Airtain operating hours

[dwb]

Hi all, thought there was another thread on this topic, but couldn't find it. Was just at the airtrain website and noticed they have a poll up asking whether people would catch it if it operated before 6am.

Interestingly I did the poll and 9 to 1 said yes out of 1000 hits.

Its not that often that I'm out at the airport myself, however yet again I had it hammered home how annoying it is that it only runs two trains after 7pm.

Do the poll here http://airtrain.com.au/

[stephenk]

It's absolutely crazy that the last arrival is 19:49 and the last departure is 20:00. There are nearly 40 weekday evening flight arrivals where passengers would miss the last train from the airport! There are also a batch of international departures around midnight, which are adequately served by the early closure of the train service. The Airtrain timetable just shows how backwards public transport is in Queensland.

[ozbob]

Thanks for the info Dwb. It is good to see Airtrain is at least looking at the possibility of extending the hours of operation. This may well be the result of the recent introduction of buses between the terminals ...

The Airtrain issue, fares and timetable was the very first issue RAIL BoT raised.   We still plug away ..

Here is a release from 2008

Media Release 9 April 2008

Brisbane:  Airtrain is the key to easing congestion on roads to Brisbane Airport

RAIL - Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community organisation for the promotion of rail and public transport throughout Australia has again called on the Queensland State Government to take over the railway line to Brisbane Airport, and bring on Citytrain services that have the same fare structure and timetable hours, and service frequency as for rest of the network (References 1, 2 and 3).  The Report of the Task Force to Improve Short Term Access into and out of Brisbane Airport Precinct failed to fully appreciate the huge anti-congestion value of the presently under utilised railway line.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

?The service to the Brisbane Airport uses Queensland Rail Citytrains.  The cost of the travel from the City to the Airport is at a cost that actively discourages people from using it.  It should be urgently brought into the same fare structure as for the rest of metropolitan railway network.?

?The Airport effectively lies in Zone 3.  This equates to a normal fare of $3.20 from Central compared to the present $13 Airtrain fare.  It is this cost differential that results in near empty trains except for times of crisis, and because of that a decrease in train frequency and service hours, which in turn leads to fewer passengers.  An irreversible slide.?

?Trains need to run when actually needed.  The late start and early finish of the present Airtrain services is farcical.  The keys to successful public transport are accessibility; high service frequency and extended hours of operation, and it must also be affordable for the community.?

"If the State Government took back management from Airtrain City Link Ltd, or at least subsidised the fares to normal fare structure, the trains would be well patronised and be available for not only domestic and international passengers, but also for people employed in the airport precinct. Hours of operation must be also be extended from 4.30am to midnight.?

?As was highlighted yesterday with the congestion chaos for road access to the airport, not making the maximum use of the railway line to airport is absolute folly.

?Congestion on the airport roundabout and Gateway would be eased if it was brought into the normal network, and give some space for decent long term solutions.  Those who do need to drive could do so in timely and safe manner, the majority will relax on rail!?

References:

1. http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=31.0

2. http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=234.0

3. http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=253.0

Contact:

Robert  Dow

Administration
admin@backontrack.org

RAIL Back On Track
http://backontrack.org

[ButFli]

As AirTrain is a private, money-making enterprise, I assume the reason they don't operate after 8pm is that they don't think it is economically viable. That doesn't seem correct to me, but I doubt they would give up potential profits easily.

I remember someone somewhere said something about a curfew on the airport spur because of noise complaints from nearby residents. Is this true? I don't rememeber the airtrain going to through anything but industrial areas!

[ozbob]

Yes ButFli, the noise excuse has been rolled out before by George St.  But as you point out it is no where near residentials and besides the IMUs are very very quiet.  A lot quieter than a truck, motor bike, or heaven forbid an aeroplane!

[O_128]

if you are stupid enough to live near a train line r the airport than that is your fault it is like the idiots in Sydney who wanted luna park closed down due to all of the noise whent he park was there first. Would taking the fuel subsidy off be enough to subsidize the airtrain?

[Arnz]

It's absolutely crazy that the last arrival is 19:49 and the last departure is 20:00. There are nearly 40 weekday evening flight arrivals where passengers would miss the last train from the airport! There are also a batch of international departures around midnight, which are adequately served by the early closure of the train service. The Airtrain timetable just shows how backwards public transport is in Queensland.

Except Airtrain (under current ownership) is technically "not public transport". 

Its actually "Private Transport" operating with vehicles "leased" from Public Transport (in this case, trains loaned from QR Passenger on the Airtrain owned track.

[ButFli]

Would taking the fuel subsidy off be enough to subsidize the airtrain?

As I say, the Airtrain is a private company. I would rather my tax dollars were not spent propping up someone else's investment.

On the other hand, if the State Government bought out Airtrain and reduced its profit margin to make it cost-neutral I wouldn't complain too hard.

[Mozz]

Yep not happy Jan about getting up at 4.30am tomorrow to drive a friend to the airport because the airtrain don't work early enough