17 Jan 2014: SEQ: Rail Revolution arrives on Monday

[ozbob]

Media release 17th January 2014



SEQ: Rail Revolution arrives on Monday

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 highlights Monday's rail revolution.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"On Monday, the largest rail service upgrade in Queensland Rail's history will come. This will put Brisbane on par with Perth where all day high frequency trains are the norm. Importantly, these rail upgrades are a revolution, not an evolution for Brisbane. Everything is being done at once."

Upgrades:

* Airport line - trains every 15 minutes for most of the day (+70 services/week)
* Beenleigh line - trains every 15 minutes to Coopers Plains (+203 services/week)
* Cleveland line - trains every 15 minutes to Cannon Hill (+266 services/week)
* Doomben line - trains every 30 minutes to Doomben (+116 services/week)
* Ferny Grove line - trains every 15 minutes, more trains in peak (+110 services/week)
* Gold Coast line - extra peak services (+93 services/week)
* Shorncliffe line - extra peak services (+146 services/week)

"However, the largest impact of these rail upgrades will be on the future bus network for Brisbane. This revolution allows TransLink the option to redesign Brisbane City Council's bus network to feed buses into rail, bringing down the extreme fares and ratepayer subsidies ($400/year) Brisbane residents endure at the moment."

"We believe that it also allows rival private sector bus operators the option to significantly undercut Brisbane Transport during a bus tendering process by simply offering to do what Brisbane City Council cannot politically bring itself to do - run a simplified connections based bus network which is cheaper, more frequent and more productive for passengers than the hi-waste taxi philosophy that has lead to cost explosions and taxi level fares!"

"When you compare a BUZ route running every 10 minutes at full load in peak hour (carries around 400 - 500 people per hour), to a single train service (1000 people in one go), you don't have to be Einstein to realise that plenty of room for feeding bus passengers into the train network now exists, even at peak hour. Indeed, the increased capacity on the rail network is equal to 14,000 Brisbane Transport buses per week."

"We thank Queensland Rail and TransLink, who working together have delivered the goods for the residents of Brisbane and SEQ generally."

"Viva la revolution!"

References:

1. SEQ: BCC anti-interchange philosophy collapses as rail services upgraded http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10307.0

2. "Transferring" can be good for you, and good for your city http://www.humantransit.org/2009/04/why-transferring-is-good-for-you-and-good-for-your-city.html

3. Connections vs complexity http://www.humantransit.org/2010/11/connections-vs-complexity.html

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6371.msg137565#msg137565

[ozbob]

Media release 19th January 2014



SEQ: Rail Revolution arrives tomorrow

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 highlights Monday's rail revolution.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"On Monday, the largest rail service upgrade in Queensland Rail's history will come. This will put Brisbane on par with Perth where all day high frequency trains are the norm. Importantly, these rail upgrades are a revolution, not an evolution for Brisbane. Everything is being done at once."

Upgrades:

* Airport line - trains every 15 minutes for most of the day (+70 services/week)
* Beenleigh line - trains every 15 minutes to Coopers Plains (+203 services/week)
* Cleveland line - trains every 15 minutes to Cannon Hill (+266 services/week)
* Doomben line - trains every 30 minutes to Doomben (+116 services/week)
* Ferny Grove line - trains every 15 minutes, more trains in peak (+110 services/week)
* Gold Coast line - extra peak services (+93 services/week)
* Shorncliffe line - extra peak services (+146 services/week)

"However, the largest impact of these rail upgrades will be on the future bus network for Brisbane. This revolution allows TransLink the option to redesign Brisbane City Council's bus network to feed buses into rail, bringing down the extreme fares and ratepayer subsidies ($400/year) Brisbane residents endure at the moment."

"We believe that it also allows rival private sector bus operators the option to significantly undercut Brisbane Transport during a bus tendering process by simply offering to do what Brisbane City Council cannot politically bring itself to do - run a simplified connections based bus network which is cheaper, more frequent and more productive for passengers than the hi-waste taxi philosophy that has lead to cost explosions and taxi level fares!"

"When you compare a BUZ route running every 10 minutes at full load in peak hour (carries around 400 - 500 people per hour), to a single train service (1000 people in one go), you don't have to be Einstein to realise that plenty of room for feeding bus passengers into the train network now exists, even at peak hour. Indeed, the increased capacity on the rail network is equal to 14,000 Brisbane Transport buses per week."

"We thank Queensland Rail and TransLink, who working together have delivered the goods for the residents of Brisbane and SEQ generally."

"Viva la revolution!"

References:

1. SEQ: BCC anti-interchange philosophy collapses as rail services upgraded http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10307.0

2. "Transferring" can be good for you, and good for your city http://www.humantransit.org/2009/04/why-transferring-is-good-for-you-and-good-for-your-city.html

3. Connections vs complexity http://www.humantransit.org/2010/11/connections-vs-complexity.html

Contact:

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

Sent to all outlets:

16th January 2014

Bus changes from Monday 20th Jan 2014

Brisbane City  http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/3891/details

Gold Coast  http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/seq-bus-network-review-2013/gold-coast

Logan Region  http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/seq-bus-network-review-2013/logan

Moreton Bay region  http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/seq-bus-network-review-2013/moreton-bay

Redlands region http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/seq-bus-network-review-2013/redlands

Media release 16th January 2014



SEQ: More train services from Monday - Sector 2 timetable changes very welcome!

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 additional train services and new timetables for sector two rail lines (1), which follow on from the sector one timetable changes in June 2011 (2).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Frequency of service is an important consideration when using public transport."

"The sector two rail timetable improvements will see weekday 15 minute frequency extended from the present Darra to Northgate, Ferny Grove to Park Road, to include Cannon Hill on the Cleveland line and Coopers Plains on the Beenleigh line."

"Additional peak services for the Ferny Grove, Shorncliffe, Gold Coast and Beenleigh, Doomben and Sunshine Coast lines are welcome."

"The removal of the limited express peak services on the Ferny Grove line,  relatively a very short line, clears the way for a major frequency boost! Well done!"

"RAIL Back On Track has long called for improvements in train frequency on all lines. These sector two changes were first promised for December 2011.  It is pleasing that they will now be finally delivered from the 20th January 2014."

"There are some changes to timetables for most lines."

"Well done Queensland Rail, TransLink and the Queensland State Government on moving forward with these network improvements.  It is now essential that we continue to look at recasting the bus network to better improve feeders and connections to turn up and go trains!"

References:

1.  New train timetables coming soon
http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/train-timetable-changes

2. 7 Jun 2011: SEQ: Major timetable changes phase one, a new beginning  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6149.0

3. An improved timetable for Beenleigh line customers
http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/566/details

4. An improved timetable for Cleveland line customers
http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/611/details

5. An improved timetable for Ferny Grove line customers
http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/971/details

6. An improved timetable for Gold Coast line customers
http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/976/details

7. An improved timetable for Shorncliffe line customers
http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/981/details

8. An improved timetable for Airport line customers
http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/956/details

9. An improved timetable for Doomben line customers
http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/966/details

10. An improved timetable for Sunshine Coast & Caboolture customers
http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/1046/details

Contact:

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