RAIL - Back On Track Forum

Queensland Parliament

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableoffice/questionsanswers/2022/1062-2022.pdf

QUESTION ON NOTICE
ASKED
Friday, 14 October 2022
Answer Due: Monday, 14 November 2022
1062 MR S MINNIKIN ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (HON M BAILEY)
Will the Minister advise the total construction cost for Cross River Rail (CRR) (including any ancillary
projects that are required to make this project operational)?

Funny how the same question is never asked about the M1 North Widening Program

https://twitter.com/BrentToderian/status/583321873506697216?

I don't think it is always that simple. Roads can go places where PT is not supported.

Brisbane used to run trams and buses. They stopped running buses for a while because operating buses was more expensive than operating trams.

The reason was likely that Brisbane's roads were unsealed at that time, which made riding a bus nasty. Buses operated as a feeder service to the tram routes (yes, BCC did operate the network as a feeder model!)

BCC then spent heaps of money sealing the city's roads and then got Federal Road Aid money to do that.

Quote from: #Metro on November 09, 2022, 12:03:07 PMI don't think it is always that simple. Roads can go places where PT is not supported.

Brisbane used to run trams and buses. They stopped running buses for a while because operating buses was more expensive than operating trams.

The reason was likely that Brisbane's roads were unsealed at that time, which made riding a bus nasty. Buses operated as a feeder service to the tram routes (yes, BCC did operate the network as a feeder model!)

BCC then spent heaps of money sealing the city's roads and then got Federal Road Aid money to do that.

That's decades old lol

Or you just turn a bus into a train – perhaps possible for parts of the SEQ rail network.

https://www.euronews.com/next/2021/12/27/a-new-bus-which-can-turn-itself-into-a-train-has-just-started-operating-in-japan



Could operate as a bus around Northshore Brisbane, then as a 'train' on the Doomben Line.
Brisbane will need to think outside the square ahead of the Olympic and Paralymic Games.

While we are at it who remembers mixed goods trains haha.

^Mixed trains still run on the Skitube.

Quote from: ozbob on November 09, 2022, 09:41:02 AMQueensland Parliament

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableoffice/questionsanswers/2022/1062-2022.pdf

QUESTION ON NOTICE
ASKED
Friday, 14 October 2022
Answer Due: Monday, 14 November 2022
1062 MR S MINNIKIN ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (HON M BAILEY)
Will the Minister advise the total construction cost for Cross River Rail (CRR) (including any ancillary
projects that are required to make this project operational)?

Answer --> https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2022/1062-2022.pdf

https://www.facebook.com/reel/710389206675749/?s=single_unit

(screenshot below)

https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1596659659020316672

Starts about 1 minute 25 seconds in.

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/96681

FIRST LOOK: Cross River Rail's underground station interiors revealed
27th November 2022

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Mark Bailey

Queenslanders are getting their first look at the inside of Cross River Rail's new underground stations, through a replica built in Eagle Farm.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said crews at the facility had modelled sections of the platform and mezzanine levels for the new Boggo Road, Woolloongabba, Albert Street and Roma Street underground stations.

"Cross River Rail's four new underground stations will quickly become an iconic part of Queensland, so it's really exciting to get a taste of what they'll be like to use," Mr Bailey said.

"It's pretty amazing to think that we're getting a glimpse into the future of rail in Queensland in what, from the outside, looks like a regular warehouse in Eagle Farm."

Mr Bailey said the four underground stations' platform and mezzanine levels had a set of common design components, helping provide an easy and familiar passenger experience.

"While the underground stations' buildings, ground levels and colour palettes will be different, their mezzanine and platform levels' layout will be consistent, clear and simple, making the stations easy for all passengers to use," he said.

"The ceiling design is a nod to the classic Queenslander veranda, and features expressed 'rafters' and panel joints rather than the curved profile used by most underground stations across the world.

"The colours and materials for each station's floors and ceilings have been chosen to reflect the area's surroundings.

"Brisbane's new underground won't just transform the way we travel – it will capture Queensland's character and set a new benchmark for Australian station design."

Mr Bailey said the replica facility was like a display home for Cross River Rail station builders.

"This facility will be used by the team to see how the materials at each station will work together," he said.

"Being able to see the design in-person gives you an idea of just how great these stations are going to be, and how they will come together.

"We're also able to bring stakeholders here – like our accessibility reference group and station fit-out contractors – to see the design up close."

Mock-up facility fast facts:

Cross River Rail's mock-up facility houses replica sections of the platform and mezzanine levels that will be built in the four new underground stations.
The facility is used to show stakeholders the design in-person and illustrate how the material selections work together.
While the underground stations will have unique buildings and ground levels, the platform and mezzanine designs share a set of common design components, creating a common experience at each station.
The colours and materials for the floor and ceiling interiors of each station are different, and were chosen to reflect each station's local context and identity.
The platform and mezzanine designs will feature angled walls and ceiling planes, with the ceilings inspired by Queenslander-style typologies.
This differs from typical underground stations, which have curved profiles.

ENDS

Media assets

Animations:

1. Current construction comparison

2. Queensland architecture comparison

3. Roma Street flythrough

In QLD --> If you build it they will come - maybe: Auditor issues warning on Cross River Rail

QuoteQueensland biggest infrastructure project, the $6.9 billion Cross River Rail, is at risk of failing to provide value for money unless public transport usage improves dramatically from current levels, the Palaszczuk Government has been warned.

An examination by Queensland's Auditor-General Brendan Worrall has revealed that the project's costs may outweigh the benefits it delivers if a slump in the number of rail passengers is not reversed quickly. ...

Queensland Audit Office:

Review of the Cross River Rail project

https://www.qao.qld.gov.au/reports-resources/reports-parliament/major-projects-2022#h2-4

CRR Section only as a PDF

>

Brisbanetimes --> Number of people taking Brisbane trains falls below Cross River plan

https://twitter.com/JonathanPBryant/status/1598422441411620865

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1598429192680771584

Many more projects, but this thread is getting de-railed again.

Cross River Rail is worthwhile, in time there will be further infrastructure upgrades and the like.

It is not a ' white elephant ' and if any one thinks it is.  They best go and join the Couriermail commentary page.

 

Posts moved --> Discussion on possible train frequencies when CRR is commissioned in 2025

This is a complex topic, best in a separate thread.

Admin

Quote from: ozbob on December 02, 2022, 09:24:51 AMMany more projects, but this thread is getting de-railed again.

Cross River Rail is worthwhile, in time there will be further infrastructure upgrades and the like.

It is not a ' white elephant ' and if any one thinks it is.  They best go and join the Couriermail commentary page.

 

   

In effect, what the Auditor-General is suggesting, I think, is that the modelling that shows the benefits of CRR arising from the add-ons that it facilitates (and which never could be done without CRR in place first) should now proceed so that patronage growth is accelerated.  There is also considerable knowledge and skill in the CRR workforce that should not be allowed to dissipate once the project is up and running. They should be switched over to a new and complex task.

Brisbanetimes --> We've got four years to go': Minister defends Cross River Rail as commuters avoid trains

QuoteTransport Minister Mark Bailey says Brisbane's need for the flagship state government Cross River Rail project is "absolute", after an audit office report warned travel habits were not growing as fast as anticipated.

While the number of train trips in Brisbane has lifted from its pandemic low despite changes to home working arrangements, the report showed figures had already been lower in 2019 than business case projections.  ...

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1600131161699024897

https://youtu.be/KWVBfkwV_7U

First look into what Brisbane's Cross River Rail stations will look like | 7NEWS

27 Nov 2022

Stations Taking Shape Above Ground

https://twitter.com/CrossRiverRail/status/1606167752624201728

Something I've been thinking about recently - we know that CRR is going to free up a ton of capacity on the suburban lines, and the related network shuffle is going to add an addition service every 30 mins onto the mains. The NWTC line (if it gets built!) will end up adding more services again to the mains, as there will need to be a train running between where the Northgate, where theShornecliffe line branches from the north coast line, and wherever the NWTC rejoins the north coast line. This is of course assuming we run express trains via the much straighter and presumably faster NWTC, which we should. With this in mind, would it not make sense to rearrange the tracks at Roma St and Central to give 2 of the current suburban platforms to the mains?

I've done a quick mockup of how it might look at Roma St, but I'm curious to hear what other people think about this

They are now building a crossover between the dual gauge (western-most) track and the CRR-bound lines between Fairfield and Dutton Park stations (despite it not appearing in the EIS Project Changes maps/plans).

Photo taken near Wilkins St on 5th Jan:


Screenshot of the 'General Arrangement' plans on the CRR EIS Project Changes website in that area (no crossovers indicated):

Quote from: paulg on January 12, 2023, 12:32:39 PMThey are now building a crossover between the dual gauge (western-most) track and the CRR-bound lines between Fairfield and Dutton Park stations (despite it not appearing in the EIS Project Changes maps/plans).

Photo taken near Wilkins St on 5th Jan:


Screenshot of the 'General Arrangement' plans on the CRR EIS Project Changes website in that area (no crossovers indicated):

Yeah that's good as a lot of XPT services are terminating south of the border with bus connections to Bne. Once completed along with improvement works at Roma St can allow regular interstate services to run again directly into Bne.

We just need to implement Daylight Saving as well to provide a reasonable timetable in respects to departure and arrival times.

Quote from: verbatim9 on January 12, 2023, 12:50:08 PM

Quote from: paulg on January 12, 2023, 12:32:39 PMThey are now building a crossover between the dual gauge (western-most) track and the CRR-bound lines between Fairfield and Dutton Park stations (despite it not appearing in the EIS Project Changes maps/plans).

Photo taken near Wilkins St on 5th Jan:


Screenshot of the 'General Arrangement' plans on the CRR EIS Project Changes website in that area (no crossovers indicated):

Yeah that's good as a lot of XPT services are terminating south of the border with bus connections to Bne. Once completed along with improvement works at Roma St can allow regular interstate services to run again directly into Bne.

We just need to implement Daylight Saving as well to provide a reasonable timetable in respects to departure and arrival times.

Daylight savings is not going to happen in Queensland. If it did happen it would have to be only SEQ which introduces more problems than it solves IMO.

If the NSW Govt was serious about long distance trains they could pay for some more sets.

Even with current horrid running times, given enough rollingstock it should be possible to rejig the timetable and have say 4 trips a day in each direction.  I would be aiming at 4 trains a day to Grafton and reopen the Murwillumbah line as far as Lismore if doable without much expense.  2 return trips a day to Lismore, and 2 return trips to Brisbane (one day service and one overnight).

Apparently, the Government is considering to allocate more retail and hospitality space in and around cross river rail stations.

Quote from: RowBro on January 12, 2023, 14:13:15 PM

Quote from: verbatim9 on January 12, 2023, 12:50:08 PM

Quote from: paulg on January 12, 2023, 12:32:39 PMThey are now building a crossover between the dual gauge (western-most) track and the CRR-bound lines between Fairfield and Dutton Park stations (despite it not appearing in the EIS Project Changes maps/plans).

Photo taken near Wilkins St on 5th Jan:


Screenshot of the 'General Arrangement' plans on the CRR EIS Project Changes website in that area (no crossovers indicated):

Yeah that's good as a lot of XPT services are terminating south of the border with bus connections to Bne. Once completed along with improvement works at Roma St can allow regular interstate services to run again directly into Bne.

We just need to implement Daylight Saving as well to provide a reasonable timetable in respects to departure and arrival times.

Daylight savings is not going to happen in Queensland. If it did happen it would have to be only SEQ which introduces more problems than it solves IMO.

Everyone seems to have definitive opinion about Daylight Saving, which is mostly anecdotal.

AOB - I'm not sure if it's possible to convert P3 and P4 at Central like it is at Roma St.

If it *is* possible, though, then that would be brilliant.