Following the shortage of drivers, Queensland Rail has launched an interim timetable under which almost 30 train services will be cancelled every day.
According to the reports, it is one of the most suitable ways of fixing the driver crisis without making people suffer much. It is expected that the temporary timetable will remain in operation for two weeks. Queensland Rail Chief Executive Helen Gluer has confirmed that the final decision on the temporary timetable and its content will be made on Tuesday.
She has also asked the public to be prepared for other changes over the next fortnight. Gluer claimed that the authorities will be attempting to manage their resources to ensure the impact of the changed timetable is minimal during the peak hours. She also said that they will try to inform the public about any changes in advance as much as possible.
Meanwhile, she figured the Queensland train services to be in operation for the next few days, saying that the number of trains available for commuters from Tuesday will get reduced from 1306 to 1276. “We have very much targeted those that the vast majority will be less than a 15-minute wait for the next train,” Gluer said as quoted by Courier Mail.
“We have also made sure that as much as we can, we are spreading it into areas with both lower patronage but also where there is already high frequency of service.”
The decision from the Queensland Rail authorities has come following the cancellation of over 100 train services on Friday because of the unavailability of a sufficient number of drivers after the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line. The services that have been cancelled were decided on the basis on the least impact they would impose on the public.
According to the Brisbane Times, 25 of the train services cancelled had wait times of 15 minutes and less while the other five had wait times of less than 30 minutes for the next service.
Online Source: Aussie Network News.
