28 Aug 2008: SEQ: Citytrain Carriage Congestion Crisis

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Media Release 28 August 2008

SEQ:  Citytrain Carriage Congestion Crisis

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport users has called for immediate actions by the TransLink Transit Authority, the Minister for Transport and QR Citytrain to ease the congestion crisis on the suburban rail network at peak.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

?Yesterday, the 27th August I boarded the 5.30pm service to Ipswich at Roma Street station. It left at 5.32pm.  I counted the passengers in the lead carriage and I was then able to calculate the passenger load as greater than 1200 passengers.  The train was made up of early series Interurban Multiple Units (IMU) with IMU 105 leading.  The QR Citytrain web site states the load capacity of the IMU in 6 car configuration is 998 passengers (1).

?The Minister for Transport was asked in Parliament the other day if QR Citytrain services are overloaded.  Apparently the Minister was not able to answer the question, so here is an observation that the trains are overloaded.?

?Rail passengers are tired of the chronic congestion.  Where is the TransLink Transit Authority?  Where is the leadership from Government? Where are the clear directions that solutions to this crisis are being considered?  All commuters see is ever worsening congestion with no positive indication that action will be taken to address the crisis.?

?RAIL Back On Track has highlighted the problems and has suggested solutions immediate and long term (2)."

"We have received feedback from commuters who are very concerned about the oppressive conditions and with summer coming are very concerned for fellow passengers? health.  People have fainted due to the congestion.?


?It is time for action!?


References:

1.   http://www.citytrain.com.au/about/fleet/imu/imu.asp

2.   http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?board=19.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org