Article: State Government billed $500m for crowded trains

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

State Government billed $500m for crowded trains

State Government billed $500m for crowded trains
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Ursula Heger

June 09, 2009 12:00am

TAXPAYERS are forking out $234.4m to prop up southeast Queensland's ailing passenger rail network as the State Government subsidy hits double its 2006 level.

Figures released to The Courier-Mail show the Government will pay an estimated $501 million to Queensland Rail to subsidise Citytrain services this year, compared with $453.9 million last financial year, and $285.6 million in 2005-06.

This means for every passenger trip on the rail network this year the Government is expecting to pay $8.25, up from $5.40 three years ago.

In comparison, for every commuter on the southeast's bus services, the Government will outlay $2.07 this year, at a cost of $234.4 million, up from $1.48 million in 2005-06.

About 60.7 million rail trips are expected to be made this year, compared with 112.8 million for buses.

A TransLink spokesman said the increased rail costs were due to the purchase, maintenance and staffing of 45 extra services over two years, along with rising electricity costs.

He said no decision had been made whether the cost of rail tickets would be increased, but the operators would be looking to make services more efficient.

"One of the challenges is to ensure the number of services on bus and rail matches demand while continuing to improve efficiency and remain cost effective for both customers and the taxpayers of Queensland," the spokesman said.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan admitted the subsidy was higher than in other states, but said the Government was committed to expanding rail services in the southeast.

"Regardless of mode, the rate of subsidy of public transport in southeast Queensland is high by comparison with other states ? for every dollar that a customer pays in fares, the state government pays three," she said.

Last year, it was revealed that the Government subsidises the state's Traveltrain network by $900 for each person, taking about 1250 passengers a year.

RACQ spokesman Gary Fites said while the motoring organisation supported a subsidy on quality public transport, the Government needed to look at what it was getting for its money.

"Lets seriously look at the value we are getting," he said.

"We will see subsidies get to the stage where they become uneconomical.

"And at a time when they are looking at removing the subsidy to motorists, many of whom don't have a choice whether to catch public transport, they need to decide whether what is good for the goose is good for the gander."

Comment:  The journeys on rail are much longer.  The costs are no different in terms of kilometres travelled.  Rail has had the fastest growth of all public transport modes and the costs actually decrease once the infrastructure ramp ups are factored out.  The costs of road are never factored into the cost of buses either.  This article is a bit of a distortion.

[Dean Quick]

What a load of biased unresearched garbage! This is typical of the rubbish the courier mail seems to enjoy publishing. Where is the cost of road building and maintainance factored in these figures??? Not to mention the road injury and fatality cost every year!! And another thing- who really cares what the RACQ think? If they had their way we would have nothing but roads built on top of more roads, a city choked by cars and pollution.
The roads are heavily subsidised by the gov't but you never read about that in the courier garbage...

[ozbob]

Some interesting blog comments pointing out the distortions.

--> http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/comments/0,23836,25606971-952,00.html

[ozbob]

I noted this followup letter to the editor in the Courier mail to the article above.  The correspondent makes some outstanding points.

Letters Courier Mail 11th June 2009 page 36