18 Apr 2010: SEQ: Train timetable gaps and service frequency ...

[ozbob]

Media Release 18 April 2010

SEQ:  Train timetable gaps and service frequency needs urgent improvement

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 the key drivers for public transport utilisation are frequency of services, the public transport needs to be accessible and affordable.  On all three counts south-east Queensland is failing.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The present go card fare structure with the projected 15% per annum fare increases is anti-public transport.  Pure and simple, completely out of whack with proven fare structures in places as widespread as London, Melbourne, Perth, and Boston for example.  There needs to be capping and periodical options for all users of the go card, together with a special cap for Seniors, full time students and the unemployed."

"The off peak train frequency of 30 minutes and often one hour frequency does not encourage use of public transport.  It also complicates bus rail integration.  Journeys that should be straightforward are often turned into marathons as frustrated commuters are forced to put up with constant delays and missed connections, no-shows and the real likelihood of missed appointments and flow on costs as a result."

"Anything more than 15 minute gap on a busy line is unacceptable and makes public transport unattractive. Twenty minutes or more is a disgrace."

"Listed below are some problems with the present timetable.  We had received correspondence from TransLink stating that an overhaul of the Citytrain timetable was to occur and would be implemented early 2011. Fridays media had a report that the advice concerning the new timetable was not correct and there were no plans. Incredible, just scan the list the below.  What is going on? (1)"

"We call on the Minister of Transport to direct TransLink to sort out this train timetable mess urgently.  Commuters are being hit with savage fare increases and the service standards are deteriorating, with no plans to fix it?"

"This situation is not acceptable."

"There are many timetable gaps and problems (2).  Some examples:

Monday to Friday Ipswich to Rosewood.
Train leaves Ipswich for Rosewood at 4.38pm, the next service for Rosewood is 5.51pm.  Amazing!!  Worse peak frequency than off peak.  This gap is appalling.

Shorncliffe Line:
Departing Central in afternoon peak:  3:51 and then 4:29.  That's a 38-minute gap!  The following service is 22 minutes later so an extra service and reshuffle would be the ideal solution.
Departing Shorncliffe in morning peak:  7:23 and then 7:49.  26-minute gap that could be solved by shuffling the next 3 trains forward by 10 minutes.

Every hour gap is totally unacceptable. Ferny Grove Line has hour gaps preceding the last train Mon-Thu, between the 1st and 2nd trains Sat am, between 1st,2nd, and 3rd inbound trains Sun am, and between 1st,2nd,3rd,4th, and 5th outbound trains Sun am. There are plenty of examples of hour gaps on other lines too.

Ferny Grove has a 21/23min gap between the 06:45am ex Ferny Grove and 07:06am ex Ferny Grove(exp)/07:17am ex Mitchelton. The 07:06 ex Ferny Grove is often very overcrowded by Enoggera. The is also an annoying 18 min gap in the late am peak caused the 2nd inbound express (which has loads of spare capacity).

The two pm outbound Ferny Grove expresses cause a 20min gap between 4:37 and 4:57 ex Central, and 21min gap between 5:03 and 5:24 ex Central for stations that it skips (Windsor-Gaythorne). Really annoying!

Cleveland Line has a 23min gap for stations Wynnum Central to Buranda which are skipped by the 1st inbound am express.

Caboolture Line has a 30min gap between 6:06pm and 6:36pm ex-Central to Caboolture.

Nearly 30 years ago in 1980 (shortly after electrification began) there were services from Salisbury to the City at 7.28am, 7.38am, 7.51am, 8.05am and 8.21am with no gap greater than 16 minutes.  Today there are services from Salisbury to the City at 7.23am, 7.36am, 7.54am(3 cars), 8.16am(3 cars) and 8.22am with gaps in the services of up to 22 minutes (an increase from 16 min).  This is made worse by the trains before and after the 22 minute gap only being 3 car sets. Translink needs to mandate that peak hour train services need to run at least every 15 minutes and that 6 car sets be used unless it can be demonstrated the loading only warrants the use of a 3 car set (such as Doomben & Rosewood).

Anti-peak flow:  For example at Indooroopilly there's a city train at 5:03pm followed by 5:30pm.  Given that this station has 15min frequency daytime off peak, that's a bit of a shocker.

Gap on the Sunshine Coast line weekday evening.
7:29pm Nambour, next is 9:30pm Nambour service.  This is very inconvenient to punters heading past Caboolture.
Three car leaving at 8.30pm or thereabouts would be a big benefit.

Cleveland line trains departing Roma Street
4:07pm: Not anywhere near full, can always get a seat and people can get on at South Brisbane, South Bank, Park Road and Buranda without any hassle.
4:32pm: Absolute full to the brim every day with people who knock off at 4pm. Get on at Roma St and always standing. People getting on at South Brisbane, South Bank, Park Road and Buranda always end up jammed in up against the door."

"No plans for a timetable overhaul?  You have got to be kidding TransLink!"

References:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3703.0

2. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2703.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[#Metro]

If they have no trains, I don't care, put the steam ones and DMUs on!
0% new rail seats!

I don't mind paying a bit more, but when you promise "every cent will be used for more public transport", well, that's what should happen!

[Golliwog]

Mentioning TL and money, does anyone know exactly what happens with the money they get from giving fines to QR, etc, for failing to meet on time service standards? I tried asking in an online enquiry, but apparently you have to write a letter and post it to them for that, which I can't really do as I'm overseas.

[#Metro]

What is wrong with e-mail?
I hope they don't ask for you to put complaints via telegrams next...

[Golliwog]

I didn't get it either. This is what it was saying:

Requests for information regarding TransLink statistics and patronage levels will need to be made in writing and sent to:

Group Manager, Operations Management
TransLink
GPO Box 50
Brisbane QLD 4001

Please ensure you provide the following information with your request:
your name, position and organisation
your contact details including your postal address and day time phone number(s)
intended use for the information
when the information is required by
exactly why the information is required.


It's like its some deep dark secret that they don't want people to know. Maybe they spend it on roads!  

[#Metro]

"Exactly why the information is required?"
What kind of question is that?

[Golliwog]

I don't know, I assume so they can keep tabs on us horrible horrible people, demanding to have know how our government does its business...with our money.

[ozbob]

Absurd.  I feel a RTI application coming on ... 

And then they are quite likely to charge you for it.  These sort of statistics are freely available in other states, publicly on the web.

Something seriously wrong with the attitudes in Queensland.

[somebody]

Mentioning TL and money, does anyone know exactly what happens with the money they get from giving fines to QR, etc, for failing to meet on time service standards? I tried asking in an online enquiry, but apparently you have to write a letter and post it to them for that, which I can't really do as I'm overseas.

I'd suggest talking to your local member of parliament, and ask him to find out from the minister.  Then the public servants will get a ministerial request.

Honestly, it's a fair question and for all we know it's gone to pay the salaries of some "no show" and/or "no work" employees like off of "The Sopranos".

[#Metro]

I didn't get it either. This is what it was saying:

Requests for information regarding TransLink statistics and patronage levels will need to be made in writing and sent to:

Group Manager, Operations Management
TransLink
GPO Box 50
Brisbane QLD 4001

I'm not sure why the stats and patronage levels are so guarded as if it were commercial in confidence... TransLink is a publicly-funded government monopoly mandated in an act of parliament, it has no competitors or rivals to deal with.

[ozbob]

Advice has been received that a major timetable overhaul for 2011 is being worked on, but has not yet been finalised.  Consultation will be carried out as the timetable develops.

[somebody]

Advice has been received that a major timetable overhaul for 2011 is being worked on, but has not yet been finalised.  Consultation will be carried out as the timetable develops.

Good news, but I'd still like to see an official announcement.