RAIL - Back On Track Forum

with the current mob in govt in Qld, it's possible their grandkids might have an issue...but not the current gen....this current mob are totally......

Government Statement

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/101413

Salisbury to Beaudesert rail planning summary report released

23rd September 2024

Minister for Transport and Main Roads and Minister for Digital Services
The Honourable Bart Mellish

The Australian and Queensland governments will be progressing further planning work to protect the future rail corridor between Salisbury and Beaudesert.

The Salisbury to Beaudesert Passenger Rail study explored the long-term passenger and freight needs in the corridor and has recommended heavy rail as the best way to address forecast passenger demand.

Both Governments committed $10 million each to undertake the study as part of the Inland Rail Bilateral Agreement.

The Salisbury to Beaudesert corridor runs through some of the fastest growing areas in South East Queensland and forms part of the Queensland Government's vision for the region's rail network.

Growth areas such as the Greater Flagstone Priority Development Area will play a critical role in the future shape of the region and need to be supported by a high quality, safe and reliable public transport network.

Heavy rail was identified as the optimal transport mode to address forecast demand in the corridor.

It would provide a high capacity, attractive public transport journey with competitive travel times, keeping people and goods moving efficiently.

The current phase of the study has now been finalised.

The next phase will involve protecting the corridor, including conducting a corridor protection study.

This will refine the project's design and land requirements and will also see community consultation begin on the identified corridor in 2025.

The outcomes of community consultation will help to preserve a corridor and inform future planning.

Quotes attributable to the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

"Passenger transport helps make our cities and regions run more efficiently."

"The Australian Government partnered with the Queensland Government to explore opportunities for passenger and freight needs in the corridor between Salisbury and Beaudesert."

"The Australian Government is committed to working with the Queensland Government to explore the next stage of investigations to ensure this important passenger and freight corridor is protected in a timely manner."

Quotes attributable to the Federal Treasurer, Jim Chalmers:

"We're doing the detailed planning work required for this project because we know it has the potential to deliver substantial benefits for people in our area.

"New transport infrastructure is crucial to creating new jobs and opportunities and making it quicker and easier to get around our community.

"This is what happens when you get state and federal governments working together and investing in our community in the best interests of local people."

Quotes attributable to the Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Bart Mellish:

"The south-west corridor of South East Queensland is one of the fastest growing areas in the region.

"High quality public transport infrastructure will play an important role in servicing these new and growing communities.

"This planning demonstrates our commitment to finding the right transport solutions to ease congestion and address future community needs."

Quotes attributable to Member for Algester Leeanne Enoch:

"This is an incredibly important project that will make a huge difference to residents of the Algester Electorate, which is why I have been advocating for this passenger rail project for many years.

"As our government progresses the planning for this significant public transport infrastructure, community consultation will play an important role.

"I look forward to working with our community to achieve the best results."

ENDS

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Salisbury to Beaudesert rail planning summary report released

https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/c-king/media-release/salisbury-beaudesert-rail-planning-summary-report-released

Logan West News --> Another step closer to Salisbury to Beaudesert passenger line

Salisbury to Beaudesert Passenger Rail

https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/salisbury-to-beaudesert-passenger-rail

The Salisbury to Beaudesert Passenger Rail Summary Report outlines the key findings of investigations to date and next steps
> https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/_/media/8be81ed868b649bb9d5ab3661198e2c0.pdf

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But we will widen the highway first as our modeling  says the demand for driving is growing quickly.

We'll get to rail when population grows high enough that our model shows there might be enough demand.

Seriously that cost $10 million?? To tell them rail makes sense! Wow!!

It's a long way off though, as they haven't even decided on a preferred protected corridor as yet.

This study has basically said nothing that previous studies haven't already told us, except it looks like they're probably not gonna quad track it anymore as the freight rail demand will be lower. I expect triple track (existing DG + two new NG tracks) will be used.

What's outrageous is that they reckon construction won't need to start until the mid 2030s. They keep pushing the goal posts further and further back. And it's not because the demand isn't there. Flagstone is already huge, and growing. Greenbank estates like Everleigh are enormous and put massive strain on Springfield, Greenbank and Park Ridge park n rides.

The truth is construction IS warranted NOW, the govt/TMR have just just lowered their standards of what they consider to be an acceptable amount of bumper to bumper traffic and urban sprawl before they actually do something about it. It's pretty pathetic

QuoteWhat's outrageous is that they reckon construction won't need to start until the mid 2030s. They keep pushing the goal posts further and further back.

Moving goalposts further into the future is the general behaviour of the Queensland Government. They do that as they don't have the funds now, even if they did the construction industry is tied up with other big projects, they need a second partner on board (federal government), plus it will likely be for consideration after the Sunshine Coast and possibly Gold Coast lines are extended (mammoth tasks in themselves).

Long term planning necessarily involves long terms.

There really isn't a bus alternative for this given the very far distance involved. It will have to be trains.

The project will have to be staged, perhaps built out to Browns Plains and then use a big P&R plus limited stop buses to connect it.

A key issue in the area is that unlike Springfield, there doesn't seen to be much of a CBD. So the majority will commute into Brisbane IMHO.

Quote from: #Metro on September 23, 2024, 19:56:40 PMThe project will have to be staged, perhaps built out to Browns Plains and then use a big P&R plus limited stop buses to connect it.

A key issue in the area is that unlike Springfield, there doesn't seen to be much of a CBD. So the majority will commute into Brisbane IMHO.

Yes, a lot of Loganites do work in Brisbane. Logan's CBD is Springwood, which is admittedly on the small side, and there are also a lot of jobs around Browns Plains and Beenleigh. Springwood is getting better PT to Brisbane and hopefully Browns Plains will too, but buses within Logan City don't look very fast.

I cherry picked some trips on Translink and found a few cases where it was faster to get to Brisbane CBD than Logan CBD by bus (mostly around Regents Park and surrounds).

Logan is well located between major cities but lacks PT in many respects. Its PT infra is fragmented with poor connectivity between the Beenleigh Line, SE Busway and the bus lines around Browns Plains. I'd like to see better PT connectivity within Logan, between business hubs like Springfield, Browns Plains and Springwood, and to Southport.

As for the Flagstone Line, the vague proposals and existing freight alignment look a bit out of the way, going through the back of Algester and Hillcrest in areas that have low density and development challenges like the Inland Rail and the Greenbank military range. It's a bit like the Beenleigh Line isn't particularly well aligned between, say, Rocklea and Trinder Park, running along creeks and forests away from local hubs (obviously  was built a long time ago before these places were developed). Building the Flagstone line closer to business centres like Browns Plains is likely a better long term prospect but the devil is obviously in the details.

If this was a motorway, they would have already started construction, same as the Coomera Connector. No sooner had I heard it start being mentioned, the trees were being cleared ready to go.

^ Which is interesting because they have been sitting on the Park Ridge Connector I think dating back to prior to the Newman Government.

More immediate issue for me is the emerging developments which are currently off the network - have a look where Route 560 runs and check all the now developed areas south of its catchment where there is no service of any kind (Logan Reserve, Park Ridge etc).  It must be time for some new services out there.  Much as I hate that things work like this in Queensland, LCC really needs to step up here if the State won't.

Quote from: SurfRail on September 24, 2024, 09:56:02 AM^ Which is interesting because they have been sitting on the Park Ridge Connector I think dating back to prior to the Newman Government.

More immediate issue for me is the emerging developments which are currently off the network - have a look where Route 560 runs and check all the now developed areas south of its catchment where there is no service of any kind (Logan Reserve, Park Ridge etc).  It must be time for some new services out there.  Much as I hate that things work like this in Queensland, LCC really needs to step up here if the State won't.

The introduction of routes to service areas like Logan Reserve and Park Ridge (and Bahrs Scrub as well down past Windaroo) was announced by the Government back in June as part of a package of improvements in Logan and Ipswich. They should be rolled out over 2 years.

Logan service improvements will be delivered across two years and will include:

New services to fast growing residential areas including Logan Reserve, Bahrs Scrub and Park Ridge East.

Services to the suburb of Berrinba for the first time.

Improved route 587 service levels linking to rail services in Loganlea, responding to ongoing population growth in Yarrabilba.

A new On Demand service within the Yarrabilba priority development area, improving connections to route 587, and local access to retail and other community facilities.

Improved service frequencies in Park Ridge.

Increased service frequencies on east-west corridors between Springwood, Loganholme, Woodridge, Loganlea and Browns Plains. 

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/100541

Quote from: andrewr on September 23, 2024, 23:24:10 PMYes, a lot of Loganites do work in Brisbane. Logan's CBD is Springwood, which is admittedly on the small side, and there are also a lot of jobs around Browns Plains and Beenleigh. Springwood is getting better PT to Brisbane and hopefully Browns Plains will too, but buses within Logan City don't look very fast.

I cherry picked some trips on Translink and found a few cases where it was faster to get to Brisbane CBD than Logan CBD by bus (mostly around Regents Park and surrounds).

Logan is well located between major cities but lacks PT in many respects. Its PT infra is fragmented with poor connectivity between the Beenleigh Line, SE Busway and the bus lines around Browns Plains. I'd like to see better PT connectivity within Logan, between business hubs like Springfield, Browns Plains and Springwood, and to Southport.

I would struggle to call Springwood the CBD to be honest. It does have lots of commercial but it's low density in character - Beenleigh is probably more developed. There have been plans to give Springwood more of a proper town centre but it's atrophying if anything, typical freeway suburb.

As with the other suburban regions, the key issue with PT in Logan is that it just doesn't have enough funding. The bus network is not too badly planned out if only there was a decent level of service on it. Services like the 550 and 560 are clearly intended as core cross town routes (and patronage does reflect this) but with such awful frequency and span they are almost useless.

Quote from: AnonymouslyBad on September 24, 2024, 16:03:17 PM

Quote from: andrewr on September 23, 2024, 23:24:10 PMYes, a lot of Loganites do work in Brisbane. Logan's CBD is Springwood, which is admittedly on the small side, and there are also a lot of jobs around Browns Plains and Beenleigh. Springwood is getting better PT to Brisbane and hopefully Browns Plains will too, but buses within Logan City don't look very fast.

I cherry picked some trips on Translink and found a few cases where it was faster to get to Brisbane CBD than Logan CBD by bus (mostly around Regents Park and surrounds).

Logan is well located between major cities but lacks PT in many respects. Its PT infra is fragmented with poor connectivity between the Beenleigh Line, SE Busway and the bus lines around Browns Plains. I'd like to see better PT connectivity within Logan, between business hubs like Springfield, Browns Plains and Springwood, and to Southport.

I would struggle to call Springwood the CBD to be honest. It does have lots of commercial but it's low density in character - Beenleigh is probably more developed. There have been plans to give Springwood more of a proper town centre but it's atrophying if anything, typical freeway suburb.

As with the other suburban regions, the key issue with PT in Logan is that it just doesn't have enough funding. The bus network is not too badly planned out if only there was a decent level of service on it. Services like the 550 and 560 are clearly intended as core cross town routes (and patronage does reflect this) but with such awful frequency and span they are almost useless.

Logan City Council's official position is that both Springwood and Beenleigh are top of the pile when it comes to the city's commercial centres. LCC describes the city as having a network of four primary activity centres – Logan Central (Civic Centre), Meadowbrook (Health and Education Centre) and Beenleigh & Springwood (commercial centres). In addition to this, there are two primary retail centres (Logan Hyperdome and Grand Plaza), and two major rural centres (Logan Village and Jimboomba).

Springwood...A CBD with 12 lanes of freeway through the middle of it. Priceless.

Quote from: Jonno on September 25, 2024, 16:39:28 PMSpringwood...A CBD with 12 lanes of freeway through the middle of it. Priceless.

Good point. We need a toll tunnel bypass of the Springwood CBD.