Media releases

[ozbob]

Media release 5th August 2013



Australia: Election 2013 - urban and freight rail, public transport key issues

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 the future of urban rail and public transport is in the balance in the Federal election.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"A Tony Abbott lead Government has indicated they will not support the funding of urban rail and public transport (1).  This is an absurd policy."

"Presently throughout Australia there are many urban rail and public transport projects underway that are funded either in part or full by the Federal Government. The Federal Government receives the bulk of taxes and is in the best position to provide funding, not only for urban rail and public transport but also roads."

"Building more roads only is only going to further exacerbate the already bad congestion in major cities and regional centres.  The way forward is to improve public transport. Freight rail improvements are also needed to get bulk freight back onto rail to reduce costs, trauma and constant road damage by heavy trucks."

"Most Australians live in the cities. A life condemned to chronic congestion, gridlock, delay and transport failure is guaranteed under an Abbott Government unless they revise their flawed policies."

"Think carefully Australia before voting."

References:

1. http://www.liberal.org.au/

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Media release 28 August 2013

Australia:  Inland rail confirmed and welcomed

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 welcomed the LNP policy announcement of support for the inland rail project (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Getting bulk freight back on to rail is the way to minimise the freight transport task costs of a nation."

"Rail is cost effective - it is sustainable, it is safe, it takes thousands of trucks off the road network. Road trauma and road maintenance costs are reduced."

"The Inland rail has a lot of benefits for south-east Queensland. By removing freight trains from the suburban network this allows both modes, passenger and freight to operate independently and optimally.  This also improves cost effectiveness as less delays and more passenger and freight trains can be added to the network."

"The Southern Freight Rail corridor from Rosewood to Kagaru and the new rail connection from Acacia Ridge to the Port of Brisbane need to be a priority (2).  This will immediately shift coal trains from suburban passenger network to a dedicated freight connection."

References:

1. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/tony-abbott-to-unveil-rail-tunnel-plan-as-kevin-rudd-flags-navy-move/story-fnihsrf2-1226705349641

2. http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/S/Southern-Freight-Rail-Corridor-Study.aspx

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Media release 3rd September 2013



Australia: Election 2013 - urban and freight rail, public transport key issues

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 the future of urban rail and public transport is in the balance in the Federal election.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"A Tony Abbott lead Government has indicated they will not support the funding of urban rail and public transport (1).  This is an absurd policy."

"Presently throughout Australia there are many urban rail and public transport projects underway that are funded either in part or full by the Federal Government. The Federal Government receives the bulk of taxes and is in the best position to provide funding, not only for urban rail and public transport but also roads."

"Building more roads only is only going to further exacerbate the already bad congestion in major cities and regional centres.  The way forward is to improve public transport as well as roads. Freight rail improvements are also needed to get bulk freight back onto rail to reduce costs, trauma and constant road damage by heavy trucks. Coalition and Labor support for the Inland rail is welcome (2)."

"Most Australians live in the cities however. A life condemned to chronic congestion, gridlock, delay and transport failure is guaranteed under an Abbott Government unless they revise their flawed policies."

"Think carefully Australia before voting."

References:

1. http://www.liberal.org.au/

2. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10177.0

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Media release 6 August 2013



SEQ: Cross River Rail - A tunnel, for trains

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 again highlights the importance of Cross River Rail (1, 2, 3).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Cross River Rail is one of the state's largest and most important state-building projects. The name of the project is perhaps unfortunate as it merely suggests that the project will cross the Brisbane River and is rail. It is so much more than this - the benefits of this project are wide and dispersed across South East Queensland, reaching as far away as Beenleigh, Yarrabilba, Cleveland, Nambour and the Gold Coast for example. It enables rail to become the backbone of the public transport network with the ability to carry large number of passengers."

"By way of analogy, sending cars all to the city on the road system in peak hour will result in congestion as cars queue and get in the way of each other. A similar situation occurs on the rail system - sending trains all to the city on the train system in peak hour will also result in congestion as trains wait to cross the Merivale Bridge into the CBD from the south, and as trains from all lines converge on the core CBD section. The number of additional 'slots' available for trains on this restricted section will exhaust in 2016."

"Around this time, and if nothing is done, our members expect to see trains leaving people behind and a worsening of car congestion on the roads. The bus system already has capacity issues. No government wants to go down in history for deliberately bringing about an avoidable situation like that - just look at Melbourne, Perth or Sydney for examples of transport issues deciding election outcomes."

"At around $5 billion dollars Cross River Rail is costly, but so is lost business productivity and congestion. The benefits of this project also exceed the costs of the project. Multi-billion dollar car tunnels are also costly, both to construct and also to drive through. Indeed they are the highest toll, highest pollution, lowest capacity solution to deal with transport and urban mobility problems, and yet this hasn't prevented them being constructed."

"Cross River Rail decentralises the central part of the rail network, which means increased capacity and reliability. Currently, if there is an incident between Roma Street, Central, Brunswick Street or Bowen Hills, the entire network is plunged into chaos as all trains must currently travel through this 'core' section. Cross River Rail will provide an alternate core rail route through the CBD and give some much needed redundancy to this critical part of the network."

"RAIL Back On Track is confident that Cross River Rail will be seen for the opportunity that it is - a chance for a state to take on a large, important state-building project and important piece of infrastructure, and a chance for government to get it right. Indeed the construction of the Merivale Bridge and electrification of the QR train system are projects that Queenslanders can be proud of. Cross River Rail will allow future generations to come into the Brisbane CBD from the suburbs and afar for work, study and play, rather than sit in congestion on the roads.

"Cross River Rail - think of it as TransApex (4), for trains!"

References:

1. http://www.crossriverrail.qld.gov.au/

2. Brisbane Cross River Rail's future hangs by thread http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/rail-fixs-future-hangs-by-thread/comments-fnbwr276-1226315918783

3. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/kevin-rudd-says-brisbane8217s-cross-river-rail-road-funding-in-doubt-if-he-loses-the-election/story-fnihsrf2-1226691670658

4. TransApex is the car toll tunnel bypass system purported to relieve congestion on roads.  http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/traffic-transport/roads-infrastructure-bikeways/tunnels-bridges-major-roads/TransApex/index.htm

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Media release 8th September 2013



SEQ: Federal Election a Public transport catastrophe for Queensland Government

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 says SEQ's Public Transport system will break down with the cancelling of Cross River Rail.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"With Tony Abbott elected and his 'roads only' policies, SEQ faces a public transport catastrophe."

"Perth's trains already carry more passengers than ours and at cheaper fares and double the frequency on all lines to most stations all day."

"We continue to slip further behind in international city liveability rankings."

"Our bus network is a royal mess, the product of Brisbane City Council political interference. The fares are a mess and the fare price increase of 7.5% in three months time will be extraordinarily unpopular with the public."

"Affordability is already at rock bottom and continues to be at rock bottom despite all the fare gimmicks like 9-then free."

"The cycle of fare increases, patronage exodus leads to rising costs and falling revenues."

"Now with the new Federal government, it is safe to say both the Lord Mayor's bus tunnel project and Cross River Rail are both dead. When world leaders visit Brisbane for the G20, and Commonwealth Games, a perfect example of how not to run a city public transport network will be available for all the world to see."

"Where else but Queensland!"

Contact:

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