Published Monday, 17 December, 2007 at 01:32 PM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Minister demands improvements to passenger service
Transport Minister John Mickel has today demanded that Queensland Rail speed up the employment of almost 100 extra train crew and make some major improvements to its services for passengers.
“I am appalled by the number of trains that are either running late or are being cancelled due to a shortage of guards. I have told QR that we need to deliver to the passengers travelling on the CityTrain network. We now have 24 new guards and 24 new drivers who will be ready to start work on Christmas Eve.
“QR is now also fast-tracking the training of another 48 guards so they’ll be ready early next year,” Mr Mickel said.
“It all translates to rail passengers being able to get to and from work, school, childcare and other appointments on time.”
“Passengers pay for a service, and they deserve to be getting the service they pay for. My instructions to QR are to make urgent changes to the way it informs and looks after passengers when unavoidable delays occur on our passenger rail system.
“QR will begin shifting guards from low patronage services to peak services, which I am assured will have an immediate impact on reliability of train services.
“Passengers can now access real-time online information on QR’s websites to allow them to check for any disruptions.
“If there are disruptions, QR train passengers will also continue to be provided the best possible alternative transport, at no cost to them, whether it’s a replacement train or free buses and, if necessary, taxis.”
Mr Mickel said passengers were entitled to reliable, ontime services and he had demanded QR address the issue urgently.
“If we are going to get people out of their cars and on to public transport, it has to be reliable, accessible and affordable,” he said.
“The Queensland Government invests more than $950 million of public funds into public transport each year and taxpayers are entitled to a quality product for their money - and that means trains that run on time.”
Media contact: Chris Brown (07) 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir 3235 4060
December 17, 2007
“I am appalled by the number of trains that are either running late or are being cancelled due to a shortage of guards. I have told QR that we need to deliver to the passengers travelling on the CityTrain network. We now have 24 new guards and 24 new drivers who will be ready to start work on Christmas Eve.
“QR is now also fast-tracking the training of another 48 guards so they’ll be ready early next year,” Mr Mickel said.
“It all translates to rail passengers being able to get to and from work, school, childcare and other appointments on time.”
“Passengers pay for a service, and they deserve to be getting the service they pay for. My instructions to QR are to make urgent changes to the way it informs and looks after passengers when unavoidable delays occur on our passenger rail system.
“QR will begin shifting guards from low patronage services to peak services, which I am assured will have an immediate impact on reliability of train services.
“Passengers can now access real-time online information on QR’s websites to allow them to check for any disruptions.
“If there are disruptions, QR train passengers will also continue to be provided the best possible alternative transport, at no cost to them, whether it’s a replacement train or free buses and, if necessary, taxis.”
Mr Mickel said passengers were entitled to reliable, ontime services and he had demanded QR address the issue urgently.
“If we are going to get people out of their cars and on to public transport, it has to be reliable, accessible and affordable,” he said.
“The Queensland Government invests more than $950 million of public funds into public transport each year and taxpayers are entitled to a quality product for their money - and that means trains that run on time.”
Media contact: Chris Brown (07) 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir 3235 4060
December 17, 2007