21 Feb 2009: SEQ: New bus services, and trains ...

[ozbob]

Media Release 21 Feb 2009

SEQ:  New bus services,  and trains for the Caboolture and Ipswich lines start this Monday (23rd February)!

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 welcomed the new QR Citytrain services to be introduced on the Caboolture and Ipswich lines from the 23rd February 2009 (1).  A significant number of very welcome new and improved bus services are also being introduced (2).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"All Citytrain lines have been experiencing increasing congestion and the worst of this congestion recently has been on the Caboolture and Ipswich lines during the peak periods.  The addition of two extra services from Ipswich, at 5.55am and 7.24am will help significantly to ease the congestion and encourage more use of sustainable transport.  The extra service from Corinda at 7.49am will also assist in picking up the inner city loadings so that the longer haul services will not be as congested."

"The two extra weekday services, one leaving Caboolture at 6.01am and another leaving Petrie at 7.58am will also help ease some of the congestion and provide commuters with some more options.  More services are needed urgently though on this line during the peak periods."

"RAIL Back On Track has often suggested a number of specific improvements to these lines and we are delighted that QR Passenger and TransLink have introduced some of the services we have suggested. Thank you."

"There is a need to consider some additional services for the afternoon evening peak from the CBD to both Caboolture and Ipswich too in the immediate future. As more trains and crew become available congestion points on all lines will also need to be eased."

"Further global improvements to the service frequency for the entire network will be possible as more of the new trains are rolled out and more crew becomes available.  The recent confirmation by the Premier of the construction of a further 20 three car trains of the second tranche of 58 new three car trains is very welcome.  This is additional to the present order of 44 three car trains to be completed later this year."

"Rail is the key to easing the congestion on our public transport and road network as this is where the required bulk mass transit capacity will be gained.  What is needed, and will be possible as the new trains are rolled into service is a fifteen minute off peak frequency on all lines of the Citytrain network 5am to 8pm, Mondays to Fridays. During peak 7.5 minutes or better depending on loadings, outside 5am to 8pm, and on Saturdays, Sundays and Public holiday generally a 20 minute service frequency.  Such a timetable overcomes a lot of present problems with bus/rail and rail/bus timetable integration and will provide the opportunity to introduce more integrated lateral (cross-suburban) bus routes too."

"Two-tier timetables on the long haul lines will enhance the efficiency of the network, an extension of what is already in place on the Gold Coast line.  Trains to and from Ipswich /Rosewood, express between Darra and the CBD, limited stops only.  Similarly trains to and from Caboolture, express between Northgate and the CBD.  All services past Caboolture express from Caboolture to CBD, limited stops only, increased inner city sweeper services between Shorncliffe and Darra. This will move the Citytrain network into the big league and will take a lot of pressure off the roads."

"Public transport is about frequency of service and coverage.  The improvements on the rail and bus networks from this Monday are a significant step forward for public transport in south-east Queensland. Thank you!"


References:

1.  http://servicechanges.translink.com.au/db/servicechange.php?id=271
2.  http://servicechanges.translink.com.au/db/servicechange.php?id=254


Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Mozz and I caught the inaugral 5.55am service from Ipswich at Oxley at 6.26am.

EMU86 leading

Arrival at Oxley



Photograph R Dow 23rd February 2009

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times click here!

New earlier train service promises more comfort

New earlier train service promises more comfort

Rob Lockyear | 23rd February 2009

PACKED like cattle is the way many commuters have felt on the Ipswich line's notorious 6.14am Brisbane bound train but new services starting yesterday gave early risers a little more room to breathe.

Darra-based commuter and RAIL Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow took a ride on the first run of the new 5.55am service and said it was good to finally be able to stretch his legs.

?We have gone from a situation that was really quite serious to a service with a much improved timetable,? Mr Dow said.

?It is a great improvement.?

He said the 6.14am train had been oversubscribed for way too long but for 20 minutes less in bed, commuters now had the option of a much more comfortable journey.

?Having that one beforehand gives people that little more of a choice,? he said.

However, Mr Dow said while it was all very well to introduce the 5.55am and 7.24am services, people still needed to get home at the end of the day.

He said the coming election campaign would probably stimulate further improvements to the Ipswich line with the introduction of more afternoon services, hopefully, just around the corner.

?I think this campaign is going to focus the attention on it even more,? he said.

?I think we will see that (afternoon services) too in the not too distant future.?

While he estimated only 200 to 300 people took advantage of the early trip, he said more would jump on board as knowledge of the new services spread.

?These services are going to become really important in the long-term,? he said.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 23rd February 2009 page 6

Commuters will feel difference

Commuters will feel difference
Torny Jensen

Commuters have been promised public transport improvements from today, with the commencement of newbus and rail services.

Transport Minister John Mickel said additional services on the Ipswich and Caboolture rail lines and a $6.8 million investment in a bus enhancement package would see the networks carrying 79,000 more commuters a week-15,000 on trains and 64,000 on buses.

As part of the bus package, 26 additional buses will service "new and improved routes". "'Highlights of the new bus services include a new limitedstop service, route 363 - Herston to Brisbane - and two new prepaid bus services, route 157-Rtuicorn to Brisbane - and the first prepaid service on the north side of Brisbane, route 343 -Aspley to Brisbane," Mickel said. On the rail network, four new morning peak-hour services will be added to the Ipswich and Caboolture lines, with additiona] services running from Caboolture, Petrie, Ipswich, Corinda and Darra stations.

Robert Dow from commuter group Rail Back on Track welcomed the extra services but said more off-peak services should be added as promised new trains hit the tracks.

The government. has pledged 102 more trains by 2016, with 44 scheduled to be online by the end of the year.

For more into on new services. visit www.translink.com.au.

[ozbob]

From the Northern Times click here!

Public transport nightmare for commuters

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.