Article: Translink refuses to reveal number of full trains

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

Translink refuses to reveal number of full trains

Translink refuses to reveal number of full trains
Tony Moore | August 21, 2008

Queensland Rail has refused to release details on just how full South-East Queensland's trains are, despite a challenge by Brisbane City Council.

The refusal came on the same day the State Government released a study on improving public access to information.

Public transport authority Translink yesterday confirmed it counts passengers on its Citytrain fleet, but said any decision to release the figures showing how many rail services were full rested with Transport Minister John Mickel.

However, the minister's office would not say whether Mr Mickel would release the information or why.

Commuters have vented their fury about full train services online after Brisbane City Councillor Jane Prentice challenged the State Government to release figures yesterday.

The council's public transport committee chair said the government should come clean, as the council was required to for its bus services.

"At the same time that Brisbane City Council is being responsible to the people of Brisbane and reporting on the number of full buses each month, Translink are refusing to release similar figures for the Queensland Rail network," Cr Prentice said.

Yesterday, the government released a report into changes to Freedom of Information procedures, allowing searches for the first time of records by government-owned corporations, including Queensland Rail's passenger services.

In posts on brisbanetimes.com.au, commuters complained about packed rail services on almost every line into Brisbane.

Translink spokesman Adam Nicholson said Queensland Rail did complete regular surveys to show how many people were catching trains.

"The most valuable use for peak loading data is to determine where in the network the most critical needs exist for new services," Mr Nicholson said.

"QR conducts Passenger Load Surveys and collates data at regular intervals. This data represents a physical count of an individual carriage and is essentially a snapshot of a particular moment in time. Loads will vary across services, lines and departure times."

He said the information was used by Translink's planners to make improvements to the rail network and to make decisions on new rail services.

However, Translink said any decision to release data about Queensland Rail's Citytrain services had to come from Transport Minister John Mickel.

Mr Mickel's office was asked this question at 6pm Tuesday and again at 1pm yesterday, however no response has been received from the minister or his staff.

[ozbob]

For the comments on the original article at Brisbanetimes

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[ozbob]

Letter to Editor Published Courier Mail August 21 

Time to ramp up rail services

David McIntyre (Letters, Aug 20) highlighted some of the peak rail congestion on the Cleveland line. 

The fact is, all lines have varying degrees of peak congestion issues and latent loading (passengers who cannot board already overloaded services).  This has come about from a failure to adequately resource Queensland Rail passenger services with trains and crew.

The recently introduced Interurban Multiple trains were the first new trains added in over seven years.  It is little wonder QR are struggling.