Important message for all political parties and candidates

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

1st November 2011

Important message for all political parties and candidates

Greetings,

To put things in a nutshell.  There are three major things from the rail perspective that all parties and candidates are going to have to tackle from here.

Voters will be very keen to learn of your plans to address these issues forthwith:

1.   The Sunshine Coast Line upgrade,

2.   Cross River Rail,

3.   Around the clock train frequency improvements.

Addressing these matters leads to flow ons onto the further infrastructure needed to support, new generation rolling stock, signalling improvements, stabling, maintenance and so forth.

Couldn't be much simpler, could it?

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

On further reflection, this is what it is all about (OP) ...

I have had acknowledgement from the LNP that this message was delivered ...  still waiting for some sort of response from the Greens and the Katter Party and who ever ...  

It is not rocket science ..  it is transport planning and implementation 101 ...

[Golliwog]

Any response from Labor?

[ozbob]

Any response from Labor?

No, not directly.  BUT the statement from the Deputy Premier is some sort of 'de facto' acknowledgement I guess ..  BRING ON THE TRAINS! 

[ozbob]

The terms of use of this discussion forum are detailed here --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3.0

Participants are entitled to express their views on matters political, particularly as it relates to transport and planning issues, or anything else for that matter.

There have been some attempts to persuade certain posters on this forum to alter some of their posts and opinions, by people acting on behalf of various political groups.

We live in democracy, and the fact that your policy, or non-policy is scrutinised is the way it works.

Goodness, debate is only luke-warm, how will you handle the policy critique furnace in a few weeks?   Harden up princesses ....

[Stillwater]

lol.  For some in the LNP who have enjoyed the tight scrutiny that this forum places on the government over transport issues, there is a growing realisation that they stand a good change of being the government in three months time -- with the blowtorch being applied to their bellies.

A good transport policy, properly thought through, might afford some protection.

[mufreight]

lol.  For some in the LNP who have enjoyed the tight scrutiny that this forum places on the government over transport issues, there is a growing realisation that they stand a good change of being the government in three months time -- with the blowtorch being applied to their bellies.

A good transport policy, properly thought through, might afford some protection.

It would seem that Mr Newman his advisers and election stratigests can not spell the P word have no policies nor are they aware of what the dreaded P word means.
On transport matters Mr Newman there is a light at the end of the tunnel but unfortunately it is a train loaded with policy not spin, fluffy clouds and mirrors and is directed at you as the would be dictator in charge of the LNP.
The bad news is that the only way out for you and the LNP is to continue your trip through the tunnel which like your Clem 7 could well prove to be a less than profitable and highly damaging exercise.

[ozbob]

A good transport policy, properly thought through, might afford some protection.

Exactly, but a good transport policy needs to publicised and examined .... 

[ozbob]

Sent 23rd January 2012 to all outlets.

Important message for all political parties and candidates

Greetings,

The critical rail transport issues moving into Election 2012 are detailed below.

Seems we have real transport failure looming.

Enjoy the congestion, trauma and mayhem folks.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

1st November 2011

Important message for all political parties and candidates

Greetings,

To put things in a nutshell.  There are three major things from the rail perspective that all parties and candidates are going to have to tackle from here.

Voters will be very keen to learn of your plans to address these issues forthwith:

1.   The Sunshine Coast Line upgrade,  LNP nothing,  Labor nothing

2.   Cross River Rail, Labor firmly committed, LNP in the world of non-solutions

3.   Around the clock train frequency improvements. LNP nothing, Labor nothing.

Addressing these matters leads to flow ons onto the further infrastructure needed to support, new generation rolling stock, signalling improvements, stabling, maintenance and so forth.

Couldn't be much simpler, could it?

Best wishes
Robert

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

[mufreight]

The obvious message that needs to be given to all candidates especialy the LNP is simply no policies no votes.   

[Stillwater]

Maybe the LNP believes it should not release policies so that all the focus is on the ALP and its (failed) policies.  Why give the government an opportunity to debate your policies AND, if you manage to slide into office, you've made bugger all promises apart from some targeted announcements in marginal electorates.  You are beholden to no-one.  Is that the government people want?

[Jonno]

Maybe the LNP believes it should not release policies so that all the focus is on the ALP and its (failed) policies.  Why give the government an opportunity to debate your policies AND, if you manage to slide into office, you've made bugger all promises apart from some targeted announcements in marginal electorates.  You are beholden to no-one.  Is that the government people want?

It is the Govt the LNP wants!!!

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

26th February 2012

Is there a political party that will fix rail-bus connections?

Greetings,

Yesterday afternoon, Saturday 25th February, the UP Ipswich train due at Goodna at 4.35pm was 10 minutes late.  I was there at Goodna railway station waiting for a pax.  Watched as the hourly 530 bus took off as scheduled at 4.40pm.  Next bus for the 530 punters (and last) due 5.40pm, another 55 minute wait for those who missed the bus!  A 522 bus does leave Goodna at 5.10pm but this does not have the same route coverage as the 530 bus.

A lot of services run late on weekends.  This makes it very difficult because of the very limited bus connections.

Do you think that in view of the very poor rail and bus service frequencies that some attempt could be made, particularly on weekends when service levels are terrible, such that buses could be held to allow connections to be made where possible and practical?

It is very difficult to rely on public transport when there is complete disregard in many situations of the impacts of late running rail services.  I don't think it is too big of an ask, and I don't think the affected punters do either.

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

27th February 2012

Important message for all political parties and candidates

Greetings,

We have seen a little bit of movement with train frequency, for example the LNP proposal for frequency upgrade Ferny Grove line weekdays between the peaks.  A start.

Face reality, the election will turn in SE Queensland, and public transport is a major issue.  It was in Victoria and NSW too, and governments changed from red to blue ...

Time for some real policy initiatives.

Just a reminder of the key issues:

Best wishes
Robert

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

==================================

1st November 2011 resent 27th February 2012

Important message for all political parties and candidates

Greetings,

To put things in a nutshell.  There are three major things from the rail perspective that all parties and candidates are going to have to tackle from here.

Voters will be very keen to learn of your plans to address these issues forthwith:

1.   The Sunshine Coast Line upgrade,

2.   Cross River Rail,

3.   Around the clock train frequency improvements.

Addressing these matters leads to flow ons onto the further infrastructure needed to support, new generation rolling stock, signalling improvements, stabling, maintenance and so forth.

Couldn't be much simpler, could it?

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

18th March 2012

Major transport failure looming, no matter who is in Government

Greetings,

At the beginning of the State Election Campaign we listed some the main public transport issues:

Have these issues been addressed during the campaign?

Quick review.

Cross River Rail - support or not?

ALP supports, LNP  doesn't know what to do.  KAP doesn't know what Cross River Rail actually is ...

Sunshine Coast Line - failure to upgrade.

All parties in denial.  This bottleneck is causing much grief passenger and freight wise.  More and more trucks tearing up roads and causing massive costly road trauma, fatalities and injuries.

Lack of proper bus priority on the road network.

All parties in denial.  The failure to provide bus access from Legacy Way to the Inner Northern Busway ignored by all including the media.

Need to improve frequency of bus and rail services outside the inner suburban core regions.

Nothing, except for the Ferny Grove line pork barrel (see below).

The failure to use existing infrastructure assets maximally.

One small ray of hope, a two year trial to improve weekday between the peak frequency on the Ferny Grove line policy committment from the LNP.  Hello, Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide all have 15 minute frequency as basic.  Brisbane is a public transport backwater.  And all we get is a trial, a pork barrel trial at that as it includes the Ashgrove electorate.  No wonder serious thinkers are bitter.

The public perception that fares are too dear.

The best on offer is fare increases still twice the CPI, and a minor tinker to the journey cap.  But freeze motor registration, but continue to slam public transport commuters. Issues such as extending concession travel to all Health Care Card holders (as done in every other state) dismissed.  The LNP and ALP are a transport policy joke.  The KAP had at least thought about the fares.

Constant service disruptions and delays.

Unreliability of the public transport has gotten worse during the election campaign, bus and rail.  Any policy announcements to sort it?  This weekend has seen a track closure that the operator would be hard pressed to cause more disruption for travellers.
And now the punters face more disruption due to possible industrial action.

We are heading for transport failure.  The incoming government has not indicated that they can avert it.

Best wishes
Robert

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

==================

Media release 18th February 2012

SEQ:  Public transport key election issue in south-east Queensland

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 suggested that public and active transport will be a key issue in the 2012 State Election.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Congestion in and around Brisbane is worsening by the day.  Futile attempts to manage congestion by building more roads is actually exacerbating the problem.  This escalating congestion is compounded by a failure to organise the public transport system around a core frequent network, both bus and rail, with good feeder options.  It is the frequency of services that makes public transport an attractive option, most of our public transport network has very poor service frequency, particularly outside the peak times."

"State election outcomes in NSW and Victoria were heavily impacted by public transport concerns.  The Queensland election will be no different."

"One bright spot in this election campaign already has been the policy committment by the LNP to increase train frequency to 4 trains per hour between the peaks on the Ferny Grove line.  More needs to be done though."

"All political parties and candidates need to commit by definitive policy with time-lines on improving our public transport networks."

Some key issues:

Cross River Rail - support or not?

Sunshine Coast Line - failure to upgrade.

Lack of proper bus priority on the road network.

Need to improve frequency of bus and rail services outside the inner suburban core regions.

The failure to use existing infrastructure assets maximally.

The public perception that fares are too dear.

Constant service disruptions and delays.

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