24 Jan 2012: SEQ: Core Frequent Network: Get Rail Back On Track!

[ozbob]

Media release 24 January 2012

SEQ: Core Frequent Network: Get Rail Back On Track!

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, calls for an election policy on decent frequency and service span for rail. It's time to get Rail Back on Track!

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Public transport is only useful if it is coming soon. If hundreds of millions of dollars have been expended on a new busway or railway for the service, but the service is not coming soon, then it is not useful."

"All day core frequency and a decent span of hours, especially on rail, are central to having a decent transport system (1)."

"Consider what you would do if it took half an hour for your car to start moving after turning the ignition key. Unacceptable waiting time - and yet this is what tens of thousands of daily rail passengers are asked to accept at most Queensland Rail stations across South East Queensland - services every 30 minutes or worse out of peak times. Even Perth has got rid of this type of archaic service standard years ago! Why haven't we?"

"For a fraction of the cost of big ticket infrastructure, Brisbane could be covered in rapid, frequent bus and rail services running every 15 minutes from at least 5 am - 9 pm, 7 days. On buses, frequent services to Bulimba (BUZ 230), The Centenary Suburbs (BUZ 400), The Northwestern Suburbs (BUZ 359) and the Great Circle Line are priorities. On rail, the Ferny Grove, Cleveland, Ipswich/Richlands/Caboolture lines are priorities."

"Overwhelming, members have indicated that frequency improvements, are the main game, not ticketing policies that are just more of the same! Public transport is only useful if it is coming soon!"

"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."

"Fare increases must be balanced by increases in service frequency, all modes."

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


References

1. Building a Core Frequent Network http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5173.0

Note: Unfortunate examples of this 'high cost, low frequency' phenomenon are the Richlands rail line which only runs two trains per hour but cost millions and millions of dollars, Ferny Grove-Keperra duplication (where are the new services?) and we suspect, the Kippa-Ring line which will probably run at a very unattractive anti-public transport frequency of just two trains per hour in the off-peak. Proper frequency would fulfill the actual intended purpose of paying for construction of that infrastructure in the first place.

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5173.0

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

14th February 2012

Re: SEQ: Ferny Grove line - turn up and go trains

Greetings,

We look forward to more sound public and active transport initiatives from all sides of the political spectrum during the forthcoming election campaign.

The LNP's firm committment to begin to ramp up frequency on the rail network is long overdue and necessary.  As a community the massive investment in the rail network must be made to work around the clock.  Improved rail frequency means the bus network can be better tuned and help ease the capacity crisis it now faces.

We look forward to the public transport policy-counter-punches.  A failure to deliver them will result in political oblivion.

Public transport is going to be key issue in the south-east.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Media release 24 January 2012

SEQ: Core Frequent Network: Get Rail Back On Track!

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, calls for an election policy on decent frequency and service span for rail. It's time to get Rail Back on Track!

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Public transport is only useful if it is coming soon. If hundreds of millions of dollars have been expended on a new busway or railway for the service, but the service is not coming soon, then it is not useful."

"All day core frequency and a decent span of hours, especially on rail, are central to having a decent transport system (1)."

"Consider what you would do if it took half an hour for your car to start moving after turning the ignition key. Unacceptable waiting time - and yet this is what tens of thousands of daily rail passengers are asked to accept at most Queensland Rail stations across South East Queensland - services every 30 minutes or worse out of peak times. Even Perth has got rid of this type of archaic service standard years ago! Why haven't we?"

"For a fraction of the cost of big ticket infrastructure, Brisbane could be covered in rapid, frequent bus and rail services running every 15 minutes from at least 5 am - 9 pm, 7 days. On buses, frequent services to Bulimba (BUZ 230), The Centenary Suburbs (BUZ 400), The Northwestern Suburbs (BUZ 359) and the Great Circle Line are priorities. On rail, the Ferny Grove, Cleveland, Ipswich/Richlands/Caboolture lines are priorities."

"Overwhelming, members have indicated that frequency improvements, are the main game, not ticketing policies that are just more of the same! Public transport is only useful if it is coming soon!"

"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."

"Fare increases must be balanced by increases in service frequency, all modes."

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


References

1. Building a Core Frequent Network http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5173.0

Note: Unfortunate examples of this 'high cost, low frequency' phenomenon are the Richlands rail line which only runs two trains per hour but cost millions and millions of dollars, Ferny Grove-Keperra duplication (where are the new services?) and we suspect, the Kippa-Ring line which will probably run at a very unattractive anti-public transport frequency of just two trains per hour in the off-peak. Proper frequency would fulfill the actual intended purpose of paying for construction of that infrastructure in the first place.

Contact:

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