14 Jan 2009: QR Citytrain 6.35am weekday Darra to Bowen Hills sweeper ...

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Media Release 14 January 2009

SEQ:  QR Citytrain 6.35am weekday Darra to Bowen Hills sweeper a success!  More services needed!

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 highlighted the successful introduction of the new weekday service from Darra to Bowen Hills at 6.35am and has suggested that more smart thinking is needed on the network.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The new sweeper service from Darra to Bowen Hills every weekday morning at 6.35 on our QR Citytrain network is already carrying 400 passengers on the third day of operation, and we are still in the holiday season (1).  This new service will help reduce the overloading that has been occurring on the 6.14am service from Ipswich which runs a few minutes behind this new service.   Overall capacity in the morning peak is increased."

"The momentum for innovative timetabling must be maintained.  As more trains and crew are brought online, a progressive increase of train frequency can be achieved line by line."

"A recent review by Booz and Co (2) has identified Brisbane as having the worst train frequencies of all the capital cities.  The need is real."

"We suggest that ideally a train service frequency of 15 minutes between 5am and 8pm  Monday to Friday is needed, 7 and half minutes or better at peak, and 20 minutes after 8pm and on Saturdays Sundays and Public holidays."

"The introduction of increased train frequency is best done stepwise line by line.  The Caboolture to Ipswich lines should be the first to have increased services.  Passenger increases on these lines has been the greatest and congestion has been a major ongoing issue at peak times.  Road travel from points between Caboolture and Ipswich is problematical and the more commuters that can access an improved train timetable the better the outcome for the entire community. As more resources become available the rest of network frequency can be progressively increased as well."

"Properly resourced, rail will deliver the sustainable mass transit capacity that will be needed in south-east Queensland."

Reference:

1.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1753.0
2.  Melbourne Public Transport Standards Review Department of Transport Melbourne August 2008.

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org