AirTrain (Brisbane)
Encyclopedia
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
.
, Macquarie Bank, Colonial First State
and ABN AMRO
. The first service ran on 5 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 $14.50 one way (as of July 2009). 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 and the company nearly faced voluntary administration in 2003. 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.
In 2008, Brisbane's Airtrain ran an operating profit of $4.8 million, allowing Airtrain to pay dividends of $1.95 to its shareholders.
Airtain is not subsidised by the Queensland Government, and its $220 million construction cost was entirely privately financed. This makes it one of a few known profitable public transport systems.
Passenger numbers on the service have also steadily increased, approaching two million passengers each year using the private rail link.
, 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
). This travel time results in an average train speed of 43 km/h.
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.
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.
There are no plans to construct a new station over Airport Drive near the DFO complex due to the considerable cost associated with building an elevated station above Airport Drive and beside an operating rail line. The forecasted population in this precinct would not sustain the costs of operating a station.
Brisbane central business district
The Brisbane central business district , sometimes referred to as the city, is a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and is located on a point on the northern bank of the Brisbane River. The triangular shaped area is bounded by the Brisbane River to the east, south and west...
(15.9 km from Central station
Central railway station, Brisbane
Central railway station is, as the name suggests, the central railway station for the Queensland Rail City network in the Brisbane central business district, the state capital of Queensland, Australia...
by rail), the state capital of Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, to the Brisbane Airport
Brisbane Airport
Brisbane Airport is the sole passenger airport serving Brisbane and the third busiest in Australia, after Melbourne and Sydney Airports. Brisbane Airport has won many awards. Located in the suburb with the same name, the airport serves the city of Brisbane and the surrounding metropolitan area...
at both its separate International and Domestic terminals.
The line is carried on an elevated prestressed concrete
Prestressed concrete
Prestressed concrete is a method for overcoming concrete's natural weakness in tension. It can be used to produce beams, floors or bridges with a longer span than is practical with ordinary reinforced concrete...
viaduct for its entire 8.5 km (5.3 mi) length after leaving the QR
Queensland Rail
Queensland Rail, also known as QR, is a government-owned railway operator in the state of Queensland. Under the control of the Queensland Government, Queensland Rail operates the inner-city and long-distance passenger services, as well as some freight operations and gives railway access to other...
Citytrain
CityTrain
Citytrain is the brand name of urban, suburban and inter-urban electric passenger railway services in South East Queensland, Australia. Its network, centering in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, is approximately in route length...
network beyond Eagle Junction railway station
Eagle Junction railway station, Brisbane
Eagle Junction railway station is a railway station in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. It is part of the Queensland Rail City network...
at Clayfield
Clayfield, Queensland
Clayfield is an inner-northern suburb of Brisbane, located approximately from the CBD. Clayfield is bordered to the north by Nundah, to the East by Ascot and Hendra, to the west by Wooloowin and to the South by Albion....
.
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 ServicesTransfield Services
Transfield Services Limited is an Australian publicly listed corporation providing operations and maintenance, asset management, project and capital management outsourcing and infrastructure development services to the resources and industrial, infrastructure services and property and facilities...
, Macquarie Bank, Colonial First State
Colonial First State
Colonial First State was established in 1988 and is now one of Australia's leading wealth management groups, with more than A$90 billion under management. It is owned by the Commonwealth Bank Group.- Product range :...
and ABN AMRO
ABN AMRO
ABN AMRO Bank N.V. is a Dutch state-owned bank with headquarters in Amsterdam. It was re-established, in its current form, in 2009 following the acquisition and break up of ABN AMRO Group by a banking consortium consisting of Royal Bank of Scotland Group, Santander and Fortis...
. The first service ran on 5 May 2001. Airtrain Citylink has a license from Queensland Transport under a BOOT scheme
Build-Operate-Transfer
Build-own-operate-transfer or build-operate-transfer is a form of project financing, wherein a private entity receives a concession from the private or public sector to finance, design, construct, and operate a facility stated in the concession contract...
– build, own, operate and transfer – to build the rail line, to own and operate it, and hand entire infrastructure over to the Queensland Government
Government of Queensland
The Government of Queensland is commonly known as the "Queensland Government".The form of the Government of Queensland is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1859, although it has been amended many times since then...
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
Rolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
in a commercial agreement with QR. While Citytrain rolling stock is used, Airtrain does not form part of the TransLink
TransLink (South East Queensland)
The TransLink Transit Authority is the authority introduced by the Queensland Government in June 2003 as a section of Queensland Transport to coordinate and integrate rail, bus and ferry services. TransLink works with Airtrain, Brisbane Transport, Brisbane Ferries, QR Citytrain and 17 other...
integrated public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
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
Brisbane central business district
The Brisbane central business district , sometimes referred to as the city, is a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and is located on a point on the northern bank of the Brisbane River. The triangular shaped area is bounded by the Brisbane River to the east, south and west...
costs $14.50 one way (as of July 2009). 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 and the company nearly faced voluntary administration in 2003. 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.
In 2008, Brisbane's Airtrain ran an operating profit of $4.8 million, allowing Airtrain to pay dividends of $1.95 to its shareholders.
Airtain is not subsidised by the Queensland Government, and its $220 million construction cost was entirely privately financed. This makes it one of a few known profitable public transport systems.
Passenger numbers on the service have also steadily increased, approaching two million passengers each year using the private rail link.
Line guide and services
Commencing at the Domestic Terminal, all services stop at the International Terminal and Eagle Junction railway stationEagle Junction railway station, Brisbane
Eagle Junction railway station is a railway station in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. It is part of the Queensland Rail City network...
, then express to Bowen Hills
Bowen Hills railway station, Brisbane
Bowen Hills railway station is a railway station in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. It is part of the Queensland Rail City network, located in Zone 1 of the TransLink integrated public transport system....
, then all stations though the Brisbane CBD to at least Roma Street
Roma Street railway station, Brisbane
Roma Street railway station is a major railway station in the Brisbane central business district, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. It was Brisbane's first railway station, opening in 1876...
. The typical travel time between Domestic Terminal and Brisbane City is approximately 22 minutes (to Central
Central railway station, Brisbane
Central railway station is, as the name suggests, the central railway station for the Queensland Rail City network in the Brisbane central business district, the state capital of Queensland, Australia...
). This travel time results in an average train speed of 43 km/h.
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.
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.
Expansion
There are no plans to construct a new station over Airport Drive near the DFO complex due to the considerable cost associated with building an elevated station above Airport Drive and beside an operating rail line. The forecasted population in this precinct would not sustain the costs of operating a station.