Citytrain Response Unit - Ineffective Bureaucracy?

In the Strachan Inquiry (Queensland Rail train crewing practises commission of inquiry), released on 31st January 2017, there was mention of the implementation of the Rail Review Office, which is now known as the Citytrain Response Unit (CRU). The purpose of the CRU, as per the inquiry report is below:

35. Establish a Rail Review Office to monitor, independently audit and report on the implementation of Queensland Rail's response and recovery plan and the agreed recommendations of the Commission
(a) Release public progress reports each quarter, commencing with the announcement of agreed recommendations

36. Task the Rail Review Office with leading reviews of the governance, legislative framework and structure of passenger rail service delivery in Queensland. These reviews should consider the appropriate operating model and accountability for public transportation services in light of forthcoming major changes, such as the introduction of the New Generation Rollingstock, the Commonwealth Games, European Train Control System and Cross River Rail. As a starting point, the Rail Review Office should undertake four key reviews:
(a) Assess, make recommendations on and oversee the implementation of a closely integrated public transport service developed based on leading models of such integrated organisations
(b) Assess the requirement for, and composition of, a Board of Queensland Rail
(c) Define accountabilities for Queensland Rail's long-term industrial relations strategy, ensuring alignment with its long-term business strategy
(d) Undertake a whole-of-business review of Queensland Rail to identify any systemic organisational issues and develop actions to address these issues.

Unfortunately, 3 months after the Strachan Inquiry, it seems that things are getting worse for commuters, rather than better. Only one report has been released by the CRU, entitled "Fixing the Trains". BrizCommuter has the following concerns that CRU have not resolved.

• Ongoing cancellations due to "operational issues" or "mechanical issues".
• Concern about falling reliability of ageing EMU trains. 
• Ongoing poor or non-existent information from Queensland Rail (QR) staff and TransLink when service alterations occur. 
• Filthy trains. 
• Lazy guards keeping doors locked for whole journeys, when they only need to be locked for Alderley (due to reconstruction work).
• QR's Easter timetable having worst frequency in Oceana (Australia and New Zealand).
• Frequent daytime CBD track closure delaying trains and causing missed connections. 
• External applicants for driver positions still not allowed. 
• Perceived lack of progress in driver recruitment. 
• Laughable timeline to the resolution of Rail Fail in Fixing the Trains document (see screenshot below). 
• Lack of transparency related to ongoing delays to New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) project - including multiple Right to Information requests being denied.
• Stalling tactics towards disability advocates over NGR accessibility issues. 
• Lack of transparency related to detailed passenger loading and patronage reports - in fact, the QR Passenger Load survey has been hidden for years.
• Lack of transparency related to Moreton Bay Rail Link signalling issues.
• No publicly available plan of train service restoration - e.g. when will Fridays have the same timetable as Mon-Thu? When will individual axed train services be restored?
• Lack of transparency (and question avoidance) related to expected train service cuts during the Commonwealth Games. 
• Limited changes to QR's Board, executive, and culture. 

Laughable timeline - needs to be split into
Months or Quarters, not Year! 

Whilst it is still early days for the Citytrain Response Unit, it appears that the CRU is just another layer of ineffective bureaucracy for SE Queensland and Brisbane's ailing public transport system. With the combined mediocrity of the CRU, QR, Department of Transport and Main Roads, TransLink, and Queensland Government, commuters are left with no idea as to what is going on regarding driver training, restoring cut rail services, NGR delays, improving train cleanliness, improving customer information, and Commonwealth Games train services. The public aren't stupid, and treating them as such may well decide the next election.