30 Aug 2010: Queensland: Moving forward

[ozbob]

Media Release 30 August 2010

Queensland:  Moving forward

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 it is time for the Queensland Government to move forward with a fare structure for the go card that is truly innovative and equitable, and to ensure that the public transport infrastructure is properly utilised.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Rail is going to be the way forward for transport in Queensland. Sustainable, economically sound and safe it is time we broke the shackles of the road centric mantra and got on with real transport solutions.  The abysmal train frequency in south-east Queensland needs to be addressed now with some urgency (1). Country rail services need a revitalisation.  Look at what is occurring elsewhere in more enlightened jurisdictions.  Queensland has the rail asset but is still pursuing essentially a dominant road centric transport policy at great cost (2)."

"The present go card fare structure does not encourage public transport as first choice.  A lack of capping, periodical options and a fair fare deal for Seniors and other disadvantaged citizens is a major failing.  This needs to be fixed now (3)."


References:

1.  29 July 2010: SEQ: It's 'frequency' stupid ... http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4169.0

2.  Road trauma is breaking the nation  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?action=articles;sa=view;article=3

3.  9 May 2010: SEQ: Go card needs urgent fare improvements  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3820.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[Stillwater]

In Victoria, quality passenger services to centres such as Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo have allowed people to make real life choices in favour of 'treechange' and 'seachange' options -- live in provincial cities with good facilities and travel to the city on frequent, hassle-free services.  The movement of people from the cities will accelerate with the (semi) retirement of baby boomers.  Properly handled, good public transport to outer areas (ie Ipswich and Redlands) and further afield to places such as the Sunshine Coast can be tools in governments' agendas for relieving population pressure and to provide affordable housing.  Perhaps Back On Track's public announcements, from time to time, should emphasise this wider agenda just to jolt, prod, remind, whatever governments that effective and frequent public transport dovetails with notions of sustainable living.  Sometimes I think transport bureaucrats don't talk with their counterparts in housing etc so a coordinated policy can be developed and implemented.

[ozbob]

Thanks for your comments. Yes, VLine has been an outstanding success.  We regularly highlight that success as it confirms the way forward.  Services are resuming back to Maryborough and Clunes soon too.  I was down there last month to observe a system truly 'moving forward' ...

http://www.vline.com.au/pdf/media/issue59.pdf

[Stillwater]

I too hope to test out some of these regional lines when I visit Victoria later this year.  It would be interesting to see by how much house values rise in places such as Clunes, Maryborough and Marshall one or two years after the introduction of the new passenger rail services.  Positive economic outcomes such as higher housing prices, new businesses and shops (resulting in sales tax and payroll tax revenues to government coffers) are not factored into benefit-cost analysis used to justify investment in new transport infrastructure.  Perhaps they should.  Just watch Clunes boom.  A comparable situation is Nambour, where there are currently 20 vacant shopfronts, yet it will be 2031 before its railway station will be upgraded and more frequent train (as opposed to rail bus) services introduced.

[Stillwater]

The return of the railway is big news in Clunes.  See what the community's expectations are for economic growth on page 2 of the 'Clunes Community News'. www.clunes.org/downloads/newsletter/201007.pdf

[ozbob]

It is wonderful to see the resurgence of rail.  Last visit --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4195.0