200 extra train services a day

More than 200 additional services a day will be added to the south-east Queensland network from January 20 next year following a major overhaul of the rail timetable.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said an expansion of the off-peak 15-minute services and several new peak services would boost frequency on the Beenleigh, Cleveland, Doomben, Ferny Grove, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Airport and Shorncliffe lines.

“When Queensland Rail doubled the off-peak frequency on the Ferny Grove line we saw passenger numbers increase,” Mr Emerson said.

“Queensland Rail has now done the work over the past 18 months to find the saving to deliver a timetable that gets the maximum use out of our existing rollingstock and infrastructure in both the peak and weekday off-peak.

“This is a big win for public transport users with improved connections, better reliability and more frequent services.”

Member for Coomera Michael Crandon said the 7,500 passengers who used Gold Coast services during the morning and afternoon peak were among the big winners.

“This is a great result for Gold Coast commuters with a 30-to-40 per cent increase in peak services,” Mr Crandon said.

“The Gold Coast has the highest number of services where people stand long distances and I’ve been lobbying for four years to see the day when the Gold Coast line is no longer referred to as the Bombay Express.”

Some of the key changes include:

• More peak Gold Coast services – nine to 12 for AM and 10 to 14 for PM
• Altandi will replace Coopers Plains as the express stop on the Gold Coast line
• More peak Shorncliffe services – eight to 11 for AM and eight to 12 for PM
• 50 per cent service increase at some of the Cleveland line’s busiest stations
• 15 minute day-time off-peak CBD to Cannon Hill on the Cleveland line
• More peak service for Beenleigh station – 19 to 24 for AM and 18 to 25 for PM
• 15 minute day-time off-peak CBD and Coopers Plains on the Beenleigh line
• 50 per cent service increase at some of the Ferny Grove line’s busiest stations
• Express services on the Ferny Grove line will become all station services – an increased trip time of four-to-five minutes each.
• 15 minute day-time off-peak CBD and Northgate on the Caboolture line
• An additional peak AM and PM Sunshine Coast service.

Mr Emerson said the timetable maximises all existing resources during core peak in terms of traincrew, rollingstock and infrastructure.

“This design is for the future, as it will allow additional services to be added to the timetable once trains start being delivered as part of our New Generation Rollingstock project,” he said.

“This is also important in our efforts to increase the capacity on the network beyond the current 2016 deadline.”

Queensland Rail and TransLink will be hosting information sessions at stations over the coming months.

For more information visit www.translink.com.au

[ENDS] 22 October 2013

Media contact: Stephanie Shield 0418 186 625