V/Line media release: V/Line rail patronage continues to break records

[ozbob]

http://www.vline.com.au/about/news/mediareleases/869670786/article.aspx

V/Line rail patronage continues to break records

Thursday 15 September, 2011

V/Line has cemented its position as Australia's busiest and fastest growing regional rail operator following a 7.1 per cent increase in passenger trips in 2010- 11, Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder announced today.

The increase brings the number of passenger trips on V/Line trains to 13.5 million, up from 12.6 million the year before.

The result, contained in V/Line's 2011-12 Annual Report tabled in State Parliament today, is the sixth consecutive year of record growth for V/Line trains.

"Not since the gold rush era has V/Line played such an important part to the economies and jobs of people who live in regional Victoria and work in Melbourne," Mr Mulder said.

"V/Line broke rail patronage records every month during 2010-11.

"There are still exciting times ahead for regional Victorians. We added 85 extra services to Wendouree Station in October, Clunes Station is scheduled to open by the end of the year and major work on Regional Rail Link began in July."

Bus patronage also grew 1.3 per cent with 1.2 million trips during the 2010-11 year. The result brings combined patronage growth to 6.9 per cent, or 14.7 million trips across V/Line trains and buses.

V/Line Chief Executive Officer Rob Barnett said the result was a testament to the new trains, better frequency and competitive prices of recent years.

"In just six years we have completely transformed as a business and the role we play in Victoria," he said.

"In 2005 our customers told us what they wanted and that was improved frequency and comfort when travelling. New VLocity trains, upgraded stations and increased services have now made V/Line the preferred option for tens of thousands of Victorians each day.

[ozbob]

... V/Line Chief Executive Officer Rob Barnett said the result was a testament to the new trains, better frequency and competitive prices of recent years ...

Says it all ...

[O_128]

... V/Line Chief Executive Officer Rob Barnett said the result was a testament to the new trains, better frequency and competitive prices of recent years ...

Says it all ...

Had the sc line been duplicated to nambour now I'm sure we would have the same story, in fact we do for the gc line

[somebody]

Had the sc line been duplicated to nambour now I'm sure we would have the same story, in fact we do for the gc line

However, in that case the duplication followed the patronage, not the other way around.

[Stillwater]

V/Line: "In 2005 our customers told us what they wanted and that was improved frequency and comfort when travelling."  Queenslanders said the same thing.  Why didn't our government heed/respond to what people were saying?

[ozbob]

Check this is out, we need something similar ..

http://www.vline.com.au/maps-stations-stops/lineinfo/geelong.html

[ozbob]

V/Line Annual reports

--> http://www.vline.com.au/about/publications/annualreport.html

[O_128]

V/Line: "In 2005 our customers told us what they wanted and that was improved frequency and comfort when travelling."  Queenslanders said the same thing.  Why didn't our government heed/respond to what people were saying?

I'll have what there having :p

[Stillwater]

Makes you wonder whether there should be a 'beyond Ipswich, Beenleigh and Caboolture' division within QR.

[ozbob]

Q/Line ... lol

More trains move on the double line between Caulfield and Dandenong than it seems on the quad/triple/double Brisbane to Caboolture. Key stations such as Oakleigh provide opportunities for passing moves and so forth.  Some track amplification has been started which will further increase the opportunity for not only increases in frequency for  Metro and V/Line trains as well.

V/Line have really moved forward at the right time.  Victoria has always had an excellent rail network of course, even though a lot of country lines lost, there is still a good network, which is actually re-expanding.

The three things that were done:

Improved the track infrastructure - higher speed running

Improved the frequency of services, with quality trains.  Suited for longer journeys.

Reduced the fares.

Result:  Patronage increases, but importantly improved mobility for the non-metro community, with the broader economic benefits of shifting people from roads to trains.

[colinw]

Makes you wonder whether there should be a 'beyond Ipswich, Beenleigh and Caboolture' division within QR.

... and just how much untapped potential there is in Laidley, Forest Hill, Gatton, Helidion, thence bus to Toowoomba.

My father drives down to visit us from Toowoomba about once a month. His last three trips have taken 3 hours+ over the distance, due to chronic congestion & problems on the Warrego Hwy. The time for reinstatement of passenger rail beyond Rosewood is fast coming.

[Stillwater]

I am dying to see some academic study or other reputable investigation into the boost to economic activity, business activity, population growth, revitalisation / contribution to decentralisation and housing affordability of the V/Line upgrade across regional Victoria.  The little town I have my eye on is Clunes, which is about to have fast passenger rail to Melbourne and Ballarat reinstated after many, many years.  Bear in mind that these inter-regional trains are used by people travelling from Echuca to Bendigo, for instance, or to Ballarat and Traralgon from Bairnsdale.  These larger centres are where the medical facilities, professional services, etc are located.  In other words, the government should be making choices about whether to upgrade hospital diagnostic facilities and complex procedure services at Gatton, or provide a frequent train service to Ipswich where those services could be accessed at the General Hospital there.  No such examination takes place in Queensland, despite talk of TODs, 'integrated services' and effective land-use planning going hand in glove with better PT.  For the most part, it is all talk, or it will happen in the period 2026 to 2030, with bus stops and a few station paint jobs and the Petrie-Kippa Ring line in the interim.  Benefit and cost is looked at on a broader scale in Victoria. 

BTW, has the business case for CRR been completed, as opposed to the EIS?

[ozbob]

Yes, it is great news that Clunes is being re-established for passenger services.  I can recall visiting Clunes on VR many moons ago.



PLANS: Member for Ripon Joe Helper yesterday announced plans for the re-development of Clunes Railway Station. Picture: Jeremy Bannister

The Courier --> All aboard for a $7m revamp at Clunes

[Stillwater]

This picture of Clunes is as the town is today, not back in the 1880s.

http://www.clunes.org/

It is an excellent 'tree change' community.  Fast rail to and from Melbourne is set to revitalise this town.  (A rough equivalent here in Queensland would be Laidley.)

[SurfRail]

Makes you wonder whether there should be a 'beyond Ipswich, Beenleigh and Caboolture' division within QR.

... and just how much untapped potential there is in Laidley, Forest Hill, Gatton, Helidion, thence bus to Toowoomba.

My father drives down to visit us from Toowoomba about once a month. His last three trips have taken 3 hours+ over the distance, due to chronic congestion & problems on the Warrego Hwy. The time for reinstatement of passenger rail beyond Rosewood is fast coming.

Surely they could even do a limited upgrade between Grandchester and Laidley as a prelude to stringing up some wires.  Getting to Toowoomba is a much bigger ask, but a good bus connection between Gatton Station and there would be a starting point.

[Stillwater]

One of the sadest processions is the women pushing prams and pulling toddlers behind as the young family heads off from Wacol station towards the nearby prison to visit dad in chokey.  Woodford people report that 'single mums' appear in town for six or twelve months, their length of residency depending on their husband's prison sentence.  The trip back and forth to Brisbane is too difficult, so it is easier to move to Woodford, another location for a prison.  Gatton is a site for a new prison.  What is Gatton's fate?  Most likely it will be a spike in 'single mum syndrome', with young families renting flats in town.  Extending passenger rail services to Gatton would provide an alternative, while catering to a wider travelling audience.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

16th September 2011

Q/Line Interurban rail services?

Greetings,

V/Line continues to demonstrate what is needed in Queensland.

V/Line have really moved forward at the right time.  Victoria has always had an excellent rail network of course, even though a lot of country lines lost, there is still a good network, which is actually re-expanding.

The three things that were done:

Improved the track infrastructure - higher speed running

Improved the frequency of services, with quality trains.  Suited for longer journeys.

Reduced the fares.

Result:  Patronage increases, but importantly improved mobility for the non-metro community, with the broader economic benefits of shifting people from roads to trains.

The boost to economic activity, business activity, population growth, revitalisation / contribution to decentralisation and housing affordability of the V/Line upgrade across regional Victoria is significant.   These inter-regional trains are used by people travelling from Echuca to Bendigo, for instance, or to Ballarat and Traralgon from Bairnsdale.  These larger centres are where the medical facilities, professional services, etc are located.  In other words, the government should be making choices about whether to upgrade hospital diagnostic facilities and complex procedure services at Gatton, or provide a frequent train service to Ipswich where those services could be accessed at the General Hospital there.  No such examination takes place in Queensland, despite talk of TODs, 'integrated services' and effective land-use planning going hand in glove with better PT.  For the most part, it is all talk, or it will happen in the period 2026 to 2030, with bus stops and a few station paint jobs and the Petrie-Kippa Ring line in the interim.  Benefit and cost is looked at on a broader scale in Victoria.  Queensland is presently a public transport backwater.

Yes, it is time to move forward with safe, sustainable, rail services for our community.

Best wishes
Robert

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

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

http://www.vline.com.au/about/news/mediareleases/869670786/article.aspx

V/Line rail patronage continues to break records

Thursday 15 September, 2011

V/Line has cemented its position as Australia's busiest and fastest growing regional rail operator following a 7.1 per cent increase in passenger trips in 2010- 11, Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder announced today.

The increase brings the number of passenger trips on V/Line trains to 13.5 million, up from 12.6 million the year before.

The result, contained in V/Line's 2011-12 Annual Report tabled in State Parliament today, is the sixth consecutive year of record growth for V/Line trains.

"Not since the gold rush era has V/Line played such an important part to the economies and jobs of people who live in regional Victoria and work in Melbourne," Mr Mulder said.

"V/Line broke rail patronage records every month during 2010-11.

"There are still exciting times ahead for regional Victorians. We added 85 extra services to Wendouree Station in October, Clunes Station is scheduled to open by the end of the year and major work on Regional Rail Link began in July."

Bus patronage also grew 1.3 per cent with 1.2 million trips during the 2010-11 year. The result brings combined patronage growth to 6.9 per cent, or 14.7 million trips across V/Line trains and buses.

V/Line Chief Executive Officer Rob Barnett said the result was a testament to the new trains, better frequency and competitive prices of recent years.

"In just six years we have completely transformed as a business and the role we play in Victoria," he said.

"In 2005 our customers told us what they wanted and that was improved frequency and comfort when travelling. New VLocity trains, upgraded stations and increased services have now made V/Line the preferred option for tens of thousands of Victorians each day.

[johnnigh]

Who owns V/Line and who owns its tracks?

[Stillwater]

The Victorian experience

For every 1 dollar invested by government, the private sector has
invested 2 dollars to complement the public sector investment:

http://www.vflc.com.au/files/JKV6BQ0070/4517_Rail_Advocacy_Paper_v7_low-res_.pdf

A holistic approach to transport and associated land use planning in Victoria:

http://www.transport.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/31553/rrl_dpcd_report_for_public_consultation_part1.pdf

Quote: "Fast Rail will be a success for Victoria if customer needs are
placed uppermost in decision makers' planning strategies."

http://www.ptua.org.au/allies/brag/FastRail_MaximiseBenefitsForCustomers.pdf

[ozbob]

Who owns V/Line and who owns its tracks?

Victorians ...  it is a State owned enterprise, and a successful one.

From http://www.vline.com.au/pdf/publications/annualreports/annualreport10-11.pdf

V/Line is Australia's largest regional public transport
operator. In 2010–11 it served a record 14.7 million train
and coach passengers.
Each week there are more than 1400 train services that run
between Melbourne and:
• Geelong (including South Geelong and Marshall) and
Warrnambool
• Bacchus Marsh (including Melton), Ballarat, Ararat and
Maryborough
• Sunbury, Kyneton and Bendigo; Swan Hill and Echuca
• Seymour, Albury/Wodonga and Shepparton
• Traralgon, Sale and Bairnsdale.
There are also almost 600 coach services each week that
connect with the rail network and serve regional Victorian
communities where trains do not operate. Some coach
services also travel through to South Australia, New South
Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. These coaches
are run by private sector operators under contract from the
Department of Transport with V/Line providing day-to-day
contract management.
In addition to being a passenger service operator, V/Line is a
not-for-profi t corporation under the State-Owned Enterprises
Act 1992. As part of this, it also provides access to, and
maintains, 3770 kilometres of broad gauge rail track used by
the passenger and freight rail services.
V/Line is a major employer with a workforce of 1448, many
of whom live in regional areas of Victoria

[colinw]

One of the sadest processions is the women pushing prams and pulling toddlers behind as the young family heads off from Wacol station towards the nearby prison to visit dad in chokey.  Woodford people report that 'single mums' appear in town for six or twelve months, their length of residency depending on their husband's prison sentence.  The trip back and forth to Brisbane is too difficult, so it is easier to move to Woodford, another location for a prison.  Gatton is a site for a new prison.  What is Gatton's fate?  Most likely it will be a spike in 'single mum syndrome', with young families renting flats in town.  Extending passenger rail services to Gatton would provide an alternative, while catering to a wider travelling audience.

Gatton is the main service centre for the Lockyer Valley region, plus it has a uni (UQ Gatton) that actually used to have its own dedicated railmotor stop (Lawes).

Gatton itself has most of the amenities of a major town, and even has quite a few blocks of flats for students, etc.  A rail service to Gatton with buses spreading out from there to Grantham, Helidon, Toowoomba, etc. would do nicely.

Laidley is also growing fast, and well deserving of rail reinstatement.

I used to ride the Helidon railcar quite a bit before it closed in '93.  Maybe 75% of passengers were from stations between Ipswich & Rosewood.  Of the remaining 25% or so, it was a fairly even split between Laidley & Gatton. Very few people indeed used Helidon or Forest Hill, and I don't believe I ever saw a single passenger use Grantham.

[O_128]

Considering that Quensland is preaching the same story that Victoria was 10 years ago (no one will use the trains, no patronage etc) and now look at V/line, Toowoomba or even Gatton line would be highly successful, It would most likely need Quading to Ipswich though