Major train delays as signalling issue impacts rail system

Trains across Brisbane were running up to half an hour late on Monday morning due to a signalling issue in the city’s inner north-west.

The Ipswich and Springfield lines were primarily impacted, but the Caboolture, Redcliffe and Sunshine Coast lines were also feeling the knock-on effects.

Queensland Rail electricians are at the site of the issue in Indooroopilly, but it is unclear how quickly the problem can be solved, with residual delays likely to continue throughout the morning.

By 9.20am a QR spokesperson said delays had been minimised to 10 minutes across the network.

Elsewhere on the Ipswich and Springfield lines, a vehicle struck a train bridge in Chelmer, causing trains to run express from Taringa to Roma Street.

Replacement buses are running from Graceville to Roma Street.

Trains were already running on a reduced schedule, with Queensland Rail stuck in protracted negotiations with unions over a fresh pay and conditions deal.

Weekdays are running with what is essentially a Saturday schedule and some services are using three-car trains.

The dispute, which involves several unions, has played out in the media, with both sides pointing fingers over delays and cancelled services.

It began in the first week of April when QR shut down passenger trains, stranding thousands of commuters.

The government blamed “union sabotage” but a later Fair Work Commission ruling found QR at fault for refusing partial work.

The parties will be back at the commission for a scheduled meeting on Tuesday.

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