Brisbane Air train

Travel advise for tourist planing to use public transport while visiting Brisbane Australia. In short, don't come to Brisbane during School holidays and weekends, unless you don't plan on using the trains.

For as long as I can remember, every few weeks, Queensland rail, in their infinite wisdom shutdown the rail lines for maintenance on weekends. The past few years, they shutdown the Beenleigh train line every school holidays. When you add up all the weekends and school holidays it equates to a rail shutdown of 14 weeks a year. During those shutdowns there are no trains running between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

The Queensland Rail, on time train figures of 95% are deceptive figures. Note the word "on time". Trains running 12-15 minutes late will skip train stations between Mooroooka and Bogga Road stations (Formally known as Park Road) to make up a few minutes. Too bad for passengers wanting to catch the train to work or medical appointments between those stations.

Trains that are announced as 30 minutes late is a code for, canceled. Canceled trains are not included in the "on time" figures. That's right, the Queensland Government Transport minister is a moron believing Queenslander's are morons. Queensland is known for being the backward state of Australia by the other states.

Catch The Air Train

An advertising campaign run by Queensland rail is "Catch the air train to the airport" no stress of road traffic. The campaign does not tell you it takes twice as long to get to the Airport than it would using a ride share and cost $25 per person with little space to store your luggage. A ride share will cost you about $50-$80 for 4 passengers and get you there in less then half the time, and on time. You are more likely to miss your flight using the air train than you would using a ride share.

An example: It takes a ride share 25 minutes to get from Fairfield to the Airport. If you use the air train, and it's running on time and not canceled, it will take you 70 minutes to get to the airport from Fairfield. Which mode of transport would you choose? Ride share comes to your door. When catching the air train you have to find your own way to the train station, most likely with a ride share anyway, and, carry your own luggage. If using a ride share or taxi to get to the train station why not catch it all the way to the airport!

There are more train delays and cancellations than you get with traffic jams! Don't forget about the rail shutdowns during school holidays and every few weekends. When trains lines are shutdown they use what they call "Rail Buses" in place of trains. Your advised to plan extra time for your journey, but not informed the rail bus takes 150% longer to get you to your destination than a train making a travel time of near 2 hours from Fairfield to the airport. Don't forget the ride share or taxi will get you there in 25 minutes!

The rail bus is operated by a private bus company. With the train lines being shut down as often as they are you'd think it would be more economical for Queensland Rail to buy their own buses, hire their own bus drivers. But in their infinite wisdom (Morons), they prefer lining the bus contractors pocket with tax payers gold. Makes you wonder what is going on with that arrangement doesn't it!