9 Oct 2015: Queensland: Call for a new public transport authority

[ozbob]

Media release 9th October 2015

Queensland: Call for a new public transport authority

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 said Queensland needs a new public transport authority with the legislative authority and resources to get Queensland back on track.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Network improvements for public transport in Queensland have largely ground to a halt.  TransLink lacks the resources and authority to do essential public transport improvement tasks such as bus reform for Brisbane. In our view TransLink is now greatly under-resourced and struggling to maintain even basic support services let alone improvements."

"We are going backwards in Queensland. Patronage has stalled, road congestion is worsening by the day. There is a slow down and a policy paralysis. This is reflected in a growing level of community frustration with poor service delivery outcomes."

"A good model is the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia (1)."

"Ignoring reality and pretending all is well is a formula for political oblivion."

Reference:

1. http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

TransLink is an emasculated shell ... IMHO ...

Enough of the charades, time to sort things out.

[ozbob]

Public Transport Victoria

>> http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

10th October 2015

Re: Queensland: Call for a new public transport authority

Greetings,

If the low hanging fruit cannot be grasped and achieved how on earth can big picture projects be achieved?

Some low hanging fruit, too hard for some.

Data transparency - where is detailed data for public transport that is freely available in other states? Bus ontime performance for example, patronage and ticketing data that has detail?

Bridge strikes - continue with seemingly very little action from the authorities.  Will it take a disaster before they act decisively? 

Failure to do the necessary bus network reform.  Is the government prepared to sacrifice the community of SEQ to prop up a despot regime in City Hall? Certainly looks that way hey?

All door boarding on high frequency bus services.  No brainer elsewhere but we are in banana-land I guess.

TransLink is under-resourced and is without any real authority in our opinion.

Public transport needs a dedicated Minister and a structure that can drive improvement, promote and maintain the necessary reforms.

We are at a critical conjuncture.  Doing nothing will see our public transport system consigned to death by a 1000 cuts.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Media release 9th October 2015

Queensland: Call for a new public transport authority

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 said Queensland needs a new public transport authority with the legislative authority and resources to get Queensland back on track.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Network improvements for public transport in Queensland have largely ground to a halt.  TransLink lacks the resources and authority to do essential public transport improvement tasks such as bus reform for Brisbane. In our view TransLink is now greatly under-resourced and struggling to maintain even basic support services let alone improvements."

"We are going backwards in Queensland. Patronage has stalled, road congestion is worsening by the day. There is a slow down and a policy paralysis. This is reflected in a growing level of community frustration with poor service delivery outcomes."

"A good model is the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia (1)."

"Ignoring reality and pretending all is well is a formula for political oblivion."

Reference:

1. http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Media release 9th October 2015 re-released 9th November 2015

Queensland: Call for a new public transport authority

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 said Queensland needs a new public transport authority with the legislative authority and resources to get Queensland back on track.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Network improvements for public transport in Queensland have largely ground to a halt.  The one exception is Moreton region.  TransLink lacks the resources and authority to do essential public transport improvement tasks such as bus reform for Brisbane. In our view TransLink is now greatly under-resourced and struggling to maintain even basic support services let alone improvements."

"We are going backwards in Queensland. Patronage has stalled, road congestion is worsening by the day. There is a slow down and a policy paralysis. This is reflected in a growing level of community frustration with poor service delivery outcomes."

"A good model is the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia (1)."

"Ignoring reality and pretending all is well is a formula for political oblivion."

Reference:

1. http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Media release 9th October 2015 re-released 3rd November 2016

Queensland: Call for a new public transport authority

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 said Queensland needs a new public transport authority with the legislative authority and resources to get Queensland back on track.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Network improvements for public transport in Queensland have largely ground to a halt.  TransLink lacks the resources and authority to do essential public transport improvement tasks such as bus reform for Brisbane. In our view TransLink is now greatly under-resourced and struggling to maintain even basic support services let alone improvements."

"We are going backwards in Queensland. Patronage has stalled, road congestion is worsening by the day. There is a slow down and a policy paralysis. This is reflected in a growing level of community frustration with poor service delivery outcomes."

"A good model is the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia (1)."

"Ignoring reality and pretending all is well is a formula for political oblivion."

Reference:

1. http://pta.wa.gov.au/

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Media: ' Queensland: Call for a new public transport authority '
> https://t.co/JgfZCT0t1A#qldpol@QLDLabor @LNPQLD @QldGreens pic.twitter.com/P7j873VOhu

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) November 2, 2016

[#Metro]

Think we should have our own 5-point plan (or however many points are needed).

1. Bus reform
2. Fund CRR
3. Separate authority and minister, based on WA model
4. Fix up fares (already done, just needs implementation)
5. TOD zoning around stations
6. Sunshine Coast line

etc. Sure others can add to the list

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

3rd November 2016

Re: Queensland: Call for a new public transport authority

Greetings,

Why is it we can see the looming now hugely manifest problems but apparently no one else in Government can?

Incompetence?  Poor communication?  Failure of Ministerial Departmental Liaison Staff?  Overloaded Ministers?  Disinterested Opposition? Dysfunctional Boards?

What ever the reason we are all past it.  FIX THE MESS PLEASE!

Dedicated Minister for Public Transport, and Public Transport Statutory Authority with the authority and resources to sort it, is needed in our opinion.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Media release 9th October 2015 re-released 3rd November 2016

Queensland: Call for a new public transport authority

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 said Queensland needs a new public transport authority with the legislative authority and resources to get Queensland back on track.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Network improvements for public transport in Queensland have largely ground to a halt.  TransLink lacks the resources and authority to do essential public transport improvement tasks such as bus reform for Brisbane. In our view TransLink is now greatly under-resourced and struggling to maintain even basic support services let alone improvements."

"We are going backwards in Queensland. Patronage has stalled, road congestion is worsening by the day. There is a slow down and a policy paralysis. This is reflected in a growing level of community frustration with poor service delivery outcomes."

"A good model is the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia (1)."

"Ignoring reality and pretending all is well is a formula for political oblivion."

Reference:

1. http://pta.wa.gov.au/

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Latest media: ' Queensland: Call for a new public transport authority "
" FIX THE MESS PLEASE! "
> https://t.co/hrRchcDJgQ#qldpol pic.twitter.com/bvJWe94RnS

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) November 3, 2016

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

6th November 2016

Transport - single portfolio Minister

Good Morning,

Suggestions in the Sunday Mail today that Minister Hinchliffe might give up some of his other portfolios and just remain with Transport.

[ http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/kate-jones-tipped-to-replace-stirling-hinchliffe-as-commonwealth-games-minister/news-story/a5ddf5bd31658262bc05f4e7c121ae8e ]

RAIL Back On Track would support this in principle.

Public transport needs close attention and focus.  Sorting out Queensland Rail  will be one very specific task for Mr Hinchliffe.  Lots more to do!  Bus reform, delivering of fare reform, NGR trains, timetable mess .. infrastructure!

Setting up a proper Public Transport Authority with the resources and authority to sort out public transport is needed too in our opinion.

The passenger transport functions need to be consolidated in one place, with one minister responsible.  All urban services, all subsidised long distance services, all on-demand services regulated by the government - part of one properly planned agency.  If this was done ' alliance ' models with councils would not be needed.

The infrastructure management needs to be dealt with holistically too.  The people responsible for main roads, railways, ports, busways etc. should all be under the same "roof".

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Media: ' Transport - single portfolio Minister '
> https://t.co/Tl1ijuXXPo#qldpol@AnnastaciaMP @StirlHinchliffe @QLDLabor pic.twitter.com/9vSzVIakio

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) November 5, 2016

[ozbob]

.@StirlHinchliffe says he expects to still be Commonwealth Games Minister and Leader of the House at the end of this week. #qldpol

— Nick Wiggins (@nick__w) November 5, 2016

[ozbob]

Big mistake If @StirlHinchliffe keeps all portfolios. @AnnastaciaMP needs to be decisive.

— Patrick Condren (@PatrickCondren) November 5, 2016

[ozbob]

QLD Premier says besieged Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe will remain minister for Commonwealth Games. https://t.co/vMweMBAeWC #9News

— Nine News Gold Coast (@9NewsGoldCoast) November 6, 2016

[ozbob]

A Minister with portfolio responsibilities for the Commonwealth Games and Transport will be increasingly distracted from Transport as the Games approaches.  I don't think this is very smart or fair on Mr Hinchliffe to be honest.  Transport might be better off with a new Minister if the Premier doesn't want to change the Games Minister.

More of the same failure looming ...

[ozbob]

Updated:  http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/kate-jones-tipped-to-replace-stirling-hinchliffe-as-commonwealth-games-minister/news-story/a5ddf5bd31658262bc05f4e7c121ae8e

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszszuk says besieged Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe will remain minister for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Ms Palaszczuk rejected suggestions Mr Hinchliffe would be stood down as Games Minister to focus on fixing the Queensland Rail crisis which has caused commuter chaos over the past month.

She said this morning he was a senior minister in her cabinet and it wouldn't be a "good look" to other Commonwealth countries to make a change 17 months before the Gold Coast event.

Earlier, Mr Hinchliffe said he believed he would still be the Commonwealth Games Minister by the end of the week, despite mounting speculation he would lose the portfolio.

Mr Hinchliffe said he was keen to keep the role and denied suggestions that he was unable to handle the job.

"I do expect to be the Commonwealth Games Minister by this end of the week, and I do want to make sure that I'm continuing to work on what will be a fantastic event," he said.

"Ultimately, as I've said on a number of occasions, decisions around my work within the Government are a matter for the Premier.

"What role the Premier wants me to play, what tasks she gives me, is ultimately her decision and I'm very comfortable with that."

Mr Hinchliffe also insisted he was up for the task of both the transport and Commonwealth Games portfolios and said the roles were complementary.

"I do believe that they're complementary and that they work well," he said.

"Despite the challenging issues that I've faced in relation to insufficient and frankly, at times, straight-out-misleading briefings I've had from Queensland Rail, I'm confident that where we are going forward will be very effective for both the transport portfolio and the Commonwealth Games."

Mr Hinchliffe today unveiled a new train timetable to address the driver shortage that has plagued Queensland Rail over the past month.

The new timetable will feature 313 less services than the October 4 timetable, but will have slightly more services than what was originally available before the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line.

"The issues that we've had have been a function of a lack of train crew," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"We're making sure that we've built this timetable to be sustainable within the framework of the current train crewing levels."

The new timetable will come into effect tomorrow. Commuters have been urged to check the TransLink website for changes. ...

[#Metro]

A Minister with portfolio responsibilities for the Commonwealth Games and Transport will be increasingly distracted from Transport as the Games approaches.  I don't think this is very smart or fair on Mr Hinchliffe to be honest.  Transport might be better off with a new Minister if the Premier doesn't want to change the Games Minister.

More of the same failure looming ...
ReplyQuoteNotify

I believe this is the toxic politics again. They want to retain super-portfolios and restrict the number of people in cabinet to "save money" as a virtue signal to the electorate that they are fiscally responsible.

This is why Jackie Trad had a portfolio for almost every day of the week until recently.

Will all end in tears I think.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

7th November 2016

So what now?

Good Morning,

Well it appears that that the Sunday Mail was not correct yesterday.

What a sad time for public transport in SEQ.  Rail a mess - the timetable that rolls out today will bring a measure of reliability but when you run less services is anyone really surprised?

There are serious problems with the bus network.  There are failures with infrastructure - Cross River Rail is now a cut-down version of what was originally proposed.  The Brisbane ' metro ' is nonsense as originally proposed.   The State Government has stood by while BCC has wasted millions of dollars on an absurdity.

Perhaps someone can explain the administrative relationships/linkages and chain-of-command, core responsibilities of each of Building Queensland, Department of Transport and Main Roads, Translink and Queensland Rail, as well as Cross River Rail Delivery Authority.  All seems to have a finger in the pie when it comes to planning, delivering and operating critical transport infrastructure.  Left hand - right hand confusion seems to play out in some areas.

No wonder it is a great big mess of failure!

The rail timetables can be found here --> https://translink.com.au/service-updates/104191

Changes to bus and train connections here --> https://translink.com.au/service-updates/102881

Good luck SEQ, we are going to need it.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

6th November 2016

Transport - single portfolio Minister

Good Morning,

Suggestions in the Sunday Mail today that Minister Hinchliffe might give up some of his other portfolios and just remain with Transport.

[ http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/kate-jones-tipped-to-replace-stirling-hinchliffe-as-commonwealth-games-minister/news-story/a5ddf5bd31658262bc05f4e7c121ae8e ]

RAIL Back On Track would support this in principle.

Public transport needs close attention and focus.  Sorting out Queensland Rail  will be one very specific task for Mr Hinchliffe.  Lots more to do!  Bus reform, delivering of fare reform, NGR trains, timetable mess .. infrastructure!

Setting up a proper Public Transport Authority with the resources and authority to sort out public transport is needed too in our opinion.

The passenger transport functions need to be consolidated in one place, with one minister responsible.  All urban services, all subsidised long distance services, all on-demand services regulated by the government - part of one properly planned agency.  If this was done ' alliance ' models with councils would not be needed.

The infrastructure management needs to be dealt with holistically too.  The people responsible for main roads, railways, ports, busways etc. should all be under the same "roof".

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Latest media: ' So what now? '
> https://t.co/3qs5mQ6Vss#qldpol@QLDLabor @LNPQLD @QldGreens @StirlHinchliffe @AnnastaciaMP @jackietrad pic.twitter.com/TCGTAUyfbi

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) November 6, 2016

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

10th November 2016

Political oblivion or transport reform?

Good Morning,

Surprised with the USA Presidential Election result?  Not us, nor were we surprised with the Brexit result either.

The political classes have generally failed.  In SEQ, years of inaction with public transport have now compounded into a great big mess!

It is not only rail, but it is bus as well.  There was a chance in 2013 to sort the bus network but weak politics lead to mediocre outcomes.

We warned for years of the failures compounding, we were ignored.

I would suggest that unless things actually start happening both Labor and LNP are in for great big political shocks.

There is not much time left to deliver basic reforms which will lead improved networks, better frequency and connections.

Simple things are glossed over - all door boarding of buses, removing ad-wrap from windows (it is very annoying, people become disorientated and it is also a security risk), logical arrangements of CBD bus stops, actual bus route network reform.  There is no need to waste billions of dollars on fantasy ' metro ' pipe-dreams.  The State Government has blocked BCC from sorting out Victoria Bridge/Cultural Centre bus station - how dumb is that?  Massive bus failure is on the way with Queens Wharf bus changes. Band-aids will not do it.

What are the chances of proper reform?   Your move ... political oblivion waits ...

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ Attached:  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11713.msg183018#msg183018 ]

[ozbob]

Latest media: ' Political oblivion or transport reform? '
> https://t.co/6nRiEEa3No#qldpol@QLDLabor @LNPQLD @QldGreens pic.twitter.com/VggkOlH78c

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) November 9, 2016