Andrew Powell MP, Member for Glass House : Press Release 8/3/2011

[Fares_Fair]

8 March 2011
Andrew Powell MP
Member for Glass House


Coast Commuters to boycott rail services

Sunshine Coast rail commuters have been left with no choice but to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with Translink and the Transport Minister by boycotting rail services on Thursday 17 March 2011.

Member for Glass House, Andrew Powell MP, has lent his full support to the commuters' campaign and has expressed his disappointment that they have had to resort to this.

"When Translink representatives had a community information session last December they did little to address the concerns that commuters raised with the possible timetable changes.

"This has fostered a lot of anger within the commuter community and has left many dissatisfied travellers.

"Then to top it all off, the commuters are hit with price hikes that are really unjustifiable.  It's no wonder they have been driven to this sort of action," Mr Powell stated.

Mr Powell has been working very closely with commuters from all over the Sunshine Coast since the proposed timetable changes were drafted back in November 2010.

"I have written to the Minister several times, at one point we even asked the Minister to attend a forum to hear directly from commuters, I might add she turned this invitation down.  I have also sponsored an E-Petition calling on the Government to preserve the current timetable and have just this week tabled 976 signed petitions.

"Perhaps the Government will finally take stock when they see the increase in traffic on the Bruce Highway on Thursday and evaluate the loss of public transport income.

"I congratulate this group of people for having the courage to stand up for something they truly believe in.  Nothing beats people power," Mr Powell concluded.

Contact: Andrew Powell MP - 0401 015 502


Mr Powell will be at Landsborough Rail Station at 6am on Thursday 17 March for interviews.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.