Airtrain (Brisbane)

SEQ Transit Lines
line_type = rail
from = Brisbane central business district
to = Brisbane Airport

name = Airport Line

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line_owner = Airtrain Citylink Limited
map_colour = Gold
line_length = 15.9
stations_number = 7
operator_names = Airtrain Citylink Limited
fleet_names = IMU 160/120/100, SMU 200/SMU220 and EMU series
date_1 = 2001
event_1 = Opened

Airtrain is the privately-owned commuter railway line that extends 13.0 km (8.1 mi) northeast from Brisbane (15.9 km from Central station by rail), the state capital of Queensland, Australia, to the Brisbane Airport at both its separate International and Domestic terminals.

The line is carried on an elevated prestressed concrete viaduct for its entire 8.5 km (5.3 mi) length after leaving the QR Citytrain network beyond Eagle Junction railway station at Clayfield.

Ownership and business

The Airtrain service is a private enterprise. The line is owned and operated by Airtrain Citylink Limited, with financial backing from Transfield Services, Macquarie Bank, Colonial First State and ABN AMRO. The first service ran on 7 May 2001. Airtrain Citylink has a license from Queensland Transport under a BOOT scheme – build, own, operate and transfer – to build the rail line, to own and operate it, and hand entire infrastructure over to the Queensland Government after 35 years when the company will then cease to exist.

The line connects seamlessly with the Citytrain network and services use Citytrain rolling stock in a commercial agreement with QR. While Citytrain rolling stock is used, Airtrain does not form part of the TransLink integrated public transport scheme, and therefore fares are not subsidised by the government. As a result, travel to the airport from Citytrain stations in the Brisbane central business district costs $13.50 one way (as of 2008-07-01 [Airtrain Citylink Limited (2008). [http://www.airtrain.com.au/products_cbd.php Brisbane's Airtrain - Brisbane CBD Transfers] . Accessed 2008-07-02.] ). Travel on Airtrain services between ordinary Citytrain stations, not involving airport travel, is charged at the normal Citytrain rate, including concession rates.

Initial passenger numbers on the service were well below expectations [cite news | title = Airport rail passenger numbers increase | publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date = 19 July 2003 | url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2003/07/19/905719.htm | accessdate = 2007-12-08 ] and the company nearly faced voluntary administration in 2003. [cite news | last = Corkill | first = Michael | title = Tracking out of the red | publisher = The Courier-Mail | date = 4 May 2006 | url = http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,19027386-3102,00.html | accessdate = 2007-12-08 ] However in May 2005, Airtrain operated at a profit for the first time due to significant passenger growth – 1.12 million passengers in the 2004-2005 financial year, an increase of 40% – and a complex company restructure that cut costs by nearly half. [cite news | last = Williams | first = Brian | title = Airport to swell as visits balloon | publisher = The Courier-Mail | date = 14 August 2005 | url = http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,16259477-3102,00.html | accessdate = 2007-12-08 ]

Line guide and services

Commencing at the Domestic Terminal, all services stop at the International Terminal and Eagle Junction railway station, then express to Bowen Hills, then all stations though the Brisbane CBD to at least Roma Street. The typical travel time between Domestic Terminal and Brisbane City is approximately 22 minutes (to Central).

Airport line services run every fifteen minutes during the morning and afternoon weekday peak hours, and every half hour during the off-peak. Most services continue as Gold Coast line services. Some services travel as a shuttle to the International Terminal only and then return to the Domestic Terminal.

Passengers for/from the Doomben, Caboolture and Shorncliffe lines change at Eagle Junction, Ferny Grove and Nambour and Gympie North lines at Bowen Hills, and all other lines at Central.

Gallery

IMU 104 at the Domestic Terminal railway station, bound for the Gold Coast

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International Terminal railway station

References

ee also

*Airport and East Hills railway line, Sydney

External links

* [http://www.airtrain.com.au Airtrain]
* [http://www.citytrain.com.au QR Citytrain]
** [http://www.citytrain.com.au/about/airtrain/airtrain.asp QR Citytrain – Airtrain]
* [http://www.visitqueensland.com.au/getaround.asp?action=ProductDetails&ProductID=96 Tourism Queensland Airtrain information]