TransLink SEQ - COVID-19 changes

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1269036871742451713

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

8th June 2020

Non medical masks/face coverings on public transport

Good Morning,

In line with the latest guidelines from the WHO it is time we encourage the use of non medical masks/face coverings on public transport.  We have low community transmission rates which would be even lower if the latest WHO policy was followed. It is not possible to always achieve social distancing on public transport or many other enclosed spaces. To think so is a fools paradise.

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks

Document WHO-2019-nCov-IPC_Masks-2020.4-eng.pdf page 7 table 2

Table 2. Examples of where the general public should be encouraged to use medical and non-medical masks in areas with known or suspected community transmission


Settings where a physical distancing cannot be achieved (close contact)

General public on transportation (e.g., on a bus, plane, trains) Specific working conditions which places the employee in close contact or potential close contact with others e.g., social workers, cashiers, servers

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

21st May 2020

Managing social distancing on SEQ public transport - some comments

Greetings,

Public transport is an essential service, and we thank the Queensland Government, TransLink and public transport operators for maintaining normal levels of service throughout the COVID-19 situation. This is absolutely the correct thing to do in our view.

We have seen recently that the NSW Government has suggested that their public transport passenger capacity be reduced significantly, ideally 14% of normal capacity on buses and 24% of normal capacity on trains.  Already the NSW Minister of Transport has said that those levels are desirable guidelines and he acknowledges that they will not always be achievable.  The approach so far in SEQ on public transport has not been prescriptive passenger reduction directions but of sensible measures such as rear door boarding/exiting on buses, no cash fares, improving cleaning and other advice for an informed public essentially managing social distance requirements themselves ( https://translink.com.au/service-updates/274176 ).  This is in our view the correct approach for the SEQ jurisdiction.

As passengers begin to return to the public transport network we suggest a number of things need to be messaged and acted upon. Hopefully many people will continue to work from home and this will help manage passenger loading.

. If unwell do not travel. Seek medical advice.

. To encourage passengers to travel out of peak more services need to be in place for at least two hours after peak, specifically between 8.30-10.30am and 7pm to 9pm, and additional services during the peak and counter-peak where heavy passenger loading is a constant issue (travel out of peak times is 20% cheaper with a go card). Simply advising people to stagger journey times runs the risk of overloading out of peak services if there are not enough services.

. Encourage the use of non-medical grade face masks/coverings when unable to properly social distance (  Face masks should be used on public transport as Australians return to work, leading epidemiologist says https://www.sbs.com.au/news/face-masks-should-be-used-on-public-transport-as-australians-return-to-work-leading-epidemiologist-says ).

. We also think that all public transport staff - particularly bus drivers and ferry crew be offered proper medical grade respiratory masks.

Many citizens need to use public transport. Simply forcing passengers off public transport is not the answer.  It is a matter of balanced and sensible advice and sound management, as has already been demonstrated and we hope continues.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1269286273539141632

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1269665034885410817

[ozbob]

New York Daily News --> World cities show a path forward for NYC subway as coronavirus restrictions ease


South Koreans wear masks on the Seoul subway system in April. (Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

Hundreds of thousands of straphangers are expected to return to the subway Monday as New York City's coronavirus restrictions begin to loosen — and while the MTA is working to make sure trains as safe as it can, many riders still fear a mass spread of the disease on the system.

"I'm worried about other people on the train without a mask. You don't know who is sick," said Ximena Bernal, 36, an interpreter for non-English speaking patients at NYU-Langone Hospital, which was on the front line of the pandemic.

She rides the subway five days a week.

"The hospital takes so many precautions," she said. "The subway? I don't know."

Trends in other cities across the globe combined with steps taken by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority ought to give passengers a cautious sense of safety as subway service resumes near-normal operations.

Riders will be required to wear masks — if you don't have one, you can get one at the turnstile. MTA officials said transit workers will badger riders who don't wear masks, and the agency has asked the NYPD to enforce the requirement without arrests or summonses.

Widespread mask use is the common thread as subway ridership rebounded in other cities around the world without causing a spike in infections.

Ridership on Berlin's subway, the U-Bahn, has already reached 50% of its pre-pandemic levels after falling by 75% in March. The city has recorded 6,800 COVID-19 infections, a fraction of the 205,000 seen in New York, but hasn't seen a spike.

"Mask compliance is very high, maybe 90%," said Alon Levy, a transit researcher who lives in Berlin. "Crowding is probably less than normal in peak periods, but not far less."

In Seoul, a city that contained the outbreak by mid-March — as New York was becoming its epicenter — subway ridership never dipped more than 33%, and has since rebounded to more 80% of what it was last year. In Seoul, Face masks are mandatory at rush hours.

It's a similar story in Taipei, Taiwan — a city with strong culture of mask usage and pandemic precautions. Ridership on the Taipei subway there never fell more than 50% during the pandemic, and is currently about 80% below normal.

"One of the most common features in every city in every transit area is wearing masks," MTA chairman Pat Foye said at a news conference Friday. "The single most important thing is all our employees and all of our customers wear masks every moment they're on public transit."

New York has been hard-hit by the pandemic — and the subways suffered along with the rest of the city.

Subway ridership plunged by more than 90% after the pandemic struck in mid-March, and service was cut 25% as coronavirus swept through the MTA's workforce, killing at least 131 of its employees as of last week.

Sam Schwartz, a transportation consultant who does business with the MTA, expects ridership on New York's subway to reach 50% of pre-pandemic levels — or about 2.8 million trips per day — by year's end.

If ridership hits 50% of pre-pandemic levels, straphangers will have some space on cars — not quite the six feet recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, but enough that people won't be breathing down each other's necks.

"What's really needed is for people to understand the probability of transmission," said Schwartz. "If my mask is 70% effective and your mask is 70% effective, you're likely 99% covered."

Schwartz pointed to the aftermath of 9/11, when the subways were regularly closed amid terrorist threats, as an example that riders can assess safety risks themselves. "You were scared, but you made decisions."

Still, there is good reason for riders to be fearful, said Norman Pace, one of the country's leading microbiologists.

"Covid, as with other respiratory viruses, probably is mainly transmitted by droplet transfer from an infected individual, so riding in crowded subways is a problem," said Pace. "The best thing is for infected folks to use a mask, but you don't know who is who."

Masks may not be the only solution. The MTA is testing technology to eradicate COVID-19 from air droplets in subway car ventilation systems. If successful, the technology, called photo-hydro ionization, can be quickly rolled out into the agency's entire fleet of 6,400 cars.

The MTA also hopes to stop the spread of COVID-19 by regularly cleaning subway trains and stations. Passengers have noticed that trains are cleaner — but surface transmission is "not thought to be the main way the virus spreads," the CDC says.

Whether or not riders feel safe, many have no other choice but to use the subway to commute.

"I have to go to work. Cabs are too expensive, walking is not an option," said Halima Halina, 46, who commutes each day from lower Manhattan to Coney Island Hospital via the subway. "I just hope people don't forget what is happening with the pandemic."

Yet many other riders view the subway like Schwartz does. They assess risk, and make a choice based on the information they have at hand.

"If the subway is too crowded I'm not going to get on," said Lawrence Scott, 73, who lives in Chelsea and uses the subway three or four days a week. "But I feel totally safe on the subway, sometimes safer than in other places in the city."

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Push for public transport users to wear masks while commuting

PUBLIC transport patronage in Ipswich dropped by 80 per cent at the height of COVID-19 restrictions but people are slowly returning to their usual commutes.

One local public transport advocate praised TransLink's efforts to maintain its regular timetables during the crisis and not cut back as transport authorities did in New South Wales.

RAIL Back On Track spokesman and Goodna resident Robert Dow believed more could be done to protect commuter's health, including encouraging the use of masks, as people start to return to public transport.

Mr Dow said "sensible measures" such as rear door boarding and exiting on buses, no cash fares and improved cleaning were very much welcome.

But he said more services needed to be in place for at least two hours after peak times, specifically between 8.30-10.30am and 7-9pm, to encourage passengers to travel out of peak.

Mr Dow also believed additional services are needed during peak and counter-peak, where heavy passenger loading is a "constant issue".

He said the use of non-medical face masks or coverings when social distancing isn't possible should be encouraged by TransLink.

"We also think that all public transport staff, particularly bus drivers and ferry crew, be offered proper medical grade respiratory masks," he said.

"We think that's a pretty sound thing to be doing (for commuters). We're not talking medical grade masks. Just simply reusable masks that can be washed and reused

"Other than that it seems to be going reasonably well ... we don't have any real concerns. The system is working.

"I think patronage will probably recover up to about 50 per cent in the next few months. "That's theoretically going to make it difficult to social distance on public transport."

A TransLink spokesman said passenger trips on the Ipswich network dropped by about 80 per cent during April when compared with the same period last year.

"We have seen a slight patronage upturn in recent weeks, with passenger trips down about 60 per cent for the week ending May 25 compared to the same time last year," he said.

He said there is "little evidence" to support the widespread use of masks in healthy people.

"We are closely monitoring COVID-19 developments and working with health authorities around safety measures on public transport, and the current advice is that most people will not benefit from wearing a surgical mask," the spokesman said.

"While customers and staff can make their own personal decision about wearing a mask, there is little evidence to support the widespread use of masks in healthy people to prevent transmission in public.

"Running services to regular timetables has allowed customers to socially distance and as customers return to the network, we are encouraging them to follow three key steps; leave a gap between themselves and others; adjust their travel to avoid peak periods; and keep it clean by following health advice.

"While there is currently sufficient capacity to carry customers at all times, we are monitoring the network closely and investigating the viability of additional services to shoulder peak periods."

" .. He said there is "little evidence" to support the widespread use of masks in healthy people. .. "

Oh dear, plenty of evidence now and it is WHO recommendation and represents world's best practise.

[ozbob]

Push for public transport users to wear masks while commuting https://t.co/5yccH55B9m #auspol #nswpol #springst #politas #qldpol #saparli #ntpol #wapol #actpol

— RAIL_BoT_Forum (@railbotforum) June 7, 2020

[ozbob]

The Conversation --> Should I wear a mask on public transport?

As restrictions ease, many Australians will be wondering if it's worth wearing a mask on the bus, train or tram to reduce their risk of being infected with coronavirus.

When Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth was asked about this earlier this week, he said:

If you are a vulnerable person and you have no other means of getting to work or around, it would be a very reasonable thing to do. We don't think that general, healthy members of the community need to be considering wearing masks in that context

Earlier, Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said wearing masks on public transport "is not an unreasonable thing to do".

But the National Cabinet has stopped short of making wearing masks on public transport compulsory. No wonder it can all seem a bit confusing.

So what does fresh evidence say about the benefits of healthy people wearing masks in public? And how do you use this to decide what to do?

Yes, wearing a mask does reduce your risk

Until now, the evidence about whether wearing a mask out and about if you're healthy reduces your risk of coronavirus infection has been uncertain.

But a recent review in The Lancet changes that. As expected, the researchers found wearing masks protected health-care workers against coronavirus infection. But they also found wearing masks protects healthy people in the community, although possibly to a lesser degree.

The researchers said the difference in the protective effect was largely because health workers are more likely to use N95 masks, which were found to offer greater protection than the disposable surgical masks we generally see people wearing out in the community.

So, the take-home message is that masks, while not offering perfect protection, reduce your risk of coronavirus infection while you're out and about.

In light of this study, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has updated its advice to recommend healthy people wear masks in public where there is widespread transmission and where physical distancing is difficult, such as on public transport.

But how is this different to what I've heard before?

What this Lancet study adds is the best evidence we have so far that healthy people who wear a mask out and about can reduce their chance of infection.

It's important to stress, the evidence is quite clear that if you're sick, wearing a mask reduces your risk of transmitting the coronavirus to others.

If you're sick or have been diagnosed with COVID-19 the clear advice is still to stay home and self-isolate. You shouldn't be on public transport anyway!

Masks also protect others

But how about the other possible benefit of wearing masks on public transport – minimising the risk of you unwittingly transmitting the virus to others if you don't have symptoms?

Despite some confusing messages from WHO earlier this week, we know "asymptomatic transmission" does occur, although we are yet to pin down its exact role.

For instance, a recent review suggests as many as 40-45% of coronavirus infections are asymptomatic and they may transmit the virus to others for an extended period.

So, preventing asymptomatic transmission is another reason you may choose to wear a mask. That is, rather than wearing a mask to protect yourself, you could wear a mask to protect others.

So, what should I do?

Given masks reduce your risk of infection and reduce the risk of you unwittingly passing on the virus to others, you could certainly make a case for routinely wearing a mask on public transport while we have coronavirus in the community.

This case is even stronger if you are at risk of severe illness, for example if you are over 65 years old or have an underlying medical condition such as high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes.

Alternatively, if you are travelling on a short trip on a train and you have plenty of room to social distance, then you may decide wearing a mask may not be essential given the level of risk on that journey.

However, if you are on a longer commute and the train is crowded and social distancing is difficult, then wearing a mask could well be sensible.

If you do decide to wear a mask, then it's important to make sure you know how to put it on and take it off correctly. And as no mask offers complete protection, you still need to physically distance where possible and wash your hands.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Extra trains and buses added to public transport network for social distancing

Almost 1000 buses and 100 trains will be added to the state's transport fleet next month to allow for peak hour social distancing, with the Transport Minister declaring "public transport is safe".

More peak hour buses and trains will be rolled out next month to support social distancing on south east Queensland public transport.
An extra 960 buses and 105 trains will be put into service to spread the morning and evening peak hours Monday-Friday from August 10.

Hand sanitiser will be provided to commuters at busy train and bus stations.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said public transport passengers had been cut in half compared to the same time last year but numbers were expected to climb as university classes resumed and CBD offices reopened.

"Public transport is safe in Queensland," Mr Bailey said.

"We have no community transmission here and active cases are in single digits, so our buses, trains, trams and ferries are safe.

"But now is not the time to become complacent.

"We expect more people to return to public transport over the next few weeks.

"We don't expect those numbers to immediately climb back to where they were before COVID-19 arrived but we still want to spread passengers out as much as we can, and these extra services will help do that.

"This boost to morning and afternoon peak services will add almost 58,000 extra seats on buses and trains.

"The plan is to roll out the extra buses until the end of the school year and then assess patronage levels.

"If the demand is there, we will consider if these services should become permanent for the longer term.

"The good news for commuters who catch the train is the 21 weekly peak services we're adding will become permanent additions to the timetable across seven lines."

Mr Bailey said the latest phase of the COVID-19 Safe Public Transport Plan aimed to give commuters more options and greater peace of mind on public transport.

"A few weeks ago, we started the Reboot Your Commute campaign to encourage people start to thinking differently about how, when and where they work," Mr Bailey said.

"Even with people making changes to their daily commute, we still have about 330,000 daily passenger trips on the network as of last week.

"That's why we're adding more bus and train services to extend peak commuting times on the network, which will allow us to spread passenger loads out across the mornings and afternoons."

Mr Bailey said temporary hand sanitiser stations located at entry and exit points would be progressively rolled out at busy bus stops and all 152 train stations in south east Queensland from August 10.

"The hand sanitisers will be an extra option for passengers to practise personal hygiene, adding to the rigorous cleaning and sanitisation programs we've been running since March on public transport vehicles, stations and transport depots.

"We're also continuing rear boarding on buses where possible and keeping payments cashless in SEQ to minimise contact between passengers and drivers.

"Commuters have done an excellent job following the health advice, using common sense and social distancing where practical, and we need everyone to keep it up.

"As more passengers return to public transport, I ask everyone to leave a gap, keep it clean by following health advice and adjust your travel to avoid travelling in peak periods if possible."

GET ON BOARD:

• The extra services start from 10 August

• Trains – 11 extra morning train services and 10 extra afternoon train services (Monday-Friday)

• Buses – an extra 85 morning peak services and 107 extra afternoon services in the afternoon (around the CBD, Monday-Friday)

• Existing 30 minute gaps between train services will be filled to provide services every 15 minutes on the following lines: Beenleigh, Caboolture, Cleveland, Ipswich, Redcliffe Peninsula, Shorncliffe and Springfield

• That means 28,875 extra seats on trains and 28,800 seats on buses each week.

[Cazza]

https://translink.com.au/service-updates/286246

Full list of additional services. It's funny how some bus services will run more frequently in these shoulder peaks than during the standard "7-9am" block. The 385 runs every 10 mins from 6:39-8:19 then every 7-8 mins until 10:04 (with the extra services) then every 15 mins from there. On that note, the 385 running every 10 mins should definitely be extended later than 8:19 (to at least 8:45). The following 8:34 and 8:49am services are usually very busy (pre Covid times of course) so that is something that should be looked into down the track.

Also, slight typos, the 385 outbound says Enoggera instead of The Gap and the 550 goes to Springwood not Springfield.

[verbatim9]

I was on the 444 last Tuesday @1530 and it was packed like sardines from Toowong to Indooroopilly. Couldn't wait to get off at Indooroopilly.

[ozbob]

For extra services see > https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=13963.0

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane traffic: CBD congestion to escalate with 1000 new bus trips

City commuters face yet another hurdle, with almost 1000 extra bus trips travelling along Roma Street next week, exacerbating traffic on a network that is already plagued by ­busway closures.

The Courier-Mail can reveal that 850 extra bus trips will travel along Roma Street each week from August 10 to support social distancing as commuters start returning to public transport.

Roma Street will now have almost 15,000 extra bus trips each week, with 2000 daily trips diverted along the street after the Inner Northern Busway was closed in May.

So far, Brisbane commuters have avoided the brunt of these diversions after working from home resulted in reduction in demand.

Data obtained by The Courier Mail shows that Brisbane bus patronage has slumped by more than 85 per cent during the COVID-19 pandemic – with buses attracting just over 200,000 weekly patrons in early-April this year, compared with weekly patronage of about 1,300,000 at the same time in 2019.

However, the same data shows that patronage has started to rise again, reaching 51 per cent of normal levels in mid-July.

Council is expecting those numbers will continue to rise as the return to workplaces and universities continues.

Despite the lower patronage, bus routes travelling along Roma Street since May 2020 have been running slower than the same routes in 2019.

A council spokesman attributed the delays to an increased traffic from residents who had chosen to drive rather than commute.

That "environment of ... increased congestion" is only expected to grow with 170 extra weekday bus trips added to the network to combat overcrowding weekday peak hours.

"Services targeted are those with most (the) demand ... where there would be the greatest opportunity of passengers to spread travel times," a council spokesman said.

The added trips have been "designed to ... enhance social distancing", the spokesman said.

It follows Translink's own COVIDSafe transport plan, which saw social-distancing indicators installed on buses and prohibited drivers from accepting cash payment.

The extra bus services will operate on weekdays between 9am-10am and 6pm-7pm and will continue until December 11. The INB is expected to reopen in late-August.

"Running times and time­tables will continue to be under pressure while ... diversions remain in place," a council spokesman said.

[pangwen]

An interesting question I saw recently was why train doors can't be automatically opened to save people from having to press them (I guess similar to how pedestrian push-buttons are automated in the city). It was suggested that this is not technically possible - is that right?

I can imagine other reasons why this hasn't happened yet though - reducing airconditioning/heating losses, reducing the impact of rain/wind on passengers etc.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/TransLinkSEQ/status/1291619482826285058

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2020/790-2020.pdf

Question on Notice

No. 790

Asked on 16 July 2020

MR S MINNIKIN ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (HON M BAILEY)

QUESTION:

With reference to the utilisation of QR Citytrain services—
Will the Minister advise what is the estimated spare capacity, by individual line, on (a) trains during
the peak running times and (b) trains during the 'off-peak' times?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Chatsworth for the question.

The Palaszczuk Government continues to listen to the health advice and take all necessary
precautions and actions during this unprecedented time. As public transport is an essential
service, we have maintained scheduled timetables to support essential workers and social
distancing as much as possible.

To support commuters and promote social distancing, on Monday 10 August 2020, an extra 960
bus services and 105 train services on the South East Queensland public transport network each
week between Monday and Friday commenced. These extra services will allow passenger loads
to spread out across the mornings and afternoons and will add almost 58,000 extra seats on
buses and trains.

It is the Palaszczuk Government that is supporting Queensland commuters, unlike the former
Newman LNP government, of which the Member was the Assistant Minister for Public Transport,
that cut $600 million from transport and roads funding across Queensland, sacked 1700
Queensland Rail workers, ordered non-compliant trains from overseas and cut rail driver training.
The Palaszczuk Government is delivering 700 more services than the former LNP government,
is fixing the non-compliant trains ordered from overseas by the former LNP government with
Queensland workers, and is now delivering a record $23 billion for transport and roads across
Queensland, supporting 21,500 jobs.

Furthermore, utilisation of public transport services in South East Queensland, including trains,
has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. Estimates are therefore given
for the month of July 2020 (1 to 20 July 2020).

(a) Peak running times are taken as inbound services arriving at Central Station between 7.30 am
and 8.30 am, and outbound services departing Central Station between 4.30 pm and
5.30 pm.

In July 2020, there was estimated spare seated capacity during these peak times
as follows:

• Airport line: 92 per cent
• Beenleigh line: 70 per cent
• Cleveland line: 61 per cent
• Doomben line: 86 per cent
• Ferny Grove line: 54 per cent
• Gold Coast line: 65 per cent
• Ipswich/Rosewood line: 57 per cent
• Redcliffe Peninsula line: 51 per cent
• Shorncliffe/Northgate line: 66 per cent
• Springfield line: 46 per cent
• Sunshine Coast/Caboolture line: 66 per cent.

(b) In July 2020, there was estimated spare seated capacity during off-peak times as follows:

• Airport line: 94 per cent
• Beenleigh line: 89 per cent
• Cleveland line: 85 per cent
• Doomben line: 96 per cent
• Ferny Grove line: 88 per cent
• Gold Coast line: 81 per cent
• Ipswich/Rosewood line: 85 per cent
• Redcliffe Peninsula line: 79 per cent
• Shorncliffe/Northgate line: 89 per cent
• Springfield line: 77 per cent
• Sunshine Coast/Caboolture line: 78 per cent.

All figures are estimates and have been averaged across the month in question for each of the
time periods (peak and off-peak). Calculations have been based on ticketing data, which means
these represent an estimate on capacity only as incomplete go card trips are unable to be
correctly counted.

As Queensland Rail run routine maintenance requiring track closures over weekends and late
nights, data can be incomplete in these periods due to rail replacement operations and therefore
estimates have been taken across weekdays only between 4am and 9pm.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1300452041966329858

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Face masks readily available as needed, council says

Opposition councillors have called on Brisbane City Council's LNP administration to release face masks to every council bus driver, after figures revealed the council had a stockpile of 30,000 face masks.

In a memo circulated to council staff by the chief executive Colin Jensen on Monday, staff were told to work from home for a further two weeks if possible, or follow appropriate measures if working from the office.

The memo followed a spike in Queensland's COVID case numbers, primarily on the southside and linked to a correctional centre cluster.

Mr Jensen wrote that there was still no mandate issued by Queensland Health to require masks to be worn in public, and the council would not be supplying masks to staff, but was prepared should the situation change.

A question on notice from Labor councillors on Tuesday revealed the council has a stockpile of 10,800 disposable surgical masks, 20,000 fabric face masks and 500 disposable face shields.

Opposition deputy leader Kara Cook at the Tuesday chamber meeting moved an urgency motion calling on the council to release masks to bus drivers in particular.

"This is urgent because Dr Young, our state's Chief Health Officer, has said that now is the time to start wearing a face mask in places where it is difficult to social distance.

"This is urgent because public transport and buses have been specifically identified as a time where you should wear a mask."

Cr Cook said it was critical the council supported bus drivers by ensuring they had masks available. Bus drivers have been wearing masks as their discretion, while the front doors of council buses are locked and passengers can enter and exit only from the rear doors.

The council's fleet of 1200 buses is sanitised daily against the coronavirus.

The urgency motion was lost, with the LNP administration voting against it.

On Thursday morning, deputy mayor Krista Adams said the Labor councillors were "whipping up hysteria" about face mask availability.

"If a council staffer wants a mask, they can get one. We take our advice from the Chief Health Officer and she has said: if you cannot socially distance, wear a face mask," Cr Adams said.

"Council has been providing masks to council employees who in the course of their work are not always able to maintain Queensland Health's guidelines for appropriate social distancing measures.

"If any staff members believe they can't socially distance while doing their daily work, we will provide them with a face mask."

Two weeks ago Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the state government was stockpiling bulk orders of personal protective equipment, with thousands of individual items available.

[ozbob]

^

Couriermail 4th September 2020 page 8

Backflip on bus masks

BRISBANE City Council bus drivers have been issued masks after city officials backflipped on a decision to not release a "stockpile" to city workers.

All council bus drivers were yesterday given two reusable fabric masks, in what the Rail Tram and Bus Union called "a complete 180".

Data showed 31,300 masks were held in council storage, igniting a furore from council opposition and the union, who said not providing masks meant drivers were "putting their health on the line every day".

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Hansard

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2020/2020_09_09_DAILY.pdf

Ministerial Statements

Public Transport

Hon. MC BAILEY (Miller—ALP) (Minister for Transport and Main Roads) (10.11 am): It is
Queenslanders who have led the nation on managing the health impacts of COVID-19. Thanks to their
efforts, the Palaszczuk Labor government has been able to continue delivering Queensland's plan for
economic recovery as we unite and recover. That includes getting on with a record $24 billion transport
and roads program, one that reflects the government's strong record on backing public transport. When
this government was elected in 2015, we put public transport in the fast lane. On the Gold Coast we
duplicated the heavy line between Helensvale and Coomera and built light rail stage 2, both in record
time for Queensland's largest ever sporting event, the Commonwealth Games. We made train stations
more accessible in Nambour, Newmarket, Dinmore, Graceville, Morayfield and Strathpine, with
Fairfield, Yeronga, Rocklea, Salisbury, Moorooka and Yeerongpilly to come. Some 5,400 new
commuter parks have been added and, thanks to the member for Maryborough, we brought train
manufacturing back to the heritage city, supporting 250 local jobs and fixing trains built overseas by the
LNP that were not compliant with disability standards.

Mr BAILEY: Members opposite do not like it, but they were incompetent. Working collaboratively
with the federal government, we locked in funding for projects such as the Sunshine Coast rail
duplication, Gold Coast Light Rail stage 3 and M1 upgrades as part of four record transport and road
budgets out of five. We implemented the largest ever recruitment of drivers in our state's history
following the cuts to driver training in 2014. We fully funded and started construction on Queensland's
largest infrastructure project, the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail. Queenslanders backed that investment
with two record years of public transport patronage before the COVID crisis hit.

The Palaszczuk Labor government has not slowed down. As part of our COVID-safe public
transport plan we have kept full services running, because we know how our essential workers and
their families depend it on. We have rolled out hand sanitiser at stations, ramped up cleaning and rolled
out 1,000 extra bus/train stations—and we never called for our borders to be opened 64 times! Today,
there are more trains services running than ever before in Queensland. There are some 8,427 weekly
services, 810 more than in 2015. That is nearly 10 per cent more than when we were first elected.
For the first time ever, Queenslanders will soon have a statewide smart ticketing system, making
public transport more accessible. Wherever people live in Queensland they will have one system of
payment. We are building three new train stations as part of Cross River Rail on the Gold Coast and
another eight new train stations between Burleigh Heads and Broadbeach for stage 3 of the light rail to
prevent gridlock on the Gold Coast and to create jobs.

To support Queensland manufacturing jobs over the next decade, another $300 million of train
upgrades and maintenance will be carried out at Downer's Maryborough rail hub. Shovels will soon hit
the ground on the Sunshine Coast rail duplication, and there are even more station upgrades such as
at Banyo, which I was happy to announce with the member for Nudgee yesterday.

While patronage on public transport is down at the moment as Queensland continues to manage
the health impacts of COVID-19, Queenslanders can be assured that, when they return to the system,
the Palaszczuk government and the thousands of workers who keep our public transport network
running will have their backs. On 31 October Queenslanders have a clear choice: those opposite, who
cut $1.6 billion from Queensland transport and roads and ordered trains from overseas, or the
Palaszczuk Labor government's economic plan that includes building better public transport, supporting
the train manufacturing jobs of Queensland workers and backing public transport right across the state.

[ozbob]

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2020/862-2020.pdf

Question on Notice

No. 862

Asked on 12 August 2020

DR M ROBINSON ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (HON M BAILEY)

QUESTION:

With reference to the Queensland Rail Citytrain network—

Will the Minister advise the latest estimation of spare capacity by line during (a) peak times and
(b) off-peak times?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Oodgeroo for the question.

The Palaszczuk Government continues to listen to the health advice and take all necessary
precautions and actions during this unprecedented time. As public transport is an essential
service, we have maintained scheduled timetables to support essential workers and social
distancing as much as possible.

To support commuters and promote social distancing, on Monday 10 August 2020, an extra
960 bus services and 105 train services commenced on the South East Queensland public
transport network each week between Monday and Friday. These extra services allow
passengers to spread out across the mornings and afternoons, and add almost 58,000 extra
seats on buses and trains.

The Palaszczuk Government is delivering 810 more services than the former LNP Government,
is fixing the non-compliant trains ordered from overseas by the former LNP Government with
Queensland workers, and is now delivering a record $23 billion for transport and roads across
Queensland, supporting 21,500 jobs.

Furthermore, utilisation of public transport services in South East Queensland, including trains,
has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. Estimates are therefore given
for the month of August 2020, excluding the 14 August 2020 public holiday (1 to 21 August 2020).
Peak running times are taken as inbound services arriving at Central Station between 7.30 am
and 8.30 am, and outbound services departing Central Station between 4.30 pm and 5.30 pm. In
August 2020, there was estimated spare seated capacity during these peak times as follows:

• Airport line: 90 per cent
• Beenleigh line: 64 per cent
• Cleveland line: 55 per cent
• Doomben line: 83 per cent
• Ferny Grove line: 44 per cent
• Gold Coast line: 60 per cent
• Ipswich/Rosewood line: 56 per cent
• Redcliffe Peninsula line: 53 per cent
• Shorncliffe/Northgate line: 65 per cent
• Springfield line: 38 per cent
• Sunshine Coast/Caboolture line: 70 per cent.

In August 2020, there was estimated spare seated capacity during off-peak times as follows:

• Airport line: 94 per cent
• Beenleigh line: 89 per cent
• Cleveland line: 85 per cent
• Doomben line: 95 per cent
• Ferny Grove line: 87 per cent
• Gold Coast line: 83 per cent
• Ipswich/Rosewood line: 85 per cent
• Redcliffe Peninsula line: 81 per cent
• Shorncliffe/Northgate line: 89 per cent
• Springfield line: 77 per cent
• Sunshine Coast/Caboolture line: 80 per cent.

All figures are estimates and have been averaged across the month in question for each of the
time periods (peak and off-peak). Calculations have been based on ticketing data, which means
these represent an estimate on capacity only, as incomplete go card trips are unable to be
correctly counted.

As Queensland Rail run routine maintenance requiring track closures over weekends and late
nights, data can be incomplete in these periods due to rail replacement operations and, therefore,
estimates have been taken across weekdays only between 4am and 9pm.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/MarkBaileyMP/status/1306363360972124160

[ozbob]

Couriermail 8th October 2020 page 8

Commuters avoid public transport

[BrizCommuter]

The trains seem to be a bit busier after the last school holidays. However the mediocre evening peak frequencies (12-15mins compared to am 6-7.5mins) need to be ramped up to entice people back to the trains and allow social distancing (or at least not crowding). Of course that needs more drivers, which we don't have.

[James]

Road traffic has ramped up to near-normal from what I've seen recently - traffic is back to normal levels, buses are experiencing delays similar to what was happening around this time of year last year.

By comparison I would still say bus patronage on my route is off by about 30%. Some of that is definitely attributable to the WFH phenomenon (there are some people who I used to see regularly who I see either 1-2/week, or not at all), but there would be some choosing to drive.

The lack of patronage is far more noticeable on the rail network than the bus network as well.

[verbatim9]

Road traffic has ramped up to near-normal from what I've seen recently - traffic is back to normal levels, buses are experiencing delays similar to what was happening around this time of year last year.

By comparison I would still say bus patronage on my route is off by about 30%. Some of that is definitely attributable to the WFH phenomenon (there are some people who I used to see regularly who I see either 1-2/week, or not at all), but there would be some choosing to drive.

The lack of patronage is far more noticeable on the rail network than the bus network as well.

Its been quoted in the main stream media, stating that second hand car sales are though the roof, which would equate to more car registrations and more being on the road. Traffic again queuing along Coronation Drive with empty buses in-between and empty trains travelling across the Merivale Bridge all day every day off peak. No one is surprised about the empty ghost trains though nor the buses.  They are just running for "show and tell" really. More flexible off peak fares and periodical ticketing cant come soon enough.

[ozbob]

Auckland is interesting.  They reached 80% of normal PT patronage before the second lot of restrictions, and are heading back.

I expect that we will see return to normal patronage levels next year in SEQ.

https://twitter.com/StuartBDonovan/status/1313999066078932993

====

Updated for August 2020

[verbatim9]

Brisbane Times--->Public transport could get more expensive, as app set to track capacity

^^New App to show capacity on Public Transport and extra PM services scrapped in the new year

Fare increases are inevitable but I reckon they should hold off for another year.

I guess they have to pay for the expensive rail staff, referencing the running of the trains, which they haven't managed to address like other States in Australia.

Plus the billions poured into Maryborough for little benefit to services. Maybe get an extra 20 trains out of it? 

The opposition should hold the Government to account regarding this.

[ozbob]

^

According to the article patronage for October was around 63% of normal levels.  Steady recovery continues.

On the 10th December we can expect the snapshot for October 2020, 6 weeks behind. 
They should be publishing the data within two weeks of the end of the month. 

Other states manage that.

Updated for September 2020

[JimmyP]

Brisbane Times--->Public transport could get more expensive, as app set to track capacity

^^New App to show capacity on Public Transport and extra PM services scrapped in the new year

Fare increases are inevitable but I reckon they should hold off for another year.

I guess they have to pay for the expensive rail staff, referencing the running of the trains, which they haven't managed to address like other States in Australia.

Plus the billions poured into Maryborough for little benefit to services. Maybe get an extra 20 trains out of it? 

The opposition should hold the Government to account regarding this.

Short term thinking much? The money that is being invested in Maryborough will be for a hell of a lot more than 20 new trains. Quite likely every new train for the next 50-100 years will come from the investments being made in the next couple years in Maryborough. Also doesn't guarantee it will be Downer building it, I have heard talk that a new facility will be built and owned by the Gov, with whichever manufacturing company chosen for each batch of trains will lease the site for the required time.

I know you're always on your crusade about traincrew earning a decent living, but the optics of significantly reducing staffing levels by getting rid of guards in current times mean it's not going to happen. Maybe in a couple years once overall state/country unemployment levels have returned to normal it may be thought more about. Likely that station staff on contract/casuals may be let go again once NGR CCTV mods have been finished, but unlikely other than that.

[ozbob]

Media Statement

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/91060

COVID-19 travel trends drive more morning services into 2021

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Mark Bailey

30th November 2020

Analysis of post-COVID travel habits show some public transport users travel to work later in the morning to avoid crowded services.

But despite more services running after 6pm to help spread passenger loads during the evening peak, most CBD workers are still knocking off at the same time.

The analysis also showed weekday public transport use remained lowest on Mondays and Fridays.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said TransLink had been monitoring patronage across all modes, including the extra public transport services added to the south east Queensland network in August to support social distancing.

"We're now more than six months on from the severe travel restrictions that saw patronage on trains, buses, trams and ferries plummet by 80 per cent," the Minister said.

"October was the first month where we had 10 million trips taken on the SEQ network since COVID-19 hit Queensland.

"Even with that, we're still operating at about 63 per cent patronage compared to pre-pandemic levels, with about 90 per cent of services less than half full.

"Before COVID, we had two years in a row of record public transport use in Queensland.

"This year, our family, work and social lives have changed dramatically and so have our transport habits to some extent."

Mr Bailey said the TransLink data was being used to guide changes to the temporary services that were added to the network in August.

"The TransLink data from the past few months tells us that the extra morning bus services added in August are popular and people like using them," Mr Bailey said.

"Meanwhile, patronage on many of the extra bus services running after 6pm is generally very low and people are not choosing to work later to take advantage of them.

"Based on those numbers, TransLink will keep running 175 additional weekly buses, most of them after the AM peak, until mid-2021.

"The extra buses will continue to run in and out of the Brisbane CBD through key corridors across the city, including Logan, Indooroopilly, Redlands and Chermside.

"The extra 105 weekly train services added in August will become a permanent feature of the train timetable too."

Mr Bailey said TransLink will also start offering a new online tool that will help customers socially distance on board.

The new Service Capacity Tracker will let customers see a forecast of available capacity on all bus, train, tram and ferry services across the south east Queensland network.

"People are slowly returning to public transport but there remains plenty of space to socially distance on our services," Mr Bailey said.

"We're ready to welcome back customers and the tracker is one way to give them confidence that their next trip will be safe.

"We're still cleaning all public transport thoroughly, including the sanitisation of touch points such as buttons and handrails.

"This is in addition to hand sanitiser at major busway stations and all SEQ train stations, continuing rear-door boarding on buses where practical, roping off the seats immediately behind drivers and cashless ticketing on SEQ services."

For more information about the Service Capacity Tracker and the TransLink service changes starting from Monday December 14, visit https://translink.com.au/covid19

Fast Facts from TransLink figures:

Peak public transport patronage has declined more than off-peak travel

Buses carrying more passengers than other modes such as trains, trams and ferries

Plenty of space on services with 90 per cent of services less than half full

Commuters support increased cleaning but want more cooperation from other travellers on social distancing

Some commuters are more worried about travelling, especially if they are elderly or live with someone in a high-risk COVID group.

ENDS

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> 86 per cent of commuters feel moderate-to-high risk of COVID-19 transmission $

... Commuters want face masks made mandatory on public transport as a new report suggests services could be cut to keep Queensland's bus and rail networks sustainable.

New research from the Tourism and Transport Forum Australia has found 86 per cent of Australians fear public transport has a moderate to high risk of COVID-19 transmission. ...

This article is a bit of beat up.  Extra services have been added in most states.

[achiruel]

Caught 2 buses on the GC yesterday. There seems to be a lot of confusion around rear-door boarding. There is no signage on the buses or at major interchanges (Broadbeach South, Nerang) to alert travellers to rear-door boarding. To make matters worse, 1 driver opened the front door and another didn't. I think this is especially a problem for a high-tourist region like the Gold Coast.

[ozbob]

Facebook ...

TransLink - Service capacity tracker https://translink.com.au/travel-with-us/covid-19/capacity-tracker " Our new...

Posted by RAIL - Back On Track on Sunday, 6 December 2020

[SurfRail]

Caught 2 buses on the GC yesterday. There seems to be a lot of confusion around rear-door boarding. There is no signage on the buses or at major interchanges (Broadbeach South, Nerang) to alert travellers to rear-door boarding. To make matters worse, 1 driver opened the front door and another didn't. I think this is especially a problem for a high-tourist region like the Gold Coast.

There was last time I was down.  Hmm.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1338905666048520192

[ozbob]

^

IA

Infrastructure beyond COVID-19
A national study on the impacts of the pandemic on Australia
An Interim Report for the 2021 Australian Infrastructure Plan

https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-12/Final_COVID%20Impacts%20on%20Infrastructure%20Sectors%20Report_14%20Dec%202020.pdf

Page 59

[James]

I do wonder how much of the remaining 30% of patronage is due to people permanently changing their behaviours, or whether the vast majority of that 30% may be because society still isn't back to normal.

The obvious patronage driver missing is international students, who are required (under their visa conditions) to attend class and are generally PT dependant, so not having them around would certainly be a key driver of reduced patronage. You then have all the sectors of the community which aren't back to normal. Principally tourism, but there are definitely others. There are also offices still working with reduced capacity and floor space, despite government restrictions not requiring it.

I think PT will only return to 90% of demand once all people are vaccinated at the end of 2021 (approx.). Some people are WFH for good.

[verbatim9]

^^How about all those people that have rushed out and bought second hand vehicles? It's a real shame because it's just added to congestion and pollution in our cities. Those people will not be going back to PT anytime soon.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/TransLinkSEQ/status/1348437517750521856