6 Feb 2011: SEQ: Promote 15 minute frequency ...

[ozbob]

Media release 6 February 2011

SEQ: Promote 15 minute frequency between Central and Darra stations on the Ipswich line!

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 called for proper promotion of the recent frequency upgrades to the Ipswich line. Please, spread the good news: there is now a frequent alternative to constant traffic delays on Coronation Drive!

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Since the opening of the Richlands line, RAIL Back on Track has seen very little promotion of the fact that train frequency between Central Station and Darra Station on the Ipswich line has now been upgraded to an extended 15 minute off peak frequency, including weekends. The upgrade of weekend frequency to a service every 15 minutes is a MAJOR upgrade on previous frequencies. Even if you turn up at 9pm on Sunday, there are trains every 15 minutes departing Central."

"RAIL Back on Track members are puzzled as to why there is no mention or promotion of this on the front page of the TransLink website, or indeed anywhere! All we have seen is the stolid timetables, and the new 'interim' Richlands timetable, which is printed separately to the Ipswich line timetable which makes it difficult for people to realise there is a frequency improvement (1)."

"When the Bus Upgrade Zones (BUZ) were introduced, special marketing, branding and promotions were rolled out including stop signage, large promotional posters featuring a pizza delivery person catching the BUZ (due to high frequency), advertisements in newspapers, competitions and a high frequency BUZ map which distinguished BUZ from other generic bus routes (this BUZ map appears on the TransLink website)."

"Just like the BUZ services, passengers need to be able to distinguish instantly stations and stops with high frequency services from stations and stops with non-high frequency services."

"On buses it's called BUZ and everyone in Brisbane knows that means buses every 15 minutes 6am - 11.30pm, 7 days. Unfortunately, no such marketing, promotion or branding of high frequency rail services has yet been developed for trains and we feel that this would be a great missed opportunity if this situation were left to continue. The Ipswich Line draft timetable's 4 minute am peak hour frequency at Indooroopilly, for example, is an almost metro-like frequency."

"So why isn't it promoted as such, particularly when huge numbers of people in buses and other vehicles get stuck on Coronation Drive for up to an hour at times?"

"We applaud Queensland Rail and TransLink for the 15 minute weekday and weekend services. Although some gaps could be filled on the weekend mornings, particularly Sunday morning, we only wish Queensland Rail and TransLink take all the credit they deserve and promote this frequency upgrade so that passengers can flock to them!"

"We hope 15 minute frequency can be extended all the way to Ipswich, and that stations which see frequent rail services on the network are distinguishable from the stations which see the generic, non-frequent services."

"Tell the whole community and spread the word!"

Reference:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5228.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5228.0