RAIL - Back On Track Forum

Quote from: #Metro on March 28, 2023, 00:16:12 AM

Quote"There's been no delays (on the Sunshine Coast rail) whatsoever," Bailey added

 

I think this govt is reaching its use by date. It's just unreality.

Also, the suggestion by the IOC official that the Gabba needs to be knocked down for $2.7 billion so that more children play sport is ludicrous.

Funding sport clubs would do the same thing for less. 

The challenge is the LNP are even more road centric and have a horrible track record of stupid proposals in support of the Lord Mayor!

The two major parties are a case of Dumb and Dumber!

Sunshine Valley Gazette 29th March 2023 page 18

https://www.sunshinevalleygazette.com.au/read-paper-online

An Olympian's rail experience
by Jeffrey Addison, Sunshine Coast Commuter Advocate

QuoteI had the opportunity to chat to an Olympian and ask what his career had entailed with regard to his use of public transport, in particular rail travel.

I wanted to gauge the importance of a fast, frequent, affordable rail system on an Olympian who has been everywhere, in his career both as an elite sportsman and commentator.

 There was significant hype about Fast Rail in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games bid – where our possible Sunshine Coast transport legacy options are in actuality old options promised in the past and never built.

 A news cameraman told me how the Los Angeles Summer Olympics already had their new light-rail transport system up and running - five years before their Games' kick-off on 30 July 2028.

 The Olympian is Benny Pike, who fought in the men's light heavyweight events at the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics. This is Benny Pike's transport story:

 "I'm a born and bred local, and proud of the journey my family has had on the Sunshine Coast.

I started my boxing career at Maroochy High in 1971, winning my first bout in front of a packed audience at Nambour Civic Hall. Little did I know that my fistic ability would take me around the world for the next 50 years."

 "Winning 6 National Titles, 10 State Titles, representing Australia at 2 Commonwealth Games, 1 Olympic Games, 2 World Cups, 1 World Championship, 4 Oceania Games, 4 Kings Cups, 2 Presidents Cups and numerous other tournaments around Australia."

 "My media career allowed me to travel the world commentating at five Olympics and six Commonwealth Games.

There were two constants through-out, [one was] watching the world's best amateur fighters and [two, was] how many times I used a train."

 "It all started after the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Canada, catching the Rocky Mountains train to Vancouver on a holiday trip to the United States.

[In] 1979 New York and [the] Montreal 1981 World Cups, I used trains to travel and sightsee. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics I caught the train to watch Maroochy local Clint Robinson defends his 1992 Olympic Gold.

It was an hour trip to [the] Lake outside of Atlanta; sadly Clint was relegated to silver. The boxing venue for the 1998 Kuala Lumpur [Commonwealth] Games was at least 30 minutes away, so it was a quick [train] trip each day.

Same for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, leaving Parramatta every day to travel into work at Darling Harbour. Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games was a train trip morning and night from Elsternwick to Melbourne Central.

In 2020 I went to an ABC Radio 2000 Games reunion in Darling Harbour; a train ride to and fro."

"I could go on but this really is common sense, the Sunshine Coast needs and deserves heavy rail into Maroochydore/Nambour. It's time to put politics aside and do what's best for the people of the fastest growing region in the country.

"I will catch the train for the 2032 Brisbane Games."

Discussion on patronage etc. has been split into another thread here > https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=15110.0

This thread is for the DSCRL ( and its earlier forms ) thanks.

Queensland Parliament Hansard

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/events/han/2023/2023_03_30_DAILY.pdf

PRIVATE MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

Sunshine Coast, Transport Infrastructure

Mr BLEIJIE (Kawana—LNP) (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (2.00 pm):

Sunshine Coast residents will have heard for many years about the CAMCOS corridor. We know that as the Sunshine
Coast heavy passenger rail, joining rail infrastructure from Beerwah to Caloundra, to Kawana, to
Maroochydore. The CAMCOS corridor was first parroted by Labor governments in 1999. Since then we
have had plan after plan, business case after business case, study after study. Guess what the
Palaszczuk Labor government are doing now: another business case. From 1999 to 2023—24 years
later, the state Labor government are doing another business case, like they have to be told how
important heavy passenger rail is for the Sunshine Coast community! For goodness sake, the time for
planning and looking into the Sunshine Coast heavy passenger rail is finished; the time for action is
now. The time to build the rail is now. The time to dig with the shovel is now. They absolutely must get
on with delivering the Sunshine Coast heavy passenger rail.

Sunshine Coast community residents have waited too long for this heavy passenger rail. Now
the rumours are circulating that the state Labor government, through this business case, is only looking
at extending the line from Beerwah and finishing it at Caloundra. If that is the case, it is disgraceful. It
is not good enough for the residents of Kawana and Maroochydore to miss out on the Sunshine Coast
heavy passenger rail.

The other rumour circulating is that the state government will deliver the heavy passenger rail to
Caloundra and then there will be the light rail being proposed by the Sunshine Coast council. This
means that a tram up Nicklin Way on our coastline communities will pick people up from Caloundra to
Maroochydore. That is not acceptable. The Sunshine Coast community does not support the light rail
down Nicklin Way and on our coastal communities. It will wreck the environment and it will wreck
liveability on the Sunshine Coast.

I see the Minister for the Environment smirking at me about the environment. We have one of
the largest turtle nesting colonies in the world along my beaches in Buddina and Kawana. Lights from
road and rail traffic have an impact on turtle nesting. The light rail proposed by the Sunshine Coast
Council will have a detrimental impact not only on liveability but also on the environment, particularly
the turtle nesting that we see across Kawana Beach, and on the community.

I call on the Labor state government to stop the planning of the Sunshine Coast heavy passenger
rail and deliver it. It is about time the rail is delivered. If the Premier wants legacy projects for her
Olympics in 2032 then I say: put the Sunshine Coast heavy passenger rail in the mix, because the
Sunshine Coast community have missed out from the Labor Party for too long.

QuoteI see the Minister for the Environment smirking at me about the environment. We have one of
the largest turtle nesting colonies in the world along my beaches in Buddina and Kawana. Lights from
road and rail traffic have an impact on turtle nesting. The light rail proposed by the Sunshine Coast
Council will have a detrimental impact not only on liveability but also on the environment, particularly
the turtle nesting that we see across Kawana Beach, and on the community.

This is a tenuous link and a poor excuse put up to deter LRT along this corridor.

If anything, LRT windows could be tinted such that not a lot of light would get out.

Light from cars, streetlights, and apartments are more of an issue.

There is a ~ 100 m dune barrier and houses between that and the road that buffer the beach.

I think the real concern is loss of car lane from motorists, who tend to vote blue team.

Wouldnt Kawana shoppingworld act as visual barrier between the beach and the tram line?

Anyway, by playing the whole anti light rail card he's cornered himself since it allows the government to bring up the LNPs opposition to GC light rail, meanwhile "we get it done"

He should have just stuck to heavy rail as the topic and got that in the can.

Quote from: ozbob on March 28, 2023, 00:09:59 AMhttps://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1640355352100339713

Bailey also waved away CRR budget overruns and now nearly $1b over.

He is a grub of a politician.

QuoteThe CAMCOS corridor was first parroted by Labor governments in 1999. Since then we
have had plan after plan, business case after business case, study after study. Guess what the
Palaszczuk Labor government are doing now: another business case. From 1999 to 2023—24 years
later, the state Labor government are doing another business case, like they have to be told how
important heavy passenger rail is for the Sunshine Coast community!

Is it possible to get a table of each of the key plans/versions and what the BCR or key details were for each project? If they ran business cases for that long, they must have some ideas of costs etc.

Stretching the truth is a political artform. Lying has no place in the public discourse.

Facebook ...


Discussion --> https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?msg=269565

I trust the next time the Premier et al are asked a direct question re the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line they answer with honesty.

Strong response to our Facebook post on this.
[Be honest Premier Palaszczuk and Minister Bailey - DSCRL deception
> https://railbotforum.org/yourls/5d ]

Everyone has had enough of this constant failure with rail, particularly on the Sunshine Coast.

Really is time a rocket went through Transport and TMR.

It is now April 2023, I doubt there is now enough time to construct the DSCRL before 2032, even if the Government was willing, which they are not. Funding is non existent.

It's over. 

The fact that there is no serious public transport related infrastructure being built whilst they spend billions and billions on the Bruce Hwy and just general road expansions. The traffic only gets worse and there still seems nothing at all being done for an alternative. Being able to get somewhere without driving there will not turn us into the gold coast

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2023/137-2023.pdf

Question on Notice
No. 137
Asked on 14 March 2023

Mr J Bleijie asked Premier and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games
(Hon. A Palaszczuk)―

QUESTION:

With reference to the government's recent $7b 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games
infrastructure announcement including a $1.7b Gabba blowout—

Will the Premier advise (a) how much money and what projects will the state and federal
government deliver in road and rail projects for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games
and (b) will that include the heavy passenger rail from Beerwah to Caloundra to Kawana
to Maroochydore?

ANSWER:

The existing program of transport infrastructure works to manage future growth and
support the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games is outlined in the $29.7 billion
Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program 2022–23 to 2025–26. This program
includes critical upgrades across Queensland, including the South East Queensland
transport network. Further information about the program is available via
www.tmr.qld.gov.au/qtriponline.

I am advised planning is underway for the proposed passenger rail corridor between
Beerwah and Maroochydore to increase public transport opportunities for the growing
Sunshine Coast community. A $6 million planning study on a proposed Direct Sunshine
Coast Rail line has been jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments.
This planning is critical to identifying the full scope, cost and timing for any future project.
The Direct Sunshine Coast Rail line planning is critically enabled by the Beerburrum to
Nambour Rail Upgrade (stage 1). The $550.8 million project is jointly funded by the
Australian and Queensland governments. The project will increase track capacity,
providing improved services for Queenslanders and support the growing Sunshine Coast
region. It is relevant to note that this project would be further advanced if the previous LNP
government had not cut more than $1.65 billion in transport funding and progressed
planning on this project.

Always misleading spin.
The Maroochydore rail project (CAMCOS) was cut by red team in 2007.
Cut cut cut it was.

Just noting that the B2N project will take 3 years to build 13km (finished by 2027) Yay 
Direct Sunshine Coast Line is 37km (3 x), so extrapolating it out,
it would take 9 years to build that - if it ever gets state funding.

Quote from: Fares_Fair on April 14, 2023, 14:51:13 PMJust noting that the B2N project will take 3 years to build 13km (finished by 2027) Yay 
Direct Sunshine Coast Line is 37km (3 x), so extrapolating it out,
it would take 9 years to build that - if it ever gets state funding.

Is that all the way to Maroochydore, or just to Caloundra. Either way, not looking good.

B2N is the Beerburrum to Beerwah re-alignment and duplication project (Stage 1).
Stage 1 also includes the new 'Car Park' and Bus Station on the Eastern Side of Landsborough Station (where the 'Triangle' for locos previously was)

My mind at this stage thinks that DSCRL isn't happening, although if DSCRL gets to Caloundra (with the stops at Baringa (Caloundra South) and Pelican Waters)  before 2032, it would be 'an achievement' in itself.

Quote from: RowBro on April 14, 2023, 15:01:13 PM

Quote from: Fares_Fair on April 14, 2023, 14:51:13 PMJust noting that the B2N project will take 3 years to build 13km (finished by 2027) Yay 
Direct Sunshine Coast Line is 37km (3 x), so extrapolating it out,
it would take 9 years to build that - if it ever gets state funding.

Is that all the way to Maroochydore, or just to Caloundra. Either way, not looking good.

37km is Beerwah - Maroochydore.

Quote from: Arnz on April 14, 2023, 15:24:51 PM...

My mind at this stage thinks that DSCRL isn't happening, although if DSCRL gets to Caloundra (with the stops at Baringa (Caloundra South) and Pelican Waters)  before 2032, it would be 'an achievement' in itself.

Inclined to agree Arnz. Sad, but that is the reality.

Start with a single station spur to Caloundra 

The Premier said: "The Direct Sunshine Coast Rail line planning is critically enabled by the Beerburrum to
Nambour Rail Upgrade (stage 1). The $550.8 million project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments."

The Premier should say ...... "the project is funded disproportionately by the Australian and Queensland governments" ....

The DSCL project is ill-defined -- to Maroochydore? ..... to Caloundra?

In the past, Transport Minister Bailey has said it is a line from Beerwah "towards the coast". Now, what does that mean??

Never a straight answer from this government about SC rail investment.

QuoteI am advised planning is underway for the proposed passenger rail corridor between
Beerwah and Maroochydore to increase public transport opportunities for the growing
Sunshine Coast community.

Says it all. It is not about targets or moving people by active and public transport. It is a safety net for those who can't drive. An opportunity.  Opportunity (@hourly frequency) provided. Job done! Where is the Freeway named after me.

Quote from: #Metro on April 14, 2023, 15:42:39 PMStart with a single station spur to Caloundra 

The corridor passes through the developing Caloundra South area.  It would be a bigger mistake than the Ellen Grove station/Springfield line fiasco if it was left out from the start.

Quote from: Stillwater on April 14, 2023, 16:27:06 PMThe Premier said: "The Direct Sunshine Coast Rail line planning is critically enabled by the Beerburrum to
Nambour Rail Upgrade (stage 1). The $550.8 million project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments."

The Premier should say ...... "the project is funded disproportionately by the Australian and Queensland governments" ....

The DSCL project is ill-defined -- to Maroochydore? ..... to Caloundra?

In the past, Transport Minister Bailey has said it is a line from Beerwah "towards the coast". Now, what does that mean??

Never a straight answer from this government about SC rail investment.

Precisely. Thank you SW.

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableoffice/questionsanswers/2023/351-2023.pdf

QUESTION ON NOTICE
ASKED Thursday, 30 March 2023

Answer Due: Tuesday, 2 May 2023

351 MR J BLEIJIE ASKED PREMIER AND MINISTER FOR THE OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES (HON A PALASZCZUK)

With reference to the 2005 Labor Government's commitment to build a high speed rail link from Beerwah
to Caloundra by 2015 and to Maroochydore by 2020—

Will the Premier advise why the Premier's government has not progressed the construction of this vitally
important public transport project over the last eight years?

Making the Rail Express news

https://www.railexpress.com.au/sunshine-coast-project-delays-denied/

QuoteSunshine Coast project delays denied

The Queensland Government has brushed off suggestions of delays on a major rail project proposed for the Sunshine Coast, site of four 2032 Olympic Games venues.

A $6 million scoping and costing study for the 37km passenger branch line between Beerwah and Maroochydore is due to be completed later this year.

The line will link the steadily growing Sunshine Coast to the main north-to-south rail line, and could provide a transport link between three 2032 Olympic venues three venues and an athletes' village precinct.

But some Federal and state opposition MPs have raised concerns on whether the line will be completed within nine years, saying the government is running out of time to break ground. ...

Except for the fact the Minister's party promised it to be to Caloundra by 2015 and Maroochydore by 2020..
but it's not late people, there are no delays.

Cue tanks in background as Iraqi foreign minister says there is no invasion.

QuoteTransport during that event was "superb", he said, with light and heavy rail working seamlessly together and would be the same during the upcoming Olympics.

Silly question Mr. Baliey, but how will heavy rail and light rail work 'superbly' on the Sunshine Coast when they don't exist?

 

[A new project has launched on TMR Projects that matches your interests:
This consultation relates to Rail, North Coast.]

Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line
A new rail line to connect our communities

https://www.yoursay-projects.tmr.qld.gov.au/direct-sunshine-coast-rail-line

Always the planning for anything on the Sunshine Coast ..."The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) is planning for the Direct Sunshine Coast (DSC) Rail Line." Nonetheless, good to see because you can't have construction without a plan first. What's the betting the project will be staged (to Caloundra initially). There will be a fly-through presentation ready in time for the state election next year, but probably won't be built in time for the Olympic Games. Did someone say 'money'?

I note they plan on retweaking the alignment in parts and also station locations.

HUGE Rumour doing the rounds in 1 William Street...the Annastacia Palaszczuk vision for Direct Sunshine Coast Rail is evolving.....senior government officials are determined it WILL be 2032 OLYMPIC Ready.....more detailed advanced plans are soon to be realeased...but, a long time mate snuck this out, to whet your appetite...word is, wherever possible, their keeping costs down by using similar design concepts to other World Class SEQ OLYMPIC Transport Infrastructure Projects!!!

The politics will cruel this project. For it to proceed, Minister Bailey will have to give up his politicking. He won't.

Here's the likely scenario:

The alignment is being re-examined, as well as the station locations, as part of a new business case. This will add to the cost if it involves land swaps and purchases (potentially adding to the construction timeframe if the new alignment strays too far from the already preserved CAMCOS corridor).

The state government will load into the business case things such as (state responsibility) road re-configurations and interchanges, bikeways, bus interchanges, station car parks and the like – things normally provided by the state government alone.

For the sake of argument, let's say the revised cost of the project Beerwah to Marrochydore is $5.5 billion. (Up from the estimated $3.2 billion).

The state will demand that the feds pay 80 per cent of the inflated $5.5 billion cost, in an 80:20 split that would not normally apply on a passenger only line. Somehow, Mr Bailey will argue that the state contribution is NOT 20 per cent of $5.5 billion, but that the $1.6 billion federal contribution is all that is on offer from Canberra and THAT is the 80 per cent component from the feds, to which the state matching contribution is 20 per cent of the total (lower) funding pool – state throws in $320 million as its contribution. (State contribution not 20 per cent of $5.5 billion, but only funds available is around $2 billion, with Mr Bailey sticking to the 80:20 funding division.)

Mr Bailey will argue that the feds have refused to pay up 80 per cent of $5.5 billion, resulting in only $2 billion state and federal funding being available ... which would get the DSCL as far as Caloundra. And the reason why it won't be going to Maroochydore is because the feds have not given Queensland enough money to complete the job.

Mr Bailey would say: "Queensland was willing to put in more under the 80:20 formula (which is a nonsense), but the feds would not come to the party."

However, the political objective would have been achieved ... a railway line to Caloundra only, a seat that State Labor needs to retain at the 2024 state election. The line won't extend into Kawana (Jarod Bleijie, LNP) or the Maroochdore electorate held by Fiona Simpson (LNP).

That is where Minister Bailey has his focus – denying Bleijie/Simpson the political gloating that they successfully lobbied to have DSCL go through their electorates. Mr Bailey will allow himself to be blinded to the community and economic benefits of a line all the way to Maroochydore.

Heavy Rail is the Best Option
Mike Doroshenko

https://www.chancellorpark.com.au/heavy-rail-is-the-best-option/

Couriermail Sunshine Coast --> Steven Miles announces new land in Caloundra South Aura $

QuoteDeputy Premier Steven Miles has announced 1100 new land blocks were now available on the southern Sunshine Coast but can't say if a major rail upgrade will be done by 2032.

... Rail Back on Track's Robert Dow said the expansion of the Caloundra South housing development before the rail line is finalised will cause "more traffic, more local congestion".

"The lack of decent public transport means car dependency becomes the 'norm'," Mr Dow said.

"It is essential that public transport, in this case the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line, is in place before further development creates more public transport poor, car dependent residential regions that are not sustainable and tend to exclude anyone not able to directly access car transport.

"To support the rail line, frequent connected local bus services need to be operating as soon as residents move in."

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the initial plans for the direct Sunshine Coast rail line should be completed by the end of 2023, but he could not say whether trains would be running by the Olympics in 2032 calling the previous federal government's promise "irresponsible".

"We support extending heavy rail to the Sunshine Coast but it is important that we get it right and we get the planning right and the staging right," Mr Miles said.

"We have a study underway in conjunction with the federal government I think it is a $6m investment between both levels of government to do that study and once that study is completed we will be able to make decisions about the next stage." ...

   

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1651587384398733312

Minister Bailey must be a Time Lord and have a Tardis parked in his ministerial car parking space in the basement the way he is able to juggle his statements re multi-dimensional timeframes for completion of the DSCL.

Bob, great messaging!!

Seriously are we the only ones publicly highlighting that we are planning to fail!

More of the same quickly will surely fix it this time!!

Thank you.  The boxes of ticky-tacky are hideous! 

If you pass wind, they hear it 3 houses along.

Transport poor slums sadly.