27 June 2011: SEQ: Three things to fill the transport policy vacuum

[ozbob]

Media release 27 June 2011

SEQ: Three things to fill the transport policy vacuum

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 is dismayed at the dismal non-effective non-policies on all sides of the political spectrum.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back on Track believes three fundamental issues need to be sorted out with regards to policies on public transport at the next state election.

These three things are:

1. Frequency 2. Fares 3. Infrastructure.

"Frequency in the form of a 'Core Frequent Network' would create a basic network that provides turn-up and go anywhere-to-anywhere travel in South East Queensland and would form the basis for a network based around feeder-and-transfer. (1)

"There has been some improvement with buses of late, but on the trains the sad reality is that apart from the Darra to Northgate section of the rail network where a general 15 minute of peak frequency is now in place, the rest of network struggles on with worlds worst practice frequency out of peak."

"RAIL Back On Track would like to see swift and decisive action to abolish the international worst-practice 30 minute train frequency on the Queensland Rail rail network.  It is time to use our massive investment in transport infrastructure properly, and gain the very positive economic benefits generated by increases in public transport use."

"The fare structure for the go card needs a rapid and urgent review. Improvements such as capping and a better off peak strategy is needed (2).  Failing service frequency, failing fare structure, is not conducive to encouraging public transport use."

"While it's easy to focus on big ticket infrastructure, a small projects fund specifically targeted at removing the niggly things that hold back reliability and decent train frequency such as single track sections and capacity constraints on the Sunshine Coast line would be welcome. It's all about getting the basics right. You can't run frequent trains without decent double track!"

"Commuters are tiring of being patronised with sympathies or big ticket projects that cost a lot but then are used to only deliver a poor level of low-frequency service. They want frequent buses, trains and ferries that they can actually catch and are connected up.

"As RAIL Back on Track has always said, services must be frequent, bottom line."

References and notes:

1.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6005.0

2.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6262.0

Note: There are over 200 bus routes in Brisbane. At a rate of 2 BUZifications per year, it would take
over 100 years to get decent frequency to even a small portion of the network. By creating a core
frequent network, all the other non-core services can later be re-organised to create shorter but
more frequent local services that feed into the core frequent network.

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

27th June 2011

Re: SEQ: Three things to fill the transport policy vacuum

Greetings,

Some more interesting reading, just highlights how out of whack the go card fare structure is ...

--> http://www.schooliesfornerds.com/2011/06/train-travel-fare-comparison-four-australian-cities-vs-three-international-cities/

Train travel fare comparison – Four Australian cities vs three international cities
Written by michael on June 26, 2011

Best wishes
Robert

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org