Re: [SA] More people using public transport

["Taliesin Walker" <taliesin@nospam.chariot.net.au>]

Eddie Oliver <eoliver@efs.mq.edu.au> wrote in message
3972E653.57AFB720@efs.mq.edu.au">news:3972E653.57AFB720@efs.mq.edu.au...
> Taliesin Walker wrote:
>
> > Also, if TransAdelaide would give up on running trains stopping
Oaklands,
> > Brighten then all stations to Norlunga Centre along with trains stopping
all
> > stations to Brighton an replace them with trains stopping all stations
> > (except perhaps Mile End) we could have 15 minute daytime frequencies on
the
> > Norlunga line. After all, I would prefer to wait 15 minutes for a train
at
> > Norlunga and spend an extra 15 minutes on the train than spend half an
hour
> > waiting and get to the city 15 minutes quicker.
>
> Of course your simple solution would be to get there close to scheduled
> departure time, thereby using your time for purposes than fruitless
> waiting, and then enjoy the 15 minutes quicker express journey. Why on
> earth would you choose to spend half an hour waiting?
>
> Trains stopping all stations are a GREAT deterrent to most passengers
> for long journeys - a fact which Melbourne and Brisbane rail systems
> seem only now to be learning. All stations to Frankston, Belgrave or
> Caboolture may be just fractionally worse than all stations to Noarlunga
> Centre, but they are all tarred with the same brush.
>
> If you want to maximise patronage, provide services which are perceived
> to be attractive - and long all stations journeys are NOT perceived to
> be attractive, even if they are slightly more frequent.
>
> Eddie Oliver

Maybe, but I've always thaught that service frequency (or the lack thereof)
is a greater problem for Adelaide's public transport system than transit
time. Ideally we could have 15 minute frequency without getting rid of off
peak express services. Unfortunately, I doubt that TransAdelaide will
attract too many car drivers with these interpeak express services even if
the train is quicker. I've always thaught the a sign of a bad public
transport system is  when you find yourself planning your day based on a PT
time table. To me, 15 minute frequencies would aliviate these problems to
some extent. I doubt that to many car owners in the southern suburbs would
use a train interpeak to get to the city. We can keep the exepress services
on peak.

Tali