TransLink: What would you do?

[#Metro]

What would you do if you were the boss of TransLink?
What changes would you make?

[ozbob]

1. Go to the other end of George St with a cap in hand and request urgent funding for more services, pending the timetable overhaul.  Fix the obvious issues as a sign of good faith.

2. Consult widely with the public transport community.

3. Address all the shortcomings with the go card urgently.

This would then set up some positive momentum that will endear positive change and growth ...

:bi

[Arnz]

1. Go to the other end of George St with a cap in hand and request urgent funding for more services, pending the timetable overhaul.  Fix the obvious issues as a sign of good faith.

I'd also replace some staff with customer-focused staff, especially those in the call centre.  Remove the red-tape staff/extra layer, which is not required.

2. Consult widely with the public transport community.

Bus & Train Timetable consultation with the public in all regions before changing them would help.  They've done that in the first few years TL was formed, however that has dropped off over the past few years.

3. Address all the shortcomings with the go card urgently.

This would then set up some positive momentum that will endear positive change and growth ...

:bi

No doubt.  Off-peak/Weekly options on the Go Card is required, imo.

[somebody]

I think it's obvious that their internal processes and politics are broken.  I think I would be a "new broom", even though I don't think that's generally good management at all.  It shouldn't be the job of the CEO to review or take an interest in individual bus routes or timetable gaps, those below should be able to sort it out.  One thing I would do is stop the secrecy.  That's something that a CEO could do.

[somebody]

1. Go to the other end of George St with a cap in hand and request urgent funding for more services,

In fact, shouldn't this be unnecessary given the fare increases?  I don't know why the Feb 22 changes weren't synchronised with the increases.

[Nightwriter]

1. Go to the other end of George St with a cap in hand and request urgent funding for more services,

In fact, shouldn't this be unnecessary given the fare increases?  I don't know why the Feb 22 changes weren't synchronised with the increases.

Actually, I was going to ask the same question.  If not for substantial service increases, then where is the money going?!?!?!?!

[stephenk]

1. Go to the other end of George St with a cap in hand and request urgent funding for more services,

In fact, shouldn't this be unnecessary given the fare increases?  I don't know why the Feb 22 changes weren't synchronised with the increases.

Actually, I was going to ask the same question.  If not for substantial service increases, then where is the money going?!?!?!?!

Getting the state out of debt!

[somebody]

Actually, I was going to ask the same question.  If not for substantial service increases, then where is the money going?!?!?!?!

Getting the state out of debt!

Which is breaking their promise to spend every cent of the extra revenue on new services.

[Golliwog]

Infallible logic?

Actually, I was going to ask the same question.  If not for substantial service increases, then where is the money going?!?!?!?!

Getting the state out of debt!

Which is breaking their promise to spend every cent of the extra revenue on new services.

EDIT: Forgot to put the quote in. My bad.

But really, who knows what they are actually using it for, I don't know of anything new thats drastically different from what was gonig on before the fare increases. But of course they wont let us know with out us first jumping through all the hoops of applying via post aand answering all the silly little questions.

[Jon Bryant]

1. Establish the gross cost benefit to the Government from each passenger who travels by public transport and active transport, deduct the fares received and demand the rest as budget.  The budget grows with each additional passenger who travels.
2.  Demand that sustainable mode splits be identified in all planning and development applications so that the minimum motor vehicle usage is planned.
2a. Tell George Street to leave my organisation alone 
3. Identify KPIs across the organsation and share the benefits from growth.
4. Employee a marketing and customer relationship guru.
4a. Consult, consult and consult some more.
4b advertise the benefits of PT and the true cost of driving to individuals and society as a whole.
4c Bus lanes down every major road
5. Review the future direction of Go Card
6. Publish real time bus, train and ferry movements
7. Run the major busway station like railway stations with announcements and gates
8. Announce a TOD scheme for interested parties in developing TODs at all railway stations and busway stations.
9. 

[somebody]

Infallible logic?

WTF?  What are you refering to?

Jonno, one problem with what you are suggesting is that the public purse pays for a large part of PT, but a smaller proportion of car transport.  Yes, I know roads and road trauma cost, but I think that is an issue with PT from the Government's point of view.

I would propose significant fare increases for peak time and long distrance travel, while keeping off peak fares low.  After all, aren't the extra tracks which we only need for peak time very expensive?

[#Metro]

Saw a few peak hour Gold Coast trains today. Looks like the peak congestion has eased.
But I thought "that is a long long way to travel".

The Gold Coast is 80km or so away. In a day, those commuters travel 160km.
52 weeks x 5 work days x 160km per day = 41 600 km in a year.

In a year, Gold Coast commuters travel at least once around the Earth at its widest point (the circumference of the Earth is 40 000km).

The Gold Coast should get its own CBD.
Ipswich should get a big business CBD.
Sunshine Coast should get a big business CBD

* TODs built around TL stations (for a fee of course!) and
* More frequent services.
* GoCard would be sold at Coles, Woolworths and IGA, and put more trains would be put on.
* Nightlink no-pickup rules would be abolished
* Bikes would be allowed on trains, bike hooks would be installed and bikes allowed at any and all times
* Cafes or portable coffee booths would be open at busy inner city stations bus and rail (again for a fee), newspapers available for the morning commute for a fee at the station. TL would get a small % commission.
* Eating on trains, buses and ferries would be decriminalised.
* GoCard would be extended to pay for taxis, coffee and bike hire. TL could get % commission for the taxi and coffee bit.
* Stations (bus and train) would progressively become gated (save money on hiring roving guards)
* TramTracker style SMS system (again for a fee if premium text, free over internet)
* Strengthen 3G signal along rail line & publicise
* Go through all the bus routes and consolidate them- fewer but more frequent routes, fill in gaps or at least pencil in proposed services
* Fix that Serco call centre voice activatel 13 12 30 number

I think some of the problems TL faces is that it does not have powers easily. If TL wants bus lanes it has to discuss with the BCC, this takes time, BCC needs to make a decision. Same with developing TODs, TL has little incentive to develop TODs as it has to talk with both the BCC and State Government. Same with getting new bus routes etc. If TL wants to change rail timetables it has to talk to QR ... you begin to get the picture. A lot of time must be spent just talking, meetings, official paperworks, getting permissions...

Overall I think TL is doing a good job. I'm sure it has a lot of red tape and discussions to deal with already.

[somebody]

TT, a fair bit of that is outside the scope of what the CEO of TL can do.

[#Metro]

TT, a fair bit of that is outside the scope of what the CEO of TL can do.

Somebody, I think you hit the nail on the head! TL is restrained in its powers.

[cartel_brisbane]

What would you do if you were the boss of TransLink?
What changes would you make?

Burn down the office for the insurance money. But seriously though...

GoCard would be extended to pay for taxis, coffee and bike hire. TL could get % commission for the taxi and coffee bit.

I think it should have been implemented for the toll motorways/tunnels/bridges. Don't agree though on taxi or coffee, unless QR starts up its on taxi service.

Eating on trains, buses and ferries would be decriminalised.

No, no, no. That just encourages the grubs and lazy sods out there to dump and soil the trains with their waste and rubbish.

newspapers available for the morning commute for a fee at the station

A number of stations have small shops that open during the morning peak (Corinda, Bowen Hills to name two I think of off hand) that sell papers, magazines etc. Coffee carts are a good idea, as long as people don't take them on the trains and then dump the rubbish in the carriages.

[somebody]

Eating on trains, buses and ferries would be decriminalised.

No, no, no. That just encourages the grubs and lazy sods out there to dump and soil the trains with their waste and rubbish.

I don't understand why you and others are so against this.  In other jurisdictions that allow it, it doesn't really cause any problems.

[#Metro]

No, no, no. That just encourages the grubs and lazy sods out there to dump and soil the trains with their waste and rubbish.

There is a fine, subtle difference between eating and drinking on trains, and leaving rubbish and mess behind.
Eating or drinking on a train does not automatically lead to a big mess left behind.
You can allow eating and drinking AND continue to ban/fine leaving rubbish behind.
Its the "leaving rubbish behind" part that is the problem not the action of eating and drinking itself.

Eating and drinking in the Queen Street Mall is not banned, but leaving rubbish and mess behind is.
You'll Cop $150 fine for that.

Ban the problem not the action.

[somebody]

Infallible logic?

Actually, I was going to ask the same question.  If not for substantial service increases, then where is the money going?!?!?!?!

Getting the state out of debt!

Which is breaking their promise to spend every cent of the extra revenue on new services.

EDIT: Forgot to put the quote in. My bad.

But really, who knows what they are actually using it for, I don't know of anything new thats drastically different from what was gonig on before the fare increases. But of course they wont let us know with out us first jumping through all the hoops of applying via post aand answering all the silly little questions.

I was tempted to just say something unpleasant to that one, but answer me this then: If they promised to spend all the money on new services and don't, how aren't they breaking their promise?

[#Metro]

Singapore: Buses, Trains, Light Rail... and Taxis.

Its all under one organization.
Doing this means that there is an incentive to make sure that the bus, rail and taxi services all integrate.

More about SMRT:
http://www.smrt.com.sg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMRT_Corporation

Yes it would be a bit odd to see a "QR Taxi" driving around.
Ive seen a few QR buses though.

[Arnz]

Ive seen a few QR buses though.

Those "QR Buses" are not really owned directly by QR either. 

The buses painted in "QR railbus" livery are owned by Kangaroo Bus Lines, which operate the Route 649: Caboolture-Nambour off-peak railbus service.

[cartel_brisbane]

Its the "leaving rubbish behind" part that is the problem not the action of eating and drinking itself.

The fact remains that it is the direct cause, there is a correlation between the two. Ok, a majority of people might try and do the right thing, but there will be many who just "dump and leave". The example of the MX mess every afternoon/evening is a fine example of what happens in this throw away society.

You can allow eating and drinking AND continue to ban/fine leaving rubbish behind.

But you nip it in the bud before there is any way or reason to drop litter and rubbish. Solved the issue before it became a problem.

[longboi]

The fact remains that it is the direct cause, there is a correlation between the two. Ok, a majority of people might try and do the right thing, but there will be many who just "dump and leave". The example of the MX mess every afternoon/evening is a fine example of what happens in this throw away society.

I ask anyone who is advocating food and drink on trains to spend an entire run on any old service in peak (Say, Caboolture-Ipswich) to watch how quickly the carriages fill with garbage. You could counter this by hiring staff to clean units at each terminus but this is a transport company, not a restaurant! The costs incurred far outweigh what are essentially negligible benefits.

[somebody]

The fact remains that it is the direct cause, there is a correlation between the two. Ok, a majority of people might try and do the right thing, but there will be many who just "dump and leave". The example of the MX mess every afternoon/evening is a fine example of what happens in this throw away society.

I ask anyone who is advocating food and drink on trains to spend an entire run on any old service in peak (Say, Caboolture-Ipswich) to watch how quickly the carriages fill with garbage. You could counter this by hiring staff to clean units at each terminus but this is a transport company, not a restaurant! The costs incurred far outweigh what are essentially negligible benefits.

So you are saying that there is already plenty of garbage generated?  I'd say that while the benefits aren't much, it is a negligible cost to have the cleaner spend 21 minutes cleaning the train rather than 20 minutes.

[longboi]

The fact remains that it is the direct cause, there is a correlation between the two. Ok, a majority of people might try and do the right thing, but there will be many who just "dump and leave". The example of the MX mess every afternoon/evening is a fine example of what happens in this throw away society.

I ask anyone who is advocating food and drink on trains to spend an entire run on any old service in peak (Say, Caboolture-Ipswich) to watch how quickly the carriages fill with garbage. You could counter this by hiring staff to clean units at each terminus but this is a transport company, not a restaurant! The costs incurred far outweigh what are essentially negligible benefits.

So you are saying that there is already plenty of garbage generated?  I'd say that while the benefits aren't much, it is a negligible cost to have the cleaner spend 21 minutes cleaning the train rather than 20 minutes.

Yes and if you removed the no eating and drinking policy it would worsen ten-fold.

Its not a negligible cost when we don't have cleaners working at every terminus from first train until last. That in itself would be very expensive to implement - Station staff could do it but then who provides the customer service?

[#Metro]

Melbourne trains are hardly an example of food and drink chaos. They were fine when I used them.
What other places allow food and drink on trains? Sydney allows it too:

Trains: Consumption of food and drink, excluding alcohol, is permitted on CityRail services providing all rubbish is taken with you or disposed of in bins provided (bin on intercity services only). CountryLink passengers over 18 may purchase and consume alcohol onboard but, under the Liquor Licencing Act, cannot consume alcohol purchased elsewhere. Please consider your fellow passengers and abide by this health and safety requirement.

http://www.131500.com.au/faqs/faq_belongings.asp#a17b

Eating and drinking on a train should not be a crime.
Taking your bicycle on the train at peak hour should not be a crime either.

The service needs to change to meet the needs of its people.
How hard is it to put a bin at the station?

[longboi]

Melbourne trains are hardly an example of food and drink chaos. They were fine when I used them.
What other places allow food and drink on trains? Sydney allows it too:

Trains: Consumption of food and drink, excluding alcohol, is permitted on CityRail services providing all rubbish is taken with you or disposed of in bins provided (bin on intercity services only). CountryLink passengers over 18 may purchase and consume alcohol onboard but, under the Liquor Licencing Act, cannot consume alcohol purchased elsewhere. Please consider your fellow passengers and abide by this health and safety requirement.

http://www.131500.com.au/faqs/faq_belongings.asp#a17b

Eating and drinking on a train should not be a crime.
Taking your bicycle on the train at peak hour should not be a crime either.

The service needs to change to meet the needs of its people.
How hard is it to put a bin at the station?

Still not convinced. I'll give you an example - When I worked at Park Road there were bins every 5 metres or so along each platform. On a daily basis people within arms reach of bins would opt to throw their rubbish on the tracks on just onto the platform.
I'm sorry but hiring people to cleaning up after filthy sh%ts so you can sip a coffee on the train is a colossal waste of money.

And FYI - littering and taking bikes on trains in peak aren't crimes

[somebody]

Still not convinced. I'll give you an example - When I worked at Park Road there were bins every 5 metres or so along each platform. On a daily basis people within arms reach of bins would opt to throw their rubbish on the tracks on just onto the platform.
I'm sorry but hiring people to cleaning up after filthy sh%ts so you can sip a coffee on the train is a colossal waste of money.

So, Brisbanites are too bogan to clean up after themselves so therefore can't be trusted to eat on trains?

Shame.  Shame.  Where's Derryn Hinch?  That's as good as the aspect where drivers try to not give way to pedestrians on footpaths.