Article: Record $12.5 million profit for Airtrain

[Derwan]

From http://www.couriermail.com.au/business/record-125-million-profit-for-airtrain-put-down-to-bad-traffic-rising-taxi-fares/story-e6freqmx-1226130404253:

INCREASINGLY bad traffic and rising taxi fares has helped Brisbane's Airtrain unveil a 34 per cent increase in profit before tax to a record $12.5 million for the year to June 30.

Airtrain chairman Mike Pelly said 7 per cent of all air travellers in and out of Brisbane were now taking the train.

``''The resounding success over these last 12 months proves what many travellers already know; Airtrain is the most cost effective, reliable and environmentally friendly form of transport to and from the airport,'' Mr Pelly said.

He attributed the rise of use on the train to the fact that Queensland residents, business travellers and tourists now recognised that Airtrain was the most cost effective and convenient way to travel to Brisbane Airport.

The train is $14 one way or $28 return.

[Golliwog]

And BAC is, as far as I can work out, ignoring them. We had a presentation from a guy from BAC last week who was talking about the future of the airport in terms of expansion (2nd runway, etc). The new carpark they are currently building was mentioned, as was the walkway connecting the new carpark to the Domestic terminal, but nothing about Airtrain.

[somebody]

BAC have no interest in promoting Airtrain.  That would reduce car park and taxi fee revenue. AFAIK they do not pay for the road improvements such as to the airport roundabout or the new exits on the Gateway.

You'd think that Airtrain could get some later services.

[O_128]

BAC have no interest in promoting Airtrain.  That would reduce car park and taxi fee revenue. AFAIK they do not pay for the road improvements such as to the airport roundabout or the new exits on the Gateway.

You'd think that Airtrain could get some later services.

The thing that annoys me the most is that BAC complained about traffic yet state gov had to build the airport link etc, and on top of that the ACCC as usual turns a blind eye on to why we have the most expensive car parking at airports in the world.

[#Metro]

BAC have no interest in promoting Airtrain.  That would reduce car park and taxi fee revenue. AFAIK they do not pay for the road improvements such as to the airport roundabout or the new exits on the Gateway.

You'd think that Airtrain could get some later services.

Simple solution. Have BAC buy Airtrain?!

[Cam]

BAC have no interest in promoting Airtrain.  That would reduce car park and taxi fee revenue. AFAIK they do not pay for the road improvements such as to the airport roundabout or the new exits on the Gateway.

You'd think that Airtrain could get some later services.

Simple solution. Have BAC buy Airtrain?!

Another solution is to use Amberley or Archerfield for domestic services in competition to BAC. Avalon provides competition for Melbourne Airport.

[O_128]

BAC have no interest in promoting Airtrain.  That would reduce car park and taxi fee revenue. AFAIK they do not pay for the road improvements such as to the airport roundabout or the new exits on the Gateway.

You'd think that Airtrain could get some later services.

Simple solution. Have BAC buy Airtrain?!

Another solution is to use Amberley or Archerfield for domestic services in competition to BAC. Avalon provides competition for Melbourne Airport.

Hahaha that would go down real well with residents , best solution is to get the gold coast line extended to the airport ASAP with the 160kph trains to provide real competetion

[Stillwater]

I thought there was a plan to build a new airport at Gatton and that was behind moves to have regular passenger services extended to Gatton.

And the issue here is not that Airtrain made a record profit, but that is achieved that windfall by virtue of poor planning and congestion.  Go figure -- something made off the back of something bad is not necessarily good.  It's like saying business is growing for coffin makers because of war.

Effective airport planning, including extension of Airtrain services as part of GOOD planning, not BAD is the answer.  That is the only way of breaking the cycle of poor planning > taxpayer-funded traffic solutions that clog > spillover of frustrated motorists to Airtrain.  Better to start the cycle with better public transport to the airport, not end up there by default, after other costly measures have failed.

[Stillwater]

Let us hope the airport plans do not mean that elevated walkways get placed in the path of an extended Airtrain track, or hinder plans to connect Airtrain to either the Shorncliffe or Doomben lines under some future planning scenario.   http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/free-parking-at-brisbane-airport--with-limits-20110906-1jvdb.html

[somebody]

I thought there was a plan to build a new airport at Gatton and that was behind moves to have regular passenger services extended to Gatton.

Who would go all the way to Gatton to fly?

[Golliwog]

Let us hope the airport plans do not mean that elevated walkways get placed in the path of an extended Airtrain track, or hinder plans to connect Airtrain to either the Shorncliffe or Doomben lines under some future planning scenario.   http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/free-parking-at-brisbane-airport--with-limits-20110906-1jvdb.html

Pretty sure it does.

[paulg]

[HappyTrainGuy]

Another solution is to use Amberley or Archerfield for domestic services in competition to BAC. Avalon provides competition for Melbourne Airport.

Good luck there. Archerfield isn't suitable for large commercial aircraft due to the fact its runway/runoff/facilities aren't acceptable. And Amberley will never ever ever see large commercial aircraft land there due to Amberley having no facilities for commercial planes/passengers and also its a restricted military only base with a no fly zone* which includes all of Ipswich to out past Rosewood and several km to the north and south.

*When active.

[Arnz]

BAC have no interest in promoting Airtrain.  That would reduce car park and taxi fee revenue. AFAIK they do not pay for the road improvements such as to the airport roundabout or the new exits on the Gateway.

You'd think that Airtrain could get some later services.

Simple solution. Have BAC buy Airtrain?!

Another solution is to use Amberley or Archerfield for domestic services in competition to BAC. Avalon provides competition for Melbourne Airport.

Hahaha that would go down real well with residents , best solution is to get the gold coast line extended to the airport ASAP with the 160kph trains to provide real competetion

While we're at it why not extend Airtrain to reconnect to the Caboolture/Sunshine Coast Line (NCL) around Bald Hills, and at the same time duplicate to Beerwah and build CAMCOS in one go to the Sunshine Coast Airport.

Sunshine Coast Airport to Gold Coast Airport via Brisbane Airport and the CRR.  Imagine the station announcements and stopping patterns      Perhaps those 160km/h "tilt" trains Anna Bligh keeps harping on about can operate the service 

[dwb]

BAC have no interest in promoting Airtrain.  That would reduce car park and taxi fee revenue. AFAIK they do not pay for the road improvements such as to the airport roundabout or the new exits on the Gateway.

You'd think that Airtrain could get some later services.

Simple solution. Have BAC buy Airtrain?!

So you don't understand the capitalism/the free market then?

[AnonymouslyBad]

Only 7 per cent?

[Gazza]

How many use it per year?

[SurfRail]

Let us hope the airport plans do not mean that elevated walkways get placed in the path of an extended Airtrain track, or hinder plans to connect Airtrain to either the Shorncliffe or Doomben lines under some future planning scenario.   http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/free-parking-at-brisbane-airport--with-limits-20110906-1jvdb.html

Can't see that happening. 

(Second runway will be in the way for a start...)

[Mozz]

ok it's 12.34am and I just got back from driving a friend to the airport to catch a flight out of Brisbane to Singapore, as her flight was 0200hrs and taxi would have been $75-80 from Oxley - world class... world class must keep repeating....world class....

[ozbob]

Media release 7 September 2011

SEQ: BNE Airtrain - returns a profit but service can be improved

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 noted that the Brisbane Airtrain has returned an increased profit for the last financial year (1). The great shame is that Airtrain still is an underutilised service due to the restricted hours of operation, poor service frequency and relatively high fares.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"South-east Queensland blunders on with worsening road congestion and public transport poor utilisation and development. Brisbane's Airtrain service needs urgent improvements. Hours of operation need to be extended from the present 8pm to at least 11pm.  This improvement alone would drive a significant patronage increase during the present service period as well as during the proposed extended hours of operation. Overwhelming feedback confirms this."

"Fare costs are also too high.  Sydney recently reduced fares for rail travel to and from Sydney Airport and patronage increased by 50%! (2) It is time Airtrain Management got out of their 'comfort zone' and made some bold moves."

"The Brisbane Airtrain is just Queensland Rail trains operating on the private line from Eagle Junction to the Airport stations. There is plenty of capacity to extend the hours of operation and increase frequency. Worsening road congestion with increasing costs for parking, petrol and taxis means the time is right for maximising rail options."

"Brisbane likes to think of itself as a world class tourist destination. A rail service that finishes at 8pm is not world class and does little to promote the City, in fact it is a national and international joke.  Time to bite the bullet Airtrain!"

References:

1. http://www.couriermail.com.au/business/record-125-million-profit-for-airtrain-put-down-to-bad-traffic-rising-taxi-fares/story-e6freqmx-1226130404253

2. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-nsw/airport-rail-fare-review/story-e6freuzi-1226123951962

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Late-night Airtrains flagged

Late-night Airtrains flagged
Bridie Jabour
September 7, 2011 - 3:00AM

Airtrain commuters could be able to catch the train after 8pm on the back of the company's record profit of $12.5 million.

In a year when most other Queensland companies have been battered by natural disasters and a poor global economy, Airtrain has managed to post an increase in profit of 34 per cent.

Much to some travellers' chagrin, the rail link between the Brisbane Airport and the city stops running at 8pm, but chairman Mike Pelly yesterday flagged extended hours for the service.

"We are looking closely at expanding our services," he said. "We are currently in discussions and will make the announcement later."

Mr Pelly said the company had benefited from a trend of people dropping off their family or friends at train stations instead of the airport.

"The trend that is happening is that the train is the only reliable way to get to the airport and is also inexpensive," he said.

"Kingsford Smith Drive is so congested and there is a lot of traffic around so the train is the way you can guarantee to get to the airport on time.

"Also it saves people fuel and saves on emissions.''

Currently, 7 per cent of all passengers who fly in and out of Brisbane Airport use the Airtrain.

Mr Pelly put the year's financial success down to three things – the reliability of the service, the cost of taxis and the cost of airport parking.

He said the company had also been lucky not to have been affected too adversely by the floods.

However, he predicted the next year could be "tough".

"The Airport Link [tunnel] will open and that will obviously have an effect on us," said Mr Pelly.

"But their tolls are going to be quite high, I think around $5, so we will have to wait and see how it goes."

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/travel/travel-news/latenight-airtrains-flagged-20110906-1jvp8.html

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail 7th September 2011 page 7

Flyers hitch lift to save on travel

[ozbob]

Couriermail article now online ...  hot hot topic ... 

From the Couriermail click here!

Getting to Brisbane airport almost as expensive as the cost of airfare

Getting to Brisbane airport almost as expensive as the cost of airfare

    Robyn Ironside and James McCullough
    From: The Courier-Mail
    September 07, 2011 12:00AM

GETTING to Brisbane Airport has become almost as expensive as the airfare thanks to exorbitant carparking charges, taxi and train fares and a lack of bus services.

With the average cab fare from the city to airport costing $47 and the Airtrain charging passengers $15 a seat, 58 per cent of airport travellers are now hitching a lift with friends and family, according to a draft Productivity Commission report.

Another 16 per cent pay for parking on site at a cost of $40 a day, and just 5 per cent arrive in private coaches, usually chartered by tourism groups or hotels.

Robert Dow, from commuter advocacy group Back on Track, said the costs of accessing the airport could only be improved by more frequent and cheaper Airtrain services.

"We want to see services extended to 11pm (from 8pm) and run every 20 minutes outside peak periods," Mr Dow said. "If they also reduced fares by a third, they would increase patronage, which in turn would ease traffic congestion.

"It's a win-win."

However, Airtrain chairman Mike Pelly yesterday claimed the private consortium had boosted patronage in the past financial year, resulting in a pre-tax $12.5 million profit.

He said 7 per cent of all airport travellers were now paying $15 for a ride on the Airtrain into the city, and the company was in discussions to increase services beyond 8pm.

"We are in discussions and hope to be able to announce something in the next few weeks," Mr Pelly said. The Productivity Commission's draft report on airport regulation found public-private partnerships, such as those between the Airtrain and State Government, were leading to "inefficient transport outcomes".

The finding was based on a Brisbane City Council submission which criticised the restriction on its buses servicing the airport.

"Under the agreement, BCC is not permitted to operate a bus service within 1km of Airtrain stations until 2014," read the submission.

The council also contended that "low patronage on the rail link was because prices had been kept high to provide a return on investment for the financiers of Airtrain".

A State Government spokesman said the report was a matter for the Federal Government. Mr Dow said a $12.5 million profit was not a "great return on Airtrain's investment of hundreds of millions of dollars".

"They ran at a loss for a long time and they could do quite well," he said.

[Stillwater]

Sigh.  So, the Productivity Commission Report is a 'matter for the federal government.'  Which level of government brokered the Airtrain deal?  Was it not the state government that prevented BCC buses travelling to the airport until 2014?  About 58 per cent of people travel to and from the airport courtesy of family and friends -- on roads the state had to provide because the deal brokered by a state government (it matters not which one) was so crook.  It is a matter for the federal government?  That is the state government in denial about airport congestion.  It is the state in denial about the functioning of our major tourism gateway, the portal through which important business travel occurs.

[ozbob]

Chairman of the BNE Airtrain board was just interviewed on 612 ABC Brisbane Breakfast with Spencer Howson, hopefully will be up on blog later today ...

but summary:

"Confident", services extended to 10pm.  Early next year start date, some other extra services as well.

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

Excellent news, still prefer to see it extended to 11pm, but it is a start.

[Golliwog]

Can't see that happening. 

(Second runway will be in the way for a start...)

Their plans seemed to suggest tunnelling Airport Drive under the runway to the north. They don't seem to like the fact that their airport is on a glorified culdesac.

[Cam]

Another solution is to use Amberley or Archerfield for domestic services in competition to BAC. Avalon provides competition for Melbourne Airport.

Good luck there. Archerfield isn't suitable for large commercial aircraft due to the fact its runway/runoff/facilities aren't acceptable. And Amberley will never ever ever see large commercial aircraft land there due to Amberley having no facilities for commercial planes/passengers and also its a restricted military only base with a no fly zone* which includes all of Ipswich to out past Rosewood and several km to the north and south.

*When active.

There are plans to extends the runway at Archerfield. Commerical & military aircraft share the runway at Townsville & Williamtown. Facilities at both airports can be built.

In the meantime, I'll continue to drive to the Gold Coast Airport.

[somebody]

I think they've missed an opportunity by not doing so earlier.  Better late than never though.

[somebody]

7% of 20mil pax = 1.4mil passengers/year or 3835 pax/day.  I thought Airtrain was getting more patronage than that.  Perhaps on weekdays?

[ozbob]

612 ABC Brisbane Breakfast Spencer Howson click here!

Airtrain may run till 10pm from next year

07 September 2011 , 8:18 AM by Spencer Howson

Travellers who arrive in Brisbane after 8pm have often expressed their frustration at not being able to use the Airtrain - often it means an expensive cab ride is the only option.

But it seems an extension of the Airtrain hours is being considered. Mike Pelly is Chair of Airtrain: