Tennis fans will travel free to the Brisbane International in 2010

[ozbob]

http://www.translink.com.au/mediarelease.php?id=62

Tennis fans will travel free to the Brisbane International in 2010

Confirmed today, Brisbane International ticket holders can travel for free with TransLink on QR trains and Brisbane Transport services.

Regular scheduled services will run on the Beenleigh and Gold Coast lines stopping at Yeerongpilly train station for the duration of the event with maxi taxi shuttles available for people with special needs.

A shuttle bus will also be available to transfer Ipswich line passengers between Corinda station and the tournament.

Brisbane International Tournament Director Steve Ayles said the inclusion of free public transport within the tournament tickets means the event is accessible to all tennis fans.

"We are excited to be working with TransLink again to provide the best possible access to the Brisbane International," Ayles said.

"All Queensland tennis fans have the opportunity to see a star-studded line-up in 2010 including Andy Roddick, Gael Monfils, James Blake, Kim Clijsters, Justine Henin and Ana Ivanovic and without the extra cost of transport.

"2010 is shaping up to be even bigger and better than last year and with transport included in the ticket price it is the best value ticket in town."

TransLink CEO Peter Strachan said 80 per cent of tennis fans enjoyed the public transport atmosphere to and from the inaugural Brisbane International in January this year.

"We're proud to again be involved with this magnificent tournament," Mr Strachan said.

"We reviewed our public transport arrangements with Tennis Australia after the last event and listened to our customers and I believe that percentage of tennis fans will be even higher for the 2010 event.

"Of all the options we explored, a 15-20 minute train journey from the city to Yeerongpilly station was considered ideal.

"Access between the station and the Queensland Tennis Centre will continue to be enhanced with a pedestrian bridge over Fairfield Road being constructed before the 2011 event."

Pre-purchased Brisbane International event tickets can be used for travel on QR trains and Brisbane Transport services on the day of the ticketed event.

Event tickets purchased at the Queensland Tennis Centre venue, on the day of the event, are only valid for free post-event travel.

The Queensland Tennis Centre is a 10-15 minute walk from Yeerongpilly train station, about the same distance from Milton train station to Suncorp Stadium.

There will be additional standby trains travelling to the city on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights of the event, to service passengers should the night match finish late.

Thirty-five train services on the Beenleigh line will increase from three car carriages to six cars over the eight days of the tournament and customer service staff will be on hand at Yeerongpilly train station to help people with their transport options.

Maxi taxi shuttles will operate every day of the tournament between Yeerongpilly train station and the Queensland Tennis Centre and regular timetabled bus services on routes 104 and 105 buses will also be available which stop next to the Queensland Tennis Centre.

A shuttle service will also be available for Ipswich line customers from Corinda station, starting at 9:00 am between January 3 and 9 and at 11:30 am on 10 January. Services will continue until one hour after the final match of the day.

Brisbane International 2010 series packages and single sessions are on sale now. Ground passes remain $9.90 with the qualifying event on Friday 1-2 January 2010 remaining free. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketek.com.au or 1300 888 104.

For further details on transport, visit the TransLink website www.translink.com.au or phone the call centre on 13 12 30 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

[ozbob]

http://www.translink.com.au/servicechange.php?id=372

Gold Coast and Beenleigh train delays

Several Gold Coast and Beenleigh services may be delayed by 15 to 30 minutes from Sunday 3 January to Sunday 10 January, 2010.
This is due to timetable changes required to allow all services to stop at Yeerongpilly station for the Brisbane International tennis tournament.

Customers can expect delays when Gold Coast trains begin to service Yeerongpilly station.

This will be from:

    * 8.26am Sunday (3 January)
    * 8.18am Monday to Friday (4 - 8 January)
    * 8.48am Saturday (9 January)
    * 11.18am Sunday (10 January).

[stephenk]

Whilst we can't complain about free public transport to/from this and other sporting events, I love this quote from Translink's King of Spin:

TransLink CEO Peter Strachan said 80 per cent of tennis fans enjoyed the public transport atmosphere

Public transport atmosphere?
Maybe Mr Strachan, once people are back at work in the new year, you would like to catch a bus from RCH Herston into the city at 4pm. Then you will see that "Public transport atmosphere" consists of annoyance and frustration?

[ozbob]

Hornibrook bus lines, with TransLink liveried buses ran the Corinda - Tennyson shuttle for the tennis.  
Noted 5 buses waiting at Corinda this afternoon waiting for the end of the final.



Photograph R Dow 10th January 2010

[#Metro]

Public transport atmosphere?

Does he know what a train smells like at sardine can hour?
What about late on Friday or Saturday night?

[O_128]

Whilst we can't complain about free public transport to/from this and other sporting events, I love this quote from Translink's King of Spin:

TransLink CEO Peter Strachan said 80 per cent of tennis fans enjoyed the public transport atmosphere

Public transport atmosphere?
Maybe Mr Strachan, once people are back at work in the new year, you would like to catch a bus from RCH Herston into the city at 4pm. Then you will see that "Public transport atmosphere" consists of annoyance and frustration?

Ahh yes Overloaded buses, Dirty trains, Disgustingly Outdated stations and  Desert of carpark around every station. That sure is some atmosphere

[STB]

We need a clarification, a driver I travelled with (private operator) this afternoon said to me that technically they cannot allow free travel for those with sports events tickets, and that it's only valid for BT services.  Something to do with the contract between the event organiser and Brisbane City Council.

[ozbob]

Public transport to Brisbane International a real hit - Thursday 14 January 2010

Free public transport to the Brisbane International tennis tournament has proven to be a real hit with tennis fans.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan and Member for Yeerongpilly Simon Finn today said that more than 90 per cent of the 82,000 tennis fans who attended the tournament from January 3 to January 10 utilised the free public transport offer from the Queensland Government and Tennis Australia.

"This is a great example of State Government working closely with Tennis Australia to develop a transport plan that encouraged fans to leave the car at home and use public transport instead," Ms Nolan said.

"Feedback from passengers showed that the integrated ticket arrangement which allowed tournament ticketholders to travel free on QR train, scheduled Brisbane Transport bus services and dedicated bus shuttles on the TransLink network was very well received.

"We reviewed the public transport arrangements after the initial event last year and the 10 per cent increase to 90 per cent for the 2010 event shows that we got it right."

Passenger data from TransLink showed about 60 per cent of people arrived by train using Yeerongpilly station with approximately 30 per cent coming by shuttle bus. The remaining 10 per cent used private transport.

Mr Finn said that his office had received very positive feedback from members of his community, and visitors to the area, in relation to public transport options for the Brisbane International tennis tournament.

"The annual Brisbane International tennis tournament is an exciting and popular event which brings a huge focus to our State and to our local community," Mr Finn said.

"It's great that the public transport options were well thought out and executed, making it simple and easy for both locals and visitors to travel to and from the venue over the duration of the tournament.

"Regularly scheduled trains on the Gold Coast and Beenleigh lines stopped at Yeerongpilly station after peak times and 35 three-car trains increased to six cars for the duration of the tournament to cater for the extra demand," Mr Finn said.

"Additional standby trains were also on hand for passengers for night matches that finished late.

"The shuttle bus services from Corinda train station were popular with many passengers on the Ipswich line taking advantage of these regular services.

"I congratulate all involved in making this event such as huge success and I look forward to the event being held here in our community for years to come."

Ms Nolan said TransLink made more than 2.3 million passenger trips to special events last year, up from 2.2 million the previous year.

"On average, more than 90 per cent of patrons for events at Suncorp Stadium use public transport and now we can add the Brisbane International tennis tournament at Tennyson to the list of high achievers."

For more information on public transport, visit www.translink.com.au or phone the Call Centre on 13 12 30, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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Comment:  Good job operators and planners.  

Special events seem to be no problem for TransLink, the provision of sensible services for the regular commuters seems to be an issue ...  maybe there is a message here for the Minister and TransLink, yes it is largely about frequency and accessibility.