3 Apr 2008: SEQ: Congestion ?crushing? commuters

[ozbob]

Media Release 8 March 2008 ? released again 3 April 2008

SEQ:  Congestion ?crushing? commuters

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and advocate for public transport commuters has said the congestion on the Translink QR Suburban rail network has now reached a crisis point.  Short and long term strategies must be enacted immediately in the interests of safety and well being of passengers and crew. The recently announced increases in trains and timetable changes are not even enough to match growth in the last three years let alone meet future demands.

Robert Dow said:

?This week I assisted a school girl who had fainted on an overloaded suburban train as it arrived at Roma St (1).  We have also had reports of commuters being forced to actually terminate their journey and leave trains due to them being unable to tolerate the cramped conditions.  I have also observed many instances of intending passengers standing back at stations as it is obvious there is no more room on the train for them.?

?As the fuel crisis starts to bite, more and more citizens will turn to our public transport. There is no more room on many peak services. This week I monitored passenger numbers on the 6.44am train (Monday to Friday service) Oxley to the city.  Monday to Thursday the train is arriving at Roma St with anywhere from 1100 to 1200 passenger or more (2).  The design limit for these trains in a 6 car configuration is 1000 passengers (3). Similar loadings are being experienced on the other lines such as the Caboolture line and Beenleigh/Gold Coast.?

?The 44 new three car trains will only increase capacity by 30% when all are in service.  The last three years has seen at least a 30% increase in patronage alone.  It is little wonder then that congestion is out of control.?

?Long term, RAIL Back On Track believes that a further additional 50 three car trains will be required to be in service no later than 2012 to provide the capacity that will be required.?

?In the short term some smart thinking and actions are required.  For a start, it is possible with the Go Card to allow people who travel outside the traditional peak times a significant discount on their travel to help to reduce peak congestion.  Melbourne has recently expanded the free travel before 7am trial from two lines to all lines of their suburban rail network, such was the response by commuters (4).?

?We would suggest that an immediate action would be to give free travel on all modes of public transport, not just rail, Monday to Friday if commuters touch on before 6.30am.  This would help relieve some of the morning peak congestion and help uptake of the Go card as well.?

?A commuter education program as to the tips for a comfortable journey on congested services needs to be rolled out. For example, active encouragement to move down the aisles. RAIL Back on Track has suggested such campaigns before (5).?

?QR and Translink need to consider running intermediate sweeper services running a few minutes before heavily loaded long haul services. For example, the train that leaves Ipswich Monday to Friday at 6.14am which is the 6.44am service from Oxley is overloaded by about Indooroopilly.  If a service Darra to Bowen Hills left Darra at 6.35am this would sweep up the short haul commuters and leave the 6.44am service from Oxley under the design limit. Similar strategies can be done on the northern and southern lines.?

?The massive expenditure on roads needs to be directed to sustainable transport solutions for the future now to ensure the capacity is available today and tomorrow.? said Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track.

Reference:

1.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=143.msg2288#msg2288

2.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=585.0

3.  http://www.citytrain.com.au/about/fleet/emu/emu.asp

4.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=599.0

5.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=96.msg187#msg187

Contact:

Robert  Dow

Administration
admin@backontrack.org

Ed:  updated forum links ..