TransLink Tracker quarterly report - July to September (Q1) 2016-2017

[ozbob]

TransLink Tracker quarterly report - July to September (Q1) 2016-2017

> https://publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/translink-division-quarterly-reports/resource/bcc00903-8b64-4048-95a9-4d6b56afd7e0

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[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Queensland Rail had 528,000 fewer trips in July-September compared to last year

Commuters abandoned Queensland Rail in the three months leading up to the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line, with a half a million fewer trips.

There were 528,000 fewer train trips in July to September 2016, compared to the same quarter last year, decreasing 0.4 per cent to 13.51 million.

Patronage also decreased on buses (down about 390,000 or 1.31 per cent) and ferries (down 367,000 or 2.1 per cent) compared to the same time last year.

And there was a drop of 0.6 per cent in patronage overall across all modes of public transport compared to the same quarter last year.

There were more than 300,000 fewer trips across all modes of transport on the TransLink network, with 46.79 million trips taken in total across south-east Queensland.

At the same time, train on-time running dropped to 96.43 per cent, the lowest result in several years. Tracker reports published since Q2 2013-14 show the on-time running meandering between 97.64 and 99.84 per cent.

South-east Queensland bus on-time running for the quarter was 93.66 per cent, compared to 95.51 per cent the same quarter the previous year.

However, in the Brisbane region, only 88.49 per cent of buses ran on time.

The train results in the July to September quarter came before more than 100 services were cancelled on October 21 after a driver shortage exacerbated by the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line, and 235 services were cancelled on Christmas Day.

But there were also about 50 services cancelled on September 30, which Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe admitted he heard about via social media, which was within the report's scope.

In the report, Mr Hinchliffe blamed the drop in train patronage on preparations to open the Redcliffe Peninsula Line.

"While the planned six-day track closure on the Caboolture line in late September helped integrate the new Redcliffe Peninsula line, it meant many customers caught a replacement bus rather than a train," Mr Hinchliffe wrote.

"As a result of this temporary closure, we saw a fall in train patronage this quarter."

In some good news, light rail trips increased by about 178,000 or 9.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2016-17, compared to the same period last year.

Opposition Transport spokesman Andrew Powell said given the figures were from before the rail debacles in October to December, patronage was destined to drop even further in the next quarter.

"Under Annastacia Palaszczuk's government, commuters have lost faith in our rail system and he has done nothing to restore their confidence," Mr Powell said.

"While a drop in on-time running rates in the first quarter is a concern, we know that the situation gets far worse come October through to the end of the year."

Mr Powell said Queenslanders wanted certainty they would not get stranded at the station with no warning, like on Christmas Day.

He called Mr Hinchliffe "Australia's worst Transport Minister" and called on him to resign.

A TransLink spokesman said the decrease in train patronage was attributed to the "planned, temporary closure of the Caboolture line to facilitate the integration of the new Redcliffe Peninsula Line into Queensland Rail's Citytrain network".

"A slight decrease of 0.6 per cent in patronage for passenger trips across south-east Queensland when compared with the same quarter the previous year is attributed to changes in CityCat timetables, Brisbane City Council's Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade and planned maintenance across the Citytrain network," he said.

"Patronage on the TransLink network is predicted to increase the recent roll-out of the Fairer Fares initiative."

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[ozbob]

This edition of the TransLink Tracker was quietly placed on the web on the 23rd December 2016 with no publicity. 

Typical sneaky behaviour from our transport authorities.

They wonder why people are p%ssed  off with them?

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[ozbob]

Latest TransLink tracker ... bus OTR still poor Brisbane and Western
> https://t.co/Mn59ky2TUb#qldpol@Schrinner @StirlHinchliffe pic.twitter.com/WjTZKE49ZU

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) December 27, 2016

^

Southern bus not real good either ..
More evidence for bus network reform generally ..#qldpol
But hey this SEQ transport failure HQ .. https://t.co/odDJ9BjJqU

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) December 27, 2016

^

. @fel_caldwell this is the real message in the TransLink Tracker ..
Bus is still in a state of shambles too!#qldpol https://t.co/hPxefVuGvq

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) December 27, 2016

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[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

28th December 2016

TransLink Tracker quarterly report - July to September (Q1) 2016-2017

Greetings,

The first TransLink Tracker for the 2016-17 year has been quietly made publicly available on the 23rd December 2016.
[ TransLink Tracker quarterly report - July to September (Q1) 2016-2017 https://publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/translink-division-quarterly-reports/resource/bcc00903-8b64-4048-95a9-4d6b56afd7e0 ]

The TransLink Tracker is largely regurgitated Monthly Snapshot Data but with the important addition of a measure of Bus On Time Running.

There was a decrease in patronage for train, bus and ferry for the quarter.  Light rail (tram) continues to go from strength to strength.
No surprise a fall in train patronage for the quarter due to the major track closures prior to the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line.

The important message from the latest Tracker is that the bus performance for Brisbane, Western and Southern regions is not acceptable.  Has been that way for years.

Fortunately some tentative steps have been taken lately to re-time some of the Brisbane bus routes but much work needs to be done. The case for bus network reform is compelling.

TransLink, Brisbane City Council and the State Government really need to get their collective acts together.  Public transport in SEQ is a diabolical mess!





Best wishes

Robert

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

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[techblitz]

clockfaced timetables for routes like 534 doesn't help the situation...its one of the problem routes.
7% decline for western region is shocking & clearly the result of that bus shortage debacle a few months back.

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[ozbob]

^ spot on TB.  The 534 is MID almost daily at times ...

Western .. DON'T GET ME STARTED ;-) .. 

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[techblitz]

re: western....my last 6 trips on the 463 have been free.....bus drivers letting everyone on for free due to ongoing action.....is this network wide? If so this would explain the sharp drop in westside buses complaints on social media....they are virtually non-existant now 

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[ozbob]

re: western....my last 6 trips on the 463 have been free.....bus drivers letting everyone on for free due to ongoing action.....is this network wide? If so this would explain the sharp drop in westside buses complaints on social media....they are virtually non-existant now 

SurfRail was out on a 524 the other day and the go card gear was off.  I think it is a local thing at present.  Maybe the go gear has not been updated or something.  Might have to go out and have a look ..

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[SurfRail]

The Gold Coast bus patronage is still static despite the fact we know the high frequency routes are growing strongly.  Something is off.

Of course, they have not provided the numbers I have been asking them about for months to get an idea of what is happening - information that is provided routinely to the general public elsewhere.

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