1 July 2009: SEQ: Fuel costs, congestion, construction activities ...

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Media Release 1st July 2009

SEQ: Fuel costs, congestion, construction activities and citizens' financial struggles impact on public transport

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 said public transport funding must be increased to cope with the extra loadings that will result from commuters moving to public transport as new cost imposts impact on motor vehicle use, and the impacts resulting from construction disruptions such as the Hale Street Link project.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Public transport is a much more cost effective option for the community compared to high-capacity road systems. The cost of the roads is highly sensitive to the number of road users; each additional user adds to the rapidly increasing costs of the system. The cost of public transport is more or less the same regardless of patronage, so that if more people use the system, the cost per passenger actually diminishes. Public transport revenue increases with more passengers, it is clearly economic to invest more monies in public transport."

"The Queensland Auditor General's report on urban congestion has confirmed what most commuters already know.  We need more rail, bus and ferry services during the day and night.  Rail can be ramped up almost immediately if funded.  This will give some immediate relief from the nightmare that is the road gridlock as bulk mass transit capacity will be gained.  Use of feeder buses to key stations will also help ease the car parking crisis, a major issue for citizens and local government.  As commuters move to public transport the car parking issues will be further exacerbated."

"The focus on roads and a bus centric public transport system over the last ten years in south-east Queensland has failed.  There must be a balanced ramp up of all modes our public transport to provide a seamless integrated transport system. Rail has a lot of potential capacity.  The Minister for Transport commented recently that urban rail in south-east Queensland is the second fastest growing rail system in terms of patronage increase in the world.  QR Passenger have done a great job with the limited resources they have had at their disposal.  With a properly resourced rail service we can move into a much more integrated and sustainable public transport world."

"It is time the Government's political commitments for passenger rail were translated into real improvements!"

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org