21 May 2011: SEQ: Core Frequent Network: TransLink service improvements ...

[ozbob]

Media release 21 May 2011

SEQ: Core Frequent Network: TransLink service improvements are welcome!

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 has welcomed TransLink's latest service improvements.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track welcomes the frequency and capacity boosts to BUZ 412 St. Lucia that were made earlier in the year. From recent media, it is obvious that decent service frequency and span of hours has been the thing holding back public transport patronage (1). We also welcome the BUZification of the 120 Tarragindi and Griffith University service and also the simplification and BUZification of the New Farm - CBD - Fairfield 196."

The improvement and simplification ('Steam ironing') of bus routes in the Fairfield, Yeronga, Corinda and Yeerongpilly area is also very welcome.

"RAIL Back On Track had previously highlighted the extremely low frequency and time wasting routing of the Yeronga 105 and poor connections of the route 104 Corinda bus. We thank TransLink for their prompt improvement and recommend that the 104 bus continue to be shown on train maps as it effectively replaces the Tennyson train service."

"We would also like to suggest that the route 427/428 UQ-Indooroopilly buses also be 'steam ironed' so that they don't diverge around Clarence road in Indooroopilly."

"There are over two hundred bus routes operated by Brisbane Transport. At a rate of two BUZifications per year, it would take around 100 years to make them all, or even a small portion of them, decent frequency. This is why a Core Frequent Network made up of workhorse rail, bus and ferry lines is important in supporting patronage growth now, but also in allowing the future option for lower frequency suburban services to be re-organised to feed these trunk Core Frequent rail, bus and ferry routes (2).

"The elephant in the room is of course the poor train frequency and failing rail-bus connections on the QR Train network. Melbourne is moving to 'metro style' commuter rail with 10 minute all day metro style frequency now on the Frankston line and possibly next on the Dandenong line, fed by high frequency SmartBus (3). Perth has been operating trains every 15 minutes to all stations all day for some years now. Brisbane???"

"Recent bus full increases are further evidence as to why change and improvement is needed (4). As RAIL Back on Track has always said, services must be frequent. Bottom line."

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

References:

1. BUZ- Frequency and reliability, the winning formula
http://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/bitstream/2123/6058/1/thredbo10-themeA-Warren.pdf

2. Building a Core Frequent Network
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5173.0

3. Moving to a Metro, Metro Trains Melbourne
http://destinationbetter.metrotrains.com.au/moving-to-a-metro

4. Buses fill at record pace in March http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5997.0

[ozbob]

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