1 Aug 2011: SEQ: Airport public transport services fall short of the mark

[ozbob]

Media release 1 August 2011

SEQ:  Airport public transport services fall short of the mark

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers calls for Airtrain and the State Government to work together to improve the operating hours and frequency of Airtrain as well as the Gold Coast Airport buses.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track members have compiled a comparison of major airports in Australia and New Zealand (1).  Meeting 93% of flights (2) falls well short of nearly every major airport outside South East Queensland except for Canberra.  The 30 minute frequency also falls short of most other airports outside South East Queensland except Canberra, Perth, Newcastle and Christchurch. Fares on Airtrain are also at the upper end of the scale.  What is interesting is that even services at Queenstown and Hobart are better than Brisbane's Airtrain service frequency and hours."

"RAIL Back On Track has previously put forward a plan which would allow both Beenleigh and Gold Coast trains continue through to the Airport (3).  It is hoped that Airtrain, TransLink and Queensland Rail can see more value in this plan than merely adding Roma St (or South Bank) terminating trains."

"It should also be noted that the poor operating hours of the 761 bus severely limit the effectiveness of the public transport service at the Gold Coast Airport.  The 761 should meet every reasonable train.  The other issue for the Gold Coast Airport is that not all flights are met with 702 bus services, which could be done with one or two extra runs to meet the last arrival."

"It is time for improving the services both on Airtrain and the 761 bus route. Airtrain particularly needs to improve service frequency and very importantly hours of operation to capture market share prior to the opening of the Airport Link."

References:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6467.0

2. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/marketing-chief-joins-airtrain-chorus-20101026-171v9.html

3. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5734.0

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6467.0

[#Metro]

you mean meeting every plane...?

[ozbob]

you mean meeting every plane...?

No train, important connection between VL rail and airport.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

3rd August 2011

Re: SEQ:  Airport public transport services fall short of the mark

Greetings,

Combined with the lack of a suitable tourist ticketing product, the poor public transport services to Brisbane Airport just make it harder for all.  We have an Airtrain, but its operating hours are a national and international joke.

Check out this data -->  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6467.0

Brisbane Airport, poorly serviced by public transport, parking charges excessive (as are most Airports) is a good example of a bad example.  So what do the authorities do?  Spend billions on toll roads to further worsen the situation.  That money would have been better spent on improving the rail service as a first priority, and still left billions over for other better informed projects.

Enjoy your flight!

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

On 1/08/2011 2:48 AM, RAIL Back On Track Admin wrote:
Media release 1 August 2011

SEQ:  Airport public transport services fall short of the mark

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers calls for Airtrain and the State Government to work together to improve the operating hours and frequency of Airtrain as well as the Gold Coast Airport buses.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track members have compiled a comparison of major airports in Australia and New Zealand (1).  Meeting 93% of flights (2) falls well short of nearly every major airport outside South East Queensland except for Canberra.  The 30 minute frequency also falls short of most other airports outside South East Queensland except Canberra, Perth, Newcastle and Christchurch. Fares on Airtrain are also at the upper end of the scale.  What is interesting is that even services at Queenstown and Hobart are better than Brisbane's Airtrain service frequency and hours."

"RAIL Back On Track has previously put forward a plan which would allow both Beenleigh and Gold Coast trains continue through to the Airport (3).  It is hoped that Airtrain, TransLink and Queensland Rail can see more value in this plan than merely adding Roma St (or South Bank) terminating trains."

"It should also be noted that the poor operating hours of the 761 bus severely limit the effectiveness of the public transport service at the Gold Coast Airport.  The 761 should meet every reasonable train.  The other issue for the Gold Coast Airport is that not all flights are met with 702 bus services, which could be done with one or two extra runs to meet the last arrival."

"It is time for improving the services both on Airtrain and the 761 bus route. Airtrain particularly needs to improve service frequency and very importantly hours of operation to capture market share prior to the opening of the Airport Link."

References:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6467.0

2. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/marketing-chief-joins-airtrain-chorus-20101026-171v9.html

3. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5734.0

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 3rd August 2011 page 1

Joke's on them