Article: Call to boost rail (Caboolture line)

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From the Pine Rivers Press Strathpine 7th January 2009,  page 3

Call to boost rail

Call to boost rail
Bernie Dowling

URGENT action is needed to ease congestion on train services in Pine Rivers, according to a rail users' lobby organisation.

Rail Back on Track administrator Robert Dow said members rated the Caboolture-Ipswich line, which runs through Pine Rivers, as the worst on the network.

Group member Noel Haynes reported seeing dangerous overcrowding in one carriage on a peak-hour train on Friday.

Mr Haynes, of Burpengary, worked more than 20 years with Queensland Rail and another four years for a signalling company supporting rail management systems.

He said up to four in five peak-hour trains suffered from overcrowding. "Of the five stopping trains from Caboolture between 6.11am and 7.10am weekdays, at least four of them suffer from overcrowding on a regular basis," he said.

Of Friday's journey to Brisbane Mr Haynes said: "The vestibule became so crowded people weren't able to get a secure hand hold."

Mr Dow believes the State Government was "busfixated" despite an average yearly 10 per cent rise in rail patronage.

"Passenger congestion remains a major issue," Mr Dow said.

"Rail Back on Track wants improvements to the Caboolture service as a priority."

Proposed reforms include 15 minutes between trains during the week, 7.5 minutes during peak hour and 20 minutes between trains on weekends and public holidays.

Mr Haynes supports the move: "Trains can follow each other at approximately one-and-a-half minute intervals on the Caboolture line in either direction," he said.

Mr Dow believes rail transport is likely to be a major issue in the next state election.

Terry Shaw, organiser of the Petrie/Kippa-Ring rail lobby group Where's Our Railway? agrees. "The next election is crucial," he said. "If Labor loses Pine Rivers, Kallangur or Murrumba but retains government, they will want to get the seat back."

Rail Back on Track is an internet-based community group which has more than 220 active rail commuting members.

The Press contacted the office of Transport Minister John Mickel but did not receive a reply before this paper's deadline.