8 Sep 2010: SEQ: The Ipswich - Caboolture lines ...

[ozbob]

Media Release 8 September 2010

SEQ:  The Ipswich - Caboolture lines: Could these be Brisbane's first metro-like services?

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters calls for frequency upgrades to the Ipswich - Caboolture lines to become Brisbane's first regional metro-like services.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track has always said that services must be frequent, bottom line. In peak hour, trains departing Ipswich and Caboolture stations every 5 to 10 minutes are needed. In the off peak and weekends, trains departing Ipswich and Caboolture stations every 15 minutes is needed and achievable."

Dramatically reduced journey time on the Ipswich and Caboolture lines could occur in the following ways:

1. An ExpressLink stopping pattern, where trains run express from Redbank to CBD stations stopping only at Darra, Indooroopilly and Toowong, all day,  every day and on weekends. Similar ExpressLink patterns on the Caboolture line mixed with all station UrbanLink services to Northgate. [1]

2. Reduced waiting times at the platforms due to more frequent trains.

3. High frequency feeder bus network to all rail stations on the lines.

"Stations not serviced by ExpressLink could be served by all-stops UrbanLink trains from Ipswich and Richlands-Shorncliffe services to allow 15 minute  all stations services between  Darra and Northgate.  This would also allow Caboolture services to run express from Northgate to the CBD."

"Perth has set an example for Brisbane; Rail passengers in Perth can throw their timetables in the bin because trains run every 15 minutes in the off peak on all lines, all the way to the terminus as standard."

"A coordinated and integrated all-day feeder bus network serving every station should be developed in close liaison with TransPerth who have pioneered this concept in Australia."

"People in suburbs a few kilometres from a rail station should have a decent, all day bus service to their local rail station. Existing feeder bus services to Ipswich and Caboolture line stations should therefore get a frequency boost to meet the new services. Bus routes which run parallel to the Ipswich line should also be reviewed to see if some (but not all) routes could be turned into feeder services to rail to take advantage of the quicker express trip and avoid the notorious congestion on Ipswich Highway and Coronation Drive."

"Limited access to many rail stations and poor train frequency is holding back patronage on the rail system."

"The BUZ network concept has shown in buses that people will switch to public transport when frequency is improved, resulting in truly spectacular patronage growth. Perth shows that it it is possible to apply this approach to trains. It is now time to apply this concept to rail services in south east Queensland.

"Why wait until 2031 for a metro, when upgrades to the existing Ipswich Caboolture lines could give service like one, and sooner?"

Reference:

1.  Draft Connecting SEQ 2031 http://www.connectingseq.qld.gov.au/

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

8th September 2010

Greetings,

The carnage and chaos continues on the roads.  It has not been a good week.  Is next week going to be any better?  No, it won't be unless there is some very urgent action.

Ever hopeful,

Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org


=============================

Road trauma is breaking the nation

There are few Australians that have not felt the grief, the loss, the hopelessness, of the ongoing tragedy of the consequences of road trauma. Every day the media chronicles the sad litany.  A recent study commissioned by the Australasian Railway Association on the cost of road crashes has revealed the cost in blunt economic terms (1).  Previous estimates have been conservative underestimates; this latest rigorous systematic study has revealed the costs of road fatalities and trauma to be in the order of at least thirty five billion dollars annually.  This figure is going to increase rapidly as the road injury management costs continue to climb.  There is a much wider social cost to be added but for now let us just consider the economic impact of the road trauma.

This road trauma cost is a drain on our economy.  It is not sustainable.  It is now clear that as a nation we must move to safe sustainable transport systems for people and bulk freight.  Investment in safe public transport through infrastructure and operating subsidies actually saves money.  This is a lesson transport planners and governments everywhere must heed.  The massive expenditure on roads is leading to unmanageable cost impacts.  Investment in safe transport systems is actually saving money.  Next time you are held up at a railway crossing as a packed peak hour commuter train passes, give out three cheers.  Those passengers are saving you and Australia ultimately a lot of pain.

Rail is approximately 40 times safer than travel by car.  Travel by bus is about 10 times safer than travel by car.  It is clear that we need to start maximizing use of our rail networks, and support those networks with bus transport to feed rail stations where possible.  A major project such as the Cross River Rail Tunnel for Brisbane is actually going to return huge savings.  The tunnel is equivalent to a 30 lane road highway in terms of passenger capacity.  Why haven't we started the actual digging?

The rail network in south east Queensland is underutilised.  It is time to increase train frequency on all the major lines.  Ideally no less frequent than 15 minutes in off peak periods during the day, peak times more frequent as loadings demand.  Weekends, holidays and after 9pm at night no less frequent than 20 minutes.  Properly support the increased rail frequency with a coordinated feeder bus network.  Make travel by public transport attractive.  The present rail timetable in South East Queensland has one of the worst train frequencies in Australia and for comparable size cities worldwide.  A high frequency rail service makes bus rail connections much more functional and encourages people to get out of their cars and onto safe transport.

The social isolation of cars is something we seldom consider.  In the 1950s, family trips to visit relatives in the country or city were usually by rail, an adventure and sharing an experience with others.  There was a feeling of community and belonging and the opportunity to meet new folk.  Many encounters on public transport have endured as long lasting friendships.   The social isolation of cars is not conducive for a healthy community.  The increasing demand for anti-depressant medications for example is a sign of an increasingly unhappy nation.  Little wonder when one considers the terrifying impact of the road toll.  Regular travel by public transport is a community experience.  There is social contact and a feeling of belonging.  Most journeys by public transport involve an element of active transport, walking or perhaps a bicycle ride to and from the bus or rail stations at departure and end points of the public transport ride.  This active transport leads to healthy outcomes.  There is a reduction in obesity and diabetes, both conditions that are costly for our communities and health care.

We need roads, but we must start to correct the imbalance in funding that is road centric.  There are signs that those in government are starting to hear this message.  Recent commitments for the long overdue Petrie to Kippa-Ring railway in Queensland and the railway from Parramatta to Epping in New South Wales are very welcome. But much more needs to be done.  In south-east Queensland here are some immediate rail priorities:  extend the Gold Coast railway to Coolangatta, duplicate the Sunshine Coast line from Beerburrum to Landsborough and eventually to Nambour, full duplication of the Cleveland line beyond Manly, Coomera to Helensvale duplication, Lawnton to Petrie triplication, Kuraby to Kingston triplication, Darra to Redbank triplication, and electrification from Rosewood to Gatton.  These improvements are needed to provide the backbone of a safe sustainable public transport network for a sustainable future.

To augment the heavy rail network, bus rapid transit and light rail has its role. The Gold Coast light rail is going to herald a change in our thinking.  Modern light rail is a superb people mover.  The loss of the tram system in Brisbane in 1969 can only be described as a disaster.  If the tram system had been kept operational it would have evolved as has the tram network in Melbourne which is now the greatest tram system in the world.  However, in the years to come there will be opportunities to return modern light rail to Brisbane, and it is the Gold Coast light rail that will alert citizens to what is possible.  Continued support for active transport options is also very cost effective.  Expansions of the bicycle path network are sensible, but also improve the amenity for pedestrians, the walkers.

The most important factor in driving public transport uptake is frequency.  The train frequency can be increased very quickly.  The other projects will take a little longer.  Now is the time to start to shake off the economic straight jacket of road trauma.  We must, the costs of road trauma are breaking our nation.

Reference:

1.  Australasian Railway Association Inc  The cost of road crashes: A review of key issues   Dr Richard Tooth  http://www.ara.net.au/UserFiles/file/Publications/TheCostofRoadCrashesReport.pdf

[Jonno]

Watching the news last night I commented that we now report road deaths with as much care as we report the lotto numbers.  12 or so diggers are tragically killed in overseas wars and there are calls for an inquiry.  That many people are killed each week on our roads and we say it is inevitable.

[#Metro]

Stats for Victoria http://www.tacsafety.com.au/jsp/statistics/roadtollcurrent.do?areaID=12&tierID=1&navID=1
National Statistics: http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/safety/road_fatality_statistics/index.aspx

BITRE now release statistics monthly, it is about 1600 per year nationally. It only reports fatalities, not injuries or disablement etc although there is information broken down into state/territory and user group (pedestrian, cyclist, motorbike etc). It's a bit disturbing thinking about it.  

Edit: BITRE website and monthly bulletin http://www.bitre.gov.au/Info.aspx?ResourceId=772&NodeId=111

[ozbob]

It is a good thing that fatalities are showing an improvement overall.  Injuries are increasing though, but this is hard to get data on. 

The more injuries that need long term management the greater the costs become.  This alone is reason sufficient to start seriously ramping up much improved public and active transport options.  At the base level, simply increasing the frequency of train services will drive change.   How much longer do we have to keep hitting our heads on brick walls on bureaucratic bungles of flawed paradigms ..

[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily click here!

Trains to reduce road trauma

Trains to reduce road trauma

Nikkii Joyce | 9th September 2010

BETTER services on the "worst rail line in Queensland" would reduce the risk of carnage on Sunshine Coast roads, according to a Queensland transport group.

Web-based community organisation RAIL Back on Track says the increasing number of vehicles on highways is due to inadequate public transport, including infrequent rail services and bus feeders between Caboolture and Nambour.

Group administrator Robert Dow said it had been a tragic week on state roads, including the death of a Hervey Bay university student near Gympie on Tuesday.

A recent study by the Australasian Railway Association revealed the cost of road fatalities and trauma to be in the order of $35 billion a year in Australia.

"Rail is approximately 40 times safer than travel by car. Travel by bus is about 10 times safer than travel by car," Mr Dow said. "It is clear that we need to start maximising use of our rail networks, and support those networks with bus transport to feed rail stations where possible.''

Mr Dow said the announcement last week that the planned rail link between Beerwah and Maroochydore would not be built before 2031 meant increasing congestion and dangerous roads.

"The nature of the problem is that there is a single line north of Brisbane from Beerburrum to Nambour," Mr Dow said.

"It is perhaps the busiest single railway line in Australia because it is used not only by the city commuter trains but also a lot of freight and long distance travel."

Mr Dow acknowledged the rail line presented significant difficulties but said they could be avoided with more passenger loops and "stabling" of trains at Yandina.

"They duplicated the Caboolture Beerburrum line a year ago, now the Beerburrum to Landsborough line is on hold.

"Clearly they are not going to duplicate the Nambour line in any great hurry but I still think there is capacity in rethinking freight runs, possibly overnight," Mr Dow said.

[WTN]

There is already increasing congestion around Caloundra and the roads leading to it from the Bruce Highway. One of my neighbours travel there from time to time and noticed the traffic worsened over the years. I accompanied him on a weekend trip and it was worse than what I've seen in the late 1990's. Some roads are about as busy as those in Brisbane on a weekday. If we wait until 2031 we might see massive carparks.

[#Metro]

Made it into the Brisbanetimes this morning!

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/relief-promised-on-our-most-crowded-rail-route-20100909-1534s.html

Long-suffering commuters on one of south-east Queensland's most overcrowded rail routes have been told they'll get some relief from looming timetable changes.

TransLink's latest Tracker report, released this week, showed peak-hour crowding on the Caboolture line was getting worse but the number of services had not increased in more than a year.

Ten of the 21 morning peak services on this line were deemed to be overloaded in April, May and June, up from six out of 21 at the same time last year.

[continues]

I just hope it isn't one or 2 new trains in peak and that is all. That would be an insult.
Every 15 minutes off peak as standard.

[ozbob]

Yes, thanks Brisbanetimes.

=============

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Relief promised on our most crowded rail route

Relief promised on our most crowded rail route
Daniel Hurst
September 10, 2010 - 6:03AM

Long-suffering commuters on one of south-east Queensland's most overcrowded rail routes have been told they'll get some relief from looming timetable changes.

TransLink's latest Tracker report, released this week, showed peak-hour crowding on the Caboolture line was getting worse but the number of services had not increased in more than a year.

Ten of the 21 morning peak services on this line were deemed to be overloaded in April, May and June, up from six out of 21 at the same time last year.

Nine of the 16 afternoon peak services were overcrowded, up from four out of 16.

Commuter lobby group Rail Back on Track has been calling for frequency upgrades on the Caboolture line.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan's spokesman said yesterday an upcoming overhaul of timetables on the Caboolture and Ipswich lines would help address the capacity problem.

Although the TransLink report revealed no new services were added last financial year, the spokesman said two new peak services were introduced late last month.

"We're looking at a number of options to improve services and stopping patterns," he said.

"Community consultation on the new timetables will take place later this year with the aim to implement the timetable in the first half of 2011."

The spokesman said the number of passengers catching morning peak train services between Caboolture and Virginia stations grew by 1000 to nearly 11,000 in the 2009/10 financial year.

The number of customers leaving afternoon peak train services between these stations rose by about 700 customers to 9800.

In terms of overcrowding, Caboolture line services were the worst performers in the TransLink Tracker quarterly report.

Overloaded services are defined as services in which passengers have to stand when the train is more than 20 minutes from Central station – or more than 20 minutes north or south of Caboolture and Beenleigh stations on the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast lines respectively.

Across all lines, the report showed the number of overcrowded afternoon rail services stood at 19.8 per cent, up from 16.5 per cent in the same quarter last year.

The share of overloaded morning peak services decreased from 26 per cent last year to 24 per cent in the same quarter this year.

Earlier this week, Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow called for improvements on the Ipswich-Caboolture lines, with more frequent express trains and bus feeder services.

"In peak hour, trains departing Ipswich and Caboolture stations every five to 10 minutes are needed," he said.

"In the off-peak and weekends, trains departing Ipswich and Caboolture stations every 15 minutes is needed and achievable."

[#Metro]

"In peak hour, trains departing Ipswich and Caboolture stations every five to 10 minutes are needed," he said.

This standard could be met by extending services that start at Corinda/Darra/Redbank to Ipswich and maybe more space to stable trains at Ipswich?

Also any Shorncliffe line users?
Trains every 20 minutes in the peak, every 30 minutes in the off peak.

[#Metro]

Welcome!

A quick look at the Caboolture timetable shows that there are 5 trains departing
at the busiest hour in the morning (7am, 7:10am,7:15am, 7:30am, 7:43am).
That is a train about every 12 minutes.

Petrie, a bit further down the line has 12 trains in that hour (7am-7:59), that's a train every 5 minutes.

So, my reasoning is this:

Peak hour frequency at Caboolture could possibly be doubled, without running
any extra services on the line by extending all Petrie starters to begin at Caboolture, and adjusting the feeder bus services
to this station to meet the new services.

Even if these extended services fill, it will be passengers further down the line which will have difficulty getting on a train. However, further down the line are more services from Shorncliffe (which needs a boost to peak services), Airport, Doomben and Ferny Grove lines. And further down the line, within the BCC area at least, there is access to buses too. People at the Caboolture end of the line
don't have these options.

The same kind of idea (extending existing services) could possibly be applied to the Ipswich line, by extending Redbank/Darra/Corinda trains that begin at these stations, to instead begin at Ipswich.

Would a signal upgrade be handy? The network is looking very busy at peak as it is
Would a stabling upgrade be handy? Increase capacity for trains to be stabled at Ipswich and Caboolture?

[#Metro]

The Translink spokesman's comment on 'two new peak services' is rather misleading. The new 'evening' 'peak' service departs Central Station at 3.48pm - so peak for school students perhaps, but not anyone else.

Platforms 5 & 6 at Central station are an absolute nightmare after 5pm on a weekday. Frankly I'm surprised someone hasn't fallen onto the rails by now, the crush is just that bad.

It's good to see a remark about feeder bus services though - I'd love not to have to park the car at the station, but the last bus back to my estate leaves the station at 5.45pm, and if I miss the morning bus the next one is not for an hour, and takes a ridiculously roundabout route to the station. Not exactly joined-up thinking.
Kate | Brisbane - September 10, 2010, 8:52AM

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/relief-promised-on-our-most-crowded-rail-route-20100909-1534s.html#comments

Just as suspected-- people are having difficulties accessing the station because there is no good feeder bus.