26 Oct 2007: Citytrain and Communication

[ozbob]

Media Release 26 October 2007

Brisbane:  Citytrain and Communication

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail has said in the absence of any leadership or meaningful communication from the Hon. John Mickel MP, Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations, and TransLink concerning the crisis in public transport, there is increasing commuter discontent, frustration and anger. 

Robert Dow said:

?Another week of cancellations and disruptions on the Citytrain network has left many commuters out of pocket, frustrated and appalled at the ongoing issues.  Some of these disruptions have been out of the immediate control of QR but other problems just reflect the long term neglect and the failure to provide adequate staff and equipment by Government.?

?The Queensland Opposition has raised a number of issues in the Queensland Parliament of late concerning public transport.  The Opposition and the community are still waiting for answers!?

?The mythical ?Smart Card? is also a ?state secret? with no detailed explanations of how fares will be charged forthcoming. Is the failure to come clean with the fare costs indicative of significant price rises, and therefore will be kept under wraps till after November 24th??

?For this Government to ignore the growing tirade of anger and resentment from commuters is amazing and disturbing, but looking at how other issues such as health are being mismanaged not really surprising.?

?This evening on the 5.42pm Citytrain service from Roma St to Ipswich there was a short delay before departure waiting for a train ahead to clear.  The Guard kept the passengers informed as to the circumstances of the delay.  People were obviously content because they were informed.  There was COMMUNICATION!?

?The Minister and TransLink might be well advised to follow the example of the Guard this evening and actually communicate to the public meaningful statements that address their concerns, in terms of service improvements and specific details of the operation of the TransLink Smart Card.?

Contact:

Robert  Dow

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