25 Sep 2007: Airtrain conveys lots of air!

[ozbob]

RAIL Back On Track - Media Release 25 September 2007

Brisbane:  Airtrain conveys lots of air!

RAIL - Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community organisation for the promotion of rail throughout Australia has again called on the Queensland State Government to take over the railway line to Brisbane Airport, and bring on Citytrain services that have the same fare structure and timetable hours, and service frequency as for rest of the network (Reference 1).  This would then encourage massive increases in passenger numbers and go a long way to relieving the chronic road traffic congestion associated with Brisbane Airport terminals and the general airport precinct.

Robert Dow said:

"The service to the Brisbane Airport uses Queensland Rail Citytrains.  The cost of the travel from the City to the Airport is at a cost that actively discourages people from using it.  It should be brought into the same fare structure as for the rest of metropolitan railway network.

"The Airport effectively lies in Zone 3.  This equates to a normal fare of $3.20 from Central compared to the present $13 Airtrain fare.  It is this cost differential that results in empty trains, and because of that a decrease in train frequency and service hours, which in turn leads to fewer passengers.  An irreversible slide.

"Trains need to run when actually needed.  The late start and early finish of the present Airtrain services is farcical.

"If the State Government took back management from Airtrain City Link Ltd, or at least subsidised the fares to normal fare structure, the trains would be well patronised and be available for not only domestic and international passengers, but also for people employed in the airport precinct. Road congestion, delays and costs would be minimised.

"The fortune being wasted on monuments to the automobile would not be required.

"Smart State or Dumb State?

Reference 1:

http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=31.0

Contact:

Robert Dow

Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track
http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Feedback received, thanks.

The Sydney airtrain link was built 20-30 years ago with a high fare. It used to
terminate at the airport. Passenger loadings were comparable to Brisbane. In
desparation the state took it over and charged normal fares. It was working with
economic loading very soon. Since then the line has been extended and is part of
the suburban network. The state transport authority also operates a number of
cityexpress type buses from various suburbs.The first train in Brisbane is
ridiculous, I am catching a 6.30 am plane next week and cannot use the service.

John Rigby

[ozbob]

From  http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22439111-27537,00.html

Enjoyed the forum. I agree with the Lord Mayor, and the Deputy Premier in that if the public transport infrastructure is rolled out it will be utilised. I wanted to ask why we are not utilising our present public transport infrastructure to the best advantage. The exemplar being the railway line to the airport. This is a wasted community asset. Also, the Darra to Springfield railway only two stations to be initially built. The proposed stations at Ellen Grove and Springfield lakes are on hold. This is stupid, already the BCC has identified the bus runs from Forest Lake (near Ellen Grove) need sweepers due to congestion. How much more in 5 years when the additional stations might be built. In line with the panels comments this evening, it would make sense to build all four stations now. That way people could actually catch the train.

Thanks all for an interesting forum.

Regards Robert Dow RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

This thread will be of interest too --> http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=31.0

[ozbob]

RAIL Back On Track - Media Release 11 October 2007

Brisbane:  Airport railway line buy back supported!

RAIL - Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community organisation for the promotion of rail throughout Australia has backed the Community Action for Sustainable Transport?s (CAST) call for the Federal Government to fund the buy back of the underutilised railway line to Brisbane Airport.

Robert Dow said:

"CAST is right!

?If funding was provided for the State Government to buy back the railway line from Airtrain City Link Ltd, or at least subsidised the fares to normal fare structure, and services were timetabled as for the rest of the Citytrain network, the trains would be well patronised and be available for not only domestic and international passengers, but people employed in the airport precinct.

?The Airtrain to the Brisbane Airport uses leased Queensland Rail Citytrain services. The cost of the travel from the City to the Airport by the Airtrain is presently too expensive and actively discourages people from using it.  It should be brought into the same fare structure as for the rest of metropolitan railway network.

?The Airport effectively lies in Zone 3.  This equates to a normal adult fare of $3.20 from Central compared to the present $13 Airtrain fare.  It is this cost differential that results in near empty trains and because of that a decrease in train frequency and service hours, which in turn leads to fewer passengers.

?Trains need to run when actually needed.  The late start and early finish of the present Airtrain services is farcical.

?The failure to maximize the railway line to Airport as a sustainable transport solution is compounding the gridlock and road congestion to and from the Airport.

"The fortune being wasted on monuments to the automobile would not be required if the railway was made part of the Citytrain network,? said Robert Dow.


Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track

See http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=137.msg823#msg823  for the CAST Media Release

[ozbob]

Story at Brisbanetimes today Airport roundabout outrage

Click here!

Taxi-drivers and shuttle bus operators have blasted new traffic lights on the Brisbane airport roundabout as a "pointless" exercise that has doubled peak-hour congestion.

Four sets of lights were installed on each corner of the roundabout at the end of August to improve safety and traffic flow.

The Department of Main Roads says the $1.48 million project has reduced to zero the number of accidents on the notorious trouble-spot.

But businesses that rely on access to the airport say the new system has turned a traffic headache into a congestion nightmare, with cars banking up back to the international airport on a daily basis.

BAP Airport Parking General Manager Andrew Bell says his business has been inundated with complaints from frustrated customers.

"It can take a bus from the domestic airport anywhere between 30 and 40 minutes to get through," Mr Bell says. "It's never banked all the way back there so regularly."

He says his company, located on the north-west corner of the roundabout, was forced to run an extra bus to and from the airport just to cope with the extra travelling time.

"There was always a problem if there was an accident on the Gateway (Motorway) but there's no flow now.

"From 3pm on most weekdays you'll come along and the Gateway's at a standstill until 6 or 7pm."

Main Roads is tight-lipped about public feedback on the new system and would not detail discussions held last week with Brisbane Airport Corporation on traffic congestion in the area.

But a spokesperson maintained the lights had eased the daily bank-ups.

"With the signals, traffic is rarely queuing back onto the motorway," she said.

"Congestion has also eased on three of the four approaches to the interchange during peak times, increasing the efficiency of the network."

The Taxi Council of Queensland says cab drivers were horrified when the lights were installed.

"We've been extremely disappointed with the delays created by something that really should have been designed to improve traffic flow," chief executive Blair Davies says.

"The most recent reports over the last week or two do suggest the delays are getting better but anecdotally we're still talking about doubling the time to get through to the airport."

The lights will be in place at least until a four-lane Gateway-to-airport diversion north of the roundabout is opened in mid-2009.

It would be extended to six lanes by 2011 and funnel traffic from the motorway directly to the airport.

In the meantime, Main Roads says staff will monitor the signal phasings and tweak light timings when necessary, which could mean changes this weekend as southern states switch to daylight savings.

Cab drivers travelling to and from the airport have resorted to a detour via Kingsford Smith Drive and Sugarmill Road.

It joins up with Lomandra Drive and spits vehicles out about one kilometre east of the Gateway.

Mr Davies says the diversion was less than satisfactory.

"The back route ends up fairly circuitous and costs the customers more, because it's not the shortest way there," he says.

For a blog on this article at Brisbanetimes click here!

More the reason why the railway line to the airport should be brought back into normal Citytrain operations in terms of fares, frequency and hours of operation.  It would then be accessible and go a long way to easing congestion.

[ozbob]

Feedback received, thanks!

Could you please add more services to the airport and reduce the cost.

I live above Roma Street Station so I literally the train will take me from door to door when travelling to the airport.  But the problems are:

The services are too limited: There are no services to the airport to allow me to catch a 6am flight!

The services are too infrequent: I had to get to work (in the city) and the train just left the platform of the domestic airport.  Next train 30 mins! - down I walk to the taxi rank, another car to the already congested roads at 8:30am.

The service costs to much: It is cheaper to take a taxi with the more people you have; it is very expensive if you are to meet or farewell someone at the airport when using the train, it is cheaper to drive and spend the huge $ on parking.

The services are too slow: It is quicker to take a taxi to the airport (at 5am)

These problems (Too slow, too expensive and too infrequent, too limited) mean the I never rarely use public transport - but please I really want to!

[ozbob]

Courier Mail Online has also done a story on the roundabout.

Click here!