Brisbane Tram network patronage

[rtt_rules]

From one of the facts of the day

http://www.brisbanetramwaymuseum.org/morwoodtrams.php, 160m people annually used Brisbane's trams, so assuming network was still in place today without significant changes apart from more modern rollingstock how many do we think would use it today?

My guess and obviously we can only guess, less than 80m. Would need to dig up Mel's data to provide a good side by side est.

regards
Shane

Edit:
http://ptv.vic.gov.au/assets/PDFs/Random/Market-Analysis-Patronage-Long-Run-Series-2012.pdf

Page 8, basically since 1969, the year Brisbane system closed, Mel tram patronage has rised 75m to 180m with a low of 95m. Or roughly the same since 1960. In the 60's the tram system was still cash flow positive. Have to wonder how the fares compare in real terms to today?

The railway however, 94% improvement on its lowest numbers to recently.

[ozbob]

Brisbane tram network would have evolved as has Melbourne's.  The peak patronage during the WW2 was a consequence of a number of factors, petrol rationing being one, and the fact that not all had or could afford horseless carriages ...  But the peak at 160 million passengers for a route system of around 100km is remarkable.  Just shows the heavy lifting trams can achieve.

I actually think that had the system be retained it would be moving a lot now.  Probably around 80 million passengers.  The bus arrangements would be different from today. The signal that was sent when the trams closed was one of a road/car centric future.  Now having to be somewhat reversed.

For people who have not grown up with a tram system there is a different culture about it.  Trams are fixed in their routes, this leads development.  I spent part of my childhood living at Windsor, Melbourne, Albert St a short stroll from Chapel Street.  Trams laid on, 5' 3" as well Windsor rail (part of the Sandringham line).  Hopping on a tram is just a natural part of life in such locations. Cars not needed.

[ozbob]

On http://reworkit.tumblr.com/post/29672038674/pick-the-australian-city

[#Metro]

Brisbane tram network would have evolved as has Melbourne's.  The peak patronage during the WW2 was a consequence of a number of factors, petrol rationing being one, and the fact that not all had or could afford horseless carriages ...  But the peak at 160 million passengers for a route system of around 100km is remarkable.  Just shows the heavy lifting trams can achieve.

I think the frequency was around 10 minutes or better all day, and a lot of separation - therein lies a clue...

[Otto]

Keep in mind some Tram lines had already closed before the Clem Jones era.

[colinw]

I think it would have shed a number of the more lightly used branch lines, with development focusing on the inner city role plus the main lines to Chermside, Stafford, Enoggera, Ashgrove, Salisbury, Mt Gravatt & Belmont.

Some of the less direct routes (e.g. Hawthorn/Bulimba) would have struggled.

The Toowong line along Milton Rd would have struggled to survive with strong competition from rail, and huge pressure to get the trams off Milton Road. Enoggera might have had the same problem.

In terms of development of the system, the 1950s extensions with high quality reserved track to Chermside, Belmont & Mt Gravatt pointed the way things would have gone. Those lines would have made fine modern LRT routes.

The 1970s would have been the low point as in Melbourne, with new trams coming in the 1980s and the system continuing to develop from there. There would have been a number of minor extensions - Mt Gravatt to Garden City, Belmont to Carindale shopping centre, possibly a tram bridge to UQ from West End. Maybe an extension of the Stafford & Enoggera lines.  The outer end of the Salisbury line, may have ended up being re-aligned to reach Salisbury Rail & the high school, rather than turning up Evans Rd to the munitions plant (it was built during WW2).

If the trams had survived, I wonder if the suburban rail electrification would have come when it did.  For sure there would not be a busway system, as the busways basically reprise the best bits of the old tram system.

[ozbob]

Interesting paper ...

Long-term patterns of Australian public transport use

--> http://www.atrf11.unisa.edu.au/Assets/Papers/ATRF11_0030_final.pdf