1 May 2013: Queensland: ICA Public Transport Outcomes

[ozbob]

Media release 1st May 2013



Queensland: ICA Public Transport Outcomes

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 broadly welcomed the Independent Commission of Audit outcomes for public transport (1, 2).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Data released yesterday by TransLink has confirmed patronage and fares are at rock bottom (3)."

"Clearly it is time for change.  We welcome contestability for public transport operation both rail and bus.  We are confident that Queensland Rail can be competitive for train operation."

"We welcome contestability for all bus contracts.  Fifteen of the 16 bus operators in south-east Queensland are private and there is no reason why Brisbane Transport should not also be made to compete."

"We urge careful consideration with rail network maintenance outsourcing.  Queensland is a huge state with a considerable rail network.  Fragmentation of that maintenance task is likely to lose any economy of scale, and lead to less than optimal outcomes both for safety and cost in the longer term.  Queensland Rail is a very safe rail operator and we want that safety level maintained. "

References:

1. Public Transport
http://www.treasury.qld.gov.au/coa-response/better-services.shtml#B3_Public_Transport

2. Poll: ICA - Public Transport Outcomes http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9902.0

3. The great fare fail ... http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9292.msg125413#msg125413

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8525.msg125419#msg125419

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

2nd May 2013

Re: Public transport experts warn of privatisation pain

Greetings,

There has been a lot of debate recently about public and private ownership and operation. Our position is that what matters is frequency, speed, decent span of service, affordability, connectivity, reliability, efficiency, customer service. Nostalgia and the 'romantic aura' of state ownership do not form part of this.

The simple fact is this - 90% of the TransLink's public transport operators are already private. Brisbane City Council's CityCat Ferries are already privatised to TransDev TSL, a Veolia Company. If people want to experience the 'pain' of riding privatised transit, go and ride the CityCat. You'll pay exactly the same fares as anywhere else on the TransLink network, and services run every 15 minutes. You can even ride privatised bicycles in Brisbane - The CityCycle is private and a privatised train - AirTrain to the Airport. Want to ride a privatised bus? Catch the 555 Logan City bus to Loganholme, departing every 15 minutes from the city.

We also highlight recent comments by University of Canberra Associate Professor of economics Dr Cameron Gordon:

"... if fares are too low, too many people will use the network"

One can only hope this 'disadvantage' of private operation materialises, and quickly, as with ongoing 15% and 7.5% fare increases and falling patronage, it cannot come to Brisbane soon enough!

The inefficiency in Brisbane Transport has been carefully documented, right down to the route level by us and various blogs, such as the Brizcommuter Blog. The main benefit of Brisbane Transport being subject to contestability is the depoliticisation of the bus operation - resources will go to services rather than launch initiatives such as Maroon CityGlider that can be used during contests for the Lord Mayoralty. Issues with running buses across council boundaries, such as into Logan, will also vanish.

The Lord Mayor and BCC can no longer be trusted to run the city's buses. After a decade of games, it's time to separate Brisbane Transport from Brisbane City Council.

Media references to UK bus experiences are also invalid, as privatisation there went hand in hand with deregulation (i.e. a ban on integrated network planning). This will not be the case in Brisbane, as TransLink, a public agency, will be in control, and has been in control for the last decade.

We look forward to a new era in public transport provision, guided by frequency, speed, decent span of service, affordability, connectivity, reliability, efficiency, customer service, whether that be provided by public or private operators.

Best wishes
Robert

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

References:

List of Current TransLink Operators

Airtrain - Private (but publicly operated by QR)
Bay Islands Transit* - Private, (from 1 July 2013)
Bribie Island Coaches - Private
Brisbane Bus Lines - Private
Brisbane City Council Ferries - Privatised to TransDev TSL, a Veolia Company http://www.brisbaneferries.com.au/
Brisbane Transport - Public
Buslink - Private Bus
Queensland Lockyer Valley - Private
Caboolture Bus Lines - Private
Clarks Logan City Bus Service - Private
Hornibrook Bus Lines - Private
Kangaroo Bus Lines - Private
Mt Gravatt Bus Lines - Private
Park Ridge Transit - Private
Queensland Rail - Public
Southern Cross Transit - Private
Sunshine Coast Sunbus - Private
Surfside Bus Lines - Private
Thompsons's Bus Service - Private
Veolia Transport - Private
Westside Bus Company - Private

Total operators = 21
Public operators = 2 (Brisbane Transport, Queensland Rail)
Private Operators = 19

Public transport experts warn of privatisation pain
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/public-transport-experts-warn-of-privatisation-
pain-20130501-2isqe.html

Lord Mayor and BCC can no longer be trusted to run city's buses
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9895.0

Relevant Brizcommuter Blog posts
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/brisbane-city-council-bus-network.html
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/brisbane-public-transport-hicksville.html
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/more-of-brisbane-city-councils-not.html
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/brisbane-city-council.html
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/maroon-sillyglider-to-be-introduced.html

* Bay Islands Transit will be integrated into the TransLink Network from 1st July 2013.
The operator is the same one that runs Perth's Buses.