Chaos reigned on Brisbane Public Transport on Friday as Queensland Rail train cancellations went over the 100 mark. All for the slightly hard to believe reason that they had no train drivers.
Train drivers are of course a reasonably important part of the process of providing public transport, so to misplace or under resource 100 seems like a pretty ordinary way of running things.
Especially considering that Translink had draft timetables for the introduction of the new Redcliffe line for several months. Perhaps Translink should have forwarded them to Queensland Rail. Then we may not have had that many Queensland Rail Train Cancellations.
And considering the Redcliffe line has been 120 years in waiting or such, they’ve had plenty of notice. Although some of the early applicants to drive trains on that Redcliffe line may not be able to apply.
But it is easy to pick on the powers that be for the Queensland Rail Train Cancellations. Especially if you were one of the many poor sods left in the lurch, or evening revellers who had to stoop to catching the lowest form of transport – the Rail Replacement Bus. The Harness Racing of public transport.
It is less easy to offer solutions.
The Gurgler, if nothing else, likes to help out and fix the small and large problems of the world. Sure some, or indeed most of our suggestions are rubbish, impossible, or too absurd to acknowledge. But if you were one of the many affected today what do you have to lose.
MORE DRIVERS
First of all to avoid over 100 Queensland Rail Train Cancellations we need more drivers. But that can be a long painstaking, intensive and involved process. If you do it the traditional way that is.
Time for Queensland Rail to embrace new technology.
With the many Train Driver simulation apps on the market Queensland Rail could quickly lend their name to one and hold a country wide competition to find the top 200 potential wannabe train drivers in Australia. From there all would be invited to test out the train driving simulation machine at the Workshops at Ipswich.
The top 100 would be promoted to new Train Drivers for Queensland Rail.
To cover costs Queensland Rail could seel the rights to Foxtel or a lesser media outlet as the new Reality TV show of choice.
HAVE MORE FUN WITH THE CANCELLING OF TRAINS
Instead of letting Queensland Rail ruin people’s day, why wouldn’t you give the power back to the people.
So instead of the public having to wear the outcome of Queensland Rail Train Cancellations, the public will be able to decide which trains will be cancelled via a new QR Don’t Cancel Me app. Available for both Android and IPhone.
For a mere $1.99 everyone in Brisbane and beyond can download the new App. From there each day the user must vote for the two trains they don’t to be cancelled. This may be your usual morning ride in or trip home, or a planned trip later in the day to attend an A League game.
Voting on the App opens from Midday and closes at Midnight for the following day’s travels. The trains with the fewest amount of votes will be cancelled in popularity order until the quota of Queensland Rail Train Cancellations has been met for the day.
BETTING ON THE OUTCOME
To add even more fun on the outcome, Brisbane based betting company Ladbrokes might be able to step in and offer markets for which train will be cancelled, and most popular train markets, and the number of cancellations.
Win Win for all.
So Queensland Rail Train Cancellations may not be fun, now, but why can’t we make it that little bit more enjoyable. And entertaining.
