24 Nov 2009: SEQ: Increased QR Citytrain frequency long overdue

[ozbob]

Media Release 24 November 2009

SEQ:  Increased QR Citytrain frequency long overdue

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has called for an increase in service frequency on all railway lines on the TransLink QR Citytrain network.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Last week, the community celebrated thirty years of electric train operation in south-east Queensland.  In 1979 when electric rail services commenced it was ground breaking.  Many lines saw the introduction of 30 minute off peak service frequency which had been as infrequent as two hours or so prior to electrification.  Thirty years on, these lines still have a thirty minute off peak frequency if they are lucky!"

"As a general principle train frequency between 5am to 9pm Mondays to Fridays should be no greater than every 15 minutes, and more frequent during the peaks.  Outside these times and on weekends and public holidays a 20 minute frequency should be the aim."

"Clearly, a radical improvement in frequency as outlined will take some time to achieve across the network. It would be logical therefore to implement such improvements on a line by line basis.  The obvious candidate for the first high frequency timetable is the Caboolture - Ipswich rail corridor. As resources build further incremental improvements can be made to other lines."

"There is no doubt that train frequency in south-east Queensland is poor, relative to other states and international benchmarks. This poor frequency discourages use and complicates rail and bus integration."

"The huge increases in public transport fare costs from January 2010 must be met with real increases in services.  The key determinants in maximising public transport usage are frequency, accessibility and to a lesser extent affordability.  By encouraging public transport use there are significant real savings made in terms of reduced congestion costs, lessened environmental impacts and less road trauma impacting on health costs."

"Do we have to wait another thirty years?"

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[somebody]

Good release.  Hopefully, media will ask the Transport Minister for a response, which is impossible.

My only issue is that I don't think we should settle for 20 minute frequency, and it would complicate things too much on the Cleveland line due to the single track, and on the Beenleigh line due to the Coasties (which would stay at 30 minute frequency).

[skippy]

Increasing frequencing with the track infrastructure and train crew limitations will need to be staged. Demanding a blanket 15 min frequency on all lines will be easily dismissed, even if we might expect a 50% increase in patronage. Even I am not ready for my taxes to subsidise services every 15 mins to Doomben on Sunday evenings - without some major increase in densities along the line!

However, we might have more success establishing a priority list of frequency improvements.
e.g.

Immediate (no changes to infrastructure required)
- 15 min AM Peak weekday inbound services on Shorncliffe Line
- One additional weekday service CBD to Shorncliffe to fill the 40 min void between 3.50pm and 4.30pm  
- 15 min weekday off peak services (say 6am to 7pm) CBD to Darra, Ferny Grove, Eagle Junction, Manly, Petrie

Medium term
- 15 min weekend services  CBD to Darra, Ferny Grove, Eagle Junction, Manly, Petrie
- 15 min weekday off peak to Shorncliffe, Kuraby, Ipswich, Cleveland, Caboolture, Varsity Lakes

etc

[somebody]

Skippy,
I agree with:
15 min AM Peak weekday inbound Shorncliffe service
Filling voids.
15 minute off peak frequency Manly, extending to Cleveland/FG/inner Beenleigh line/Petrie, extending to Caboolture/Ipswich

Not so sure about 15 minute off peak frequency on the Shorncliffe line, and disagree with 15 minute off peak frequency on the Gold Coast line.  The 30 minute frequency is excellent for the distance involved.

Also 15 minute frequency CBD-Darra should be happenning anyway when the Richlands branch opens.

[mch]

All I have asked for for a long period of time on the Caboolture line is an extra service from Caboolture during the am and the pm peak periods as follows:

Am service Caboolture line this one I have been suggesting since October 2008

1. Altered Service
It is noted that there is a 16 minute gap between services departing Caboolture from 6.24am to 6.40am.  The 6.40am service should be brought forward to 6.35am and run altered as follows: - run express Northgate to Eagle Junction (no stops at Nundah and Toombul).  This would mean that this train would not be as crowded and should arrive Central 6 minutes earlier at 7.36am.

2. Extra Service.
An extra service could then depart Caboolture at 6.48am and run all stations to Petrie (arrive ahead of the Nambour express) and then express to Strathpine (about 7.13am), stop at Bald Hills (about 7.16am) then express to Northgate (about 7.26am)  then stop at Nundah (about 7.28am), Toombul (about 7.30am), Eagle Junction (about 7.32am), then express to Bowen Hills (about 7.38am), Brunswick (about 7.40am), Central (arr about 7.43 dep about 7.45am) Roma Street (arr about 7.48am).  This would replace the missing clearance of the altered service and would also cover the stop that allows students to get off at Toombul. 
This service provides stops at Strathpine and Bald Hills which are high usage stations as well as providing a less crowded option at Nundah and Toombul.

Pm service Caboolture line this one I have been suggesting since April this year

1. Extra Service
It is noted that there is a 22 minute gap between express services departing Roma Street between 5.00pm and 5.22pm.  An extra express service should depart Roma Street about 5.12pm and run similar to the 5.00pm service but with a stop at Bald Hills as well.

2. Altered Service.
The 5.22 service could run about 2 minutes later, but not stop at Eagle Junction (as this often is just to give people for Eagle Junction a quick trip home) not stopping there would virtually bring the train back on time. 
 

[somebody]

I would go further and suggest that all peak Caboolture services should skip Albion, Wooloowin, Nundah and Toombul.  These stations could easily be served by Shorncliffe trains.  And on the Shorncliffe line, increasing the peak frequency is a much bigger priority than express trains: On the Caboolture line the express trains are required in the peak.  Seems to be win-win to me, except for people that would need to change to get to Toombul.  But you can't design your network around the minority.

If what I suggest above were implemented, that would increase the effective patronage of the Shorncliffe line, up to close to the Beenleigh/Cleveland/Ferny Grove lines. So it seems obvious that the Shorncliffe line would justify 4-6tph in the peak then.

[ozbob]

We have outlined something similar before, it makes sense ..

http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1942.0

Media Release 1 March 2009

SEQ:  Tier timetables - the smart solution for rail

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 said that in order to set up the QR Citytrain network to meet the current and future mass transit requirements an extension of the tier timetable structure that operates on the Gold Coast railway line needs to rolled out to the Ipswich, and Caboolture and North Coast Lines.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Trains to and from the Gold Coast presently run express, with limited stops from Beenleigh to the CBD.  Trains to and from Beenleigh generally run all stations to the CBD.  This is an example of a two tier timetable that affords capacity and a reduced journey time for the long run in from the Gold Coast, with the flexibility of all station trains for local commuters."

"Similar patterns need to be established on the north coast to Rosewood corridor.  Trains to and from Ipswich should all run express from Darra to the CBD, with perhaps a stop at Indooroopilly.  All station frequent trains to run between Darra and Shorncliffe.  This results in a quicker journey time for the long haul rail commuters and will help manage the inner suburban congestion overloads.  It is a win for all."

"This pattern on the Ipswich line will also allow the seamless integration of the new QR Citytrain services on the Darra to Richlands branch line.  The Shorncliffe to Darra sweepers can be extended to Richlands."

"The north coast line should operate on a triple tier timetable.  Trains to and from Nambour to run express from Caboolture with limited stops, for example at Petrie and Northgate.  Trains to and from Caboolture to run express between Northgate and the CBD.  The Darra Shorncliffe sweepers will pick up the inner suburban passengers on this section."

"Many rail commuters at peak struggle to board the overloaded long haul services as they transit through the inner suburban areas. Apart from making for a long journey time, it increases dwell times and makes it difficult for the crew to keep on timetable.  It is time to look at innovative solutions."

"The track quadruplication upgrade between Darra and Corinda will give the capacity on the Ipswich line to introduce the suggested train working.  The track duplication project between Caboolture and Beerburrum will also give an increased capacity."

"Further upgrades of track capacity and signalling improvements will place the QR Citytrain network in a position to move commuters safely, quickly and in a sustainable manner.  As the new trains and crew are progressively introduced the timetable improvements suggested will go a long way to matching capacity with the surging demand and provide an efficient operation."

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[somebody]

I think the case for the stop at Eagle Junction is pretty good.  Firstly, it's the interchange point for Doomben and the Airport lines, but also, it's a pretty busy station in it's own right.

[Arnz]

I think the case for the stop at Eagle Junction is pretty good.  Firstly, it's the interchange point for Doomben and the Airport lines, but also, it's a pretty busy station in it's own right.

Any Caboolture express (current runs and proposed runs) should be stopping through there, peak and off-peak. 

As for the Sunshine Coast Line, I'd would be suggesting swapping the current Northgate stop with Eagle Junction, knock all 3 lines out in one interchange (Doomben, Airport and Shorncliffe at EJ).

[ozbob]

Seems Melbourne is also interested in 'tier timetables' 

see --> http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3068.msg17239#msg17239