10 Oct 2010: SEQ: If the price goes up, rail frequencies must go up too!

[ozbob]

Media release 10 October 2010

SEQ: If the price goes up, rail frequencies must go up too!

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 notes the recent much needed and much welcome plans for improvements to rail amenities. However, poor train frequency remains the single outstanding issue public transport users want fixed.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The recent, extended and very public airing of dissatisfaction with the frequency, fares and non-peak service levels of the Brisbane Airtrain highlights the importance public transport service frequency and service hours are to the people of South East Queensland. There are lessons to be learned here."

"TransLink is scheduled to increase fares by 15% and paper tickets are to be abolished apparently come January 2011. Basic train frequency across the board on the rail network particularly needs to be fixed and brought up to Australia's best practice levels such as those in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney. Indeed, service frequencies on Sundays on lines in Perth and Melbourne are often better than weekday off peak train frequencies in Brisbane. An improved fare structure for the go card to include daily capping, periodical options and a Seniors fare is needed to drive public transport uptake."

"RAIL Back on Track has taken the effort to highlight areas of the rail network where 15 minute off peak train frequency is possible on current infrastructure with no or minimal infrastructure upgrades. (1)"

"Fare increases must go hand in hand with service improvements. Increased frequency is a proven patronage booster (2). It is now time for the rail system to get its frequency improved to match the levels that Western Australians in Perth are currently enjoying.(3) Sunshine Coast rail service frequencies are also abysmal, and need urgent attention."

"Significantly higher fares without significant improvements to match, particularly in the off-peak and on weekends, will not go down well with people who use public transport.  Additionally it costs the community in terms of road trauma, congestion and environmental impacts not to properly utilise our public transport assets. Direct subsidies in public transport are returned many times over in overall economic benefits."

"RAIL Back on Track has always said that services must be frequent, bottom line. Now is the time for frequency delivery."

References:

1. SEQ: Bring 15 minute off peak world class 'Perth' frequencies to Brisbane!
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4515.0

2. BUZ = frequency and reliability- the winning formula, Alan Warren, Brisbane Transport
http://www.thredbo.itls.usyd.edu.au/downloads/thredbo10_papers/thredbo10-themeA-Warren.pdf

3. TransPerth
http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

11th October 2010

Greetings,

Metro Trains Melbourne yesterday implemented further timetable improvements.  What is significant is that the Frankston line (similar to some respects to the Ipswich line) now has TEN MINUTE OFF PEAK frequency during the week day.  This is better than the peak timetables here in SEQ let alone off peak and weekends.  See --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4622.0  for the detail.

The 1997 Integrated Regional Plan had a mode share target of 10.5% for public transport trips in SE Queensland. It failed to reach that (7%).  The fundamental reason for that was the failure to properly drive the rail network, particularly in terms of frequency increase.

It is essential that the train frequency in south-east Queensland be addressed.  The present timetables need to be moved into the modern paradigm.  A general 15 minute off peak during the day, 20 minute later in the evening and weekends.  This will then drive significant mode share increases with the consequent benefits for all.

The greatest impact on public transport in south-east Queensland can be achieved simply by increasing train frequency.  Bus-rail integration and coordination issues largely disappear, the padding and excessive dwell and connection times in the present rail timetable can be done away with making for a much more efficient operation.

There is growing unease with the poor train frequency south-east Queensland.  It is time it was properly addressed.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

On 10/10/2010 7:13 AM, RAIL Back On Track Admin wrote:
Media release 10 October 2010

SEQ: If the price goes up, rail frequencies must go up too!

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 notes the recent much needed and much welcome plans for improvements to rail amenities. However, poor train frequency remains the single outstanding issue public transport users want fixed.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The recent, extended and very public airing of dissatisfaction with the frequency, fares and non-peak service levels of the Brisbane Airtrain highlights the importance public transport service frequency and service hours are to the people of South East Queensland. There are lessons to be learned here."

"TransLink is scheduled to increase fares by 15% and paper tickets are to be abolished apparently come January 2011. Basic train frequency across the board on the rail network particularly needs to be fixed and brought up to Australia's best practice levels such as those in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney. Indeed, service frequencies on Sundays on lines in Perth and Melbourne are often better than weekday off peak train frequencies in Brisbane. An improved fare structure for the go card to include daily capping, periodical options and a Seniors fare is needed to drive public transport uptake."

"RAIL Back on Track has taken the effort to highlight areas of the rail network where 15 minute off peak train frequency is possible on current infrastructure with no or minimal infrastructure upgrades. (1)"

"Fare increases must go hand in hand with service improvements. Increased frequency is a proven patronage booster (2). It is now time for the rail system to get its frequency improved to match the levels that Western Australians in Perth are currently enjoying.(3) Sunshine Coast rail service frequencies are also abysmal, and need urgent attention."

"Significantly higher fares without significant improvements to match, particularly in the off-peak and on weekends, will not go down well with people who use public transport.  Additionally it costs the community in terms of road trauma, congestion and environmental impacts not to properly utilise our public transport assets. Direct subsidies in public transport are returned many times over in overall economic benefits."

"RAIL Back on Track has always said that services must be frequent, bottom line. Now is the time for frequency delivery."

References:

1. SEQ: Bring 15 minute off peak world class 'Perth' frequencies to Brisbane!
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4515.0

2. BUZ = frequency and reliability- the winning formula, Alan Warren, Brisbane Transport
http://www.thredbo.itls.usyd.edu.au/downloads/thredbo10_papers/thredbo10-themeA-Warren.pdf

3. TransPerth
http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[somebody]

The 1997 Integrated Regional Plan had a mode share target of 10.5% for public transport trips in SE Queensland. It failed to reach that (7%).  The fundamental reason for that was the failure to properly drive the rail network, particularly in terms of frequency increase.

You know that I disagree with this assertion, right?

The fundamental reason is the concrete fetish.

However, without a reasonable train frequency, rail will continue to soak up a lot of funding while providing little in the way of patronage.

[#Metro]

What are the chances the Richlands will open... with 30 minute train frequency? A certainty?
Many hundreds of millions spent on a brand new station-- only to be rendered next to useless in the off peak by
bad train frequency. 

[somebody]

What are the chances the Richlands will open... with 30 minute train frequency? A certainty?
Many hundreds of millions spent on a brand new station-- only to be rendered next to useless in the off peak by
bad train frequency. 

Not a certainty, but it does seem likely.

Seems virtually certain that South Bank will have a reduction in frequency on weekends though.

[O_128]

Chances are we could see 4tph to richlands and 2tph to ipswich though in all honesty this makes the corinda to darra trip/quad a bit of a  waste of money for such a pathetic frequency that 2 tracks could handle