RAIL - Back On Track Forum

I assume that they will go for 30/20 mins or better.

9 car sets are a good idea. Will they need to extend the platforms at Caboolture, Petrie, Northgate, as well as Eagle Junction to accommodate new 9 car services?

No.

Are the Eagle Junction platforms that long already?

It would also be a great opportunity to upgrade those stations to level boarding regardless of introducing 9 car sets by 2030. (Kill two birds with one stone).

To further expand, I doubt if we will see 9 car trains before 2040, if at all.

OK, but in the grand scheme of things 2040 is not that far away.
It's 17 years off - about as long as the forum has been going, and about as long as it's ended up being between e.g. the ICRS and CRR opening. Between now and then there'll be a lot of population growth in the Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast council areas.

As I outlined on the last page of this thread, on day 1 CRR will have something like 18 trains an hour from the north, out of 24 total. Add just 4tph from DSCRL and you're at 22/24; basically full when reserving two for recovery. Anything more requires running 9-car trains, or track amplification between Petrie and CRR in order to put other services back through Central. Or maybe I'm wrong about CRR and it can really do 30 tph.

Quote from: aldonius on August 09, 2023, 16:10:40 PMOK, but in the grand scheme of things 2040 is not that far away.
It's 17 years off - about as long as the forum has been going, and about as long as it's ended up being between e.g. the ICRS and CRR opening. Between now and then there'll be a lot of population growth in the Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast council areas.

As I outlined on the last page of this thread, on day 1 CRR will have something like 18 trains an hour from the north, out of 24 total. Add just 4tph from DSCRL and you're at 22/24; basically full when reserving two for recovery. Anything more requires running 9-car trains, or track amplification between Petrie and CRR in order to put other services back through Central. Or maybe I'm wrong about CRR and it can really do 30 tph.

+ 1

Double track it all the way and take it through to Sunshine Coast Airport!   

You'd be really pushing it getting the mains platforms extended to 220m at Eagle Junction.  Much easier of course to start afresh with Trouts Road...

Interview ABC Sunshine Coast Radio Mornings with host Olly Wickham and Jeff Addison

Discussion on the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line (DSCRL)

> https://backontrack.org/docs/abcsc/abcsc_ja_10aug23.mp3 MP3 6.9MB

https://twitter.com/Jeffrey_Addison/status/1691341249004109824

From a social cohesion perspective, local economy and 'sense of community' I wonder to what extent places like Beerwah East, City of Aura will become strong entities in their own right or are being prepped as outer outer suburbs of Brisbane? Ripley and Jimboomba would be in the same basket.

Maybe not a case for all roads (and railways) to head to Brisbane, but maybe join Boonah and Esk by passenger rail connected to Ipswich, and from there to Brisbane. People being priced out of housing in Gympie are moving to places like Wondai.

Population increases having some weird consequences, which will be more pronounced in years to come.

Sunshine Coast News --> Homeowners brace for resumptions as region's road and rail overhaul picks up pace

QuoteResidents in a suburban street have voiced their angst after a further dozen properties were earmarked to make way for massive transport projects.

Homeowners at Fitzroy Court in Parrearra are preparing to leave, after the Department of Transport and Main Roads identified the need for more space to accommodate a planned transport corridor that includes a revamped road interchange, new motorway and new 37km rail line.

In a recent letter to Sunshine Coast News, Neil Herbert said soon-to-be-departing residents were suffering from "a lot of stress and anxiety", while a neighbour who did not want to be named said nearby homes would be significantly affected by noise and a possible five-metre wall. ...

There is absolutely no need for this extra resumption or the road through here.  Corridor is fine for rail that is all that should be built.

Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line

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

https://x.com/Jeffrey_Addison/status/1722367200714207673?s=20

Griffith University transport boffin interviewed on ABC Sunshine Coast afternoon Annie Gaffney Show yesterday said actual construction would need to start in next 12 months to be ready in time for Olympics -- doubts whether this will happen due to the faffing about by politicians.

Interview 9 November 2023 ABC Sunshine Coast Breakfast host Alex Easton with Transport Minister Mark Bailey

Topic: Public transport on the Sunshine Coast including DSCRL and industrial issues on the buses

Interview --> https://backontrack.org/docs/abcsc/abc_sc_mb_ae_9nov23.mp3 MP3 8.5MB

Facebook ...

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/meanjin-messaging-indigenous-languages-set-to-be-spoken-at-olympic-venues-20231110-p5ej48.html

Quote... The rail spur line into Maroochydore was one of many notable infrastructure omissions from the document.

Acting Premier Steven Miles said while the state government considered it to be a vital piece of needed infrastructure, it was not so vital for Olympics delivery.

"Certainly there are contingency options that would allow the Games to proceed smoothly without that infrastructure, but it is a critical legacy item for the Sunshine Coast," he said.

"We are doing our very best to convince the Australian government to continue with their commitment to funding that really important thing." ...

The State Government is not so committed after all are they?

InQueensland --> After a century of struggle, why has the Sunshine Coast rail link left the tracks again?

QuoteJust when it appeared that the lure of the Olympics would finally tip the scales in favour of a Sunshine Coast rail link, the funding gremlins are once again meddling with the project, writes Greg Hallam.

The long,  messy, convoluted, contentious, unsuccessful history of funding major railway lines in SEQ continues and continues.

Last week's brouhaha over federal funding, or more specifically the lack thereof, for the Sunshine Coast's proposed new heavy rail line from Beerwah to Maroochydore follows over a century of delays , backflips, political (even same party) punch-ups in the South-east and god forbid the line to the Gold Coast being ripped up in the 1960s. ...

Wasn't the funding for DSCL 50:50 anyway so nothing has changed?

50:50 when the price was estimated to be $3.2 billion. It is believed it will cost much more. The cost estimate will be better identified when the business case is finalised at the end of the year. But say it is going to cost $6 billion (unconfirmed), the feds are likely to stick to $1.6 billion as their contribution, leaving the state government to find the rest (let's say $4.4 billion). State position then likely to be that it can't build unless feds throw $3 billion at it. (Half the revised, higher cost.)

Under those circumstances, the feds would say it is not going to let $1.6 billion sit idle. To p%ss-off Qld, they would announce that the $1.6 billion contribution will go to another project interstate. Queensland will scream blue bloody murder that 'their federal money' has been stolen.

The political battle continues. Meanwhile, passengers wait at the Caloundra Railway Station. Not a case of 'where's the train', but 'where's the track'?

https://x.com/railbotforum/status/1724944738263191955?s=20

Project proceeds to business case (due end of this year), with the Federal Government $1.6 billion committment in place.

Huge, huge, elated relief to know that the money for Direct Sunshine Coast Line (#dscl) (#dsc) will be honoured by the Federal Labor Government.

Despite her concerns about the planning and costs, we know that these will be determined by the Business Case due to be handed down by the end of this year by the state government, who are responsible for the planning and construction.

Hallelujah, the $1.6 billion will remain in the federal budget.
Thank you Hon Catherine King MP.

I can't see it getting built by 2032.

Stand by for excuses for the delays.

Standby for talks about 'staging'. Stage 1 to Caloundra or Kawana (hospital) by Olympics. Bus it from end of 'Stage 1' to Maroochydore.

Quote from: Stillwater on November 16, 2023, 11:23:22 AMStandby for talks about 'staging'. Stage 1 to Caloundra or Kawana (hospital) by Olympics. Bus it from end of 'Stage 1' to Maroochydore.

A simple 'reconfiguration' of the 611 to terminate at Birtinya station (after SCUH) with the current Meridan Plains part of the 611 split to another 'new route' to Caloundra.

Shouldn't be in the too hard basket.

Couriermail --> 'Death by 1000 cuts': Sunshine Coast rail extension's grim fate $

QuoteA vital South East Queensland rail link faces "death by 1000 cuts" and travel during the Olympics will be congested due to infrastructure cuts and delays.

The Sunshine Coast rail extension to Maroochydore is facing "death by 1000 cuts", while travel during the Olympics will be congested due to the savage cuts and delays delivered by the infrastructure audit, according to Opposition MPs.

But federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the cost of doing the project had blown out to triple the original $3.2bn cost.

The $1.6 billion in federal funding for the project to extend the rail from Beerwah to Maroochydore has been put on hold indefinitely, despite Ms King saying before last year's election that there was "no time to waste" in getting it done. ...

Brisbanetimes --> State could be forced to drop key south-east rail plan before election $

QuoteQueensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk may be forced to make an election-year call to dump or delay a key multibillion-dollar Sunshine Coast passenger rail line after a federal infrastructure spend overhaul.

Part of that has also involved an extra $1.75 billion in federal money being poured into "cost escalations" for a previously $2.6 billion joint rail improvement project on Brisbane's south. ...

https://x.com/MarkBaileyMP/status/1725257722583801934?s=20

 

Mark Bailey -- the champion of Sunshine Coast Rail. Who would have thought it.

A lot of pressure on the business case.  I expect the costings for the project will be greater than $3.2 billion.  I think the best outcome we can reasonably expect is a staged approach and the first stage to Caloundra (possibly Birtinya) to commence.

But don't forget the half baked upgrade from Beerburrum to Beerwah has to be done first or concurrently. 

If the DSCRL falls over, the upgrade from Beerburrum has to go Landsborough (it should even if DSCRL gets a start).

 

I understand Minister Bailey was interviewed on ABC Sunshine Coast Radio Breakfast this morning.

I will endeavour to get the interview later today.

and those [B2N] Beerburrum to Landsborough [but cut back to Beerwah] heavy rail works havent even started after being announced over 5 years ago.
Doesn't inspire any confidence in this state government.
Announcements become falsehoods, as do press releases.

Show us the money.
Build the damn things instead of years long excuses.

Quote from: ozbob on November 17, 2023, 07:37:05 AMA lot of pressure on the business case.  I expect the costings for the project will be greater than $3.2 billion.  I think the best outcome we can reasonably expect is a staged approach and the first stage to Caloundra (possibly Birtinya) to commence.

But don't forget the half baked upgrade from Beerburrum to Beerwah has to be done first or concurrently. 

If the DSCRL falls over, the upgrade from Beerburrum has to go Landsborough (it should even if DSCRL gets a start).

 

Well, unfortunately, we may well have to think about MVP in order to save it (restaging).

What is our Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for this project?

Is it an initial one-station spur to Caloundra? + BRT feeders   

QuoteA minimum viable product has just enough core features to effectively deploy the product, and no more.

Minimum Viable Product
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_viable_product

Quote from: #Metro on November 17, 2023, 08:42:54 AMWell, unfortunately, we may well have to think about MVP in order to save it (restaging).

What is our Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for this project?

Is it an initial one-station spur to Caloundra? + BRT feeders   

As said many times before, it won't be a one station spur if it's cut to Caloundra.  Leaving out the Aura (Baringa/Nirimba) station would be very costly for the local Labor state member and the growing estates.

Quote from: Stillwater on November 17, 2023, 07:28:41 AM

Mark Bailey -- the champion of Sunshine Coast Rail. Who would have thought it.

He may potentially be "Opposition Leader Mark Bailey" this time next year if the Red Team declines keeps going the way it is ATM.

Quote from: ozbob on November 17, 2023, 08:01:57 AMI understand Minister Bailey was interviewed on ABC Sunshine Coast Radio Breakfast this morning.

I will endeavour to get the interview later today.

Interview 17 November 2023 ABC Sunshine Coast Breakfast with Host Alex Easton & Minister Mark Bailey

Topic Infrastructure review and the Sunshine Coast, including DSCRL

Interview --> https://backontrack.org/docs/abcsc/abcsc_mb_ae_17nov23.mp3 MP3 9.3MB

This morning's Transport Minister's comparison of Redcliffe rail line being built in 6 years, [3 years of which was construction time] - is a bit misleading and an inaccurate comparison.

That was for a rail line one-third the length of the proposed 37km Maroochydore #dscl  line.