RAIL - Back On Track Forum

I think it's really great when both RBOT and RACQ are both saying the same thing.

Can't imagine the minister enjoying the media publicity.

GOVT MEDIA STATEMENT

Minister for Tracksport and Main Goads and
Minister for Digital Signals


Queensland has removed a record zero level crossings since 2014.
Queensland Rail CEO Irma Trying said: "If I played golf, it'd be a hole in none.

Quotes attributable to the Tracksport and Main Goads Minister:

"We stand by this responsible fiscal achievement after almost nine years in power.
"There are multiple studies underway.
"It's in our DNA (Do Not Action) plan.

"You can't remove them hastily without long-term studying the advantages of doing so.

"It's part of our record uninvestment in level crossing removals across SEQ and the regions.

"Campbell Newman cut two in a single term of less than three years
Cut, cut - the wait times at crossings.

"We are in the midst of a record four year third term.
It's all part of Premier Imagonna Playnstay's plan for the regions.

We won't be rushed into doing anything before the studies are re-completed.
($2.7 billion sports stadiums excepted)

Doing nothing is what sets us apart from the other states and territories.


Media Enquiries:
Mr Xavier C. Doolittle
Ms Hope Lass

Quote from: ozbob on June 26, 2023, 10:31:50 AMBeen invited to do an interview on the lack of level crossing removals in SEQ on 4BC Afternoons today, the 26th June 2023 at 1:10pm.

Interview 26th June 2023 4BC Afternoons Host Greg Cary with Robert Dow RAIL Back On Track discuss the lack of level crossing removals in SEQ.

Interview --> https://backontrack.org/docs/4bc/4bc_rd26jun23.mp3 MP3 6.3MB

Rail safety advocates call for more level crossings to be removed in Queensland | 7NEWS

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1673323937218846724

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1673325036495618049

Quote from: Fares_Fair on June 26, 2023, 22:15:42 PMGOVT MEDIA STATEMENT

Minister for Tracksport and Main Goads and
Minister for Digital Signals


Queensland has removed a record zero level crossings since 2014.
Queensland Rail CEO Irma Trying said: "If I played golf, it'd be a hole in none.

Quotes attributable to the Tracksport and Main Goads Minister:

"We stand by this responsible fiscal achievement after almost nine years in power.
"There are multiple studies underway.
"It's in our DNA (Do Not Action) plan.

"You can't remove them hastily without long-term studying the advantages of doing so.

"It's part of our record uninvestment in level crossing removals across SEQ and the regions.

"Campbell Newman cut two in a single term of less than three years
Cut, cut - the wait times at crossings.

"We are in the midst of a record four year third term.
It's all part of Premier Imagonna Playnstay's plan for the regions.

We won't be rushed into doing anything before the studies are re-completed.
($2.7 billion sports stadiums excepted)

Doing nothing is what sets us apart from the other states and territories.


Media Enquiries:
Mr Xavier C. Doolittle
Ms Hope Lass

  

   

Quotes attributable to the Tracksport and Main Goads Minister, Mark "Just One More Lane" Bailey.

https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/article/144913/roundtable-safer-level-crossings/

QuoteRoundtable: Safer Level Crossings

Moderated by Allan Spence, Chair of the UIC Global Level Crossing Network (GLCN) and Isabelle Fonverne, Senior Advisor, Safety and Interoperability, UIC, participants from SNCF, Network Rail, Trafikverket and more, discuss their views on safety around level crossings.

"Rail travel remains the safest land-based transport mode, due in large part to the rigorous focus on safe infrastructure and procedures. Quite properly, rail passengers can expect to safely reach their destination. But sadly, there remain a worryingly high number of accidents and fatalities to others at level crossings. There has been much progress, but the 2022 Annual Safety Report from the International Union of Railways (UIC) tells a grim story. The UIC safety database compiles rail safety statistics from over 30 countries. It reveals that in 2021 more than a quarter (27%) of all significant rail accidents and almost a third (32%) of all accidental fatalities are at level crossings. That is 276 lives lost on level crossings in just one year. Worldwide, we can confidently say the toll will be many times greater.

Railways have a responsibility – in many countries, a legal duty – to assess the risks at each and every level crossing. That helps identify whether the risk controls are appropriate for the location, the number and type of users, the nature of rail traffic etc. But practices differ from one country to the next and there is real opportunity for railways everywhere to learn and apply better practice from UIC's 2022 best practice guide for level crossing risk assessment, developed by members of the Global Level Crossing Network.

For the first time in six years, 2021 saw an increase in accidents at passive level crossings – those where users have to make their own decision whether it is safe to cross. That is despite steady progress being made by railways across the world to close level crossings and install active systems that provide warnings or barriers as trains approach where closure is not feasible. So, in addition to investment in better designs, a critical part of reducing the harm is to influence user behaviour.

And that is why the UIC's railway family comes together every year to promote International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD). With campaigns, education and targeted enforcement, ILCAD helps encourage users to play their part in level crossing safety.

The 15th edition of ILCAD will be launched at an international conference on 15 June 2023, kindly hosted by PKP and PKP Group Foundation in Warsaw, Poland. Speakers from around the world will share best practice for improving level crossing safety through risk assessment, engineering, engagement, education and community outreach with a very international audience. The 2023 ILCAD theme targets 'Agricultural and industrial level crossing users' and the slogan is 'Tracks are for Trains'.

The ILCAD launch will follow a day dedicated to trespass and suicide prevention on 14 June in the second TRESPAD (International Trespass Awareness Day). Speakers from various countries will share knowledge and ways to reduce the largest contributors to railway casualties. To take part in these in-person events, register here.

This roundtable discussion, which we are pleased to co-moderate, gathers experts from across the rail sector who answer our questions about the role of risk assessment in making level crossings safer, the areas that railway companies must focus on to improve safety for users, and the ways in which the industry can influence people to use level crossings in a safe way."

PARTICIPANTS:

• Helena Rådbo, Senior Advisor – Railway Safety, Trafikverket
• Virginie Taillandier, Project Manager for Intelligent Level Crossings, SNCF
• Robert Wainwright, Head of Level Crossings and Public Safety, Network Rail
• Tamo Vahemets, Chairman of the Board, Operation Lifesaver Estonia
• Danijela Barić, Associate Professor, Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences, University of Zagreb
• Peter Hughes, Director, Redcliff Solutions Ltd
• Luísa Garcia, Level Crossings Manager, Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP)

Sent to all outlets:

Level crossing removal stagnation in SEQ

27th June 2023

A hot topic of late is the slow progress with level crossing removals in SEQ.

Brisbanetimes have highlighted "Poor track record: Victoria removes 70 rail crossings in nine years. Qld zero"
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/poor-track-record-victoria-removes-70-rail-crossings-in-nine-years-qld-zero-20230623-p5dj1o.html

Recent media:

Interview ABC Brisbane Radio 26th June 2023
Breakfast Hosts Craig Zonca and Loretta Ryan,
and Robert Dow RAIL Back On Track discuss  the lack of Level Crossing Removals in SEQ
Interview --> https://backontrack.org/docs/abcbris/abc_rd_26jun23.mp3 MP3 5.8MB

26th June 2023 4BC Afternoons Host Greg Cary with Robert Dow RAIL Back On Track discuss the lack of level crossing removals in SEQ.
Interview --> https://backontrack.org/docs/4bc/4bc_rd26jun23.mp3 MP3 6.3MB

Rail safety advocates call for more level crossings to be removed in Queensland | 7NEWS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uX9iVGr--Lk
RAIL Back On Track, together with the RACQ and the SEQ Council of Mayors, have been advocating for many years now for acceleration of the removal of level crossings.

Recent examples from RAIL Back On Track:

Level crossing removal continues to stagnate in Queensland
23rd July 2022
https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?msg=260711

Update on level crossing removal progress in greater Melbourne
https://railbotforum.org/yourls/24  (FB)
7th October 2022

Elevated railway is part of the level crossing removal solution
https://railbotforum.org/yourls/2d (FB)
21st October 2022

Planned level crossing removals SEQ - update
2nd November 2022
https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?msg=264201

Level crossings suggested for immediate priority removal:

Boundary Road, Coopers Plains (business case underway)
Cavendish Road, Coorparoo
Beams Road, Carseldine (business case underway)
South Pine Road, Alderley
Wacol Station Road, Wacol
Kianawah Rd / Lindum Rd, Hemmant (precinct upgrade which does not include removal of LX)
Warrigal Rd in Fruitgrove,
Old Beaudesert Rd in Salisbury
Trinder Crossing at Trinder Park,
Stones Rd in Sunnybank

The dysfunction that is public transport administration and implementation in Queensland, is no better illustrated than with the shambles and stagnation of level crossing removals in Queensland.

How is your ' car free ' Olympics going?

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1673517422014509056

Of all the ways to remove level crossings, the least disruptive is actually elevated rail ('sky rail').

https://twitter.com/railmaps/status/1673926866791718914

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1674133557692989441

Brisbanetimes --> Time running out for northside bottleneck: Council

QuoteBrisbane City Council has warned a major northside level crossing upgrade is in jeopardy as the clock ticks down on a federal audit of funded infrastructure projects.

Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King ordered a snap 90-day review of the Commonwealth's $120 billion infrastructure pipeline in May in the hope that savings could be made and unnecessary projects scrapped. ...

  

https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/level-crossing-removal-project

Level Crossings removed since 2015:

Melbourne 72 (seventy two) 
[110 to be removed by 2030]

Brisbane 0 (zero)

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1685659269046444032

Estimates

Some interesting Pre-Hearing Questions On Notice relating to Level Crossings can be found:

> https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/com/TRC-645B/C20232024-8423/Pre-hearing%20Question%20on%20Notice%20-%20Bailey.pdf

This article is based on one of the Estimates Pre-Hearing Questions on Notice ^

Brisbanetimes --> The 5 worst spots where trains make drivers late for work

QuoteCommuters must grind to a halt for 18 minutes out of every hour at south-east Queensland's slowest level crossing.

Analysis can reveal South Pine Road at Strathpine tops the list of the worst level crossings on the Citytrain network for delaying traffic, with boom gates down – and cars stopped – for an average of one hour, 29 minutes and 13 seconds between 5am and 10am on weekdays.  ...

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/com/TRC-645B/C20232024-8423/Pre-hearing%20Question%20on%20Notice%20-%20Bailey.pdf

The below details the level crossings in South East Queensland and the average total down
time (hour, minutes, seconds) between 5am and 10am each weekday (Monday to Friday).

Adams Street, Deagon – 0:43:16
Arbor Street, Ferny Grove – 1:03:41
Barrack Road, Cannon Hill – 0:55:30
Beams Road, Carseldine – 1:14:36
Beenleigh Road – Kuraby – 0:56:17
Bilsen Road, Geebung – 1:18:11
Blackwood Street, Mitchelton – 0:51:00
Bonemill Road, Runcorn – 1:04:09
Boundary Road, Coopers Plains – 0:56:13
Bridge Street (King Street), Cooran – 0:07:37
Cavendish Road, Coorparoo – 1:00:26
Curlew Street, Sandgate – 0:29:15
Dawson Parade, Grovely – 0:49:40
Florence Street (Ronald Street), Wynnum Central – 0:45:31
Glenholm Street, Mitchelton – 1:05:46
Glenora Street (Wynnum Road), Wynnum – 0:50:10
Holmview Road, Beenleigh – 0:43:46
John Street – Ipswich Rosewood Road, Rosewood – 0:21:16
Karrabin – Rosewood Road, Karrbin – 0:22:49
Kennerley Street, Sandgate – 0:41:24
Kianawah Road, Lindum – 0:52:37
Kitchener Road (Zillman Road), Ascot – 0:21:21
Mackie Road, Narangba – 0:47:03
McKean Road, Caboolture – 0:24:29
Nathan Road, Runcorn – 1:24:17
Northgate Road, Northgate – 1:21:18
Oates Avenue, Woodridge – 0:58:46
Old Beaudesert Road, Salisbury – 0:59:34
Osborne Road, Mitchelton – 0:58:44
Palm Avenue, Shorncliffe – 0:34:14
Pritchard Street, Lytton – 0:03:45
Prospect Road, Gaythorne – 1:00:56
Pumicestone Road (Toorbul Road), Caboolture – 0:20:47
Queensport Road, Murarrie – 0:49:11
Rowley Road, Burpengary – 0:40:51
Samford Road, Ferny Grove – 0:42:04
Sandy Camp Road, Lytton Junction – 0:04:55
Sherwood Road, Sherwood – 1:26:17
South Pine Road, Alderley – 0:46:33
South Pine Road, Strathpine – 1:29:13
Spanns Road, Beenleigh – 1:00:19
St Vincents Road, Banyo – 0:42:32
Stanley Street East, Coorparoo – 0:52:33
Station Road, Morayfield – 0:40:44
Station Road, Bethania – 0:52:02
Stones Road, Sunnybank – 0:58:27
Todd's Road, Lawnton –1:13:11
Wacol Station Road, Wacol – 0:46:11
Warrigal Road, Runcorn – 1:12:47
Wilston Road, Newmarket – 0:47:52
Wynnum North Road, Wynnum North – 0:51:30

Sorted:

Strathpine down time has increased with timetable changes over the years. Telegraph and Robinson road used to be the major cross location. Now it's Beams road and Bilsen road.

Sherwood and Northgate are similar. Trains are slowed down to reduce the level crossing downtimes. Trains regularly approach the crossing on a red signal instead of greens. Lawnton is similar but its downtime is increased by the slowing/holding of dead running trains south of Petrie.

https://twitter.com/7NewsSC/status/1689184748206481408

Just amazing urban outcomes!!! https://twitter.com/rm_transit/status/1689233222096343041?

ABC News --> Qld train near misses increase, union calls for level crossing removals

QuoteMotorists and pedestrians are increasingly risking collisions with trains on Queensland railway lines, sparking debate about the need for more level crossings to be removed to improve safety.

Key points:

Queensland Rail recorded a 17 per cent increase in near misses around railway tracks last financial year

The Rail Tram and Bus Union wants more level crossings to be removed

A car collided with a tourist train carrying more than 150 people in Cairns last week

Figures from Queensland Rail show there were almost 300 close calls on railway lines across the state in the year to July, a 17 per cent increase on the previous year. ...

Here would be my preferred approach for each one.  (Doesn't seem to be a complete list as there look to be a few on the Sunshine Coast line that are not included.)

Adams Street, Deagon – leave in place
Arbor Street, Ferny Grove – close, replaced by Samford Road grade sep and better internal roads on completion of the Ferny Grove TOD
Barrack Road, Cannon Hill – road over
Beams Road, Carseldine – N/A, road over scheduled
Beenleigh Road – Kuraby – road over
Bilsen Road, Geebung - road over
Blackwood Street, Mitchelton - Gaythorne to Grovely skyrail - rail over
Bonemill Road, Runcorn – close, no replacement
Boundary Road, Coopers Plains – N/A, road over scheduled
Bridge Street (King Street), Cooran – road over as part of realignment of the NCL to improve speed
Cavendish Road, Coorparoo – rail over at same time as Stanley Street East
Curlew Street, Sandgate – leave in place
Dawson Parade, Grovely – Gaythorne to Grovely skyrail - rail over
Florence Street (Ronald Street), Wynnum Central – Lindum to Manly skyrail - rail over
Glenholm Street, Mitchelton – Gaythorne to Grovely skyrail - rail over
Glenora Street (Wynnum Road), Wynnum – Lindum to Manly skyrail - rail over
Holmview Road, Beenleigh – close and build new road over access near existing footbridge
John Street – Ipswich Rosewood Road, Rosewood – close and build new road over access west of Rosewood station to connect Rosewood-Warrill View Road and Railway Street
Karrabin – Rosewood Road, Karrbin - close crossing and remove station as part of realignment of track to improve speeds between Rosewood and Wulkuraka
Kennerley Street, Sandgate – leave in place
Kianawah Road, Lindum – Lindum to Manly skyrail - rail over
Kitchener Road (Zillman Road), Ascot – Clayfield to Hamilton skyrail - rail over including closing Hendra
Mackie Road, Narangba – road over
McKean Road, Caboolture – close, replaced by Pumicestone Road works
Nathan Road, Runcorn – close, build alternative road over connection to Altandi St / Lampson St
Northgate Road, Northgate – either road over, or alternative road over access by connecting Ridge St over the southern end of the platforms at Northgate
Oates Avenue, Woodridge – close, no replacement
Old Beaudesert Road, Salisbury – close to normal use, leave trafficable as flood escape route but fenced off
Osborne Road, Mitchelton – Gaythorne to Grovely skyrail - rail over
Palm Avenue, Shorncliffe – leave in place
Pritchard Street, Lytton – leave in place
Prospect Road, Gaythorne – Gaythorne to Grovely skyrail - rail over
Pumicestone Road (Toorbul Road), Caboolture – road over as part of wider redesign of the area including D'Aguilar Hwy overpass
Queensport Road, Murarrie – close, no replacement
Rowley Road, Burpengary – rail over
Samford Road, Ferny Grove – road over
Sandy Camp Road, Lytton Junction – leave in place
Sherwood Road, Sherwood – road over
South Pine Road, Alderley – road over
South Pine Road, Strathpine – road over
Spanns Road, Beenleigh – close, no replacement
St Vincents Road, Banyo – rail over
Stanley Street East, Coorparoo – rail over at same time as Stanley Street East
Station Road, Morayfield – close, replace with better road over connection between Buchanan Road and William Berry Drive
Station Road, Bethania – road over
Stones Road, Sunnybank – close, no replacement
Todd's Road, Lawnton – close, no replacement
Wacol Station Road, Wacol – road over
Warrigal Road, Runcorn – road over
Wilston Road, Newmarket – rail over
Wynnum North Road, Wynnum North – Lindum to Manly skyrail - rail over

Couriermail --> 'Horrendous' traffic chaos to frustrate drivers when Cross River Rail opens $

QuoteBrisbane commuters could be trapped in worsening peak-hour traffic with more trains scheduled when Cross River Rail opens, keeping level crossing boom gates closed for longer.

Touted as a game-changer for public transport in Brisbane, the $6.3bn Cross River Rail project will feature three new inner-city stations on a 10.2km track across the city and increased capacity on the southeast's rail network when it opens in 2026.

However, advocates say the more frequent train services will create havoc for motorists if the government continued to drag its feet removing level crossings.

The Palaszczuk government is yet to complete a level crossing removal since it was elected in January 2015.

Robert Dow of advocacy group Rail Back on Track said more trains on the network through Cross River Rail would create major delays for drivers as level crossings stay closed.

"The boom gate time is going to be longer and this increases the frustration of motorists," he said.

"It will limit the number of trains you can run because the impact of boom gates will be such that the traffic effects would be horrendous."

Mr Dow said a train every five minutes during peak hour on the Gold Coast line could see crossing gates shut for up to 45 minutes in the hour.

He said the state government faced a significant financial outlay to remove level crossings ahead of the network opening in 2026. ...

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1690724467436290048

Been booked for an interview on Radio 4BC around 5:15pm today (14th August 2023) discuss the situation with LXs and removal in SEQ.

I'm sorry, but I just don't understand why a rail advocacy organisation is advocating on the basis of delays to motorists. Why don't we leave that to the abundant and well-resourced car lobby?

You have said that before.  There are many advantages to removing level crossings.  It is not only motorists that benefit.  I am tired of responding to your pointless statements.  The media will play up the motorist angle although I always talk to them about the other benefits. If we left it to the 'abundant and well-resourced car lobby' the discussion would be ill informed.

THE BENEFITS OF LEVEL CROSSING REMOVALS
Lessons from Melbourne's historical experience

https://msd.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/2733112/LXRA-Report_low_resolution.pdf



Benefits to non-motorists from level crossing removals
https://danielbowen.com/2015/12/15/grade-separation-benefits/


RAIL Back On Track has supported level crossing removals since the group was formed. I have no intention of changing that position.

Quote from: ozbob on August 14, 2023, 13:49:23 PMBeen booked for an interview on Radio 4BC around 5:15pm today (14th August 2023) discuss the situation with LXs and removal in SEQ.

Interview was at 5.35pm or so, they were running a bit behind. I was able to mention some of the other benefits of LX removals, which is fairly obvious to anyone who has read this discussion thread. 

Off to Melbourne tomorrow to check some of the recent LX removal projects, very keen to have a look at Glen Huntly (former tram square) among others.

Interview 4BC Brisbane Radio Drive with host Peter Gleeson and Robert Dow RBoT discuss level crossing removals in SEQ. 14th August 2023.

Interview --> https://backontrack.org/docs/4bc/4bc_rd_14aug23.mp3 MP3 9.1MB

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1691100123974238208

Facebook ...

Quote from: ozbob on August 13, 2023, 23:55:40 PM

QuoteBrisbane commuters could be trapped in worsening peak-hour traffic with more trains scheduled when Cross River Rail opens, keeping level crossing boom gates closed for longer.

Why is the only quote about commuters (which incidentally only means car commuters) being delayed? Seems maybe we have different priorities and I might just leave you to it. Good luck.

Quote from: OzGamer on August 15, 2023, 10:23:14 AM

Quote from: ozbob on August 13, 2023, 23:55:40 PM

QuoteBrisbane commuters could be trapped in worsening peak-hour traffic with more trains scheduled when Cross River Rail opens, keeping level crossing boom gates closed for longer.

Why is the only quote about commuters (which incidentally only means car commuters) being delayed? Seems maybe we have different priorities and I might just leave you to it. Good luck.

Mate. It's the Courier Mail. They quote what they want and don't mention the rest. They tend to follow the narrative that level crossings should be removed to improve car congestion, so they publish the quote supporting that. It is clear through this forum that Bob see's improving car traffic as a requirement for less restriction on timetabling and thus better scheduling, but improving car traffic isnt the reason Bob wants to see it happen.

^ Apart from the passengers in buses transiting through a level crossing (especially the ones on busy corridors like Warrigal Road), and the passengers in trains whenever a boom arm gets clipped, and anybody who wants to cross the corridor on foot or with a bike.

I think motorists absolutely benefit, but this is hardly something that is only for their convenience.  A lot of these crossings cannot be feasibly removed without a proper rebuild of the adjacent corridor and/or station(s), some of which are not great even though they are notionally "accessible". 

This is what really annoys me about the station upgrades being rolled out in the near future at places like Banyo, Burpengary etc - no consideration of what happens with the adjacent crossing.  Banyo in particular is one that should be elevated as it would be relatively straightforward - only Citytrain traffic, no need to elevate a huge stretch either side of the LX etc.  In fact, I think the crossings further out from Banyo will probably never be removed as they are quiet, low speed and generally fairly safe compared to the rest of SEQ.

If I was going to pick 3 stretches of the network to do extended stretches of elevation, they would be:

- Coorparoo, from around Digger Street overpass to Crown Street underpass.  Wipes out 2 LXs and enables station rebuilds at Coorparoo (elevated) and Norman Park (reposition and straighten the platforms and do a full raising).

- Wynnum area, from midway between Hemmant and Lindum to around the back of Wynnum SHS.  Wipes out 4 LXs, enables proper station rebuilds at Lindum, Wynnum North and Wynnum Central (with deletion of Wynnum), and fixing low clearance bridges in this stretch, including the "Duck" Bridge at Berrima Street which has a 1.9m clearance (IIRC).

- Mitchelton area, from just north of Pickering Street to the stretch between Dawson Parade and Gilston Street.  Wipes out 5 LXs, enables proper accessible rebuilds of Mitchelton, Oxford Park and Grovely.

These 3 alone would wipe out 20% of all metropolitan LXs, and would significantly open up Mitchelton and Wynnum Central.

Other foamy projects:

- rail trench from Wilston to just after South Pine Road, to remove 2 LXs, enable proper rebuilds of Newmarket and Alderley and allow for the possibility of a direct connection from the Trouts Road corridor to the inner FG line.  Rebuild Alderley at sub-surface level with 2 island platforms to enable a grade-separated merge under, and with the Trouts Road express platforms located underneath.

- elevate the Doomben line from Clayfield to Kingsford Smith Drive to remove 2 LXs and Hendra (too close to Clayfield and Ascot), rebuild elevated version of Ascot and Doomben, viaduct outbound from Doomben over KSD to a station site in the Northshore area.  Freight can descend to grade after the Nudgee Road overpass and pass under Doomben station.

Quote from: OzGamer on August 14, 2023, 15:59:19 PMI'm sorry, but I just don't understand why a rail advocacy organisation is advocating on the basis of delays to motorists. Why don't we leave that to the abundant and well-resourced car lobby?

For me I see a few advantages.

-Increases safety and reliability for rail operations.
-Improves reliability for bus routes that cross the line. This includes buz routes such as the 340, 345, 150, the Great Circle Line.
-Safer for pedestrians and cyclists
-Grade separation is necessary for running at metro like frequencies or future automation
-To an extent rail timetabling is influenced by the need to avoid excessive gate down time. It would be nice to be free of that.
-Can increase speeds on line sections.

Some thoughts to share OzGamer. While I strongly support PT, it doesn't automatically make me anti-car or anti-roads. Some members might have already come to realise this. I acknowledge other members may take a different position.

The merit principle does demand one look at a proposal fairly:

- In some cases a road improvement will also improve the experience for PT users. Walter-Taylor bridge is one example.

- Conversely, in some cases a PT improvement will also improve the experience for road users. LX removals are one example.

If car users are delayed at boom gates, then so are connecting buses and emergency services. This is not good for anyone.

Most times what road users want and PT users want will often be at cross purposes. But not always.

Frustrated people tend to break rules. The longer the gates are down the more tempting it is to take a risk. It is in nobody's interest to have that situation.

Quote from: ozbob on August 15, 2023, 00:51:57 AMhttps://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1691100123974238208

This is one of the most comprehensive and eloquent and succinct discussions on the removal of level crossings that I have ever heard.

Robert details the advantages, not only to motorists who take risks out of frustration by delays - but it is also important for buses and emergency vehicles, and the benefits seen from his observations in Melbourne where 72 have been removed to date with a goal of 130 to be removed in total.

Queensland, despite all the bluster over their 8 years in power, have removed ZERO.
No BIG BUILD for level crossings here.

He covers the use of the land for reconnecting suburbs and communities previously separated by a rail line.
He lists the 35 we see as being necessary to remove for the greater good.

This interview was superb.
It will be followed up upon his return and more recent observations of Melbourne.
If we were to rate interviews, I'd give it a 10

Yep they key messages are that these LX are

1. major safety issue for all transport modes and if left unchanged will only get worse including from frustrated drivers because our city is car-dependent and that going to take time to change; and

2. The solution vary from

• replacing with just active transport underpass,
• replacing with active/public transport under/over,
• road under,
• increase height of current raised rail line particularly where line dips between two higher points
• elevated rail over; and
• finally road over preferably where it doesn't cut a suburb into quarters or destroy local centre