Article: Patronage figures soar on Perth to Mandurah railway

[ozbob]

From http://rtsa.com.au/assets/2008/04/grms_rail-horizons_march_final.pdf

Patronage figures soar on Perth to Mandurah railway

Patronage figures soar on Perth to Mandurah railway

Patronage on the new Perth to Mandurah railway which opened just after Christmas, has already exceeded by more than 40% the numbers forecast for the previous planned deviation via Kenwick.

WA Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said that average weekday passenger journey numbers were more than 40,000 and reaching 45,000 on some days.

"We have exceeded 80% of our predicted patronage in just 11 weeks, which is an outstanding result," Ms MacTiernan said.

"So far, the new railway is carrying between two and three times as many passengers as the average 16,000 people who rode the buses along the same route.

The Minister said she was amazed that the WA Opposition still appeared to support their inferior alternative route.

"Our strongest patronage is coming from the very stations the Opposition said we shouldn't build, with current boardings at Canning Bridge (154% up), Bull Creek

128%) and Murdoch (127%) well above predicted numbers.

"Given the new line's overwhelming acceptance, especially in Perth's southern suburbs, it is surely time for the Opposition transport spokesperson to acknowledge he has got it wrong.

Ms MacTiernan said the massive reorganisation of bus routes and increased frequencies and the addition of 80 new buses had also proved popular with patrons, especially at the busiest stations.

"About 60% of passengers at Murdoch and Bull Creek are arriving by bus. Although we have more parking bays than at comparable stations on the Northern Line, we acknowledge car parks are full.

"We are building more bike storage facilities at Bull Creek and Murdoch to encourage those living within one or two kilometres of the station to use their bikes rather than cars.

"Over the next three months, we will also consider what opportunities there may be for additional car parks."

Some rail industry observers have noted the WA Government?s claim that rail patronage is two to three times the 16,000 passengers who previously rode by bus along the Mandurah corridor, illustrates that rail is a much more attractive alternative than bus for the motoring public in this type of application.

The same observers note that Mandurah people previously had the option of relatively fast double deck coaches (not buses) for many of their Perth trips before the railway opened. Bus-centric planners and the current ?bus-biased? Brisbane City Council might like to note this.

They claim the Mandurah line should also now put to rest the sweeping generalisation that Australia's suburban population density is too low to support heavy rail - something that has been trotted out over the years to debunk proposals like Melbourne's Doncaster railway.

At AusRAIL 2007, Peter Martinovich Deputy Project Director, New MetroRail of the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia noted, ?Even after the decision to electrify the rail network in 1985, in mid-1988 transport planners recommended to the State Government a consultant?s report to build a bus system to serve the northern suburbs. And then, despite electrification of the existing railway and building of the Northern Suburbs Railway (NSR), initial proposals in the early 1990?s for a mass transit mode to serve coastal suburbs south of Perth linking the cities of Rockingham and Mandurah, heavily favoured buses. It was only the assertive efforts of rail planners in support of the State?s Department of Planning and Urban Development in 1992-94 that resulted in government acceptance of a rail route from Perth to Mandurah."

Minister MacTiernan at AusRail 2005 said, "The big picture plan is designed to future proof Perth delivering a sustainable and exciting city for the 21st Century. We need to build resilience into our city if we are to manage growth and deal with/withstand the global challenges of climate change and oil depletion.

?? While buses will always be an important part of our public transport system, the evidence is that rail services have the greatest ability to attract commuters who have a choice. If we are to get people out of their cars and onto public transport, rail is a much better bet."

Peter Newman, Professor of Sustainability, Curtin University said recently, ?By 2001, there was bi-partisan support for building a new Southern Railway. Later Allanah MacTiernan took on the job of implementing this policy and we all watched as she battled cynical opponents of the railway until 23 December 2007 when no opponent seemed to be left standing.

?Those who have flocked to the new train have experienced a first class urban rail service. The predictions for the whole network in five years are around 100 million passengers a year. Meantime, every train is full at peak hour and events like the football just couldn?t happen without the train.

?(Perth's rail revival) is a remarkable turnaround. It is also a source of great hope when we look at issues like global warming and peak oil to see that public movements can help set the long term agenda for a better future of our city.?

[ozbob]

Well done WA.

There are many lessons here for all states!

[ozbob]

Minister MacTiernan at AusRail 2005 said, "The big picture plan is designed to future proof Perth delivering a sustainable and exciting city for the 21st Century. We need to build resilience into our city if we are to manage growth and deal with/withstand the global challenges of climate change and oil depletion.

?? While buses will always be an important part of our public transport system, the evidence is that rail services have the greatest ability to attract commuters who have a choice. If we are to get people out of their cars and onto public transport, rail is a much better bet."

Peter Newman, Professor of Sustainability, Curtin University said recently, ?By 2001, there was bi-partisan support for building a new Southern Railway. Later Allanah MacTiernan took on the job of implementing this policy and we all watched as she battled cynical opponents of the railway until 23 December 2007 when no opponent seemed to be left standing.

?Those who have flocked to the new train have experienced a first class urban rail service. The predictions for the whole network in five years are around 100 million passengers a year. Meantime, every train is full at peak hour and events like the football just couldn?t happen without the train.

?(Perth's rail revival) is a remarkable turnaround. It is also a source of great hope when we look at issues like global warming and peak oil to see that public movements can help set the long term agenda for a better future of our city.?

The Federal Government, the rest of the State Governments should get out of their comfort zones and bite the bullet before it is too late!