Poll: Are you a Sunshine Coast commuter ?

[Fares_Fair]

Hello,

I have been asked a number of times what proportion of Sunshine Coast commuters are members of the
RAIL - Back On Track website.

It was a fair media question given the publicity that has been generated by Sunshine Coast issues.

I thought it was a simple question ... boy, was I wrong. 

To ensure everyone's privacy is maintained, this voluntary poll has been posted.

I do not think we (Sunshine Coast) make a large component of the total members, and that's ok too because it isn't the purpose to be large, but rather a local contributor to the Public Transport debate, where information and ideas can be disseminated, discussed and actioned where appropriate.
IMHO, it's a team site.

For the purposes of this poll I will include the Sunshine Coast as including
Elimbah station in the south through to Gympie North station.

If you are Caboolture line commuter, you are most welcome to have a say also.

Please be assured that no personal information will be collected by me, nor used for any other purpose but to answer a media question (if asked).

Kind regards,
Fares_Fair.

[#Metro]

The QR Passenger survey could also be of help to you in calculating the number of pax that use the services.

[Fares_Fair]

Thanks tt,

This is mainly in response to a journalists question about RBoT.
How many SC members are there, I was asked.
Since then it has opened a whole can of privacy worms ... 

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[colinw]

Sorry to be pedantic, but what do you mean by "No" vs. "Other Commuter"?

[Fares_Fair]

Sorry to be pedantic, but what do you mean by "No" vs. "Other Commuter"?

That's ok colinw, a fair question.
Nothing wrong with pedantic in this instance.
I thought I would give people an option to say 'no' outright or to say they are from another line by 'other commuter' (so this excludes Caboolture and my SC definition).

BYOE, For this poll I'm really only looking for the number of SC members, i.e. Yes votes.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[colinw]

Thanks. 

[Fares_Fair]

If you are a Sunshine Coast commuter here at Rail Back on Track, I'd like to know our numbers.

I have been asked more than once by journalists how many of us there are here, hence the reason for the poll.
No names, details or identification is required - just a simple yes to the poll if you are a SC commuter.
All completely voluntary, of course.

Scroll to the top of the page and have your say.
Thank you,

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[BrizCommuter]

The QR Passenger survey could also be of help to you in calculating the number of pax that use the services.

Except it hasn't been published for 2 years in a row now!

[somebody]

The QR Passenger survey could also be of help to you in calculating the number of pax that use the services.

Except it hasn't been published for 2 years in a row now!

Indeed.  Is the BrizCommuter RTI request happening?

[Zoiks]

Quick question...
If you were to get a quicker, more regular service. Would you pay an extra couple of dollars for it?

[somebody]

Quick question...
If you were to get a quicker, more regular service. Would you pay an extra couple of dollars for it?

For me an extra couple of dollars (from $3.11 peak to CBD) would be enough to push me to drive.  Or at least think about it, which I already am in peak hour due to lousy service.  Parking is an issue where I work, but there is talk of motorbike parking, which is likely to get me off PT.

[Arnz]

Quick question...
If you were to get a quicker, more regular service. Would you pay an extra couple of dollars for it?

In other words, you want to unintegrate or remove the Coasts from TransLink system?  If it means a separate bus ticket and a separate train ticket, that would push me to drive for ALL trips, even for 1-2 zone bus trips from Home into Maroochydore (considered the 'CBD' of the Sunshine Coast).  

If you're going to jack up the train prices outside the BCC boundaries, why not just push for QConnect to replace TransLink outside the BCC borders (eg BCC subsidises themselves, the rest of the state subsidises each other arrangement).  Crossing the QConnect/TransLink border would induce a surcharge, like the AirTrain.

[Zoiks]

Sorry I should have explained this better.
Would you pay an extra dollar or 2 dollars to go from sunshines/gold coast to Brisbane.

I'm not talking about those immediately outside the bcc boundarys

[Stillwater]

Still not sure what you are asking, Zoiks.  Are you saying: Would you pay an extra $2, over and above the current fare, to travel from Nambour to Brisbane?

Might be better is you named stations rather than the generic 'Gold Coast' and 'Sunshine Coast'.

[SurfRail]

Still not sure what you are asking, Zoiks.  Are you saying: Would you pay an extra $2, over and above the current fare, to travel from Nambour to Brisbane?

Might be better is you named stations rather than the generic 'Gold Coast' and 'Sunshine Coast'.

I think the reasonably clear intent is that a higher differential apply to travel through say 9 or more fare zones.

In that case - my answer is no.  EVERYBODY is already paying a premium in the form of the 15% fare increase in January, which has not markedly improved transport for anybody in SEQ from what I can see.  Measures like the new timetable upgrade and the 120 and 196 would have been funded out of the budget in previous years to kick-start them, and particularly with the train timetables result from under-investment by successive governments.  I have no intention of subsidising TTA's inefficiencies.

It's difficult to see how the trip could be faster for Gold Coast commuters without Cross River Rail and more tracks en route.  About all that could happen now is to cut the fat out of the timetable (it is not unusual to arrive at South Bank up to 6-7 minutes early some mornings) - if that happened, we are actually putting less demand on the network than currently. 

In short, fare increases are not going to pay for the infrastructure needed to actually solve the problem, so no.  (I am however part of the captive market, not being a driver, so it is ultimately academic...)

[Arnz]

About all that could happen now is to cut the fat out of the timetable (it is not unusual to arrive at South Bank up to 6-7 minutes early some mornings) - if that happened, we are actually putting less demand on the network than currently. 

The ironic part is that fat can probably be used for stopping GC trains all stations from Yeerongpilly to Park Road, and they could probably still get into South Bank on time.  Considering the DG is entirely dedicated to the XPT during the short period.

[somebody]

I have no intention of subsidising TTA's inefficiencies.

I'm not happy about it either, but what are we going to do about it?  Leave Qld?

[SurfRail]

I have no intention of subsidising TTA's inefficiencies.

I'm not happy about it either, but what are we going to do about it?  Leave Qld?

Get on their case - it's all you can do.  No Australian network is really efficient (even Perth), but ours is the only one charging like a wounded bull for it.

[Stillwater]

What to do?  Start a pro-PT campaign in just one seat in Queensland - Ashgrove.  Letterbox, collect petitions, lobby.  Either side of politics would give ANYTHING to win Ashgrove -- even promise a better deal for suffering PT users.  With luck, both sides will promise, so PT will benefit irrespective of which side wins power.

[mufreight]

What to do?  Start a pro-PT campaign in just one seat in Queensland - Ashgrove.  Letterbox, collect petitions, lobby.  Either side of politics would give ANYTHING to win Ashgrove -- even promise a better deal for suffering PT users.  With luck, both sides will promise, so PT will benefit irrespective of which side wins power.

Before an election, promises, post election will conduct a survey, will commission a report, will conduct a feasibility study, no funds avaliable (having blown it all on the survey, report, feasability study) but we will do nothing at the moment because of costs or the LNP side of we would like to implement it now but the Labor government has left the state broke and it would not be responsible to increase state debt to fund it.
Nett result a lot of rhetoric but no actual result.  
BUT a pro PT campaign might if the independents hold the balance of power get some traction IF the LNP scratches into government and the road centric tunnel vision Mr Newman does not.

[Stillwater]

The interesting thing about the state election timing is that the election is due in March and the budget is due in June.  So, if the LNP wins, it will have to introduce a budget drawn up largely by Mr Fraser.  The new LNP Treasurer would be so green that the public servants will have a field day.  (They like to be penny wise usually.)  The normal course of events in government is to have a 'horror budget' in the first year (so everyone hates you just after they have elected you), a steady as you go budget in the following year and a big spend-up in the third using the savings made in the previous two budgets.  Hopefully, the electors will think good of the government for 'steering through the crisis left by the previous government' and its a good showing in the polls.

That will be the same path for the ALP this time around also, except this year will have a few goodies for the electorate (not many because of the flood recovery).

So, what to do?  The LNP doesn't know the budget position so is reluctant to say anything except they 'can do better'.  'Better' is not defined.   The ALP might have no choice but have a relatively humble budget this time around, but make big promises requiring spending starting from the 2012-13 financial year.  That way, you can make the promises without having to fund them this year.  If the ALP loses the election and the LNP gets in, the LNP would be inclined to scrap some of the ALP promises to fund some of its new policies.  So expect a late 2012 budget, either way.  (Both parties will be distracted by the election.)  God knows what happens if a minor party holds balance of power.

If the LNP starts chopping and changing, the ALP will say 'see you would have been better off under us' and they will also be able to say that the LNP is switching priorities to reward mates, prop up marginal electorates, or to bribe a minor party into giving the LNP power.  And in 2014 the whole silly cycle is set to repeat itself again!