Article: Track closures affecting commuters

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times click here!

Track closures affecting commuters

Track closures affecting commuters

Zane Jackson | 9th November 2010

IPSWICH train commuters should receive a weekend of free travel to make up for this year's seemingly constant weekend track closures.

That's the view of Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow, who said Ipswich commuters have been affected by track closures more than residents on any other rail line.

Mr Dow said the recent track closures were due to track amplification between Corinda and Darra West and work on the new Richlands branch line.

He said these works would benefit Ipswich travellers in the long run but Queensland Rail had not clearly spelled out these benefits during recent weekend closures.

"Ipswich and Rosewood line commuters have endured these constant closures now for a couple of years," he said.

"Might be a gesture of goodwill to give us a free weekend of travel when the new works open in January in recognition of the pain? I think, though, that the 'train pain' will be worth the 'train gain' in the end."

A Queensland Rail spokesperson last week said there had been a weekend track closure every month on the Ipswich line, with two in October.

Transport Minister and Ipswich MP Rachel Nolan said there were no plans to give commuters a weekend of free travel.

"The big advantage that the Ipswich community will get from all the work is a third passenger line from Corinda to Darra. This will allow more express services next year," she said.

"The new Richlands station will also open early next year, heralding completion of the first spur line to be run to a community in south-east Queensland since the Second World War."

From next January, Queensland Rail will trial a new way to manage track closures across the suburban network.

Under the new program, the network will be divided into a number of zones, with shutdowns scheduled in each zone four times a year, leading to a reduction in ad hoc closures.

[Derwan]

But Bob... commuters on the Ipswich line get free travel every time there's a closure!  They've had more free travel than anyone else!

[ozbob]

Free travel?  The official instruction is to touch off/on at station of destination/origin during a closure.  I know that this if often impractical but they have not had free travel. In fact the TOs have been very active during the closures ....  

Anyway what is wrong with giving a bonus now and then?  Vline has free travel on Christmas day,  other new services are often free for a while as well.  Here is SEQ it is just gouge, gouge, gouge, and more gouge ...

When they wanted to push the go card we had the free Easter travel ...  it is a matter of what the political imperative is rather than driving public transport uptake.

The 2008 Easter Tour of the QR Interurban Network --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=645.0

[p858snake]

Free travel?  The official instruction is to touch off/on at station of destination/origin during a closure.  I know that this if often impractical but they have not had free travel. In fact the TOs have been very active during the closures ....

He may be referring to the buses, which (although vary rarely on the FG line) I've always been told not to bother for the buses, although that may be due to BBL getting used and they only have one bus with go card facilities for transport between the stations.

[ozbob]

Believe or not, you are meant to be ticket legal (paper or go) during bus substitution on the buses without go card readers, often impractical I know but that is the official line ...  they expect you to go against all the instructions for go card use, not touch off when leaving the rail station and when the bus drops you off at Booval or whereever, you are expected to prance back up to the closed station and touch off.  Farcical.

Anyway if you touch off when leaving the railway station (as you all have been conditioned to do) and there is no go card reader on the bus, well that is your good luck!  

During bus substitution on the Ipswich line for example, say the closure is Ipswich to Corinda, the TOs will work hard the trains Corinda onwards ...

No one seems to bother about the buses, probably be riots if they did.  I have often asked drivers if I need to show a ticket or my go card, couldn't care less is the typical response.  

[WTN]

I've also been told the Railbus was free by the BBL bus driver during closures. Although I was travelling to and from Ipswich at that time, which was gated.

[Derwan]

Obviously if access to the platforms is closed, you don't have access to the readers to touch on or off.  If you are heading to/from a station with directional gates, you cannot touch on/off.

A free ride should be considered consolation for the disruption - and this should be the standard process during closures.  I certainly won't be paying for the inconvenience!

[somebody]

The same absurdity exists in CityRail's disruptions.  Usually, these involve using a train for part of the journey so you don't get a free ride in practice.