23 Oct 2013: SEQ: BCC anti-interchange philosophy collapses ...

[ozbob]

Media release 23rd October 2013



SEQ: BCC anti-interchange philosophy collapses as rail services upgraded

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport says the recent wholesale rail capacity upgrades flies in the face of Brisbane Transport's view that trains are "too full" to take interchanging bus passengers (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Peak and off peak services across the rail network are now to be upgraded. A single train service at peak hour has the same capacity as 15 Brisbane Transport buses. When one considers that a high frequency BUZ route at full load in peak hour is six bus services per hour, it is clear that there is now plenty of room for feeding passengers into the train network, even at peak hour."

"What the latest upgrades show is that better timetabling can release more capacity on the rail system. Improvements to train seating plans and signalling would increase capacity further as would Cross River Rail. Services on the Cleveland line (to Cannon Hill), Ferny Grove Line (all stations), Beenleigh line (to Coopers Plains) and Ipswich Line (to Darra) and Caboolture line (to Northgate) all now have high frequency rail services all day on weekdays."

"This will now allow TransLink the option to redesign the bus network to feed buses into rail in the future, bringing down the extreme fares and subsidies that we are enduring at the moment."

"Brisbane City Council and its Councillors should be embarrassed that they were all unable to deliver high frequency services to Yeronga, Albany Creek, Morningside, Inala, Enoggera, the entire Centenary Suburbs and the promised 2000 daily express buses down Legacy Way. BCC rejected the TransLink bus review and refused to allow Brisbane Transport to meet with TransLink on at least six occasions."

"In contrast, Queensland Rail and TransLink working together have delivered the goods for the residents of Brisbane and SEQ generally."

"We doubt, with the rising debt levels at BCC, that the council will be able to continue to fund Brisbane Transport under the current hi-waste direct service congestion prone bus philosophy."

"RAIL Back on Track calls for the separation of Brisbane Transport from Brisbane City Council and bus contracts to be thrown open to competition. The funds generated from separating Brisbane Transport from BCC can then be used to pay down BCC's growing public debt and will reduce the size of local government by 20%."

"The Lord Mayor and BCC can no longer be trusted to run Brisbane's buses. After a decade of games, it's time to dump Brisbane City Council and separate Brisbane Transport."

References:

1. New train timetables coming soon http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/train-timetable-changes

2. Brisbane City Council borrows to overcome rates shortfall http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/brisbane-city-council-borrows-to-overcome-rates-shortfall-20131017-2vpnk.html

3. Lord Mayor and BCC can no longer be trusted to run city's buses http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9895.0

4. Bus boom causes council staff crunch http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/bus-boom-causes-council-staff-crunch-20100914-15atl.html

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

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