17 Jan 2010: SEQ: Public transport, extra services needed this week

[ozbob]

Media Release 17 January 2010

SEQ:  Public transport, extra services needed this week

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 called for the immediate introduction of extra Citytrain services on the Sunshine Coast and Rosewood lines,  and more bus services on the Inner Northern Busway. Commuters have had to pay up to 40% more for their paper tickets or 20% more for go card daily travel from Monday 4th January 2010 (1), but still no sign of the promised increases in public transport services.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The TransLink Customer Service Charter says in part 'At the TransLink Transit Authority we are committed to delivering a high quality customer service experience.' (2) Long suffering commuters would like some evidence of this commitment thanks."

"RAIL Back On Track members and public feedback have reported constant overloading and long waits for buses to board between the new busway station at RBWH, RCH Herston, QUT Kelvin Grove, and the CBD. Towards the end of last year some passengers had to wait up to 50 minutes at RCH Herston to board a bus! As normal work routines are re-established it is now the time to place the services to encourage people to get on board."

"The problems of passengers not being able to board buses in timely manner is not encouraging continued use of public transport. The huge public transport infrastructure investment demands maximum use of the asset."

"For commuters travelling on the Rosewood line Monday to Friday there is a service that leaves Ipswich for Rosewood at 4.38pm, the next service for Rosewood is 5.51pm!  A peak gap that is worse than off peak times!  How does this encourage commuters to use public transport?  This farce must be addressed forthwith."

"On the Sunshine Coast line, the PM late peak evening timetable for Nambour has trains leaving Central at 6.07pm, then 7.27pm and next service at 9.28pm.  What an abysmal third world train frequency!"

"Government and TransLink have made a big deal in trying to justify the punitive fare price increases with commitments of 301,000 additional public transport seats per week (3,4).  Commuters would like to see some evidence of this commitment.  Apart from the obvious need for extra peak and off peak services on the Caboolture and Ipswich lines and the network generally, the major anti-public transport gaps on Rosewood and Nambour lines must be addressed promptly, and the appalling situation on the Inner Northern Busway around Herston fixed please!"

References:

1.   New fare structure   http://www.translink.com.au/fares2010.php

2.   http://download.translink.com.au/about/081101_customerservicecharter.pdf

3.   http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=66877

4.   http://download.translink.com.au/ticketing/100104_fares.pdf

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[rob2144]

You should also mention that the Sunshine Coast to City services are terrible after 6pm mon-thurs, last service is 6:37pm, even Saturday and Sunday have later services.

[ozbob]

Yes, excellent point Rob.  Thanks.

Regards
Bob

[somebody]

You should also mention that the Sunshine Coast to City services are terrible after 6pm mon-thurs, last service is 6:37pm, even Saturday and Sunday have later services.

That's awful!!

I was up at GlassHouse Mountains on a Saturday and people couldn't believe the last train back was at about 11pm.  Which was adequate for me.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

18th January 2010

Greetings,

It is very disappointing that former politicians still enjoy free flights  (Ex-MPs still flying for free   http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26599056-952,00.html ) whilst the battling public struggles to access decent public transport.  The money for this largesse should be redirected to the provision of proper public transport.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
RAIL Back On Track


===========================

RAIL Back On Track Admin wrote:
Media Release 17 January 2010

SEQ:  Public transport, extra services needed this week

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 called for the immediate introduction of extra Citytrain services on the Sunshine Coast and Rosewood lines,  and more bus services on the Inner Northern Busway. Commuters have had to pay up to 40% more for their paper tickets or 20% more for go card daily travel from Monday 4th January 2010, but still no sign of the promised increased in public transport services.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The TransLink Customer Service Charter says in part 'At the TransLink Transit Authority we are committed to delivering a high quality customer service experience.' (2) Long suffering commuters would like some evidence of this commitment thanks."

"RAIL Back On Track members and public feedback have reported constant overloading and long waits for buses to board between the new busway station at RBWH, RCH Herston, QUT Kelvin Grove, and the CBD. Towards the end of last year some passengers had to wait up to 50 minutes at RCH Herston to board a bus! As normal work routines are re-established it is now the time to place the services to encourage people to get on board."

"The problems of passengers not being able to board buses in timely manner is not encouraging continued use of public transport. The huge public transport infrastructure investment demands maximum use of the asset."

"For commuters travelling on the Rosewood line Monday to Friday there is a service that leaves Ipswich for Rosewood at 4.38pm, the next service for Rosewood is 5.51pm!  A peak gap that is worse than off peak times!  How does this encourage commuters to use public transport?  This farce must be addressed forthwith."

"On the Sunshine Coast line, the PM late peak evening timetable for Nambour has trains leaving Central at 6.07pm, then 7.27pm and next service at 9.28pm.  What an abysmal third world train frequency!"

"Government and TransLink have made a big deal in trying to justify the punitive fare price increases with commitments of 301,000 additional public transport seats per week (3,4).  Commuters would like to see some evidence of this commitment.  Apart from the obvious need for extra peak and off peak services on the Caboolture and Ipswich lines and the network generally, the major anti-public transport gaps on Rosewood and Nambour lines must be addressed promptly, and the appalling situation on the Inner Northern Busway around Herston fixed please!"

References:

1.   New fare structure   http://www.translink.com.au/fares2010.php

2.   http://download.translink.com.au/about/081101_customerservicecharter.pdf

3.   http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=66877

4.   http://download.translink.com.au/ticketing/100104_fares.pdf

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Opposition media release:

January 18, 2010

Cash Cow Rail Commuters Given Third World Service

SUNSHINE Coast residents were being ripped off with higher fares for a rail service which was "lousy" and "third world", Member for Maroochydore and Shadow Transport Minister Fiona Simpson said.

Ms Simpson said the Bligh Labor Government's massive hike in public transport fees, costing some commuters 40 per cent more, was a cash grab with little in return.

"I'm calling on the State Government to fix this appalling timetable to the Sunshine Coast," Ms Simpson said.

"If you miss your evening train out of Central in Brisbane for the Sunshine Coast, you'll be waiting a long time," Ms Simpson said. "The late peak evening trains for Nambour leave Central at 6.07pm, then 7.27pm with the next service at 9.28pm.

"Coast rail commuters are being used like cash cows."

Ms Simpson said the timetable had more holes than swiss cheese and was a disgrace for a region of 300,000 people.

"The rail infrastructure is already there. The services aren't. Wouldn't it be far smarter to give people travelling between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast a genuine alternative to the Bruce Highway and using a car?"

"My vision for the Sunshine Coast is a place where the liveability of this wonderful region is maintained and enhanced. Good public transport within our region is essential and so are our links to the State's capital. The existing rail infrastructure to the Coast is underutilised and means more people are using their cars to drive to and from Brisbane than is ideal."

[#Metro]

I think regional centres should be treated as hubs in their own right.
This means Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Ipswich should begin preserving corridors for a busway with multiple spurs, a metro or light rail system. The land is cheap now, and you can rent the land to people/businesses for 30 or so years.

Car dealerships, bikeways, parkland, and anything that can use demountable buildings (even prefabricated homes!) can go on the alignment and then removed when the time is right.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

19th January 2010

Greetings,

Sunshine Coast commuters are rightly becoming very concerned with their systemic neglect in terms of rail service frequency.  It is also worth highlighting that Monday to Thursday the last train that leaves Nambour for southern stations is at 6.37pm!  Goodness.

Ipswich and Rosewood has the peak time gap that is a debacle.  Buses in Ipswich finish at around 6.30pm as well.  How on earth can people use public transport under these circumstances?

The bus fiasco on the Inner Northern Busway is disturbing.  Why spend hundreds of millions of tax payers dollars on infrastructure if it is not going to be properly utilised?

Promises, promises  and promises are simply not good enough.   There are obviously some serious failings in the management and delivery of public transport in south-east Queensland.

Special events seem to be a higher priority than the day to day delivery of public transport for our community.

Time it was sorted, or stand aside and let others who will sort it move forward.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
RAIL Back On Track

RAIL Back On Track Admin wrote:
Media Release 17 January 2010

SEQ:  Public transport, extra services needed this week

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 called for the immediate introduction of extra Citytrain services on the Sunshine Coast and Rosewood lines,  and more bus services on the Inner Northern Busway. Commuters have had to pay up to 40% more for their paper tickets or 20% more for go card daily travel from Monday 4th January 2010, but still no sign of the promised increased in public transport services.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The TransLink Customer Service Charter says in part 'At the TransLink Transit Authority we are committed to delivering a high quality customer service experience.' (2) Long suffering commuters would like some evidence of this commitment thanks."

"RAIL Back On Track members and public feedback have reported constant overloading and long waits for buses to board between the new busway station at RBWH, RCH Herston, QUT Kelvin Grove, and the CBD. Towards the end of last year some passengers had to wait up to 50 minutes at RCH Herston to board a bus! As normal work routines are re-established it is now the time to place the services to encourage people to get on board."

"The problems of passengers not being able to board buses in timely manner is not encouraging continued use of public transport. The huge public transport infrastructure investment demands maximum use of the asset."

"For commuters travelling on the Rosewood line Monday to Friday there is a service that leaves Ipswich for Rosewood at 4.38pm, the next service for Rosewood is 5.51pm!  A peak gap that is worse than off peak times!  How does this encourage commuters to use public transport?  This farce must be addressed forthwith."

"On the Sunshine Coast line, the PM late peak evening timetable for Nambour has trains leaving Central at 6.07pm, then 7.27pm and next service at 9.28pm.  What an abysmal third world train frequency!"

"Government and TransLink have made a big deal in trying to justify the punitive fare price increases with commitments of 301,000 additional public transport seats per week (3,4).  Commuters would like to see some evidence of this commitment.  Apart from the obvious need for extra peak and off peak services on the Caboolture and Ipswich lines and the network generally, the major anti-public transport gaps on Rosewood and Nambour lines must be addressed promptly, and the appalling situation on the Inner Northern Busway around Herston fixed please!"

References:

1.   New fare structure   http://www.translink.com.au/fares2010.php

2.   http://download.translink.com.au/about/081101_customerservicecharter.pdf

3.   http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=66877

4.   http://download.translink.com.au/ticketing/100104_fares.pdf

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org