6 Dec 2007: SEQ - Public transport is a mess!

[ozbob]

Media Release: 6  December 2007

SEQ:  Public transport is a mess!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport has called for urgent action to sort out the mess that is public transport in South-East Queensland.

Robert Dow said:

?Government spin doctors continue to pat themselves on the back and quote the increased patronage on public transport is evidence that they are doing a great job.

?The reality is that desperate citizens have been forced to abandon cars due to the road congestion and increasing cost of fuel.  Many citizens are becoming more environmentally aware and wish to do something positive in the climate change context.  Commuting by public transport is one way of reducing emissions. 

?Public transport is a fundamental community service.  The Brisbane City Council is struggling to provide an adequate bus and river transport network.  Daily there are reports of overloaded buses and CityCats, potential passengers stranded and late for their commitments.  The State Government should take over the buses and river transport and setup a properly integrated public transport system that is not confined by the BCC boundaries.

?QR Citytrain has also been left short of crew and trains and rail commuters have endured months of short notice cancellations.  Efforts are underway to catch up, but that is not enough to meet the growing need for high capacity mass transit. QR Citytrain needs a further 44 three car trains to properly provide increased peak and off peak services, additional to the 44 trains presently on order.  High frequency accessible rail services will not only drive change, but will help to relieve congestion on buses and roads.  Rather than running radial routes to the CBD, feeding key rail stations by bus will be a much more sensible solution and will also help relieve the bus congestion on the bus-ways and CBD at peak.

?Simply trying to squeeze more buses onto the congested roads and bus-ways will not provide long term solutions. The only solution that will meet the anticipated growth will be a revitalised rail network, with integrated buses. The money that is being poured into roads is not going to provide long term solutions.  If anything it will just exacerbate gridlock and pollution, and will prove to be environmentally very costly,? said Robert Dow, spokesman for RAIL Back On Track.

Contact:

Robert  Dow

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