13 Oct 2007: Free travel on Citytrain weekends, with bonus Mondays

[ozbob]

RAIL Back On Track - Media Release 13 October 2007

Brisbane:  Free travel on Citytrain weekends, with bonus Mondays

RAIL - Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community organisation for the promotion of rail throughout Australia has called for the first complete weekend and Monday in every new month to be free for all passengers on the QR Translink Citytrain network.  This would compensate the travelling public in a small way for the constant service interruptions and cancellations that Citytrain commuters have been enduring of late.

Robert Dow said:

"The South East Queensland railway network is undergoing a wide spread and critical expansion in terms of duplications, triplications, some new lines and intensive maintenance of the track.  This results in regular line closures at weekends and delays when buses are run in lieu of the normal rail services.

"Unfortunately due to crew and equipment shortfalls, last minute cancellations particularly during peak periods are also adding to Citytrain commuters? anxiety and frustration.

"It would be a marvellous gesture for the community to have free weekend travel with a bonus Monday once a month for the next year or so whilst work proceeds.

"RAIL Back On Track suggests that the first clear weekend in any month be promoted as a ?free travel on Citytrain weekend, with a bonus Monday?.  This would create goodwill with the public, but also would encourage some people to try public transport as an alternative to cars.

"This might help to change travel habits for an overall community benefit," said Robert Dow.

Contact:

Robert Dow

Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track
http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

An overview of rail projects in SEQ can be found here --> http://www.qr.com.au/seqip/projects/overview/

[ozbob]

Queensland Times published a follow up story.  Thanks to the Queensland Times for their interest in railway commuter matters.

Rail group touts free train travel

Queensland Times Wednesday 17th Oct  page 3

TRAIN travellers should travel for free one weekend a month to make up for the constant cancellation and disruption of TransLink services, a rail supporter has said.

Web-based community group RAIL Back on Track organiser Robert Dow has called on TransLink to make the first weekend and Monday of every month free travel for all passengers.

Mr Dow said this would compensate the public in a small way for the constant service interruptions and cancellations that Citytrain commuters had endured.
Mr Dow said from July last year until June this year there were 903 cancellations. More than half that number were recorded in July this year with 470 cancellations.

"The south-east Queensland railway network is undergoing a widespread and critical expansion in terms of duplications, triplications, some new lines and intensive maintenance of the track. This results in regular line closures at weekends and delays when buses are run in lieu of the normal rail services," Mr Dow said.
"Unfortunately, due to crew and equipment shortfalls, last-minute cancellations, particularly during peak periods, are also adding to Citytrain commuters' anxiety and frustration.

"It would be a marvellous gesture for the community to have free weekend travel with a bonus Monday once a month for the next year while work proceeds."

But Transport Minister John Mickel said he wouldn't even entertain the idea of a free weekend of travel.
"Based on estimates it would cost between $600,000 and $700,000 a weekend or $8.5 million for the year," Mr Mickel said.  "Who would cover the shortfall and where do you cut the works?"

PDF click here!  0.4MB

[ozbob]

Government wastes millions of dollars on an inflated bureaucracy.  Time commuters made direct claims to Translink, BCC and QR for refunds for a failure to provide adequate public transport.

Admin