10 Jun 2011: SEQ: Where are the off peak improvements?

[ozbob]

Media release 10 June 2011

SEQ: Where are the off peak improvements?

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 asks where the improvements for off peak public transport services are?

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"While the recent improvements to the peak hour services are welcomed nothing has been done generally to improve the off peak service above what was done due to the opening of the Richlands branch line.  RAIL Back On Track suggests that given that it is proven that the BUZ concept works (1), there should be improved off peak rail frequency to Caboolture, or Petrie at a minimum for now.  A general 15 minute out of peak rail service between Darra and Northgate is already a winner.  People like to be able to turn up and go, and observations of the services suggest that patronage is already building significantly. An excellent outcome and a big positive return for the investment."

"Perth has a weekday daytime 15 minute frequency, Melbourne's network operates on a basic 7 day 20 minute frequency, with 10 minute frequency applying as far as Frankston weekday daytimes, and Sydney has a 15 minute frequency to quite a number of stations.  Even Adelaide has a 15 minute frequency at some stations on the Noarlunga line in spite of the diesel service, track upgrading and lack of a branch effect.  In Brisbane, the only locations which have better than an off peak 30 minute service are those which are served by multiple lines."

"It is important that resourcing for our rail network is directed to improving the capacity of network and provision of adequate rolling stock to allow improvements in out of peak frequency.  Given the funding and resources Queensland Rail is more than capable of improving out of peak services."

"We call on the State Government to increase funding for rail services to allow increases in the frequency of off peak services on all lines.  This is essential to help change travel behaviours and help reduce the out of control road congestion, lower environmental impacts and reduce the massive health cost bill of road trauma."

"Catch the train, ease the strain!"

Reference:

1.  http://www.thredbo-conference-series.org/downloads/thredbo10_papers/thredbo10-themeA-Warren.p

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Timetable board --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?board=20.0

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

20th June 2011

Off peak boost, our only hope?

Greetings,

Urban rail systems need substantial investment now.  Years of neglect are taking a toll on all systems, not only in south-east Queensland but all states.

Consider this from 2008 here in Queensland,  a few extracts from this document: Queensland Input for the COAG National Infrastructure Audit Executive Report Queensland's Key Themes; Projects Grouped by Theme; and Key Projects 30 June 2008 --> http://www.dlgp.qld.gov.au/resources/infrastructure-funding/exec-report-qld-key-infrastructure-themes-projects.pdf

"The cost of road congestion for Brisbane, estimated by the Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics (BTRE) is currently about $1.2 billion, which contributes 13.3% to the national total cost of $9 billion. By 2020, the aggregate cost projections are forecast to double to approximately $3 billion for Brisbane, which is 15% of a national total of $20 billion. Rapid population growth and the increasing freight task are major contributing factors to increases in travel time in Queensland. BTRE estimates the projected traffic increase in Brisbane for the period 1990-2020 to be 43%, which is greater than any other Australian city.

"Previous rail capacity studies undertaken have identified that the services required to support the growth in inner city rail patronage demand will need to be upgraded by 2016.

Demand modelling undertaken in 2007 for the study has identified forecast growth increases of between 4.7% and 5.8% p.a. by 2016, a growth rate more than 50% higher than historical growth rates (3% per annum).

"Passenger boardings in the morning 2-hour peak period are currently forecast to increase from 44,500 in 2006 to between 70,250-78,500 in 2016, and between 104,000- 131,000 in 2026.

"In order to cater for this increase in passenger demand, the passenger train service levels on the rail network need to increase by a similar quantum, from morning 2 hour peak level of 82 to 143 in 2016, and 207 in 2026. Under the higher fuel price scenario, train service levels will be up to 25% higher again.

"If upgrades are not undertaken, the inner city will become a bottleneck in the SEQ passenger and freight rail system, with consequences for the statewide rail freight network."

It is clear that peak services will not be able to cope for much longer. Cross River Rail project is critical. Broadening peak shoulders and better supporting out of peak travel is fundamental.  The present fare strategy for the go card is a failure.  Simple things can be done immediately pending a wider review.  For example, increase off peak discount to 30%, extend the overnight window for off peak from 7pm to 2am to 7pm to 7am.  Extend the two journey cap to everyone pending a wider review.  No brainers really, why cannot the authorities grasp the moment?

Best wishes
Robert

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

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

Media release 10 June 2011 re-released 20 June 2011

SEQ: Where are the off peak improvements?

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 asks where the improvements for off peak public transport services are?

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"While the recent improvements to the peak hour services are welcomed nothing has been done generally to improve the off peak service above what was done due to the opening of the Richlands branch line.  RAIL Back On Track suggests that given that it is proven that the BUZ concept works (1), there should be improved off peak rail frequency to Caboolture, or Petrie at a minimum for now.  A general 15 minute out of peak rail service between Darra and Northgate is already a winner.  People like to be able to turn up and go, and observations of the services suggest that patronage is already building significantly. An excellent outcome and a big positive return for the investment."

"Perth has a weekday daytime 15 minute frequency, Melbourne's network operates on a basic 7 day 20 minute frequency, with 10 minute frequency applying as far as Frankston weekday daytimes, and Sydney has a 15 minute frequency to quite a number of stations.  Even Adelaide has a 15 minute frequency at some stations on the Noarlunga line in spite of the diesel service, track upgrading and lack of a branch effect.  In Brisbane, the only locations which have better than an off peak 30 minute service are those which are served by multiple lines."

"It is important that resourcing for our rail network is directed to improving the capacity of network and provision of adequate rolling stock to allow improvements in out of peak frequency.  Given the funding and resources Queensland Rail is more than capable of improving out of peak services."

"We call on the State Government to increase funding for rail services to allow increases in the frequency of off peak services on all lines.  This is essential to help change travel behaviours and help reduce the out of control road congestion, lower environmental impacts and reduce the massive health cost bill of road trauma."

"Catch the train, ease the strain!"

Reference:

1.  http://www.thredbo-conference-series.org/downloads/thredbo10_papers/thredbo10-themeA-Warren.p

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

Greetings,

Article from the Melbourne Age, reality.  In south east Queensland a critical project such as Cross River Rail is put on the back burner.  Authorities are unable apparently to fix a simple timetable issue.  What hope is there for the longer term?  Crikey ...

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

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

From the Melbourne Age click here!

City bound for commuter hell


City bound for commuter hell
Deborah Gough
June 19, 2011

WITHIN a decade, Melbourne's already bursting train services will have to accommodate an extra 1 million passenger trips a day.

The forecast, contained in Transport Department documents obtained by The Sunday Age under freedom of information, reveals that average weekday travel on trains will rise from about 800,000 trips to 1.8 million by 2021-22.

This will put unprecedented pressure on the city's beleaguered rail network, which is already costing Melbourne's central business district $80 million a year in lost productivity, according to economic modelling and research by Monash University.

Petrol prices, population growth and environmental concerns have been cited as the key reasons for the surge in patronage in the documents, which detail the 2009 funding proposal for the $5 billion Footscray-Caulfield rail tunnel. The tunnel project - designed to improve cross-town train travel - gained federal planning funding, but has been all but abandoned by the state government.

Future Melbourne Committee chairman, Cr Kevin Louey, last week called for the tunnel to go ahead, warning that if Melbourne's overcrowding problem was not addressed, the city's prosperity would suffer.

Transport Minister Terry Mulder said the Coalition was committed to tackling the problem by funding the Regional Rail Link - which will free up more space in the metropolitan timetable for city train services - despite a $1 billion cost blowout inherited from the previous Labor government.

He said the government was also buying 45 six-carriage trains a year, seven more than the previous Labor government, to help alleviate overcrowding. ''We are driving ourselves out of congestion,'' Mr Mulder said.

The documents obtained by The Sunday Age show that the next decade will see a surge in the use of all modes of public transport: not only will train patronage rise at all times of the day and on weekends, bus travel is expected to double and tram use is predicted to rise by one third.

Mr Mulder said more recent estimates suggested train patronage would grow by about 4.5 per cent a year, slightly less than predicted in 2009.

But rough calculations on current patronage figures would still put the increase at more than a million trips a day by 2021.

Watergardens and Werribee lines are expected to grow the most, by about 6.8 per cent a year, because of population growth. The Alamein, Glen Waverley, Lilydale and Belgrave lines will experience the least growth, at only 2.5 per cent a year.

The predicted rise in train use will exacerbate the overcrowding crisis and ramp up the already substantial cost to the CBD in lost productivity, according to the Monash University research.

If overcrowding on trains continues, it will drive business out of the CBD because more people will look for work in the suburbs so they don't have to negotiate the public transport crush, the research warns.

Monash University's professor of public transport Graham Currie said getting workers to retail and business districts efficiently was critical to a city's operation and the Coalition's plan for an extra 45 trains a year would not alleviate the problem of overcrowding.

''Cities are very efficient places to do business because the railway is there. If the railway does not work effectively there is an economic cost,'' he said.

''Workers get very frustrated on public transport: it is late; they cannot get a seat. Eventually, there is a portion of the workforce that will take a job outside the city, so their journey to work can be less stressful.''

Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry spokesman Chris James agreed overcrowded public transport caused reduced productivity and was affecting businesses.

''If it gets much worse it will make the CBD a much less attractive place to invest,'' Mr James said.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/city-bound-for-commuter-hell-20110618-1g97z.html