7 Oct 2008: SEQ: Inner city rail plan to add capacity is very welcome

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Media Release 7 October 2008

SEQ:  Inner city rail plan to add capacity is very welcome

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 said the announcement today of the inner city rail plan is very welcome, and is very time critical.  The expected capacity saturation point will be reached long before 2016 at current increases in passenger loadings by Citytrain.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The options for increasing the inner city rail capacity are urgently needed.  In a joint statement the Premier noted that in 2006 more than 44,000 people used the Citytrain services in a 2 hour peak period.  Anyone who regularly travels on the Citytrain services knows that since 2006 there are a lot more people on the trains. It is probably more like 55,000 to 60,000 today in the 2 hour peak period."

"This reinforces why we need the increase in inner city rail capacity. It will allow all lines to continue to be ramped up in frequency and in so doing transport citizens in an environmentally sustainable manner. This will in turn help ease road congestion."

"Some of the individual route plans released today will provide rail services new inner city areas.  They will help relieve pressure on buses.  A high frequency rail service can be fed by local buses with many more lateral bus runs.  This in turn takes pressure of the key radial bus routes and busways.  Buses are too approaching capacity in Brisbane.  Rail gives the bulk capacity.  A six car suburban set can carry 800 passengers with some comfort, 1000 passengers for shorter distances."

"Plan A gives additional north-south capacity but with rail services to new areas.  For example the 'Gabba, CBD  (near the Botanical Gardens and QUT Gardens Point/Parliament) and the Exhibition precinct.  There is a new commercial and major residential development planned for the Exhibition precinct and when you put that together with the Herston Medical Campus which includes Royal Brisbane Hospital, this will be very useful."

"We congratulate the Queensland Government on the release of this plan but call for consideration of expediting the next stages of implementation.  It is becoming very critical."

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org