18 Dec 2010: SEQ: Please improve bus route 104 services ...

[ozbob]

Media release 18 December 2010

SEQ: Please improve bus route 104 services if Tennyson rail services are axed

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 asks TransLink to consider improvements to bus route 104 (Corinda to PA Hospital via Tennyson) particularly if Tennyson rail services connecting the Beenleigh and Ipswich lines are axed as flagged in the draft 2011 rail timetable for the Ipswich line (1,2,3).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The Route 104 is an 'around town' bus service which connects Corinda, Tennyson, Yeerongpilly and the PA Hospital, and it fills in for the Tennyson rail services when they do not run."

"RAIL Back on track understands that the 104 bus route is currently under review."

RAIL Back on Track suggests that in order to provide a decent level of service if all rail services are removed, services run:

* Every 15 minutes between 7 - 9 am in the morning peak hour
* Every 15 minutes between 4 - 6 pm in the afternoon peak hour
* At a standard 30 minute frequency during off-peak times
* The last service to be at 7 pm

"This would only require the addition of a minimal number of bus services to the current timetable to reach this level of service. For example, there is already 15 minute frequency between 7 - 8 am between the current 104 bus services and the Moorooka bound morning train."

Other considerations could include routing via Fairfield Road and the inclusion of stops at:

* UQ Lakes
* PA Hospital Busway Station
* Park Road RAIL Station
* Buranda Busway Station

"Such improvements would improve the legibility of the service, give the route a chance to attract more patronage and allow onward connections to Cleveland, Beenleigh, Gold Coast, Eight Mile Plains/Logan and Carindale through a single transfer at Park Road and Buranda."

"The current Route 104 service simply does not offer this high level of integration and connection with the rest of the wider network, and a high level of connection and integration is essential for such 'around town' bus services which do not enter the CBD."

"Potential extension into the CBD via the SE Busway could also be considered."

"RAIL Back on Track asks TransLink to please consider engaging with Route 104 and Tennyson line passengers while reviewing these services. Providing a decent standard of service will ensure proper connections at key locations throughout the network, and a reasonable alternative for those who may well lose their rail service."

References:

1. http://translink.com.au/resources/travel-information/services-and-timetables/timetables/101018_104.pdf

2. What to do with route 104?  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4888.0

3. Closure of the Tennyson RAIL line  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5095.0

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5095.0