14 July 2009: SEQ: Is the TransLink Transit Authority of value?

[ozbob]

Media Release 14 July 2009

SEQ: Is the TransLink Transit Authority of value?

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport has called for a review of the TransLink Transit Authority (TTA) operations and structure.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The TTA board structure has no direct representative of the rail operator but has a representative of the major bus operator (1). This may explain in part the failure to utilise all modes of public transport properly.  During the last week I spent a number of days using the public transport system in Melbourne and the VLine country rail services in Victoria (2).  What a revelation, heavy rail, light trail - trams, and bus being used in a proper sustainable integrated manner.  Something sadly lacking in transport poor south-east Queensland with its fixation on bus and roads."

"I also took the time to observe aspects of the myki electronic ticketing system project and its roll out (3). The myki is Melbourne's equivalent of TransLink's go card.  Again a revelation in how to do it. A simple example, at Carnegie railway station in Melbourne there are four myki readers in place for passengers to touch off at the main exit from the city. This is so delays for commuters will be minimal at peak during touch off. Contrast this with the situation at Oxley railway station, one reader on the main stairs forces commuters to queue and experience frustrating delays for touch off at peak.  Fares for the myki will have capping from the outset.  The go card is still labouring along with a fare structure that actively discourages its use. It is little wonder that after 6 years of the 12 year go card contract we are still only at 30% of all journeys being undertaken by go card. Is this acceptable?"

"From our calculations QR Citytrains now has some capacity to introduce additional PM peak services.  Despite promises from the Minister for Transport and the Government, commuters are still being treated with contempt and forced to endure chronic congestion and inconvenience. It is little wonder many still choose to take their chances on the roads."

"Feedback received at RAIL Back On Track suggests that many citizens see the TTA as a disengaged authority unable to respond in a timely manner to their needs.  Furthering this perception is the call centre which seems to act as a firewall between the public and the TTA."

"RAIL Back On Track calls for a review of the TransLink Transit Authority with respect to its structure and function.  Is the considerable amount of public funds it takes to run the TTA money well spent, or should those funds be directed into providing more urgently needed public transport services?"

"Rather than more promises and spin we call on the Queensland Premier and Minister for Transport to urgently introduce more rail services to provide commuters with decent public transport options.  We have had enough of transport mediocrity."


Reference:

1.  http://www.translink.com.au/board.php

2.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2482.0

3 . http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=655.msg12080#msg12080

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[mch]

Bob,

The Translink Transit Authority needs to be there. Unfortunately it seems that the members of the board represent heaps of management power, but very little public transport power.  There are some Brisbane City Council connections which I would hope would have given experience with buses and ferries, but even with this there seems to be a hole in the way these are used.
Among the people listed, there seems to be very little likelihood that any of these people have travelled on public transport for some time.

We need people who are out there talking to people and getting information about the services being offered from the horse?s mouth (should I be saying cattle?s mouths as these are the conditions that are often experienced).
The new Transport Minister got out there and didn?t like what was happening, but the TTA do not seem to be delivering the goods.

It is very frustrating when suggestions are made and they don?t seem to be even followed up or in many cases acknowledged.

Stony silence is not the way to get public support, nor is a few flashy shows at stations or other locations.  People want to be really listened to and at least acknowledged.
There are people around who use the services every day and experience the problems and frustration of less than adequate public transport and ticketing systems.

Robert and the Rail Back on Track people are out there every day trying to get people to listen.
Between them, there is probably thousands of years experience in the transport industry, not just as travelling public, but as workers in the public transport industry.  Surely they deserve to be listened to.

It will not hurt to listen as this advice is free of charge and may save money and provide a better, more efficient public transport system for South East Queensland.

TTA need to get out and listen to what is being said.  They are after all paid by the people of Queensland to do a job.  It is about time it was done.

Noel Haynes

[SteelPan]

Transliknk is probably a step along an unfolding path, that may one day, deliver some long overdue public transport improvements for Brisbane.

Your comment re the typical Melbourne station having multiple e-card readers at access points, whilst a typical Brisbane station usually has only one at each access point, could also be extended to items such as escalators.  I honestly believe, Translink/QR do not realise you can buy more than one set at a time (ie, one up and one down).  Compare congestion management at "modern" stations like Brisbane Central, Roma St and the recently upgraded Brunswick St (Fortitude Valley) with often older facilities like Wynyard, Sydney, Melbourne CBD Loop Stations, where at least a half dozen escalators move large numbers very quickly.  Of course Roma St, is a very special place - with ONE escalator only off the platforms and last time I was there, it was running downwards! 

Queensland really is "different".

[ozbob]

Yes, Queensland is indeed a bit different SteelPan  ...

To be fair, Mr Harley, Chairperson of the TTA Board does travel on the Ferny Grove line regularly.  Not sure about the other board members though.

[O_128]

Transliknk is probably a step along an unfolding path, that may one day, deliver some long overdue public transport improvements for Brisbane.

Your comment re the typical Melbourne station having multiple e-card readers at access points, whilst a typical Brisbane station usually has only one at each access point, could also be extended to items such as escalators.  I honestly believe, Translink/QR do not realise you can buy more than one set at a time (ie, one up and one down).  Compare congestion management at "modern" stations like Brisbane Central, Roma St and the recently upgraded Brunswick St (Fortitude Valley) with often older facilities like Wynyard, Sydney, Melbourne CBD Loop Stations, where at least a half dozen escalators move large numbers very quickly.  Of course Roma St, is a very special place - with ONE escalator only off the platforms and last time I was there, it was running downwards! 

Queensland really is "different".

My dream is to see brisbane central demolished once theunderground central is built in 2030 and then rebuild above central with MUCH wider platfoms more escalators and a modern but timeless design!

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets November 28

========================

Greetings,

On the 14th July 2009 last we questioned the value of the TransLink Transit Authority TTA), see below.  Commuters again express concern with the TTA and its performance.

Recent examples of coordination failure including the Pearl Jam Concert  on 25th November (  Concert transport hits sour note http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26410307-3102,00.html ), the abandonment of the 400 shuttle buses from Indooroopilly ( Council gets off the bus Brisbane mX 27th November 2009 page 2 ).  The shuttle buses were never going to be successful as adding more congestion to congestion is almost farcical, particularly when  the rail option is available.  Why is TransLink restricting operators?  We need frequency and access to public transport not flawed plans and constant restrictions.

The ongoing issues with go card are of major concern to us (  27 Nov 2009: SEQ: go card system needs urgent work http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3060.0 ).  There is a public denial of problems, the TTA and Government think it is going brilliantly.  It isn't.  Go and ask commuters.  Look at the figures in the TransLink tracker ( TransLink's Tracker - April-June (Quarter 4) 2008-2009 http://www.translink.com.au/aboutus.php#publications ) .  As go cards issued go up, the number of go trips as a relative percentage is falling, another sign of a flawed fare structure and system prone to constant error.

There are constant rumblings of more senior staff appointments to the TTA,  whilst public transport services are falling apart.  Why does the TTA have to replicate expensive staff positions that already exist at the operator level?  Shouldn't the TTA function on its coordination role and ticketing responsibilities rather than attempting to be the actual operator?  They are struggling to do even basic coordination and roll out the ticketing system, more expensive staff appointments is doing nothing for improving the lot of the public transport commuter.

Facing massive fare cost rises it is highly likely in the face of mediocrity public transport commuters will increasingly demand that the government act to address the clear systemic failings that the TTA is facilitating.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
RAIL Back On Track


========================

Media Release 14 July 2009

SEQ: Is the TransLink Transit Authority of value?

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport has called for a review of the TransLink Transit Authority (TTA) operations and structure.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The TTA board structure has no direct representative of the rail operator but has a representative of the major bus operator (1). This may explain in part the failure to utilise all modes of public transport properly.  During the last week I spent a number of days using the public transport system in Melbourne and the VLine country rail services in Victoria (2).  What a revelation, heavy rail, light trail - trams, and bus being used in a proper sustainable integrated manner.  Something sadly lacking in transport poor south-east Queensland with its fixation on bus and roads."

"I also took the time to observe aspects of the myki electronic ticketing system project and its roll out (3). The myki is Melbourne's equivalent of TransLink's go card.  Again a revelation in how to do it. A simple example, at Carnegie railway station in Melbourne there are four myki readers in place for passengers to touch off at the main exit from the city. This is so delays for commuters will be minimal at peak during touch off. Contrast this with the situation at Oxley railway station, one reader on the main stairs forces commuters to queue and experience frustrating delays for touch off at peak.  Fares for the myki will have capping from the outset.  The go card is still labouring along with a fare structure that actively discourages its use. It is little wonder that after 6 years of the 12 year go card contract we are still only at 30% of all journeys being undertaken by go card. Is this acceptable?"

"From our calculations QR Citytrains now has some capacity to introduce additional PM peak services.  Despite promises from the Minister for Transport and the Government, commuters are still being treated with contempt and forced to endure chronic congestion and inconvenience. It is little wonder many still choose to take their chances on the roads."

"Feedback received at RAIL Back On Track suggests that many citizens see the TTA as a disengaged authority unable to respond in a timely manner to their needs.  Furthering this perception is the call centre which seems to act as a firewall between the public and the TTA."

"RAIL Back On Track calls for a review of the TransLink Transit Authority with respect to its structure and function.  Is the considerable amount of public funds it takes to run the TTA money well spent, or should those funds be directed into providing more urgently needed public transport services?"

"Rather than more promises and spin we call on the Queensland Premier and Minister for Transport to urgently introduce more rail services to provide commuters with decent public transport options.  We have had enough of transport mediocrity."


Reference:

1.  http://www.translink.com.au/board.php

2.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2482.0

3 . http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=655.msg12080#msg12080

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org