More than 150,000 weekly seats will be added to the Ipswich and Caboolture train lines from June 6, 2011 in the biggest change to South-East Queensland train timetables in almost 15 years.
Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said the timetable had been finalised after incorporating feedback from extensive community consultation, which saw 10 information sessions, 300,000 flyers handed out to commuters, 2000 pieces of feedback reviewed.
The Bligh Government is investing $26 million in the historic timetable upgrade.
"With patronage on Queensland Rail services growing by about five per cent in the six months to December 30, the time is right to undertake a major re-cast of the timetables on two of our busiest train lines," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"This is an exciting and historic change made possible by the recently completed upgrade between Corinda and Darra, the expansion to the new Richlands stations and the 46 new rollingstock sets we have added to the network over the past three years.
"Some of the feedback we've received has been exceptional. We've listened carefully to what people have been telling us and have been able to make more than 20 major changes to the draft timetable."
The keys changes to the draft timetable as a result of the customer feedback include:
- Four additional services between Rosewood and Ipswich to better connect with school start and finishing times;
- An additional morning peak service from Petrie stopping all stations to meet passenger demand;
- An additional early-bird service to Caboolture for those starting work early;
- Changes to morning peak services from the Sunshine Coast to better align with work start times; and
- Change to afternoon service to the Sunshine Coast to better align with work finish times.
"The new timetable will deliver more capacity, a simpler timetable based on two stopping patterns on each line and more reliability," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"In an historic step the TransLink network has aturn-up-and-go train network between Darra and the CBD, and four trains an hour between Northgate the CBD in off-peak and on weekends.
Other key changes to the existing timetable include:
·Services departing/arriving between six or 12 minute intervals at suburban stations during busiest peak times.
·Ipswich line trains stopping all stations Ipswich to Darra and express between Darra and the CBD, via Indooroopilly and Milton during the busiest peak times.
·Richland line trains stopping all stations between Darra and the CBD.
·Caboolture line trains stopping all station Caboolture to Petrie and express between Petrie and Northgate stations during the busiest peak times.
·Petrie trains stopping all stations to the CBD.
"Of the new additional weekly seats, 40,000 have been added to the morning and afternoon peak, which means customers will no longer need to rely as heavily on timetables as train times will arrive at regular intervals with fewer stopping patterns," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"I encourage all customers to become familiar with the changes before June 6.
"I want to thank all the customers, interested groups, local members and councillors who provided input into this process."
"Between now and June, TransLink will be working with all bus operators to change their timetables to continue to ensure we have a fully integrated bus and train network."
For timetable and information visit www.translink.com.au or call 13 12 30.
Media Contact: Minister Palaszczuk's office 3237 1111