17 Oct 2008: SEQ: Early Bird rail services off to a good start!

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Media Release 17 October 2008

SEQ:  Early Bird rail services off to a good start!

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 additional early-bird QR Citytrain services introduced on the 13th of October have been well received (1).  More innovation is needed though to help ease peak congestion loads and to further encourage transport habit changes.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Twice this week I have been able to travel on the 5.25am new early-bird service that runs from Ipswich to Bowen Hills.  On the first day of the new service, Monday the 13th October, there were about 90 passengers on board as the train left Auchenflower.  Today there were about 190 passengers on board as the train left Auchenflower.  This is a gain of around 110% in passenger numbers during the week.?

?More pre-peak and early peak services are needed on all lines to help reduce the peak overloads that are presently being experienced.  The smart way to further drive change is to use incentive ticketing.  The go card provides an easy way of introducing incentive ticketing, and it will also encourage uptake of the go card.?

?Consideration should be given to a further discount on travel if a user touches on for their journey before 7am.  Also, introduce similar discounts for journeys commenced between 9am and 3.30pm, and after 7.30pm.

?The more passengers that travel on pre-peak, early peak  and off peak services, the more room there will be for passengers on peak services.  It is a no-brainer!?

References:

1.   http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1361.msg6401#msg6401

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org