5 April 2009: SEQ: Citytrain Footy Specials, and other Excursion Services

[ozbob]

Media Release 5  April 2009

SEQ:  Citytrain Footy Specials, and other Excursion Services?

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 anticipated serious disruptions to the Ipswich line peak services last Friday due to the early start of rugby league (1).

This disruption occurred. Time now to consider innovation, and perhaps the introduction of 'footy specials' to properly manage the rail public transport needs of football patrons and regular commuters.  Time also to widen the horizon to include new excursion services to help promote public transport.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Feedback to RAIL Back On Track, and our observations has confirmed the significant disruption Ipswich line commuters experienced last Friday in the evening peak (2).  This is not satisfactory, particularly when it was clear that this disruption was looming. A failure of transport planning of this order is no longer acceptable."

"One solution to the problem is to introduce Citytrain 'footy specials'.  Start footy specials at Roma St pax on, CBD, Exhibition, Milton pax off, express to Yeerongpilly, pax on, reverse, Sherwood, pax on, Milton pax off, through CBD pax on, Exhibition pax on, Milton pax off, repeat."

"Due to a lack of crossings which allow trains to change over from the outbound and inbound lines between Milton and Sherwood it would be necessary to run out on the western line from Milton.  In the longer term consideration should be given to putting in crossings between the outbound and inbound lines between Milton and Auchenflower.  This would give a much improved train operation flexibility. These crossings did exist once but were removed when electrification occurred.  Running trains around the Exhibition loop is best done counter-clockwise due to the track layout at Bowen Hills."

"The value of these projected footy specials is to pick up the heavy load of passengers coming in to the CBD from outer stations for example Caboolture/Shorncliffe/Ferny Grove and southern lines (although many of these pax would walk in from Roma St) and get them off the Ipswich trains at peak. Also gives extra capacity inbound from Sherwood to Milton, this would help as commuters were also unable to board inbound trains at stations like Toowong last Friday evening due to overloading. The specials would only operate for the pre-game period which clashes with normal peak services for example, Friday, Thursday or Monday nights, or other weekdays when there might be events at Milton.   When the footy specials operate outbound Ipswich line trains would not stop at Milton."

"The Exhibition Loop line is an under utilised public transport resource. There are also good parking facilities at the RNA."

"Further innovative excursion Citytrain services could also be trialled.  For example, how about Ipswich to Gold Coast Sunday excursions?  This service could pick up all stations from Ipswich to Corinda, then  perhaps Tennyson, Coopers Plains, Beenleigh and then on to the Coast.  A return service from the coast to Ipswich via Tennyson  could be offered late afternoon. Properly promoted, this excursion service could be a big winner."

"Time for change!"

References:

1.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2094.0

2.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2093.0

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org