13 Feb 2011: SEQ: A Train Upgrade Zone (TUZ) between Petrie and the CBD?

[ozbob]

Media release 13th February 2011

SEQ: A Train Upgrade Zone (TUZ) between Petrie and the CBD?

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport passengers and an advocate for public transport calls for a Train Upgrade Zone (TUZ) between Petrie and the CBD. (1) Services every 15 minutes or better, 7 days.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

RAIL Back on Track refers to the draft Caboolture line timetable (2) and wishes to provide some constructive feedback.

"Firstly, we note that Richlands services in the off-peak appear to be terminating at Bowen Hills in the draft timetable, and only two trains per hour are to continue from the Ipswich line to Petrie and beyond. We ask TransLink to consider extending the Richlands service to Petrie station to create a Train Upgrade Zone (TUZ) between Petrie and the Brisbane CBD. This will immediately cut waiting (and thus off-peak journey times) for passengers on the Caboolture line by up to 15 minutes."

"Secondly, we note that the weekend timetable has Saturday-only and Sunday-only services. We ask TransLink to consider phasing this practice out across the rail network, and to consider modernising rail services towards a single standard weekend timetable like the spectacularly successful BUZ services currently operate. Permanence, reliability, predictability and simplicity are very important principles for public transport."

"High frequency TUZ services will be easy-to-market, simple, legible, distinctively-branded, high quality, turn-up-and-go services integrated with frequent buses to stations, allowing passengers to throw their timetable in the bin and catch the train from their local bus stop. (3) The Perth experience has shown that dedicated feeder buses are absolutely critical for collecting passengers and gaining patronage, particularly in low-density areas (4,5).

"We are confident this is a worthy goal achievable on current infrastructure and using existing trains that are surplus from the peak hour. Half-hourly services are highly unpopular, and coupled with poor bus access to train stations form many of the regular complaints we receive. It is in fact anti-public transport and must be addressed."

"Public transport must offer a quality, frequent 'product' if it wants attract more customers, market share away from the competition (car) and an improved fare-box revenue. It's 2011 and nobody waits half an hour for anything these days. Very simply, poor service equals poor patronage and poor cost recovery!"

References and notes:

1. Train Upgrade Zone Thread
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5385

2. Draft Caboolture Line timetable
http://www.translink.com.au/resources/travel-information/service-updates/caboolture-line-draft-timetable.pdf

3. Train Upgrade Zone poster mock-up
http://backontrack.org/images/tt/tuz1s.jpg

4. THE INTEGRATION OF RAIL TRANSIT AND LAND USE IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA - The Planning Behind Perth's Expanded Rail System
http://www.core2008.org/assets/papers/monday/1045/Peter-Martinovich/CORE-A.pdf

Note: Slide 11 shows that a whopping 54% of passengers who caught a TransPerth train
from Murdoch station (13.8 km from Perth station) on the Mandurah line were brought in by feeder buses.
and 36% of passengers from Mandurah station were brought in by feeder buses.

QR CityTrain could potentially gain much patronage if the scope of hours and frequency of the buses feeding
rail stations were dramatically improved.

5. 'Transferring' can be good for you, and good for your city, Jarrett Walker, Public Transport Consultant
http://www.humantransit.org/2009/04/why-transferring-is-good-for-you-and-good-for-your-city.html

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

This is achievable ... if the present mob fail to see the light, it might be time for a new mob? 

[somebody]

Good release.

It's really the current Bowen Hills terminators which should be running limited stops to Northgate, then all to Caboolture, given that they run through the CBD at the same time as the Shorncliffe trains.  But may have been better not to confuse the issue at this time.

The failure do any real upgrade for the Caboolture line is one of the major limitations of the proposed timetable.

[ozbob]

 

Facebook comment here!

"This is a brilliant idea.  Unfortunately TransLink for reasons beyond my comprehension is fixed on the idea of a one seat journey to everywhere (witness the ridiculous Route 88 bus, for example).  The only way it would have really made sense is if it went directly via the Riverside Expressway without stopping in the city but as it is, it just duplicates the 111/444 routes between EMP & Indooroopilly."

[#Metro]

TUZ is just going to have MASSIVE public support I can see it now...!!!