Gold Coast Light Rail

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

http://www.alex4gaven.com.au/3878/new-railway-station-needed-for-parkwood/

New railway station needed for Parkwood

Member for Gaven Dr Alex Douglas MP has questioned why the State Government has no money to build a $50 million park and ride rail station at Parkwood when it can find money for major road and rail projects in Brisbane?

"The State Government needs to urgently build  a park and ride rail station at Parkwood to guarantee the success of the 2018 Commonwealth Games and stop car parking woes at Griffith University and Gold Coast University Hospital," he said.

"The Minister for Transport and Main Roads said today the government didn't have any money to build the station, but he thinks the Gold Coast City Council should fund it.

"This is the same minister who can find money for a variety of road and rail tasks in Brisbane including a major $65 million road upgrade servicing the Premier's electorate of Ashgrove.

"The easiest and least expensive option is the connection at Parkwood with a new railway station there.

"Goldlinq, the light rail contractor, has offered to build an extension from the university to Parkwood, at no cost to the government, except they want a longer contract.

"Doesn't the Minister understand that once Parklands Showgrounds is closed to parking in September for the construction of the games village, parking  will be even more of  a nightmare and the surrounding Parkwood streets will be further clogged with cars?

"Not all  games athletes will be competing on the Gold Coast as events will also be held in Brisbane and will need to commute there for competition.

"Surely linking the light and heavy rail is the answer to this predicament of transporting athletes north and south efficiently for the games.

"It might just give the Gold Coast an effective public transport system as well."

[ozbob]

Twitter

Nicky Haydon ‏@nickyhaydon 41m

The halfway mark for the new bridge to carry Gold Coast's light rail network. Set to open mid 2014 @7NewsBrisbane http://t.co/I8dJ8o3apk

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

25th July 2013

Gold Coast light rail passenger projections

Greetings,

Today in the Transport and Main Roads Budget estimates Minister Emerson said that Labor had it wrong and the daily passenger trip projection for the Gold Coast Light rail is 20,000 trips daily not the 45,000 originally projected in 2009.

We disagree with this latest projection.  The Gold Coast Light rail will be a frequent high capacity service.
During the weekdays service frequency will be every 7.5 minutes (see http://goldlinq.com.au/operating-light-rail/your-journey/) with 15 minutes outside the 7am to 7pm period.

As has been clearly shown with the BUZ network, frequency drives patronage, the Gold Coast Light Rail will be no different.

We ask the Minister for Transport to make the public the methodology behind these latest passenger projections.

Our estimate would be at least 50,000 passengers daily.  Road congestion is a nightmare on the Gold Coast and the light rail will be very welcome and strongly supported.  Particularly with the bus network being geared up to also support the light rail.  In fact the TransLink SEQ bus review has already positioned the Gold Coast bus system in a form to allow this to occur.

Rather than attempt to score political points, we would expect the Minister for Transport to be promoting the wonderful opportunity for improved public transport for the Gold Coast.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Media release 25th July 2013



SEQ: Gold Coast Light Rail

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has said the Minister for Transport needs to back up the claims that patronage forecasts for the Gold Coast Light Railway are not correct.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Today in the Transport and Main Roads Budget estimates Minister Emerson said that Labor had it wrong and the daily passenger trip projection for the Gold Coast Light rail is 20,000 trips daily not the 45,000 originally projected in 2009."

"We disagree with this latest projection.  The Gold Coast Light rail will be a frequent high capacity service."

"During the weekdays service frequency will be every 7.5 minutes with 15 minutes outside the 7am to 7pm period. The trams can comfortably carry over 300 passengers (1)."

"As has been clearly shown with the BUZ network, frequency drives patronage, the Gold Coast Light Rail will be no different."

"We ask the Minister for Transport to make public the assumptions and methodology behind these latest passenger projections."

"Our estimate would be at least 50,000 passengers daily.  Road congestion is a nightmare on the Gold Coast and the light rail will be very welcome and strongly supported.  Particularly with the bus network being geared up to also support the light rail.  In fact the TransLink SEQ bus review has already positioned the Gold Coast bus system in a form to allow this to occur."

"Rather than attempt to score political points, we would expect the Transport Minister to be promoting the wonderful opportunity for improved public transport for the Gold Coast."

Reference:

1. http://goldlinq.com.au/operating-light-rail/your-journey/

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[awotam]

Maybe their projected passenger figures would be higher if the light rail system was running through a tunnel...?  :conf

[ozbob]

The Ministers effort yesterday has convinced me he is simply not up to it.  Puts polyticks before transport on so many levels.

Have a careful read of the Hansard yesterday --> http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2013/2013_07_25_EstimatesTHC.pdf

The Gold Coast light rail stuff was an opening ' dixer ' and the Minister was attempting to generate an issue to deflect from his own failings as raised further in the estimates hearing.  The media rushes to accept such spin, particularly as there is an element in the Brisbane media who see Emerson as a ' mate ' (he is an ex-journo) rather than through a balanced critical pair of eyes.

Bleating during estimates that patronage is down because of affordability, so he continues to increase fares.  Clowns ...

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Doubt cast over Gold Coast light rail passenger numbers

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Doubt cast over Gold Coast light rail passenger numbers

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow 22s

@abcnews_qld Disagree strongly, media release --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10099.0 ...

[ozbob]

To achieve 50K per day ...

Proposed weekday 124 journeys each direction, total of 248 journeys.

Each journey only has to have 50,000/248 to make 50,0000  which is around 200 boardings on average per trip.

16 stations average needed is 200/16 = 13 pax per station ....

What a disgrace this beat up is ...

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

26th July 2013

Re: SEQ: Gold Coast Light Rail

Greetings,

Still waiting for the Minister to outline the assumptions and methodology for his claim.

Meanwhile:  Some basic number crunching

To achieve 50K passengers per day ...

Proposed weekday 124 journeys each direction, total of 248 journeys.

Each journey only has to have 50,000/248 to make 50,0000  which is around 200 boardings on average per trip.

16 stations average needed is 200/16 = 13 pax per station ....

What a disgrace this beat up is ...

The Gold Coast Light Rail will be a culture transforming event for the Gold Coast.  Soon Brisbane will be the only mainland capital without light rail.

Such is the transport failure here in Brisbane.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

Media release 25th July 2013



SEQ: Gold Coast Light Rail

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has said the Minister for Transport needs to back up the claims that patronage forecasts for the Gold Coast Light Railway are not correct.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Today in the Transport and Main Roads Budget estimates Minister Emerson said that Labor had it wrong and the daily passenger trip projection for the Gold Coast Light rail is 20,000 trips daily not the 45,000 originally projected in 2009."

"We disagree with this latest projection.  The Gold Coast Light rail will be a frequent high capacity service."

"During the weekdays service frequency will be every 7.5 minutes with 15 minutes outside the 7am to 7pm period. The trams can comfortably carry over 300 passengers (1)."

"As has been clearly shown with the BUZ network, frequency drives patronage, the Gold Coast Light Rail will be no different."

"We ask the Minister for Transport to make public the assumptions and methodology behind these latest passenger projections."

"Our estimate would be at least 50,000 passengers daily.  Road congestion is a nightmare on the Gold Coast and the light rail will be very welcome and strongly supported.  Particularly with the bus network being geared up to also support the light rail.  In fact the TransLink SEQ bus review has already positioned the Gold Coast bus system in a form to allow this to occur."

"Rather than attempt to score political points, we would expect the Transport Minister to be promoting the wonderful opportunity for improved public transport for the Gold Coast."

Reference:

1. http://goldlinq.com.au/operating-light-rail/your-journey/

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[mufreight]

As has been noted elsewhere on this forum and in other media sites Mr Emerson (and his spin doctors and advisers) are not the sharpest knives in the drawer when it comes to simple arithmetic or economics, his most glaring effort of recent times is the 7.5% fare increase intended to reduce the subsidy for public transport which has seen a drop in patronage exceeding 10% thus creating a 2.5% or more drop in fare box revenues for the same operating costs.
Another fail for Mr Emerson and his TMR advisers.   

[Gazza]

I just got off an offpeak train at the centre of the universe...Corinda.
23 got off with me, despite being a lower frequency service in a lower density environment compared to the GCLRT.
I reckon 15 boardings per station over the course of a day is realistic.

[ozbob]

Some very significant trip generators on the GC LR ...

One wonders what sort of silly game they are playing at. 

[ozbob]

Stage one track and station location map [PDF - 657 KB]

[ozbob]

Twitter

GoldLinQ ‏@gclightrail 1m

Check out #gclightrail timelapse of #tram bridge construction connecting #SurfersParadise and #Southport #GoldCoast: http://ow.ly/nl8gL

[ozbob]

--> http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2013/07/light-rail-passenger-numbers-derailed.html

Gold Coast light rail is due to open next year.

So why is it only now that the State Government has revealed patronage will be 50-percent lower than forecast ?

Where does this leave ratepayers if additional stages to extend and connect trams to heavy rail aren't approved.

These are the questions that mornings presenter Nicole Dyer put to the Queensland transport minister Scott Emerson.

==========

Listeners weren't convinced however that the state government is on the right track.  Hear their views here.

[#Metro]

My hypothesis is

- It seems unlikely that the impact of huge fare rises was anticipated or known at the start of the project.

therefore

- The lower forecast is a result of a revision of the passenger forecast and any drop is actually due to the modelling in of the higher fare prices and fare hikes 20%, 15% and 7.5% with more hikes to follow.

This in turn is a result of having to prop up the Brisbane City Council Brisbane Transport Bus network to run air all around Brisbane, refusal to reform the cost explosion that is BT, waste such as Maroon CityGliders and Paris Hilton Rockets 161 to my house and gimmicks/rorts such as 9 then free and the new off peak at 8.30 am gimmicks.

This effect comes into play because BCC's high waste bus operations push the fares up, but TL fares must be uniform all over SEQ rather than just be confined to the BCC area.

It would also nicely explain why we haven't seen any of the modelling plus why the revision came so late in the project.

[ozbob]

Idiots ...

Once the operations commence there will be pandemonium for stages 2 and 3 ... and Emerson knows it. Hence still talking up stage 2.

The five year fare fail is obviously making some nervous, however the rate Newman et al are going they won't be around when it really matters ...   the next state election will see a proper fare system for sure.  Brisbane will be almost in perpetual grid lock then as well.

The other thing about this is that the ' announcement ' by Emerson was done with a view to the federal election and continue the blame game.  One of the callers suggests this and even the blog preamble asks the cryptic question ...

... So why is it only now that the State Government has revealed patronage will be 50-percent lower than forecast ? ...

They still haven't come clean on their modelling.  Transparent liars ...

Fixing the failed fare system would go a long way to sorting out a lot of things.  The LNP doesn't care.  I think Labor now realise the complete stuff up they did.

[ozbob]

Twitter

GoldLinQ ‏@gclightrail 5m

First T light on #gclightrail route. #drivesafely & remember T is for trams - cars do not need to stop on T red light http://t.co/RQLt425ZZ4

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

12th August 2013

Re: SEQ: Gold Coast Light Rail

Greetings,

Where is the proof of the downgraded passenger projections for the light rail on the Gold Coast?

Again repeated this morning  Brisbanetimes' article:

Gold Coast's love affair with cars, will it wane by 2018?

-->  http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/gold-coasts-love-affair-with-cars-will-it-wane-by-2018-20130809-2rmuk.html#ixzz2bgwZKJcc

Extensions to the heavy rail need to be commenced asap as well.  Gold Coast is heading to a massive transport failure otherwise.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

Sent to all outlets:

26th July 2013

Re: SEQ: Gold Coast Light Rail

Greetings,

Still waiting for the Minister to outline the assumptions and methodology for his claim.

Meanwhile:  Some basic number crunching

To achieve 50K passengers per day ...

Proposed weekday 124 journeys each direction, total of 248 journeys.

Each journey only has to have 50,000/248 to make 50,0000  which is around 200 boardings on average per trip.

16 stations average needed is 200/16 = 13 pax per station ....

What a disgrace this beat up is ...

The Gold Coast Light Rail will be a culture transforming event for the Gold Coast.  Soon Brisbane will be the only mainland capital without light rail.

Such is the transport failure here in Brisbane.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

Media release 25th July 2013



SEQ: Gold Coast Light Rail

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has said the Minister for Transport needs to back up the claims that patronage forecasts for the Gold Coast Light Railway are not correct.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Today in the Transport and Main Roads Budget estimates Minister Emerson said that Labor had it wrong and the daily passenger trip projection for the Gold Coast Light rail is 20,000 trips daily not the 45,000 originally projected in 2009."

"We disagree with this latest projection.  The Gold Coast Light rail will be a frequent high capacity service."

"During the weekdays service frequency will be every 7.5 minutes with 15 minutes outside the 7am to 7pm period. The trams can comfortably carry over 300 passengers (1)."

"As has been clearly shown with the BUZ network, frequency drives patronage, the Gold Coast Light Rail will be no different."

"We ask the Minister for Transport to make public the assumptions and methodology behind these latest passenger projections."

"Our estimate would be at least 50,000 passengers daily.  Road congestion is a nightmare on the Gold Coast and the light rail will be very welcome and strongly supported.  Particularly with the bus network being geared up to also support the light rail.  In fact the TransLink SEQ bus review has already positioned the Gold Coast bus system in a form to allow this to occur."

"Rather than attempt to score political points, we would expect the Transport Minister to be promoting the wonderful opportunity for improved public transport for the Gold Coast."

Reference:

1. http://goldlinq.com.au/operating-light-rail/your-journey/

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

From the Gold Coast Sun 7th August 2013 page 9

In heavy demand

PATRONAGE of the light rail system could almost double under a plan to extend the network to Parkwood.

More than 11,500 trips would be made on the city's public transport network, according to Gold Coast City Council financial documents seen by the Sun.

The cost benefit analysis, prepared by the council's city transport directorate, suggests linking
heavy rail to the soon-to-be-completed rapid transit system would significantly increase patronage.

Linking the system from Griffith University to a purpose-built heavy rail station at Parkwood is expected to cost upward of $330.6 million, while the stage two route to Helensvale via Harbour Town would come in at $1.1 billion.

Mayor Tom Tate, a long-time critic of the system, said construction could begin within a year.

"This could be delivered prior to the Commonwealth Games and provide a direct benefit to the city well beyond the life of the 2018 event," Cr Tate said. "The draft findings of this report have been tabled by the consultant and are currently being reviewed by council officers. "The next steps include reviewing and finalising the report and then working with the State Government and GoldLinq to proceed to a reference design and business case of a preferred option."

The 13km first stage of the light rail is expected to come online in mid-2014 and will run between Griffith University and Broadbeach.

Plans to extend it further south to Burleigh Heads are yet to receive funding and are not scheduled.

Burleigh state Liberal National MP Michael Hart has called for transport officials to investigate an east-west link from Burleigh Heads to Varsity Lakes via West Burleigh Road.

An east-west rapid bus route from Broadbeach to Nerang station has also been proposed

– ANDREW POTTS

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Secret talks over missing rail link

[SurfRail]

Only "secret" inasmuch as they weren't held at Carrara Stadium...

[SurfRail]

Date claimer - I have 5 attendees so far for our tour at GoldlinQ on Friday, 27 September 2013.

Anybody who wants to come along, please confirm with me by PM before 31 August 2013, as we need to confirm numbers with our host.

Details:

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?action=post;topic=10047.0;last_msg=130130

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Trams track past notorious pirates

[SurfRail]

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?action=post;topic=10047.0;last_msg=130130

I have 15 attendees so far, more than double the last visit!

Last chance will still be to confirm availability by tomorrow.  I expect they will not be able to take unlimited numbers, so get in quick.

[bcasey]

Engineering students make tracks to rail project

[huddo45]

Gold Coast Bulletin
Sneak peek inside light rail depot, with 20 photos.

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2013/09/03/457339_gold-coast-news.html

[ozbob]

Powering up of overhead wires this weekend

--> http://t.co/2rHBE8K0Vy

Powering up of overhead wires

From Saturday 07 September 2013 GoldlinQ will begin powering up of overhead wires in your area which will provide electricity to the trams and stations on the light rail system.
Look up and see the danger! Once energised the wires carry live electricity and should be treated with caution ...

[ozbob]

Minister for Education, Training and Employment
The Honourable John-Paul Langbroek

Light rail's free science teaching resource

Primary school students can now gain a unique insight into science and engineering after the launch of the Gold Coast Light Rail Science resources.

Jointly developed by GoldLinQ and Benowa State School, the resources consist of nine online lessons.

Minister for Education, Training and Employment John Paul Langbroek said the resources were developed with the help of Benowa State School teachers for students to experience science.

"The Gold Coast Light Rail Science resources are a unique example of innovation and partnership between local industries and schools to develop material on everyday examples of science," Mr Langbroek said.

"Not only will they be freely available and based on the Australian Schools Science Curriculum, students will be able to experience the application of science in their community.

"The students hosting the episodes interviewed light rail engineers as well as environmental and rail experts to learn about science principles.

"It is exciting that students locally and across the nation will be able to use the light rail project as part of their education as it is such a visual, developing part of the Gold Coast."

Gold Coast light rail is one of only two projects in the country to be named in an International list of the Top 100 urban infrastructure projects.

Light rail Project Director Simon Bradbury said the free resource would be available to teachers across the country to allow students to learn from real-world experiences.

"Students will be able to learn about a range of interesting parts of the light rail project from the Gold Coast's favourite Osprey pair that live near the light rail corridor, what the project is doing to protect special ecosystems, right through how the light rail is powered," Mr Bradbury said.

"We worked with science teachers from Benowa State School to help draft the scripts in line with the curriculum and three drama students from St Hilda's School and The Southport School have hosted the episodes.

"Benowa State School told us they often use YouTube clips and other internet episodes as tools for teaching so this series of web episodes showcasing the light rail project at the same time as teaching kids about science made sense."

GoldLinQ CEO Phil Mumford said the project had worked with a range of educational providers.

"To date the project has put together these web episodes, worked with Griffith and Bond Universities on research and employment partnerships and hosted school excursions on the light rail corridor," Mr Mumford said.

"Gold Coast Institute of TAFE design students and local industry professionals have also designed the light rail uniform.

"The project's Love Learning initiative aims to work with local schools, colleges and universities to engage students with the Gold Coast light rail project and we are excited about a number of activities planned for the coming year."

Gold Coast Light Rail science resources episode list:

    Wheels in motion
    Wash without waste
    Trams powering up
    Growing with science
    Saving our planet
    Speedy, steady and safe
    Making materials work: concrete
    Making material work: rail
    Understanding the environment

[ENDS] 6 September 2013

[STB]

I must admit, with the trams going in and pretty decent bus network to follow afterwards with a regular train service, and actual decent culture (plus FTV facilities and businesses nearby), the Gold Coast is starting to become more attractive to me to move to in the medium term to use as a base here in Qld if I need to commute between Sydney and Brisbane if my career ends up that way.

Side note: I've chosen Byron Bay as a place to retire.  Love that little laidback town.

[cartoonbirdhaus]

With the trams going in and pretty decent bus network to follow afterwards with a regular train service, and actual decent culture (plus FTV facilities and businesses nearby), the Gold Coast is starting to become more attractive to me to move to in the medium term to use as a base here in Qld

Definitely a glowing prognosis for the Gold Coast! It might just be a few years before a greater proportion of trips are made by public transport than in the state capital...  In addition to where the light rail's going, many other areas will benefit. It'll be easier to get to Burleigh Heads or Coolangatta, for instance. (And they're quieter parts of the Gold Coast, therefore appealing in a different way to Surface Parasite/Broadbeach.)

[ozbob]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnIJnaFRqjw&feature=youtu.be&a

[SurfRail]

With the trams going in and pretty decent bus network to follow afterwards with a regular train service, and actual decent culture (plus FTV facilities and businesses nearby), the Gold Coast is starting to become more attractive to me to move to in the medium term to use as a base here in Qld

Definitely a glowing prognosis for the Gold Coast! It might just be a few years before a greater proportion of trips are made by public transport than in the state capital...  In addition to where the light rail's going, many other areas will benefit. It'll be easier to get to Burleigh Heads or Coolangatta, for instance. (And they're quieter parts of the Gold Coast, therefore appealing in a different way to Surface Parasite/Broadbeach.)

We're about neck and neck with Adelaide already.  I think Canberra might be similar but they have 1.5 times as many buses for similar or less patronage.

I demonstrated on SkyscraperCity recently that Perth is about to overtake Brisbane metro area for PT trips per capita.  I think it already does if you use the whole of SEQ figures.

[huddo45]

The Good Ship Palabora with two trams for the Gold Coast is due to berth at Fisherman Island No1 Wharf at 2.30 today Monday 9-9-13.
Shipping movements are available here:
http://www.qships.transport.qld.gov.au/Public/PublicMovements.aspx
According to the grapevine the first one is to hit the road for Southport on Wednesday at 11pm, the other following at a later date.

[ozbob]

Excellent, thanks!   

[nathandavid88]

Should we be keeping our eyes out for trams on trucks then?

[SteelPan]

Queensland's first light rail system (cough, cough)...my pop grew up with hundreds of 'em in Brisbane! 

[huddo45]

Should we be keeping our eyes out for trams on trucks then?

You only have to look out for one truck with about 50 wheels

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gclightrail/