Article: Lazy leaders make trains a cash drain

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail 24 November 2010 page 27

Lazy leaders make trains a cash drain

[Stillwater]

 Proponents of an inter-capital Very Fast Train for Australia will require a 'partnership model' with governments, whatever form that takes.  For instance, the private sector would need to rely on the compulsory resumption powers of governments to resume the land for the rail corridor.  To keep costs down, the private operator may not even want to own the land, just lease it at peppercorn rent, or maybe require governments to build the track infrastructure the same way as the government builds roads. And they may demand some sort of development rights for parts of the corridor, maybe even the opportunity to buy up land at farm prices and use it to build residential or industrial estates, maybe even a new town or two along the corridor where new stations could be built.  Or, they could demand a 'betterment tax' -- a portion of the rising value of land in towns that grow and benefit from the fast transport opportunities that a Very Fast Train affords.  The betterment tax could be charged by councils and handed to the private rail operator.  I am surprised that, while the Greens support a VFT, they remain silent about the fact that a fast train corridor, for safety reasons, would need to be fenced (no cow catchers on a fast train), effectively creating another dingo or rabbit-proof fence.  Imagine severing animal habitats with a fence that would isolate pockets of endangered species?  There is lots to consider in looking at a VFT, not just the straight passenger numbers and fare pegging.

[Jonno]

Our leaders have also, under the guise of 'good' planning, artificially limited the amount of patronage that public transport carries (because demand is just not there) through lack of services and an over supply of competition (aka freeways and motorways).

[#Metro]

There is a valid point here. The cost recovery is low because OFF PEAK and WEEKEND patronage is not there.
And why is it not there?

1. Low bus and rail frequency
2. Direct-one seat journey mantra which gives passengers a direct trip, but at the expense of higher all day frequency. Poor low-frequency bus-rail connections
3. Competing motorway investments reversing PT project benefits. (does it make sense to widen the motorway parallel to the Springfield line??? why build twice the infrastructure at twice the cost so that each can carry half the passengers??? It doesn't make sense)

[Stillwater]

It will be interesting to see whether the Ipswich Motorway widening becomes a barrier to people using the railway stations on the other side - Goodna, Gailes and Wacol stations especially.  I watched the other day as a young mum with babe in pram negotiated the motorway's elevated walkway to access Goodna station on a windy and showery day. A real obstacle course.   Comparisons of passenger nos before and after motorway was widened may provide the answer.

[ButFli]

It will be interesting to see whether the Ipswich Motorway widening becomes a barrier to people using the railway stations on the other side - Goodna, Gailes and Wacol stations especially.  I watched the other day as a young mum with babe in pram negotiated the motorway's elevated walkway to access Goodna station on a windy and showery day. A real obstacle course.   Comparisons of passenger nos before and after motorway was widened may provide the answer.

But a change in passenger numbers could also be affected by the motorway upgrade itself. People see an upgraded road and might be more likely to drive. I would imagine that would have far greater an effect than some perceived difficulty in accessing the stations.

[somebody]

But a change in passenger numbers could also be affected by the motorway upgrade itself. People see an upgraded road and might be more likely to drive. I would imagine that would have far greater an effect than some perceived difficulty in accessing the stations.

I agree with this.

[#Metro]

But the proportion of walking trips should not change.
If the station is difficult to walk to, the proportion of walkers should go down...

[Stillwater]

For all the (b)millions being spent, the Ipswich Motorway proper is getting one extra lane in each direction (and some local road upgrades), but a six-lane road essentially.  At the same time as the motorway is being upgraded, the Qld Government is putting an extra 800,000 people into the 'western corridor'.  Those people will generate additional motorway trips, most likely meaning that the level of congestion on four lanes now will be replicated on six lanes in future.  At that point, there will need to be another motorway to Ipswich and that one will be a toll road, because of the enormous cost.  Then the people of Ipswich will have a real choice -- pay on the Ipswich Motorway through hours of congestion, pay on the tollway by parting with some money for a quick trip to Brisbane, or catch a train.  I know what my choice would be.

[ozbob]

They are ignoring peak oil.  The pressures on the Ipswich railway line will be considerable ... 

[Jonno]

For all the (b)millions being spent, the Ipswich Motorway proper is getting one extra lane in each direction (and some local road upgrades), but a six-lane road essentially.  At the same time as the motorway is being upgraded, the Qld Government is putting an extra 800,000 people into the 'western corridor'.  Those people will generate additional motorway trips, most likely meaning that the level of congestion on four lanes now will be replicated on six lanes in future.  At that point, there will need to be another motorway to Ipswich and that one will be a toll road, because of the enormous cost.  Then the people of Ipswich will have a real choice -- pay on the Ipswich Motorway through hours of congestion, pay on the tollway by parting with some money for a quick trip to Brisbane, or catch a train.  I know what my choice would be.

The opening of the extra capacity will encourage the existing population to drive more. This is even before the extravpopulatuon is added in. So patronage will drop for those that can afford to or are able to use their car instead.

[mufreight]

Less than half of the money currently being spent on the motorway would see the rail line upgraded and quadrupled and rail commuter service times between Ipswich and Brisbane reduced to about 35 minutes, far more benefical than the motorway upgrade and more cost effective and environmentaly friendly.
So much for the smart state, it smarts so much it is painful.

[SteelPan]

The overriding issue really is, that in the 70's/80's/90's public mass [rail] transit was largely OFF the radar for all pollies and senior boffins, save a few lost souls that had, sadly, little voice.  QT and QR basked for most of the late 80's and the 90's and even into the 21stC in the old glory of electirifcation - which itself was a loooonnggg time coming to this part of the world.  Only in say, the last 3-5 yrs have I sensed the start of a real shift in thinking.  Still, elements of govt are dragging the chain - but their days are numbered - mass transit, particularly rail, is "the new black"  we're sexy again (we know we always were, are and will be  )

Now is our hour, we can rise up, take to the streets, power is our...ahhhh...sorry, wrong speech...that's for the other group meeting 2nite 

Now however, IS the time for Backontrack to stay on track and keep the pressure ON - you don't get in life what is "fair", nor "reasonable", no "right", nor "logical" - you get what you make ALOT of noise for!  More money deserves to flow into rail projects - let's keep the noise LOUD and CLEAR!

If urban rail was a sports stadium - there'd be a station on every corner!  Keep it LOUD for Pro-Rail! 

[Emmie]

I listened to ABC analysis of the Victorian election yesterday. One of the speakers said Saturday was a bad day to be a Labor MP in a seat on a metropolitan railway line!  His view was that the vote was a massive attack on poor PT in outer Melbourne and surrounds. Interesting to see if the other lot can do any better. But as SteelPan suggests, PTis back on the electoral radar and fairly or not, the party in power gets blamed for a generation of neglect by BOTH parties.