1 Jan 2012: SEQ Core Frequent Network: Widening gap in value for money for rail

[ozbob]

Media release 1 Jan 2012

SEQ Core Frequent Network: Widening gap in value for money for rail users

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 highlighted the widening gap between value and money paid and the disproportionate effect on rail users.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Public transport fare levels on the TransLink network will increase by 15% on the 2nd January 2012 (1). While we welcome the news that 140,000 extra seats will be available on the bus network, rail users will experience a widening gap - they will be paying more for a rail service which basic all-day frequency hasn't changed in over a decade."

"There are 85 train stations within the Brisbane City Council area, outnumbering busway stations almost by a factor of four, and the stop spacing of these stations are comparable to that of the busways."

"Rail passengers, will rightly be asking themselves why they are still paying more for the same awful all-day frequency, the exception being the rail service improvements between Darra and Northgate. And especially so when anyone at a busway station can get a service within 5 minutes at almost any time of the day or night. 170,000 trips per week day are made on the rail system."

"RAIL Back on Track believes that 15 minute frequent services are possible now on the Ferny Grove Line (2). Not all services need to continue to Beenleigh, services could begin at Roma Street or Yeerongpilly, for example. The general poor out of peak train service frequency complicates bus-rail connections, with long waits should the bus arrive late, which is all too often with traffic delays."

"It is a myth that we have to wait for big ticket, multi-billion dollar cost projects that take decades to deliver before we can get improvements to train frequency. There are many parts of the rail network that can have more services now with little or no new infrastructure."

"As RAIL Back On Track has always said, services must be frequent, bottom line!"

References:

1.   http://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/fares/changes-to-fares-and-ticketing-in-2012

2.  SEQ: 15 minutes frequent service on Ferny Grove Line possible now  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7304.msg79935#msg79935

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

A very popular song on stations in south-east Queensland ...