Queensland Rail chief operating officer Kevin Wright resigns

Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe has emailed staff at Queensland Rail to thank them for their work amid the ongoing rail crisis in the lead up to New Year's Eve.

It comes after chief operating officer Kevin Wright was the latest top employee to resign in recent months.

Mr Dow said Brisbane's train network was under-utilised in places. Credit: Jorge Branco

In an email obtained by Brisbane Times, Mr Hinchliffe took the unusual step of writing directly to drivers, guards, station staff and other employees on Thursday afternoon.

"As we anticipate the key public transport event on New Year's Eve, I wanted to thank each and everyone one (sic) of you for the job that you are doing to move our passengers safely and reliably across south-east Queensland," Mr Hinchliffe wrote.

Queensland Rail chief operating officer Kevin Wright.Credit: Queensland Rail

"In the face of incredible pressure and challenges that have been not of your making, you have continued to deliver.

"I want to be clear - there is plenty of public commentary about the causes of the current situation we find ourselves in - much of that commentary is wrong.

"Suggestions that the poor service delivery on Christmas Day was due to sudden unexpected absences is just wrong.

"We are here because there is a fundamental shortage of train crew overall. I know that and you know that."

Mr Hinchliffe said two rounds of recruitment were opened up to gain more drivers and guards.

"I know how hard you are working every day for our customers, particularly in the lead up to the delivery of our additional New Year's Eve services," he said.

EARLIER

Another head has rolled at the state's beleaguered train operator, Queensland Rail.

QR's chief operating officer Kevin Wright has resigned following ongoing timetable issues and the Christmas Day rostering stuff-up.

On Christmas Day, 235 services were cancelled - a third of the network.

It comes after repeated issues at the operator over a driver shortage, which came to a head after the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line, when 100 services were cancelled in October.

There were also 50 train services cancelled on September 30.

In November, Fairfax Media revealed Mr Wright received a bonus of more than $70,000, which was paid on October 17.

Mr Wright has spent more than 16 years at QR and was responsible for "safe and efficient rail operations, ensuring the quality, movement and delivery of train services".

That included overseeing train engineering and maintenance, train service delivery and operating facilities and program coordination.

It is understood Mr Wright was asked to resign by QR management. He resigned on Wednesday night.

He will not receive a termination payout.

Acting chief executive officer Jim Benstead, who is acting in the role while Neil Scales was overseas on holidays, sent an email to staff informing them of Mr Wright's decision on Thursday.

The email, obtained by Fairfax Media, reads: "As many of you know, Kevin has a longstanding career at Queensland Rail with more than 16 years of service culminating as head of our Operations function."

"I know many of you have met Kevin and have personally worked with him in some role or form," Mr Benstead's email reads.

"I know all of you will join me in wishing Kevin all the best for the future."

From January 3, Martin Ryan, Queensland Rail's executive general manager travel and tourist operations, will act as chief operating officer while recruitment is done for a permanent replacement.

A spokesman for Mr Hinchliffe said staffing arrangements were a matter for Queensland Rail.

"The minister's focus is on restoring reliable services and certainty for south-east Queensland rail commuters," the spokesman said.

Opposition Treasurer Scott Emerson repeated the LNP's calls for Mr Hinchliffe to resign, and said Mr Wright was a "fall guy".

"The buck doesn't stop with Mr Wright, it needs to stop with this incompetent gutless minister, he needs to be gone," Mr Emerson said.

"We can't have a situation where we see a minister go out every other day and say the problem's fixed and the next day come out and have to say the problem's not really fixed, but we'll fix the problem."

It came after chief executive officer Helen Gluer and chairman Michael Klug resigned in October.

When Ms Gluer resigned she gave three months notice as required in her employment contract.

Queensland Rail made a payment in lieu of the three month period for $158,214.

QR's head of train service delivery has also been sacked.

The issues at Queensland Rail are being investigated by former Rio Tinto boss Philip Strachan.

Mr Benstead said Queensland Rail was continuing to plan for New Year's Eve and was confident of delivering a reliable service for customers.