1 Oct 2011: SEQ: Trains - Will Brisbane ever catch up with Perth?

[ozbob]

Media release 1st October 2011

SEQ: Trains - Will Brisbane ever catch up with Perth?

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has said the position of Brisbane as generally having 30 minute or worse off peak train frequency is archaic and an embarrassment.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"There are over 80 train stations within Brisbane, outnumbering busway stations by roughly three train stations to one. RAIL Back On Track has been highlighting for years the discrepancy between the service frequency between Perth and Brisbane for example. The people of Brisbane deserve decent train services and it must be seen to be done, not just talked about or printed about in brochures, plans and reports that are always coming tomorrow and never today."

"While improvements to peak hour services are welcome, the 'winning formula' of improving off-peak services is undeniable and has been proven on the ground with the BUZ buses (1). These lessons must now be further applied to trains, beginning with all day express services on the Ipswich-CBD-Caboolture line and a boost in frequency to see that Ipswich receives trains every 15 minutes all day (2). The section of the network Northgate to Darra does now have a basic 15 minute frequency out of peak, and passengers have responded.  The lack of publicity of this increased frequency by TransLink and Queensland Rail is also a concern to us."

"What's needed isn't more plans that have uncertain funding and uncertain time-frames. While we welcome big ticket infrastructure, the service quality on much of the train network could quickly and rather inexpensively be improved by simply adding more trains to the timetable during off-peak hours.  For example Richland trains could run through to Petrie, not terminate at Bowen Hills as they do now.  This would then give a major improvement in service frequency between Petrie and Darra, the engine room of the network. To support this a revised fare structure that encourages maximum utilisation of public transport around the clock is a 'no-brainer' should be implemented forthwith!"

"Moving into election mode means commitments to run trains every 15 minutes all day where current infrastructure permits are needed. That way, Brisbane residents can have a system that might not be world-class but is at least 'Perth-class'."

"RAIL Back On Track looks forward to hearing proposals from all political candidates about time-frames and commitments to bringing train frequency across the network up to a basic 15 minute standard."

"We are not asking for the highest frequency standard on earth, we just want our system to match that of other Australian rail networks."

References:

1.  BUZ routes: Frequency and Reliability, the winning formula http://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/bitstream/2123/6058/1/thredbo10-themeA-Warren.pdf

2.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6731.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org