11 Mar 2013: SEQ: Response to RTBU on proposed bus changes

[ozbob]

Media release 11th March 2013



SEQ: Response to RTBU on proposed bus changes

RAIL Back On Track disagrees with statements by the RTBU that proposed changes to a connective network will "barstardise" the system (1).

(Mr Matters of the RTBU said)  "people would be thrown on to train services" or forced to switch services throughout their journey.

"Once you start expecting people to swap from bus to train, to bus to get where they want to go, they say 'this is too hard, I'll just use my car'," Mr Matters said.

"We don't think that's a wise way to run public transport services."

Western Region Spokesperson Gavin Seipelt said in response:

"The fact is, the only reason commuters find changing from bus/bus or bus/train difficult in Brisbane is because so few connections are offered. No wonder making interchanges has a bad reputation in Brisbane!"

"For example, commuters wishing to access Oxley station previously only had 1 bus per hour feeding into it, so just 1 in 4 trains had a bus connection, so most people choose to drive to the station instead. Now buses will feed the station every 15 minutes with the expanded frequent network, and every train will be met. A huge improvement!"

"Similarly, providing connections to trains can help reduce travel times."

"For example, at the moment most buses from the Western Suburbs travel to the CBD via Coronation Drive and do not go anywhere near Indooroopilly station. This means commuters cannot change to the train at all, and they are stuck with at least 25 minute trip from Indooroopilly to the CBD in peak hour on the bus the whole way."

"Under the new network plan, buses will now go to the station. Passengers can change onto the express trains, and reach the CBD in just 8 minutes. A massive time saving!"

"Another example is Carindale and Chermside. These shopping centers are served by frequent services 222/200 BUZ and 333/330/340 BUZ respectively. But it is very difficult to access them because surrounding bus services feeding in are so poor. As a result there has been the well known controversy of commuters taking up parking spaces in the shopping centers, since this is the only way they can access the BUZ services reliably."

"Now the bus networks around these centres will be rearranged to run to the centers more directly and more often. Passengers can interchange to frequent buses to the city, rather than drive there and waste time trying to find a commuter car park space."

"These are just a few examples, but they demonstrate how changing between services actually makes travel easier, not more difficult."

"Changing between services will be a big change for some Brisbane public transport users, but the successful public transport systems around the world are built around this very approach, because it works!

Reference:

1.
Fare prices have been blamed for falling numbers of bus travellers and the subsequent loss of services
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/fare-prices-have-been-blamed-for-falling-numbers-of-bus-travellers-and-loss-of-services/story-e6freoof-1226594302982

Contacts:

Gavin Seipelt
Brisbane West Region Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track

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

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9045.msg121554#msg121554