Premier Statement: Bus and train boost to cover footy and fireworks

[ozbob]

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh
09/09/2009

Bus and train boost to cover footy and fireworks

The Queensland Government is boosting public transport in SEQ this Saturday night to cater for the half a million people expected for a night of footy and fireworks.

Premier Anna Bligh said additional transport services would assist to ensure passengers could enjoy a hassle-free atmosphere of public transport to and from the Gold Coast Titan's historic rugby league home semi-final against the Brisbane Broncos and the QBE RiverFire in Brisbane.

Premier Bligh said TransLink would coordinate more than 1000 additional bus services and 69 additional train services catering for up to 500,000 people expected to enjoying the football and fireworks.

The Broncos will clash with the Titans at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast from 6.30pm on Saturday night.

Premier Bligh said football fans would be able to show their pre-purchased tickets to take advantage of free travel to and from the game on TransLink's Surfside Buslines on the Gold Coast and all QR services from 1pm until midnight on Saturday.

"The State Government will be putting on almost 300 additional bus services on the Gold Coast and nine additional train services - including seven additional services between Brisbane and Robina - to get spectators to and from the game," she said.

"The Titans may have overtaken the Broncos on the NRL ladder, but their fans can still help them beat the Broncos in reducing traffic congestion.

"On average over 86 per cent of Titans fans use public transport to get to home games at Skilled Park, while more than 90 per cent of Broncos fans catch public transport to get to home games at Suncorp Stadium.

In Brisbane, hundreds of thousands of people are expected on the banks of the Brisbane River to enjoy the excitement of QBE Riverfire.

"Riverfire is always a fantastic night and I'm sure this year's fireworks will be as impressive as always," Ms Bligh said.

"Public transport will be the best way to get to and from the city, avoiding the hassle of driving and trying to find parking, with many roads to be closed around the CBD throughout the afternoon," Ms Bligh said.

Hourly train services will also operate across all lines (except the Doomben line) from midnight Saturday until the first scheduled services on Sunday 13 September.

Passengers should consult the TransLink website

www.translink.com.au to plan their journey.

Skilled Park services:

Patrons going to the game at Skilled Park can catch event shuttle bus services from Mudgeeraba's Firth Park park 'n' ride, Alabaster Drive park 'n' ride, opposite Carrara Stadium, Burleigh Heads Primary School and Pacific Fair Shopping Centre between 3.45pm and 6.10pm.

TransLink will also be putting on additional Surfside Buslines services to and from Robina station on routes 748 (Bond University), 750 (Mudgeeraba), 751 (Pacific Fair), 752 (Pacific Fair), 755 (Pacific Fair), 756 (Burleigh Heads), 759 (Reedy Creek) and 765 (Tweed Heads).

Patrons travelling from Brisbane are encouraged to take advantage of free parking at Carrara Stadium, and patrons travelling from the south are encouraged to take advantage of free parking at Firth Park and catch shuttle buses to Skilled Park.

After the game, shuttle buses will depart from Robina station for one hour after completion of the game or until the crowds have dispersed.

Seven train services have been added to the Gold Coast line to get people to and from the game.

QBE Riverfire:

Prior to the event, extra bus services will be available on routes 110 (Inala), 111 (Eight Mile Plains), 120 (Garden City), 130 (Algester), 150 (Browns Plains), 175 (Garden City via Logan Rd), 180 (Garden City), 200 (Carindale), 300 (Toombul), 333 (Chermside), 345 (Aspley), 444 (Moggill), 450 (Mt Ommaney) and 460 (Forest Lake) will begin arriving at the Cultural Centre busway station, Queen Street bus station, Adelaide Street and Grey Street in South Brisbane from 2pm.

After the event, additional buses will depart the Cultural Centre busway station at 7.30pm on routes 110 (Inala), 120 (Garden City), 130 (Algester), 140 (Browns Plains), 150 (Browns Plains), 180 (Garden City), 199 (West End to Teneriffe), 220 (Wynnum), 333 (Chermside), 345 (Aspley), 385 (The Gap), 430 (Fig Tree Pocket), 444 (Moggill), 450 (Mt Ommaney) and 460 (Forrest Lake). An additional route 200 (Carindale) bus will depart at 7.38pm.

An additional 38 train services will operate across all lines for RiverFire, as well as regularly scheduled timetable services. Special arrangements for public transport on the Brisbane River will apply on Saturday.

Please note there is no free travel to RiverFire with regular TransLink ticketing arrangements and fares to apply.

Passengers intending to park 'n' ride from Robina station to RiverFire should make alternate arrangements with no vehicular access to the rail station and Skilled Stadium precinct from 4.30pm to about 9.15pm due to the rugby league semi-final.

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[ozbob]

At last, there are no track closures scheduled for this year's Riverfire!   

[ozbob]

TransLink ==>  http://www.translink.com.au/event.php?id=74

[ozbob]

Isn't  this great!   Positive use of our public transport assets,  free of the usual closures and ad hoc arrangements we have had to highlight previous years.

Well done!

[ozbob]

Please note there is no free travel to RiverFire with regular TransLink ticketing arrangements and fares to apply.

For folks not used to the AVVMs (the new ticket machines) allow plenty of time to get your tickets.  Experience has shown that with the bigger crowds travelling there may be short delays in getting tickets particularly if folks are not familiar with the ticket machines.  Allow plenty of time is the best advice!

[ozbob]

Riverfire QR Citytrain services -->  here!

[stephenk]

Hmmm, interesting. The extra inbound services depart Ferny Grove 8 mins after the usual service, with an outbound train also traversing the single track section during this 8 mins. So why can't trains sometimes be timetabled 8 mins apart in the peaks?

This extra trains can pick up all the people who didn't plan to queue 20mins for a ticket!

[WTN]

This extra trains can pick up all the people who didn't plan to queue 20mins for a ticket!

I wonder if they'll be 20min queues at the go card readers.  Probably not since it's a weekend, so it might be the express lane for those who qualify for the 50% discount or those that can't wait.

[p858snake]

Hmmm, interesting. The extra inbound services depart Ferny Grove 8 mins after the usual service, with an outbound train also traversing the single track section during this 8 mins. So why can't trains sometimes be timetabled 8 mins apart in the peaks?

Will it actually be travelling on the track or will one of the wait at the other end (either FG or Keppera) till the opp. travelling train passes?

[ozbob]

Media Release 11 September 2009

SEQ:  Public transport performs

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has congratulated TransLink and public transport operators for the public transport arrangements for this weekend's events in Brisbane (1).

Robert Dow, spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Riverfire is a great and important community celebration and is a very significant demand on transport services.  Public transport is well organised for the weekend events this year.  Extra buses and trains are laid on both for Riverfire and the football. There are no planned track closures."

"Congratulations to TransLink and all operators.  Well done!"

"For folks not used to the new ticket machines at railway stations, allow plenty of time to get your tickets.  Experience has shown that with the bigger crowds travelling there may be short delays in getting tickets particularly if folks are not familiar with the ticket machines.  Allow plenty of time is the best advice!"

"Relax and enjoy the weekend, travel by rail or bus to and from the City or the football.  This avoids hassles with parking, traffic congestion and road closures and is a safer way to go!"

Reference:

1.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2723.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org