RAIL - Back On Track Forum

Borbidge is certainly at fault for signing the state up to such a long exclusivity period, but I think the even worse move was Newman failing to nationalise it in 2012 for such a cheap price. Now Airtrain have the government over a barrel.

I think the cheapest way out of this for the government will be making some sort of agreement with Airtrain to suspend the exclusivity agreement during the period of the Olympics and Paralympics in return for a pot of cash, so they can run buses to and from the airport too. It'll be poor value for money, but still less costly than buying out the contract. But the people will have to suffer with high fares for the full term.

Can't blame Newman. Airtrain never went to the state (as what happened in NSW). Even local based businesses were shocked just how quick it was sold. USS went on an infrastructure buying blitz at the time (which also included buying a majority share in Sydney's Airtrain rumoured to be at above market cost) both because of the BOOT agreements.

Quote from: Cygnus on June 14, 2024, 11:28:12 AMBorbidge is certainly at fault for signing the state up to such a long exclusivity period, but I think the even worse move was Newman failing to nationalise it in 2012 for such a cheap price. Now Airtrain have the government over a barrel.

I think the cheapest way out of this for the government will be making some sort of agreement with Airtrain to suspend the exclusivity agreement during the period of the Olympics and Paralympics in return for a pot of cash, so they can run buses to and from the airport too. It'll be poor value for money, but still less costly than buying out the contract. But the people will have to suffer with high fares for the full term.

I believe the Labor Government signed the contracts. The Government prior just went out to tender for the build.

It was the private company that did the build as part of the BOOT scheme.

Quote from: verbatim9 on June 14, 2024, 14:54:42 PM

Quote from: Cygnus on June 14, 2024, 11:28:12 AMBorbidge is certainly at fault for signing the state up to such a long exclusivity period, but I think the even worse move was Newman failing to nationalise it in 2012 for such a cheap price. Now Airtrain have the government over a barrel.

I think the cheapest way out of this for the government will be making some sort of agreement with Airtrain to suspend the exclusivity agreement during the period of the Olympics and Paralympics in return for a pot of cash, so they can run buses to and from the airport too. It'll be poor value for money, but still less costly than buying out the contract. But the people will have to suffer with high fares for the full term.

I believe the Labor Government signed the contracts. The Government prior just went out to tender for the build.

No.  1995, was when the Government started calling for an Airport Line to be built (under Wayne Goss - ALP), there was a change in Government to Borbidge in 1996, who during the Liberal tenure (remember, LNP did not exist as a party at that time, the Liberals and Nationals were two separate parties), was signed in 1998.  It was a terrible deal, but probably politically popular at the time as it coming at no cost to the Government, it was also a time when John Howard was in his first term of Government, and outsourcing and privatising to for profit companies for traditional Government services was all the rage at the time (and still is to some extent, although I think that's gradually dissipating over time).

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/2668

^

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/2668

Joint Release with Joan Sheldon MLA, Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for The Arts and Vaughan Johnson MLA, Minister for Transport and Main Roads

21st April 1998

Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Joan Sheldon

BRISBANE AIRPORT RAIL LINK DEED SIGNED

The Coalition Government and Airtrain Citylink Ltd have entered into a legal agreement which will lead to the construction and operation of a rail link to Brisbane Airport.

Deputy Premier and Treasurer Joan Sheldon, in a joint announcement with Minister for Transport and Main Roads Vaughan Johnson, said today that a deed had been formally signed which would allow Airtrain, a private sector proponent, to finance, design, construct, maintain and operate the Brisbane Airport Rail Link (BARL).

Mrs Sheldon said the execution of the deed would allow Airtrain to begin on-site construction of the rail link by July.

"The construction program allows Airtrain to meet its obligations within two years and allow the rail link to be operational by June 2000, in time for the Sydney Olympics," she said.

Airtrain, whose shareholders are Macquarie Corporate Finance Ltd, Transfield, Reduct Pty Ltd and Clarke and Kann, was awarded an exclusive mandate by the State Government in May 1996 to develop a detailed proposal for a rail link to the Brisbane Airport.

"Under the subsequent proposal, Airtrain indicated it would commit $190 million of private sector funds for the construction, operation and maintenance of the rail link.

"Airtrain has told us that the project will provide 400 jobs for its two year construction period and 50 full time equivalent positions for its operational phase."

"The signing of the deed represents a major milestone in the implementation of State policy on Private Sector Involvement in Public Infrastructure and Service Delivery.

"Airtrain has proposed a dedicated rail link joining the existing North Coast line at Eagle Junction," the Treasurer said.

Mr Johnson said that the rail link would transport passengers to two elevated stations one adjacent to the Brisbane International Terminal and the other to the Brisbane domestic terminal.

Under terms of the agreement, Airtrain will transfer the Brisbane Airport Rail Link back to the State Government after 35 years.

Mr Johnson said the Airtrain proposal had been underpinned by detailed engineering and project definition and a financial feasibility study.

"This project will have significant positive ramifications for the people of south-east Queensland, not only in terms of increasing transport options to Brisbane Airport but also environmentally by reducing a large number of road trips," Mr Johnson said.

"Detailed patronage studies have been undertaken for the project by Airtrain, forecasting rail passenger numbers of around 2.3 million for the first year of operation.

"Airtrain has forecast patronage figures to rise to 4.6 million in the fifth year, and eventually to 16.5 million by 2035.

"The obvious positive impact, both environmentally and from a co-ordinated transport perspective, will be enormous," said Mr Johnson.

A draft Impact Assessment Study has been completed and is currently on display at Brisbane City Council and the Department of Environment.

Quote from: QLD Gov Media Release"Airtrain has forecast patronage figures to rise to 4.6 million in the fifth year, and eventually to 16.5 million by 2035.

16.5 million!

2022-2023 FY https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=15351.0 (not sure if we had something more recent)

Domestic 211,781
International 52,188
----
263,969 trips per year
----

^ Let me know if the above is not correct and I will adjust. 

FY 2023-2024 annual patronage will be available hopefully by September 2024. 
Those are patronage figures.  A lot lower than forecast in 1998! 

I expect FY 2023-2024 Airtrain patronage to be their best yet.
 

https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=14864.0



Spreadsheet > https://backontrack.org/docs/patronage/2022_23/qr/bne12_13to22_23.ods

Thanks for confirming Ozbob. I wonder what the average utilisation is?

If we have 632 services per week, then:

632 services/week x 52 weeks/year x 1000 spaces/train =>32,864,000 spaces available.

We are only using 263,969 annual trips/32,864,000 spaces available x 100

= 0.80% average utilisation. It seems incredibly low. On the other hand, it is the end of a line.

The Perth figures are much higher at 2.8 million trips per year, but they are complicated by the additional station after the Airport Forrestfield being counted in.

Hey just something I was thinking of.

In Paris they aren't dropping or making public transport free for their Olympics.
In fact they putting the prices up, and are encouraging locals to stock up on 10 trip tickets before the hordes or visitors arrive.

Probably something simpilar will happen with air train

The subsequent Government did review and authorise the go ahead of the Air link proposal.---> https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/5301

Labor wouldn't have gone done that path of public ownership either.

At the end of the day the line has cost nothing up till now with the current fare subsidy coming into place.

The line actually made money in previous years, but I reckon TMR/QR makes more out of it from the service they charge to Airtrain.

All we need is the Government to make a better deal with Airtrain to run earlier and later services as well as some extra infill services.

They should also extend the 369 to Skygate as well as run the proposed Gold Glider to connect with enhanced terminal connections from there.

Once again they shouldn't buy it out before 2036, yet they should find alternative ways like above to improve public transport services to and from the airport precinct.

I also don't like the Metro bus model that Council is proposing as the route just duplicates the Airtrain route.

The proposed Gold Glider services different parts of the city, as well as the higher density areas of the Gabba the East side of the CBD as well as Teneriffe and Newstead and Hamilton where the is no direct transport options to the airport precinct.

In the scheme of things the cost is not a real issue but it could be a bit less than 20.00 bucks when compared to Sydney's Gate charges, Sky Bus in Melbourne and Hobart, as well as other parts of the world with trains to and from the airport.

Therefore, Airtrain should offer more off peak deals and continue with their free return offer as well.

Airtrain FB--->https://www.facebook.com/share/E8RhVWEqcNkHo7jH/?mibextid=oFDknk


I did notice these gap fillers already although I was alighting from the centre of the train the other day at the international terminal. They must be completing the full platform length.

Quote from: verbatim9 on July 02, 2024, 12:18:04 PMAirtrain FB--->https://www.facebook.com/share/E8RhVWEqcNkHo7jH/?mibextid=oFDknk


I did notice these gap fillers already although I was alighting from the centre of the train the other day at the international terminal. They must be completing the full platform length.

That's cool! That'll be the first example of gap fillers on the SEQ network right? Could set a good example for other stations

Quote from: timh on July 02, 2024, 12:27:50 PM

Quote from: verbatim9 on July 02, 2024, 12:18:04 PMAirtrain FB--->https://www.facebook.com/share/E8RhVWEqcNkHo7jH/?mibextid=oFDknk


I did notice these gap fillers already although I was alighting from the centre of the train the other day at the international terminal. They must be completing the full platform length.

That's cool! That'll be the first example of gap fillers on the SEQ network right? Could set a good example for other stations

There are some rubber gap fillers at Park Road (platform 4?) if I recall correctly.

As far as I recall the gap fillers have been at the Airport stations for a while now.

The potential when frequency is very high

Sent to all outlets:

Brisbane versus Perth: Why we need to fix Brisbane Airtrain before 'Going Metro'

22nd November 2024

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web-based community group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has called on Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg to focus on improving Brisbane Airtrain's poor service frequency and span before considering Brisbane Metro BRT extension to Brisbane Airport.

We understand that Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner wants to extend Brisbane Metro BRT services to Brisbane Airport (1). However, there is already a train to Brisbane Airport which is grossly underutilised due to poor service frequency and operating hours. Let's fix that first.

Here is a comparison of Brisbane Airtrain against Perth's Airport Train (June 2024). As the chart clearly shows, Perth's Airport train offers a superior level of service.



Perth operates 1,019 services to and from the airport each week, while Brisbane runs just 632. This means Brisbane's Airtrain provides only 62% of the service that Perth residents and visitors enjoy.

Train service levels across the Perth train network are also superior to Brisbane's. Unlike Brisbane, Perth offers 15-minute trains to almost all train stations on Saturday and Sunday. Perth's train network also carries more passengers than the Queensland Rail network does. Perth achieves this in a city with a lower density, lower population and higher car use than Brisbane.

Instead of funding a duplicative Brisbane Metro BRT to Brisbane Airport, RAIL Back on Track calls on the Queensland Government to redirect that funding toward increasing Airtrain service levels to match the superior frequency already available to Perth residents.

References:

(1) Brisbane Metro to be boosted by 41 million seats if 'compromise' can be reached https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/future-seq/brisbane-metro-to-be-boosted-by-41-million-seats-if-compromise-can-be-reached/news-story/8d96c9aa6dfc9434dbc375c87dd45c38

(2) Brisbane Airtrain: Half-price fares but no changes to timetable
https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/qld-politics/brisbane-airtrain-halfprice-fares-but-no-changes-to-timetable/news-story/8009f1363addf9a7d4c866acf46fa229

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

Facebook ...

Quote from: ozbob on November 22, 2024, 07:27:43 AMSent to all outlets:

Brisbane versus Perth: Why we need to fix Brisbane Airtrain before 'Going Metro'

22nd November 2024

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web-based community group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has called on Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg to focus on improving Brisbane Airtrain's poor service frequency and span before considering Brisbane Metro BRT extension to Brisbane Airport.

We understand that Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner wants to extend Brisbane Metro BRT services to Brisbane Airport (1). However, there is already a train to Brisbane Airport which is grossly underutilised due to poor service frequency and operating hours. Let's fix that first.

Here is a comparison of Brisbane Airtrain against Perth's Airport Train (June 2024). As the chart clearly shows, Perth's Airport train offers a superior level of service.



Perth operates 1,019 services to and from the airport each week, while Brisbane runs just 632. This means Brisbane's Airtrain provides only 62% of the service that Perth residents and visitors enjoy.

Train service levels across the Perth train network are also superior to Brisbane's. Unlike Brisbane, Perth offers 15-minute trains to almost all train stations on Saturday and Sunday. Perth's train network also carries more passengers than the Queensland Rail network does. Perth achieves this in a city with a lower density, lower population and higher car use than Brisbane.

Instead of funding a duplicative Brisbane Metro BRT to Brisbane Airport, RAIL Back on Track calls on the Queensland Government to redirect that funding toward increasing Airtrain service levels to match the superior frequency already available to Perth residents.

References:

(1) Brisbane Metro to be boosted by 41 million seats if 'compromise' can be reached https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/future-seq/brisbane-metro-to-be-boosted-by-41-million-seats-if-compromise-can-be-reached/news-story/8d96c9aa6dfc9434dbc375c87dd45c38

(2) Brisbane Airtrain: Half-price fares but no changes to timetable
https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/qld-politics/brisbane-airtrain-halfprice-fares-but-no-changes-to-timetable/news-story/8009f1363addf9a7d4c866acf46fa229

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

100%! Such a simple solution. In the meantime South Bank could be used as the terminus for services that don't continue through to the Gold Coast. With some simple crossovers, they could terminate on platform 2, leaving platform 3 for through services from Cleveland, Beenleigh and Gold Coast. 15 minutes all day, every day is such low hanging fruit!

Even if Airtrain didn't have the locked in contract I'd be against this "metro" expansion. I'm only in favour of extensions to places that aren't already served by rail (eg. Carindale and Chermside).