7 May 2011: SEQ: Brisbane Airtrain, 10 years of operation!

[ozbob]

Media release 7 May 2011

SEQ: Brisbane Airtrain, 10 years of operation!

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 notes that the Airtrain celebrates its 10 year anniversary of operations today!

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The Brisbane Airport Airtrain service commenced operations on the 7th May 2001 (1,2).  Construction commenced in 1999 and the $220 million BOOT project was officially opened in May 2001."

"The passenger loadings through the Brisbane Airport have grown.  Sadly though the hours of operation and frequency of Airtrain services remains poor.  We believe that if the hours of operation were extended together with a frequency increase in services travel to the Brisbane Airport by rail would be the mode of choice. This would go a long way to help relieving the chronic road congestion and parking problems."

"Innovation is also needed in terms of a promotional tourist ticket product that links in Airtrain with the rest of the public transport network."

"Happy 10th birthday Airtrain!"

References:

1. http://www.transfield.com.au/investments/brisbane_airtrain.htm

2. http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=8307

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4582.msg48704#msg48704

[somebody]

I would have liked this one to have spent some time in "Proposed Media Releases".  It would have been a good opportunity to spruik my suggestion for a connection between the Airport and the Outer Beenleigh line, which is the best which is likely to be done on current infrastructure.  And even that is likely to have some reliability issues.  Better to have a more frequent but less reliable service. 

I cringed when people in Sydney whinged about the unreliability of the Northern Line when most stations got 4tph rather than 2tph, leading to a return to 2tph.

[ozbob]

Unfortunately, 7th May arrived and I realised it was the day ...  media is immediate some times.

Nothing stopping you putting forward your proposal.

[somebody]

Unfortunately, 7th May arrived and I realised it was the day ...  media is immediate some times.

Nothing stopping you putting forward your proposal.

Fair enough.  I wouldn't have thought of that either.

[ozbob]

Groan ...

=================

Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State
The Honourable Paul Lucas
27/06/2011

Brisbane Airport celebrates record 20 millionth passenger

Brisbane Airport today celebrated a record first of 20 million passengers to fly through the airport in one year.

Acting Premier Paul Lucas was there to congratulate and welcome the 20 millionth passenger as they arrived in the recently opened new Domestic Terminal Common User Satellite.

Mr Lucas said the record passenger numbers were very encouraging especially considering the widespread flooding that devastated Brisbane and Ipswich earlier this year.

"Brisbane Airport is the gateway to Queensland and this passenger record is an indication of the strength and resilience of our state's tourism and business industries following the January floods," Acting Premier Lucas said.

"This record also signifies that Brisbane Airport is a critical piece of infrastructure to Queensland, facilitating millions of passengers each year.

"Investment in expansions of roads, terminals and the runway system will be crucial to facilitating passenger growth, and resultant growth in our State's key economic areas such as tourism.

"The State Government has also committed to major infrastructure upgrades such as the $4.8 billion Airport Link, and the $2.5 billion Gateway Upgrade Project, which will help to support the growth of Brisbane Airport as Queensland's gateway airport.

"All of this work is also supporting jobs for Queenslanders in the building and construction industry. The Airport Link project alone has directly and in-directly employed more than 14,000 since construction began in November 2008," he said.

Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) CEO and Managing Director Julieanne Alroe, said the passenger record followed the recent opening of the Common User Satellite upgrade, with further upgrades to the car park, and road system at the Domestic Terminal to be gradually opened over the next eight months.

"The Domestic Terminal alone has processed approximately 15.5 million passengers this year, which is on par with the amount of passengers that travel through a terminal at Heathrow Airport," Ms Alroe said.

"Brisbane Airport is no longer the small city airport which first opened in 1988, processing 740,000 passengers a year.

"These upgrades to the Domestic Terminal will ensure Brisbane Airport has the capacity to meet the passenger growth expected over the coming years, helping to facilitate the simultaneous growth of our city and state.

"Both Virgin and Qantas are also completing upgrades to their own sections of the terminal, and with a combined effort I believe we will be well-prepared to meet the demands of this future passenger growth.

"With 33 million domestic annual passengers forecast for 2029, it is necessary to expand in order to cater for demand," she said.

The recently opened expansion to the Common User Satellite (mainly used by Jetstar, Tiger Airways and regional airlines) has seen: an increase in the number of passenger gate lounges in this area from two to seven; two additional aircraft parking bays, bringing the total to seven; new food and beverage facilities close to the new passenger lounges; new modern and comfortable furniture in waiting areas; improved energy efficiency of the satellite building, and space for airline offices.

The next stages of the Domestic Terminal Upgrade will see a new multi-level car park open, upgrades to the Domestic Terminal road network, and an elevated walkway built over the roads, enabling people to walk from the car parks to the terminal without having to cross in front of vehicles.

Ms Alroe said BAC is building a new nine-level, 5,300 bay multi-level car park, which will open in two stages over the coming months.

Together with the existing multi-level car park, the new car park will bring the total number of bays at the Domestic Terminal to over 9,000.

"We want to make parking at the Domestic Terminal easier so the car park will be fitted with the latest smart parking technology, making it easy to find the closest available parking space, and will feature speed ramps to upper levels and connections to the existing car park," she said.

The Domestic Terminal Access Project - an undercover elevated walkway that will connect from the new car park to the terminal face will also open later this year.

The elevated walkway will pass over the terminal road system and will include lifts, travelators and escalators to take patrons to ground immediately outside the Domestic Terminal. The walkway will also provide easy pedestrian access to Airtrain.

"The beauty of the elevated walkway design is that it will separate pedestrians from cars creating a safer passage for passengers, while also reducing traffic congestion on the terminal road system," Ms Alroe said.

Ends.

[ozbob]

Won't be long before 'peak-air' is a reality, peak-car has arrived, peak oil is well underway ... and the Airtrain continues to be a largely wasted resource

[Jonno]

The Deputy Premier could not organize a p%ss up in a brewery.  His reality is based from inside his chauffeur driven car. We may be apolitical but we can spot a dud at 100 feet!!!

[somebody]

The Deputy Premier could not organize a p%ss up in a brewery.  His reality is based from inside his chauffeur driven car. We may be apolitical but we can spot a dud at 100 feet!!!

I agree.  I'm aghast at the policy of requiring developers to build parking in the CBD.