Letters to the editor - Not published

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail May 17

The fuel subsidy peculiar to Queensland may get the chop in the forthcoming state budget. Comparison of prices between the states suggests that Queenslanders do not get the value of this subsidy as they should.

It would make a lot more sense to put the money into easing the road gridlock and further improvements in public transport throughout Queensland.  Both measures will help to ease traffic congestion and will in turn lead to fuel savings as there would be fewer delays on the roads.

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail May 20

The article 'Staggered starts aim to cut congestion, CM May 20' is an overdue initiative. To further manage public transport peak congestion off peak fares and early and late peak incentive fare discounts could be added to the fare structure for the go card. Off peak and incentive fares will encourage use of public transport when there is plenty of capacity and in turn help ease congestion on struggling peak public transport services. 

A high uptake of the go card will generate meaningful real time load data and improve public transport efficiency.  This would complement the trial to stagger working hours and would provide a further incentive for change.

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail May 23

The Minister for Transport recently made a statement in parliament about the Go card which confirmed only 29% of public transport trips are by Go card. Time to get cracking with a more equitable fare structure for the Go card, capping and fares that matches paper tickets.  The automatic top up feature needs to be implemented.  Administrative support needs to be improved, more points of sale and the placing of ticket machines in the major bus stations is needed.

As the Minister suggested, there are significant gains for the overall efficiency of public transport by ensuring a high Go card uptake.  But it must be attractive to ALL users.  At present it is clearly not.

The gate changes scheduled for Central Station on the 26th May which further restrict paper ticket users, are being perceived by many as a 'stick', when perhaps a 'carrot' should lead the stick? At peak only about 25% of rail commuters are using Go card.  It is understood that fare evasion is the reason perhaps for these changes BUT more thought, and communication to users as to why these changes at Central are needed is essential.  Otherwise there may well be a very significant backlash.

How long do the taxpayers of Queensland have to wait to see their significant investment in the Go card system really start to pay 'dividends'?

[Matt]

In regard to overcrowded trains, it seems like the Govt is just telling QR " make do with what you've got", that's why nothing much is happening.

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail June 8

View point 'State sell-offs can bring benefits' CM, Jun 8, makes a weak case for privatisation. The author Rooijmans is CEO and managing director of Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC).  Little wonder he thinks flogging off state assets is for the common good.  Brisbane Airport is a den of excess charges and rip-off prices, and disregards normal town planning impacts on citizens.  A great example of privatisation indeed Mr Rooijmans!   QANTAS, an example also mentioned was nearly sent to financial oblivion not so long ago. TELSTRA is a shell of its former self.  Selling off key state assets such as railways and ports will cost us all dearly down the track.  It is a great shame that the ALP policy is non-core apparently.

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail July 5

The latest public transport customer satisfaction survey has exposed some critical issues with our public transport (Brisbane commuters blast public transport as too costly and unreliable, CM July 3).  The big picture suggests a failure to develop all modes in an integrated sustainable manner.  Rail has been left languishing as roads and bus have been the priority, and as a consequence we are now in transport 'struggle street'.  The go card roll out has been abysmal, and this is reflected not only in the survey but also in the many letters and online comments made to the Courier Mail.  Government must properly resource all public transport modes and direct TransLink to immediately fix the go card.  If the go card can't be fixed junk it.

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail July 19

Exhibition patrons who travel by rail direct to the Exhibition will again have to pay an additional fare for the CBD to Exhibition leg.  Bus passengers will not pay this additional fare. The RNA does not want to include a public transport surcharge in its ticket prices.  TransLink and Government need to look at the Exhibition as a special situation.  It is potentially a huge public transport journey generator. 

Exhibition railway station is in zone one.  If a patron has a ticket that covers zone one they should not have to pay for an additional fare.  If you stop and think this through this is smart. If this was the policy it would actively encourage people to seamlessly take rail to the Exhibition.  As it is, many people break their journey at the CBD and transfer to the free buses.  Idiotic, and typically another demonstration of what is wrong with public transport in south-east Queensland.

Other cities such as Melbourne and Sydney do not put surcharges on for travel to their exhibitions (shows).  They are truly smart and actively encourage patrons onto public transport.  Queensland is in a transport backwater!  By encouraging patrons to take public transport fare revenue overall would increase, and costs of road congestion and damage and environmental impacts will be lessened, and the reduced injury and death on roads would more than compensate for any notional loss of surcharge fares.

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail July 20

The Courier Mail has highlighted the real agenda of a failing TransLink (Cash squeeze to hit public transport jobs, CM, July 18). This is the first public indication that TransLink is actively trying to cut all public transport operators funds.  It is perverse, and is directly opposite what the Premier and the Minister for Transport have been saying.  QR Passenger has been grossly under funded for years.  The go card is a leaky financial boat and TransLink appears to be unable to stem the loss of fare revenue.   Isn't it time that TransLink was hauled to account for  the leakage of fare revenue rather than attempting to ration our bus and rail public transport services and standards?

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail July 25

Chris Hale has definitely not missed the bus ( Let's climb aboard light rail, Viewpoint, CM, July 24).  The bus and road centric transport policy pursued since the late sixties is about to collapse unless there is an immediate and sustained increase in rail - heavy and light, to give the capacity and sustainability that is needed.

The confirmation that the light rail project on the Gold Coast is under way is great news for the coast, Queensland and the Nation.  Light rail will become an iconic feature of Australia's playground.

Once the utility, capacity and practicality of the light rail system is demonstrated when operations commence, I predict that this will be the driver for a light rail network in inner Brisbane.  Other states will also sit up and take notice. Light rail is going to be around for the long haul.

It is easy to discern with the 'retro-spectroscope' the sheer folly of the removal of Brisbane's trams in 1969.  This ranks as one of the great public transport failures along side the line closure and sale of the original rail corridors to the Gold Coast and Tweed Heads.

Let's learn from these disastrous outcomes and continue to put in place transport for the future as argued by Hale.

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail August 2

Congratulations to the construction alliances, the Queensland Government and TransLink on the commencement of services on the new Northern Busway and the Boggo Road Busway from today(3rd August).

The bus station at RBWH is very impressive and will be a major improvement in facilitating access to public transport and the busways will allow some reduction in commute times.  To maximum the value of the considerable expenditure by Queensland taxpayers however, the route 66 bus needs to be extended to RBWH bus station.  This will assist in the overloading that occurs on peak times particularly between the Herston medical precinct and CBD.  Another approach would be to combine the route 109 with the route 66 and in so doing provide a seamless integrated service between the major medical precincts in Brisbane namely Herston, Mater and PA hospitals, and also UQ and QUT Kelvin Grove.  This would also ease the congestion between Herston and CBD on the buses.

The Boggo Road busway is very useful. I note however only three bus routes will be using the new busway from today. (3rd August)  These bus routes are routes 139, 169 and 209.  Surely it would make sense to also run route 109 on the new busway?  Also some other routes could also use sections of the new busway, for example routes 105, 108, 107, 112, 116, 113.  Why build massive infrastructure if it is not going to be utilised to the maximum? Congestion costs!  It is time that all modes of public transport were properly resourced to further encourage citizens to make the change.  The new busways are a very welcome incremental improvement to the public transport network.  Let's use them to the maximum!

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail August 9

The article (Transport use booms but reliability of buses queried, CM Aug 7) has correctly identified there is a problem with the reliability of buses in the recently released TransLink Tracker report. In that report, on time bus performance is stated as approaching 96% of late. How can that be?  It seems that the assessment of ontime bus performance does not follow the same methodology as the assessment of ontime train performance, which when level crossing incidents and network failures are taken in account is world class. To correctly interpret the data in the survey the criteria for ontime performance for all modes needs to be spelt out. Any regular bus user can tell you ontime performance is nowhere near 96%!  This is reflected in the customers correctly identifying bus reliability and frequency as very poor in the survey.  Why the apparent discrepancy?

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail August 16

There is constant overloading and long waits for buses to board between the new busway station at Royal Brisbane Women's Hospital, Herston, Queensland University of Technology Kelvin Grove, and the central business district. The route 66 bus needs to be extended to RBWH and increased in frequency.  The introduction of a new bus route utilising the new and existing busways, essentially a combined route 66 and 109 would provide a one seat connection between the major medical precincts, Herston, Mater and Princess Alexandra Hospitals, and also link up the University of Queensland and QUT Kelvin Grove. This innovative route would also assist in the managing the overloads.

The problems of passengers not being able to board buses in timely manner is not encouraging continued use of public transport. The huge public transport infrastructure investment demands maximum use of the asset. It is not the time to stop the bus!

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail October 11

There are many factors that impact on the on time train performance.  Some of these factors are network problems particularly signal and track failures, power problems, level crossing incidents, Citytrain and freight train failures, crew and passenger illness, increased dwell times due to overloading and other police incidents.

QR Passenger's on time train performance is being significantly impacted by what seems to be almost daily signal and track failures. Most of the factors that are impacting on the on time train performance are not under the direct control of the operator, that is QR Passenger.

Last Friday evening there were more signal failures on the Sunshine Coast line which caused major disruptions. QR Passenger managed these disruptions well but these frequent delays and disruptions must be turned around.

Why are we suffering these constant signal and track failures?  Is network maintenance being properly performed?  These are questions frustrated rail commuters would like answers too.

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail October 18

The new go card fares are set at the 2007 single fare paper cost.  The eventual loss of the periodical paper ticketing will impact severely on many commuters and in the interim paper tickets are facing a huge cost rise from January 2010.  This is clearly to drive users to go card.  That in itself is not a bad thing as the cost and inefficiency of the duplicate ticketing systems needs to be addressed but too much stick will come back and whack the government.

The go card environment needs to be radically improved.  Some things for consideration include much improved administrative support, online forms for refund of fixed fares, stepped up education and help booths for new users.  An amnesty period for new users would be a good idea, particularly if the fixed fares penalties are increased (presently $3 bus/ferry, $5 rail, planned to be $5 bus/ferry $10 rail - concession half of those) this will be essential or again lots of grief in the streets.   More go card  readers at rail stations is necessary to cope with the peak surges.  There will be considerable flack from commuters I expect if this is not done.

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail October 20

Melbourne has just announced a freeze on increases on public transport fares until the end of 2010.  Here in Brisbane commuters who use periodical paper tickets are facing massive increases in their cost of travel from January 2010, some around 50 to 70%, and when the projected 15% per annum fare increase for the next 5 years is also included the cost will be doubling for many.  Why is it that some states understand the flow on savings from increasing public transport use but Queensland cannot? The massive increases for many commuters will force them back on to the already congested roads increasing the overall costs of congestion, environmental impacts and increased costs to the health sector.  These financial impacts will far outweigh any notional gain in the fare box revenue.

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail October 25

Melbourne has just announced a freeze on increases for public transport fare costs until the end of 2010.  Here in Brisbane commuters who use periodical paper tickets are facing massive increases in their cost of travel from January 2010, some around 50 to 70%, and when the projected 15% per annum fare increase for the next 5 years is also included the cost will be doubling for many.  Why is it that some states understand the flow on savings from increasing public transport use but Queensland cannot?

The increase in the cost of fares for many commuters will force them back on to the already congested roads increasing the overall costs of congestion, environmental impacts will worsen  and there will be increased costs to the health sector.  These financial impacts will far outweigh any notional gain in the fare box revenue.

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail November 2

Thanks to BCC, TransLink and QR Passenger for the new Citytrain services on the Ipswich line with effect 4th November.  This will give some more capacity and opportunity for folks to avoid the congestion bottlenecks and delays associated with the Go Between Bridge works.

[mufreight]

Extending the bus services that currently terminate at Indooroopilly Shopping Town through to the Indooroopilly railway station even if only during the peak travel times would provide convenient quicker transit times for commuters rather than the present system where they board a shuttle bus at the Indooroopilly Shopping Town bus interchange for their journey into the CBD with the bus then getting tangled up in the congestion and taking up to an hour for what by rail would be at most a 15 minute trip.
Of course such a solution being so simple would be beyond any conceptual planning of Translink's transport planners.

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail November 22

Last Wednesday afternoon I travelled on a train from Roma Street station to Oxley.  I hopped on the train at Roma St and I noted that the train was brand new.  In fact the new Suburban Multiple Unit train number 278 was on its first day of revenue service as far as I could tell. 

I could tell this by the fact that no windows were scratched, the upholstery was clean and intact, there were no scratches or other signs of vandalism on the train. 

How wonderful it would be if all our public transport assets were left alone by the vandals. There is something wrong with a society that creates generations of individuals intent on wanton destruction of public property.

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail December 12

As each day passes, more reasons as to why the 'great rail sale' is flawed surface.  Concerns at a federal level and in terms of competition policy suggest the overall rail sale plan is flawed. It is time to stop and reassess these sale plans. Keeping Queensland Rail passenger operations in public ownership is a good thing, flogging off long term income producing assets for a short term notional dubious gain is fatally flawed.

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail December 23

What an amazing finding by the Coroner with respect to the tragic deaths at Goodna with the rail incident in 2006.   Little wonder the Coroner commented that the driver of the train would be unlikely to convicted of dangerous driving, says it all.

Why is it when trucks drive into trains and kill people, and trains hit people on railway lines that are clearly off limits it is the trains fault?  Hundreds killed and thousands maimed on the roads this year, but that don't matter.  Little wonder society is a mess.

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail December 30

Brisbane public transport commuters who use periodical paper tickets such as weekly and monthly tickets are facing massive increases of 40% or more in their cost of travel from Monday 4th January 2010.  Go card fares are also increasing by about 20%.  This will place go card fares at what paper single tickets cost in 2007.  All paper tickets are to be phased out at the end of 2010.

The increase in the cost of fares for many commuters may force them back on to the already congested roads, increasing the overall costs of congestion, environmental impacts will worsen  and there will be increased costs to the health sector.  These financial impacts will far outweigh any notional gain in the fare box revenue.  Further smart fare options are needed for the go card including daily capping and periodical ticketing options to encourage maximum use of public transport.

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail January 1

Most Brisbane public transport commuters who use periodical paper tickets such as weekly and monthly tickets are facing massive increases of around 40% in their cost of travel from Monday 4th January 2010 if they continue to use those tickets.  Go card fares are also increasing by about 20%.  This will place go card fares at what paper single tickets cost in 2007.  All paper tickets are to be phased out at the end of 2010.

With the new fare structure, relative to the new paper tickets costs, the majority of public transport users will be better off using the go card. The remainder who do more than 12 public transport journeys a week may be better off with the paper ticket options as it stands from Monday.

The increase in the cost of fares for many commuters though may force them back on to the already congested roads, increasing the overall costs of congestion, environmental impacts will worsen  and there will be increased costs to the health sector.  These financial impacts will far outweigh any notional gain in the fare box revenue.  Further smart fare options are needed for the go card including daily capping and periodical ticketing options to encourage maximum use of public transport.

[mufreight]

The question that arises in relation to these fare increases is, is it the intention of Translink and one would assume the Government also as it is Government who approves these fare increases to deter as many people as possible from using public transport to avoid the costs of the infrastructure needed to provide the required levels of service?
Increases relative to the CPI would be acceptiable these increases far exceed that figure and the compulsory use of the sadly flawed and frailed Go Card system is a further deterent to public transport use.

[#Metro]

Oh well. Price rises are unavoidable fact of life.
At least we can claw them back in the form of extra services.

[Jon Bryant]

Whilst the increases are likely to encourage people back to their cars the rise in petrol in the next 6 months is going to send them back to public and active transport on droves.  Both are going to make people think about how far they live from their work. It is unfortunate that our road infrastructure has being encouraging exactly the opposite. 

[#Metro]

Public transport is always good value.
The reason why people have cars is that their wealth has increased and they can afford a big house, two cars (and a third for the kids). If they can afford that, they can afford increased petrol and transport tickets.

Its the people on concession that one needs to be concerned about, but even they get 50% off ticket prices and their Centrelink is indexed to CPI.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

2 January 2010

Letter to the Editor

New public transport fares for south-east Queensland

On Monday the 4th January 2010 a new fare structure for all TransLink public transport services in south-east Queensland comes into effect.  Commuters will note there are price rises for paper tickets of around 40%, this includes daily, weekly and monthly tickets.  Go card fares are increasing around 20%, however this will position go card fares at what was the paper single fare costs in 2007.  Off peak fares will be available on the go card for the first time.

For the vast majority of public transport commuters moving to the go card is the most affordable option. Unless a commuter regularly does more than 12 journeys in a seven day period from Monday to Sunday, go card is clearly more affordable under the new fare structure than to continue to use paper tickets. All paper tickets are planned to be removed at the end of this year. Also note the Government and TransLink have flagged further annual fare price rises of 15% for the next four years.

Clearly many commuters will be surprised and possibly upset with the quantum of the fare price rises next week.  I would urge all commuters not to vent their disappointment and anger direct to station staff, bus drivers and ferry crew, but rather to elected political representatives and TransLink.  Public transport operators are only doing their job and it is not pleasant to be caught in a commuter cross-fire.

Robert Dow
Administration
RAIL Back On Track

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail January 10

A letter to the editor in the Courier Mail on the January 8th by Lana Hope has again highlighted the need for the costs of the go card failures to be moved from go card users.

A lot of go card users only have mobile phones. For them to seek to have an adjustment made to their go card following an equipment or service failure is often a lot more costly in call charges than the value of the adjustment. A lot of these claims could be handled by a web based claim form, and additionally a paper form that could be downloaded and forwarded to a free postal address.  This is similar to the myki card in Melbourne.

For those claims that cannot be handled by the forms, a call back service for mobile phone users and a free call number for others should be provided.

It is not fair for go card users to pay for the cost of go card failures, particularly in view of the very steep fare price hikes. It is time TransLink showed real commuter support and moved forward with proper service for go card customers.

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail January 11

A letter to the editor in the Courier Mail on the January 8th by Lana Hope concerning in part her mobile phone costs for sorting out go card claims  has again highlighted the need for the costs of the go card failures to be moved from go card users.

A lot of go card users only have mobile phones. For them to seek to have an adjustment made to their go card following an equipment or service failure is often a lot more costly in call charges than the value of the adjustment. A lot of these claims could be handled by a web based claim form, or a paper form that could be downloaded and forwarded to a free postal address.  This is similar to the myki card in Melbourne.

For those claims that cannot be handled by the forms, a call back service for mobile phone users and a free call number for others should be provided.

It is not fair for go card users to pay for the cost of go card failures, particularly in view of the very steep fare price hikes. It is time TransLink showed real commuter support and moved forward with proper service for go card customers.

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail January 15

South-east Queensland now has the dearest and poorest frequency public transport in the nation.

All states other than Queensland have free incentive or value plus public transport travel for Seniors above the normal concession fares.  For example in Perth, Seniors are entitled to travel for free on all Transperth services between 9.00am and 3.30pm Monday to Friday, all day Saturday and Sunday, as well as public holidays.

Seniors are struggling.  Particularly as they have been caught with the savage rise in paper ticket fares and the failure to give Seniors go cards as previously indicated.

Free travel for Seniors on Sundays is a no-brainer.  Easy to implement via go card.  No direct costs as the asset is running any way with capacity.  Additionally it will reduce overall health costs as Seniors get out and about.  Why is Queensland such a transport social policy backwater?

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail January 17

South-east Queensland now has the dearest and poorest frequency public transport in the nation.  Time something was done for Seniors to lessen the cost of living impacts of the recent savage paper ticket fare rises.

All states other than Queensland have free incentive or value plus public transport travel for Seniors above the normal concession fares.  For example in Perth, Seniors are entitled to travel for free on all Transperth services between 9.00am and 3.30pm Monday to Friday, all day Saturday and Sunday, as well as public holidays

Free travel for Seniors on Sundays is a 'no-brainer'.  Easy to implement via go card.  No direct costs as the asset is running any way with capacity.  Additionally it will reduce overall health costs as Seniors get out and about.  Why is Queensland such a transport social policy backwater compared to the rest of Australia?

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail January 31

Constant overloading and long waits for buses to board between the new busway stations at RBWH, RCH Herston, QUT Kelvin Grove, and the CBD. During the past 5 months some passengers have had to wait up to 50 minutes at RCH Herston to board a bus!  Acceptable? Of course not! Given the RBWH's serious parking problems, this has been a great chance to get people to switch to public transport, wasted!

Many commuters are now tired of the long waits to board a bus and have gone back to cars.  This is just adding to congestion and environmental impacts.  Why are bus commuters being treated in such an off hand manner?  Promises of increased services following the fare price rises have not been delivered.

One solution would for the route 66 bus to be extended to RBWH and increased in frequency.  The introduction of a new additional bus route utilising the new and existing busways, essentially a combined route 66 and 109 would provide a one seat connection between all the major medical campuses in Brisbane, and UQ and QUT Kelvin Grove and assist in the overloads.

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail March 27

The Cross River Rail Project will allow increased train frequency on all lines and the introduction of novel train paths (CM, March 25).  This is essential in view of the looming capacity constraints through the Brisbane City rail corridor.  The route outlined is the best of the options considered.  The projected interface with either Central or Roma St railway stations is essential and will make rail travel seamless with the rest of the network.

The benefit of an underground rail station at Woolloongabba and in the southern CBD will be immense in terms of providing mass transit access for citizens to these major public transport journey generator locations.

Utilisation of part of the Exhibition loop rail corridor for this extension makes economic and operational sense.  Some additional works will be required to ease the Cross River Rail line onto the main northern line but this is relatively straight forward compared to a continuation of the tunnel.  The planned development at the Exhibition precinct will now be directly supported by mass transit. This will allow direct rail travel to the Herston Medical Precinct as well.

The detailed planning for Cross River Rail needs to include provision for subsequent additions to the network. 

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail April 22

I would like to express my appreciation for the steam on the suburban network these past three days. (Rail travel gets up steam again, CM April 22)

I had the opportunity to travel a number of times, and it was pleasing to note the professionalism of crew and volunteers, and also the active engagement of all QR Passenger staff at various stations.

The joyful surprise of many regular rail commuters was wonderful to observe as they suddenly realised this steam service was a service they too could travel on!

QR Passenger is to be commended both on the continued training of drivers in the operation of steam locomotives but also in having taken the initiative in making these services available to the general public. Thank you to all who made it happen.

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail May 9

The Courier Mail has highlighted some of the overloading issues on public transport (Big squeeze on buses, trains, CM May 8).  All is not lost. There is plenty of latent capacity on the rail network which could be put to good use today.  The frequency of rail services is poor, simply by increasing train frequency and using more feeder and satellite bus routes, the chronic bus congestion problems will be relieved.  The Cross River rail project will be needed to give the longer term capacity and frequency increases, but doing nothing now is not acceptable.

There appears to be a reluctance to place additional rail services which are well within the present system capacities. Why is this so?

By addressing the present gaps on the rail timetables this will encourage a more even use of public transport.  We have the go card rolled out, but it is in a 'fare straight jacket'.  Why is the significant public investment, our investment, not being properly used to encourage more flexible travel patterns?

Simply accepting that things will get worse before they get better is not acceptable.  If the authorities cannot move forward with improvements today they should get off the bus!

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail May 16

Last October a commitment by the Minister for Transport and the Deputy Premier was made to 'issue 400,000 free go cards loaded with $10 credit upon registration to encourage take-up'.   It is now too late for most public transport commuters as they have already been forced to take up the go card due to the high fare costs of paper tickets relative to go card fares.

It would be more efficient to reward the 'go card pioneers' with the bonus $10 credit.  As the original commitment was for a bonus $10 on registration, it would be easy to credit go card registered users with the $10 at a specific date.  For example 1st July could be the target date.  This would further encourage uptake and importantly registration of the go cards.

(see http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=66877 for the above quote )

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail May 28

Transport is critical to the future of south east Queensland (Growing Pains, CM May 28).  There is plenty of latent capacity on the rail network which could be put to good use today.  The frequency of rail services is poor, simply by increasing train frequency and using more feeder and satellite bus routes, the chronic bus congestion problems will be relieved.  The Cross River Rail project will be needed to give the longer term capacity and frequency increases, but doing nothing now and waiting for more reviews is not acceptable.

There appears to be a reluctance to place additional rail services which are well within the present system capacities. How much faith can we have in the future grand plans?

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail June 6

Proper pro-active public transport infrastructure has been sacrificed for a long period to sustain the greed of the road lobby throughout Australia, nowhere is this more evident than in south-east Queensland. It is obvious that a road centric transport system is a congestion and safety failure, as well as environmentally unsustainable.

The 2010-2011 State Budget is an opportunity to fund the continuation of the construction of the railway line to Springfield from Richlands in my opinion.  Construction to Richlands is ahead of schedule and it would make sound economic sense to continue with the present construction force.  Stopping and starting is very expensive.  The savings if construction continues now would allow full duplication of the railway line to Springfield and construction of the stations at Ellen Grove and Springfield Lakes as well as Springfield.

[ozbob]

Submitted to the Courier Mail June 27

On the 15th October 2009 when the new fare increases were announced, a commitment was given in a statement by the Minister for Transport for 83,400 additional weekly rail seats by July this year.  This equates to around 167 additional six car services per week or about 35 additional 6 car daily services.  Only a handful have been implemented since the commitment was given.

Rail commuters have done their part.  Despite loss of their affordable periodical paper ticket options and the poor user interface for the go card they have increasingly moved over to the go card.

Congestion is increasing on the rail network.  There are many timetable gaps, coupled with the overall worst train service frequency in metropolitan Australia means that there are many opportunities to place the promised rail services. An increased train frequency will ease the pressure on radial bus routes as it affords the opportunity for more satellite and feeder bus routes. An increase in peak and off peak train frequency means more passengers and an increased fare box to amortise the fixed costs. An increase in train frequency means problems with bus-rail connections are eliminated. Public transport users deserve better than just empty promises.