Article: The world's best (and worst) public transport

[Derwan]

This article compares Sydney public transport with the rest of the world:  http://blogs.smh.com.au/travel/archives/2009/06/the_worlds_best_and_worst_publ.html

Given the writers horror that Sydney has "Trains that run 15 minutes apart at peak hour", I'd say Brisbane is even worse!

[stephenk]

At the good end, the article missed out Hong Kong's MTR which is probably the most reliable metro and suburban rail system in the world. They also missed Moscow, which has the most frequent metro in the world (155m long trains every 95secs). Every major Japanese city also has extensive, frequent, and reliable public transport. Most cities in Europe also have good public transport.

At the bad end, they most definitely missed Brisbane. Complaining about 15min frequencies? How about 30mins?

[ButFli]

At the end of the day we have to remember that Brisbane is really a backwater. It cannot be compared to the great cities of the world like Sydney, Moscow and Hong Kong.

If we are going to compare these cities to Brisbane and claim that Brisbane has "the worst public transport in the world" why can't we compare Brisbane to Toowoomba and claim that Toowoomba's two trains a week is the worst in the world? Then we can compare Toowoomba to Billinudgel which doesn't have any trains and say the 'Nudgel has the world's worst public transport. Let's keep going until we get to an outback camp that doesn't even have roads.

What a joke.

[Arnz]

At the end of the day we have to remember that Brisbane is really a backwater. It cannot be compared to the great cities of the world like Sydney, Moscow and Hong Kong.

If we are going to compare these cities to Brisbane and claim that Brisbane has "the worst public transport in the world" why can't we compare Brisbane to Toowoomba and claim that Toowoomba's two trains a week is the worst in the world? Then we can compare Toowoomba to Billinudgel which doesn't have any trains and say the 'Nudgel has the world's worst public transport. Let's keep going until we get to an outback camp that doesn't even have roads.

What a joke.

Agree with that.  If anything Brisbane should be compared to similar cities in the 1-2 mill population range  (eg Perth and Auckland).

[Derwan]

If anything Brisbane should be compared to similar cities in the 1-2 mill population range  (eg Perth and Auckland).

The thing is, unless Brisbane does something NOW, it will be on the list of worst cities for public transport.

I think in any comparison, one needs to weigh the need for public transport against the provision of it.  Right now I don't think Brisbane's public transport meets its needs - compared to other cities in the world (although I myself haven't travelled and can only go by what others are saying).  Some lines in Brisbane might not require better than 15-minute peak services - but I'm sure they require better than the worse peak gap of 38 minutes.

[mufreight]

Generally speaking Brisbane has the fourth worst in Australia when compared with major Australian Cities.
Worst would be a toss up between Darwin Hobart and Adelaide when it is an overall comparison, if comparing rail systems thus removing Darwin and Hobart which have no commuter rail services from the comparison we rate ahead of Adelaide and on a par in many respects with Perth but then when weekend services are being considered we do better than Melbourne.
Take Translink out of the picture and allow QR to operate the rail services and increase their frequencies so that they are more responsive to need and first place in Australia is possible for rail here.

[stephenk]

At the end of the day we have to remember that Brisbane is really a backwater. It cannot be compared to the great cities of the world like Sydney, Moscow and Hong Kong.

If we are going to compare these cities to Brisbane and claim that Brisbane has "the worst public transport in the world" why can't we compare Brisbane to Toowoomba and claim that Toowoomba's two trains a week is the worst in the world? Then we can compare Toowoomba to Billinudgel which doesn't have any trains and say the 'Nudgel has the world's worst public transport. Let's keep going until we get to an outback camp that doesn't even have roads.

What a joke.

Agree with that.  If anything Brisbane should be compared to similar cities in the 1-2 mill population range  (eg Perth and Auckland).

OK a comparison with places smaller than Brisbane - frequencies quoted are on branches of suburban rail systems (metro frequencies in brackets):-

Brisbane 1.8m - 30mins off-peak (no metro)
Stockholm 800k City, 2m wider urban area - 15mins off-peak (10mins metro branches)
Copenhagen 1.8m - 15mins off-peak (5mins metro)
Munich 1.3m - 20mins off-peak (10mins metro)
Vienna 1.8m - 15mins off-peak (5mins metro)
Oslo 500k City, 1m wider urban area - 15mins off-peak
Rennes 215k City, 500k wider urban area - (3-5mins off-peak metro!)
Prague 1.2m - (4-10mins off-peak metro, 10-20mins trams)
Valparaiso 300k City, 900k wiser urban area - 5mins off-peak

[O_128]

its simple QR/translink/Government [whoever the hell runs this beuracratic backwater of a city] could not care less until there is rioting on the streets i doubt we will see much change

[mufreight]

Have to defend QR on this one, the Government and Translink simply are incompetent and do not care,
QR can only do what they are allowed to do by Government and Translink who not only control the purse strings but dictate what services QR provides.
If Translink were removed from the process there would be another $89 million or so to spend on the provision of services.

[Emmie]

Stockholm 800k City, 2m wider urban area - 15mins off-peak (10mins metro branches)

Cost is also a factor to compare.  My sister's in Sweden at the moment, 400 k. from Stockholm, and says it will cost her $400 to take a train to the capital for the day.  And that's not a high speed train - just a 4 hour, 400k. trip.  I daresay there are cheaper options for regular commuters, but even so, it doesn't sound like an '800k. city' to me.  Meanwhile - in our 200k city, we can take a train from the Gold Coast to Gympie for well under $50.  Not in any great comfort, mind, and it might be a bit of a problem with a tight bladder....

[ozbob]

I think Stephen is referring to populations rather than distance.

Regards
Bob

[stephenk]

Stockholm 800k City, 2m wider urban area - 15mins off-peak (10mins metro branches)

Cost is also a factor to compare.  My sister's in Sweden at the moment, 400 k. from Stockholm, and says it will cost her $400 to take a train to the capital for the day.  And that's not a high speed train - just a 4 hour, 400k. trip.  I daresay there are cheaper options for regular commuters, but even so, it doesn't sound like an '800k. city' to me.  Meanwhile - in our 200k city, we can take a train from the Gold Coast to Gympie for well under $50.  Not in any great comfort, mind, and it might be a bit of a problem with a tight bladder....

As Ozbob said, I'm referring to population!

[mch]

Compare to Perth
Smaller population - very similar style rail system.  Same gauge - actually units are built by same people.
2 services every 15 minutes.

Spent huge money on new link to Mandurah - 74km and they run to the city in 44 minutes try doing that from the north or south coast.  Mandurah is growing and places further south are pushing for extension of that line.

The alignment goes down the centre of the freeway and over their equivalent of the Captain Cook Bridge.
Yes there bridge is the same style of construction and had bus lanes down the middle. (These are now the rail corridor.)
Other lines have combined Rail/Bus interchanges at locations along the highways where people can park, transfer from local buses and complete their journeys by rail.

Comparison ? what comparison.  Why has Brisbane dropped in liveability?  Our traffic problems are chocking the city.

Noel Haynes

[brad C]

Well said mch!!
The WA Govt through Transperth has indeed set an impressive benchmark for modern urban public transport through its metropolitan electrification, new and enhanced rail and bus corridors and service integration.
Even when electrification was launchedsome 15 years ago,  a 15 minute clock face off peak service, 7 days a week was introduced service -wide, albeit operating initially with their original 2 car sets off peak.
Given that it will be 30 years in November since Brisbane first introduced 30 minute off peak services on its Branches (with the progressive roll out of electrification), and even less time since week end services were increased from hourly to half hourly (1995), it is about time that our frequencies were ramped up. If 3 car units are still being rolled out, why in theory can't 3 cars be deployed through the off pek periods on most of the corridors, similar to Perth, with progressive build up to 6 cars as PM peak approaches.
If the govt is always sending bureaucrats on fact finding tours, it is time to make Perth a priority destination!!