10 Oct 2010: Sunshine coast or congestion coast? Please don't miss the train!

[ozbob]

Media release 10 October 2010

Sunshine coast or congestion coast? Please don't miss the train!

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 calls on state and local government to make public transport the first choice on the Sunshine Coast.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The Caloundra South area was declared an Urban Land Development Authority area recently, meaning another 50,000 residents will potentially go into this area. (1) Despite all the talk of public transport, the Sunshine Coast endures 'worst class' train frequencies, and tellingly mode share statistics show that 86% of journeys are by car, with public transport trips an abysmal and microscopic 3.6% (2)."

"The CAMCOS (Caloundra and Maroochydore Corridor Options Study) rail line to Maroochydore and supporting rail improvements needs a firm funding commitment and shovels on the ground."

"New land developments must not turn into low-density, petrol price vulnerable car-dependant urban sprawl where car is the only option, requiring endless motorways and upgrades which lock in all the funds, priorities and land uses. Suburban streets must also facilitate easy public transport access."

"Rail stimulates Transit Oriented Development (TOD) and can break the pattern of low density as people begin to perceive that it is good to live near a rail station. The failure to provide good public transport and leverage on the strong permanency of rail for attracting development is entrenching the self-fulfilling prophecy of low density, long journeys and problems to serve these areas by public transport."

"Rail Back on Track observes that nobody has yet built a transit oriented development (TOD) next to a stacked freeway interchange, tunnel exit or tunnel exhaust flue, and for good reason."

"CAMCOS needs to get under-way and in the mean time, frequencies must be increased on the Sunshine Coast line. Rail Back on Track has always said that services must be frequent, bottom line. Of course, the delayed duplication of the railway line from Beerburrum to Landsborough needs to be resumed immediately."

"There is much development (residential and industrial) along the Sunshine Coast line and the areas it serves. It is time there were some substantial improvements with the rail service between Gympie North, Nambour and Brisbane.  Yandina has lots of room and train stabling there would allow a much better train frequency north and south of Nambour.  It would also allow Nambour rail station to be properly upgraded in conjunction with the development proposed for the old sugar mill site.  More regular services north and south of Nambour are needed now."

"One approach to improve train services would be to add a three car shuttle service between Nambour and Gympie North.  This would be a start. It takes a little over an hour from Gympie North to Nambour.  Add in the inevitable delays to train passes and the like a three hour cycle - Gympie North - Nambour - Gympie North could be achievable.  If the shuttle leaves at times to facilitate connections with the 'thru' services ex Nambour during the day at approximately 9.15am out of Gympie North, 1pm out of Gympie North, and around 5pm out of Gympie North, these times would also connect broadly with terminating Nambour services ex Brisbane.  These shuttles would be additional to the other existing services."

"Constant excuses to try to explain the worlds worst comparable train frequency that distinguishes the south-east Queensland passenger network are wearing thin and are anti-public transport. It as a negligent failure in our opinion to not properly utilise our investment in the public transport for the maximum benefit of the entire community." 

References:

1. State Government to address Sunshine Coast housing affordability crisis
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4588.msg35787#msg35787

2. Draft Connecting SEQ 2031 plan, page 107, sum of vehicle driver (60.8%) and vehicle passenger (25.5%).

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

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[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?board=38.0

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[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily click here!

Commuters tire of ‘worst class'

Commuters tire of ‘worst class'

Bill Hoffman | 13th October 2010

A RAIL users' support group wants an immediate upgrade to services between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, describing what the region has now as “worst class” standard.

Rail Back On Track said the declaration of an Urban Land Development Area at Caloundra South made critical the need for clear funding commitments for both the Caloundra to Maroochydore rail link and the line duplication to Nambour.

Group spokesman Robert Dow said the State Government's push for population growth here demanded “firm funding commitment and shovels on the ground”.

But more immediately he wants rail service frequency to Nambour increased to at least hourly, six carriages instead of three on trains servicing commuters and that all trains from here be Inter-urban with toilets.

Rail Back On Track also wants a linking service from Gympie North to Nambour to connect with Brisbane and for all services to be connected to dedicated bus transport.

The organisation believes there is sufficient railway land at Yandina to make it a stabling centre for trains to deliver the greater level of service. Nambour station would also need to be upgraded to have two platforms.

“An increase in train frequency is required as morning peak hour trains can be very crowded, even the weekend service from Gympie North on a Sunday afternoon is well patronised and usually overloaded by Nambour,'' Mr Dow said.

“A regular and reliable clock-face timetable with hourly or at bare minimum a service every two hours is needed, as is the filling of major service gaps in the timetable.

“The crowded early morning peak services should be upgraded from current short-train three-car to six-car trains, or more trains put on so that more people can catch a service that isn't crowded.''

Mr Dow said the government was creating massive, public transport-poor subdivisions.

“New land developments must not turn into low-density, petrol price vulnerable car-dependent urban sprawl where the car is the only option, requiring endless motorways and upgrades which lock in all the funds, priorities and land uses.

“Suburban streets must also facilitate easy public transport access,'' he said.

“CAMCOS needs to get under way and in the meantime, frequencies must be increased on the Sunshine Coast line.”

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[ozbob]

Recent visit  Cooroy - 1 Oct 10  ==> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4549.0

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[ozbob]

From the Cooroy Rag 3rd November 2010 page 2

Call for more rail services to hinterland

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