1 Sep 2011: SEQ: Time to Rebuild Public's Confidence in Public Transport

[ozbob]

Media release 1 September 2011

SEQ:  Time to Rebuild Public's Confidence in Public Transport

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 called for public confidence in the reliability of Sunshine Coast bus services to be re-established through a public marketing campaign. Further widespread disruption to bus services in Redlands and Gold Coast is compounding the problem.

Robert Dow, Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The clock must be reset on the assessment period for trial bus routes on the Sunshine Coast and an effective marketing campaign put in place to re-establish the travelling public's faith in bus services once the industrial disruption comes to an end."

"The Sunshine Coast is without buses again today (Thursday) in what has become a case of bus stop roulette for hapless commuters – wait at the shelter and see if a bus turns up.  The ongoing dispute is doing untold damage to confidence in the reliability of public transport, which lies at the heart of the implied contract between commuter and service provider.  Disruptions to Redlands and Gold Coast bus services is also a major concern."

"The constant disruptions to public transport of late is having profound effects on the community with a loss of transport options for work, school, medical appointments, shopping and leisure activities."

"TransLink's action in engaging an industrial mediator to work with the bus company and the Transport Workers Union to resolve differences of pay is welcomed."

"Once industrial disputation is over – and we hope that's soon – the message needs to be broadcast that it is convenient and safe to use public transport again, and that buses will turn up when the timetable says it will.  A public transport marketing campaign is needed for all regions."

"Several bus routes on the Sunshine Coast are working trials designed to build up numbers.  In particular, these link the hinterland towns and the coast, but their patronage has taken a battering over several months.  Rail Back On Track does not want this aberration in passenger numbers to become an excuse to cancel those trial services.  We want an assurance from Translink that this will not occur."

"Furthermore, as many tourists travel about on buses, we again urge the state government to quicken their endeavours to find alternatives to the costly one-way single paper tickets visitors pay because there are no fixed fare day passes offered in South-East Queensland."

"Most major cities have tourist/visitor electronic card offerings.  Maybe that is one of the reasons why Brisbane has dropped back in the world's most liveability city stakes (1)."

Reference:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6641.0

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6648.0

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

15th September 2011

Re: 1 Sep 2011: SEQ: Time to Rebuild Public's Confidence in Public Transport

Greetings,

The Premier has announced the following on twitter:

TheQldPremier Premier Anna Bligh
TWU & SunBus reach agreement on wages etc - terrific news for sunshine coast commuters!

Well isn't this some good news.  But what about the damage that has been done to the community due to the months of service disruptions? Prawns in industrial games.  What about the long term effects on the public's confidence when using public transport?

Very very poor effort all round.

Will TransLink and Sunbus rise to the occasion or while they pretend all is well?

Don't miss the bus!

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

On 1/09/2011 3:12 AM, RAIL Back On Track Admin wrote:
Media release 1 September 2011

SEQ:  Time to Rebuild Public's Confidence in Public Transport

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 called for public confidence in the reliability of Sunshine Coast bus services to be re-established through a public marketing campaign. Further widespread disruption to bus services in Redlands and Gold Coast is compounding the problem.

Robert Dow, Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The clock must be reset on the assessment period for trial bus routes on the Sunshine Coast and an effective marketing campaign put in place to re-establish the travelling public's faith in bus services once the industrial disruption comes to an end."

"The Sunshine Coast is without buses again today (Thursday) in what has become a case of bus stop roulette for hapless commuters – wait at the shelter and see if a bus turns up.  The ongoing dispute is doing untold damage to confidence in the reliability of public transport, which lies at the heart of the implied contract between commuter and service provider.  Disruptions to Redlands and Gold Coast bus services is also a major concern."

"The constant disruptions to public transport of late is having profound effects on the community with a loss of transport options for work, school, medical appointments, shopping and leisure activities."

"Translink's action in engaging an industrial mediator to work with the bus company and the Transport Workers Union to resolve differences of pay is welcomed."

"Once industrial disputation is over – and we hope that's soon – the message needs to be broadcast that it is convenient and safe to use public transport again, and that buses will turn up when the timetable says it will.  A public transport marketing campaign is needed for all regions."

"Several bus routes on the Sunshine Coast are working trials designed to build up numbers.  In particular, these link the hinterland towns and the coast, but their patronage has taken a battering over several months.  Rail Back On Track does not want this aberration in passenger numbers to become an excuse to cancel those trial services.  We want an assurance from Translink that this will not occur."

"Furthermore, as many tourists travel about on buses, we again urge the state government to quicken their endeavours to find alternatives to the costly one-way single paper tickets visitors pay because there are no fixed fare day passes offered in South-East Queensland."

"Most major cities have tourist/visitor electronic card offerings.  Maybe that is one of the reasons why Brisbane has dropped back in the world's most liveability city stakes (1)."

Reference:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6641.0

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[somebody]

Prawns?  Doh!  I think you mean pawns.

[ozbob]

No I meant prawns ....  cryptic ...

[Stillwater]

Maybe we are 'prawns' -- having to develop a hard shell to the vicissitudes of the public transport network, with a very high likelihood that we will be consumed by government indifference towards remedying the system.  Trapped in a net, the 'customer' is done like a dinner.  When it comes to devising a 'world class' PT system, this state government is like a kilo of prawns rotting in the midday sun.  

[ozbob]

The Sunshine Coast has been dealt the transport  'raw prawn' .....