Article: Train ticket queue chaos at Ekka forces TransLink to change system

[somebody]

Ok, so we all know that Translink provides a WORLD CLASS public transport system, now this must be true because Anna B Liar tells os so, what they conveniently failed to tell us is that it is a FOURTH WORLD CLASS system.
A rethink of this schomozle is long overdue and since the corhent circus management has proven itself both incapable of coherent thought and unwilling to sort the failings of the system out it becomes obvious that new public transport management will be required to resolve the failings and in all probability new government with the resolve to actually do something other than produce more glossy brocures and spin and raise fares to pay for their self promotion.      

But isn't all that a happening thing?  Labour are probably going to be turfed out at the next election, and even if they don't we have a new Minister and will (presumably) soon have a new CEO.

[ozbob]

A letter to editor Couriermail 18th August 2011

Costly parking pain lingers

[p858snake]

I don't see why all this complaints about ticket price increases are... If the person is buying a ticket at a QR station they are most likely going to attending via a QR service anyway so just ask them what type of service ticket they are going on (eg: adult/consec) then just print on the ticket something "Return train ticket" to indicate they have the ticket then just charge them at the point of sale in one bundled price.

If QR wanted to be pedantic about people not using the ticket multiple times, they could have people hole punch them on the way in and out (two punches, one in and one out)

[somebody]

If 35% of people to Ekka used the train, I think that shows that either the price gouge isn't a big deal for them or they didn't know they could have avoided it by using a bus.

[AnonymouslyBad]

If 35% of people to Ekka used the train, I think that shows that either the price gouge isn't a big deal for them or they didn't know they could have avoided it by using a bus.

I suspect the former. The Ekka is an expensive day out, and few people are going to lose sleep over $1.30 when they know that will get them on a train that stops right in the showgrounds.

I'm actually amazed it's only 35%. Most people would consider the Ekka train the default method of getting there. Buses would play a relatively small role, and I have no idea how the car parking can accommodate the other 65%...

[dwb]

If 35% of people to Ekka used the train, I think that shows that either the price gouge isn't a big deal for them or they didn't know they could have avoided it by using a bus.

I suspect the former. The Ekka is an expensive day out, and few people are going to lose sleep over $1.30 when they know that will get them on a train that stops right in the showgrounds.

I'm actually amazed it's only 35%. Most people would consider the Ekka train the default method of getting there. Buses would play a relatively small role, and I have no idea how the car parking can accommodate the other 65%...

Ummmm clearly you live near a railway station. Many people don't. And many people don't choose train as default anything, evidenced by the fact more people get BT buses each day than trains.

[ozbob]

Ummmm clearly you live near a railway station. Many people don't. And many people don't choose train as default anything, evidenced by the fact more people get BT buses each day than trains.

Typical BCC spin.  Where has the growth been?  Buses, the rail network is largely unchanged. Clearly as we are now entering into the rail expansion phase of our network such comparisons are rather trite.  More passenger trips on buses which is logical. Majority are short one to 2 zone trips on bus, passenger kilometres on rail greater.  Even TransLink acknowledges rail does the heavy lifting.  Matter of using modes fit for purpose.  Most resources have been put into bus in recent times, it follows then that bus passenger trips will increase.  Now that the first new line since the early 1900s things will begin to change.  It says a lot that a network over a 100 years old in concept, and not designed as a passenger network moves as many as it does.  Demonstrates the resilience of rail well, which is why the real heavy lifting will be done by rail and is done by rail globally.

[Mr X]

If 35% of people to Ekka used the train, I think that shows that either the price gouge isn't a big deal for them or they didn't know they could have avoided it by using a bus.

I'm actually amazed it's only 35%. Most people would consider the Ekka train the default method of getting there. Buses would play a relatively small role, and I have no idea how the car parking can accommodate the other 65%...

Yet a FULL bus arrives at the EKKA every 15mins..? And big crowds for post-fireworks buses?
small role there indeed! 

[somebody]

Yet a FULL bus arrives at the EKKA every 15mins..? And big crowds for post-fireworks buses?
small role there indeed! 

That's actually not very many people being moved.

[#Metro]

Typical BCC spin.  Where has the growth been?  Buses, the rail network is largely unchanged. Clearly as we are now entering into the rail expansion phase of our network such comparisons are rather trite.  More passenger trips on buses which is logical. Majority are short one to 2 zone trips on bus, passenger kilometres on rail greater.  Even TransLink acknowledges rail does the heavy lifting.  Matter of using modes fit for purpose.  Most resources have been put into bus in recent times, it follows then that bus passenger trips will increase.  Now that the first new line since the early 1900s things will begin to change.  It says a lot that a network over a 100 years old in concept, and not designed as a passenger network moves as many as it does.  Demonstrates the resilience of rail well, which is why the real heavy lifting will be done by rail and is done by rail globally.

Fix up the train system please! We have what, 140 stations or whatever? Unless you want to run buses directly in competition with and in parallel to trains...
Seriously, the inertia on off peak train frequency is unbelievable.

[Fares_Fair]

+1

... brought to you from the line where buses comprise 44% of weekday services between Caboolture and Nambour and the journey takes up to 3 times longer via bus.
(1/2 hour by car, up to 1 and 1/2 hours by bus)

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

Now, after all of this, do people think that Translink and the RNA will sit down and devise a better, more convenient means of moving people to and from the Ekka by rail in 2012?  I am reminded of the situation where the people of the Sunshine Coast were screaming at QR about the poor decision making concerning the scheduling of afternoon peak services to the Coast.  Hundreds of letters and petiions were sent in, to no avail.  The timetable went ahead, and then had to be changed because the people were right all along.  I wonder what was the cost of pulping all those brand new timetables?  For Translink and the RNA not to act would be proof positive that we have arms of government in Queensland that say they want to listen, then listen, but do not hear.  They should contemplate that is only about 230 sleeps until the next state election.

[justanotheruser]

Interesting about the Sydney show, but it should be noted that the majority of events in Sydney do not have this feature.  In fact, I think that most events at Moore Park require many to pay separately for the train, bus and admission.  Open to correction though.  There was some news within the last 12 months that this may catch up to what usually occurs in Brisbane.  Brisbane is usually pretty good here except for events at Boondall and the Ekka, and possibly QSAC.  Why are these exempt?

The legislation allowing TransLink to "declare" events and therefore take over management and seek funding contributions usually will not apply to Boondall because the threshold for likely attendances is 5,000.  They usually do not get that many.

QSAC does normally have this covered, although one of the obvious reasons why it is not used very often is because transport to and from is a pain - it's basically the same as the Gabba without the advantage of being close to the city and the hub of the rail network.

I am not sure if Ekka is declared under section 47 – it appears to meet all the relevant criteria in addition to the likely attendance count.  (It may in fact be declared, but as far as I am aware they never impose a funding condition or agree to bear the transport costs.)

Out of curiosity, would there be a 'grandfather clause' to that legislation that exempts the RNA?

In general, the solution is just for the RNA to pay for the supply of public transport and that cost is incorporated into the cost of the admission ticket, or is given as part of a deal with the admission ticket, ie: you can choose if you wish to add that cost on to your entry ticket at the time of purchase.

The problem I see with giving the option is that the trains need to be arranged and paid for.  To then be unsure about if people are going to use them or not could be a very expensive exercise if you over-estimate the numbers.

Did QR sell Ekka tickets at manned stations this year?  I don't know, but merely ask.  The RNA obviously incurs a cost in having to sell its tickets.  Maybe there is a chance for QR to earn a bit of money from the RNA by way of a ticket handling/management fee - a cost the RNA would have to incur anyway - and use that money to help fund the Ekka trains.  An outcome would be less queues at the Exhibition station.  One thing is for sure - Translink and the RNA are going to have to work out a better deal next year.  There can be no repeat of this year's debacle.

Yes they did. At least the announcements on the train said they did.

[AnonymouslyBad]

Ummmm clearly you live near a railway station. Many people don't. And many people don't choose train as default anything, evidenced by the fact more people get BT buses each day than trains.

I actually don't live near a railway station. However that doesn't stop people going to the Ekka either a) driving to a train station, or b) transferring from a bus in the city.
Obviously this isn't as many people as I would've expected. I'd guess most of that 65% who don't get trains just drive. I have no idea where they would park though!

Yet a FULL bus arrives at the EKKA every 15mins..? And big crowds for post-fireworks buses?
small role there indeed! 

That's actually not very many people being moved.

Exactly.

Bringing 50-odd people to the showgrounds every 15 minutes is nothing compared to what the trains do. They are also packed post-fireworks, and fairly busy in the morning as well - that's several hundreds of people at a time, also every 15 minutes.

[somebody]

I'd expect there are also people walking from Bowen Hills train station, RB&WH station and a few other places.