Letters to the editor - Not published

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail May 4

The $2000 lucky go card promotion held in conjunction with the Inner Northern Busway 'Discovery Day' was nothing short of an insult to the go card users who have been ripped off. No wonder thousands of go cards were given away as sales have virtually stopped.

The go card system is in a major crisis on the buses and ferries.

Ten trip tickets are scheduled to be withdrawn from Brisbane Transport mid 2008.  This will lead to chaos on the buses and ferries. Passengers will not be able to reliably use the go card based on the experiences so far, and will be forced to pay cash or somehow access railway stations to buy weekly tickets.

The Queensland Government and Translink is in denial about the ongoing go card problems. The recent time issue on the bus go card system was hidden from commuters for about two weeks.  How much excessive revenue was ripped off from go card users during this period?
Apparent secret plans to replace paper integrated ticketing with the presently unreliable go card are in tatters. The Queensland Government and Translink are fast losing contact with go card reality!

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail May 6

Your correspondent Louise Blair (Smaller buses more often, Letters, C-M, May 6) makes a good point concerning buses.
There is a need for local feeder buses to railway and bus stations. Turning the suburbs into car parks is not sustainable and cars parking everywhere are causing a lot of grief for residents and businesses near stations.  The free city loop bus is a good model.
The present fare structure for the go card though which appears to be generous, is in fact for more expensive for the majority of commuters than paper ticketing. The go card urgently needs more equitable fare options to encourage uptake.

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail May 12

The Premier has welcomed the feedback received on the public consultation for the new TransLink Transit Authority (TTA).
The consultation process was indeed most welcome.

Of concern is whether or not any notice will be taken of the feedback.  If Translink's track record is anything to go by this is not an unreasonable point to make.

The fact that the TTA will the sole point of contact for all public transport operators means that the feedback and response systems must be timely, accurate and meaningful.  Again people who have the knowledge of the bus systems, the rail systems, the river systems must be part of this response team.  The sometimes inaccurate and nonsensical responses often received from Translink we hope are soon a distant memory.

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail May 14


RAIL Back On Track alerted the Minister for Transport and Translink to an issue with the go card system equipment on  buses and ferries that resulted in an incorrect time being used to calculate fares, and users being overcharged on the 10th  April 2008.

There was no public statement to alert go card users to the ongoing issue and the fact that they may well be copping extra fares and penalties until the 21st April 2008. This is documented at the RAIL Back On Track web site.

The failure to alert go card users is further evidence of the contempt public transport commuters suffer from Translink and others.

The failure to respond in a timely manner is even more reprehensible when it is now realised that during this period deals were being done for ?mates? to tour the suburban rail network.

When RAIL Back On Track members inquired to as to the cost of hiring a train to demonstrate the utility of a commuter service from Gatton to Ipswich we were quoted $20,000 plus!

Obviously, we don?t qualify for ?mate rates?

RAIL Back On Track calls on Queensland Government and Translink to treat public transport commuters with courtesy and implement processes that inform commuters in a timely and sincere manner.

Robert Dow
Administration
RAIL Back On Track

[ozbob]

Submitted to mX May 16

The mX and RAIL Back On Track has consistently highlighted the on going issues with the go card. If the go card is successfully implemented it will be of much benefit to public transport in south-east Queensland. Until recently, Translink and the Government simply refused to acknowledge that the go card is in serious trouble.

Unfortunately what was claimed as ?teething problems? since roll out are really systemic failures which are causing many commuters to reject the go card.

According to the Translink web site the remaining ten trip tickets are to be withdrawn mid year. This is going to cause further severe disruption and mayhem on a bus and ferry transport system already struggling with inadequate resources.

Touch penalties are also to increase from June 2008 to $5 bus and ferries, and $10 rail (adult fares ? concession fares $2.50 and $5 respectively). Already the time for refunds to be reimbursed for incorrectly charged fares and penalties is in many cases greater than 30 days. Clearly unless something is done to reduce the incidence of false charges, and to expedite the refunds there is little incentive for users to adopt the go card. The go card is working well on rail, the problems are with the bus and ferry go card system.

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail May 18

Sustainability Minister McNamara has vision (Drivers face fuel ration shock, C-M May 17).

The huge bias to road funding is completely misplaced.  We need more rail infrastructure, urban, interurban and national.  QR needs another 50 three car trains additional to the 44 presently being rolled out, now! This will give some of the capacity that is so desperately needed now let alone for future demands.

The nation and the state are wasting billions of dollars on roads, bridges and tunnels which will become useless as peak oil shortages hit.

Build the railway line from Petrie to Kippa Ring whilst we still can. The line from Darra to Richlands has started, stop messing around and push it through to Springfield now rather than wait till 2015. The railway stations at Ellen Grove and Springfield lakes must be built from the outset too.

Build the present triplication/quadruplication between Darra and Corinda as a full quadruplication right from the outset. The main western line needs capacity, a quadruplication project from Darra to Ipswich will give that capacity.

Translink (and government) are transfixed on buses.  It isn?t working now and won't work when the fuel escalates greatly in costs either.  A 30% increase in passenger numbers across the system in the last three years is a harbinger of future shock.

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail May 20

The question that needs to be asked about the new airport link tunnel/flyover extravaganza is what guarantees have been given by government concerning the airport railway line to the developers?

Have they sold out on any possibility of bringing the airport railway line into frequent, accessible, affordable services for their (Government) short term political gain?

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail May 22

The Courier Mail had an advertisement the other day (C-M, May 13) from the unions with a message for the Minister for Transport Mr Mickel.
It seems QR is to be broken up into six different companies.  This does seems a bit pointless as the corporate knowledge would be put in six little boxes and there would be excessive costs with six lots of different company administration structures and so forth.
Is this a precursor to privatisation?  I am sure commuters hope not!  When we note what happened to the once great Victorian Railways (VR) which was ruined by similar moves it is imperative that QR be retained in public ownership, and kept as a single corporate identity for the benefit of all Queenslanders, and the Nation.

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail May 23

Recent revelations concerning a previously unknown policy to the effect that applications for refunds of incorrect fares and penalties for the go card must be claimed within 5 weeks are outrageous (C-M, May 23, Go Cards refund bungle).

I rang Translink Go Card call centre on Thursday evening and was told by the operator and confirmed with her supervisor that there was no time limit for the refunds! What is going on with the go card?

The present 10 day period for refunds is itself excessive and should be made two working days.
The time window for people to claim incorrect charges debited to their go cards should be at least six months, preferably 12 months.  This allows a truly reasonable time for all users to claim their refunds.
It is extremely concerning and disappointing that go card users are being treated in such an off-hand manner.

Further evidence of this contempt was the time debacle on the bus/ferry go card system.  Translink and Government allowed go card users to cop excess fares and charges without any attempt to alert the users to the problem for two weeks.
The go card is potentially one of the best things to happen to public transport in south-east Queensland.

Why is it that Translink and Government seem intent on creating such a negative image for the go card? Taxpayers are rightly now very concerned as to when the system will be reliable and equitable.

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail May 25

Recent revelations concerning a previously unknown policy to the effect that applications for refunds of incorrect fares and penalties for the go card must be claimed within 5 weeks are outrageous (C-M, May 23, Go Cards refund bungle).

I rang Translink Go Card call centre last Thursday evening and was told by the operator and confirmed with her supervisor that there was no time limit for the refunds! What is going on with the go card?

The present 10 day period for refunds is itself excessive and should be made two working days.
The time window for people to claim incorrect charges debited to their go cards should be at least six months, preferably 12 months.  This allows a truly reasonable time for all users to claim their refunds.It is extremely concerning and disappointing that go card users are being treated in such an off-hand manner.

Why is it that Translink and Government seem intent on creating such a negative image for the go card? Taxpayers are rightly now very concerned as to when the system will be reliable and equitable.

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail May 27

The price rises in petrol is good news.  At last Governments might finally start to prepare for the future oil poor environment by properly funding sustainable transport options.  Light and heavy electric rail will be needed not only for commuter mass transit but nationally for freight.   The fuel subsidy in Queensland should be removed and used to develop solutions for the future.  The present bias towards roads and road tunnels is now exposed as fatally flawed.  To say tolls will be paid off over 45 years is laughable.

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail May 28

The price rises in petrol and diesel is good news if you look at the big picture (Diesel price panic, C-M, May 28).  At last Governments might finally start to prepare for the future oil poor environment by properly funding sustainable transport options.  Light and heavy electric rail will be needed not only for commuter mass transit but nationally for freight.   The fuel subsidy in Queensland should be removed and used to develop solutions for the future.  The present bias towards roads and road tunnels is now exposed as fatally flawed.  To say tolls will be paid off over 45 years is laughable.

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail May 31

It is clear that there is a massive shift under way in the major cities of Australia to public transport.  This is being driven by the relentless price rise of oil which will only continue as this commodity becomes exhausted.

The failure to pro-actively put in place sustainable mass transit options in south-east Queensland is now obvious to all. Come for a ride on the 6.44am QR urban service from Oxley to the CBD next Monday morning and see for yourself!  Ask the stranded commuters at bus stops as full buses pass them by.

Queensland is not unique in terms of this public transport myopia. A report in the Sydney press has highlighted the same basic problem of not enough public transport resources in Sydney.  Melbourne is also desperately trying to cope with an overloaded public transport system due to years of inadequate resourcing and the perverse outcomes of the privatisation of public transport.

There are global signs too. For example, in the USA there has been the fall in vehicle miles travelled for the first time since 1979 (http://www.dot.gov/affairs/fhwa1108.htm ).
The huge bias to road funding is now completely misplaced.  We need more rail infrastructure, urban, interurban and national. QR needs another 50 three car trains additional to the 44 presently being rolled out as soon as possible.  This will give some of the capacity that is so desperately needed now let alone for future demands.

The present 44 three car trains being progressively introduced are the first new trains on the system in seven years. During that time passenger numbers have increased by at least 40%.  The new 44 three car trains only give an increase in capacity of 30%.  The 44 new trains don?t even cover the increases in recent passenger loadings let alone future demands.

The Queensland Sustainability Minister McNamara recently warned of looming oil shortages and the need to prepare now. The nation and the state are wasting billions of dollars on roads, bridges and tunnels which will become useless as peak oil shortages hit.

We need to act pro-actively. Build the railway line from Petrie to Kippa Ring whilst we still can. The line from Darra to Richlands has started, stop messing around and push it through to Springfield now rather than wait till 2015.

Rather than build road tunnels, a heavy rail underground loop extension is needed to provide the capacity to service the inner city areas with high frequency, high capacity services.
The main western line needs capacity, a quadruplication project from Darra to Ipswich will give that capacity.

Translink (and government) are transfixed on buses.  It isn?t working now and won't work when the fuel escalates greatly in costs either.  A 30% increase in passenger numbers across the system in the last three years is a harbinger of future shock. QR had a 9% increase in passengers in just a single year, 2006-2007.?

The high capacity bus routes will need to be converted to electric light rail to have any hope of coping with the huge passenger demands that will be made on the system. Buses will not cope.  To pretend buses will is absolute folly. The Gold Coast Rapid Transit system should be light rail to be sustainable and be able to handle the passenger loading demands.

Rail ? light and heavy, is the sustainable bulk people mover.  By ramping up the QR urban and interurban system to a high capacity frequent service this will take the pressure off the radial bus network. More lateral bus routes and feeder services will complement the high frequency rail commuter services.

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail June 4

The announcement in the budget of a further 58 three car trains is very welcome news (C-M, Jun 4). This will position QR Limited with the rolling stock capacity to introduce increased frequency on all lines of the urban and interurban network, particularly as the track capacity is increased.

We still need to act pro-actively in further rail network expansion. Build the railway line from Petrie to Kippa Ring whilst we still can.
The line from Darra to Richlands has started, stop messing around and push it through to Springfield now rather than wait till 2015.

Build the present triplication/quadruplication between Darra and Corinda as an electrified quadruplication right from the outset. The main western line needs capacity, a quadruplication project from Darra to Ipswich will give that capacity.

Rail ? light and heavy, is the sustainable bulk people mover. By ramping up the QR urban and interurban system to a high capacity frequent service this will take the pressure off the radial bus network. More lateral bus routes and feeder services will complement the high frequency rail commuter services.

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail June 9

The Government and community hysteria about petrol prices is all a bit late and will not change the outcome (C-M Jun 9).  Now is the time to act pro-actively in further rail network expansion. Build the railway line from Petrie to Kippa Ring whilst we still can.
The line from Darra to Richlands has started, push it through to Springfield now rather than wait till 2015.

Build the present triplication/quadruplication between Darra and Corinda as an electrified quadruplication right from the outset. The main western line needs capacity, a quadruplication project from Darra to Ipswich will give that capacity.

Rail ? light and heavy, is the sustainable bulk people mover. By ramping up the QR urban and interurban system to a high capacity frequent service this will take the pressure off the radial bus network. More lateral bus routes and feeder services will complement the high frequency rail commuter services.

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail June 22

As more people are forced onto public transport to save fuel costs, parking pressures around stations (rail and bus) will only increase.  Rather than driving all the way commuters will park and ride. It is not possible or sensible to keep building more and more car parks. Eventually we will just have stations surrounded by hectares of car parks.

Car parking is causing much disruption for local residents near stations. It is causing problems with local businesses as car parks are often taken up by commuters. The overload parking on streets is restricting the access of motorists and causing chaos as people attempt to drive around their suburbs.

Rail and bus stations need bus interchange facilities. For example with the upgrade of Indooroopilly station it would have been logical to have incorporated a bus/rail interchange as part of the upgrade.  A lost opportunity.

Monday to Friday, from 6am to 10am, and 3pm to 7pm daily local neighbourhood buses should to be introduced to provide transport for commuters to and from their residences to stations.  These buses could be painted a bright TransLink orange and become part of the local neighbourhood facilities and culture.  Routes could be chosen such that residents only have short walks to stops to catch the Station bus.

By having these dedicated Station buses the pressure would be off the present parking facilities, and those commuters who need to travel outside the peak times would be able to park without the present problems.

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail July 6

The suburban train timetables have not kept pace with demographic changes and demands.  The gaps between services are too great particularly in the early peak periods. By broadening the peak periods of higher frequency services this will help spread the congestion loadings. It gives commuters more choices. 

Linking these changes to some form of incentive ticketing using the go card, and also providing a further incentive for off peak travel by the introduction of off peak fares on the go card, more passengers can be accommodated, and in so doing help ease some of the environmental and road congestion burden.

Our bus system has a limited capacity for increased sustained peak loadings. We must continue to ramp up rail services as this is where the bulk capacity can be developed independent of the congestion on the roads, and use buses where possible as integrated feeder services to high frequency high capacity rail services.

[ozbob]

Submitted to Couriermail July 16

Shortly Ten Trip Saver tickets will be completely phased out. The new fare structure recently announced for the go card will help encourage public transport commuters to make the switch to the go card.

A problem for those commuters on Brisbane Transport buses who don?t have online access is that there are no ticket machines for them to top up their go cards at bus stations. Commuters are unable to top up their go cards on the Brisbane Transport buses.

It would help if ticket machines were placed at the major Bus Stations.  Not only will this facilitate management of users? go cards it will also allow for pre-purchase of tickets by non go card users thereby speeding up loading and bus running times.
The TransLink Transit Authority needs to make the use of public transport easy for the community. This includes making ticketing seamless and accessible.

[ozbob]

Submitted to Brisbane mX July 20

Why was it that for the 2007 Ekka QR Citytrain Translink passengers who held regular tickets had to pay for an additional ticket cost, an add on fare, to travel to the Ekka by rail from the CBD; and bus passengers who held regular tickets did not for bus travel? This was clearly indicated on the Translink web site at the time.

The apparent justification for this discrimination against rail passengers was that the Exhibition station is a special stand alone zone. We said then that was ?spin? and nonsense and it still is.  It complicated the travel of regular ticket holders who had to fuss around and buy an additional ticket.

A further complication for travel to the Ekka this year will be the procedure for go card users. Will they be able to travel seamlessly to the Ekka using their go card?  Will they be debited with an extra fare on bus and rail whilst other ticket holders on bus travel free?

Can the TransLink Transit Authority please make a timely statement as to what the public transport ticketing arrangements will be for the 2008 Ekka?

RAIL Back on calls for travel to the Ekka on bus and rail to be free for all from the CBD to the Ekka bus stops and Exhibition station!  This would encourage maximum use of public transport and help avoid road congestion and gridlock.

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail July 22

The article Mortgage stress puts family on the street (C-M July 22) has highlighted the acute problems with the public transport poor, car dependent outer suburbs.  Rather than building more tunnels and roads the funding emphasis must be shifted urgently to sustainable transport solutions.

The railway from Richlands to Springfield needs to built now as an immediate continuation of the present railway construction from Darra to Richlands. The standard gauge railway corridor into Brisbane provides a means of providing commuter rail services from Bromelton to connect with the main southern line. This would serve some of these mortgage stress areas.  Government and local authorities have been negligent with their approach to residential property developments without first ensuring adequate public transport infrastructure and resources was made available as part of the developments.

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail July 26

Public transport fares are increasing in line with the CPI (Up go the fares again, C-M, July 26-27) from August the 4th.  The go card also has new fare structure from that date.  Sadly lacking from this new fare structure for the go card is an off peak incentive although overall the go card is now a much better option for the majority than the first failed fare structure.  Despite the fare increases for the paper tickets, if people use the go card in a smart way, they can be better off.  Do your sums!

[ozbob]

Submitted to Brisbane mX July 30

Public transport fares are increasing in line with the CPI from August the 4th.  The go card also has new fare structure from that date.  Sadly lacking from this new fare structure for the go card is an off peak incentive and weekly and monthly caps, although overall the go card is now a much better option for the majority than the first failed fare structure.  Despite the fare increases for the paper tickets, if people use the go card in a smart way, they can be better off.  Do your sums!

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail August 13

The Courier Mail has recently  highlighted the acute problems with the public transport poor, car dependent outer suburbs in a number of articles.  Rather than building more tunnels and roads the funding emphasis must be shifted urgently to sustainable transport solutions.

The railway from Richlands to Springfield needs to built now as an immediate continuation of the present railway construction from Darra to Richlands. The standard gauge railway corridor into Brisbane provides a means of providing commuter rail services from Bromelton to connect with the main southern line. This would serve some of these mortgage stress areas.  Government and local authorities have failed with their approach to residential property developments without first ensuring adequate public transport infrastructure and resources was made available as part of the developments.

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail August 17

The Ekka is over for another year.  Rail passengers to the Ekka were somewhat disappointed to have to pay for an additional fare to travel from the CBD to the Exhibition Station. Bus passengers were able to use their normal TransLink tickets. 

What a sham.  The new TransLink Transit Authority had the opportunity to match the integrated ticketing rhetoric and promote the go card and the merits of integrated ticketing in a positive way by simply allowing normal zone one travel. 

No, stupid economic rationalist idealism to further confuse the hapless rail commuters again reigns supreme.  I noted TransLink Transit Officers poised to pounce on  confused Ekka rail patrons on day one of the Ekka on the loop rail services. It is little wonder that this Government, and the TransLink Transit Authority are becoming somewhat despised by the masses.  Deals aside, the TransLink Transit Authority should have stamped its authority by allowing normal zone one travel for all.

[dwb]

Major event organisers can contact Translink and arrange travel to their event. I believe they have to financially contribute to this. Translink works for instance with the Major Sports Facility to arrange free travel to major sport games such as the Rugby Union and League, AFL and Soccer.  This is common. Dreamworld also has an agreement whereby your ticket includes your travel.

The RNA is not a government department. This should not stop the RNA working well with Translink to negotiate an appropriate position in regards to travel to its event. The RNA (not Translink) makes a lot of money from entry tickets and from the show in general. I believe this lobbying would be more effectively aimed at the RNA board in entering an agreement with Translink that sees all patrons receive FREE travel to the RNA via a small increase to all door prices.  It is NOT Translink's job (and shouldn't be) to always cop a financial loss.  Those patrons travelling to the show should pay for their travel. Translink shouldn't be soft in negotiations with event organisors and cop a loss just for the fun of it. Ever dollar spent on subsidising transport to the show (and that only allows people to buy more show bags or buy an extra beer) is undermining the financial basis of running the day to day transport system. I reiterate by belief it should be the RNA's responsibility to financially contribute via door costs to the running of special services and that they should buy services off Translink in bulk at significant discount to provide travel to the event for free to patrons. (at least I assume that is how it works with the sports authority).

[ozbob]

Fair comment Dwb,  but I think that fact that bus passengers COULD use their normal tickets on the dedicated shuttle buses as integrated tickets should be used, has exposed the position of the TTA on this.  The TTA has not clearly communicated why rail passengers should pay the additional fare and bus passengers not.  Most people see it therefore as an inequitable situation.  Yes, special events do pay a fee for the 'free ticketing' but I doubt if the RNA paid for the free bus travel. 

This is what the Editor of the City News thought. 

Editorial City News 14 August 2008.

BRISBANITES are well known for their aversion to public transport.

Yet I've known many a Queenslander who's embraced travelling on the trams, buses and rail networks of cities like Melbourne and London, so it can't be us.

A journey to the Ekka over the weekend was a classic example of transport authority,
namely Queensland Rail, arrogance. Bus commuters to the RNA received free transport, however rail commuters had to
pay up to $4.80 on top of their fare to the showgrounds.

We travelled from Northgate to Bowen Hills, at a fare of $4.40, but to go three more stops to the Ekka about doubled the
fare. just a few years ago, QR offered a "kids travel free" deal on the train to the show. Do they want us off the roads or
don't they?

The Go Card will only make it worse. At $5 for the card itself, the removal of the 10-trip saver and problems with the
touch-on, touch-off system - it is highway robbery.

Catherine Noble, Editor

This is the impact at the commuter level.  It appears as an injustice and is contrary to the whole integrated ticketing approach.  We may see it different but the perception to the majority is clearly as stated by Ms Noble.

Cheers
Bob

[ozbob]

For the record these were the fare conditions for the 2008 Ekka:

Shuttle bus services

Normal TransLink fares apply for Ekka shuttle bus services.

Paper tickets

Bus and ferry passengers:

    * Normal TransLink fares will apply on all scheduled TransLink services.

Train passengers travelling to Exhibition station:

    * passengers travelling from either Roma Street, Central or Brunswick Street stations will pay a single fare of $2.40 (adult) or $1.20 (concession) or daily fare of $4.80 (adult) and $2.40 (concession)
    * passengers travelling from other train stations in the TransLink network will pay an additional add-on single fare of $1.30 (adult) or $0.70 (concession), or daily and off-peak daily fare of $2.60 (adult) or $1.30 (concession)
    * passengers using a weekly, monthly or QR season ticket may purchase their Exhibition train shuttle ticket from either their origin station office or from either Roma Street, Central or Brunswick Street stations on arrival.


go card

Passengers travelling between Exhibition station and either Roma Street, Central or Brunswick Street stations will pay a single fare of $1.92 (adult) or $0.96 (concession).

Passengers travelling from any other location in the TransLink network, can transfer at either Roma Street, Central or Brunswick station to travel to Exhibition station will pay an additional add-on single fare of $1.30 (adult) or $0.70 (concession).

If you have qualified for the go card frequent user scheme, you will receive the 50% off discount on your Ekka fare.

Remember - always touch on and touch off when you use your go card (except Ekka shuttle bus services).

Please note

    * Tickets valid for travel to Zone 1 do not include travel by train to Exhibition station.
    * Any weekly ticket sold to the Ekka with an expiry date after Saturday 16 August 2008 will only be valid for travel to zone 1. Refunds will not be available.
    * The Brisbane Exhibition Show Holiday (Wednesday 13 August 2008) is not a gazetted Queensland public holiday. Therefore, the normal weekday off-peak daily ticket travel conditions apply - unlimited travel within the relevant zones between 9am and 3.30pm and after 7pm.

Source http://events.translink.com.au/db/event.php?id=58  17 August 2008

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail August 20

Your correspondent David McIntyre highlighted some of the peak rail congestion on the Cleveland line (Letters, C-M Aug 20).  The fact is all lines have varying degrees of peak congestion issues and latent loading.  Latent loading is passengers that cannot board already overloaded services.  This has come about from a failure to adequately resource QR Passenger Services with trains and crew. The recently introduced Interurban Multiple Unit trains were the first new trains added in over seven years.  It is little wonder QR are struggling.  Part of the blame can be directed to Government and Translink, who continued to ignore real loading increases and focussed on bus-centric and road-centric transport policy. Now shown to be a failure.  Queensland has a budding rail vehicle manufacturing industry.  Rather than continue to support the automobile, lets be smart and invest in a revitalised rail vehicle construction industry.  The global demand is huge.  At this time it is likely that QR may have to go off-shore to source extra suburban passenger trains as they cannot be built fast enough locally to cope with the passenger load demands.

Rail can deliver the bulk commuter capacity if properly resourced in terms of trains and crew, and by utilising integrated local buses to feed rail stations some comfort and real capacity. A six car suburban train can transport up 800 passengers comfortably for long distances, a 1000 passengers for shorter distances.  A standard bus transports about 65 passengers.  It is clear where the resources must be ramped up!

[jason]

I love it how its always everybody elses fault for society

do we really live in a society where we never take responsiblity for ourselves?

and when we are outside looking in it always seems so black and white

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail August 24

The announcement that light rail is the preferred solution for the Gold Coast rapid transit is one of vision. Modern light rail is the most appropriate sustainable and capable solution for the Gold Coast rapid transit.

The Federal Government should consider funding the Gold Coast rapid transit project from the Building Australia Fund.  The Building Australia Fund is to be used to improve the functioning of and quality of life within our major cities and major regional centres.

The new modern light rail system will become an iconic feature of Australia's premier holiday destination. Sustainable, environmentally friendly, high capacity, safe. It is clearly the optimum mass transit solution for the Gold Coast.  It is the type of project that the Building Australia Fund should support.

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail August 27

It is good to note that the Mayors of south-east Queensland are concerned with the resource shortfalls on Queensland Rail Citytrain services (Mayors rail at overcrowding, C-M Aug 27). The latest new Interurban Multiple Unit trains (IMU) and the new Suburban MU train are the first in about 7 years.  During that time there has been a huge increase in passenger demand.  This is the root cause of the present mess, a Government that has failed to resource properly in terms of crew and trains.  I would not be surprised if we have to import some trains from China as we cannot build them fast enough.  The Queensland Government should build up our railway manufacturing industries, there is a huge local and global demand.

We are entering a catch up phase, but we need more, much more.  The TransLink Transit Authority has already distinguished itself as impotent - where is the incentive ticketing (discounts for early and late peak, off peak) on the Go card  to ease the congestion peaks?  They can't  even get the Go card in an equitable fare situation with paper integrated ticketing, let alone the ticket of choice.  The Minister said in parliament yesterday that the Go card will help solve the problems!  We have to get everyone using it first to get the accurate load data.

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail August 29

Terry Sweetman is spot on (Counting on secrecy, C-M Aug 29). On the 27th August I boarded the 5.30pm service to Ipswich at Roma Street station. It left at 5.32pm.  I counted the passengers in the lead carriage and I was then able to calculate the passenger load as greater than 1200 passengers.  The train was made up of early series Interurban Multiple Units (IMU) with IMU 105 leading.  The QR Citytrain web site states the load capacity of the IMU in 6 car configuration is 998 passengers.

The Minister for Transport Mr Mickel was asked in Parliament the other day if QR Citytrain services are overloaded.  Apparently the Minister was not able to answer the question, so here is an observation that the trains are overloaded Mr Mickel.

Rail passengers are tired of the chronic congestion.  Where is the TransLink Transit Authority?  Where is the leadership from Government? Where are the clear directions that solutions to this crisis are being considered?  All commuters see is ever worsening congestion with no positive indication that action will be taken to address the crisis.

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail August 31

Now that the party and fireworks are over, the first thing that needs to be done by the TransLink Transit Authority and Queensland Rail, preferably this week, is to add some early peak services on the Caboolture and Ipswich line.  One additional 6 car rail service will comfortably pick up 800 passengers.

Simultaneously introduce off peak and early and late peak discounts on the go card of 30%.  This will encourage some passengers to move away from the peak overloads, and will act as a further incentive for go card uptake.  As the Minister for Transport commented in parliament last week, the go card does have the potential to allow for real time meaningful load data collection.  This will in turn allow further fine tuning of timetables.

A community education program with an emphasis on moving down aisles and away from doorways on the trains, and where possible spread travelling times needs to commence.  Get major employers on side and encourage flexible work hours for employees where possible as well.

These are some immediate actions to ease the 'cattle class' peak congestion crisis on our suburban railway network.

[mufreight]

Consideration should be given at this time to additional peak services on a 7/8 minute headway in the peak and 15 minute headways in the PM pre peak period running all the way through to Ipswich, until such time as Indooroopilly is completed and there are 4 usable tracks between Poma Street an Corinda express services are not really a proposition.
The need to electrify the fourt track between Corinda and Darra when constructed is emphasised by the current overcrowding.

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail September 7

Single ticket and go card journeys to the Brisbane Airport from suburban stations cost more than the sum of the individual fares.  For example, the cost of a single ticket to the Brisbane Airport (Domestic or International) from Oxley is $18.10 according to the TransLink journey planner.

The same planner confirms that the cost of a single ticket from Oxley (zone 3) to Central is $3.40,  and the cost of a single ticket to the airport from Central is $13.50.  This is a total cost of $16.90.  Why the extra fare cost for a continuous ticket?

Using the go card the cost of a fare from Oxley to Central is $2.72.  So the Airtrain fare is actually costing $15.38 on go card in this instance.  The cost of go card journey to the airport from Central is $13.50 according to the TransLink journey planner.

From a zone 6 location the fare for a single is $4.80 to Central.  $13.50 for the Airtrain ticket gives a total cost $18.30.  Use your go card or buy a continuous ticket it costs $19.90; the higher the zone the greater the differential.

People using the Airtrain would be best advised to purchase a single ticket to Central, or use a go card to travel to Central. Touch off if using go card, and then buy another ticket from Central to the Airport.

This ticket pricing circus is again a good example of what is wrong with public transport in south-east Queensland! It is a further disincentive for people not to use public transport.

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail September 10

The Courier Mail has highlighted a number of issues with Queensland Rail Limited.
If you under resource an organisation, the outcomes are perverse.  QR Passenger services has been hopelessly under resourced for years and years.  It is little wonder that the Citytrain system is at a high stress level.  This is the fault of the present Government, clearly.  QR  management are constrained by a Government desperate to cover up the financial shortfalls for funding.

Flawed data was used to promote a cheap bus centric transport solution that has failed.  Our only hope is to ramp up rail, light and heavy.  The plan for City Glider buses (C-M, Sep 10) is a knee-jerk short term non sustainable non-solution.  Line mass transit is best provided by rail, light and heavy. Initial cost is higher, but it will give the capacity, is sustainable and lead to long term cost savings. If we don't do it now Brisbane is going into meltdown.

[ozbob]

Submitted to Brisbane mX September 10

Single ticket and go card journeys to the Brisbane Airport from suburban stations cost more than the sum of the individual fares.  For example, the cost of a single ticket to the Brisbane Airport (Domestic or International) from Oxley is $18.10 according to the TransLink journey planner.

The same planner confirms that the cost of a single ticket from Oxley (zone 3) to Central is $3.40,  and the cost of a single ticket to the airport from Central is $13.50.  This is a total cost of $16.90.  Why the extra fare cost for a continuous ticket?

Using the go card the cost of a fare from Oxley to Central is $2.72.  So the Airtrain fare is actually costing $15.38 on go card in this instance.  The cost of go card journey to the airport from Central is $13.50 according to the TransLink journey planner.

From a zone 6 location the fare for a single is $4.80 to Central.  $13.50 for the Airtrain ticket gives a total cost $18.30.  Use your go card or buy a continuous ticket it costs $19.90; the higher the zone the greater the differential.
People using the Airtrain would be best advised to purchase a single ticket to Central, or use a go card to travel to Central. Touch off if using go card, and then buy another ticket from Central to the Airport.  The savings are considerable, particularly for high zone travel.

This ticket pricing circus is again a good example of what is wrong with public transport in south-east Queensland! It is a further disincentive for people not to use public transport.

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail September 14

The TransLink journey planner reveals that single ticket and go card journeys to the Brisbane Airport from suburban stations cost more than the sum of the individual fares.  For example, the cost of an adult single ticket or go card travel to the Brisbane Airport (Domestic or International) from Oxley is $18.10. The cost of an adult single ticket from Oxley to Central is $3.40 and to the airport from Central is $13.50 (ticket and go card).  This is a total cost of $16.90.  Using the go card the cost of a fare from Oxley to Central is $2.72.  So the Airtrain fare is actually costing $15.38 on go card in this instance.  The cost of go card journey to the airport from Central is $13.50 according to the TransLink journey planner.

The higher the zone the greater the differential. Why the extra fare cost for a continuous ticket?  A continuous journey should be at a discount as it saves operator costs.  This pricing is nothing short of a rip-off and smells of profiteering.

People using the Airtrain would be best advised to purchase a single ticket to Central, or use a go card to travel to Central. Touch off if using go card, and then buy another ticket from Central to the Airport.  The savings are considerable, particularly for high zone travel.

This ticket pricing circus is again a good example of what is wrong with public transport in south-east Queensland! It is a further disincentive for people not to use public transport.

[ozbob]

Submitted to mX September 16

Well done mX on highlighting the rail fare rip-off for connecting rail services with the Airtrain (mX Monday).

The TransLink journey planner reveals that single ticket and go card journeys to the Brisbane Airport from suburban rail stations cost more than the sum of the individual fares for rail.  The arguments advanced to justify the rip off are nonsense.

Amazingly, the Minister for Transport's office says they would not consider a rebate.  TransLink says it would not be an appropriate use of tax payer funds to subsidise Airtrain profits. What are taxpayers actually doing with the rip-off fares?  THEY ARE SUBSIDISING THE AIRTRAIN.

Also, what are the mate rates that Airtrain actually leases QR trains, QR crew, QR signalling system and so forth actually pays?  It is subsidised already by the taxpayer.  The taxpayer owns the public transport assets that Airtrain gets on the cheap.

So we have the absolute farce of people using their go cards, or buying a paper ticket to Central or other CBD station, touching off and then going to buy another ticket so that they don't get ripped off.  Bus ticketing does not suffer the same additional rip-off fares which further highlights the flawed logic advanced by Airtrain and Government.  Do we need any more evidence of the shambles that public transport ticketing has become in south-east Queensland?

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail September 17

Last June, a spokeswoman for the Minister for Transport said Queensland Rail will introduce timetable changes in September that would focus on the heavily patronised Ipswich line. We are more than half way through September but there have been no announcements of additional services.

Congestion on the Ipswich line continues to get worse and worse but there has been no action to address the problems.  For example, where are the incentive fares for the go card to encourage pre-peak, early peak and off peak travel and help ease peak congestion?

The bus-centric transport policies pushed as short term expedient solutions are falling apart in Brisbane. Thousands left standing at bus stops every day (C-M, Sep 17).  The CSIRO Report Fuel for thought has highlighted the looming problems for buses, although bus commuters in Brisbane can describe the failures today clearly enough.

We still have time to ramp up our rail networks, light and heavy for a sustainable transport future. Rail properly resourced will easily  cope with the increasing passenger loads. Buses are not trains!  Line mass transit is best provided by high capacity rail ? light and heavy, fed by local integrated buses.