Qld Transport Minister needs to address inadequate PT Infrastructure

[Fares_Fair]

The Qld Transport Minister, the Hon. Rachel Nolan MP, Member for Ipswich needs to answer the questions below.

Q1.
Is the current single line track from Beerburrum (with no plans for duplication until 2026-2031),
appropriate to meet the current growth needs of Sunshine Coast residents ?

Q2.
If the State Government wants to take over the planning and development for these huge population (approx. 50,000 person) increases on the Sunshine Coast,
where is the Public Transport infrastructure including definitive fully-funded planning to accommodate them ?

Q3.
Is the Minister aware that there is a single (that is 1) line of train track beyond Beerburrum ?

Q4.
How does she propose to accommodate the population increases proposed through a single line of train track ?

We are in the 21st century now, yet we have 19th century train track capacity.
I call on the Hon. Minister to have the courage to address these issues and respond positively.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

(Q numbers corrected 27.01.11 at 9:48am EST)

[#Metro]

Well it looks like PlanStink Blog will be kept very busy!

Why not send a copy of your questions to Ms Davis as well as Ms Nolan?

50,000 people is similar to the population of Mandurah, Perth, and they get 15 minute train frequency, all day, every day.

[Fares_Fair]

Well it looks like PlanStink Blog will be kept very busy!

Why not send a copy of your questions to Ms Davis as well as Ms Nolan?

50,000 people is similar to the population of Mandurah, Perth, and they get 15 minute train frequency, all day, every day.

... because Ms Davis is not in Government, the questions above are appropriate to the purvey of the Transport Minister. They are today still just as relevant since being put forward in January.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

It will be interesting to see to what extent convenience and frequency will be addressed in the new timetable.  It must be due for release soon.  I fear it will only put lipstick and a new tutu on the same old pig.  Chicken and egg thinking applies also (at least, from a passenger rail perspective).  QR puts on a hellish schedule, forcing people to drive down the highway, then says a lack of overall passenger numbers does not warrant more than a couple of extra services.  And it would seem that people adjust their travel patterns to avoid the buses, which take an extra 30 or more minutes than the train over the distance between Caboolture and Nambour.  The madness of the bureaucratic logic is that because fewer people catch the bus (one train car equivalent), the bus should not be replaced with a 3-car or six-car train. AAGGGHHH!  Freight train operations is a different story, but still tied closely to the passenger rail narative.

[Fares_Fair]

It will indeed.
The proof will certainly be in the timetable pudding.
I don't think we'll find a silver sixpence in this one.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

Question 2 is all the more relevant, FF, because of this story in today's issue of the Sunshine Coast Daily: http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/04/05/project-to-cost-locals-150m-caloundra-south/