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Media Releases My electorate office distributes information which is important to the Southport electorate in particular, and the Gold Coast in general. This information goes to the print and electronic media, however due to space or time constraints it doesn’t always get printed or broadcast. Through my website however, you can access all news stories which emanate from my office and thus keep up-to-date with State Government issues relating to Southport.
New timetable equals more Gold Coast services |
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| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Apr 08 2008 |
| Media Releases >> |
Gold Coast passengers will enjoy more frequent peak-hour train services when QR introduces a new timetable aimed at easing crowding on the busy rail corridor.
Member for Gaven Phil Gray said the new timetable would be introduced on Monday, March 31, resulting in improved services on the Gold Coast line.
Mr Gray said the timetable changes would deliver more than 8000 additional passenger seats each week from Monday to Friday.
"QR is introducing a new service in the morning peak period from Robina to Brisbane and another service in the afternoon peak period from Brisbane to Robina," Mr Gray said.
"Effectively, there will be services arriving at Central station approximately every 15 minutes during the morning peak period from 7.39am until 8.41am.
"In the afternoon peak period, trains will depart Central station approximately every 15 minutes from 4.24pm to 5.27pm."
Mr Gray said the timetable changes proved the State Government and QR recognised the Gold Coast's demand for public transport was booming on the back of its skyrocketing population.
He said outside of peak hour, trains would run half hourly from the start of service until 8pm, when hourly services commenced.
"Some bus timetables across the TransLink network have also been updated to reflect changes to rail timetables. Passengers who use TransLink bus services to connect to rail services should also check their bus timetable before March 31," Mr Gray said.
Mr Gray, along with Broadwater MP Peta-Kaye Croft, Southport MP Peter Lawlor, Mudgeeraba MP Dianne Reilly and QR staff, will be serving free sausages, pancakes and coffee to Gold Coast commuters at Helensvale station on the morning of March 31 to celebrate the launch of the new timetable.
QR Passenger Services Executive General Manager Andy Taylor said new timetables were now available.
Mr Taylor also encouraged passengers to recycle their old timetables.
"If you're doing your bit for the environment by choosing to catch a train instead of using a car, make sure you also don't forget to recycle your old timetables at special bins at Central, Roma Street, Brunswick Street and South Brisbane stations," Mr Taylor said.
He said the new timetable was made possible due to more trains and bolstered infrastructure, ultimately boosting rail capacity.
"Under the Queensland Government's $82 billion South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan, $7 billion has been committed to building a better rail network, delivering 144km of new track and 44 new trains," Mr Taylor said.
"The Ormeau-to-Coomera second track and Salisbury-to-Kuraby third track are complete, track-laying is well underway between Helensvale and Robina and the new track from Robina to Varsity Lakes is progressing.
"Once the Helensvale-to-Robina duplication is completed by August this year, there will be 50 percent more track capacity, allowing for further services from the Gold Coast."
However Mr Taylor said for the first two weeks of the timetable, there would be delays of four minutes between Helensvale and Robina in both directions due to ongoing infrastructure works.
"We are working hard to deliver the Helensvale to Robina track duplication as quickly as possible," he said.
"Commissioning of the new track between Helensvale and Nerang will occur during the first two weeks of the new timetable," he said.
"QR apologises for any inconvenience while we deliver this much-needed track duplication."
A passenger loading survey recorded an average of 2950 passengers during the morning peak and 2891 passengers in the afternoon peak on the Gold Coast corridor.
Updated timetables are available at www.citytrain.com.au and www.translink.com.au or call 13 12 30.
Last changed: [PUBLISHED_DATE] at 2:31 PM
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