14 Jan 2012: SEQ: Richlands-Springfield Rail Rocket bus ready for blastoff!

[ozbob]

Media release 14 January 2012

SEQ: Richlands-Springfield Rail Rocket bus ready for blastoff!

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 said that a new, fast and direct bus route to Springfield will soon be ready to blast off.

"RAIL Back On Track welcomes the announcement of a timetable for the new Route 535, colloquially known as the 'Richland's Rail Rocket Bus' (1). After doing a its pickup run in the suburbs, it will then head non-stop straight down the Centenary Highway to meet trains at Richlands. Indeed, travel time between Springfield Lakes and Richlands on the rocket is approximately just 12 minutes and with decent services in the morning and afternoon peaks. That's a big incentive to leave the car at home!"

"RAIL Back On Track, together with the community have long campaigned for this route (2). It's particularly valuable because it is fast, direct and has seamless interchange with rail. That's the kind of bus routes that people want to see - direct, fast and frequent with a decent scope of hours and sticking to fast arterial roads. We think the 'Rail Rocket' service will be a hit with commuters from day one."

"It also goes to show that it is a myth that we have to wait for big ticket, multi-billion dollar construction projects that take decades to deliver before we can get improvements to bus and train service frequency. There are many parts of the bus and rail network that can have more services now, very cheaply with little or no new infrastructure, and this bus route demonstrates that."

"The 535 bus will eventually be replaced by the Springfield Rail line, which has strong member support."

"These are the kind of improvements that public transport users want (3, 4). Frequent services all modes - rail, bus and ferry are the lynchpin of success!"

"RAIL Back On Track commends TransLink and the Queensland Government for this new fast and direct service and also the Springfield community who supported its introduction."

References:

1. Route 535 Timetable and Map - services begin in February 2012  http://translink.com.au/travel-information/services-and-timetables/buses/route-535

2. Bus link from Springfield to Richlands train station  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5226.0

3. SEQ: No go on 9 journeys then free  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7445.0

4. SEQ: Trips and frequency?  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7440.0

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5226.0