Article: Public transport nightmare for commuters

[Derwan]

From http://northern-times.whereilive.com.au/news/story/public-transport-nightmare-for-commuters/

PINE Rivers commuters are spending up to three hours a day travelling to and from Brisbane?s CBD ? and see no end to their nightmare.

Queensland Rail started two new services on the Caboolture line on Monday, but commuters said it was not enough to reduce over-crowding.

Kallangur?s Susan de Waal says it still takes her one-and-a-half hours to get to work each morning, after catching a bus and then a train to Brisbane?s CBD.

?The bus is standing room only. I used to drive to the station, but there are no car parking spaces available at Petrie Station after 7am,?? she said.

?I catch the 7.25am train as the 7.20am express train is standing room only. By the time we reach Strathpine, only three stations ahead, it is standing room only.??

She said the trip home was just as bad, with overcrowding, a lack of connecting buses from Petrie to Kallangur and no end in sight to the problems.

Will Latham, of Dakabin, said the new services did nothing to address overcrowding and one service was just too early for peak-hour commuters.

?Translink has completely missed the boat by putting the extra service at 6am.

?Office workers in the City starting at 7.30 to 8am are the ones experiencing the overcrowding,?? Mr Latham said.

Mr Latham wants back-to-back express trains on the Caboolture line, eliminating the Northgate stop for express services, and adding more all-stations peak-hour trains between Central Station and Northgate.

TransLink spokesman Adam Nicholson said the new train services on the Caboolture line were scheduled to target peak times.

He said integration of bus and rail services through ticketing and timetables was a TransLink priority.

Pine Rivers LNP candidate Luke Mellers said the party would increase the number of park-and-ride car spaces and offer free peak hour trains.

Pine Rivers Labor candidate Carolyn Male said additional rolling stock was planned for across the network during the coming year and she would lobby for more services for the Caboolture line.

[ozbob]

I love elections. Seems everyone wants more trains now ... 

[O_128]

W-W-what there's a lack of trains on the caboolture line.
There is no parking at petrie station
The bus connection is terrible


And you have been trying to tell me for the last 3 years.Why didn't you tell me sooner.

[stephenk]

PINE Rivers commuters are spending up to three hours a day travelling to and from Brisbane?s CBD ? and see no end to their nightmare.

If you live further from your work place, you will have a longer commute. It's not rocket science! The urban sprawl needs to be stopped and is not sustainable.

Kallangur?s Susan de Waal says it still takes her one-and-a-half hours to get to work each morning, after catching a bus and then a train to Brisbane?s CBD.

?The bus is standing room only. I used to drive to the station, but there are no car parking spaces available at Petrie Station after 7am,?? she said.

?I catch the 7.25am train as the 7.20am express train is standing room only. By the time we reach Strathpine, only three stations ahead, it is standing room only.??

She said the trip home was just as bad, with overcrowding, a lack of connecting buses from Petrie to Kallangur and no end in sight to the problems.

Lack of car parking, integrated public transport, and lack of station feeder buses is a major issue that needs to be resolved.

Mr Latham wants back-to-back express trains on the Caboolture line, eliminating the Northgate stop for express services, and adding more all-stations peak-hour trains between Central Station and Northgate.

A balance has to be made between express services and all stations so that all passengers do not suffer from long service intervals and overcrowded trains. This cannot be done with "back to back" express services!