Premier Statement: New QR urban congestion-busting trains on track

[ozbob]

Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
29/06/2008

New QR urban congestion-busting trains on track

Maryborough: Premier Anna Bligh was in Maryborough today inspecting the latest in the new series of QR's urban trains currently under construction at the EDI Rail workshops.

"My Government has invested more than $500 million in 44 new trains and associated stabling yards work," Ms Bligh said.

"The first two trains in the new Suburban Multiple Unit (SMU260) congestion-busting fleet will commence service throughout south east Queensland next month," she said.

"Delivery of these new trains shows how my Government is planning for the future by meeting demand for passenger rail transport across South East Queensland as customer patronage continues to grow.

Patronage has increased by nine per cent in the 2006/07 financial year with 58.8 million passenger journeys recorded.

"In order to satisfy this significant increase in demand for services, the Government is progressively rolling out the new trains over the next two years, with all units expected to be introduced to the network by 2010," Ms Bligh said.

"Each of the new SMU260 series three-carriage trains being released on the network will provide seating capacity for an additional 750 passengers.

"Once all 44 trains are in service, it will create 30,000 additional seats for customers per day, representing a 30% increase in QR's fleet," she said.

The modern design of the SMU260 offers reliability and efficiency and will assist in providing better frequency of services with a more comfortable journey for passengers.

The progressive delivery of the new trains coinciding with future editions of the QR interurban rail timetable will improve on time running and overcrowding while providing an improved service to customers across the QR network.

QR operates an average of 800 services per day, seven days a week throughout the south east Queensland interurban and suburban networks.

Over the coming months further improvements to services are planned throughout the QR network in response to the growing demand, as rollingstock deliveries and emerging infrastructure improvements are realised.

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[Mozz]

"Each of the new SMU260 series three-carriage trains being released on the network will provide seating capacity for an additional 750 passengers".


Hmmm - I thought that the seating capacity of each of the 3 car units was around 240-250 with a maximum safe engineering limit of around 450 people standing and sitting - so where does the 750 figure for each 3 car unit come from as quoted in the article - unless there is some other meaning behind the statement - anyone care to step in and provide some clarification?

[ozbob]

750 is the target load (six car set), seating capacity around 500, 250 pax standing.

Now we all know that 1300 pax is more likely!!   

[Mozz]

Yeah I suppose I am just questioning the words in the release where "seating" which apparently includes standing and "three" carrriages with an actual six - but in the end new trains are new trains regardless of the spin.

[Skeetbris]

750 is the target load (six car set), seating capacity around 500, 250 pax standing.

Now we all know that 1300 pax is more likely!!   Wow!

    I guess that means the train I caught last Wednesday morning was at its' limit or beyond its actual safe pax loading. At least there is finally some movement on the public transport system with new trains and buses to compliment the existing fleets!

Yeah I suppose I am just questioning the words in the release where "seating" which apparently includes standing and "three" carrriages with an actual six - but in the end new trains are new trains regardless of the spin.

      I must admit I thought the Premier was being a little over optimistic with the figures she had used. Though the 750 pax loadings on some lines would go close to nearly being doubled on the trains. there are buses on a daily occurence that run dangerously overcrowded and this situation needs to be addressed ASAP.