29 Apr 2013: SEQ: What is going on?

[ozbob]

Media release 29th April 2013



SEQ: What is going on?

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 despite the Governments rhetoric of focus on improvements to  frequency, affordability and reliability there is little public evidence that real progress with these noble aims has occurred.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Public transport must be fast, direct, accessible and frequent. It must also be affordable."

"Over the past year the bus system has become even more unreliable (1). CBD chronic bus congestion, road congestion generally and a lack of bus priority on key arterial roads has now made delays commonplace. Coupled with some of the worlds highest price fares it is little wonder that there has been relative patronage decreases. The BCC Bus Review does very little to reduce these trends and delays. The bus review failure is going to further drive more passengers back to the roads."

"Rail peak on time performance has improved (2), the focus on catching up with the infrastructure maintenance deficit is also the correct thing to do.  Sector 2 timetable improvements long promised are nowhere to be seen though."

"The increase in inter-peak train service frequency on the Ferny Grove line is being hampered by a lack of proper feeder bus support, as is the rail network generally.  Parking issues are going to further compound to unmanageable levels. The BCC Bus Review again fails to address the need to have a proper integrated connected network."

"Fares are amongst the worlds most expensive in south east Queensland (3), for what is a poorly constructed and under-performing public transport network.  TransLink are to be congratulated for attempting to start to move south-east Queensland forward with a frequent, connected, affordable, integrated public transport network.  BCC do not properly understand that real change is needed. The so called BCC Bus Review is essentially minor changes that do not constitute a major review.  It is a con to suggest it is a major review, it is just more of the same failure."

"What is the progress of the Early Capacity Works of the Brisbane Inner Rail Solution (4)?  What is the progress of core Cross River Rail? Crunch time looms."

"What is happening with the fares? (3)  Is the fare review going to be compromised now by the bus review failures?"

"What is the progress with enabling automatic train protection and improved signalling on the suburban rail network? (5)"

"Lots of questions with not much public information.  Has there really been any progress?"

References:

1. Bus Delays http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2695.msg124540#msg124540

2. On Time Performance data - rail  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?board=73.0

3. Fare Review for TransLink South-East Queensland now! - Petition http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9120.0

4. Brisbane Inner Rail Solution http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/C/Cross-River-Rail/Brisbane-Inner-Rail-Solution.aspx

5. 9 Apr 2013: SEQ: Suburban rail network needs Automatic Train Protection too! http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9832.0

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

30th April 2013

Re: SEQ: What is going on?

Greetings,

Patronage falling, there is a fare crisis in SEQ.  Increasing fares 7.5% is not going to fix it.  What is happening with the fare review?



http://translink.com.au/resources/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/open-data/2013-mar-snapshot.pdf

Queensland Rail doesn't set the fares.  They are performing very well according to this survey at Canstar Blue --> http://www.canstarblue.com.au/travel/city-trains/

Best wishes
Robert

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

Media release 29th April 2013



SEQ: What is going on?

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 despite the Governments rhetoric of focus on improvements to  frequency, affordability and reliability there is little public evidence that real progress with these noble aims has occurred.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Public transport must be fast, direct, accessible and frequent. It must also be affordable."

"Over the past year the bus system has become even more unreliable (1). CBD chronic bus congestion, road congestion generally and a lack of bus priority on key arterial roads has now made delays commonplace. Coupled with some of the worlds highest price fares it is little wonder that there has been relative patronage decreases. The BCC Bus Review does very little to reduce these trends and delays. The bus review failure is going to further drive more passengers back to the roads."

"Rail peak on time performance has improved (2), the focus on catching up with the infrastructure maintenance deficit is also the correct thing to do.  Sector 2 timetable improvements long promised are nowhere to be seen though."

"The increase in inter-peak train service frequency on the Ferny Grove line is being hampered by a lack of proper feeder bus support, as is the rail network generally.  Parking issues are going to further compound to unmanageable levels. The BCC Bus Review again fails to address the need to have a proper integrated connected network."

"Fares are amongst the worlds most expensive in south east Queensland (3), for what is a poorly constructed and under-performing public transport network.  TransLink are to be congratulated for attempting to start to move south-east Queensland forward with a frequent, connected, affordable, integrated public transport network.  BCC do not properly understand that real change is needed. The so called BCC Bus Review is essentially minor changes that do not constitute a major review.  It is a con to suggest it is a major review, it is just more of the same failure."

"What is the progress of the Early Capacity Works of the Brisbane Inner Rail Solution (4)?  What is the progress of core Cross River Rail? Crunch time looms."

"What is happening with the fares? (3)  Is the fare review going to be compromised now by the bus review failures?"

"What is the progress with enabling automatic train protection and improved signalling on the suburban rail network? (5)"

"Lots of questions with not much public information.  Has there really been any progress?"

References:

1. Bus Delays http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2695.msg124540#msg124540

2. On Time Performance data - rail  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?board=73.0

3. Fare Review for TransLink South-East Queensland now! - Petition http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9120.0

4. Brisbane Inner Rail Solution http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/C/Cross-River-Rail/Brisbane-Inner-Rail-Solution.aspx

5. 9 Apr 2013: SEQ: Suburban rail network needs Automatic Train Protection too! http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9832.0

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9292.msg125364#msg125364