32 new trains, an extra 14,000 seats added to rail network this week
Thirty-two new peak-hour trains are set to start on south-east Queensland's rail network this week, with an extra 14,000 commuter seats made available.
It comes after Queensland Rail slashed more than 100 services after the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line in October 2016 and the continued struggle to recruit the 200 new drivers needed to fill the timetable gaps, identified by the Strachan inquiry.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey said earlier this year the new services would be added to the Shorncliffe, Cleveland, Redcliffe Peninsula, Ferny Grove, Springfield, Gold Coast and Airport lines.
"Queensland Rail is working hard to deliver an improved timetable, putting more trains back into service when customers need them most," he said.
"A record 182 million trips were taken on public transport across the south-east last financial year, and we’re on track to beat that number this year.
"Queensland Rail has listened to customer feedback, and analysed patronage data, customer wait times, and operational efficiencies to identify 32 priority weekly services we know will benefit our customers right now.
"The 32 new services add to new customer initiatives, including the $114 million park ‘n’ ride upgrade program, live train information on the MyTransLink app, station platform raising and the rollout of new passenger information displays across the south-east."
This week's extra services followed 46,000 weekly seats added to the rail network last year and 193 services were increased from three to six carriages.
Queensland Rail reduced the number of services on the timetable after the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line on October 4, 2016, which led to more than 100 services being cancelled.
An interim timetable introduced in October 2016 resulted in 30 services cancelled each day as Queensland Rail attempted to fix a crisis caused by not having enough drivers and an unsustainable reliance on overtime, which was followed by several timetable iterations.
Last month, Brisbane Times reported only 69 net new drivers had been recruited, out of a target of 200 recommended by the Strachan inquiry.
In February 2019, more than $1 million in overtime was paid to Queensland Rail Citytrain drivers.