29 Apr 2010: SEQ: Rail must be ramped up

[ozbob]

Media Release 29 April 2010

SEQ:  Rail must be ramped up

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 bus in Brisbane is reaching capacity constraints (1, 2).  A significant increase in peak and off peak train frequency will relieve the problems on radial bus routes.  It is time for the Government to properly fund TransLink to allow the proper placement of not only bus, but importantly rail services. Rate payer funding models are presently inequitable, Brisbane City Council ratepayers are carrying the can for others.  There is reserve capacity on the rail network that must be used.  Public transport commuters are still reeling from hefty fare increases that have not been met by the promised service improvements.  The go card has just recorded 100 million trips, with a proper fare structure that figure could have easily been greater than 200 million by now (3).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Our public transport system is approaching a crisis.  The major issue is a failure to pro actively place adequate rail services to relieve the pressure on radial bus routes."

"Of concern is the revelation that only 60% of public transport trips are presently on the go card.  In view of the severe financial penalty for paper ticket users this is of real concern.  We have long suggested that the fundamental issue with the go card is the poor fare structure (4).  It does not encourage maximum and flexible use of public transport in the same way that fare structures on smart cards in London, Perth or Melbourne do for example."

"A recent article highlighting the lessons from the Oyster Card in London has stressed the key to success was periodical ticketing and capping (5).  Two things missing from the go card.  Maximum uptake of go card driven by an improved fare structure will further decrease bus loading times and provide more accurate loading data and facilitate an improved public transport network."


References:

1. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/catching-a-brisbane-bus-is-a-matter-of-luck/story-e6freon6-1225859646815

2. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3756.msg26044#msg26044

3. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3772.msg26062#msg26062

4, http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3596.0

5. http://www.railexpress.com.au/archive/2010/april/april-07-2010/top-stories/oyster-smartcard-lessons-from-london-2013-part-one

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[#Metro]

A nice story today in the Courier Mail.
Melbourne's train patronage is going to the moon. I suspect Perths trains are also going there.
I'll see if I can get my hands on some numbers to compare.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/catching-a-brisbane-bus-is-a-matter-of-luck/comments-e6freon6-1225859646815

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

SEQ:  Rail must be ramped up  follow up commentary

30th April 2010

Greetings,

If there is any doubt as to the seriousness of the public transport shortfalls check out the blog comments on the Courier Mail article Catching a Brisbane bus is pure luck as record numbers of passengers left stranded  http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/catching-a-brisbane-bus-is-a-matter-of-luck/comments-e6freon6-1225859646815.  The bus ontime performance data reported in the TransLink Tracker has always been of concern to us, the data as reported simply does not match public transport users experiences.

The rail network has reserve capacity, this capacity must be used to provide the sustainable transport options that are needed.  It is highly likely that fuel prices are about to escalate for the long term, the overall effect of toll roads and continuing road congestion will steadily impact.  Rail properly resourced will cope.

Of concern to the broader community is the failure to move forward with a fare structure for the go card that encourages maximum public transport utilisation.  It is necessary to take a wider view than just isolated fare box impacts when considering further fare options.  All major jurisdictions with smart card ticketing have value added products such as fare capping and periodical options, the key fare components missing on the go card fare base. Additionally a special capped fare for Seniors and others such as full time tertiary students and unemployed would greatly assist those folks to get out and about and utilise the spare capacity on the public transport system off peak.  Savings to health care costs, reduced congestion impacts and environmental outputs, and the business multiplier effects far out weigh flawed simple modelling projections of decreased fare box revenue.  On the contrary, if more pax are travelling off peak then fare revenue overall is actually increased.

It is not rocket science, it is simple policy development and implementation to improve the outcomes for our community.

The recent introduction of the TransLink Access Pass http://www.translink.com.au/accesspass.php is acknowledged as a great step forward.  This pass is for the use of folks who are unable to use a go card.

London has had fare capping since 2005.  Essentially the same product as the go card, isn't time to move forward?

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

Media Release 29 April 2010

SEQ:  Rail must be ramped up

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 bus in Brisbane is reaching capacity constraints (1, 2).  A significant increase in peak and off peak train frequency will relieve the problems on radial bus routes.  It is time for the Government to properly fund TransLink to allow the proper placement of not only bus, but importantly rail services. Rate payer funding models are presently inequitable, Brisbane City Council ratepayers are carrying the can for others.  There is reserve capacity on the rail network that must be used.  Public transport commuters are still reeling from hefty fare increases that have not been met by the promised service improvements.  The go card has just recorded 100 million trips, with a proper fare structure that figure could have easily been greater than 200 million by now (3).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Our public transport system is approaching a crisis.  The major issue is a failure to pro actively place adequate rail services to relieve the pressure on radial bus routes."

"Of concern is the revelation that only 60% of public transport trips are presently on the go card.  In view of the severe financial penalty for paper ticket users this is of real concern.  We have long suggested that the fundamental issue with the go card is the poor fare structure (4).  It does not encourage maximum and flexible use of public transport in the same way that fare structures on smart cards in London, Perth or Melbourne do for example."

"A recent article highlighting the lessons from the Oyster Card in London has stressed the key to success was periodical ticketing and capping (5).  Two things missing from the go card.  Maximum uptake of go card driven by an improved fare structure will further decrease bus loading times and provide more accurate loading data and facilitate an improved public transport network."


References:

1. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/catching-a-brisbane-bus-is-a-matter-of-luck/story-e6freon6-1225859646815

2. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3756.msg26044#msg26044

3. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3772.msg26062#msg26062

4, http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3596.0

5. http://www.railexpress.com.au/archive/2010/april/april-07-2010/top-stories/oyster-smartcard-lessons-from-london-2013-part-one

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[somebody]

One further point on this one.  The current poor off peak rail frequencies are penny wise, pound foolish.  If rail frequencies were ramped up, there would be more pax to amortise the substantial fixed costs over.  Whether or not the fares from these extra pax would actually pay for the services is an unknowable, but all the benefits of public transport such as reduced road trauma would be increased.

[#Metro]

If they put on dedicated feeder buses which would be:

1. Short run
2. Extremely high frequency routes (like every 5-10 minutes in peak)
3. Exclusively to and from the train station just during a 2-hour peak the buses
4. Possibly free to use (no changes to GoCard required, a transfer is free anyway)

Then the buses might not break even on costs, but the rail system certainly might.
It needs to be looked at as a system, not just isolated components.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

4th May 2010

Greetings,

The news of the additional bus services is welcome*.  The problem is though the bus system will soon be overwhelmed once again, and in fact most of the problems will not be relieved by these additional services..  The answer is of course to significantly ramp up rail where the capacity for a sustainable future is.  How much longer are we going to be forced to put up with the worst train frequency in Australia?

Increases in rail frequency will allow increased satellite and feeder bus routes to rail heads, relieving bus congestion and overloading on the long haul radial bus routes.  It is a very simple solution, it is using the public transport infrastructure that already exists.

Why is it that public transport commuters can see the solutions, but experts are labouring with failed paradigms?

Best wishes
Robert

* http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/m-boost-to-fix-brisbane-bus-turmoil/story-e6freoof-1225861742002

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org


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

RAIL Back On Track Admin wrote:
Media Release 29 April 2010
 
SEQ:  Rail must be ramped up

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 bus in Brisbane is reaching capacity constraints (1, 2).  A significant increase in peak and off peak train frequency will relieve the problems on radial bus routes.  It is time for the Government to properly fund TransLink to allow the proper placement of not only bus, but importantly rail services. Rate payer funding models are presently inequitable, Brisbane City Council ratepayers are carrying the can for others.  There is reserve capacity on the rail network that must be used.  Public transport commuters are still reeling from hefty fare increases that have not been met by the promised service improvements.  The go card has just recorded 100 million trips, with a proper fare structure that figure could have easily been greater than 200 million by now (3).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Our public transport system is approaching a crisis.  The major issue is a failure to pro actively place adequate rail services to relieve the pressure on radial bus routes."

"Of concern is the revelation that only 60% of public transport trips are presently on the go card.  In view of the severe financial penalty for paper ticket users this of real concern.  We have long suggested that the fundamental issue with the go card is the poor fare structure (4).  It does not encourage maximum and flexible use of public transport in the same way that fare structures on smart cards in London, Perth or Melbourne do for example."

"A recent article highlighting the lessons from the Oyster Card in London has stressed the key to success was periodical ticketing and capping (5).  Two things missing from the go card.  Maximum uptake of go card driven by an improved fare structure will further decrease bus loading times and provide more accurate loading data and facilitate an improved public transport network."


References:

1. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/catching-a-brisbane-bus-is-a-matter-of-luck/story-e6freon6-1225859646815

2. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3756.msg26044#msg26044

3. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3772.msg26062#msg26062

4, http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3596.0

5. http://www.railexpress.com.au/archive/2010/april/april-07-2010/top-stories/oyster-smartcard-lessons-from-london-2013-part-one

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[somebody]

If they put on dedicated feeder buses which would be:

I, and most other people, don't like using feeder buses, unless I really have to.  As for your point about it improving the payback for the rail system, that would depend on how the revenue were carved up.

Ramping up frequency of rail would surely improve cost recovery on a percentage basis.  There's a lot of fixed costs in rail.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

What do you stand for?

What do you stand for?
MARISSA CALLIGEROS
May 5, 2010 - 5:41AM

The state government has failed to add any extra buses to Brisbane's most congested routes, despite outlaying $3 million to ease overcrowding.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan yesterday announced 360 new bus services would start as early as next week to meet demand on bus routes in the northern and southern suburbs.

But only one of those services will be added to Brisbane's top 10 most congested routes, revealed by brisbanetimes.com.au in March.

Figures provided to brisbanetimes.com.au showed the 10 most crowded bus routes in February included those from Chermside (333), Browns Plains (150), Drewdale (130), Eight Mile Plains (111), Browns Plains (140), Bracken Ridge (330), Aspley Hypermarket (345), the Gap (385), Carindale (200) and West End to New Farm (199).

During March, the buses on the Carindale (200) and Eight Mile Plains (111) routes were most frequently overcrowded.

Buses travelling from Eight Mile Plains to the CBD on route 111 left passengers stranded on 47 occasions, according to Brisbane City Council, while route 200 passengers were left behind on 76 occasions.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said the state government had ignored the council's requests for more bus services on the most congested routes.

"There are many buses that they don't fund that we ask for," Cr Newman said.

Ms Nolan was not available for comment yesterday.

However a TransLink spokesman said the $3.1 million boost to the bus network did address overcrowding on some of Brisbane busiest routes.

"This latest package addresses six of the top 10 busiest Brisbane bus routes and is part of the strategic approach in implementing services," the spokesman said.

But the busiest routes, with the most passengers, are not necessarily the most overcrowded routes, on which passengers are left behind.

Under the package, 23 extra weekday trips will be added to route 330 from Bracken Ridge to the CBD, which is one of the city's top 10 congested runs.

"This latest package also provides more frequency and coverage for those customers in these busy corridors and reduces pressure on many of Brisbane's busiest routes, such as those from Chermside and Mt Gravatt," the spokesman said.

In March, tempers flared between the Lord Mayor and TransLink's management after the state government rejected an offer from him to sell them the city's buses.

The state government believes it costs about $60 million to run the bus fleet, while Brisbane City Council argues it costs $160 million.

The Lord Mayor told brisbanetimes.com.au council research showed people from neighbouring council areas were driving into Brisbane to catch buses, leaving them overcrowded by the time they get to inner suburbs.

He said the state government needed to come up with a better funding model to help finance escalating demand for bus services in South-East Queensland.

"I would like to see other local governments ... like Moreton Regional Council put their hand in their pocket and also contribute to public transport," Cr Newman said.

Brisbane ratepayers each contribute $384 per year to public transport services.

"Moreton Bay Regional Council, Ipswich, Redlands and Logan areas pay nothing for public transport, yet those people all enjoy the bus and CityCat services that the ratepayers of Brisbane fund," Cr Newman said.

"What we need to see ... is local governments paying for public transport as well."

[Jon Bryant]

I still don't understand why the Council is happy to spent millions and borrow billions to build roads for people Mostly from other Council areas with my rates but that is ok.  Double standard Lord Mayor.   

[Golliwog]

Because who is using the roads is a lot harder to keep track of than where public transport users come from?

[Jon Bryant]

Hareder but not that hard.  Double standard remains