16 Aug 2006: AirTrain City Link Brisbane

[ozbob]

Media Release  16 August 2006

RAIL ? Back On Track (http://backontrack.org)   a new web based community organisation for the promotion of rail throughout Australia has suggested that an important issue for the Queensland State Election on September 9th is the future operation of the railway line to the Airport.

RAIL Back On Track spokesman said that  ?The service to the Brisbane Airport uses Queensland Railways suburban trains.  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 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 return fare of $6 compared to the present $22 Airtrain return fare.  It is a cost differential that results in empty trains, and because of that a decrease in train frequency, which in turn leads to fewer passengers.  An irreversible slide.

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 people employed in the airport precinct.
Road congestion, delays and costs would be minimised."

Contact: 
 
Administration RAIL Back On Track
admin@backontrack.org

[frerrick]

The cost is what stopped me using it four years ago when I travelled to QLD for a conference. Even with 3 in the taxi, it was cheaper to use that to drive into the city than to use the train. The transfer bus from the airport to the city was cheaper pp as well.
The lack of facilities at the station at the airport (trolleys etc) was also a put off.

The location of the station was great and access to and from the air terminal excellent - bridge over road etc - but the cost really needs to be sorted out, as well as the train running times.

Bob

[ozbob]

Thanks for the feedback frerrick.  I represented RAIL Back On Track on an interview on radio ABC Brisbane 612 yesterday (17th August), and expressed this point of view essentially.  Feedback that has been broadcast since has confirmed that the major issue is the cost, and the lack of any concession travel, and the timetable (frequency and too late for first train, and too early for the last train).
I suggested that patronage would be increased significantly if the fare cost was reduced, and this in turn would like to an increase in revenue for AirTrain Citylink.  It will also go a long way to easing traffic problems, and impact on the environment.

Best wishes
Ozbob

Link to the ABC site summary of interview http://www.abc.net.au/brisbane/stories/s1717908.htm?brisbane

[ozbob]

Congratulations to Airtrain City Link Pty Ltd for finally turning a profit. The article 'Airtrain finally on track' (Courier Mail 21st August) correctly points out the shortfalls between the projected passenger numbers and those now actually carried.  The railway line to the Brisbane Airport is presently an under-utilised community asset.  

Airtrain needs to review its' cost of fares ($12 one way City to Airport), the frequency of the trains (off peak 30 minutes), the timings of the first and last trains, and offer concession fares.  Trains commence too late in the morning (6.30am) and finish too early in the evening (7.30pm) to be accessible to all travellers and workers in the airport precinct.

With the expansion of business activities in the Airport precinct, Airtrain will be the preferred option for travel to and from the airport if some lateral thinking is undertaken.  With increased patronage on Airtrain this will go a long way to easing traffic congestion around the Airport, and have a positive environmental impact.

The major disincentive for travel is cost, particularly for groups of more than two passengers.  Address that and numbers of passengers will increased significantly, generating more revenue than at present. A "win win" for all!

[ozbob]

The AirTrain has made the Brisbane Sunday Mail Blog.  Many are now calling for the service to be made part of the normal Citytrain network in terms of service and fares.

This is my entry on the blog:

The railway line to the Airport is underutilised. Time the State Government took it over, brought it into normal Citytrain timetable and fare structure. It would then be accessible, and affordable. Congestion problems to the airport would be greatly relieved. No, we have this stupid fixation on yet more roads, more congestion and gridlock.

Trains need to run from early morning to late at night. That way folks could actually use it. Stop the price rip-off which characterizes many things connected to the Airport. What a scam.

The full blog can be read here

This was published in Brisbane Sunday Mail 12 August 2007.

RAIL Back On Track will continue to pursue a sensible outcome to this under utilised community asset.

[ozbob]

A shame that a community resource is being underutilised to the extent that the railway line and service to the Brisbane Airport is.  Time to bring this line back into the Citytrain network in terms of service times, service frequencies and zones.  It is too expensive for most, and has restricted services.

[ozbob]

Road problems are now worse, time for another release.

--------------------------------------------------------

RAIL Back On Track - Media Release 25 September 2007

Brisbane:  Airtrain conveys lots of air!

RAIL - Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community organisation for the promotion of rail 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 (Reference 1).  This would then encourage massive increases in passenger numbers and go a long way to relieving the chronic road traffic congestion associated with Brisbane Airport terminals and the general airport precinct.

Robert Dow 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 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 empty trains, 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.

"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. Road congestion, delays and costs would be minimised.

"The fortune being wasted on monuments to the automobile would not be required.

"Smart State or Dumb State?

Reference 1:

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

Contact:

Robert Dow

Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track
http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

RAIL Back On Track - Media Release 11 October 2007

Brisbane:  Airport railway line buy back supported!

RAIL - Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community organisation for the promotion of rail throughout Australia has backed the Community Action for Sustainable Transport?s (CAST) call for the Federal Government to fund the buy back of the underutilised railway line to Brisbane Airport.

Robert Dow said:

"CAST is right!

?If funding was provided for the State Government to buy back the railway line from Airtrain City Link Ltd, or at least subsidised the fares to normal fare structure, and services were timetabled as for the rest of the Citytrain network, the trains would be well patronised and be available for not only domestic and international passengers, but people employed in the airport precinct.

?The Airtrain to the Brisbane Airport uses leased Queensland Rail Citytrain services. The cost of the travel from the City to the Airport by the Airtrain is presently too expensive and actively discourages people from using it.  It should be 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 adult fare of $3.20 from Central compared to the present $13 Airtrain fare.  It is this cost differential that results in near empty trains and because of that a decrease in train frequency and service hours, which in turn leads to fewer passengers.

?Trains need to run when actually needed.  The late start and early finish of the present Airtrain services is farcical.

?The failure to maximize the railway line to Airport as a sustainable transport solution is compounding the gridlock and road congestion to and from the Airport.

"The fortune being wasted on monuments to the automobile would not be required if the railway was made part of the Citytrain network,? said Robert Dow.


Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track

See http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=137.msg823#msg823  for the CAST Media Release

[ozbob]

City News 18th October page 13

How much better for all the community if part of the Citytrain network?
To dear for most and hours of operation to restricted.

Rail link finally running at a profit
TRAFFIC gridlock on Airport Drive is proving a boon for the airport rail link, which has returned its first ever profit after years of running in the red.
Brisbane Airtrain general manager Chris Basche has no doubt that traffic congestion at pressure points like the airport roundabout is driving more people onto the train.
Patronage leapt by 4000 people in August when the State Government switched on new traffic lights at the accident prone roundabout, which improved safety but worsened peak hour traffic gridlock.
Mr Basche was optimistic the trend would continue long after new road projects including the planned Airport Link came on-line, saying roads would become clogged as fast they could be built.
?There is a relationship obviously between traffic congestion and people taking Airtrain,? Mr Basche said.
?The traffic is going to get worse over the next couple of years before it gets better,? he said.  The privately run Airtrain came back from a $650,000 loss in 2006 with a $17.13 million profit in the financial year ending July, 2007 after a shaky start bringing the service close to receivership.

[ozbob]

A chink in the Airtrain armour. Page 15 todays CM.
'Taskforce going around in circles' --> http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22701296-3102,00.html

Mentions as a final statement there maybe a plan to subsidise fares.

[ozbob]

Media Release 5 November 2007

Brisbane:  Airtrain 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 (Reference 1, 2 and 3).  This would then encourage massive increases in passenger numbers and go a long way to relieving the chronic road traffic congestion associated with Brisbane Airport and the general airport precinct.

Robert Dow 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, 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.

"Congestion on the airport roundabout and Gateway would be eased, 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!? said Robert Dow Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track.

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

[ozbob]

The answer is obvious.  Make the Airtrain part of the normal Citytrain network.

From Brisbanetimes click here!

Airport roundabout could gain a lane
Georgina Robinson | November 14, 2007 - 4:00PM

A taskforce looking at congestion on the Brisbane airport roundabout will consider adding an extra westbound lane heading away from the airport to reduce traffic delays.

It could also recommend making motorists use an alternative route to and from the airport, or giving drivers greater incentives to use public transport.

A spokesperson for Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the Airtrain service would be looked at, as well as starting shuttle bus services or "park 'n' ride" facilities.

Four sets of traffic lights installed at the end of August have caused major headaches for travellers, commuters who work in the precinct and businesses that rely on access to both terminals.

However, Mr Pitt today maintained the lights had made the trouble-spot much safer and slashed the number of accidents that happened there.

"Another significant improvement has been the reduction in queuing on the northbound off-ramp, allowing an extra 400 vehicles an hour to flow along the motorway," he said.

Mr Pitt again said the long-term solution was a $1.9 billion upgrade of the Gateway Motorway, which was due for completion in 2009.

"But the prospect of two more years of potential congestion at the interchange is a major concern and that's why the task force was established."

It is due to finalise and submit its report to Mr Pitt by the middle of next month.

[ozbob]

Good that the airport employees look like getting further discounts on train services to the Airport, but nothing short of a return of the Airtrain back to normal public transport services (Citytrain fares and timetables) will work maximally.  What another wasted opportunity.


From Courier Mail click here!

Bid to solve airport traffic chaos
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Neil Hickey

December 20, 2007 04:00pm

AN upgrade of surrounding roads, discounts for airport employees to use the Airtrain and quicker response times to motorway incidents will all be adopted to solve the problem of traffic in and around the Brisbane Airport roundabout.
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt announced this afternoon the government would adopt all of the recommendations from a taskforce set up to solve what is one of the capital's worst traffic zones.

But the minister has conceded the measures would provide only short term relief to the traffic snarls at the roundabout which is bisected by the Gateway Motorway.

"I dont want to pretend that we have found the answer to what is a major traffic problem," he said.

"There are two longer term solutions that will provide that answer, one of them under construction now the Gateway Motorway upgrade and the new airport access route which will begin to take effect in 18 months, and another on the drawing board.

"In the meantime, the Task Force has come up with a number of measures that will provide some short term relief from an improvement in the traffic flow through the roundabout.

It is difficult to quantify by just how much perhaps up to 15 per cent but it is an improvement definitely worth pursuing."

Mr Pitt said the government would immediately address one of the major recommendations, which was to upgrade and promote an alternative access route into and out of the airport precinct the Lomandra Drive Sugarmill Road route.

Brisbane Airport Corporation has already commenced work on improving traffic flow where Lomandra Drive intersects with Sugarmill Road.

As early as tomorrow, Main Roads Department will advise motorists through signage at a number of locations on Kingsford Drive of the alternative route to the airport business precinct.

Also, work will commence soon on upgrading the Sugarmill Road Kingsford Smith Drive intersection to give greater priority for traffic leaving the airport.

Report is available here!  PDF

[Mozz]

From a previous post above:

The major disincentive for travel is cost, particularly for groups of more than two passengers.  Address that and numbers of passengers will increased significantly, generating more revenue than at present.

I agree, but go further and throw the issue of generating revenue in to the mix.

Public transport investment should not be on the basis of commuter contributions towards "tickets" but moreso on the holistic economic benefit the community/state/country derives from providing mass transportation of people rather than people using individual petroleum driven vehicles.

Being from SEQ I understand that the upgrade of the Ipswich motorway regardless of which flavour option is pursued will cost between $1.5 and $3.0B dollars.  While I am not saying this is not a long overdue and necessary upgrade, this sort of funding into public transport would reap significantly more benefit to the community as a whole.

[ozbob]

See here too --> http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=370.0