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.
Read the rest of this entry »

This is my daily post documenting my Queensland Rail/Translink train trip from Caboolture in Queensland Australia to Brisbane city and back.

Morning Ride – The 6.56 am Nambour express

The train is packed as usual, however I did get a seat. Not much to report. A perfect trip and on time. Why can’t they make it run like this every day? Not much to ask!
Read the rest of this entry »

This will be a daily post documenting my Queensland Rail/Translink train trip from Caboolture in Queensland Australia to Brisbane city and back.

Morning Ride – The 6.56 am Nambour express

The train is packed, as was the carpark, our local member deserves kudos for that one. In her wisdom the spruiking of extra car parks now available at the station has brought many more patrons. No extra trains, service or carriages on the existing trains to deal with the influx though. This results in standing room only and today is no different, I could get a seat if I felt the urge to push, shove and deny the females and older patrons a seat.

Today’s trip however has a wonderful twist: no air conditioning. It’s like a bloody sauna and very energy sapping (the trip is a 55 minute job). Just to make life fun we stopped at Virginia for no reason for 5 minutes. Of course the old inane announcement by the conductor comes over the speaker:

“Passengers: we will be stopped for a while. I will aaar update you when I know more.”

He’s good communicator that one. Finally we are on our way, sweating all the way to the city with no further incident. The service is 7 minutes late. Not bad by QR standard time.
Read the rest of this entry »