Article: Airport train use jumps sky high

[somebody]

Airport train use jumps sky high

    Henry Budd
    The Daily Telegraph
    July 10, 2012 12:00AM
    18 comments

Maria Giacon, Kirra Merry and Jim Bellette using the airport link Domestic terminal station. Picture: Craig Greenhill Source: The Daily Telegraph

TRAFFIC congestion and rising taxi fares are forcing record numbers of airline passengers underground, literally.

The growing gridlock around the airport has prompted the number of people paying $15.40 to use the privately owned train line to jump by 30 per cent in the past three years.

By the end of the 2011-2012 financial year, more than 5.3 million passengers arrived by rail - up by 1.3 million from the previous three years.

The figures are a stark turnaround for the troubled line, which went into receivership just six months after it opened in May 2000 because of people's refusal to pay the then $10 fare and CityRail's well-documented reliability problems.

The rise in patronage at Mascot and Green Square stations has been even more dramatic, rising by 64 per cent last financial year on the back of Kristina Keneally's decision to subsidise the $2.40 station access fee in the last days of her government.

A recent joint study into Sydney's aviation capacity recommended the $12 access fee at the domestic and international terminal stations, charged on top of the regular CityRail fare, also be scrapped but the state government has yet to move.

"There have been no formal discussions with the Airport Link Company concerning the station access fee at the Sydney Airport stations since the release of the capacity study," Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian said.

"We are investigating options to improve public transport to and from Sydney Airport and this will be addressed in the NSW Long Term Transport Master Plan."

Tourism and Transport Forum lobby group chief executive John Lee said improved marketing by the train line's operators had helped to increase patronage, and removing the airport station surcharge was critical to ensure the trend continued.

"Road congestion around Sydney Airport is already a problem and one that is forecast to get worse over the coming years, with passenger numbers forecast to more than double to 79 million by 2029," he said.

Taxi Council chief executive Peter Ramshaw said demand for taxis at the airport was increasing and it was still cheaper for two people to catch a cab to the city than the train.



18 comments on this story

[somebody]

Still only about 15% market share.  Could be much better.

[#Metro]

Taxi Council chief executive Peter Ramshaw said demand for taxis at the airport was increasing and it was still cheaper for two people to catch a cab to the city than the train.

Here's an idea. A paper 'take two' ticket. Discount it.

[somebody]

Still only about 15% market share.  Could be much better.

I think it will continue to climb. Price is probably having an impact, but the owners are there to make money not set pax records and even reducing the fare to Cityrail prices will very unlikely see it double in numbers. I think based on the uterliation of Cityrail, 20-25% is probably about max.

regards
Shane

I'm somewhat more optimistic than you.  Between the traffic congestion, taxi queues,  and hassle I think it is mainly the fares which are holding it back, although 15 minute gaps in the timetable aren't exactly a delight.