25 Aug 2008: SEQ: QR Citytrain Patronage Data only tells part of the story

[ozbob]

Media Release 25 August 2008

SEQ: QR Citytrain Patronage Data only tells part of the story

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has welcomed the public release of the QR Citytrain Patronage Data made available today on the QR Citytrain website (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

?This data confirms our observations and passenger feedback that the worst congestion is on the Caboolture  and Ipswich lines. It is also confirms the significant increase in passengers that QR Citytrain has had to cope with whilst being grossly under-resourced in terms of trains and crew.?

?This data is from the earlier this year, it is old data.  Observations since then would suggest that fuel price rises have had an impact and the peak congestion is actually worse than the figures released today suggest.  This makes it imperative that more trains and crew are in place to cope.?

?The TransLink Transit Authority must step up and introduce incentive ticketing to encourage early and late peak travel, and also provide off peak fares on the go card.  This will immediately relieve some of the peak congestion.  The go card provides an easy way to introduce incentive ticketing.  Victoria is introducing free early bird travel on all of its suburban railway lines, they can see the big picture.?

?The Queensland Government must direct funding from roads and monuments to the automobile, to sustainable transport, that is electric rail ? heavy and light.  More rolling stock and further rail extensions are urgently needed.?

?Rail ? light and heavy, is the sustainable bulk people mover.  By ramping up the QR urban and interurban system to a high capacity frequent service this will take the pressure off the radial bus network. More lateral bus routes and feeder services will complement the high frequency rail commuter services.?

?We must continue to ramp up rail services as this is where the bulk capacity can be developed independent of the congestion on the roads, and use buses where possible as integrated feeder services to high frequency high capacity rail services.?

?Time that we act and look to a sustainable transport future! ?

References:

1.  http://www.citytrain.com.au/about/overview/citytrain_patronage_data.asp


Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org