Published Tuesday, 30 September, 2008 at 01:08 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
New trains and new services for early birds
Premier Bligh has announced new early-bird train services for the busy Ipswich and Caboolture lines while inspecting one of the first new trains for the Brisbane region.
Ms Bligh inspected one of four new suburban trains at Roma Street station as the State Government’s new train roll out gathers speed.
Ms Bligh and Minister for Transport John Mickel said the daily inbound services would be added to both the Ipswich and Caboolture lines in mid-October this year.
The early bird services will leave both Caboolture and Ipswich around 5.30am and arrive at Brisbane Central station before 6.30am.
“These services will add more capacity on these two busy lines and this new train is part of a $585 million roll out of 44 three carriage trains and associated stabling yards work,” said the Premier.
“Since February we’ve added 57 extra carriages to the fleet and by early 2009 we will have added another 24.
“We all need to change our behaviour to bust congestion and that’s why I want services like this to give people the opportunity to change their own routines.
“Using these services commuters have the opportunity to come to work early and leave early missing the morning and evening peak times. If they are a success we will look at similar services on other lines.”
The new trains travel at a top speed of 130 km per hour with seating for 242 people and standing room for over 500 people.
The $585 million rolling stock order for 44 trains included a stage one delivery of 16 interurban trains to operate on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast lines. The last of these trains was delivered in March.
The new suburban train Ms Bligh inspected today is part of the stage two delivery of 14 trains to the urban network by mid 2009.
“Over the next 10 months one of these congestion busting trains, which are being built in Maryborough, will be delivered, on average, once a month,” she said.
“Today’s new services are just the tip of the iceberg and we will be announcing more new services in the new year.”
By mid 2010 a further 14 three carriage trains will have been delivered to complete the entire 44 train order.
Minister Mickel said construction workers and people heading to the gym before work would benefit from the new services.
"Extra rolling-stock and infrastructure improvements due to come online in the new year will ensure more benefits and more timetable changes,” he said.
Mr Mickel said public transport patronage had soared almost 40 per cent over the past four years.
“Patronage for 2007/08 is estimated to be 61.7 million. This is an increase of 6.6% from 2006/07,” he said.
“Delivery of these new trains shows how the Queensland Government is planning for the future by meeting demand for passenger rail transport across South East Queensland as customer patronage continues to grow.”
For further information about public transport services, please visit www.translink.com.au or call 13 12 30, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Media Contact: 3224 4500
Ms Bligh inspected one of four new suburban trains at Roma Street station as the State Government’s new train roll out gathers speed.
Ms Bligh and Minister for Transport John Mickel said the daily inbound services would be added to both the Ipswich and Caboolture lines in mid-October this year.
The early bird services will leave both Caboolture and Ipswich around 5.30am and arrive at Brisbane Central station before 6.30am.
“These services will add more capacity on these two busy lines and this new train is part of a $585 million roll out of 44 three carriage trains and associated stabling yards work,” said the Premier.
“Since February we’ve added 57 extra carriages to the fleet and by early 2009 we will have added another 24.
“We all need to change our behaviour to bust congestion and that’s why I want services like this to give people the opportunity to change their own routines.
“Using these services commuters have the opportunity to come to work early and leave early missing the morning and evening peak times. If they are a success we will look at similar services on other lines.”
The new trains travel at a top speed of 130 km per hour with seating for 242 people and standing room for over 500 people.
The $585 million rolling stock order for 44 trains included a stage one delivery of 16 interurban trains to operate on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast lines. The last of these trains was delivered in March.
The new suburban train Ms Bligh inspected today is part of the stage two delivery of 14 trains to the urban network by mid 2009.
“Over the next 10 months one of these congestion busting trains, which are being built in Maryborough, will be delivered, on average, once a month,” she said.
“Today’s new services are just the tip of the iceberg and we will be announcing more new services in the new year.”
By mid 2010 a further 14 three carriage trains will have been delivered to complete the entire 44 train order.
Minister Mickel said construction workers and people heading to the gym before work would benefit from the new services.
"Extra rolling-stock and infrastructure improvements due to come online in the new year will ensure more benefits and more timetable changes,” he said.
Mr Mickel said public transport patronage had soared almost 40 per cent over the past four years.
“Patronage for 2007/08 is estimated to be 61.7 million. This is an increase of 6.6% from 2006/07,” he said.
“Delivery of these new trains shows how the Queensland Government is planning for the future by meeting demand for passenger rail transport across South East Queensland as customer patronage continues to grow.”
For further information about public transport services, please visit www.translink.com.au or call 13 12 30, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Media Contact: 3224 4500