Traveltrain services feared under threat from Liberal National Party's "efficiency savings"

Transport Minister John Mickel has called on the Liberal National Party to outline how it intends to make efficiency savings on the operation of Traveltrain services to centres in country and regional Queensland.

Mr Mickel said the Opposition’s Shadow Treasurer Tim Nicholls had claimed the State Government was wasting taxpayers’ money by failing to run the Traveltrain services efficiently.

“Mr Nicholls hasn’t provided anything to substantiate the Opposition’s claims that the Traveltrain services are operating inefficiently. He hasn’t provided any examples to show where money is being wasted.

“The ball is squarely in Mr Nicholls’ court to specify how the Liberal National Party intends to make efficiency savings.

“Let Mr Nicholls say where and how money is being wasted, what efficiency measures the Liberal National Party would introduce, and how much money this would save.

“My concern is that when the Liberal National Party talks of achieving greater efficiency, that is code for cutbacks to train services to country and regional Queensland.

“My concern is that Mr Nicholls does not believe long-distance passenger train services deserve the funding support they currently get from the government, and he is looking for ways to reduce the amount of funding being provided.

“Who knows what might be targeted under the Liberal National Party’s approach to cost cutting and from their so-called efficiency gains.

“That's why we need to hear from Mr Nicholls about how the Liberal National Party plans to make its efficiency savings. Until we do, passengers who use Traveltrain services have good reason to be concerned about what the Liberal National Party is proposing.

“Pensioners, for example, deserve to be told if under the Opposition’s policy they will continue to receive their four free train trips a year and their 50 per cent fare discount on Traveltrain services".

Mr Mickel said the government remained strongly committed to funding the State’s Traveltrain services. These were the Sunlander from Brisbane to Cairns, the tilt train services from Brisbane to Bundaberg, Rockhampton and Cairns, the Westlander from Brisbane to Charleville, the Spirit of the Outback from Brisbane to Longreach, and the Inlander from Townsville to Mount Isa.

“Mr Nicholls has demanded that the government explain how it will continue to deliver these Traveltrain services and provide better value for taxpayers.

“I am happy to do that. The government will continue to deliver these services by providing the funding involved.

“The government will ensure value for taxpayers’ money by closely monitoring and scrutinising the Traveltrain contracts it has entered into with Queensland Rail.

“The funding involved runs to several hundred million dollars each year, but this is a commitment that the government is not going to walk away from.”

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