Air Train - Off Peak

[curator49]

It is disappointing to see the off peak Air Train service is now scheduled to stop at Coopers Plains (previously Yeerongpilly). One wonders why Coopers Plains was chosen? I thought part of Translink's brief was to support more co-ordinated public transport across the region.

Coopers Plains station has three bus routes that stop near the station - 122 (Inala); 123 (Garden City/Sunnybank/Sunnybank Hills) and 124 (starts at Sunnybank K-Mart). One of these three routes (123) also passes by my alternative suggestion - Altandi.

I would have thought Altandi might be a better stop, and, in fact could be considered for all Air-Train services as I think it would be an excellent choice to capture more people who may want to travel to or from the airport. Something like 13 bus routes pass along Mains Road past the Altandi station stop. These bus routes support a large catchment area including - Browns Plains/ Parkinson / Calamvale / Algester/Sunnybank Hills and Sunnybank. People living in these areas are ones who are likely to fly frequently - business people / overseas students / overseas migrants and visitors.

[ozbob]

Welcome Curator49!   

Thanks for the comments.  It is certainly an important point.

I am not sure why the stop was moved to Coopers Plains and in view of some of the other changes makes one wonder who actually did this timetable?

It is something that would be worthwhile advancing to the new Translink Transit Authority.
Not much point with raising anything to Translink at this time by the look of things.

Cheers
Ozbob

[Huggies]

I quite like the Gold Coast train stopping at Coopers. I make regular trips from Eagle Junction which means I only have to get one train now.

[Derwan]

Quoting QR's Anna Whybird at http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/comments/0,23836,23498720-3102,00.html

QR responded to a request from Airtrain to use Coopers Plains station as it provides greater flexibility. Trains are able to stop at three platforms following the recent completion of the Salisbury to Kuraby (S2K) track duplication project. Yeerongpilly has only two platforms by comparison. Coopers Plains provides better parking facilities providing QR with the opportunity to provide greater levels of customer service following the completion of the S2K project. Yeerongpilly in comparison has limited parking options available. Coopers Plains also boasts a broader coverage for bus connections than Yeerongpilly. Airtrain services ceased stopping at Yeerongpilly with the introduction of the new timetable on 31 March due to the express running from Coopers Plains on the dual track. Coopers Plains provides improved access for passengers travelling to both the domestic and international airport terminals appreciating the new stopping patterns. I will forward your comments about the new tennis centre as this is a valid point, Natalie and I will forward your comments to our network planners for a response. We did do a lettebox drop to both businesses and residents in the vicinity of both Yeerongpilly and Coopers Plains stations, Natalie to informing people for the changes to services. I hope this helps and thanks again for your feedback.

[albiwan]

Despite having more car parking and apparently more bus connections, there is very little medium density development at Coopers Plains, with the exception of a pocket of new housing commission development. Contrast this with Yeerongpilly which has large quantities of medium density and a quick BCC search shows a lot more land zoned low to medium density capable of development. What we really need is three trains an hour off peak in all sections of the "inner" network, from Beenleigh, Ipswich, Shorncliffe Cab. FG, Cleveland, Doomben. This is what Melbourne has and I wonder how big their population was when this was instigated. There would be no problems with peak hour rolling stock, with such offpeak capacity but I would imagine South Brisbane to Roma would be a choke point for a start.

One final point. The tennis centre carpark can be seen from the Yeerongpilly platform. Does this mean it has the potential to have more carparking than Coopers Plains?

[stephenk]

What we really need is three trains an hour off peak in all sections of the "inner" network, from Beenleigh, Ipswich, Shorncliffe Cab. FG, Cleveland, Doomben. This is what Melbourne has and I wonder how big their population was when this was instigated. There would be no problems with peak hour rolling stock, with such offpeak capacity but I would imagine South Brisbane to Roma would be a choke point for a start.

I think a 15 min off-peak service (4tph) would be considerably more attractive than a 20 min off-peak service (3tph).

There should be no problems with South Brisbane to Roma Street off-peak capacity as it can handle approx 20tph.

PS: I think we are more likely to see flying pigs than a 4tph Doomben service!

[curator49]

Despite what Anna Whybird thinks about bus connections at Coopers Plains there are only three bus routes that pass near Coopers Plains station (and one of these routes also passes Altandi) compared to 13 bus routes at Altandi.

Although passengers can travel to the City on the Air Train my primary focus for suggesting Altandi was to give a greater number of people ease of access to the Air Train for travel to the Airport which, after all, is what the Air Train service is supposed to be all about.

Car parking spaces at Coopers Plains, Yeerongpilly or anywhere alse are irrelevant in this case (if you are going to the Airport). Altandi station has a safe drop-off point in their car park for people coming by taxi or private car (being let off by a family member/friend)

[Zoiks]

4 tph major lines and 3tph on the smaller lines would be fantastic offpeak and I bet every last cent I have there would be a jump in patronage... and a large one at that. Even if they start as 3 car and progress to 6 car as they start filling up

[ozbob]

This is what I think is achievable with the necessary resources of course.

All lines 15 minute frequency 5am to 8pm Mon to Friday.  Peak 7.5 minutes or better.

Outside these times (and Sat Sun Public holidays) 20 minute freq all lines.

Do that and transport in SEQ would undergo a revolution for the better.

[Derwan]

Speaking of off-peak...... you get up really early!!

[ozbob]

Rehearsing for the 24 hour timetable on the Airtrain ! 

[Zoiks]

HA! yeah right ozbob!

[stephenk]

Peak 7.5 minutes or better.

The Suburban Lines (i.e those that use platforms 1&2 at Bowen Hills) have the capacity of 20tph, which is a train every 3 minutes. Thus if you were to run 2 trains on a branch (such as Ferny Grove) per 15 minutes, it would have to be at alternate 6 and 9 minute intervals rather than 7.5min intervals.

[ozbob]

All lines 15 minute frequency 5am to 8pm Mon to Friday.  Peak 7.5 minutes or better.

Outside these times (and Sat Sun Public holidays) 20 minute freq all lines.

These are just broad targets, there will be local variations to suit but the overall principle of high frequency services will virtually remove the need to for commuters to be timetable focussed, and will spread the loads well.  Rail will become the mode of the choice (as it should!    )

Interesting thread!

Cheers
Ozbob