22 Oct 2011: SEQ: Core Frequent Network - Ramp up rail!

[ozbob]

Media release 22 October 2011

SEQ: Core Frequent Network - Ramp up rail!

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 calls for rail service frequency to be improved as a result of the upcoming 'stage two' rail timetable review.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"There has been much improvement to buses of late and we welcome that, however the Queensland Rail train network with 80 plus stations within Brisbane (outnumbering busway stations three to one) has been long neglected with respect to then poor out of peak train service frequency"

"RAIL Back On Track has long suggested that the cheapest, fastest and most practical way to dramatically improve public transport is to ramp up rail, particularly in the off-peak. Boosting services to a standard 15-minutes all day in the off peak would bring the QR system into line with basic frequency standards of other Australian capitals. The benefits of across-the-board frequency improvements are undeniable and have been proven on the ground time and again with the BUZ buses. Increased reliability and a few more peak hour services here and there are simply not enough in the face of annual 15% fare hikes, and more to come (1). Rail commuters are rightly expecting a major boost in all day frequency and nothing less."

"Improvements to off-peak frequency is achievable on much of the network and can be done now with little or no new infrastructure using trains that are left over from peak-hour services."

"The public is rightly tired of visions of frequent and fast two-tier rail services that always seem to be coming tomorrow and never today. Given the coverage of the rail network (Sunshine Coast/Gold Coast/Ipswich and Brisbane) and the fact that most people in Brisbane live near a train station rather than a busway station, improvements to train services will see the most dramatic improvement toward building a 'Core Frequent Network' yet."

"All day frequency is fundamental and no election policy on public transport will be complete without the introduction of frequent all day train services in the near future. As RAIL Back On Track has always said, services must be frequent, bottom line!"

Reference:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6865.msg71927#msg71927

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

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