Brisbane: Bus Electric Rapid Transit (' Brisbane Metro ')

[Otto]

Going by diagram 1, Buses will be limited in speed by the slowest cyclist due to the passing rules. I know I won't be passing any cyclists in this scenario.
:bi           

[#Metro]

Can we have a map?

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Labor refers Adrian Schrinner to auditor-general over Metro tenders

Labor's candidate for lord mayor Rod Harding says he has written to the Queensland auditor-general requesting he investigate the procurement process for Brisbane Metro.

It follows lord mayor Adrian Schrinner's claim earlier this week that the state government had unexpectedly required a change in the Brisbane Metro designs, forcing procurement to be suspended the same day the council had closed tenders.

The state informed the council last Friday that the planned Cultural Centre Metro stop would need to be relocated under the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, triggering a fight between the council and the state.

Mr Harding criticised the lord mayor for going to tender without state government approvals, claiming the delayed tendering process could open up the council to legal disputes from the three companies that submitted bids last Friday.

Queensland Major Contractors Association chief executive Jon Davies had on Wednesday said the contractors had spent millions on their bids.

He said the contractors were "in shock" after Cr Schrinner announced the delays on Wednesday at a private lunch function, before the contractors had been informed.

Mr Harding called on the lord mayor to stand aside while the auditor-general investigated.

"It is clear that there are serious probity issues now involved in this project, with Brisbane ratepayers' on the hook for millions of dollars in fees to the three contractors, and depending on what assurances Adrian Schrinner gave to them, potentially tens of millions of dollars in legal liabilities," Mr Harding said.

"It is absolutely shocking that a major infrastructure project in this city would be put out to tender by a Lord Mayor when no approvals were in place and when the full scope of the project was not even known."

A spokesman for Cr Schrinner dismissed Mr Harding's comments as "another Labor attempt to slow down Brisbane Metro and bury it in red tape".

On Thursday, Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the council's decision to go out to tender had been at their own risk, and he had written several times to the council in the past year to warn them of that.

The minister released new plans showing the proposed redesign and landscaping of the Cultural Centre precinct should the Metro stop be relocated under the Convention Centre.

Mr Bailey said he thought it "pretty unusual" for procurement to begin without state approvals finalised on such a massive project.

This whole mess is sad sad sad ...

[AnonymouslyBad]

Brisbanetimes --> Labor refers Adrian Schrinner to auditor-general over Metro tenders
This whole mess is sad sad sad ...

Just another reminder that BCC (and any council) is effectively a corporation. If they're embarking on a project alone, it's not really a government project nor does the same level of transparency apply.

The referral to the AG is probably politicised but even if it goes nowhere, BCC ratepayers are going to be the ones on the hook for the cost of rescoping and tender fees. cool and normal

This issue could be at least partly fixed before Metro by introducing bus network reform, but apparently that's permanently stuck in the too-hard basket.

The irony is that BCC are likely to see Metro as a "politically acceptable" catalyst for bus reform. The post-Metro bus network will only demonstrate that bus reform, and not infrastructure, was the biggest issue - but the spin doctors will be out in force, and with a shiny new bit of busway probably quite successful.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Lord mayor calls Premier directly to urge Brisbane Metro approvals

Brisbane lord mayor Adrian Schrinner and state Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington have appealed directly to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to intervene and issue early approvals for the council's $944 million Brisbane Metro project.

The push followed Transport Minister Mark Bailey's Wednesday announcement of a $1 million, two-year trial expanding bus services to and from the University of Queensland, some of Brisbane's busiest bus routes.

"Each day there are full buses on the busway that are leaving commuters behind. There are commuters impacted by delays, by congestion, by full buses," Cr Schrinner said.

Brisbane City Council data shows more than 300 route 66 buses, travelling between Herston and UQ in St Lucia, were overcrowded in May alone.

More than 3000 services across routes 66, 111 and 160 were overcrowded and forced to skip stops over the past 12 months.

A dispute between the council and the state government blew up last week when the state said the planned Cultural Centre underground Brisbane Metro stop would have to be moved to under the Convention Centre.

Cr Schrinner said he had called the Premier twice since last week to urge her to take action above Mr Bailey's head, and was waiting for a return call.

"Ultimately it's clear that the minister is not really interested in working with us. I'd like to deal with the Premier to make sure we can get this project on-track," he said.

"I believe the Premier is supportive of the project. I'm not sure she knows what her minister is doing or not doing, I'd like to deal with the Premier to make this project happen.

"It can be a win-win at that level, so I'm looking forward to talking to the Premier as soon as she returns that call."

A state government spokesman said the state supported the Brisbane Metro "but council needs to get it right".

"Adrian Schrinner has known about the proposals around the underground station at South Bank since it was discussed with him in a meeting with the state architect in late 2018," he said.

"The Queensland government will pay council to run and maintain the Metro system in the coming decades.

"That means Queensland taxpayers will pay for it for years to come, so it needs to be done properly."

Cr Schrinner said the news was given to the council far too late considering bids for the tenders had closed and the design problems would delay the project again.

But Mr Bailey said BCC had gone to tender at its own risk, and his department had warned the council about its concerns with the planned Cultural Centre station last year.

"We have the LNP state team, we have the federal coalition, and we have the lord mayor Adrian Schrinner and his team in Brisbane City Council all gunning to give relief to public transport commuters right here in Brisbane," Ms Frecklington said.

"Now we have a stop-gap which is Annastacia Palaszczuk and her Labor government."

Cr Schrinner said the council was not informed of the $1 million trial of additional bus routes to UQ when it was announced.

"We won't knock back extra services but in the end it's only a temporary solution, and those extra buses that are put on will very quickly, I believe, fill up and we'll have the same problem again," he said.

Queensland Major Contractors Association chief executive Jon Davies said the three companies who had put in bids for the Brisbane Metro contract with the council - and who were blindsided by the announcement of delays - had now made their final presentations to council.

Mr Davies said the QMCA had met with the council and was urging them to shortlist one of the three contractors.

"We have recommended council shortlist to one contractor, rather than stringing all three, or two, along because there will be costs, significant costs," he said.

"All these bidders have already spent probably in the region of $10 million of which they're only likely to get $3 million back.

"So for council then to say 'oh, let's keep going on the journey' ... that's going to involve spending even more money.

"I think there's an appreciation by council that they will have to reimburse the bidders for any additional costs going forward."

Cr Schrinner said the contractors were aware the state had not issued approvals when they put in bids.

"Let me clear about this, we have not awarded any tenders, and we will not do that unless we have state government approval," he said.

"We're doing our due diligence, we're working with the industry ... we've got three different consortia who have put bids in. They are really raring to go on this project."

Cr Schrinner said the council would recommence releasing 'bus full' data on a monthly basis, revealing how many buses skipped stops due to overcrowding.

The council had done so previously, he said, until TransLink "raised concerns" about the data being released and the council stopped.

"We'll now do this on a regular basis because we think it's important that the community knows the extent of the problem with full buses, delays on the busways, people missing out on trips that they want to take," he said.

"I think there's a level of interest in this data now and it's increasing, and in the interests of making sure that information is out to the community we will proactively release it.

"... I think it will help focus attention on the problems we're trying to solve with Brisbane Metro."

[aldonius]

That Epic Gamer Moment (tm) when we get better data out of spite.

[SurfRail]

Brisbane is run by fukwits.  This is Gomer Pyle bullsh%t.

[ozbob]

Brisbane is run by fukwits.  This is Gomer Pyle bullsh%t.

Concur.   

[#Metro]

Cr Schrinner said the council would recommence releasing 'bus full' data on a monthly basis, revealing how many buses skipped stops due to overcrowding.

The council had done so previously, he said, until TransLink "raised concerns" about the data being released and the council stopped.

WHAT?!?!? 

What concerns? About who? Who originally raised this concern? To the extent, it was so significant that the data access had to be pulled?

TMR is there to manage PT. Sadly, I think Mark Bailey needs to go... IMHO he (or his staff) spend waaaay to much time on Twitter, media relations etc.

[ozbob]

^ this is why we have to go RTI to get basic data like patronage.  It was only a sustained campaign by us that forced QR to report individual line OTR profiles (they have had the data all the time).  There is a culture of non-transparency that oozes through TMR and TransLink.

What data they do release is often cryptic and designed to obfuscate more then true transparency.  They tend to release things that make them look good and hide/resist disclosure of things that are not so good.

While I am able I will continue to hold them to account re transparency.  We have had some successes, we just have to keep on keeping on.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner to spray Premier over delaying council projects for political points

A day after the Prime Minister used the LNP state convention to launch a broadside at Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner is set to follow suit.

LORD Mayor Adrian Schrinner will today launch an extraordinary spray on Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, accusing her Government of deliberately delaying council projects to score political points.

Speaking at his first LNP Convention since taking the top job in April, Cr Schrinner will again liken his Brisbane Metro project to the Adani mine — insisting it is suffering the same State Government delays.

stalling southeast Queensland's 2032 Olympic bid

"Premier Palaszczuk is particularly good at slowing down our projects — throwing roadblocks and hurdles in our way," he will tell the party faithful today.

"(Brisbane Metro is) very quickly becoming Brisbane's Adani.

"And all the Premier's fake outrage about her government's deliberate hold-ups on the mine could now also be used to describe their go-slow on Metro."

The LNP administration claims it was blindsided last month when the state told them just days before tenders closed for the project that they would have to move their planned underground Cultural Centre Metro station.

In his speech today, the Lord Mayor will urge the Government to approve the $944 million project and "get out of the way".

"Labor's criticism now is that we're moving too fast on Metro," he will say.

"If their approvals process for the Adani mine is their idea of an acceptable time frame, I'm happy to be accused of moving too fast.

"As you know, Queensland will have local government elections in March next year.

"And the Labor Party is doing everything it can to block this project, so they can then turn around in March and accuse the LNP of failing to deliver on our election promise."

Transport Minister Mark Bailey has previously disputed Cr Schrinner's claims, saying they had warned the council months ago about concerns with the Cultural Centre station.

The council is yet to confirm if the scheduled completion date of the project in 2023 will now have to be pushed back or if there will be any significant cost blow-outs.

Cr Schrinner's attack on the Premier comes a day after Prime Minister Scott Morrison used the LNP state convention to accuse her of stalling southeast Queensland's 2032 Olympic bid.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/team_schrinner/status/1150198491727065089

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Schrinner uses LNP conference to slam Labor over Brisbane Metro

Brisbane lord mayor Adrian Schrinner has used his speech to the LNP state convention to launch another attack against the Labor state government over the Brisbane Metro.

The $944 million council transport project has been pushed back after the state government last month called for a planned cultural centre station to be moved.

Cr Schrinner at the time called it "Brisbane's Adani" in reference to the troubled Adani coal mining in central Queensland, which has been the subject of heated political debate.

The mayor was still incensed about the issue on Sunday when he addressed the third and final day of the LNP convention.

"We put a billion dollars on the table [to fund the project] and all we ask is for Labor to get out of the way," Cr Schrinner said.

"But not only are they not funding the metro project, they're even refusing to release the $10 million given to them by the Morrison government to be passed on to the metro project.

"That's $10 million that the state government is deliberately sitting on."

Cr Schrinner accused the Palaszczuk government of running interference for the Labor team contesting the city council elections.

"The Labor Party is doing everything it can to block this project, so they can then turn around in March [2020] and accuse the LNP of failing to deliver on our election promises," he said.

"I can tell you, it would make my job so much easier if Deb [Frecklington, LNP state leader] was premier. October 2020 can't come soon enough."

For her part, Ms Frecklington shared her local government colleague's view of the need to get on with Brisbane Metro.

"This is a vital congestion busting project for inner city Brisbane, and one which the state LNP team fully support," Ms Frecklington said.

State Transport Minister Mark Bailey has previously defended the government's decision on the Metro project, saying the council jumped the gun on bringing its tender process to a close before talks between the two governments had been finalised.

He also said the council's plan for the cultural centre stop was not ideal, and they only had "one chance" to get the Metro right, saying they did not want "another King George Square", referring to the unpopular redesign of Brisbane's central square.

Cr Schrinner also used the opportunity to praise his recent predecessor Graham Quirk, whom he replaced as lord mayor in a planned transition before next year's local government election.

"A man who has achieved more in politics than most would ever dream of, and who leaves with the very rare distinction of going out on his own terms," he said.

"Quirky, thank you for everything you've done for the party and for the city.

"You've set a very high bar for us, and we'll do our best to reach it."

In a quirk of formality, before Cr Schrinner started his speech, he had to be formally ratified by the convention as Cr Quirk's replacement, which he was unanimously, to applause.

He outlined a number of the council's achievements to date, including building the new Howard Smith Wharves precinct and planting more than 2 million new trees around the city.

He also spruiked the fact that the LNP members of council and the LNP cabinet in council had 50-50 gender parity, which the mayor claimed was done "without quotas".

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1150244329232822272

[ozbob]

Would this be a good time to ask about all door boarding? 

[James]

Would this be a good time to ask about all door boarding? 

On that note, the great irony of the matter is had the ALP & council not kicked up such a stink over bus reform back in 2013, the Cultural Centre would be flowing fine & there would be no immediate need for Brisbane Metro.

[#Metro]

(Menulog ad music) 🎶

Did somebody say

BUS REFORM??

[City Designer]

More partisan hackery from the LNP mayor. Funding and state interests are not the same thing.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> The deals on the Metro buses go round and round until Christmas

Brisbane will learn before Christmas which of the three mega-buses short-listed to run on the city's metro project wins the race.

Evaluation of the final three options - Daimler Truck and Bus Australia Pacific, HESS AG of Switzerland and a joint venture from Transit Australia Group and Van Hool of Belgium - is under way.

"We are in the process of assessing that and we are keeping the state government updated every step of the way," lord mayor Adrian Schrinner said on Tuesday.

According to the council's website, the tender decision will be made by late 2019, subject to approvals.

The council has been cleared by the Queensland Auditor-General of any wrongdoing in awarding tenders for the $944 million Brisbane Metro project.

In June, Labor's lord mayoral candidate Rod Harding asked the Auditor-General to investigate the actions of the council after the state government suddenly asked for a new venue for the underground station under the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The council had already called tenders for the project before the government asked for a different underground station location to be considered.

Cr Schrinner said the Auditor-General found no problems with the council's tender and procurement process.

"I am pleased to update the chamber today that the Auditor-General has carried out the requested investigation," Cr Schrinner said at Tuesday's council meeting.

"This is what they found and I quote: 'Queensland Audit Office has considered the matter as part of the annual financial audit of council and found no need to investigate the matter and no reason to note this in the account'."

Earlier, the lord mayor expressed surprise that council opposition leader Peter Cumming had asked when the council would decide on the bus firm chosen to run along the Brisbane Metro routes.

Cr Cumming asked when ratepayers would know how the buses would be powered and how many passengers the buses would carry.

Cr Schrinner said he was surprised at Labor's "temerity" in asking the question.

"This is the political party that is standing in the way of Brisbane Metro," Cr Schrinner said.

"This is the political party that is doing everything it can to hold up the project, so the questions that Cr Cumming asked will only be answered as part of the tender process.

"These are the people who criticised us for starting the tender process."

Earlier, federal Infrastructure Minister Alan Tudge said he would speak with Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey about delays to the metro project.

Mr Tudge said he had spoken with Cr Schrinner about the current status of the project, to which the federal government had contributed $300 million.

"Obviously we want to see the Brisbane Metro under way as soon as possible," Mr Tudge said.

"We have had a discussion today and I will be raising this with Minister Bailey [on Tuesday afternoon]."

The deals on the Metro buses go round and round until Christmas https://t.co/9evMUHqz9g via @brisbanetimes #bnepol #qldpol

— RAIL_BoT_Forum (@railbotforum) August 13, 2019

[verbatim9]

I guess this is all delayed due to the new location and redesign of the station at South Brisbane, which is a good thing.

[ozbob]

Meet the Metro team Brisbane Metro will be a key part of Brisbane's greater transport network, connecting the city to the suburbs. To find out more, come along and meet the Metro team at an event near you. Read more Metro depot procurement progressing The new Metro depot at Rochedale is one step closer with Council finalising a shortlist of tenderers. The four respondents will progress to the Request for Tender phase with a contract expected to be awarded in mid-2020. Read more Get to know Brisbane Metro Watch our latest video to learn how Brisbane Metro will get you home up to 50% quicker. Turn-up-and-go services will run along dedicated busways every three minutes in peak and 24 hours on the weekend. Watch now Brisbane Metro set to transform Adelaide Street Learn about the draft vision for Adelaide Street's evolution into a walkable, tree-lined boulevard that weaves together retail and key civic spaces with a world-class public transport experience. Read more More information If you have any questions or would like more information about Brisbane Metro, you can: visit the Brisbane Metro website attend an upcoming community event phone the project team on 1800 692 333 during business hours phone Council on 07 3403 8888 after hours email the project team.

This email was sent by Brisbane City Council, Brisbane City Council to admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane Metro planned to link with Brisbane Airport jobs hub

THE Brisbane Metro would be extended to the airport under new plans to make it more affordable for commuters to travel to the city's fastest-growing employment hub.

The Sunday Mail can reveal Brisbane City Council has pushed for the expansion in a submission to the 2020 Brisbane Airport Master Plan, with the proposal already being welcomed by the airport's chief executive Gert-Jan de Graaff.

If the project is given the green light, the new Metro service would potentially run along Airport Drive and even through the Airportlink tunnel on a new public transport corridor, offering a competitive service to the Airtrain.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said current public transport options out to the airport were not up to scratch and were not properly catering for workers.

"It's one thing for occasional airline passengers to pay the cost of an Airtrain journey but it is unaffordable for the 24,000 workers commuting every day to the airport and the growing jobs hub," Cr Schrinner said.

"The Metro is a more affordable public transport option that would also make Brisbane a more attractive option for tourists and benefit the local economy."

The Airtrain costs $19 between the inner-city and airport, while a Metro ticket – under current go card pricing systems – would probably cost about $4 for the same journey.

The council has not costed the plan or even have a time frame for delivery – but it is likely that the proposed line would not be up and running until after 2036, when the Airtrain's long term exclusivity contract has expired.

"I'd be seeking to talk with the relevant authorities so that affordable public transport can be provided earlier to this booming jobs hub," Cr Schrinner said.

Mr de Graaff said while the airport had invested heavily in the last decade to meet growth projections, they had been very vocal about the need for similar investments in roads and public transport between the airport and city.

"Inadequate infrastructure severely limits a city or region's connectivity to the world, and moreover, significantly impacts economic growth through lost business opportunities, employment, and tourism," he said.

The first and second lines of the Brisbane Metro are expected to be operational by 2023, despite significant roadblocks that will likely blow out the cost of the $944 million project.

A Metro 3 line has also been proposed for the city's northern suburbs.

The final design for the Metro vehicles is expected to be announced before the end of the year.

[red dragin]

Be cheaper and quicker for council to just subsidise Airtrain fares for workers only, would it not?

[ozbob]

Brisbane Airtrain is returned to the State around 2036. It was setup up as a BOOT (Build Own Operate Transfer).  The company will cease to exist then.

The question then is will the state bring in normal zonal fares or continue the high cost fares?

[Golliwog]

Is this like how CityGlider was meant to be expanded further as well?

Stop planning add on here there and everywhere and actually review your existing network!

And this being off in 2036+ makes it even more fanciful.


Regarding the cost of PT travel for airport workers, they can still get discounted travel on the Airport train: https://www.airtrain.com.au/tickets/ticket-types/airport-staff-tickets/

Though agree that if they're not in the inner city then they do get shafted a bit as they will have to buy an additional normal ticket.

[timh]

I think it's a weird choice for a metro expansion. Obviously yeah has to happen once Airtrain becomes public, but again, if Airtrain becomes public, the dates SHOULD go back to normal...?

Priority should be made on Busway/metro expansions to Chermside and Carindale (preferably Capalaba) and I was pleased to note in Adrian Schrinners announcement video that the animation of the metro map showed expansions to both those locations.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Lord mayor wants Brisbane Metro to extend to airport

Brisbane lord mayor Adrian Schrinner has proposed expanding the Brisbane Metro project to Brisbane Airport, despite the first stage of the $944 million dollar project not yet having broken ground.

The exact design of the metro vehicles has not yet been finalised nor a successful tenderer announced, but Cr Schrinner on Sunday said he wanted them to run all the way to the airport.

"People who are arriving as tourists at the airport have an option of catching a taxi, an Uber or the Airtrain, but for people who work there every day it's not affordable," the lord mayor said.

He called on the state government to either revisit the Airtrain contract, which is in place until 2036, or agree to extend Brisbane Metro services to the airport as a low-cost alternative.

The vehicles would run on wheels and could therefore use the Airport Link tunnel to approach the airport, rather than any new infrastructure having to be put in place, Cr Schrinner said.

The call came after a stoush between the council and the state government earlier this year, when the project was again delayed because the state insisted the Cultural Centre station be redesigned and moved under the Brisbane Convention centre.

Cr Schrinner blasted the state government at the time because council was finalising tenders on the existing planned station, without final state government approvals.

The council was cleared of any wrongdoing in August after Labor referred the matter to the Auditor-General.

Despite the ongoing delays and the risk of cost blowouts on the project, Cr Schrinner said he wasn't getting ahead of himself by suggesting the airport extension.

"Brisbane Metro will happen. It's fully funded, it's not a question of if, but when," he said.

"We're keen to get cracking on it but we're also not just thinking about stage one and two.

"We're thinking about stages three and four, and that includes options to go to Brisbane Airport."

For his part, Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff welcomed the proposal.

"We have been very vocal about the need for similar investment in roads and public transport infrastructure between the airport and the city and region to ensure Brisbane is ready for the global opportunities coming our way," Mr de Graaff said.

State government minister Kate Jones on Sunday announced another key milestone relating to the government's signature infrastructure project, Cross River Rail.

Ms Jones announced long-distance coach services would begin from this week at the newly constructed Brisbane Coach Terminal on the northern side of Roma Street station.

The change paves the way for the start of demolition works on the existing transit centre early next year to make way for the Cross River Rail station at the site.

While she was not asked specifically about the calls for Metro services to be extended to the airport, Ms Jones said she would be sitting down with the mayor in "the coming weeks" to talk about both projects.

"The designs of Cross River Rail complement [Brisbane] Metro and we are working closely together through the city deal on the transport infrastructure which Brisbane needs for the future," she said.

Ms Jones was recently put in charge of the government's marquee infrastructure project after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk stripped deputy premier Jackie Trad of responsibility.

The Crime and Corruption Commission assessed corruption allegations over the purchase of a house near one of the proposed Cross River Rail stations, but decided not to launch a formal investigation. However, the scandal was enough for the Premier to remove Ms Trad as the minister overseeing the project.

LNP state opposition transport spokesman Steven Minnikin on Sunday called for the state government to back Brisbane Metro.

"The Palaszczuk Labor government need to get with the program and start working with the council on this very important project," Mr Minnikin said.

[#Metro]

Would the buses be able to run on the current network without the hard infrastructure? E.g. Via Captain Cook bridge while the State gov't works itself out?

[verbatim9]

Brisbanetimes --> Lord mayor wants Brisbane Metro to extend to airport

Brisbane lord mayor Adrian Schrinner has proposed expanding the Brisbane Metro project to Brisbane Airport, despite the first stage of the $944 million dollar project not yet having broken ground.

The exact design of the metro vehicles has not yet been finalised nor a successful tenderer announced, but Cr Schrinner on Sunday said he wanted them to run all the way to the airport.

"People who are arriving as tourists at the airport have an option of catching a taxi, an Uber or the Airtrain, but for people who work there every day it's not affordable," the lord mayor said.

He called on the state government to either revisit the Airtrain contract, which is in place until 2036, or agree to extend Brisbane Metro services to the airport as a low-cost alternative.

The vehicles would run on wheels and could therefore use the Airport Link tunnel to approach the airport, rather than any new infrastructure having to be put in place, Cr Schrinner said.

The call came after a stoush between the council and the state government earlier this year, when the project was again delayed because the state insisted the Cultural Centre station be redesigned and moved under the Brisbane Convention centre.

Cr Schrinner blasted the state government at the time because council was finalising tenders on the existing planned station, without final state government approvals.

The council was cleared of any wrongdoing in August after Labor referred the matter to the Auditor-General.

Despite the ongoing delays and the risk of cost blowouts on the project, Cr Schrinner said he wasn't getting ahead of himself by suggesting the airport extension.

"Brisbane Metro will happen. It's fully funded, it's not a question of if, but when," he said.

"We're keen to get cracking on it but we're also not just thinking about stage one and two.

"We're thinking about stages three and four, and that includes options to go to Brisbane Airport."

For his part, Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff welcomed the proposal.

"We have been very vocal about the need for similar investment in roads and public transport infrastructure between the airport and the city and region to ensure Brisbane is ready for the global opportunities coming our way," Mr de Graaff said.

State government minister Kate Jones on Sunday announced another key milestone relating to the government's signature infrastructure project, Cross River Rail.

Ms Jones announced long-distance coach services would begin from this week at the newly constructed Brisbane Coach Terminal on the northern side of Roma Street station.

The change paves the way for the start of demolition works on the existing transit centre early next year to make way for the Cross River Rail station at the site.

While she was not asked specifically about the calls for Metro services to be extended to the airport, Ms Jones said she would be sitting down with the mayor in "the coming weeks" to talk about both projects.

"The designs of Cross River Rail complement [Brisbane] Metro and we are working closely together through the city deal on the transport infrastructure which Brisbane needs for the future," she said.

Ms Jones was recently put in charge of the government's marquee infrastructure project after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk stripped deputy premier Jackie Trad of responsibility.

The Crime and Corruption Commission assessed corruption allegations over the purchase of a house near one of the proposed Cross River Rail stations, but decided not to launch a formal investigation. However, the scandal was enough for the Premier to remove Ms Trad as the minister overseeing the project.

LNP state opposition transport spokesman Steven Minnikin on Sunday called for the state government to back Brisbane Metro.

"The Palaszczuk Labor government need to get with the program and start working with the council on this very important project," Mr Minnikin said.

This is such a long time away it's hardly worth a media release from Council. So many things can change from now till then.

[Cleveland Line]

Regarding the cost of PT travel for airport workers, they can still get discounted travel on the Airport train: https://www.airtrain.com.au/tickets/ticket-types/airport-staff-tickets/

Though agree that if they're not in the inner city then they do get shafted a bit as they will have to buy an additional normal ticket.

So city to airport staff don't have to pay anymore than $6 a trip, and regular workers would be much less.

Trying to provide better affordability than this is hardly worth the huge $$$ Airtrain would seek in compensation if the exclusivity was broken before 2036.

So yeah, stick it in a master plan for the airport, but that's where it belongs for many years yet. There isn't even a standard PT bus service to the airport currently, let alone a Metro...

[verbatim9]

Regarding the cost of PT travel for airport workers, they can still get discounted travel on the Airport train: https://www.airtrain.com.au/tickets/ticket-types/airport-staff-tickets/

Though agree that if they're not in the inner city then they do get shafted a bit as they will have to buy an additional normal ticket.

So city to airport staff don't have to pay anymore than $6 a trip, and regular workers would be much less.

Trying to provide better affordability than this is hardly worth the huge $$$ Airtrain would seek in compensation if the exclusivity was broken before 2036.

So yeah, stick it in a master plan for the airport, but that's where it belongs for many years yet. There isn't even a standard PT bus service to the airport currently, let alone a Metro...

In the Master plan submission. I did mention to provide regular Translink bus services outside Airtrain hours if Airtrain hours are not extended in the short term?

[verbatim9]

On another topic I contacted the Bne Metro team about South Brisbane and the redesign of the station. They mentioned that the new design will likely be finalised and released to the public at the end of the year?

[verbatim9]

When it comes to public transport Brisbane has big plans, but so far there's been little action. @ajhegarty9 #9News https://t.co/oN4AQNOAbY. 


https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/1173146867367940097

[#Metro]

IMHO, the high cost of Airtrain is because the Queensland Government charges full cost of rail to the company. If the per passenger cost is $10.50 for service, and the charge is $19 then Airtrain makes ~ $9.

Then you have to subtract everything else (operational costs and taxes) out of that... before we even get to a margin.

We have plenty of for-profit private PT operators on the Translink network who charge standard TL fares. Airtrain could be added to that if people wanted it to be.

If you want cheaper fares, you can have them tomorrow... just extend the TL subsidy to Airtrain.

On the other hand, one would have to ask whether that was a priority - given that the majority of trips are by car, and that the charge for 1-day parking in the 'Park Long' section is $57 ... and even at that price, there is lots of demand for it.

[ozbob]

I think there is a fairly basic fundamental reason why the State Government is stalling most things (apart from the moolah) is that they are scared witless that the inner city transport disruptions that will occur once Brisbane Metro and to a lesser degree Cross River Rail start serious construction, will have an effect in the ballot box.  If the Govt can string things out so that impacts are minimal prior to October 2020 ( #qldvotes ) they figure their chances are better.

Political parties see themselves as getting re-elected as their first priority and will do what ever it takes.

The bus network will be disrupted, rail will have to lift once works underway.  I know TransLink bus planners have been working on bus plans, and probably Queensland Rail as well is doing contingency planning.  At times the Tennyson line will be heavily used for example.

So, the increasing political argy bargy from BCC vs. the State Govt is part of this game. 

I think all comments by the political players needs to be seen through the lens of ' political self interest ' rather than a-political positive policy. 

I have no doubt that staff concerned with transport within CRR, TMR/TransLink and probably BCC are getting mightily p%ssed  off with the increasing politicisation of transport.

[HappyTrainGuy]

IMHO, the high cost of Airtrain is because the Queensland Government charges full cost of rail to the company. If the per passenger cost is $10.50 for service, and the charge is $19 then Airtrain makes ~ $9.

Then you have to subtract everything else (operational costs and taxes) out of that... before we even get to a margin.

We have plenty of for-profit private PT operators on the Translink network who charge standard TL fares. Airtrain could be added to that if people wanted it to be.

If you want cheaper fares, you can have them tomorrow... just extend the TL subsidy to Airtrain.

On the other hand, one would have to ask whether that was a priority - given that the majority of trips are by car, and that the charge for 1-day parking in the 'Park Long' section is $57 ... and even at that price, there is lots of demand for it.

It's also airports line. It was built under a boot scheme. I believe there's a discount in operation costs and infrastructure maintenance from qr in return for it being transferred to the state once it expires. Translink takes a little bit for the gocard system and I've heard there was also a subsidy from translink as a result of airport trains stopping at Albion/woolloowin as the airport line contract is for Bowen Hills to airport. In the mean time airport Corp can charge what it wants for tickets as it their line which is different to how private pt operators work on the translink network.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Brisbane Metro delays 'costing money', Schrinner tells government

Brisbane Metro's $944 million budget has blown out after further delays were announced in June, but lord mayor Adrian Schrinner won't yet release the predicted total cost.

A day after proposing to extend the Metro out to Brisbane Airport, Cr Schrinner told reporters he wanted to inform the state government of the expected amount before making the cost blowout public.

Delays to the council's key public transport project were announced two months ago when the state informed council a planned station under the Cultural Centre had to be moved to the Exhibition Centre.

The council has since been working on redesigning the station, with Cr Schrinner aiming a broadside at the state government for apparently delaying the "fully funded" project further at the last minute.

The Metro project was funded in a joint agreement between the state and federal government, but the state is responsible for final approvals over the project.

"The simple fact that it's being delayed costs money, every week that it's delayed costs money," Cr Schrinner said on Monday.

"We've got costs that are being incurred every week. Projects don't get cheaper when you delay them."

Cr Schrinner said the council had made a submission to Brisbane Airport to either bring more buses or the Metro out to the airport to undercut the costs of Airtrain.

"We've tried to talk to the state about Airtrain a number of times, we've tried to get a copy of the contract that they have for Airtrain and we haven't been successful," Cr Schrinner said.

"So we'd like to see as a first stage the Airtrain contract looked at, see what can be done to make better use of existing public transport out there.

"Failing that, we are prepared to work with the state government to put other alternative forms of transport out there like bus services or Metro services to provide the workers with more public transport opportunities."

Transport Minister Mark Bailey on Sunday afternoon was skeptical of the lord mayor's suggestion to either revisit the Brisbane Airtrain contract or add more public transport to the airport corridor.

Airport workers are given subsidies to use Airtrain, which usually costs about $19 one way for a normal passenger. A weekly ticket for airport workers costs $37, or they can buy a book of 20 tickets for $120.

"This is a long-term contract so it is very difficult to change it," Mr Bailey told reporters on Sunday.

"But let's be clear, holding out the Metro as a solution to everything when the council hasn't got the first stage right is really quite premature."

Mr Bailey said the state's ability to assess Brisbane Metro was limited as the council still didn't know exactly what type of vehicles would be operating on the network.

The council expects to finalise the vehicle design and manufacturing tender before the end of the year.

"I hear the Metro project is in a bit of trouble, it's over budget, it's over time, they still don't know what the vehicle is," Mr Bailey said.

"Council needs to settle the first stage of the Metro before they start promising the Metro to everybody else."

[#Metro]

1. Get rid of Mark Bailey as PT minister.

2. Let's see a public copy of the Airtrain contract

3. Bus reform

[ozbob]

I have a copy of this tweet in case it is deleted ..

Games ...

https://twitter.com/jackietrad/status/871862688200089600

[SurfRail]

It would probably be cheaper for BCC to simply fund the State buying back Airtrain from its current owner early.

No matter how ineptly the State behaves, it is difficult for me to take BCC seriously on anything to do with this project.  They don't have any control over the corridor itself, any services that run along it are subject to DTMR's oversight and authorisation and they don't have any state approvals, and yet they were getting into tender territory.  It's nuts.