LNP announce some transport policies

[ozbob]

It is understood that the LNP will be releasing some transport policies at 10am today.

A strong opposition = better government IMHO.

Hopefully some information will be forthcoming shortly.

[ozbob]

Lawrence Springborg MP                                                         
Leader of the LNP               
Leader of the Opposition
Member for Southern Downs

Fiona Simpson MP
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Main Roads and Transport
Member for Maroochydore                               

1 December 2008

Free rail travel and more comfortable trip to and from work under LNP?s public transport plan

South-east Queensland rail commuters would have a cleaner, faster, safer and more reliable trip to and from work under an innovative public transport strategy announced by the LNP today.

The LNP has pledged to spend $414 million over four years under the ?Building Better Public Transport Policy? to provide:

          o Free travel for rail commuters touching off with Go cards in the Brisbane CBD (Zone One) between six and seven AM and for rail commuters touching on in Zone One between six and seven PM;
          o New trailer cars to be added to six-car train sets, providing at least 100 additional passengers per train;
          o An upgrade of the train management and safety system to cut the gap between trains from three minutes to as little as one minute;
          o A massive boost to park and ride facilities, with at least 3000 new car parks at train stations in outer Brisbane suburbs and along the Gold Coast, Ipswich and Sunshine Coast routes, over and above what is already being developed; and
          o Improved security at train stations, with additional cameras, alarms and security lights installed, as well as six additional staff to monitor cameras and liaise with police and rail security staff.

Free early bird travel

LNP Leader Lawrence Springborg said there had been a 40 per cent surge in public transport use in the past four years and there was an urgent need to address overcrowding, particularly during peak periods.

?Commuters catching public transport ease the pressure on our heavily congested roads and we need to ensure passengers? trips are as safe and comfortable as possible,? he said.

?Commuters don?t want to be crammed in like sardines as they make their way to or from work. That?s why the LNP will provide incentives to commuters who travel earlier or later to help flatten the peak periods, spread the passenger load and ensure trains can be used more than once every peak.?

Shadow Transport Minister Fiona Simpson said the timing of the free travel was designed to encourage city workers to split voluntarily into two shifts and gave commuters an option to change their working hours to either earlier or later starts.

?The LNP?s free travel plan will apply to 38 existing train services (20 AM and 18 PM) and by linking the program to Go card use, we can ensure the free train facility is used one way only,? she said.

?The plan will also benefit commuters travelling outside the early and later peak hours by freeing up space on trains, ensuring a more comfortable journey.?

The free travel initiative would start in 2010-11 once other train capacity boosting initiatives take effect, and is expected to cost $33.7 million a year.

Upgraded train safety system

Mr Springborg said the LNP would replace the existing train management and safety system with the continuous Automatic Train Protection System at a cost of $250 million over three years.

?The ATP system provides a continuous flow of information to control the braking and spacing of trains, to improve safety and reduce headway between trains on the network,? he said.

?Effectively, this new safety system means the gap between trains could be cut from three minutes to as little as one minute, allowing more efficient use of the Citytrain network.

?This allows more flexibility and capacity on the existing network because as the gaps between traps are reduced there are more slots for trains.?

Seven car train sets

Ms Simpson said the State Government had a long list of orders for new six-car train sets, made up of four powered cars and two trailer cars, to be delivered over the next eight years.

?The LNP will move to amend these orders so that trailer cars are manufactured and delivered first so they can be added to six-car sets already in service,? she said.

?By prioritising trailer cars, 78 existing sets can be converted to seven car sets, which can carry about 100 additional passengers ? a ten per cent increase in existing capacity.?

Ms Simpson said seven car sets will service existing platforms with their first and last doors locked with in-cab signal displays installed.

?This is an interim measure and as trailer car orders are filled and powered cars are supplied, loaned trailer cars can be returned to their permanently assigned sets.?

The readjustment of these orders is expected to cost $5 million.

Boost to park and ride facilities

Mr Springborg said more and more commuters were driving to and parking their cars at train stations, but in many stations throughout the network, there just wasn?t the space for cars to park.

?This creates frustration not just for commuters but also for residents living near train stations who can find their streets clogged with cars,? he said.

?An LNP State Government will spend $50 million over four years to provide for at least 3000 car parks at park and ride facilities at train stations in outer suburbs, along with increased feeder buses at stations closer to the city.

?A full audit of parking spaces around train stations would be conducted to determine what unused land is available at station precincts, what nearby housing blocks could be purchased and what underutilised car parking land could be sold off.?

Security upgrade

Ms Simpson said the LNP would also provide an additional $7.5 million over three years to upgrade security at train stations.

?A State Government survey in 2006 found only 40 per cent of commuters felt safe on public transport so clearly more needs to be done to improve security and commuters? perceptions about safety on trains,? he said.

?The LNP?s $7.5 million pledge will help pay for additional security cameras, alarms and security lights. It also provides for six additional staff and resources to monitor cameras and liaise with police and rail security staff.?

Summing up

Mr Springborg said rail overcrowding was a serious problem and sometimes serious problems required radical solutions.

?South-east Queenslanders are sick of unreliable, dirty, crowded trains. They deserve better and that?s what the LNP?s policy will deliver,? he said.

?One of the true strengths of this public transport policy is that it doesn?t taken 10 years to take effect, we could start implementing this immediately upon the election of an LNP Government.

?The LNP?s public transport policy is also Canberra proof, we don?t need to go cap in hand to Kevin Rudd to get this policy moving.?

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

Free train travel for Go Card users

Free train travel for Go Card users
Tony Moore | December 1, 2008 - 9:50AM

Rail commuters using Go Cards will travel free between 6am and 7am under a new $33.7 million Liberal-National Party (LNP) policy designed to ease congestion on Brisbane's CityTrain network.

LNP leader Lawrence Springborg made the announcement this morning, beating to the punch the Bligh Government, which is in the middle of an early morning commuter trial.

Mr Springborg said an elected LNP Government would introduce the new policy in 2010/2011. It will only apply to Go Card users on the city's trains - not buses or CityCats.

The LNP also announced a massive increase in park and ride facilities, with 3000 extra parking spaces to be built in outer Brisbane suburbs, as well as at the Gold Coast, Ipswich and Sunshine Coast.

More soon...

[ozbob]

These announcements are a good start, particularly the innovative Go card travel.  Bus get their fair share of free GO travel as it is ...LOL

I have some reservations with the 7 car plan, but I am sure the opposition would have done some homework on that point.

Ball is back in the Government's court I guess ...

[brismike]

Will be interesting to see what Labor's reply will be .. Springborg is on the front foot with this votewinner.

[QRIG]

 

7-car trains? ... what the hell, don't they realise the only MU at the moment that can be reshuffled on the fly is the ICE set. The EMUs, SMUs and IMUs are all semi-permanently coupled sets. They use bar couplings between the cars in a 3-car set. Then comes the issue of platform lengths, the only stations in the suburban area capable of handling anything longer than a 6 car set are Caboolture, Corinda, Ipswich and Roma Street Platform 2/3/10. So where does the money come from for capital works to increase platform lengths in limited spaces? Springborg's a noob.

Upgrading the trains to ATP is great, but does that mean they are going to try in-cab signalling ... that is a major change from RCS, it'd cost QR/Government billions to switch the Brisbane Suburban Area to such a system.

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

Springborg's pitch to commuter vote

Springborg's pitch to commuter vote
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Patrick Lion

December 01, 2008 10:18am

RAIL commuters would receive one free public transport trip a day under a Liberal National Party Government.

Opposition leader Lawrence Springborg today unveiled a $414m public transport plan, including Go Card holders travelling in the CBD receiving free travel between either 6am and 7am or 6pm and 7pm.

The LNP has also committed to rolling out a $250 million Automatic Train Protection system over three years as a measure to improve network safety after recent revelations over trains running red lights.

Mr Springborg said the LNP was promising an extra 3000 carparks for park and ride commuters.

There would also be an additional $7.5 million over three years to upgrade security at train stations.

Mr Springborg made his announcement at Enoggera train station where he unveiled his new wheels for the election campaign - a huge blue and gold bus called The Borg Express.

The vehicle has Mr Springborg's head painted on the side.

[david]

(Warning...major rant...)

Oh dear...not another political gimmick for votes...

This one is probably the worst of them all as they don't seem to contain much thought.

Free travel for rail commuters touching off with Go cards in the Brisbane CBD (Zone One) between six and seven AM and for rail commuters touching on in Zone One between six and seven PM;

Why just Zone One travellers only???
Why just between 6 and 7 AM/PM???
Why just rail travellers only???

The LNP obviously think that we will be fooled by such a scheme. This scheme creates prejudice towards rail commuters (which is not necessarily a bad thing  ) but what about those people who don't have access to rail e.g. people living in Kenmore, Moggill, Browns Plains etc.? Also, what about commuters who travel earlier or later than the 6-7 AM/PM time slot? Shouldn't they also get free trips because they don't travel during peak times and reduce the loading on such trains?

New trailer cars to be added to six-car train sets, providing at least 100 additional passengers per train

I think most people agree that this would cause more havoc than solve the existing problems. Imagine the station upgrades that would be required. Why not just keep pumping out the trains as normal and put on a couple more new services? We also have peak hour trains serviced by 3-car units - those should be upgraded to 6-cars immediately before taking such drastic unneccessary action.

A massive boost to park and ride facilities, with at least 3000 new car parks at train stations in outer Brisbane suburbs and along the Gold Coast, Ipswich and Sunshine Coast routes, over and above what is already being developed

NO NO NO!!!! We need more feeder bus services to train stations to encourage people to leave their cars at home! We have gone from a bus-loving Labor party to a car-loving LNP party (but I suppose Can-Do Campbell has already demonstrated how much they really love cars...). Besides that, I really do not think a total of 3000 car parks will do the trick. A whole lot more will be needed, but then again, they will only be in use during peak time, and wasted valuable land space at other times.

I don't see any plans for rail upgrades, extra train services or new train lines. I really do think that their policy has been badly thought out and does not incorporate any future planning. Definitely not a votewinner IMO.

(End rant...)

[ozbob]

With respect to Go card initiatives.  It don't matter where you start the journey, free if you touch off in zone one between 6am and 7am, and free if you touch on in zone one, again doesn't matter where you are going, between 6 and 7pm.  It is limited but one way of attempting to get some spread of peak travel I guess, in view of the fact that most peak journeys end/begin zone one. 

RAIL BoT has previously suggested many times that if people touch on between a certain time period (any zones), free or reduced fare, the zone one restriction is not an issue then.

It does raise some interesting possibilities and questions eg. say you are travelling Zone 5 through the CBD to Zone 7 other side.  If you touch off at the CBD on the way through before 7am is that part free, but do you get a continuation of travel if you then touch back on a go out to zone 7 the other side?

[ozbob]

With respect to increased park and ride spaces, some is needed but the long term sustainable solution is more integrated feeder buses for sure.

I think there might be more policies to come.  This is just the start I think.

[Peter J]

I have lost faith in Government announcements.
This will no doubt end up being ignored after the Election, like most if not all announcements leading up to Election Time.
Make a big song & dance to get the votes then when the time comes, the excuses for not doing it start.
ALL Political Parties do this.

[ozbob]

Further update Brisbanetimes click here!

Free ride for Go Card users

Free ride for Go Card users
Tony Moore | December 1, 2008 - 9:50AM

Rail commuters using Go Cards and heading to work before 7am will have free tain travel the Liberal National Party (LNP) announced this morning -firing the first shots across the Bligh Government's election bows.

At Enoggera Train Station this morning Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg announced the rail congestion policy as part of a $414 million four-year public transport policy.

It includes free train travel using Go Cards for travellers touching on in Zone 1 (Brisbane CBD) between 6am and 7am, and also "touching on" between 6pm and 7pm, an opening for reforms of public sector jobs, Shadow Transport Minister Fiona Simpson confirmed.

The "early and late commuter" part of the policy would start in 2010-11 at a cost of $33.7 million.

This policy is already in place in Victoria, but the Queensland Government has been slow to adopt it.

The Opposition will also add 4000 park and ride carparks in outer Brisbane suburbs, Ipswich the Gold and Sunshine Coast over four years at a cost of $50 million. The State Government has promised 1000 park and ride car parks.

"The government is announcing 1000 additional parking spaces, while we are announcing 3000 above that,"  Mr Springborg said.

"And these will link in with feeder buses as well," Ms Simpson said.

In other moves, the Opposition plans to change government contracts to get new passenger carriages built first, so they can add an extra carriage to 78 existing six-carriage passenger trains on the Citytrain network.

Mr Springborg estimated this would add around 100 passengers to 78 train sets.

"By prioritising trailer sets, 78 existing sets can be converted to seven-car sets, which can carry about 100 additional passengers - a 10 per cent increase in existing capacity."

The cost of changing the government contracts is about $5 million.

Trains would also run "closer together", with the Opposition promising to scrap the Government's existing train management system.

The time between trains would drop from three minutes to one minute on the Citytrain network.

They would introduce the system already in place on Queensland's long-haul trains along the Queensland coast, and in Japan and Sweden.

"So what we are talking about is progressively bringing it in, basically areas between the Gold Coast and Caboolture, Ipswich and Ferny Grove," Mr Springborg said.

"They are the major capacity areas that we are dealing with and then we will roll it out from there."

The Automatic Train Protection System would be rolled into the Citytrain network at a cost of $250 million over three years.

Mr Springborg, Shadow Transport Minister Fiona Simpson and  several candidates arrived on board the 2009's first big public relations exercise, a boldly painted bus, dubbed "The Borg Express."

Lawrence Springborg was relaxed answering questions about the bus, posing comfortably beside the latest addition to the yet-to-be-announced election campaign.

"That's our bus that we will  be using in the lead up to the next State Election and we will  be moving around Queensland, moving our candidates and - in cases - moving our Shadow Ministry around."

The bus is paid for by Liberal National Party headquarters, Mr Springborg said.

He laughed when asked if he wanted people to honk at the bus, as it drove around Queensland.

Mr Springborg said he had no idea when the next election will  be held.

"Anna Bligh keeps saying she is going to run full term," he said.

"And it is a matter obviously for her, but we will be ready if she does decide to go early."

[dwb]

The free travel initiative would start in 2010-11 once other train capacity boosting initiatives take effect, and is expected to cost $33.7 million a year.

So the Borg is already trying to claim he ordered those trains?!  Why should it have to wait until 2010-2011 to be implemented - so everyone has forgotten and he doesn't have to do it?!

And don't even get me started on the urban planning aspects of his park and ride policy - what bollocks!

"I'll huff and I'll puff until I blow your house in" said Lawrence Springborg in the lead up to an election.

[brismike]

Everyone can put s**t on his (Springborg's) initiatives .. but to the average punter, who only sees the 20 second headline grab, it is a vote winner. The words "Free" & "Travel" are all they will be interested in. So to them it will be attractive. I'm not disrespecting any of the very valid points you have all mentioned. It will be very interesting to see what comes of this whether they win or not. It's all about alternatives and different viewpoints and keeping the government honest and on their toes. Lets face it they do need a shake up.   

[Arnz]

Caboolture Platform 1 is the platform equipped to take longer Traveltrain services.  Platforms 2/3 at Caboolture are of normal suburban length.

Not to mention, 7-car sets? Seems many pollies have no idea. The Citytrain fleet (except the ICEs) are actually 3-car sets joined together to form a 6-car set.  Putting a trailer car to make a 4-car set would seem out of place and you might as well extend the platforms for 8-cars (x2 4-car MUs joined together to form a 8-car set). 

It's going to cost some money to extend EVERY platform on the CityTrain network just to accomodate it.  Seems many LNP members have no idea.

[O_128]

So has Springborg ordered these trains has he?

Im confused does that mean that the 78  trains already on order are currently going to be 4 car sets with 2 car trailers to make 6 car sets?
Sations from Manly to wynnem uare capable of handling 7 car sets manly only on its upside though it would be an inexpensive upgrade to add a bit of cement.But i am still very confused by this.

Go card seems right though extend free tavel to all zones or at least zone 2.

But is the 7 car train sets a typo? as to get a 7 car set you would add 4 to 3 not 2 to 3.

[ozbob]

The seven cars is correct Mario ..

I am hoping there will be a more detailed technical explanation of what they propose on this point.

Cheers
Bob

[ozbob]

Lets just assume that it can be done (3+1).  What I see as potential value here is the opportunity to run 4 car sets, as well as 7 car sets.  I think they are referring to the new SMU/IMU only.

The 7 car train would be useful on some of the long haul peak services.  I expect that they  will lock the lead car front doors and rear car rear doors in this configuration, such that would be a slight overhang at platforms.

The big query in my mind is will the motor units cope?  Will they be constantly stressed and result in failures? 

It is hard to imagine that the LNP would put this out with out some supporting technical information. Time will tell ..

[O_128]

The other thing wrong is that people do not want to start work earlier and finish later the want to either start earlier of finish later so how about in addition to free travel between 6-7 add 9-AM free Adan 3-PM for free As well.Also with the 7 car thing maybe this should be scrapped it will end up to confusing for everyone and we will end up like NSW with  a different model for every line.Also how about free travel for Students and seniors..And possibly in the future do what japan is doing and if a senior citizen hands in there licence they get free public transport.

[brismike]

Just another thought .. Would it be possible to get a second Go Card and use one in the morning free period, and the other one in the evening free period? You could potentially travel for Free to and from work every day lol. 

[stephenk]

Gimmick alert!

I was on a day off, so didn't get to see the Springborg launch at Enoggera. Interesting that he launched his policies at a station where   we had most express services taken away from us earlier in the year!

o Free travel for rail commuters touching off with Go cards in the Brisbane CBD (Zone One) between six and seven AM and for rail commuters touching on in Zone One between six and seven PM;

How about improving the train service at the times when commuters actually want to use the system, rather than trying to get commuters to use earlier or later trains?

o New trailer cars to be added to six-car train sets, providing at least 100 additional passengers per train

Did they actually consult QR over the practicality of this?
Building extra cars for 30 year old trains/technology?
Resulting mix of 3 and 4 car units, with less train formation flexibility.
Trailer cars will slow acceleration, and thus increase headways, making the addition of a 7th car less effective.
Cutting out front and rear doors will increase dwell time, also reducing the benefits of adding the 7th car.

o An upgrade of the train management and safety system to cut the gap between trains from three minutes to as little as one minute

Headways of one minute is an unrealistic claim. No metro rail system runs with timetabled headways of less than 95secs, and no suburban rail system runs with timetabled headways of less than 2mins. Still, it would be an improvement over the existing signalling.


Absolutely nothing in these policies about improving infrastructure so that peak hour services can be improved.

Poor effort Mr Springborg!

[O_128]

Whenever i hear trailer car i think of this
(------)(-------)_________(---)

Also on current train models aren't the first and last carriage of each 3 car unit the power ones not the first 4.

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
01/12/2008

Liberal National Party public transport proposals 'costly, flawed and erratic'

The Liberal National Party's public transport proposals are costly, flawed and erratic, Transport Minister John Mickel said today.

Mr Mickel said the proposals would be funded though massive fare increases, huge borrowings or cutbacks in other vital public transport services - and quite possibly all three.

Mr Mickel said passengers and taxpayers should be gravely concerned that the Liberal National Party had seriously under-estimated the cost of their policy initiatives, and had failed altogether to explain how they were going to pay for them.

"For example, initial estimates indicate the cost of introducing the automated train management and safety system to the Brisbane rail network could cost at least double their estimate of $250 million.

"This would mean that fares would need to go up by 100 per cent, as well as an extra $250 million needing to be borrowed, just to fund this initiative alone.

"That's all fares that would go up by 100 per cent - not just rail fares - but all fares across the entire TransLink network, buses and ferries included."

Mr Mickel said the Opposition continued to take a confused and erratic approach to the new go card ticketing system

"Only at the weekend, they were wanting to rip up the go card contract, claiming that the contract holder is failing to perform satisfactorily.

"Today they are supporting the go card - basing the centrepiece of their public transport policy announcement on it. They are all over the shop.

"The Opposition doesn't appear to grasp that if you terminated the go card contract, this would not only result in contract cancellation fees running into millions of dollars, but we would not own the operating system.

"In other words, we would be left high and dry with no one to run the system - a system that the Liberal National Party now sees as central and integral to their free pre and post peak hour rail travel proposal."

Mr Mickel said the proposal to add an extra carriage to city trains was flawed in two major ways. It was not only impractical from an operational point of view, but for many trains it was not technically feasible.

"This would mean removing a carriage from the new trains that are coming off the production line, leaving them a carriage short, and the seven-carriage trains would be too long for some platforms.

"The Opposition's plan to lock the doors of the first and last carriages is a recipe for chaos and confusion, not to mention the serious safety implications of such a move.

"As well, for at least half the QR fleet, the trains simply are not configured to just add an extra carriage. As much as you might like to, you simply cannot do it."

Mr Mickel said Queensland Transport was aware of a trial of free pre and post peak hour fares in Melbourne earlier this year, and would closely examine its value as a cost effective way of reducing overcrowding.

"The indications are that while it may have shifted some passengers from the peak hour crush, the cost involved is clearly a key issue, bearing in mind the forgone fare revenue from those who would use these services regardless. So we will continue to monitor the cost effectiveness of a measure such as this.

"It comes down to an assessment of how to best spend available funds to address overcrowding - and whether this is through going down the route of free travel, or through using the funding instead to put on more services. The government's focus is on introducing extra services," Mr Mickel said.

Another area where the Opposition's policy was confused and contradictory was the issue of security on trains and at train stations.

"Last week in the Parliament, they voted against providing TransLink transit officers with powers to effectively address security situations

"According to the Liberal National Party's spokesperson Fiona Simpson: 'These new powers are over the top for transit officers'.

"So, when provided with the opportunity to do something tangible about security on train stations, they refuse to support the government. But three days later they want us to believe they are serious about improved security on trains."

Mr Mickel said QR currently had 3500 closed circuit television surveillance security at train stations and car parks, and 2500 CCTVs on trains. All QR train stations and car parks would have CCTV coverage my mid next year.

1 December 2008

==============================================================

[O_128]

Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
01/12/2008

Liberal National Party public transport proposals 'costly, flawed and erratic'

The Liberal National Party's public transport proposals are costly, flawed and erratic, Transport Minister John Mickel said today.

Mr Mickel said the proposals would be funded though massive fare increases, huge borrowings or cutbacks in other vital public transport services - and quite possibly all three.

Mr Mickel said passengers and taxpayers should be gravely concerned that the Liberal National Party had seriously under-estimated the cost of their policy initiatives, and had failed altogether to explain how they were going to pay for them.

"For example, initial estimates indicate the cost of introducing the automated train management and safety system to the Brisbane rail network could cost at least double their estimate of $250 million.

"This would mean that fares would need to go up by 100 per cent, as well as an extra $250 million needing to be borrowed, just to fund this initiative alone.

"That's all fares that would go up by 100 per cent - not just rail fares - but all fares across the entire TransLink network, buses and ferries included."

Mr Mickel said the Opposition continued to take a confused and erratic approach to the new go card ticketing system

"Only at the weekend, they were wanting to rip up the go card contract, claiming that the contract holder is failing to perform satisfactorily.

"Today they are supporting the go card - basing the centrepiece of their public transport policy announcement on it. They are all over the shop.

"The Opposition doesn't appear to grasp that if you terminated the go card contract, this would not only result in contract cancellation fees running into millions of dollars, but we would not own the operating system.

"In other words, we would be left high and dry with no one to run the system - a system that the Liberal National Party now sees as central and integral to their free pre and post peak hour rail travel proposal."

Mr Mickel said the proposal to add an extra carriage to city trains was flawed in two major ways. It was not only impractical from an operational point of view, but for many trains it was not technically feasible.

"This would mean removing a carriage from the new trains that are coming off the production line, leaving them a carriage short, and the seven-carriage trains would be too long for some platforms.

"The Opposition's plan to lock the doors of the first and last carriages is a recipe for chaos and confusion, not to mention the serious safety implications of such a move.

"As well, for at least half the QR fleet, the trains simply are not configured to just add an extra carriage. As much as you might like to, you simply cannot do it."

Mr Mickel said Queensland Transport was aware of a trial of free pre and post peak hour fares in Melbourne earlier this year, and would closely examine its value as a cost effective way of reducing overcrowding.

"The indications are that while it may have shifted some passengers from the peak hour crush, the cost involved is clearly a key issue, bearing in mind the forgone fare revenue from those who would use these services regardless. So we will continue to monitor the cost effectiveness of a measure such as this.

"It comes down to an assessment of how to best spend available funds to address overcrowding - and whether this is through going down the route of free travel, or through using the funding instead to put on more services. The government's focus is on introducing extra services," Mr Mickel said.

Another area where the Opposition's policy was confused and contradictory was the issue of security on trains and at train stations.

"Last week in the Parliament, they voted against providing TransLink transit officers with powers to effectively address security situations

"According to the Liberal National Party's spokesperson Fiona Simpson: 'These new powers are over the top for transit officers'.

"So, when provided with the opportunity to do something tangible about security on train stations, they refuse to support the government. But three days later they want us to believe they are serious about improved security on trains."

Mr Mickel said QR currently had 3500 closed circuit television surveillance security at train stations and car parks, and 2500 CCTVs on trains. All QR train stations and car parks would have CCTV coverage my mid next year.

1 December 2008

==============================================================

well Go card is failing to perform but lies are part of politics.

[mufreight]

The LNP policy on rail has flaws but at least is in terms of the signaling upgrades on the mark, an accelerated delivery of new rollingstock giving the capability for more services on shorter headways which will not require extending platforms is a better answer than the proposed concept of seven car sets with the mechanical and infrastructure problems and slower journeys point to point that would bring.

[O_128]

IF hedways are brought down to a minute the need for 7 car sets will be gone.Once the extra 78 trains arrive.

[stephenk]

IF hedways are brought down to a minute the need for 7 car sets will be gone.Once the extra 78 trains arrive.

Headways can't be brought down to a minute, it's impossible. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, the best any suburban rail operator can manage (Paris RER A, Munich S-Bahn) is 30tph, which is a train every 2 minutes.

However if the core network operated at a theoretical maximum of 60tph (2x30tph)with new signalling (which it won't), this would be a 35% increase over the current theoretical maximum capacity of 44tph (which is also not realistically possible). So it could help delay the need for a new cross city tunnel, but only for a few years. It also wouldn't solve the issue caused by single track sections, and other infrastructure constraints which have not been addressed at all by Springborg.

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Springborg's pitch to commuter vote

Springborg's pitch to commuter vote
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Patrick Lion

December 01, 2008 11:00pm

LAWRENCE Springborg has moved to exploit anger with public transport by offering free train trips to tens of thousands of disgruntled commuters.

In a major bid to lure crucial city votes away from the Bligh Government, the Liberal National Party has promised a free trip a day to save rail commuters up to almost $2000 a year.

The plan is the major plank of a $414 million public transport policy including a $250 million safety system to stop trains running red lights, a boost to train carriage capacity and an extra 3000 parking spaces at stations.

It makes transport a major election battleground as the LNP attempts to capitalise on overcrowded carriages, late services and the troubled smartcard roll-out.

Unveiling a new campaign bus dubbed The Borg Express, Mr Springborg yesterday said the current Go Card frequent user discount schemes would remain and also count the free trips.

"Commuters catching public transport ease the pressure on our heavily congested roads and they don't want to be crammed in like sardines," the LNP leader said.

The free travel scheme, starting in 2010 and costing $34 million a year, goes a step further than an early bird plan rolled out in Melbourne this year that only encouraged travel during the quieter period before 7am.

About 35,000 Go Card holders who touch off in the Brisbane CBD between 6am and 7am or touch on between 6pm and 7pm would receive a free trip. It would mean a $7.48 fare from Robina to zone 1 or vice versa would be free, totalling $37.40 in savings a week and $1944.80 a year.

However, the Government has lampooned the policy as a "half-baked" and "unfunded" waste which would drive fares up across the board.

Deputy Premier Paul Lucas said a plan to add new carriages to sets to make seven-car trains would make them too big to fit on to platforms.

"This is Meccano set stuff that kids do when they play at home in the loungeroom," Mr Lucas said.

The policy launch comes after a Galaxy Poll, conducted exclusively for The Courier-Mail, yesterday showed support for Premier Anna Bligh was still down despite several populist manoeuvres.

However, public transport was one of the few areas the LNP (35 per cent) trailed Labor (47 per cent).

Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow supported the free travel plan but questioned its complicated implementation.

"Say you are travelling from zone 5 through the CBD to zone 7 on the other side," Mr Dow said.

"If you touch off at the CBD on the way through before 7am, is that part free? (And) do you get a continuation of travel if you then touch back on and go out to zone 7 on the the other side?"

The Borg Express, modelled on US presidential candidate John McCain's Straight Talk Express, was last spotted speeding with black smoke pouring out its exhaust pipe after Mr Springborg's press conference. Mr Springborg said carbon emissions would be offset through a tree-planting scheme

[mufreight]

The Courier Mails Patrick Lion should do a little homework before writing his articles

About 35,000 Go Card holders who touch off in the Brisbane CBD between 6am and 7am or touch on between 6pm and 7pm would receive a free trip. It would mean a $7.48 fare from Robina to zone 1 or vice versa would be free, totalling $37.40 in savings a week and $1944.80 a year.

This would mean that some 35 trains each overloaded with 1000 passengers arrive or depart from the CBD between the 6am - 7am and 6pm - 7pm simple arithmic points out the inadequacy of his numuracy skills
A lot less sensatiolism and spin and more factual reporting might help the frequently misinformed public perception and provide some understanding of the facts in the matter.
As for FREE nothing is free it all has to be paid for somehow be it as fares or taxes.

[ozbob]

Radio 612 ABC Brisbane Spencer Howson conducted a short interview this morning.  I was able to discuss the policies in a general balanced view and outlined some of the members' concerns with the 7 car aspects in particular.  Thanks for the opportunity 612 ABC!

Overall though, it is good that some policies are appearing particularly for transport of course  , and this has encouraged a lot of debate and feedback on the issues.  As I said at the start of this thread, strong oppositions lead to better outcomes of Government.

The Courier Mail editorial has a good slant on this aspect this morning (2 Dec 2008).

LNP platform frees up time to challenge
Editorial from: The Courier-Mail

December 01, 2008 11:00pm

WHILE the Bligh Government is abandoning good policy in favour of short-term political fixes, Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg and his Liberal National Party have taken the chance to stake out some policy ground in the key area of public transport.

Yesterday, Mr Springborg announced a free train fare scheme for early commuters would be introduced if the LNP won government. Those rail commuters who touched off their Go Cards in the Brisbane CBD between 6am and 7am or touched on in the CBD between 6pm and 7pm would travel free. The plan would cost $34 million a year.

While not a cure-all for overcrowding on the commuter network, the proposal is a simple solution to a problem that the Government has shown little sign of conquering.

The stressed urban train network is the consequence of poor transport planning, a signature fault of this Government. Yet, even with its credibility in this area of policy shredded, the Government is trying to "sex up" the urgent need for another river crossing to ease network congestion by spruiking the idea of an underground metro system, a project that is a decade away and will require a massive injection of federal cash if it is to get beyond wish-list status. More than three years since the Government promised to come up with a plan to deal with the consequences of the Merivale St rail bridge reaching full capacity by 2016, Brisbane commuters deserved better than a proposal that looks good but may or may not ever get built. For a Premier whose supposed policy substance was part of her appeal, Anna Bligh has shown a remarkable weakness for flim-flam as the election draws near.

With the supply side of transport planning stranded between the political imperatives of ministerial offices and a bureaucracy confused about what is required of it, any immediate policy solutions to the region's transport woes are going to have to grow out of ideas to manage passenger demand. This is why the Opposition's plan is attractive. It is part of a $414 million policy on public transport which, compared with some former policy prescriptions that emanated from the old Queensland National-Liberal coalition, has a refreshing amount of substance to recommend it. We look forward to other policy proposals of similar weight from the LNP.

For all the mistakes of their political opponents, the conservatives still have a lot to do to convince enough Queenslanders they are ready for government. While speculation abounds about an election in late February or early March, Ms Bligh continues to insist she intends the Government to run its full term. That would leave plenty of time for the Opposition to secure a credible place in the policy debate, rather than leave it to the heat of a campaign to rush out their proposals. Any suggestion that it is hanging back waiting for the Bligh Government to implode so that it can stroll on to the Treasury benches without spelling out to the electorate what it stands for is likely to be punished at the ballot box.

We will never see the policies that we all want in an absolute sense. But this is start, and I hope it will kickstart more from all sides of the political spectrum.

Well done LNP for taking a bold step, not without risk but worthwhile none the less.

[ozbob]

4BC,  Peter & Chris also conducted a short interview, focussing on the 'free' travel proposal using the Go card.  A good discussion!

Thanks for your interest 4BC!

[Andrew]

Lawrence Springborg MP                                                         
Leader of the LNP               
Leader of the Opposition
Member for Southern Downs

Fiona Simpson MP
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Main Roads and Transport
Member for Maroochydore                               

1 December 2008

Free rail travel and more comfortable trip to and from work under LNP?s public transport plan

South-east Queensland rail commuters would have a cleaner, faster, safer and more reliable trip to and from work under an innovative public transport strategy announced by the LNP today.

The LNP has pledged to spend $414 million over four years under the ?Building Better Public Transport Policy? to provide:

          o Free travel for rail commuters touching off with Go cards in the Brisbane CBD (Zone One) between six and seven AM and for rail commuters touching on in Zone One between six and seven PM;
          o New trailer cars to be added to six-car train sets, providing at least 100 additional passengers per train;
          o An upgrade of the train management and safety system to cut the gap between trains from three minutes to as little as one minute;
          o A massive boost to park and ride facilities, with at least 3000 new car parks at train stations in outer Brisbane suburbs and along the Gold Coast, Ipswich and Sunshine Coast routes, over and above what is already being developed; and
          o Improved security at train stations, with additional cameras, alarms and security lights installed, as well as six additional staff to monitor cameras and liaise with police and rail security staff.

Free early bird travel

LNP Leader Lawrence Springborg said there had been a 40 per cent surge in public transport use in the past four years and there was an urgent need to address overcrowding, particularly during peak periods.

?Commuters catching public transport ease the pressure on our heavily congested roads and we need to ensure passengers? trips are as safe and comfortable as possible,? he said.

?Commuters don?t want to be crammed in like sardines as they make their way to or from work. That?s why the LNP will provide incentives to commuters who travel earlier or later to help flatten the peak periods, spread the passenger load and ensure trains can be used more than once every peak.?

Shadow Transport Minister Fiona Simpson said the timing of the free travel was designed to encourage city workers to split voluntarily into two shifts and gave commuters an option to change their working hours to either earlier or later starts.

?The LNP?s free travel plan will apply to 38 existing train services (20 AM and 18 PM) and by linking the program to Go card use, we can ensure the free train facility is used one way only,? she said.

?The plan will also benefit commuters travelling outside the early and later peak hours by freeing up space on trains, ensuring a more comfortable journey.?

The free travel initiative would start in 2010-11 once other train capacity boosting initiatives take effect, and is expected to cost $33.7 million a year.

I think that's a great idea.  It's good to see that something like this is on the table.  The only problem could be if more services get added between now and 2010.  It could be more than 38 and could affect their costing.

Upgraded train safety system

Mr Springborg said the LNP would replace the existing train management and safety system with the continuous Automatic Train Protection System at a cost of $250 million over three years.

?The ATP system provides a continuous flow of information to control the braking and spacing of trains, to improve safety and reduce headway between trains on the network,? he said.

?Effectively, this new safety system means the gap between trains could be cut from three minutes to as little as one minute, allowing more efficient use of the Citytrain network.

?This allows more flexibility and capacity on the existing network because as the gaps between traps are reduced there are more slots for trains.?

The best headway I've ever heard of is 90 sec in Japan, and that was a few years ago too mind you.  The technology is definately out there.  I mean SNCF run their TGV's at 3-4 min headways at 300km/h.  Dunno about 1 min gaps though.  Maybe over short distances.  I do think 2 mins is definately achievable but they might have to clean house at QR first.  There is something rotten in the halls of QR management.  I dunno whether I'd feel comfortable with the current staff implementing such a system.

Seven car train sets

Ms Simpson said the State Government had a long list of orders for new six-car train sets, made up of four powered cars and two trailer cars, to be delivered over the next eight years.

?The LNP will move to amend these orders so that trailer cars are manufactured and delivered first so they can be added to six-car sets already in service,? she said.

?By prioritising trailer cars, 78 existing sets can be converted to seven car sets, which can carry about 100 additional passengers ? a ten per cent increase in existing capacity.?

Ms Simpson said seven car sets will service existing platforms with their first and last doors locked with in-cab signal displays installed.

?This is an interim measure and as trailer car orders are filled and powered cars are supplied, loaned trailer cars can be returned to their permanently assigned sets.?

The readjustment of these orders is expected to cost $5 million.

The concept of 7 car trains isn't necessarily a bad one but I can see it causing some major problems.  There are many places where the signal is at the end of the platform.  This might, in some cases, prevent the train from passing that signal to set down at the station if the signal were red.  As far as locking the doors, it's only the ones just behind the cab at each end of the train, not in the end carriage as the Government was trying to make out.  To those who are not sure of the configuration of our current MU's, they are generally like this:

DM - Driving Motor
M - Motor
DT - Driving Trailer
NDT - Non Driving Trailer (cab with no controls)
T - Trailer
## - Set number

EMU:
DM - M - DT
1## - 2## - 3##

EMU (60-79):
DM - M - NDT
1## - 2## - 4##

SMU/IMU
DM - M - DT
5## - 6## - 8##

ICE
DM (EMD) - M (EMM) (+ T (EMT)) - M (EMM) - DM (EMD)
5### - 6### (+ 7###) - 6### - 5###

It would be possible to insert a trailer car in the middle of two 3 car sets.  But I can't help thinking there will be compatibility issues with older rolling stock.  They've said 78 carriages.  So that would include:

• the new trains (24 sets) - 12 Carriages
• Old IMU's (14 sets) - 7 Carriages
• SMU's (42 sets) - 24 Carriages
• EMU's (87 sets) - 43 Carriages

That gives a total of 86 carriages.  That would allow some sets to be in for maintainence etc.

Boost to park and ride facilities

Mr Springborg said more and more commuters were driving to and parking their cars at train stations, but in many stations throughout the network, there just wasn?t the space for cars to park.

?This creates frustration not just for commuters but also for residents living near train stations who can find their streets clogged with cars,? he said.

?An LNP State Government will spend $50 million over four years to provide for at least 3000 car parks at park and ride facilities at train stations in outer suburbs, along with increased feeder buses at stations closer to the city.

?A full audit of parking spaces around train stations would be conducted to determine what unused land is available at station precincts, what nearby housing blocks could be purchased and what underutilised car parking land could be sold off.?

Finally someone has gotten some sense into their heads.  As much as I would like to believe that people would flock to bus feeder services to their local train station, the sad reality is that I don't think you'll ever get people fully out of their cars (at least not in the near future anyway).  I do think, however, it is possible to encourage them to make shorter journeys in their cars and to avoid the CBD.  Expanding commuter carparks is a great idea (although selling off unwanted land is, long term, not such a great idea imho) as people will be encouraged to drive their car to their local railway station.

Security upgrade

Ms Simpson said the LNP would also provide an additional $7.5 million over three years to upgrade security at train stations.

?A State Government survey in 2006 found only 40 per cent of commuters felt safe on public transport so clearly more needs to be done to improve security and commuters? perceptions about safety on trains,? he said.

?The LNP?s $7.5 million pledge will help pay for additional security cameras, alarms and security lights. It also provides for six additional staff and resources to monitor cameras and liaise with police and rail security staff.?

I dunno whether that money will go too far, but more staff to monitor cameras would be welcome.  I also think that the Governments criticism of the LNP not supporting its legislation to give TLO's greater powers is unwarranted.  If they'd truely dealt with some of the TLO's out there, they too would be voting against it.  I'm all for them being able to do more about louts causing trouble, but I'm sure it will be abused and innocent people (especially enthusiasts) will fall victim.

Summing up

Mr Springborg said rail overcrowding was a serious problem and sometimes serious problems required radical solutions.

?South-east Queenslanders are sick of unreliable, dirty, crowded trains. They deserve better and that?s what the LNP?s policy will deliver,? he said.

?One of the true strengths of this public transport policy is that it doesn?t taken 10 years to take effect, we could start implementing this immediately upon the election of an LNP Government.

?The LNP?s public transport policy is also Canberra proof, we don?t need to go cap in hand to Kevin Rudd to get this policy moving.?

That's my $2 worth (inflation's a bitch  )

[Derwan]

As I understand it, the LNP is planning to adjust the order for trains to have individual Trailer cars produced first.  These would be joined to existing NEW SMU/IMU's already built.  (There will be a number more completed before the election.)  But 78 sets already in existence?  I doubt it!!

The problem is - reading Andrew's post, the only trailer cars (i.e. no motor) are Driver Trailers - meaning there would be an additional cabin resulting in no access between carriages.  (Not to mention looking ridiculous!)

These trains were designed specifically to run in 3-car sets.  I would be challenging the LNP to provide details of the technical advice they have received that 7-car trains are in fact possible.

As for platforms and signalling, as I understand it - it is dependent on ATP being installed for in-cab signalling to get around the problem with signals at the end of the platform.  It may cause issues at some level crossing though.  Boom gates rise as soon as the train passes - but the back end may still be on the crossing, causing delays for motorists.

Seems a bit of an ambitious "interim measure".

[Dean Quick]

To be honest I am fed up with all these empty promises by both major parties.Todays statement by Springborg just proves to me that he has no idea. These political rantings solve nothing, only confusing those who do actually care even further.$414 million-what a joke!! No new lines, no duplications, just a few extra trailers with platforms to short to handle them-this bloke is an einstein!!!!!

[ozbob]

I hear you Dean.  I think this is just the start.  I am sure we will see more and more policy development on all sides, not only transport but other important areas such as health, education, infrastructure generally and so forth.

Our democratic system might not be perfect, but it is all we got!   

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

LNP rail policy poorly thought out: Mickel

LNP rail policy poorly thought out: Mickel
Gabrielle Dunlevy | December 2, 2008 - 5:06PM

Queensland Transport Minister John Mickel has declared the opposition's new rail policy a "dog's breakfast", saying it is flawed and under-costed.

The Liberal National Party (LNP) on Monday announced a $414 million, four-year policy to make rail travel more comfortable, safe and efficient.

The opposition pledged to provide one free trip each day for Brisbane commuters who start work early or finish late, and to increase capacity on trains by 20 per cent by adding a seventh carriage to six-car trains.

Mr Mickel on Tuesday told state parliament the plan was full of holes.

A seven-car train was 175 metres long, and CBD rail platforms could not accommodate them, he said.

Mr Mickel said only four stations in the entire network could handle trains that long, while five could "partially cope" and 134 were unsuitable.

"The other thing that would happen is they would have to lock off the doors (of carriages not lined up with the platform) so that people who got into the seventh carriage would have to walk through," Mr Mickel said.

"Can honourable members imagine any rail regulator in their right mind allowing locked doors at a rail station? Of course they will not."

The LNP would also use a new traffic management system for trains, which would allow them to run one minute apart rather than three.

It was costed at $250 million, but Mr Mickel claimed it was worth more like $500 million.

"The point is this, the policy platform does not match the rail platform," he said.

Opposition treasury spokesman Tim Nicholls said Mr Mickel had no credibility at costing policies.

"When it comes to figures being more than double, the minister is an expert," Mr Nicholls said.

"It's taken more than double the amount of time they promised to deliver the Go Card," he said,

"It's taken more than double the amount of time they promised to deliver a smart licence and the cost ... has gone from a PPP (public-private partnership) to something in the order of $85 million."

AAP

[ozbob]

Interesting development, this morning at Oxley railway station LNP people and the LNP Candidate for Mount Ommaney were handing out cards detailing the rail initiatives announced Monday last.  I assume the same happened at other stations on the network?





This is certainly keeping this issue alive.

[Derwan]

To be honest I am fed up with all these empty promises by both major parties.Todays statement by Springborg just proves to me that he has no idea. These political rantings solve nothing, only confusing those who do actually care even further.$414 million-what a joke!! No new lines, no duplications, just a few extra trailers with platforms to short to handle them-this bloke is an einstein!!!!!

Exactly.  We need a commitment to implement all the recommendations in this document.  Then we might actually sit up and pay attention.