26 Feb 2010: SEQ: Call for fines against QR Passenger to be refunded ...

[ozbob]

Media Release 26 February 2010

SEQ:  Call for fines against QR Passenger to be refunded and used for more Citytrain services

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 previously questioned the wisdom of fining an operator for circumstances largely beyond their control (1).  Around 7 Million dollars has been levied as fines over recent financial years for a failure of QR Citytrain to meet certain ontime train performance standards.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Fining an operator for factors beyond their control is illogical.  The fines must reduce the level of funding available for new services which in turn leads to further delays due to congestion."

"One reason for the lack of pro-active placement of more Citytrain services must be the lack of funds.  If the fines were returned to the operator these monies could provide a large number of additional Citytrain services, and in so doing further encourage citizens to abandon the motor car and move to frequent public transport."

"The key factor in encouraging use of public transport is frequency of service."

"We call for the fines levied against QR Citytrain and QR Passenger over the last couple of financial years be returned to the operator to fund additional Citytrain services (2)."

References:

1.  20 Feb 2010: SEQ:  'Catch 22' strikes QR Passenger
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3466.0

2.  7 Feb 2010: SEQ: Public transport rail frequency needs radical improvement
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3410.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org


Footnote:  There was another bridge strike on the Ipswich line at Indooroopilly last evening which disrupted trains for a while.  Should  the Government fine the operator QR Passenger because trains were held up due to the idiocy of the heavy vehicle driver?  You don't have to answer that question ...

[#Metro]

Even if they don't want to fund new services, QR should consider a pulse timetable.
Roma St has 10 platforms, more than enough for the 8 platforms for a pulse timetable in the off-peak to work.

South & West originating trains could enter Roma St at the same time North-originating trains could emerge from Central into Roma St. A 7-10 minute layover to allow for transfer could occur at Roma St.

A pulse timetable could be used as an interim measure, and would require

* No new funding
* No new trains

Pulse timetable ---> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3477.0

[ozbob]

There is a segment on public transport  in Stateline tonight ABC1 television 7.30pm.

[tomato]

Congratulations on your appearance on the ABC 7pm news tonight.

They kept crossing back to get a further comment from you.   

[ozbob]

Thanks, overall a good report in Stateline.  Importantly gets the issue of more services out there.

Hopefully the Stateline report will be available on the web next week.

[ozbob]

Back On Track at ABC Television click -->  here!

Well done ABC for highlighting these issues, thanks!

[johnnigh]

My wife and I walked to Corinda station to catch the 1.11 to Indro to catch a movie at Eldorado. Imagine our dismay  when we saw that it was going to be 11 minutes late. We'd miss the trailers and the adverts. 

Talking with staff, the reason was the coal freighter wending its weary way down the track at a stately 20kph. Presumably it was also late or delayed, otherwise why would it have been allowed to get in front of a Citytrain?

Given that the service we eventually caught at 1.26 (1 minute before the 1.27 Shorncliffe service) would be a part of the failure to run to time that causes the fines, does QR Freight pay Citytrain for causing delays? This must be a very common occurance on the Ipswich line. QR Freight ought not to get off scot free, especially when it is a separate business, and soon to be owned by someone other than the Queensland taxpayer.

[Nightwriter]

soon to be owned by someone other than the Queensland taxpayer.

This may be a dumb question - I'm definitely not at all as knowledgeable as some who are on this forum but...

Are there concerns that, once the freight arm of QR is sold off and the new owner in a bid to increase profits etc, may start flashing money around in order to take precedence over passenger trains?   QR/Translink may find it difficult to say no if they are offered extra revenue and may think the consequences are bearable.

Just wondering

[ozbob]

Remember that Queensland Rail will have effective control of the suburban/urban network. Their priority will be  passenger I am sure, plenty of paths for freight.  But where there is impact to OTP by the freight operators, they should be pinged not the Passenger operator as is the case now ...

[O_128]

Maybe once the private operater takes over we will see some of the ideas flouted around like the freight bypasses