Media release 5 April 2011
SEQ: Beenleigh line upgrade proposalsRAIL Back On Track (
http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has long argued for improved train frequency. On the Beenleigh line this is particularly difficult due to the Gold Coast trains making it difficult to run more Beenleigh line trains.
Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:
"RAIL Back On Track members have proposed two plans for faster/more frequent services on the Beenleigh Line. One plan involves a 15 minute service Ferny Grove-Coopers Plains. Service beyond Coopers Plains to Beenleigh would run express Park Rd-Coopers Plains. Ideally, this should extend to the Airport to provide a 15 minute frequency service there. This would not require the duplication on the Ferny Grove line to be completed, so could be done right now (1). Exact service patterns could not be maintained counter peak, but basic frequencies to most or all stations ought to be near enough to maintainable on different stopping patterns. The practice of running numerous trains out of service in the counter peak direction is not a good one and needs to be reduced (2)."
"Airtrain would be more receptive to a plan that allowed the extra two trains an hour to run through rather than terminating at Roma St, however it is subject to a reasonable price being charged to Airtrain for the additional services (3). If this could be negotiated, that would be an excellent outcome of this plan."
"Other members have suggested an alternative plan that has a full time 15 minute all stopping service to Beenleigh with an innovative method that allows for bi-directional passing moves (4). While this is completely unmaintainable counter peak and has no operating margin on current infrastructure, it is not to be dismissed. Something similar to this could be done with an extension of the triplication beyond what has been proposed for this decade, to Loganlea at least. This also needs to be done with the addition of needed crossovers somewhere between Sunnybank and Runcorn, which confusingly were omitted in the Salisbury-Kuraby triplication project. These crossovers would have allowed for a 15 minute frequency as far as Kuraby with adequate operating margin."
"RAIL Back on Track suggests that while not as urgent as Ipswich and Caboolture line upgrades, the Beenleigh line upgrade is also important and could be done without much difficulty."
References:
1.
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5569.msg50551#msg505512.
http://transporttextbook.com/?p=3733.
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5202.04.
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4506.0Contact:
Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org