TransLink Tracker Q2, 2011/12

[ozbob]

TransLink Tracker Q2, 2011/12

--> October to December (Quarter 2) 2011-2012 (PDF, 1.53MB)

http://translink.com.au/resources/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/2011-12-quarterly-report-oct-to-dec.pdf

==========================

Media release

http://translink.com.au/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/media-releases/release/484

Wednesday 4 April 2012

TransLink's public transport report card showed steady growth in patronage and on-time running for the last three months of 2011.

TransLink CEO Neil Scales said the latest snapshot of TransLink's performance showed overall patronage for the three months was 43.3 million which is an increase of 1.6 per cent compared with the same quarter the previous year.

"The biggest increase was train patronage, up by nearly 700,000 trips or 5.7 per cent, while bus patronage rose slightly, up 20,000 trips or 0.1 per cent, and ferry patronage dropped by 7,000 trips or 0.5 per cent.

"On-time running for trains also continued to improve for the quarter, with the figure exceeding 94.5 per cent.

"Other significant results achieved during the quarter included go card hitting the 300 million trip milestone and a cohort of 13 new Senior Network Officers graduating in December."

Mr Scales said customer satisfaction levels were being watched closely.

"There were statistically significant increases across four categories, including reliability and frequency, comfort of ride, information and accessibility," he said.

"With the introduction of two new high frequency bus routes to Forest Lake and Garden City which started service during this period (in October 2011), we'd expect this to reflect well in our customer's experience of comfort of ride and also frequency.

"We also recorded decreases in three categories of ease of use, efficiency, and affordability; while the remaining three categories remained relatively steady.

"The government has made a point wanting to see improvements in affordability for customers and we will be working closely with them to achieve that."

Other key public transport indicators for the October-to-December quarter show:

    the percentage of go card trips has increased to 80.0 per cent for the quarter
    the average fare per trip paid by customers in the quarter was $1.94
    customer enquiries for the quarter were 9.7 million - up 57 per cent compared with the same quarter the previous year
    the number of fixed fares fell to a record low of 2.2 per cent following the May 2011 fixed fares increase.

TransLink Tracker is available online at translink.com.au. The next Tracker will be available mid-June, 2012.

[ozbob]

OTP performance for rail is peak in the Tracker.

Bus is a wider window, samples around the day as well as peak.

Interesting to note that rail OTP reliability from 'customers' is assessed as better than bus .... 

[Fares_Fair]

OTP performance for rail is peak in the Tracker.

Bus is a wider window, samples around the day as well as peak.

Interesting to note that rail OTP reliability from 'customers' is assessed as better than bus .... 

Bus must be really, really bad ...

[Jonno]

OTP performance for rail is peak in the Tracker.

Bus is a wider window, samples around the day as well as peak.

Interesting to note that rail OTP reliability from 'customers' is assessed as better than bus .... 

This is because they can see, understand and monitor the trains progress/arrival as they approach.  With the buses it is just impossible to work out what is really arrving next at a stop (with and withut real-time signs) and thus a persons's perceptions are altered by stress/anxiety.

[somebody]

"The biggest increase was train patronage, up by nearly 700,000 trips or 5.7 per cent,

Imagine that    In the previous corresponding quarter, Richlands station wasn't open, the Ipswich line didn't have 15 minute frequencies weekends or evenings, and the peak offering wasn't meeting demand, especially in the PM.

In fact, doesn't Richlands station patronage more than account for the increase?  Yes, stolen from other stations on the line to some degree, but still...

[ozbob]

Go card adjustments

11 per 10,000 trips this is equivalent  0.11%

Go card fixed fares occur at  2.2%

So only 2.2/0.11 = 20, that is only one in every 20 fixed fares is adjusted ..

[Fares_Fair]

Go card adjustments

11 per 10,000 trips this is equivalent  0.11%

Go card fixed fares occur at  2.2%

So only 2.2/0.11 = 20, that is only one in every 20 fixed fares is adjusted ..

That is up from 10 per 10,000 trips in the previous quarter.
A 10% increase per 10,000 for corrections to be made.
Is it just me or is something awry?

[ozbob]

Slightly higher adjustment rate, now 11 per 10,000 before was 10 per 10,000 trips.

Actual fixed fare rate as fallen, as would be expected with more gates (less fare evasion).

[ozbob]

Go card adjustments

11 per 10,000 trips this is equivalent  0.11%

Go card fixed fares occur at  2.2%

So only 2.2/0.11 = 20, that is only one in every 20 fixed fares is adjusted ...

Compare to one year ago Q2 10-11

3.4/0.04 = 85, that is only one in every 85 fixed fares was adjusted ...

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

Cars close commuting costs gap with public transport

Cars close commuting costs gap with public transport

    by: Robyn Ironside
    From: The Courier-Mail
    April 05, 2012 12:00AM

THE number of commuters who say that driving and parking is cheaper than public transport has climbed to its highest level since TransLink was formed.

The latest quarterly report by the public transport co-ordination agency has found the affordability rating for trains - compared to private transport - has plunged to 52 per cent, down from 60 per cent a year ago.

Bus travel was rated slightly better, with 57 per cent saying it was cheaper than driving a car, while just over 60 per cent thought ferries made better economic sense than paying to park.

TransLink's chief executive, Neil Scales, has acknowledged the fall in public transport affordability, saying the change was being "watched closely".

"The (new) Government has made a point of wanting to see improvements in affordability for customers and we will be working closely with them to achieve that," Mr Scales said.

"The policy of free travel after nine journeys in a Monday-to-Sunday week instead of the current 10 then free will represent savings for regular weekday commuters and students when it is implemented later this year."

But commuters remain unconvinced that the change will make public transport more attractive.

Andrew Skurrie - who catches the train from the Gold Coast to South Brisbane each day - said current ticket prices were well beyond what could be considered "value for money".

"A family of four wanting to (travel to Brisbane to) visit the Museum over Easter is looking at $60, return, on the train, compared with $15 for parking, and another $10 or $20 for fuel," Mr Skurrie said.

"One more car on the roads, less patronage of public transport - all because of the ridiculous prices (for train travel)."

Over Easter, TransLink advises that it will operate a Sunday timetable on Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Monday, while a normal Saturday timetable will operate on Easter Saturday.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Transport satisfaction steady, says Translink

Transport satisfaction steady, says Translink
April 5, 2012 - 3:00AM

Public transport is the most unaffordable it has been in years but the overall satisfaction with the network has remained steady, according to the commuters of Brisbane.

Translink yesterday released its quarterly report – the TransLink tracker – for the months of October to December 2011.

While it showed increases in the year-on-year patronage across the network, there was a sharp decline in customer satisfaction with affordability.
Advertisement: Story continues below

Train passengers were feeling the pain in their hip pockets the most rating the affordability of train tickets at 52 per cent. A score of less than 60 is considered unsatisfactory.

Bus tickets had an affordability score of 57, while ferry tickets scraped a satisfactory rating of 61.

The ratings came before the latest 15 per cent fare hike, the third in as many years, with another due next year.

Before last month's state election, Premier Campbell Newman promised to cut the 2013 and 2014 fare hikes to 7.5 per cent.

TransLink chief executive Neil Scales acknowledged the customer dissatisfaction with affordability and said it was something the public transport authority would be working on.

"The government has made a point wanting to see improvements in affordability for customers and we will be working closely with them to achieve that," he said in a statement.

"Their policy of free travel after nine journeys in a Monday-to-Sunday week, instead of the current free after 10, will represent savings for our regular weekday commuters and students when it is implemented later this year."

Overall satisfaction with the southeast Queensland public transport network increased slightly for train commuters (68 to 69 per cent) and ferry services scored higher than the 75 per cent "best practice" benchmark of 75 with a rating of 78. Overall satisfaction with buses dipped slightly from 70 to 69.

There was an overall increase in patronage across the network of 1.6 per cent.

Mr Scales said go cards had hit the milestone of 300 million trips and customer satisfaction was being closely watched.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk took the credit for the comfort rating on the bus rising to 72 and said "it was amazing" the way Brisbane City Council had been able to turn around the perception of its buses comfort and reliability in such a short period.

"Just eight years ago people were grappling with buses that continually broke down and weren't air-conditioned or wheel-chair accessible," he said.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/transport-satisfaction-steady-says-translink-20120404-1wcs8.html

[ozbob]

Media release 5th April 2012

SEQ: TransLink Tracker Quarter 2 2011-12 - some good news and not so good news ..

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has said the latest TransLink Tracker has good news and not so good news (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The TransLink Tracker is a snapshot of the public transport network.  It does however lack detail."

"Rail patronage increased by around 5% for the quarter, whilst bus patronage essentially stalled despite the addition of a number of high frequency bus routes.  Rail frequency and reliability has overtaken bus as well.  The stated on time performance for bus in the Tracker is at odds with this finding.  We have always doubted the reported bus on time performance.  It is in our estimate more in line with Perth, which is around 85%."

"Increased patronage on the trains reflects in part no doubt the introduction of the new timetables in June 2011 and the increased train frequency between Darra and Northgate.  It is essential that all lines on the rail network have frequency improvements to continue this momentum. As fuel prices continue to soar this capacity on the rail network will be our salvation.  The bus system is already approaching capacity."

"It can also be noted that the number of fixed fares on the go card that were adjusted for the quarter was 1 in 20, a big improvement when compared to same quarter last year when only 1 in 85 fixed fares were being adjusted.  This in part reflects lower fare evasion, higher fixed fares quantum, and the fact that our campaign to alert go card users to regularly check their go card histories and seek adjustments is having an effect."

"Affordability is an issue.  We have been warning for years it is an issue, and no doubt was a factor in the ALP's election rout.  The recent fare increases have not improved the fare box as a relative percentage, what will is a proper integrated public transport system that has frequent services around the clock (2)."

"The new Government must ensure that the fare price and structure is reviewed.  Additionally more detail such as around the clock on time performance for all rail lines and bus routes should be publicly available."

References:

1. http://translink.com.au/resources/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/2011-12-quarterly-report-oct-to-dec.pdf

2. Public & Active Transport Issues in SEQ for New Governments  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7978.0

Contact:

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

[SurfRail]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

I'm looking forward to the underground rail station at Geebung, suggested by "Rail back on track" (RBOTS) at the LNP sponsored meeting at the Geebung RSL before the State election ....... should be interesting to see (1) when it will become a "reality" and (2) where the money will come from to build it, considering the lower fare structure advocated by the "RBOTS".
CommenterJ. Fraser
LocationQueensland
Date and timeApril 05, 2012, 8:59AM

What a muppet.

[Fares_Fair]

He really doesn't like us, does he?

If only he could get his facts straight he may have some credibility to comment, but he doesn't, and he doesn't.

[HappyTrainGuy]

This is starting to become a real concern. He should really check his facts first. All the Geebungian locals know that its going to be an elevated platform above the 4034 tunnel project as part of the Geebung to Q1 lookout express via Story Bridge climb and Mt Stapylton doppler radar. Honestly, where does this guy do his fact checking?

[#Metro]

Who cares!
It is not our job to go around "correcting" people and teaching them what 'facts' are.
Cut him loose and stop caring!

[SurfRail]

Who cares!
It is not our job to go around "correcting" people and teaching them what 'facts' are.
Cut him loose and stop caring!

I certainly don't care - I just find him amusing.

[HappyTrainGuy]

But where would we get our daily entertainment from? Translinks bus network still has a few laughs left in it I guess...

[somebody]

But where would we get our daily entertainment from? Translinks bus network still has a few laughs left in it I guess...

It sure does.  And a few defenders of the indefensible also.

Some might put me in the latter category.

[somebody]

I want a metric on person-minutes of delay due to full buses!   Perhaps hard to measure, but synthesise it in some way?

At least they could give out the stats on full buses.  They do on overloaded trains.

Is it a suitable topic for a media release?

[BrizCommuter]

I want a metric on person-minutes of delay due to full buses!   Perhaps hard to measure, but synthesise it in some way?

At least they could give out the stats on full buses.  They do on overloaded trains.

Is it a suitable topic for a media release?

Completely agree. Full bus statistics need to be in TransLink Tracker.
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/translink-tracker-q2-201112.html
Also, another blatant TransLink lie on page 15. Surprised no one had picked that one up!

[#Metro]

person-minutes of delay is correlated with the number of services delayed surely?

[somebody]

person-minutes of delay is correlated with the number of services delayed surely?

Correlated but not proportional.

[somebody]

I want a metric on person-minutes of delay due to full buses!   Perhaps hard to measure, but synthesise it in some way?

At least they could give out the stats on full buses.  They do on overloaded trains.

Is it a suitable topic for a media release?

Completely agree. Full bus statistics need to be in TransLink Tracker.
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/translink-tracker-q2-201112.html
Also, another blatant TransLink lie on page 15. Surprised no one had picked that one up!

Additional 29s were run.  Are you sure it was a lie?

[BrizCommuter]

I want a metric on person-minutes of delay due to full buses!   Perhaps hard to measure, but synthesise it in some way?

At least they could give out the stats on full buses.  They do on overloaded trains.

Is it a suitable topic for a media release?

Completely agree. Full bus statistics need to be in TransLink Tracker.
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/translink-tracker-q2-201112.html
Also, another blatant TransLink lie on page 15. Surprised no one had picked that one up!

Additional 29s were run.  Are you sure it was a lie?

It's wording appears to be referring to new train services. They may have meant bus services, but maybe they need to be more clear.

[somebody]

Even so, a few more 29s isn't going to set the world on fire, but the stop revisions have certainly helped with getting this service actually used away from UQ.

I think there were 8 more 66s as well.  Ho hum.

[ozbob]

612 ABC Brisbane Radio Breakfast with Spencer Howson conducted an interview on the latest TransLink Tracker, following on from some comments from Mr Scales CEO TransLink yesterday on 612.

Was able to explain some of the concerns with the bus OTP, further elaborate on some of the other data, fixed fares, injuries and patronage.

[ozbob]

612 ABC Brisbane Radio Breakfast with Spencer Howson

Click --> here!

Translink stats for Oct-Dec 2011 released

11 April 2012 , 8:14 AM by Spencer Howson

Translink's new CEO Neil Scales gave me a copy of the latest performance statistics yesterday. I had a good read last night.

One of the questions for Neil yesterday morning was - when will buses start running on time? He said while it was easy for trains to be on time, buses are never on time - anywhere in the world - because of traffic. But this report shows buses are consistently on time MORE OFTEN than trains. 95% of buses, 94.5% of trains. Last quarter 95% of buses, 93% of trains. YET bus passengers are less happy than train travellers with on-time running (65% are satisifed, 70% of train passengers)

With GoCard fixed fares - the penalties for not touching off - the % of trips incurring a fixed fare has indeed dropped off to around 2% of trips but the number of GoCard adjustments (where people complain and get their money back) has shot up in just six months!! From 5 in every 10,000 trips to nearly 12!!

The other one that jumps out is passenger injuries. Bus passenger injuries are trending down but train passenger injuries are at their highest level in two years.

With me to chew it over is Robert Dow from the public transport advocacy group RAIL Back on Track:

[somebody]

FWIW, there's an article on busnews about this: http://www.busnews.com.au/news/articleid/78970.aspx

Too high a price


By Sean Muir | April 5, 2012

Brisbane bus tickets are unaffordable and patronage growth is lagging behind rail, according to TransLink's quarterly report card.

Released yesterday, the October to December 2011TransLink Tracker report shows a bus ticket affordability score of 57.

The report notes that a score of less than 60 is unsatisfactory.

Meanwhile, growth in bus patronage for the quarter has risen just 0.1 percent, or 20,000 trips since last quarter, while train patronage was up 5.7 percent, or nearly 700,000 trips.

TransLink CEO Neil Scales, pictured above right with TransLink Bus and Ferry Director Michael McGee, says customer satisfaction levels are being watched closely.

"The government has made a point wanting to see improvements in affordability for customers and we will be working closely with them to achieve that," Scales says.

Despite affordability issues, bus service kilometres increased from 23.7 million the previous quarter to 25.1 million kilometres this quarter.

The increase in service kilometres compared with 2010-11 figures reflect the additional services added as part of the October bus service changes, according to the report.

"With the introduction of two new high frequency bus routes to Forest Lake and Garden City which started service during this period (in October 2011), we'd expect this to reflect well in our customer's experience of comfort of ride and also frequency," scales says.

Satisfaction levels for comfort of ride, and reliability and frequency both remained at a 'satisfactory' level, but overall customer satisfaction dropped from about 71 percent last quarter to about 69 percent this quarter.

Proximity and information satisfaction levels were both reported as satisfactory, while safety and security, and accessibility remained above 75 percent, which is considered a 'best-practise' level.

Ease of use satisfaction – which measures, using and understanding ticketing including transferring between modes, purchasing, topping up and using go card, and ease of finding stops – also remained at a 'best-practise level'.

However, satisfaction levels for bus efficiency, affordability, and the helpfulness of staff all dropped.

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail Quest click here!

Brisbane transport reliability data 'meaningless' says commuter group

Brisbane transport reliability data 'meaningless' says commuter group

    by: Sherine Conyers
    From: Quest Newspapers
    May 11, 2012 4:37PM

DOES transport reliability data actually mean anything - That's the question from Rail Back on Track has asked as it declares a 'state of secrecy' around reliability data for the state's rail and bus networks.

Spokesman for the commuter advocacy group Robert Dow said while other states didn't do a perfect job, he said the limited information Queenslanders were able to access about 'peak-time' data was 'sanitised' and prevented the public from holding the government to account.

"Why is it necessary to resort to Right To Information requests for data that is made readily available in other state?" he said.

"There's something wrong in terms of the way the public is treated if we can't get the data that gives you a proper representation of the operation of the system."

Mr Dow said people needed to know what the out-of-peak performance was.

"We believe that it enables people to pinpoint where the real issues actually are, but secondly, it allows people to challenge the misrepresentations made by politicians and others with respect to the data.

"If we don't know what the data is it's very hard to challenge them,'' he said.

In Victoria data is available online with month-by month breakdowns while NSW CityRail records on-time running to a benchmark of five minutes for suburban services and six minutes for intercity services and daily data breakdowns.

According to RBOT, Perth has the best data availability but Mr Dow said the Translink Tracker has limited information.

Some data is available on the Queensland Rail website but it states that if on-time running performance is affected by incidents beyond it's control such as medical emergencies, security incidents or severe weather, it is not included in the peak on-time performance results.

Data also does not include 'force majeure' incidences.

Mr Dow said he felt it had led to an overall deterioration in performance and reliability data to the point where many people "now no longer believe what's being said''.

"They are the one's that are put on buses at 8pm or 9pm at night because there is another track fault or police incidence or whatever, but that's never ever mentioned in the data or never seems to come through.

"We get a very small snapshot of average peak time performance," he said.

"It's meaningless.''

A spokesperson for Translink said Queensland Rail published peak on-time running on its website daily at Queensland rail.

"These figures are provided at manned train stations, where possible.

"Figures are also available quarterly through the Translink website or when requested.

Translink's Real Time trial is also investigating options for providing on-time running data for customers,'' he said.

That data, for bus networks, would allow for GPS tracking, but the spokesperson conceded he did not know as yet what Translink intended to do with the data, or whether it would be available to the public.

Last week Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said reliability of the south-east Queensland rail network dropped to 90.01 per cent for peak on-time running in the January to March 2012 period - the lowest result since 2009.

"The collapse in reliability of rail services came at the same time as Labor drove up the cost of public transport affordability," he said.

Mr Emerson said the LNP would be more passenger-focussed.

"When I catch public transport, affordability, reliability and frequency are the issues that passengers raise with me and they are the reasons people are walking away from public transport and hopping back into their cars," he said.

"If we are going to get people back on to public transport then these issues need to be addressed.''

[Fares_Fair]

Great piece by Quest News' Sherine Conyers.
It should also be a line by line breakdown/comparison, to see exactly where the major problems are occurring in the network.

Mr Robert Dow, an activist too! 

[colinw]

Oh look, John Fraser popped up again with that Geebung underground station nonsense. 

I'd love to know what is going on between his ears. Just plain weird.

[ozbob]

Oh look, John Fraser popped up again with that Geebung underground station nonsense. 

I'd love to know what is going on between his ears. Just plain weird.

LOL

Left this message for Mr Fraser.

Memo to John Fraser:

Please correct your incorrect blog comments.  This is an account of the meeting at the Geebung Zillmere RSL http://starnewspaper.com.au/news/?tag=leanne-linard  Note there was a Mr Dowd there but no Robert Dow, or any representatives of RBoT. The underground station you refer to appears to be a plan to grade separate the road and railway at Geebung.  Best you stick to your petty political hack comments John.  Look forward to your apology.

[Fares_Fair]

LOL, there goes his career in journalism ...

[ozbob]

A number of commentators on the Couriermail Quest blog have confirmed Mr Fraser's assertions are baseless and grossly misleading.

He clearly doesn't understand what grade separation is  and that people have different names.   Good that the record has been corrected.

[ozbob]

Media release 19 June 2012

SEQ: Translink Tracker needs additional measures

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers calls for some additional measures to be included in Translink Tracker.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Last year at the Queensland Parliament Estimates Committee hearing, the then CEO of Translink, Mr Strachan, claimed that Translink Tracker 'is elite customer indication reporting' (1). Really?  Paucity of meaningful data and dubious bus on time performance data have created a less than favourable impression with many (2)."

"Well, we think it needs a few additional measures that are generally available in other states to reach this level. For example:

- Dead running, for rail, bus, BCC bus

- Total operated trips for rail, bus, BCC bus and ferry

- Total timetabled trips for rail, bus, BCC bus and ferry

- Service-km for BCC bus

- full bus statistics - these should not require an RTI request as has been apparently required recently to write a recent Courier-Mail article about the 412 bus (3)."

"Most of the above statistics are reasonably readily available for operators in other states, for example STA in NSW (4,5)."

"The promised advance list of track closures has still not yet been made available (6).  Surely that is not a big problem?  Passenger focus or more failure?"

References:

1. http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2011/2011_07_14_Estimates.pdf  page 57

2. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8060.msg94505#msg94505

3. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/the-412-bus-route-of-the-beast/story-e6freon6-1226397215953

4. http://www.statetransit.info/performance-information/quarterly/Performance%20Information%20-Quarterly-%20March%202012.pdf

5. Call for transparency with public transport performance and load data http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8136.0

6. http://www.scottemerson.com.au/media-releases/passenger-first-approach-to-track-maintenance.html

Contact:

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