Opposition Statement: Wait for airport bus soon over for Sunshine Coast resident

[ozbob]

http://www.fionasimpson.com.au/Pages/Article.aspx?ID=777

Wait for airport bus soon over for Sunshine Coast residents and tourists

Friday, 17 September 2010

Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson has welcomed the announcement of the new airport bus service.

"I am pleased to hear that buses will soon be servicing to the new bus stop at the Sunshine Coast Airport terminal," Ms Simpson said.

"TransLink have advised that they will be operating a temporary shuttle service from Maroochydore to the airport terminal from 18 October until the new service is fully operational in mid November 2010.

"This will provide a much better first impression for tourists visiting the Sunshine Coast who naturally expect to have the option of catching a bus from the airport to the major tourist destinations.  Tourists and residents alike will now be able to catch a bus to and from the terminal, rather than having to lug their bags a kilometre down the road to the nearest bus stop on the David Low Way.

"I've lobbied the Transport Minister for this service since the new airport entrance and road upgrades were completed and up until now the start date or any details of this new service have been a mystery.

"I am now informed that the plan is for buses to stop at the new bus stop in mid-November to align with the opening of the new bus depot.

Further information will be available to customers in the coming weeks, but the shuttle service will operate at an hourly frequently 7 days a week with effect from 18 October 2010.

"I will continue to fight for a better public transport system for the Sunshine Coast."

[Stillwater]

Now all we need is for trains to operate in the CAMCOS corridor to the Sunshine Coast Airport, as envisaged.  Duplicating Beerburrum-Landsborough in the first instance, then building CAMCOS to Caloundra by 2016, the date originally promised by the state government, would be a start.

In the same way as fast trains linking Sydney with airports at Canberra and Newcastle are being proposed to ease pressure for funding a second Sydney international airport (estimated cost: $15 billion!), it is not hard to imagine tourist-class air travellers from overseas landing at either the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast airports and making their way to Brisbane by fast, efficient rail.

And while we are dreaming, what is the status of suggestions under the former Nautilus transport plan for a coastal rail line running north from the Sunshine Coast Airport to Noosa?  Methinks buses or light rail is the plan now.  It would be nice to get some clarification.  Connecting SEQ 2031 is silent on this one.

[#Metro]

And while we are dreaming, what is the status of suggestions under the former Nautilus transport plan for a coastal rail line running north from the Sunshine Coast Airport to Noosa?  Methinks buses or light rail is the plan now.  It would be nice to get some clarification.  Connecting SEQ 2031 is silent on this one.

It should be rail: standard heavy rail.

Light rail has the capacity and can be run on the street, but unless it is going to be a regional high speed light rail service (think Karlsruhe) that mimicks heavy rail, IMHO it would be better to stick with standard heavy rail. Fast (130 km/h) and high capacity.

Of course, you will always need surface transport- buses to support the line will be required.