16 Aug 2008: SEQ: Trains not lanes, enough is enough!

[ozbob]

Media Release 16 August 2008

SEQ:  Trains not lanes, enough is enough!

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 has called for the Queensland Government and Queensland Transport to address in a meaningful way the transport requirements for south-east Queensland.  Passenger congestion on buses, ferries and rail is testament to the profound failure of Government and Queensland Transport, who seem focused on building more lanes, roads and tunnels, but do little in pro-active public transport placement.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

?Last week it was revealed that the number of Brisbane Transport buses that left commuters behind has again reached new record levels (1). I have always thought the previous reports of buses that by-pass was an underestimate and new procedures for recording full buses means that figures are now more accurate.  It is difficult to see this figure going anywhere but up!?

?RAIL Back On Track has consistently highlighted the congestion on our crowded peak rail services and the apparent inability to move forwards with innovative solutions (2).?

?Brisbane City Council promises more buses as a potential fix.  This will only add to the gridlock, ?bus-lock? and congestion unless different strategies are implemented.  Inner city rail passengers struggle to board already overloaded long haul urban and interurban rail services.  Rail can deliver the bulk commuter capacity if properly resourced in terms of trains and crew, and by utilising integrated local buses to feed rail stations some comfort and real capacity. A six car EMU can transport up 800 passengers comfortably for long distances, a 1000 passengers for shorter distances.  A standard bus transports about 65 passengers.  It is clear where the resources must be ramped up!?

?Here are some innovative suggestions that if implemented will help ease the immediate crises and provide a basis for a sustainable transport future.?

?To ease the inner city overload on buses and trains, introduce some point to point loop rail services. Run trains from Shorncliffe, all stations to Roma St, Exhibition, Albion, all stations to Shorncliffe.  From Darra run trains Darra to Brunswick St, Exhibition, Milton, all stations to Darra.  This would provide frequent inner suburban services that will also open up the Exhibition loop line to regular services. Re-establish a railway station at Normanby and integrate this with the Normanby bus station.  As has been shown again during Ekka 2008, loop services can be run effectively on this line.  These services would allow more express patterns for the long haul urban and interurban services. For example services from Ipswich could regularly run express between Darra and the City with stops at major stations only. Similarly on the northern line, express services between Northgate and City. Passenger capacity is increased and commute times are reduced. ?

?We need to spread peak passenger loading.  This can be achieved by putting in place more early and late peak services and then using incentive ticketing, the go card provides an easy mechanism to do this. Encourage travel in early and late peak, and off-peak. Further initiatives such as decentralisation, varying work hours will also help.?

?Introduce local station buses to allow people to transit from their residences to rail and bus stations.  Parking is a huge problem and the only sustainable solution will be local public transport (3).?

?These few suggestions if implemented would give us a buffer and lead to further innovation. Rail will provide the capacity if properly resourced, independent of the basket case on Brisbane?s roads.?

References:

1.   Brisbane mX 14 August 2008, page one.

2.   http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1155.msg5144#msg5144

3.   http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1056.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Brisbane mX 18 August 2008 page 2

Ekka link is in loop

Ekka link is in loop

Julia Phipps

A renewed push is on to use the trains station at the Ekka Showgrounds year-round on a loop service on the Shorncliffe and Ipswich lines.

Commuter advocate group RAIL Back On Track spokesman Robert Dow today proposed the idea of a loop from Shorncliffe to Roma St and back again via the Exhibition station and Albion to boost capacity and cater for the population boom expected in Bowen hills.

As well as the Shorncliffe option, the Ipswich Line could run a similar high-frequency service from Darra to Brunswick St, Exhibition, Milton and return all stations Darra. 

Dow also suggested short-rail services beginning mid-line to go to just inner-city stations which would ease congestion on longer haul services.

"This would provide frequent inner-suburban services that will also open up the Exhibition loop line to regular services," he said.

The State Government last week released plans to redevelop the showgrounds and Bowen Hills, including 30-story buildings and housing for30,000 people.

The Exhibition stop is near the Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital, which has up 20,000 people onsite.

The hospital runs a minbus between park 'n' ride locations and Bowen Hills station for staff.

A TransLink spokesperson said it was not planning permanent Exhibition stop but was reviewing its infrastructure and rolling stock assets.

Thanks to the mX for following up on this release.