Article: TransLink general manager Luke Franzmann quits

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From Courier Mail click here!

TransLink general manager Luke Franzmann quits

TransLink general manager Luke Franzmann quits
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Patrick Lion

May 13, 2008 12:00am

ONE of the chief architects responsible for improving public transport in southeast Queensland - Luke Franzmann - has quit.

TransLink general manager Luke Franzmann has been behind the integration of commuter services while overseeing major projects such as the region's troublesome public transport "smart card".

Commuters are still being incorrectly charged as glitches plague the Go Card, the technology rolled out earlier this year after numerous missed deadlines since it was announced in 1999.

His resignation comes ahead of more transport bureaucracy changes in July when the new TransLink Transit Authority replaces TransLink as the authority overseeing buses, ferries and trains.

Mr Franzmann yesterday said he was leaving because now was the right time to move on, despite being "in the box seat" for the chief executive role of the new authority.

He finishes on May 30.

"It's been a great role and a job I have enjoyed very much," he said.

"From the increase in patronage, to the Go Card to the Inner Northern Busway, I have done what I set out to do."

Mr Franzmann has enjoyed a high profile as a top public transport mandarin, although not all the media he has received has been positive.

The Courier-Mail revealed last year that he enjoyed a taxpayer-funded CBD parking space despite his home being only 50m from a bus stop.

Transport Minister John Mickel declined to comment on Mr Franzmann's resignation.

Opposition transport spokesman Tim Nicholls said the timing was strange given the major changes happening in public transport.

"It appears he has been made the fall guy for the failures of TransLink and this is a clearing of the decks before the new authority comes in," Mr Nicholls said.

Mr Franzmann denied he had been pushed, saying he had overseen some "great things" in his six years at TransLink.

"It depends on your definition of lots of problems," he said.

"We have had a million trips on the Go Card. A million trips is a lot and no doubt the problems we have had will continue to improve."

[ozbob]

Our media release when first announced below:

Media Release 28 March 2008

SEQ:  Thank you Mr Franzmann

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org)  a web based community support group for rail and advocate for public transport commuters has publicly thanked Mr Luke Franzmann for his efforts as the General Manager of Translink.

Robert Dow spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

?Public transport in south east Queensland has been going through a number of significant improvements over the past 5 years or so, and will continue to do so.?

?Translink has under General Manager Mr Luke Franzmann achieved a number of significant improvements.?

?The Go card is now in use.  This is a major achievement.  Continued integration of the various public transport modes has been ongoing and has not gone unnoticed.?

?Mr Franzmann met with RAIL Back On Track in November 2007, and gave us the opportunity to present suggestions for improvements to the Go card.  Some of those were achieved; the fare structure though still remains a sticking point.?

?Not with standing that, thank you Mr Franzmann and we wish  all the best for the future.?

Contact:

Robert Dow

admin@backontrack.org
Administration RAIL Back On Track