Brisbane commuters face gridlock

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Brisbane commuters face Broncos gridlock

Brisbane commuters face Broncos gridlock
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Ursula Heger

April 03, 2009 12:00am

BRISBANE commuters face another horror ride home after Channel 9 brought forward the Broncos clash so it could be shown primetime in Sydney.

The decision to start tonight's blockbuster rugby league match at Suncorp Stadium at 6.30pm will plunge the city's already fractured peak-hour commute into chaos as up to 50,000 fans grapple for road space with city workers.

But a spokeswoman for Channel 9 said yesterday while traffic problems were considered, it was ultimately a "fantastic opportunity" for both the television station and league teams to have the game broadcast live into both states.

Motorists have been advised to leave work early to avoid the nightmare commute, with road closures around Suncorp Stadium from 4pm set to exacerbate congestion from Clem7 and Hale St link diversions.

Milton Rd and Petrie Tce will be partly closed between 8pm and 9pm, while parts of Caxton St will be closed as early as 4.30pm.

Australian Traffic Network reporter Jayce Barker said game patrons should leave their cars at home, predicting significant delays as traffic tried to avoid the area.

"Avoid (any) private transport whatsoever because this is going to be a nightmare. Take the bus and take an early mark if you drive to work," he said.

"When a game starts at 7.30 we usually see gridlock, so with everyone leaving an hour early for the game it's going to be even worse."

The decision to move the start time forward one hour was made so Sydney's viewers could watch the match live.

Channel 9 program manager Kylie Blucher said yesterday: "Because it is such a huge game we were wanting to make sure it was the number one game across the country in Brisbane and Sydney."

But Brisbane City Council's Deputy Mayor Graham Quirk said the decision to move the game was inconsiderate of the city's traffic needs.

"The earlier start is certainly not going to be helpful to traffic conditions," he said.

[ozbob]

Media Release 3rd  April 2009

SEQ:  Public transport commuters treated with contempt by football scheduling

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport users has called for future Government intervention to ensure that the transport basket case looming this evening due to the early start of the Rugby League Game at the football ground at Milton is not repeated.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"It would appear that for commercial expediency the Rugby League Game normally scheduled for 7.30pm start at Milton has been brought forward to a 6.30pm start.  This is going to cause chaos on our public transport system and roads as weary commuters try to head home after another long week.  It is bad enough when there is a 7.30pm start, how much worse it will be later today?"

"As it is the afternoon /evening peak services on the Ipswich line are overloaded and this move to start the game early will make it unsafe in terms of overloading.  Why should citizens have put up with this rubbish for the sake of television?"

"Can someone please stand up and ensure extra rail services between Bowen Hills and Milton to at least give the Ipswich line commuters a sporting chance?  As far as the roads go, all we can say is good luck to all who have to drive home!"

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Very interesting blog comments at the CM --> http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/comments/0,23836,25280892-3102,00.html

[ozbob]

Radio 612 ABC and 4BC news have followed the release up (above).  Thank you.

There is a simple solution.  Put on shuttles, FV, Central, Roma St, Milton, run them through to Sherwood for turning. Back into Milton, Milton to FV via Exhibition Loop, repeat.  There is the capacity and we manage to fit the Ekka Loopers in no problems during the Exhibition.  The normal commuter services to Ipswich could run non stop through Milton. This would then encourage football patrons to use the specials or perhaps walk.  Other options would be bidirectional running into Milton.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Organisers slammed over Broncos traffic 'hell'

Organisers slammed over Broncos traffic 'hell'
Ellen Lutton
April 3, 2009 - 12:27PM

Queensland's peak motoring body has slammed NRL organisers for a decision to bring tonight's Broncos-Dragons match at Suncorp Stadium forward to 6.30pm, risking peak hour chaos for Brisbane commuters.

RACQ spokesman Gary Fites said the last-minute time swap from 7.30pm to 6.30pm - made to accommodate the Nine Network's prime time Sydney audience - was "irresponsible" and sure to create "absolute nightmare conditions" during the afternoon peak-hour run home.

Police are warning motorists to stay well away from Suncorp Stadium ahead of significant delays, with several roads to be closed before and after the match at the inner-city Milton venue.

The Friday afternoon crush is expected to be compounded by a bumper football crowd - drawn by former broncos coach Wayne Bennett's return to Suncorp - packed public transport and predicted wet weather.

Mr Fites said the State Government should have intervened so that traffic "hell" could have been avoided.

"TV stations will make the call when they need to obviously but the state government, a major stakeholder in Suncorp Stadium, should have more influence in ensuring ridiculous situations like this don't happen," he said.

"In footy speak, someone has really dropped the ball here. Suncorp Stadium is a major epicentre for transport in normal peak hour, let alone when it collides with a huge Broncos game and wet weather. The strain on public transport will be enormous.

"I know we're being told to take alternate routes and avoid these areas but knowing Brisbane's road network like we do, there are going to be thousands of people who will have no choice but to go through the affected areas.

"Besides that, any alternate routes such as the Gateway Motorway are always a complete nightmare anyway. Commuters need to just brace themselves for a massive hit tonight."

Brisbane CBD superintendent Peter Savage said anyone attending the game should only take public transport.

"A large crowd is expected for the game, combined with usual peak-hour traffic and people setting off for a weekend at the coast will mean there could be large delays," he said.

A Translink spokesman said there was no need for commuters to "panic" as extra bus and train services had been put on to cope with the demand.

"This isn't the first time we've catered for crowds this big during peak hour," he said.

"In January this year, the 20-20 match at the Gabba started at 6.30pm and we catered for the crowds on public transport with no problems at all."

Patrons going to the game can catch event shuttle bus services from the CBD, Carindale, Eight Mile Plains, Chermside, Kedron and The Gap, which will start at 4.30pm, two hours before the game?s kick-off.

The shuttle buses will run approximately every five minutes from the city, every 15 minutes from Carindale, Eight Mile Plains, Chermside and The Gap, and every 45 minutes from Kedron.

Shuttle buses will depart from under the Southern Plaza and Given Terrace for one hour after the end of the game.

There will also be additional train services after the event from Milton and Roma Street stations.

Police are asking people to allow plenty of extra time to travel.

"Motorists who get stuck in traffic are being urged to remain patient and drive to the conditions," Superintendent Savage said.

A number of roads will be closed for two and-a-half hours before the game, including: Castlemaine, Chippendall, Finchley, Mayneview, Parkview, and Cordova streets.

Motorists attending the event should also be aware of the 15 minute parking restriction that applies to the Suncorp traffic area on match days.

[ozbob]

TransLink don't seem to understand the impacts on the normal commuter services, particularly before the games is the area they are not addressing.  For years now I have been observing the effects on the normal commuter runs on footy nights and other events.

This can be relieved by use of loop services to transport passengers into Milton from the CBD and from Yeerongpilly, Sherwood.  For footy nights at Milton all Ipswich UP services to run through Milton during the busy pre-game period.  Shuttles/loops to ferry passengers from the CBD and beyond.  This relieves the overload on the Ipswich bound services and provides a way for the masses to get to Milton independent of the basket case on the roads. Buses are often caught up in that too.

For example, start footy specials at Exhibition, FV, Central, Roma St, Milton, express to Yeerongpilly, pax on, reverse, Sherwood, pax on, Milton, Exhibition (pax on, park and ride Ekka as well), through CBD, Milton, repeat. 

[ozbob]

Noted additional staff at Roma St and Milton on the way home.  Mrs Ozbob and myself boarded a heavily loaded 4.38 IPS at Roma St.  Small latent load, train score 5.  Still a 4 at Corinda.

Daughter boarded the 5.34pm IPS at Central.  The train arrived at Central already overloaded on arrival a few minutes late (5+).  There was confusion at Central following an announcement instructing passengers for Suncorp Stadium to NOT BOARD as it was an express train. This caused many passengers to 'panic' at Roma St .... and many got off and a few  passengers who were unable to get off at Roma St subsequently left the train at Milton. 

Which again highlights the need for some local shuttles independent of the Ipswich commuter services.

Inbound trains very full from observations, and many people on the platform at Milton. 

Time this was sorted ....

[ozbob]

More feedback from a commuter heading into town from Toowong, thanks!

I write to you from Toowong station. An announcement has just been played that the 5:35 (now 5mins late) train is full and will be not be collecting passengers. The next train, was also full.

Towards town. 5:35, 5:44 and 5:54 all full.

Shuttles as outlined in post above would be very sensible.

[stephenk]

For example, start footy specials at Exhibition, FV, Central, Roma St, Milton, express to Yeerongpilly, pax on, reverse, Sherwood, pax on, Milton, Exhibition (pax on, park and ride Ekka as well), through CBD, Milton, repeat. 

You're going around the loop in the wrong direction again. That pesky track layout at Bowen Hills means that trains can only reliably run anti-clockwise around the loop - i.e Central, FV, Exhibition.

[ButFli]

I have a big question to ask of Channel 9. Friday night football coverage does not normally start until 8:30pm. A full one hour after the game if it is in the same timezone. A 7:30pm start in Brisbane allows live coverage from 8:30pm in Sydney. Brisbane viewers can watch a one hour delayed telecast starting at 8:30pm. It is outrageous that Brisbanites are allowed to watch a game live from the pub when the stadium goes half empty. Shame Channel 9, shame.

[ozbob]

Yes, slip of the finger, just run the other way ... 

For example, start footy specials Roma St, CBD Exhibition, Milton express to Yeerongpilly, pax on, reverse, Sherwood, pax on, Milton, through CBD pax on,  Exhibition pax on, Milton, repeat.

The value of these projected services is to pick up the heavy load of passengers coming in to the CBD from outer stations (eg. Caboolture/Shorncliffe/FG and southern lines (although many of these pax would walk in from Roma St) and get them off the Ipswich trains.  Also gives extra capacity inbound from Sherwood to Milton.  They would only operate for the pre-game period which clashes with normal peak services (eg. Friday, Thursday or Monday nights, or other weekdays when there might be events at Milton).

After the games/events. Which is off peak there are already extra services in place.

[ozbob]

612 ABC Brisbane -  Radio segments 3rd April 2009 and blog feedback on this issue ...

--> http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2009/04/public-transpor.html

Well you were right, there was chaos at Roma Street Station on Friday night! I usually catch the 608pm train home and it was so overcrowded passengers were told three times by station staff not to get on the trains, they had transit officers next to the doors to try to prevent people from getting on....but get this....three minutes later there was a MILTON ONLY train that came through, it left with 8 people on the entire train....but then guess what...a couple of minutes after that ANOTHER MILTON ONLY train came through...yes I am not kidding.....All the 608pm Toowong and beyond passengers had to wait until 628pm while all the MILTON passengers had three trains to use. There were a few p%ssed  off people on Platform 8 on Friday night. Why did they not tell all the people on the 608pm train that it would be bypassing Milton and that a Milton only train would be pulling into the station in three minutes, giving all the REGULAR AND NOW NOT SO LOYAL QR passengers the opportunity to get home when they planned...

[ozbob]

Media Release 5  April 2009

SEQ:  Citytrain Footy Specials, and other Excursion Services?

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters anticipated serious disruptions to the Ipswich line peak services last Friday due to the early start of rugby league (1).

This disruption occurred. Time now to consider innovation, and perhaps the introduction of 'footy specials' to properly manage the rail public transport needs of football patrons and regular commuters.  Time also to widen the horizon to include new excursion services to help promote public transport.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Feedback to RAIL Back On Track, and our observations has confirmed the significant disruption Ipswich line commuters experienced last Friday in the evening peak (2).  This is not satisfactory, particularly when it was clear that this disruption was looming. A failure of transport planning of this order is no longer acceptable."

"One solution to the problem is to introduce Citytrain 'footy specials'.  Start footy specials at Roma St pax on, CBD, Exhibition, Milton pax off, express to Yeerongpilly, pax on, reverse, Sherwood, pax on, Milton pax off, through CBD pax on, Exhibition pax on, Milton pax off, repeat."

"Due to a lack of crossings which allow trains to change over from the outbound and inbound lines between Milton and Sherwood it would be necessary to run out on the western line from Milton.  In the longer term consideration should be given to putting in crossings between the outbound and inbound lines between Milton and Auchenflower.  This would give a much improved train operation flexibility. These crossings did exist once but were removed when electrification occurred.  Running trains around the Exhibition loop is best done counter-clockwise due to the track layout at Bowen Hills."

"The value of these projected footy specials is to pick up the heavy load of passengers coming in to the CBD from outer stations for example Caboolture/Shorncliffe/Ferny Grove and southern lines (although many of these pax would walk in from Roma St) and get them off the Ipswich trains at peak. Also gives extra capacity inbound from Sherwood to Milton, this would help as commuters were also unable to board inbound trains at stations like Toowong last Friday evening due to overloading. The specials would only operate for the pre-game period which clashes with normal peak services for example, Friday, Thursday or Monday nights, or other weekdays when there might be events at Milton.   When the footy specials operate outbound Ipswich line trains would not stop at Milton."

"The Exhibition Loop line is an under utilised public transport resource. There are also good parking facilities at the RNA."

"Further innovative excursion Citytrain services could also be trialled.  For example, how about Ipswich to Gold Coast Sunday excursions?  This service could pick up all stations from Ipswich to Corinda, then  perhaps Tennyson, Coopers Plains, Beenleigh and then on to the Coast.  A return service from the coast to Ipswich via Tennyson  could be offered late afternoon. Properly promoted, this excursion service could be a big winner."

"Time for change!"

References:

1.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2094.0

2.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2093.0

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ButFli]

I reckon once the Gold Coast line gets to the Airport it will be great for weekend beach trips. It's not very far from the terminals over to the beaches at Coolangatta and Kirra. They would work the light rail into it somehow to give people a lift.

As it is now it's a bit too much to go to the beach by public transport from Brisbane.

[david]

I can see two other solutions to prevent this mess from occurring again...

1 - Better communication by QR Passenger. Passengers for Suncorp Stadium should be forced to get off at Roma Street and walk the fairly short distance to the stadium. Regular announcements should be made on the trains advising passengers to detrain at Roma Street if they are heading to Suncorp. If passengers are too lazy to walk from Roma Street to Suncorp, they should be advised NOT to board the Ipswich trains, but rather, catch the Milton specials that usually run during that time. Currently, QR are advising passengers to board Ipswich bound trains if they want to go to Suncorp. That needs to stop imo.

2 - More Ipswich PM peak trains, in general, would definitely help. Currently, most trains are PACKED and extra services are desperately needed. If more services are added, the peak load would be spread, therefore allowing for extra room for passengers travelling to Suncorp on game days. More express services should be added, as per the two-tier schedule RBoT are continually campaigning for, so that passengers for Milton are forced onto the lighter loading all-stations to Darra services.

[ozbob]

Good points David, thanks.  QR Passenger did have extra staff on the major stations last Friday, most of the announcements were to advise people NOT to get on the overloaded trains ... 

The new points/crossovers between mains and subs between Corinda and Sherwood will be able to provide a turn back too I think.

[ozbob]

Due to the track operation restrictions the probable immediate solution is to try to run extra services through from Northgate to Milton during the pre-game peaks, and DON'T stop the Ipswich line outbound services at Milton. This forces people to walk, or catch the specials. This would involve some pre-positioning of trains north of Brisbane.  As the new trains are being introduced there is a gain in operational reserve.  QR Citytrain has been running at 97% of all trains in use in peak, this has now fallen to 93%.  So slowly, reserve for maintenance and special operational needs is being gained.

Back to the counter current loopers, there are advantages.  Picks up the masses at Fortitude Valley, this would be the change point for the inbound nothern services. Footy punters then to Milton via Exhibition.  The fact that loopers can be maintained for the full Exhibition period suggests strongly that for short periods eg. pre-game events at Milton it is achievable.

In time something has to be done to introduce some crossings between Milton and Auchenflower to facilitate turn back, and at Bowen Hills to make entry and exit from the loop bidirectional and functional.

[ozbob]

Feedback received, thanks.

I have listened to your Friday morning talk on ABC.  Andrew knows nothing about rail.  He talked about traffic and buses and about people walking from Roma Street.  They only do this because of past experiences with overcrowding.  He mentioned that there were about 13 services from Roma Street in the time range for travelling to Milton.  I think some of these were probably express and he has probably never stood on Roma Street platform and looked at the crowded trains at that time of the afternoon.

It turned into a shambles as there were problems on the Cleveland line and they had to delay kick off because so many people were late getting to the ground.

It is about time that they truly had a rail knowledgeable person in Translink who can communicate properly with QR.

[brismike]

On the day in question I left work at about 16.55, went to Fortitude Valley Station and caught the 17.00 Ipswich Train. There were no overcrowding problems, spare seats and only a couple of people standing, the train was on time and everything went fine. Arrived at Darra on time. Must have been lucky I suppose? 

[ButFli]

On the day in question I left work at about 16.55, went to Fortitude Valley Station and caught the 17.00 Ipswich Train. There were no overcrowding problems, spare seats and only a couple of people standing, the train was on time and everything went fine. Arrived at Darra on time. Must have been lucky I suppose? 

Just a little before the shitstorm started by my reckoning.

I had quite a number of patrons complain to me about the disasterous state of the trains on Friday. By all accounts it was ridiculous. I suspect there were a number that decided it wasn't worth it.