An open letter to the Minister and Opposition for Transport

[ozbob]

22nd February 2012

Dear Minister and Mr Emerson,

I am writing you this letter sitting on the platform at Goodna railway station, waiting for a train.  I have been  waiting since 9.04am, I caught the 524 bus from my local stop at Curnow St FS Howard St at 8.55.  The bus was due at 8.41am at the bus stop to connect at Goodna rail (bus due at 8.52am at Goodna rail) with the 8.57am City bound rail service. Of course we (my self and numerous other pax) missed the connection.  The next City bound train is due at 9.27am, if we are lucky ...

This is not an unusual occurrence and highlights just what a struggle it is with poor bus and rail frequency for the citizens of south-east Queensland.

We have fools at Brisbane City Council suggesting such idiocies as 'Maroon CityGliders' when out in the suburbs, high fares, poor frequency are making life very very hard for the battlers. Funding must be directed to improving services for those who are currently subjected to public transport mediocrity.

Enough of this mediocrity.  The public transport system must be improved.

Best wishes

Robert Dow
Goodna

[Stillwater]

Likely response:

Dear Mr Dow

Thank you for your letter of 22 February 2012 concerning bus and rail services, and their connectivity, at Goodna.  The minister has asked that I write on his/her behalf, apologies for the delay in responding to the issues you have raised.

The government shares your concerns about the need for buses and trains to provide a seamless service across SEQ and that is why we have established the Translink Transit Authority to work with private bus operators, the Brisbane City Council and Queensland Rail to coordinate timetables for the benefit of all.  We have invested heavily in new bus and train services recently to provide 140,000 extra seats across the network.  And we are spending millions of dollars on new train line extensions that will benefit people in the outer suburbs, where your concerns lie.  They include duplication of the line to Ferny Grove, the new Moreton Bay Railway Line to Kippa Ring where work will start soon, and an extension of the line from Richlands towards Springfield.

You will be pleased to know that the government recently instituted a rocket bus express from Springfield to Richlands to provide even more convenient and fast travel for this rapidly-growing part of SEQ.  This is practical evidence of the government's investment in transport services serving your area. 

The government is always looking at ways it can improve its public transport services and appreciates your feedback, which will be fed into the next review of timetables and services to be undertaken in the next six months.

Please be assured that the government policy is to improve the percentage of trips taken on public transport across SEQ over the years to 2031.  As you know, Queensland is the only state to have instituted a comprehensive, all-encompassing, award-winning, world class transport network strategy for the next 20 years.  It will cost $125 billion and the government is determined to continue the momentum towards a public transport system of which all can be proud.

Once again, thank you for your letter.

Yours, blah, blah, blah

[ozbob]

Mr Still Water,

Thank you for your correspondence.

We are in care-taker mode, have been since 1974, don't let an election threat get in the way.

When the new transport authority is in place, please feel free to contact us with your compliments.

Until then, pretend there is a dining car, buffet, and loo,  where one can contemplate the true meaning of 'true belief'.

Until then!  Tight couplers!!

Best wishes

Queenslander!!

[Stillwater]

 

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

24 February 2012

An open letter to the Minister and Opposition for Transport

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7725.0

22nd February 2012

Dear Minister and Mr Emerson,

I am writing you this letter sitting on the platform at Goodna railway station, waiting for a train.  I have been  waiting since 9.04am, I caught the 524 bus from my local stop at Curnow St FS Howard St at 8.55.  The bus was due at 8.41am at the bus stop to connect at Goodna rail (bus due at 8.52am at Goodna rail) with the 8.57am City bound rail service. Of course we (my self and numerous other pax) missed the connection.  The next City bound train is due at 9.27am, if we are lucky ...

This is not an unusual occurrence and highlights just what a struggle it is with poor bus and rail frequency for the citizens of south-east Queensland.

We have fools at Brisbane City Council suggesting such idiocies as 'Maroon CityGliders' when out in the suburbs, high fares, poor frequency are making life very very hard for the battlers. Funding must be directed to improving services for those who are currently subjected to public transport mediocrity.

Enough of this mediocrity.  The public transport system must be improved.

Best wishes

Robert Dow
Goodna

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org


Footnote:  The 9.27am train was on time!