Member for Ipswich West Wendy Bourne is calling for the full train timetable to be restored, with commuters across the Ipswich and Rosewood lines still facing reduced services more than four months after disruptions began.
Since 5 May, commuters across South East Queensland have been dealing with a reduced timetable. While some additional peak services have since been restored, the full timetable remains suspended.
The changes have reduced services on the Ipswich line, while Rosewood passengers have been particularly impacted by the reduction in through services towards Brisbane.
The Rosewood–Ipswich section is currently operating as a 30-minute shuttle, meaning commuters who previously relied on through services towards Brisbane are now having to change trains at Ipswich.
Ms Bourne said local commuters had contacted her reporting the changes were adding around 20 to 30 minutes each way to their journey.
“Whether you’re travelling from Ipswich or further west from Rosewood, commuters have been putting up with reduced services for more than four months,” Ms Bourne said.
“For Rosewood passengers, it has been particularly frustrating. People who previously relied on through services towards Brisbane are now having to change at Ipswich and work their day around a reduced timetable.”
“More than four months later, commuters across Ipswich and Rosewood are still living with reduced services and still don’t have certainty about when the full timetable will return.”
Ms Bourne said the reduction in train services had come alongside cuts to staffing hours at Rosewood Station, at a time when the region needed greater investment in public transport.
Some local commuters have told Ms Bourne they are now choosing to drive because the longer and less convenient rail journey is no longer practical.
“That should be ringing alarm bells for the Government,” Ms Bourne said.
“If people give up on the train because getting to work has become too difficult, many of them end up back in their cars, putting even more pressure on the Warrego and Cunningham Highway and other roads across Ipswich that are already struggling with congestion.”
“Ipswich is one of Queensland’s fastest-growing regions. We should be investing in better public transport, not asking a growing population to make do with reduced train services and fewer staffed hours at local stations.”
“We need to be giving people more reasons to use public transport, not making their journey longer and more difficult.”
“The Government has had more than four months to get things back on track,” Ms Bourne said.
“Ipswich and Rosewood commuters deserve a clear answer about when the full timetable will return and when they can expect the services they previously relied on to be restored.”
For media enquiries, please email ipswich.west@parliament.qld.gov.au
