Ministerial Statement: Records tumble on public transport network

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan
05/08/2009

Records tumble on public transport network

More and more people are making the switch to public transport every day, boosting patronage on the TransLink network to record levels, Transport Minister Rachel Nolan announced yesterday.

Ms Nolan said a staggering 181.9 million trips were made on buses, trains and ferries across TransLink's south east Queensland public transport network in the 2008/09 financial year.

"The records are tumbling - record patronage, record funding and record capacity," Ms Nolan said.

"We didn't just beat the records in the past financial year, we smashed them - we have now seen record patronage on the TransLink network for five consecutive years.

"This is an additional 12.5 million trips or a 7.4 per cent increase on last year's total.

"In tough economic times, the Bligh Government committed an unprecedented $1.2 billion budget for such services in the current financial year to go with the record $3.6 million capital spend on public transport infrastructure.

"There are now almost 50 per cent more public transport trips made than when this government made a commitment in 2004 to the people of south east Queensland to provide them with an integrated public transport network."

Ms Nolan said as increasing numbers of passengers caught trains, buses and ferries, obvious benefits such as reduced congestion and a cleaner, greener environment would flow.

"This year's growth included 8.6 per cent for buses, 5.2 per cent for rail and 4.8 per cent for ferries," she said.

"Of course, this also places more pressure on the network but we have met that demand by boosting services to allow capacity for an additional 14.5 million trips across the TransLink network which is an incredible achievement in itself.

"Rail trips were boosted by an increase of eight new train services - a reflection of our commitment to building new rollingstock - and this investment led to a decrease in train crowding during peak periods from 43 per cent to 33 per cent in the past 12 months."

Ms Nolan said buses carried the majority of passengers with 114.3 million trips while 61 million passenger trips were recorded on trains and 6.6 million trips on ferries.

"More than 74 million bus trips were catered for following an additional $18 million worth of new service enhancements such as those rolled out across Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, Logan, Bayside, Bribie Island and Caboolture.

Ms Nolan said the popularity of go card was increasing hand-in-hand with the uptake in public transport patronage.

"As the 400,000th go card was sold yesterday, we see that almost one-third of all public transport trips are now taken using the card, growing to almost 50 per cent during peak times," Ms Nolan said.

"The go card makes travelling by public transport more efficient, with passengers no longer needing to find change or spend precious time queuing for tickets.

"go cards account for more than one million passenger trips most weeks, with more than 40 million trips made and about $100 million in value loaded on to go cards since the system began little more than 18 months ago."

Ms Nolan said the recent go card education and awareness campaign, familiarising the public with the card and its benefits, had boosted go card take-up.

"The go card system is also delivering data that helps us monitor the network's performance and make any adjustments necessary to ensure it continues to deliver fast, frequent and reliable public transport services for South East Queensland," Ms Nolan said.

Passengers can buy or top-up their go cards at more than 200 locations across South East Queensland, online at www.translink.com.au or by phoning 13 12 30, 24.

==============================================================

[#Metro]

I think this is a specific trend to Queensland. Other capital's PT is increasing, but I doubt as they are increasing as quickly as ours are.

I saw a set of statistics somewhere- PT vs Time. Somewhere about 2004, PT really took off from years of flat-lines. I think integrated ticketing was the key- different modes weren't competing with each other, but working together in one big network.

All the more reason why the ticketing issues should be sorted out.

Edit: Actually, some other records have been tumbling too (i.e. getting worse)... think about it: Bus and train overloading, faults, number of hours waiting on the phone to translink listening to their huge 'privacy' trailer. Voice activation that isn't suitable near noisy trains/buses when they could have simple number menus like the bank, and in multiple languages... two sides to every media release!

[Derwan]

All the more reason why the ticketing issues should be sorted out.

Too true!  With the introduction of integrated ticketing, regular PT users could jump on a bus or ferry close to the city with no additional cost to their weekly ticket.

The Go Card has been a step backwards - with the quick trip close to the city no longer included in the price of a weekly ticket.

Fortunately people have their weekly tickets to fall back on - otherwise I think the increase in patronage wouldn't be as sharp.

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan

Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Records tumble on western public transport network

More and more people in the Ipswich region are making the switch to public transport every day, boosting patronage on the TransLink network to record levels, Transport Minister Rachel Nolan announced yesterday.

Ms Nolan said a record 1.98 million bus trips were made in the 2008/09 financial year across TransLink?s western region, which includes areas such as Ipswich, Dinmore, Goodna and Springfield.

?This is a growth of 10.7 per cent or 191,318 more passenger trips than the previous financial year,? Ms Nolan said.

?Rail patronage had a slight rise during this period, following strong growth in previous years.?

Ms Nolan said a staggering 181.9 million trips were made on buses, trains and ferries across TransLink?s south east Queensland public transport network in the 2008/09 financial year.

?The records are tumbling ? record patronage, record funding and record capacity,? Ms Nolan said.

?We didn?t just beat the records in the past financial year, we smashed them ? we have now seen record patronage on the TransLink network for five consecutive years.

?This is an additional 12.5 million trips or a 7.4 per cent increase on last year?s total.

Local member for Inala, Annastascia Palaszczuk welcomed the of increase public transport news in the Inala and Springfield area.

?In tough economic times, the Bligh Government committed an unprecedented $1.2 billion budget for such services in the current financial year to go with the record $3.6 million capital spend on public transport infrastructure,? Ms Palaszczuk said.

?There are now almost 50 per cent more public transport trips made than when this government made a commitment in 2004 to the people of south east Queensland to provide them with an integrated public transport network.?

Ms Nolan said as increasing numbers of passengers caught trains, buses and ferries, obvious benefits such as reduced congestion and a cleaner, greener environment would flow.

?This year?s growth included 8.6 per cent for buses, 5.2 per cent for rail and 4.8 per cent for ferries,? she said.

?Of course, this also places more pressure on the network but we have met that demand by boosting services to allow capacity for an additional 14.5 million trips across the TransLink network which is an incredible achievement in itself.

?Rail trips were boosted by an increase of eight new train services ? a reflection of our commitment to building new rollingstock - and this investment led to a decrease in train crowding during peak periods from 43 per cent to 33 per cent in the past 12 months.?

Ms Nolan said buses carried the majority of passengers with 114.3 million trips while 61 million passenger trips were recorded on trains and 6.6 million trips on ferries.

?More than 74 million bus trips were catered for following an additional $18 million worth of new service enhancements such as those rolled out across Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, Logan, Bayside, Bribie Island and Caboolture.

Ms Nolan said the popularity of go card was increasing hand-in-hand with the uptake in public transport patronage.

?As the 400,000th go card was sold yesterday, we see that almost one-third of all public transport trips are now taken using the card, growing to almost 50 per cent during peak times,? Ms Nolan said.

?The go card makes travelling by public transport more efficient, with passengers no longer needing to find change or spend precious time queuing for tickets.

?go cards account for more than one million passenger trips most weeks, with more than 40 million trips made and about $100 million in value loaded on to go cards since the system began little more than 18 months ago.?

Ms Nolan said the recent go card education and awareness campaign, familiarising the public with the card and its benefits, had boosted go card take-up.

?The go card system is also delivering data that helps us monitor the network?s performance and make any adjustments necessary to ensure it continues to deliver fast, frequent and reliable public transport services for South East Queensland,? Ms Nolan said.

Passengers can buy or top-up their go cards at more than 200 locations across South East Queensland, online at www.translink.com.au or by phoning 13 12 30, 24.

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan

Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Records tumble on southern public transport network

More and more people in the Logan and Beenleigh regions are making the switch to public transport every day, boosting patronage on the TransLink network to record levels, Transport Minister Rachel Nolan announced yesterday.

Ms Nolan said a record 6.86 million bus trips were made in the 2008/09 financial year across TransLink?s southern region, which includes areas such as Logan, Beenleigh, Eight Mile Plains and Kuraby.

?This is a growth of 19.1 per cent or 1.1 million more passenger trips than the previous financial year,? Ms Nolan said.

?Rail patronage has also grown strongly, with an increase of approximately 6.3 per cent during the afternoon peak between Moorooka and Beenleigh stations.

?This growth in bus services comes on the back of the introduction of an additional $1.5m package of service improvements which took effect in April 2009, providing 151 new and additional TransLink bus services each week and nine new air-conditioned buses for the Logan region.?

Ms Nolan said a staggering 181.9 million trips were made on buses, trains and ferries across TransLink?s south east Queensland public transport network in the 2008/09 financial year.

?The records are tumbling ? record patronage, record funding and record capacity,? Ms Nolan said.

?We didn?t just beat the records in the past financial year, we smashed them ? we have now seen record patronage on the TransLink network for five consecutive years.

?This is an additional 12.5 million trips or a 7.4 per cent increase on last year?s total.

Local Member for Waterford Evan Moorhead welcomed the news of increased public transport in the Logan and Beenleigh area.

?In tough economic times, the Bligh Government committed an unprecedented $1.2 billion budget for such services to go with the record $3.6 million capital spend on public transport infrastructure,? Mr Moorhead said.

?There are now almost 50 per cent more public transport trips made than when this government made a commitment in 2004 to the people of south east Queensland to provide them with an integrated public transport network.?

Ms Nolan said as increasing numbers of passengers caught trains, buses and ferries, obvious benefits such as reduced congestion and a cleaner, greener environment would flow.

?This year?s growth included 8.6 per cent for buses, 5.2 per cent for rail and 4.8 per cent for ferries,? she said.

?Of course, this also places more pressure on the network but we have met that demand by boosting services to allow capacity for an additional 14.5 million trips across the TransLink network which is an incredible achievement in itself.

?Rail trips were boosted by an increase of eight new train services ? a reflection of our commitment to building new rollingstock - and this investment led to a decrease in train crowding during peak periods from 43 per cent to 33 per cent in the past 12 months.?

Ms Nolan said buses carried the majority of passengers with 114.3 million trips while 61 million passenger trips were recorded on trains and 6.6 million trips on ferries.

?More than 74 million bus trips were catered for following an additional $18 million worth of new service enhancements such as those rolled out across Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, Logan, Bayside, Bribie Island and Caboolture.

Ms Nolan said the popularity of go card was increasing hand-in-hand with the uptake in public transport patronage.

?As the 400,000th go card was sold yesterday, we see that almost one-third of all public transport trips are now taken using the card, growing to almost 50 per cent during peak times,? Ms Nolan said.

?The go card makes travelling by public transport more efficient, with passengers no longer needing to find change or spend precious time queuing for tickets.

?go cards account for more than one million passenger trips most weeks, with more than 40 million trips made and about $100 million in value loaded on to go cards since the system began little more than 18 months ago.?

Ms Nolan said the recent go card education and awareness campaign, familiarising the public with the card and its benefits, had boosted go card take-up.

?The go card system is also delivering data that helps us monitor the network?s performance and make any adjustments necessary to ensure it continues to deliver fast, frequent and reliable public transport services for South East Queensland,? Ms Nolan said.

Passengers can buy or top-up their go cards at more than 200 locations across South East Queensland, online at www.translink.com.au or by phoning 13 12 30, 24.

[ozbob]

 Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan

Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Records tumble on Sunshine Coast public transport network

More and more people in the Sunshine Coast region are making the switch to public transport every day, boosting patronage on the TransLink network to record levels, Transport Minister Rachel Nolan announced yesterday.

Ms Nolan said a record 5.83 million bus trips were made in the 2008/09 financial year across TransLink?s Sunshine Coast region, which includes Caloundra, Sippy Downs, Kawana, Maroochydore, Coolum, Noosa, Nambour and the hinterland.

?This is a growth of 8.2 per cent or 441,568 more trips compared to the previous financial year,? Ms Nolan said.

?Rail patronage has also grown strongly, with an increase of 16.7 per cent during the morning peak and 6.9 per cent during afternoon peak between Nambour and Elimbah stations.?

Ms Nolan said a staggering 181.9 million trips were made on buses, trains and ferries across TransLink?s south east Queensland public transport network in the 2008/09 financial year.

?The records are tumbling ? record patronage, record funding and record capacity,? Ms Nolan said.

?We didn?t just beat the records in the past financial year, we smashed them ? we have now seen record patronage on the TransLink network for five consecutive years.

?This is an additional 12.5 million trips or a 7.4 per cent increase on last year?s total.

?In tough economic times, the Bligh Government committed an unprecedented $1.2 billion budget for such services in the current financial year to go with the record $3.6 million capital spend on public transport infrastructure.

?There are now almost 50 per cent more public transport trips made than when this government made a commitment in 2004 to the people of south east Queensland to provide them with an integrated public transport network.?

Ms Nolan said as increasing numbers of passengers caught trains, buses and ferries, obvious benefits such as reduced congestion and a cleaner, greener environment would flow.

?This year?s growth included 8.6 per cent for buses, 5.2 per cent for rail and 4.8 per cent for ferries,? she said.

?Of course, this also places more pressure on the network but we have met that demand by boosting services to allow capacity for an additional 14.5 million trips across the TransLink network which is an incredible achievement in itself.

?Rail trips were boosted by an increase of eight new train services ? a reflection of our commitment to building new rollingstock - and this investment led to a decrease in train crowding during peak periods from 43 per cent to 33 per cent in the past 12 months.?

Ms Nolan said buses carried the majority of passengers with 114.3 million trips while 61 million passenger trips were recorded on trains and 6.6 million trips on ferries.

?More than 74 million bus trips were catered for following an additional $18 million worth of new service enhancements such as those rolled out across Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, Logan, Bayside, Bribie Island and Caboolture.

Ms Nolan said the popularity of go card was increasing hand-in-hand with the uptake in public transport patronage.

?As the 400,000th go card was sold yesterday, we see that almost one-third of all public transport trips are now taken using the card, growing to almost 50 per cent during peak times,? Ms Nolan said.

?The go card makes travelling by public transport more efficient, with passengers no longer needing to find change or spend precious time queuing for tickets.

?go cards account for more than one million passenger trips most weeks, with more than 40 million trips made and about $100 million in value loaded on to go cards since the system began little more than 18 months ago.?

Ms Nolan said the recent go card education and awareness campaign, familiarising the public with the card and its benefits, had boosted go card take-up.

?The go card system is also delivering data that helps us monitor the network?s performance and make any adjustments necessary to ensure it continues to deliver fast, frequent and reliable public transport services for South East Queensland,? Ms Nolan said.

Passengers can buy or top-up their go cards at more than 200 locations across South East Queensland, online at www.translink.com.au or by phoning 13 12 30, 24.

[ozbob]

 Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan

Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Records tumble on Gold Coast public transport network

More and more people across the Gold Coast are making the switch to public transport every day, boosting patronage on the TransLink network to record levels, Transport Minister Rachel Nolan announced yesterday.

Ms Nolan said a record 16.6 million bus trips were made in the 2008/09 financial year across TransLink?s Gold Coast region, which includes areas such as Coomera, Southport, Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Robina and Coolangatta.

?This is growth of almost one per cent or 145,215 more passenger trips compared to the previous financial year,? Ms Nolan said.

?Rail patronage has also grown strongly with an increase of 15 per cent during the morning peak and almost 20 percent in afternoon peak between Robina and Ormeau stations.?

Ms Nolan said a staggering 181.9 million trips were made on buses, trains and ferries across TransLink?s south east Queensland public transport network in the 2008/09 financial year.

?The records are tumbling ? record patronage, record funding and record capacity,? Ms Nolan said.

?We didn?t just beat the records in the past financial year, we smashed them ? we have now seen record patronage on the TransLink network for five consecutive years.

?This is an additional 12.5 million trips or a 7.4 per cent increase on last year?s total.

Local Member for Broadwater Peta-Kaye Croft welcomed the news of increase public transport news in the Gold Coast and Broadbeach area.

?In tough economic times, the Bligh Government committed an unprecedented $1.2 billion budget for such services with the record $3.6 million capital spend on public transport infrastructure,? Ms Croft said

?There are now almost 50 per cent more public transport trips made than when this government made a commitment in 2004 to the people of south east Queensland to provide them with an integrated public transport network.?

Ms Nolan said as increasing numbers of passengers caught trains, buses and ferries, obvious benefits such as reduced congestion and a cleaner, greener environment would flow.

?This year?s growth included 8.6 per cent for buses, 5.2 per cent for rail and 4.8 per cent for ferries,? she said.

?Of course, this also places more pressure on the network but we have met that demand by boosting services to allow capacity for an additional 14.5 million trips across the TransLink network which is an incredible achievement in itself.

?Rail trips were boosted by an increase of eight new train services ? a reflection of our commitment to building new rollingstock - and this investment led to a decrease in train crowding during peak periods from 43 per cent to 33 per cent in the past 12 months.?

Ms Nolan said buses carried the majority of passengers with 114.3 million trips while 61 million passenger trips were recorded on trains and 6.6 million trips on ferries.

?More than 74 million bus trips were catered for following an additional $18 million worth of new service enhancements such as those rolled out across Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, Logan, Bayside, Bribie Island and Caboolture.

Ms Nolan said the popularity of go card was increasing hand-in-hand with the uptake in public transport patronage.

?As the 400,000th go card was sold yesterday, we see that almost one-third of all public transport trips are now taken using the card, growing to almost 50 per cent during peak times,? Ms Nolan said.

?The go card makes travelling by public transport more efficient, with passengers no longer needing to find change or spend precious time queuing for tickets.

?go cards account for more than one million passenger trips most weeks, with more than 40 million trips made and about $100 million in value loaded on to go cards since the system began little more than 18 months ago.?

Ms Nolan said the recent go card education and awareness campaign, familiarising the public with the card and its benefits, had boosted go card take-up.

?The go card system is also delivering data that helps us monitor the network?s performance and make any adjustments necessary to ensure it continues to deliver fast, frequent and reliable public transport services for South East Queensland,? Ms Nolan said.

Passengers can buy or top-up their go cards at more than 200 locations across South East Queensland, online at www.translink.com.au or by phoning 13 12 30, 24.

Media contact: 07 3237 1111

[ozbob]

Media Release 6 August 2009

SEQ:  Public transport powers on!

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 welcomed the statement from the Minister for Transport highlighting the sustained increases in patronage across all modes of our public transport network (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Public transport is cost effective.  The reduction in congestion costs, environmental impacts and reduced expenditure for our over burdened health system far outweighs the cost of subsidies.  Public transport is safe relative to the basket case on our roads.  Public transport users are healthier, active transport at the beginning and end of journey pays off!  We should be doing our utmost in encouraging maximum utilisation of our public transport assets."

"RAIL Back On Track thanks and congratulates TransLink and all our public transport operators who keep the system functioning 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The community is grateful."

"It is significant that the 400,000 go card has been issued, but frankly a lot more can be done to encourage uptake of the go card.  The major problem with the go card is the fare structure.  For many it is simply not competitive with the paper integrated ticketing.  To gain the maximum value of our investment in the go card system a fare structure that beats the paper integrated ticketing is needed.  This will drive further uptake and gains in public transport efficiency."

"There are other ticketing initiatives that can be implemented.  Capping and early, late and off peak incentive fares for the go card would assist in congestion management.  Other states have significant concessions for Seniors and Families.  Queensland is lagging badly in these positive approaches. Public transport in south-east Queensland has some slack on weekends, and it will be no additional load for our public transport generally to make better ticketing concessions available.  It will assist families and senior citizens to get out and about, visit family and friends, and have more healthy life styles. It will assist them in this time of financial stress (2)."

"Congestion and overloading on the busways at peaks suggests were are approaching a capacity restraint on that mode.  We have a lot of reserve capacity on our Citytrain network.  Rail expansion will the be next significant phase of our public transport network evolution.  We also have rail assets that are underutilised.  As will be demonstrated in the forthcoming week or so the Exhibition loop line is one way of increasing in an innovative way services through the CBD.  Regular Exhibition loop rail services with a re-creation of a railway station at Normanby is smart! (3).  It will also assist in relieving the bus congestion and overloading between Herston and the CBD."

"All major cities of the world are undergoing a transport revolution.  Brisbane is no different. These days are exciting transport times!"

References:

1.  http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=65565

2.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2555.0

3.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=175.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[Derwan]

Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan

Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Records tumble on western public transport network

?Rail patronage had a slight rise during this period, following strong growth in previous years.?

That's because no one else can fit on the trains!   

[mufreight]

There might have been 400.000 Go Cards issued but how many are actually in use?
Due to the continuing malfunctions of the system and its user unfriendly manner of operation many who have cards simply do not use them.
Translink should be able to provide a figure on the number of cards that are currently active i.e. have actually been used over the last 4 weeks.
That would be a far more relevant figure.

[dwb]

I reckon PT usage is a bit like the number of people who might cross a river at one particular point.... massively suppressed by inadequate services or infrastructure.

Just think about a river (Brisbane if you will)... how many people will cross at a particular point if they have to canoe, or all of a sudden there is a cross river ferry, or a bridge...

The reason cars are so popular is because they address people's latent demands... PT does not!