year.

"There won't be enough trains to run and if they start pulling them off all lines to service the Gold Coast line for the Commonwealth Games, what's left?" Mr Dow said.

Queensland Rail is yet to respond to the ABC's questions about the impact on services.

A government spokesperson said the delay could actually help with the timetable problems, as training drivers for the new trains was a factor contributing to the crew shortage.

Who's to blame?

Labor blames the former Newman government.

Ms Trad said the detailed design of the trains was signed off by the LNP.

"In 2014, Tim Nicholls and Scott Emerson were crowing about the fact they were getting these trains for half price, manufactured in India," she said.

"Everyone knows you get what you pay for."

Internal view of NGR carriage Photo: Air-conditioning and disabled access are ongoing problems. (Supplied: Transport and Main Roads)

But Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls pointed the finger at two bureaucrats who now head up the departments of Premier and Cabinet and Transport.

"We took advice from people like Dave Stewart and Neil Scales, Queensland Rail, the Department of Transport, and made sure we were delivering value for money for Queenslanders."

Mr Dow said the Newman government kicked QR out of the design process.

"It's the former Newman government and their agencies, Translink, and Transport and Main Roads, that have botched this project," he said.

So when will these new trains be fixed?

The Transport Department wanted the new trains to be rolling on the network from mid 2017, with the whole fleet running from late 2018.

Ms Trad said there was no deadline on fixing the trains, but she wanted it done as soon as possible without any compromise to safety.

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