Easter 2015

[ozbob]

From Friday 3 April until Monday 6 April (inclusive) TransLink services will operate on limited timetables.

On Friday 3, Sunday 5 and Monday 6 April most services will operate to a Sunday/public holiday timetable.

Most Saturday services will operate as normal.

More >> http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/39876/details

[ozbob]

Memories >> The 2008 Easter Tour of the QR Interurban Network - Go!

[ozbob]

For interest ..

Special Easter Trains (1947) > http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/49325391

... The Railways Department expects more than 40,000 people to leave Brisbane for country and coastal holiday
resorts over the Easter period. Stating this yesterday, the acting secretary to the Railways Com missioner (Mr. L. E. Oxenham) said that 44 extra trains would be used. A total of 43 trains would leave Brisbane on Thursday for the south and north coasts, and Toowoomba. Big crowds are expected to go to Maryborough for a State massed band competition, and to Bundaberg, where an eisteddfod is planned at the week-end ...

[Stillwater]

It would be interesting to compare the travel time for 1947 trains to Maryborough and Bundaberg with the time taken by the Tilts over the same distance.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Your Easter Trading Hours

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

3rd April 2015

Easter 2015 road mayhem

Good Morning,

Easter 2015, and the usual traffic chaos and congestion as residents flee on the roads to holiday destinations. Running the gauntlet of death, injury, gridlock and road rage.

It is interesting to reflect on how things used to be.

Easter 1947, interesting little snippet from the Courier-Mail Tuesday 1 April 1947 page 3

--> http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/49325391

"SPECIAL EASTER TRAINS

The Railways Department expects more than 40,000 people to leave Brisbane for country and coastal holiday resorts over the Easter period. Stating this yesterday, the acting secretary to the Railways Commissioner (Mr. L. E. Oxenham) said that 44 extra trains would be used. A total of 43 trains would leave Brisbane on Thursday for the south and north coasts, and Toowoomba. Big crowds are expected to go to Maryborough for a State massed band competition, and to Bundaberg, where an eisteddfod is planned at the week-end. The Railway city booking office will be closed next Friday and Saturday, but will open until 11 a.m. on Easter Sunday. Interstate passengers can book on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at South Brisbane station. Passengers for other lines can obtain tickets at Roma Street station ... "

43 extra trains just on the Thursday! What happens now? Special trains for Easter so that people have a safe way of travelling?

No. Track closure for the Sunshine Coast Line today (3rd) and tomorrow (4th).

--> http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/38171/details

From the first service on Friday 3 April until the last service on Saturday 4 April, tracks will be closed between Northgate and Gympie North stations.

As a community we need to re-examine our transport priorities.

Enjoy your Easter ...

Best wishes
Robert

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

[#Metro]

It seems to have been an annual thing, http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/118405256

Sandgate also got a boost (19 trains worth) of service during holidays. This was in 1953.

Gold Coast had express trains scheduled.

[James]

To add insult to injury, tracks are also closed between Carseldine and Caboolture on Sunday the 5th and Monday the 6th.

I think MBRL has a lot to do with this shutdown.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Penny Dahl @Pennycopter 3 hours ago

Trains lined up at Caboolture - track closure today, hour delays to Sunshine Coast & Caboolture lines from Carseldine

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Easter road toll highest in more than a decade

Injuries around 80 or so as well ...

[techblitz]

Twitter

Penny Dahl @Pennycopter 3 hours ago

Trains lined up at Caboolture - track closure today, hour delays to Sunshine Coast & Caboolture lines from Carseldine

meh....have to get to kallangur..will do a 330 via airport link into a 680 @ chermside tnx

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

7th April 2015

Re: Easter 2015 road mayhem

Greetings,

Terrible outcome on the roads over Easter.  Eight deaths R.I.P., at least 90 or more injuries, many lifelong.

Authorities exasperated.

How about the railways putting on some special services during holiday periods to give people some options other than the horror roads?

Track closures interrupted travel on the Sunshine Coast line over the Easter period.  At one point, traffic reporters on the radio were advising people to give public transport  a miss because of the delays due to the track closures.

We understand perhaps why holiday periods are chosen for major track works.  However, holiday periods cannot be got around for travellers.  We think it would be a better outcome to leave holiday periods with the rail option intact, and put on some extra special rail services as well.  Track works can be scheduled on weekends, which with enough notice people can work around.  They generally want to travel during Easter, so why close the rail lines?

Rail travel is at least 40 to 100 times safer than road travel.  It is not rocket science.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

3rd April 2015

Easter 2015 road mayhem

Good Morning,

Easter 2015, and the usual traffic chaos and congestion as residents flee on the roads to holiday destinations. Running the gauntlet of death, injury, gridlock and road rage.

It is interesting to reflect on how things used to be.

Easter 1947, interesting little snippet from the Courier-Mail Tuesday 1 April 1947 page 3

--> http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/49325391

"SPECIAL EASTER TRAINS

The Railways Department expects more than 40,000 people to leave Brisbane for country and coastal holiday resorts over the Easter period. Stating this yesterday, the acting secretary to the Railways Commissioner (Mr. L. E. Oxenham) said that 44 extra trains would be used. A total of 43 trains would leave Brisbane on Thursday for the south and north coasts, and Toowoomba. Big crowds are expected to go to Maryborough for a State massed band competition, and to Bundaberg, where an eisteddfod is planned at the week-end. The Railway city booking office will be closed next Friday and Saturday, but will open until 11 a.m. on Easter Sunday. Interstate passengers can book on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at South Brisbane station. Passengers for other lines can obtain tickets at Roma Street station ... "

43 extra trains just on the Thursday! What happens now? Special trains for Easter so that people have a safe way of travelling?

No. Track closure for the Sunshine Coast Line today (3rd) and tomorrow (4th).

--> http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/38171/details

From the first service on Friday 3 April until the last service on Saturday 4 April, tracks will be closed between Northgate and Gympie North stations.

As a community we need to re-examine our transport priorities.

Enjoy your Easter ...

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?action=articles;sa=view;article=3

Written in 2010, still relevant ..

=============================

Road trauma is breaking the nation

Summary: The road trauma cost is a drain on our economy. It is not sustainable. It is now clear that as a nation we must move to safe sustainable transport systems for people and bulk freight.

Road trauma is breaking the nation

There are few Australians that have not felt the grief, the loss, the hopelessness, of the ongoing tragedy of the consequences of road trauma. Every day the media chronicles the sad litany.  A recent study commissioned by the Australasian Railway Association on the cost of road crashes has revealed the cost in blunt economic terms (1).  Previous estimates have been conservative underestimates; this latest rigorous systematic study has revealed the costs of road fatalities and trauma to be in the order of at least thirty five billion dollars annually.  This figure is going to increase rapidly as the road injury management costs continue to climb.  There is a much wider social cost to be added but for now let us just consider the economic impact of the road trauma.

This road trauma cost is a drain on our economy.  It is not sustainable.  It is now clear that as a nation we must move to safe sustainable transport systems for people and bulk freight.  Investment in safe public transport through infrastructure and operating subsidies actually saves money.  This is a lesson transport planners and governments everywhere must heed.  The massive expenditure on roads is leading to unmanageable cost impacts.  Investment in safe transport systems is actually saving money.  Next time you are held up at a railway crossing as a packed peak hour commuter train passes, give out three cheers.  Those passengers are saving you and Australia ultimately a lot of pain.

Rail is approximately 40 times safer than travel by car.  Travel by bus is about 10 times safer than travel by car.  It is clear that we need to start maximizing use of our rail networks, and support those networks with bus transport to feed rail stations where possible.  A major project such as the Cross River Rail Tunnel for Brisbane is actually going to return huge savings.  The tunnel is equivalent to a 30 lane road highway in terms of passenger capacity.  Why haven't we started the actual digging?

The rail network in south east Queensland is underutilised.  It is time to increase train frequency on all the major lines.  Ideally no less frequent than 15 minutes in off peak periods during the day, peak times more frequent as loadings demand.  Weekends, holidays and after 9pm at night no less frequent than 20 minutes.  Properly support the increased rail frequency with a coordinated feeder bus network.  Make travel by public transport attractive.  The present rail timetable in South East Queensland has one of the worst train frequencies in Australia and for comparable size cities worldwide.  A high frequency rail service makes bus rail connections much more functional and encourages people to get out of their cars and onto safe transport.

The social isolation of cars is something we seldom consider.  In the 1950s, family trips to visit relatives in the country or city were usually by rail, an adventure and sharing an experience with others.  There was a feeling of community and belonging and the opportunity to meet new folk.  Many encounters on public transport have endured as long lasting friendships.   The social isolation of cars is not conducive for a healthy community.  The increasing demand for anti-depressant medications for example is a sign of an increasingly unhappy nation.  Little wonder when one considers the terrifying impact of the road toll.  Regular travel by public transport is a community experience.  There is social contact and a feeling of belonging.  Most journeys by public transport involve an element of active transport, walking or perhaps a bicycle ride to and from the bus or rail stations at departure and end points of the public transport ride.  This active transport leads to healthy outcomes.  There is a reduction in obesity and diabetes, both conditions that are costly for our communities and health care.

We need roads, but we must start to correct the imbalance in funding that is road centric.  There are signs that those in government are starting to hear this message.  Recent commitments for the long overdue Petrie to Kippa-Ring railway in Queensland and the railway from Parramatta to Epping in New South Wales are very welcome. But much more needs to be done.  In south-east Queensland here are some immediate rail priorities:  extend the Gold Coast railway to Coolangatta, duplicate the Sunshine Coast line from Beerburrum to Landsborough and eventually to Nambour, full duplication of the Cleveland line beyond Manly, Coomera to Helensvale duplication, Lawnton to Petrie triplication, Kuraby to Kingston triplication, Darra to Redbank triplication, and electrification from Rosewood to Gatton.  These improvements are needed to provide the backbone of a safe sustainable public transport network for a sustainable future.

To augment the heavy rail network, bus rapid transit and light rail has its role. The Gold Coast light rail is going to herald a change in our thinking.  Modern light rail is a superb people mover.  The loss of the tram system in Brisbane in 1969 can only be described as a disaster.  If the tram system had been kept operational it would have evolved as has the tram network in Melbourne which is now the greatest tram system in the world.  However, in the years to come there will be opportunities to return modern light rail to Brisbane, and it is the Gold Coast light rail that will alert citizens to what is possible.  Continued support for active transport options is also very cost effective.  Expansions of the bicycle path network are sensible, but also improve the amenity for pedestrians, the walkers.

The most important factor in driving public transport uptake is frequency.  The train frequency can be increased very quickly.  The other projects will take a little longer.  Now is the time to start to shake off the economic straight jacket of road trauma.  We must, the costs of road trauma are breaking our nation.

Reference:

1.  Australasian Railway Association Inc  The cost of road crashes: A review of key issues Dr Richard Tooth  http://www.ara.net.au/UserFiles/file/Publications/TheCostofRoadCrashesReport.pdf


Mr Robert Dow is the administrator and founder of RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org  a web based community group that advocates for sustainable transport solutions.

Robert is by profession a Medical Scientist, and is a Life member and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists.

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times published 8th April 2015 page 13

Deaths highlight need for public transport

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

9th April 2015

Re: Easter 2015 road mayhem

Greetings,

The Government reacts to hold a forum.

Palaszczuk Government establishes Safer Roads, Safer Queensland forum  http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2015/4/7/palaszczuk-government-establishes-safer-roads-safer-queensland-forum

By selecting the mode (roads) the debate is fenced in/limited to road solutions however.

We need to get a lot more bulk freight back on to rail, and provide more passenger rail services so people can chose to avoid the death and injury road gauntlet.

Rail is much safer than road transport.

Here is a piece I wrote in 2010 (below).  It is still relevant.

Best wishes
Robert

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

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?action=articles;sa=view;article=3

Written in 2010, still relevant ..

=============================

Road trauma is breaking the nation

Summary: The road trauma cost is a drain on our economy. It is not sustainable. It is now clear that as a nation we must move to safe sustainable transport systems for people and bulk freight.

Road trauma is breaking the nation

There are few Australians that have not felt the grief, the loss, the hopelessness, of the ongoing tragedy of the consequences of road trauma. Every day the media chronicles the sad litany.  A recent study commissioned by the Australasian Railway Association on the cost of road crashes has revealed the cost in blunt economic terms (1).  Previous estimates have been conservative underestimates; this latest rigorous systematic study has revealed the costs of road fatalities and trauma to be in the order of at least thirty five billion dollars annually.  This figure is going to increase rapidly as the road injury management costs continue to climb.  There is a much wider social cost to be added but for now let us just consider the economic impact of the road trauma.

This road trauma cost is a drain on our economy.  It is not sustainable.  It is now clear that as a nation we must move to safe sustainable transport systems for people and bulk freight.  Investment in safe public transport through infrastructure and operating subsidies actually saves money.  This is a lesson transport planners and governments everywhere must heed.  The massive expenditure on roads is leading to unmanageable cost impacts.  Investment in safe transport systems is actually saving money.  Next time you are held up at a railway crossing as a packed peak hour commuter train passes, give out three cheers.  Those passengers are saving you and Australia ultimately a lot of pain.

Rail is approximately 40 times safer than travel by car.  Travel by bus is about 10 times safer than travel by car.  It is clear that we need to start maximizing use of our rail networks, and support those networks with bus transport to feed rail stations where possible.  A major project such as the Cross River Rail Tunnel for Brisbane is actually going to return huge savings.  The tunnel is equivalent to a 30 lane road highway in terms of passenger capacity.  Why haven't we started the actual digging?

The rail network in south east Queensland is underutilised.  It is time to increase train frequency on all the major lines.  Ideally no less frequent than 15 minutes in off peak periods during the day, peak times more frequent as loadings demand.  Weekends, holidays and after 9pm at night no less frequent than 20 minutes.  Properly support the increased rail frequency with a coordinated feeder bus network.  Make travel by public transport attractive.  The present rail timetable in South East Queensland has one of the worst train frequencies in Australia and for comparable size cities worldwide.  A high frequency rail service makes bus rail connections much more functional and encourages people to get out of their cars and onto safe transport.

The social isolation of cars is something we seldom consider.  In the 1950s, family trips to visit relatives in the country or city were usually by rail, an adventure and sharing an experience with others.  There was a feeling of community and belonging and the opportunity to meet new folk.  Many encounters on public transport have endured as long lasting friendships.   The social isolation of cars is not conducive for a healthy community.  The increasing demand for anti-depressant medications for example is a sign of an increasingly unhappy nation.  Little wonder when one considers the terrifying impact of the road toll.  Regular travel by public transport is a community experience.  There is social contact and a feeling of belonging.  Most journeys by public transport involve an element of active transport, walking or perhaps a bicycle ride to and from the bus or rail stations at departure and end points of the public transport ride.  This active transport leads to healthy outcomes.  There is a reduction in obesity and diabetes, both conditions that are costly for our communities and health care.

We need roads, but we must start to correct the imbalance in funding that is road centric.  There are signs that those in government are starting to hear this message.  Recent commitments for the long overdue Petrie to Kippa-Ring railway in Queensland and the railway from Parramatta to Epping in New South Wales are very welcome. But much more needs to be done.  In south-east Queensland here are some immediate rail priorities:  extend the Gold Coast railway to Coolangatta, duplicate the Sunshine Coast line from Beerburrum to Landsborough and eventually to Nambour, full duplication of the Cleveland line beyond Manly, Coomera to Helensvale duplication, Lawnton to Petrie triplication, Kuraby to Kingston triplication, Darra to Redbank triplication, and electrification from Rosewood to Gatton.  These improvements are needed to provide the backbone of a safe sustainable public transport network for a sustainable future.

To augment the heavy rail network, bus rapid transit and light rail has its role. The Gold Coast light rail is going to herald a change in our thinking.  Modern light rail is a superb people mover.  The loss of the tram system in Brisbane in 1969 can only be described as a disaster.  If the tram system had been kept operational it would have evolved as has the tram network in Melbourne which is now the greatest tram system in the world.  However, in the years to come there will be opportunities to return modern light rail to Brisbane, and it is the Gold Coast light rail that will alert citizens to what is possible.  Continued support for active transport options is also very cost effective.  Expansions of the bicycle path network are sensible, but also improve the amenity for pedestrians, the walkers.

The most important factor in driving public transport uptake is frequency.  The train frequency can be increased very quickly.  The other projects will take a little longer.  Now is the time to start to shake off the economic straight jacket of road trauma.  We must, the costs of road trauma are breaking our nation.

Reference:

1.  Australasian Railway Association Inc  The cost of road crashes: A review of key issues Dr Richard Tooth  http://www.ara.net.au/UserFiles/file/Publications/TheCostofRoadCrashesReport.pdf


Mr Robert Dow is the administrator and founder of RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org  a web based community group that advocates for sustainable transport solutions.

Robert is by profession a Medical Scientist, and is a Life member and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists.

[Stillwater]

This leopard hasn't changed his spots.  The 'it's Labor's fault' mantra continues.  The words should be inscribed on his headstone. 

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/queensland-lnp-blames-labor-for-easter-2015-road-deaths-20150410-1micfi.html

[ozbob]

Gympie Times --> Bad day for Gympie man trying to get home on Good Friday