Article: QLD Rail offers $15 train fares between Brisbane and Toowoomba

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

QLD Rail offers $15 train fares between Brisbane and Toowoomba

QLD Rail offers $15 train fares between Brisbane and Toowoomba

    Robyn Ironside
    From: The Courier-Mail
    August 16, 2011 2:57PM

QUEENSLAND Rail is offering $15 one-way fares from Brisbane to Toowoomba to try to revive its struggling Westlander service.

In 2010-11, the Traveltrain which runs between Brisbane and Charleville carried just over 100 people a week throughout the flood-ravaged outback - down 27 per cent on the previous year.

Announcing the $15 stand-by fare, QR Travel manager Max Kruse said the initiative was part of the government-owned corporation's more commercial, customer-focused approach to tourism.

"These competitive fares reflect our commitment to supporting the local tourism industry following the challenging start to 2011,'' Mr Kruse said.

"The tourism experience in Queensland is second to none and now, with a 66 per cent saving on the normal fare, so is the price.

"We hope Toowoomba tourism operators will benefit from the additional tourists predicted to take advantage of this exciting new offer in the wake of weather events which devastated parts of Queensland earlier this year.''

The Westlander leaves Brisbane every Tuesday and Thursday evening and departs Toowoomba every Thursday and Saturday morning.

The stand-by fare is available for travel between Toowoomba and Brisbane and vice versa in economy seats only up to and including 31 March 2012.

[somebody]

Sounds like a good initiative. It's still not competitive with the commercial coaches on frequency or travel time, but worth a shot.

[AnonymouslyBad]

If this helps patronage then fair enough. But to be honest I can't see anybody catching the train from Brisbane to Toowoomba, unless purely for novelty value rather than actually getting there. Not with the current infrastructure.

[somebody]

If this helps patronage then fair enough. But to be honest I can't see anybody catching the train from Brisbane to Toowoomba, unless purely for novelty value rather than actually getting there. Not with the current infrastructure.

I knew someone that did it.  If you use the train, it's more scenic and you can eat on the train rather than the bus which you cannot.

[BrizCommuter]

A standby ticket? So in the unlikely event that the train is full, you would have to wait a few days for the next train!

[Cam]

A standby ticket? So in the unlikely event that the train is full, you would have to wait a few days for the next train!

I thought the same thing when I read the article.

[somebody]

A standby ticket? So in the unlikely event that the train is full, you would have to wait a few days for the next train!

Or go upstairs to get the bus and probably beat the train to Toowoomba.

[Cam]

A standby ticket? So in the unlikely event that the train is full, you would have to wait a few days for the next train!

Or go upstairs to get the bus and probably beat the train to Toowoomba.

Imagine the outrage from regular road users if the road to Toowoomba was as indirect & windy as the railway is?

[mufreight]

Less than well considered, having the Westie run out of Brisbane about 8am would give it a daylight trip over the more interesting part of the journey with a railmotor making the return on the PM of the same day and possibly attract more passengers.
By retiming the Eastbound Westie so that it did the PM run into Roma Street arriving about 6/6.30pm with the rail motor doing the daylight run westward in the mornings would provide four days of a daily return service between Brisbane and Toowoomba increasing the chances of tourist traffic.
While it is doubtfull that such a service would cover its costs it would provide a tourist service until such time as rail commuter services are extended west of Rosewood to Helidon.

[ButFli]

Is it any coincidence that Greyhound have been offering $15 tickets between Brisbane and Toowoomba for quite some time? I think not.

[Set in train]

Less than well considered, having the Westie run out of Brisbane about 8am would give it a daylight trip over the more interesting part of the journey with a railmotor making the return on the PM of the same day and possibly attract more passengers.

Great idea, shows far too much commonsense for powers that be. Question is, what was the response of the tourism industry on the downs? Did they make any similar comments to this thread about the uselessness of this idea?