RAIL - Back On Track Forum

I took a number of photographs today at each of the 4 sites.
I compared them with pictures taken previously.

All of the temporary platforms have had their exterior major elements sprayed with silver paint, making them look 'new' from a distance.
Areas that were previously rusty have been sprayed silver (and there was lots over-spray to be seen, indicating spray-cans were used).
Perhaps the spray cans were zinc galvanizing paint to minimise further rust.

No rusty areas under the platforms were sprayed.

https://twitter.com/Jeffrey_Addison/status/1485877513469722624

Let's not forget that QR rented the scaffolding initially, but ultimately bought it from the contractor/supplier due to the high and ongoing annual rent costs.

Queensland Rail's Annual report for 2015-2016 (interestingly) says this..  p34-35.

Temporary platform extensions

Queensland Rail is committed to improving station facilities to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable commute for its customers.

The temporary platform extensions at Pomona, Cooran and Eumundi stations have reached the end of their life and in January 2016, Queensland Rail announced a $3 million upgrade to build permanent station platforms at these stations.

Work is currently underway and is expected to be completed in 2016-17 financial year.



As we know, they didn't finish until March 2020.
If these three built in January 2010 had reached the end of their life - what does that say about the remaining one's built in December 2009.

Nothing that a can of glossy spray paint can't fix I guess.

QUESTION ON NOTICE ASKED Tuesday, 10 May 2022
Answer Due: Thursday, 9 June 2022
372 MR A POWELL ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (HON M BAILEY)

With reference to the seven temporary platforms installed on the North Coast/Gympie rail line in 2009-10 — Will the Minister specify (a) how much was spent on leasing each of the seven temporary platforms since their installation in 2009-10 (reported separately by station), (b) the cost of the permanent platform solutions at Pomona, Cooran and Eumundi (reported separately by station), (c) when the government purchased the remaining four temporary platforms at Mooloolah Valley, Eudlo, Palmwoods and Woombye and (d) for what price each of those temporary platforms was purchased (reported separately by station)?

Pathognomonic of successive Governments' Sunshine Coast rail neglect!

Quote from: Fares_Fair on May 16, 2022, 23:29:36 PMQUESTION ON NOTICE ASKED Tuesday, 10 May 2022
Answer Due: Thursday, 9 June 2022
372 MR A POWELL ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (HON M BAILEY)

With reference to the seven temporary platforms installed on the North Coast/Gympie rail line in 2009-10 — Will the Minister specify (a) how much was spent on leasing each of the seven temporary platforms since their installation in 2009-10 (reported separately by station), (b) the cost of the permanent platform solutions at Pomona, Cooran and Eumundi (reported separately by station), (c) when the government purchased the remaining four temporary platforms at Mooloolah Valley, Eudlo, Palmwoods and Woombye and (d) for what price each of those temporary platforms was purchased (reported separately by station)?

 

Quote from: Stillwater on January 26, 2022, 06:59:29 AMLet's not forget that QR rented the scaffolding initially, but ultimately bought it from the contractor/supplier due to the high and ongoing annual rent costs.

I can confirm that the 4 remaining platforms at Woombye, Palmwoods, Eudlo and Mooloolah were purchased in April 2016.

https://twitter.com/Jeffrey_Addison/status/1551782201356058624

Question on Notice No. 372
Asked on 10 May 2022 by Mr A Powell.

Question and answers in 372-2022 link at bottom of post.
Information provided:

Seven stations (originally) with temporary platforms at Pomona, Cooran, Eumundi, Woombye, Palmwoods, Eudlo and Mooloolah.

Amount spent on leasing only available from 2011-12 FY, earlier information not available from when the freight arm of QR was sold off.
I was able to find it easily enough however from news reports and earlier Questions on Notice.

Cost of the permanent platform solutions for Pomona ($2.2m), Cooran ($1.8m) and Eumundi ($2.3m).

Date when the four remaining temporary platforms were purchased (April 2016)

Purchase amount for each temporary platform.

372-2022.pdf

QuoteThis study will consider infrastructure upgrades
on the North Coast Line, including the replacement of the temporary platforms at Mooloolah,
Eudlo, Palmwoods and Woombye stations, with permanent dual platforms connected by lifts and
overbridges.

At least a full duplication to Nambour is still in scope and not completely written off. Regardless, the temporary platforms should have been replaced years ago. It shouldn't require a major infrastructure project to deliver such essentials 

Today, there is NO date for the delivery of the Landsborough to Nambour Rail duplication, on the website, despite former Deputy Premier Jackie Trad MP (ALP, South Brisbane) saying it was 'on their agenda' in May 2015.

Sent to all outlets:

Platforms saga costs $9.3 million
28th July 2022

Greetings,

The management and delivery of rail infrastructure and rail services for the Sunshine Coast has been deficient for many years now.
Just to show how dysfunctional the present arrangements for public transport infrastructure and service delivery are, consider this well informed recent article on the saga of temporary platforms on the Sunshine Coast line.

This is just a gross embarrassment and highlights why a broom needs to go through DTMR and Translink.

If anyone thinks these outfits are capable of delivering public transport leading up to and during the 2032 Olympic Games, you need to think again.
We need a proper Public Transport Authority, independent of DTMR, as for the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia (https://www.pta.wa.gov.au).

There is no time to waste.

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


Sunshine Valley Gazette https://www.sunshinevalleygazette.com.au/read-paper-online
July 27, 2022 Page 29

Platforms saga costs $9.3 million
by Jeffrey Addison Sunshine Coast Commuter Advocate

IT was December 2009 when work finished installing temporary rail platform extensions at Eudlo, Mooloolah, Palmwoods and Woombye.

Platforms at Cooran, Pomona and Eumundi followed, completed in January 2010.

You'll notice them by their shiny (silver painted to hide the rust) steel scaffolds sitting on hardwood timbers, plywood-painted decks, chain-wire fences, all anchored with large concrete blocks underneath.

The temporary platforms at Cooran, Pomona and Eumundi were replaced with permanent structures by 2018, 2019 and 2020 respectively.

These permanent platforms estimated cost was $3 million, but that's because they were supposed to be replaced by December 2016, as reported in the Sunshine Coast Daily (SCD).

Question on Notice (QoN) No. 372 by Glass House MP Andrew Powell, dated 10 May 2022, showed the cost to be $6.3 million.

To be fair, there were additional works including waiting shelters, upgraded lighting and security cameras.

The platforms were installed for good reason – to extend access for full-length of a six-car train. It wasn't possible at Eudlo due to physical constraints; a rail-over-road bridge to the north and a passing loop intersection to the south, limiting it to four cars.

An extended platform enables shorter "dwell" times. Dwell is the time spent waiting to board and/or exit, or de-train, a train. It improves on-time running and reliability of the service, and that's a good thing.

By 30 June 2011 they were to be replaced with permanent structures according to the Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) advice to government dated 14/1/2010.

Clearly, perhaps like much of the advice from DTMR to the government, it wasn't followed. The correspondence said that QR Passenger and TransLink were in discussions over obtaining funding for permanent structures.

It appears TransLink won – and nothing happened for three of them until eight to ten years later. An SCD story by Bill Hoffman published 9 January 2016, had this final sentence: "The temporary extensions were designed as a low-cost interim solution, while consideration was given to constructing permanent extensions as part of the Beerburrum-to-Nambour rail duplication."

A low-cost interim solution, but was it?

From the QoN we learn the Queensland government bought the four remaining temporary platforms from Waco Kwikform in April 2016 for $331,966.

The amount spent leasing the seven temporary platforms totalled $1,776,339 (from 2011-12 FY).

Unfortunately, the QoN was unable to identify costs before the 2011-12 financial year due to Queensland Rail Limited's freight arm asset; QR National, being sold in July 2010.

This omitted 18 months of rent and the original installation costs.

I ascertained the omitted costs from other documents and news reports.

We know installation cost $455,000 ($65,000 each) from Sherine Conyers,' Maroochy Journal (MJ) report of 3 February 2012.

That just leaves rent for the first 18 months, and Ms Conyers (MJ) helps us again in a 10 February 2012 story.

It reported $5600 per week rent, over 18 months, totals $436,800.

Total rent outlaid $2,213,139.

Total costs $9,300,105.00, including the 3 new structures. So, not really a low-cost interim solution.

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

Reference:

RAIL Back On Track Forum - discussion thread:
Those temporary platform extensions built 2009/2010 https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7534.0


https://twitter.com/Jeffrey_Addison/status/919488474897571842/photo/3

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Great picture. 

   Temporary platforms on the SCL/NCL have a habit of becoming 'permanent' for all intents and purposes.

Quote from: Stillwater on March 25, 2024, 12:40:31 PM  Temporary platforms on the SCL/NCL have a habit of becoming 'permanent' for all intents and purposes.

Yes.
Four of the original seven (Palmwoods, Eudlo, Mooloolah and Woombye) are still in place some 14 and a half years later.
Installed December 2009/January 2010.

Any mushroom pics? These were a RBoT classic!!

https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/sunshine-coast/train-station-mushrooms/image-gallery/cd43b5170fe4a67a8783ee8c797b0a37

bump