Brisbane's airport rail link known as ‘Airtrain’ is expensive, underutilised, and infrequent compared to other airport rail links around Australia and the world. With Brisbane’s exploding population and the 2032 Brisbane Olympics on the horizon, Airtrain is expected to play a crucial role in connecting the airport and the city. However, substantial improvements in service frequency and affordability are required to make this happen. This situation raises pressing questions: How did these issues arise? What changes need to be made to make AirTrain viable? And how can the errors made in the planning and construction of AirTrain be avoided for future rail infrastructure projects?
Throughout the video, the public-private partnership deal between AirTrain and the government is criticised. We are not implying that public-private partnerships are inherently flawed as a project delivery framework, but instead are unsuitable for delivering essential public services where the private entity stands to profit from the services provided afterward, such as in public transport or healthcare projects.
Timestamps
Chapter 1 : History
Introduction: 00:00
How the line was conceived: 00:29
The actual line: 02:21
International terminal station: 03:55
Domestic terminal station: 04:28
Chapter 2 : Issues
The bank-breaking commute: 04:58
Privatisation, monopolies, and the death of passenger rail: 06:17
What about alternative public transport options to the airport?: 07:22
Other issues: 08:15
Misleading advertising: 09:30
Comparison to Perth's airtport line: 10:16
Chapter 3 : Solutions
Buying back the line: 11:32
Increasing frequency: 14:05
SkyGate station: 14:20
Line duplication: 15:03
Outro: 15:25
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Sources and References
History of Brisbane Airport:
https://www.bne.com.au/corporate/about/airport-history
Qld thrust deeper into corruption crisis:
https://www.afr.com/politics/qld-thrust-deeper-into-corruption-crisis-19961106-k788t
Brisbane Airport Link Contract Signed:
https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/2668
AirTrain to run until 10pm: https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/airtrain-to-run-until-10pm-20111006-1laja.html
Airtrain’s exclusive airport access risks making Brisbane an ‘international joke’:
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/airtrain-s-exclusive-airport-access-risks-making-brisbane-an-international-joke-20221011-p5boxt.html
State edges closer to ending Airtrain’s airport stranglehold: https://www.couriermail.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=CMWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.couriermail.com.au%2Fnews%2Fqueensland%2Fqld-politics%2Fstate-edges-closer-to-ending-airtrains-airport-stranglehold%2Fnews-story%2F55e71eafdddd62aaa64bbec9f22f1364&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=HIGH-Segment-1-SCORE
State edges closer to ending Airtrain’s airport stranglehold:
https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/qld-politics/state-edges-closer-to-ending-airtrains-airport-stranglehold/news-story/55e71eafdddd62aaa64bbec9f22f1364?amp&nk=8df094958d38d53ce0d60809edfe5c29-1715276148
‘I don’t know anyone who catches Airtrain’: MP joins calls for end to monopoly:
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/i-don-t-know-anyone-who-catches-airtrain-mp-joins-calls-for-end-to-monopoly-20221026-p5bt1w.html
Halving of AirTrain fares labelled a ‘cynical’ election vote grab:
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/halving-of-airtrain-fares-labelled-a-cynical-election-vote-grab-20240601-p5jig0.html
Public Transport records tumble with 50 cent Fares:
https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/101081
Brisbane Airport pushes for new Skygate DFO train station:
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/brisbane-airport-pushes-for-new-skygate-dfo-train-station-20160815-gqt38s.html
SEQ patronage data (taken through ‘RAIL - Back On Track’ online forum):
https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?board=91.0
Brisbane Airport is planning a multi-billion dollar revamp:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=452035098940370
Brisbane airport rail link construction, operation and maintenance perspectives:
https://railknowledgebank.com/Presto/content/Detail.aspx?ctID=MTk4MTRjNDUtNWQ0My00OTBmLTllYWUtZWFjM2U2OTE0ZDY3&rID=NDg4NA==&qrs=RmFsc2U=&q=QWlydHJhaW4=&ph=VHJ1ZQ==&bckToL=VHJ1ZQ==&rrtc=VHJ1ZQ==
METRONET Welcome to Perth's METRONET Airport Line:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiZRVC81qJo
Outro composition: Sir Edward Elgar - Pomp And Circumstance March No. 1
Aerial imagery of QLD: https://qimagery.information.qld.gov.au/
Google Earth Studio for 3D earth imagery: https://www.google.com/earth/studio/
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