My day starts at 3.30am courtesy of being awoken by a the sound of an SMS eRail update: ” Service disruption expect delays of 30 mins on Caboolture line”.

Is it just me or does anyone else find the eRail update service only works when it feels like it?

I arrive at the train station for the supposed morning ride – The 6.56 am Nambour express

On arrival I walk over the to the platform with a bunch of other commuters. No signs. No QR staff and no train. What the?

Suddenly a QR representative yells out from another platform: “No trains, bus over here.” So we trudge over the bridge again, just in time to be bundled into a bus with three hundred other people.

What a great trip. The driver has the radio so loud my ears are still ringing. Finally, after being squashed back and forward with all the other sweaty bodies, we arrive at the Petrie train station. To QR’s credit the train is waiting and we all cram on. Somehow my two companions and I get a seat, that’s where QR’s credit runs out.

This will be a stopping all stations train to Roma street

… a collective groan rings out from all the passengers.

From that moment on every station we stop at results in the same scenario; no room for passengers to get in, passengers trying to get in yelling “please move back!”, passengers that are in, screaming “there is no room”, passengers who really want to get out fighting for their life.

Now I understand that accidents happen and I don’t blame QR for that. However one has to question their capability of managing a major disaster given that they had over four hours to prepare for the commuter onslaught. You would think someone with a modicum of intelligence would have thought “let’s change some trains to express and others to stopping all stations.” This would have ensured that not every service and traveler on the line was compromised.

They were probably busy putting in the new recycling bins on the platforms and forgot to plan for a disaster (Great use of taxpayer money).

Anyway enough said. Eventually we arrive at central.
Acceptable QR Time 55 mins late.
No apology today. I guess we should be grateful we got there at all!

Afternoon Ride – The 4.32 Nambour Express

eRail update SMS received at 4.00 pm: “Service disruption until 10.00pm”. Great this should be fun ride home. Just on the off chance I thought I would check the website. That’s interesting, it tells me that their is only a half hour delay.

Acceptable QR communication.

Anyway, I take a chance and head to the usual platform and can you believe it there is my train. We board the “express” for what can only be described as the slowest trip ever. Granted we didn’t stop, however, I have seen yaks that move faster than that.

No explanation why, just a snails pace all the way.

We arrive 40 mins late. Acceptable QR time.

How many minutes of my life QR owes me this week!

1 hour and 47 minutes

How many minutes of my life QR owes my boss this week!

1 hour