Gympie North Monday 6th June 2011

[ozbob]

First day of new timetables, first weekday day return service to Gympie North.  I plan to go for the run to Gympie North.
Not much time at Gympie North, so best to take lunch.  Come along for the day if you can make it.

An alternate option is to leave train and take lunch at Cooroy, the RSL is handy to the station. Rejoin the train on the return journey.

=============

9:33 am platform 7 Roma St

10.21am Caboolture

10.54am Landsborough

11.30am Nambour

11.57am Cooroy

12.39pm Gympie North

=============

Depart Gympie North 1.20pm

Cooroy 2.03pm

Nambour 2.25pm

Landsborough 2.57pm

Caboolture 3.33pm

Roma St 4.21pm

=============

[Stillwater]

An alternative to the Cooroy RSL option is to stay on the train one more station, to Pomona, and take lunch at the historic Pomona pub.  The 'Gympie Flyer' (the renamed Cooroylander), gets to Pomona at 12.05pm.  Train heading back to Brisbane gets to Pomona at 1.55pm.  Pub is same distance from Pomona station as the Cooroy RSL is from the Cooroy railway station.

[colinw]

Just don't go to the pub if the ICE finds itself substituted with a toiletless SMU.  Otherwise you may find yourself needing to change trains in Nambour

[Stillwater]

You may find the TV cameras at Gympie North, Ozbob  -- an opportunity for RAIL Back On Track to spruik about Sunshine Coast and Gympie North services.  Maybe even a MVHR steam loco to contrast old and new. 

[ozbob]

 

[somebody]

Thinking of coming.

Anyone else?

Not to sure about the TV cameras though.

[ozbob]

I think Stillwater is being a little 

Nonetheless, the locals will no doubt rise to the occasion and capitalise on this new service. It offers not only improved transport options for folks along the line and hinterland, it also offers the opportunity for tourism.  With a gentle morning departure from Brisbane, nice arrival in towns along the way packages to include some local tours and overnight accommodation could be put together.   Having the regular service means that if only 4 people or 40 take advantage there are no issues with filling buses and the like.  Local tours can be matched to the demands easily.

[colinw]

What would be really nice would be a weekend service co-ordinating with MVHR.  Train to Gympie, catch the rattler, train home.

Admittedly there are much higher priorities in SEQ, so just saying ...

[Stillwater]

More the merrier on the day.  Given the length of the journey RailBOT could hold an AGM on board.     Seriously though, someone will be counting heads in the inaugural run, so the more passengers the better.

[Fares_Fair]

The extra services for Gympie North are one of the welcome advancements to the Sunshine coast line under the new timetable due for implementation on June 6.

There are now 2 Mon. - Fri. return services. (2 Northbound and 2 Southbound)
There are now 3 Week-end return services. (3 Northbound and 3 Southbound)

Week-end assessment can be found here:
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5820.0#new

Well done and thank you QR  

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Edit: Added link to Sunshine Coast week-end services assessment] 15:36 18 April, 2011.

[colinw]

I will try to make this run on June 6th, work commitments permitting. 

[somebody]

There are now 2 Mon. - Fri. return services. (2 Northbound and 2 Southbound)
There are now 3 Week-end return services. (3 Northbound and 3 Southbound)

At least now Gympie people can make a day trip into Brisbane.  Unfortunately it doesn't really work the other way around.  There would need to be 3 daily return services for that one.

Could the Nambour-Gympie North bit be done faster?  After all the ICEs were designed for above 120km/h running.

[colinw]

Nambour to Gympie still has a lot of substandard alignment, particularly north of Cooroy.

[Stillwater]

Traveston station was up for review a while back.  If it went, could save a bit of time.  Track between Gympie North and Traveston a bit slow!  The alignment north of Nambour could do with a review, in conjunction with stabling options at Yandina -- perfect opportunity before urban growth starts to crowd out track options.

[Fares_Fair]

... working on it !

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[SurfRail]

Love to join, but I'll be working.

[Stillwater]

Well, perhaps next timetable revamp - an extra Gympie-Brisbane-Gympie service.  Maybe need some promotion for the extra new daytime service from June 6, to get patronage up.  Evidence is that it will be used by Gympie folk who have medical appointments in Nambour, plus students at Nambour TAFE.

It will also be good to see how the buses on the Sunny Coast will be scheduled to meet trains at Landsborough, Beerwah, Nambour and Cooroy.

[Otto]

First day of new timetables, first weekday day return service to Gympie North.  I plan to go for the run to Gympie North.
Not much time at Gympie North, so best to take lunch.  Come along for the day if you can make it.

First day of my holidays... Sounds good...
Then I can compare the Sunny Coast commute to the Ballarat - Melbourne commute of which I will be doing at least 3 times in the following weeks.. 

[Stillwater]

Having done both, there is no comparison.  Ballarat wins hands down (much better, faster, track; comfort of travel about the same, although frequencies Melb-Ballarat way out in front).

[ozbob]

 

[Stillwater]

Gympie North staff say they have no objection to 'picnickers' using small piece of ground adjacent to carpark on 6 June, provided it is left tidy.  Turnaround time of inaugural service on 6 June coincides with lunch. 

[ozbob]

 

[ozbob]

On the 6th I plan to catch the first down service from Goodna and travel in a number of steps. Probably go direct to Oxley, or then again might be able to fit in a quick trip to Richlands.  Be interested how the punters are going with the new timetables.  Then back to Darra, to board an express service. Probably get off at Indroo and catch another service to Toowong.  Thence into Roma St.

[Stillwater]

The Cooroylander will be no more from the 6th of June when the midday train runs through the Gympie.  What do we call the service now?  Any suggestions?  Good ones, not 'the milk run'.   

[mufreight]

Politicaly inappropriate but the Gymp comes to mind, a longer service that operates under a handicap.   

[ozbob]

Politicaly inappropriate but the Gymp comes to mind, a longer service that operates under a handicap.   

LOL

I think the 'Gympie-lander' will probably be the default ..

[Stillwater]

  I had thought the 'Gympie Flyer', but the train hardly flies through those bends around Eudlo and between Nambour and Yandina.  Since a daytime trip to Gympie North passes through some spectacular scenery, maybe the name should be the 'Scenic Wonder'.  The mail no longer goes by rail, so the 'Gympie Mail' is out.  Gympie is the centre of the Cooloola Region, so maybe the 'Cooloola Sprinter' is appropriate.  But, as Mufreight has indicated, it is a sprinter with a splint.  Given the task this little train has to punch its way north, I am thinking the 'Hinterland Hercules', or 'The Herc' for short.

[HappyTrainGuy]

I had thought the 'Gympie Flyer', but the train hardly flies through those bends around Eudlo and between Nambour and Yandina.

Its could be a flyer if you compare it to other fleets doing the same trip. Its schedule arrival at Gympie North from Nambour is minutes after the Tuesday Sunlander which takes the ICE to do it in 1h-1h10m compared to the Sunlanders 1h20-2h, the Tilts 45-50mins or a cars 58 mins station to station according to google maps. Just imagine how quick they could be with straightening and duplication.

[colinw]

What about the "Cooloola Charger"?

[Stillwater]

New is it will be an ICE set doing the run.  I could warm to 'Cooloola Charger'.  It even sounds like a refreshing energy drink.   

[Fares_Fair]

How about the 'Gympie gander'.
There's plenty of time for a look-see on the way.  

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

You mean it waddles along? 

[Fridge]

A 'Day Trip'

[colinw]

Hmmm, maybe the Gympie North train should be called the "Go Card Timeout" or the "Penalty Fare".  It appears to be possible to exceed the 5 hour journey limit starting at the extremities of the system, e.g. Rosewood.

[somebody]

Hmmm, maybe the Gympie North train should be called the "Go Card Timeout" or the "Penalty Fare".  It appears to be possible to exceed the 5 hour journey limit starting at the extremities of the system, e.g. Rosewood.

No matter.  It is cheaper to cop the penalty anyway.  Although if you touch on at Gympie North and want to get off at Central (directional gate), it would be interesting to see the result?

[ozbob]

Looking forward to Monday and the Gympie Lander!  And using my go card ... lol

[HappyTrainGuy]

Hmmm, maybe the Gympie North train should be called the "Go Card Timeout" or the "Penalty Fare".  It appears to be possible to exceed the 5 hour journey limit starting at the extremities of the system, e.g. Rosewood.

No matter.  It is cheaper to cop the penalty anyway.  Although if you touch on at Gympie North and want to get off at Central (directional gate), it would be interesting to see the result?

Makes you wonder if any passengers don't tag on in the mornings from Gympie North, get off at Bowen Hills to tag on and then catch the next service to Central to tag off...

[ozbob]

Media release 5 June 2011

SEQ: Timetable changes a win for Gympie North 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 previously highlighted the new public transport timetables that come into effect on Monday 6th June (1).

The former weekday service to Cooroy has now been extended to Gympie North.  Interurban rail services in south east Queensland are another potential service improvement for the longer term.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The regional rail interurban services in Victoria under the V/Line banner are booming with an 89% patronage gain over the last five years. Fast, frequent, affordable long distance rail services have become a preferred method of travel in the state, free from the constant danger of road trauma, congestion and chaos (2)."

"A significant gain for the Sunshine Coast is the introduction of an additional weekday return service to Gympie North as from the 6th June."

The timetable is:

9:33 am Platform 7 Roma St

10.21am Caboolture

10.54am Landsborough

11.30am Nambour

11.57am Cooroy

12.39pm Gympie North

=============

Depart Gympie North 1.20pm

Cooroy 2.03pm

Nambour 2.25pm

Landsborough 2.57pm

Caboolture 3.33pm

Roma St 4.21pm

=============

"This means that Gympie North will now have two daily return services to and from Brisbane.  A 100% gain in frequency!"

"This additional service is very welcome and will provide an important communication link and travel option for local citizens as well as of considerable benefit to the tourist sector.  More services are needed between Gympie North and Nambour particularly, but this is a welcome beginning."

"More interurban services are needed generally in south east Queensland.  Electrification of the railway to Gatton should also be a priority, and regular interurban rail services introduced with a coordinated rail bus service to and from Toowoomba."

"RAIL Back On Track members will be travelling to Gympie North on the inaugural day service to celebrate this significant gain! (3)"

"Ease the strain, travel by train!"

References:

1. http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/change-is-coming

2. V/Line train and coach travel breaks records http://www.vline.com.au/pdf/publications/newsletters/issue61.pdf

3. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5795.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Note well, platform 7 departure at Roma St, Central platform 3 (this is how it is indicated in the new timetable from tomorrow, the 6th June)

[Stillwater]

Free muffins, tea/coffee and light snack for RailBOT travellers to Gympie North on inaugural service.  Look out for the friendly, platform welcome in the towns north of Cooroy, as there is much anticipation surrounding the introduction of this service among the locals.