5 Nov 2011: SEQ: Services from the Brisbane Entertainment Centre ...

[ozbob]

Media release 5 November 2011

SEQ: Services from the Brisbane Entertainment Centre are excellent value for money for Translink

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 welcomes the special rail services leaving Boondall after events at Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"These rail services do get a few hundred people so it is thought that the fares may well pay for providing the service.  However, the services do have some limitations.  They don't connect with the Ferny Grove and Cleveland lines.  RAIL Back On Track members believe this could be done easily by making the first service run express from Boondall to Bowen Hills (1).  The Ferny Grove train may need to be held for a couple of minutes at Bowen Hills, with the train from Boondall forming the Cleveland service.  Those heading for stations Nudgee to Albion or to the Caboolture line can use the second service.  In the case where only one special service is needed due to a low number of expected patrons, it would need to serve Northgate Monday-Thursday to allow connections to the Caboolture line."

"It has been noted that the information about these special services is not well publicised.  The details of the special services are often only made available a few days or so prior to the event and intending patrons are expected to research for themselves which services meet their needs regarding connections.  This is not good, and heightens the risk of a repeat of the unfortunate incident after a Pink concert in 2009 where some people missed their last train."

"Special services need to be provided, even for events with smaller expected patronage until the image of the service improves.  Eventually, there will be enough people using public transport that more specials can be provided going directly to all the major south and west lines without having to rely on connections, displacing timetabled services if necessary. For example, from Boondall a Ipswich train could run express from Boondall to Darra.  However, patronage of the services will need to grow dramatically before there is enough demand to require this."

Reference:

1.   http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6111.0

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

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