RAIL - Back On Track Forum

Friday 3rd June

Tennyson 3.58pm arrive Corinda 4.01pm.

See you at Tennyson for this historic moment.

(104 bus leaves Corinda 3:09 3:32 which will get you to Tennyson in time).

   Farewell, Tennyson.

Only in the Smart State would we close a railway station right next to a TOD and the state tennis centre.

And spent $10.0M + on building an extravagant bridge to service an almost defunct railway station Gailes

Quote from: ozbob on May 30, 2011, 13:23:28 PM
Friday 3rd June

Tennyson 3.58pm arrive Corinda 4.01pm.

See you at Tennyson for this historic moment.

(104 bus leaves Corinda 3:09 3:32 which will get you to Tennyson in time).

That's something I can do much more easily than the Gympie trip!

 

Some photographs of Tennyson last year





















Photographs R Dow 24th September 2010

Quote from: Mozz on May 30, 2011, 14:10:03 PM
And spent $10.0M + on building an extravagant bridge to service an almost defunct railway station Gailes

I am not sure if anyone uses the footbridge much at all, but I have noticed a lot of pax using Gailes particularly at peaks.  The car parking (which is mainly in the road outside the station) is overflowing.  I think a number of pax are driving down from Goodna and/or Wacol, and further afield because of no parking left at those spots.

Gailes station is potentially very useful.  Just have to stick some nice high density residential & commercial development on that golf course. 

I think I'll have to meet you on the train.

   The train departs Roma St at 3.39pm.

QuoteOnly in the Smart State would we close a railway station right next to a TOD and the state tennis centre.

I thought everyone would just use Yeerongpilly due to the higher frequency.

I use the term 'higher frequency'  loosely though...But 2tph off peak would be carrying more riders atm than 0tph off peak at Tennyson.

Quote from: Gazza on May 30, 2011, 18:38:11 PM

QuoteOnly in the Smart State would we close a railway station right next to a TOD and the state tennis centre.

I thought everyone would just use Yeerongpilly due to the higher frequency.

I think that's the theory.  Hence the new footbridge.  Tennyson station is only 3 cars long and so having a significant number of people use it would probably require a shunting move.  Doh!

I must be one of the few people who is happy to see these service be withdrawn. 

Flat junction conflicts are BAD, and this line appears to discharge no network function that the upgraded 104 and 105 will not be able to fulfil.  Yeerongpilly station is clearly the best choice for anybody in the TOD given the future access to Cross River Rail.

Loss of Beenleigh line counterpeak capacity is annoying, but not intrinsically linked to the provision of this service, and can be fixed when the Beenleigh timetables are reviewed.

Have you caught the services through Tennyson?  They are very well patronised, particularly the school services (which is essentially all that is left).  The buses will struggle at times,  and there is a lot of local disquiet.  It is clear why the services are stopping (for now), and flat junctions have a bit to do with it. I have no doubt that regular rail will return to Tennyson, particularly in a post CRR environment.

A plan was drawn up for an inner loop service using Tennyson, but for obvious reasons was not implemented.  But it remains an option down the track.

Media release  31 May 2011

SEQ: Cessation of passenger rail services at Tennyson further evidence of more transport planning failure ...

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has highlighted the cessation of rail passenger services to Tennyson railway station.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Passenger rail services to Tennyson have been operating for over a hundred and twenty years, from when Yeerongpilly was known as Logan Junction, and Corinda was known as South Brisbane Junction (1)."

"RAIL Back On Track members with a proud sense of history will join the last regular passenger service at Tennyson, the 3.58pm outbound Queensland Rail suburban service to Corinda this Friday the 3rd of June.  It is incredible to reflect on the fact that Tennyson is immediately adjacent to the new Tennis Centre and a Transit Oriented Development precinct, yet passenger rail services are ceasing!"

"Why is it so?  Basically because the rail network in terms of capacity has been allowed to get into such a critical situation that it is difficult to maintain regular passenger services through Tennyson with the present rolling stock and lack of train paths on the southern line (Beenleigh and Gold Coast)".

"Never the less, the Tennyson line still provides a relief line for when the southern line is blocked in from Yeerongpilly or when the western line is blocked in from Sherwood, for special trains and also provides an opportunity for squeezing in a few more services to and from the Gold Coast during peaks, pending completion of Cross River Rail. The line is also an important freight link."

"On a post Cross River rail network, regular passenger services to Tennyson will no doubt return. Until then, farewell!"

Reference:

1. http://www.brisbanehistory.com/woolloongabba_railway.html

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

QuoteI must be one of the few people who is happy to see these service be withdrawn. 

Flat junction conflicts are BAD, and this line appears to discharge no network function that the upgraded 104 and 105 will not be able to fulfil.  Yeerongpilly station is clearly the best choice for anybody in the TOD given the future access to Cross River Rail.

Loss of Beenleigh line counterpeak capacity is annoying, but not intrinsically linked to the provision of this service, and can be fixed when the Beenleigh timetables are reviewed.

I agree with SurfRail. Feed it to the scrapper.
Upgrades to 104 and 105 would be good. Yeerongpilly has much higher frequency and a larger span of hours as does the bus services.

More crossovers and turnbacks would be good on the network.

You are missing the point.  The services have around 400 to 500 pax on them at times.  The alternatives now are travel via Roma St and and add to the already overloaded services outbound from Roma St, or the bus.  It will take 6 to 8 buses at the peak time to transport them.  The few services that were going via Tennyson were very well utilised, and using already existing infrastructure.  Now it is  just more buses on roads, a road system that is not the best through there either.  OK the lack of train paths and infrastructure is making it difficult to continue the services for the time being, and I think we understand that, but the general public doesn't.

A lot of parents have complained about the increases in journey time and the complicated travel for students if they use the bus.  They will of course extract their revenge at the ballot box.

Quote from: ozbob on May 31, 2011, 10:40:56 AM
You are missing the point.  The services have around 400 to 500 pax on them at times.  The alternatives now are travel via Roma St and and add to the already overloaded services outbound from Roma St, or the bus.  It will take 6 to 8 buses at the peak time to transport them.  The few services that were going via Tennyson were very well utilised, and using already existing infrastructure.  Now it is  just more buses on roads, a road system that is not the best through there either.  OK the lack of train paths and infrastructure is making it difficult to continue the services for the time being, and I think we understand that, but the general public doesn't.

A lot of parents have complained about the increases in journey time and the complicated travel for students if they use the bus.  They will of course extract their revenge at the ballot box.

400 to 500 pax on them?  Do you mean on an individual 3 car service?  Ouch!

No they are 6 cars normally. They variously lock doors 3 cars and/or instruct to travel in the last cars if for Tennyson, as is the case.  It seems to change.  When the afternoon service arrives at Corinda platform one, the platforms one and two are really quite full of pax!

400-500 mostly school kids on what effectively is a 3-car service? (Zero-Harm)  Ouch.

Most of the times I have travelled on the service all 6 cars with pax.  Although the last time I was on the morning BNE service Corinda via Tennyson I was asked to leave the second car and go the rear.

The worst train on the network for overloading is the 3.35pm service to Ipswich from Central.  One to avoid, I would not be suprised if the pax loading on that is around 1300 at times.  It is incredible.  And the students who used to go to Corinda on the services via Sth Brisbane will now be adding to the loads ...

Interesting photograph 1895 Yeerongpilly.  Line to Tennyson can be seen heading off to the right ..


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/StateLibQld_1_244158_Yeerongpilly_Railway_Station%2C_ca._1895.jpg/800px-StateLibQld_1_244158_Yeerongpilly_Railway_Station%2C_ca._1895.jpg

Photograph R Dow 7th December 2008

Well Surfrail and Simon for people who are so ready to spend money or band aid infrastructure and who are so readily calling for additional services that key infrastructure is struggling to accomodate you have both lost the plot on this one.
The services that were running through Tennyson will now be effectively starters from or terminate at Yeeroongpilly.
By running through Tennyson they provided a connection between the Beenleigh and Ipswich lines that moved considerable numbers of mainly school children between Corinda and South Brisbane in both directions daily the afternoon services that ran at 3.10 and 3.36 from Central to Corinda via South Brisbane both carried loads in excess of 250 pax and on occasion up to 400 pax on the run across between Yeeroongpilly and Corinda.
By canning these services the choices that will be forced on these passengers alone are train to Yeeroongpilly then the 104 bus to Corinda to join an Ipswich line train, how many pax does the 104 bus hold? or reverse their direction of travel from Park Road, South Bank and South Brisbane stations then join the already basket case at that time of the day Ipswich line trains such as the present 3.35 ex Central which is already an overloaded armpit special to reach their Ipswich line destinations by a longer and slower trip.
Another real brain wave designed to deter the use of public transport inflicted upon commuters by the intractiable thoughtless Translink and Queensland Transport planners.
Congratulations.

Quote from: mufreight on May 31, 2011, 14:17:40 PM
Well Surfrail and Simon for people who are so ready to spend money or band aid infrastructure and who are so readily calling for additional services that key infrastructure is struggling to accomodate you have both lost the plot on this one.

Not sure I follow how I've lost the plot?

It would be achievable to send the Tennyson trains via Moorooka, but I am sure that passengers wouldn't like that idea one bit.

I didn't follow what you were saying should be done.  Retain the Corinda via South Brisbane trains?  Then what about capacity on the Beenleigh/Cleveland/Gold Coast trains which these trains compete with for paths.

QuoteThe services that were running through Tennyson will now be effectively starters from or terminate at Yeeroongpilly.
By running through Tennyson they provided a connection between the Beenleigh and Ipswich lines that moved considerable numbers of mainly school children between Corinda and South Brisbane in both directions daily the afternoon services that ran at 3.10 and 3.36 from Central to Corinda via South Brisbane both carried loads in excess of 250 pax and on occasion up to 400 pax on the run across between Yeeroongpilly and Corinda.

I don't know-- many of those people would have been through commuters (i.e not stopping at Tennyson) would they have not? People can now change at either Roma Street or Park Road.
People with City destinations and beyond would simply catch an Ips-CBD train.

Quote
By canning these services the choices that will be forced on these passengers alone are train to Yeeroongpilly then the 104 bus to Corinda to join an Ipswich line train, how many pax does the 104 bus hold? or reverse their direction of travel from Park Road, South Bank and South Brisbane stations then join the already basket case at that time of the day Ipswich line trains such as the present 3.35 ex Central which is already an overloaded armpit special to reach their Ipswich line destinations by a longer and slower trip.

Again, I think only a fraction would actually have a destination of Tennyson. And aren't there going to be more trains when the new Ips timetable comes in?

QuoteAnother real brain wave designed to deter the use of public transport inflicted upon commuters by the intractiable thoughtless Translink and Queensland Transport planners.
Congratulations.

Change is slow but steady. I'd like to give the planners a chance and reserve judgement until I have seen how it works out in practice. Perhaps there might be a boost to bus services and you'd have an all day frequent 104 connection between both lines- something we could only dream about 12 months ago.

QuoteInteresting photograph 1895 Yeerongpilly.  Line to Tennyson can be seen heading off to the right ..

I wonder what the frequency was then... hahah 

Quote from: tramtrain on May 31, 2011, 14:44:12 PM

QuoteInteresting photograph 1895 Yeerongpilly.  Line to Tennyson can be seen heading off to the right ..

I wonder what the frequency was then... hahah 

In 1884 there were three mixed trains each way Corinda (South Brisbane Junction) <-> Stanley Street ...   

In 2011 there was three inbound and five outbound trains at the end.  We came a long way .. lol

From 1884 through to today there has always been regular passenger services, either through or shuttles.  I remember the rail motor shuttle and for a while the ICE trains were running the 'Tennyson-Lander' shuttle.  In fact I can recall heading to QUT around 1999 I think it was for a graduation and travelling from Corinda to Yeerongpilly in style on board an ICE.

In fact I once amused myself when travelling from Oxley to Nundah to use a variety of options.  Diesel hauled SX set Oxley to Corinda, 2000 rail motor Corinda to Yeerongpilly, 39 electric loco hauled SX set to Roma St.  Steam (DD17) Exhibition service, Roma St to Brunswick St, and then a sparks to Nundah.

The rail motor that used to run between Yeerongpilly and Corinda.

The lass in the striped clothes is my daughter Elizabeth, she loved riding around on the rail motors .. 









Photographs R Dow circa 1995

The CEO of Queensland Rail Mr Paul Scurrah had a session on Breakfast with Spencer Howson on 612 ABC Brisbane radio this morning.

One of the callers indeed raised this issue.  The response of buses is fine to a point, but it misses the fact that the load into and out of Tennyson itself is not the real issue as such, it is the transfer number from the southern line to western line and vice versa.  When the new timetables for the Beenleigh Gold Coast and Cleveland lines are done later this year, I would like to see the possibility of some Cleveland <--> Ipswich services being considered.  Time we snapped out of the radial fixation IMHO.

Why not just a bus from Pk Road?
That way you can catch any cleveland train and make the connection.

With a direct service, you have to wait for it, and with a route like that only a handful of services are likely to be provided per
day which means long waits.

Quote from: tramtrain on June 01, 2011, 08:32:54 AM
Why not just a bus from Pk Road?
That way you can catch any cleveland train and make the connection.

Which is 100% achievable now that the 104 is being routed through the busway.

Yes, but a few rail services to coincide with the school peaks might work well.  No harm in looking at it.

http://www.ourbrisbane.com/suburbs/tennyson/history

QuoteTennyson History

Tennyson's history has been compiled as part of the BRISbites community history project.

Aboriginal history

The Jagara Tribe occupied the area south of the Brisbane River, before the arrival of white men in 1823. The Aborigines in this area were probably originally of the Yerongpan clan, who lived along Oxley Creek. The flat country was covered in vine scrub and Aborigines lived and hunted along Oxley Creek. The creeks abounded in fish and wild duck lived on the lagoons. Rocky Water Holes Creek connected a series of lagoons that provided edible lilies as well as fish and molluscs.

In 1823, three lost cedar cutters, Pamphlett, Finnegan and Parsons, passed through Tennyson to Oxley Creek, where they found two canoes, which were placed there to enable people to cross the river. The Aborigines remained in the area, camped along the river, for some time after white settlement, before they were pushed out by land clearing and farming.

Urban development

In 1823, three cedar cutters who had been blown off course in a storm passed through Tennyson. At that time, and for another forty years, the scrub was 'so thick you could not shove your hand into it unless there was a tomahawk in your hand'. The first use made of the area was when timber cutters felled trees and floated them downriver in the 1850s.

In 1861, George Pratten surveyed the land in Tennyson for farmland, and the first blocks were sold in the following year. James Strong bought 40 acres on the junction of Oxley Creek and the Brisbane River, the Grimes brothers bought 28 acres on the site of the golf course and J Mooney bought land on the river where the Powerhouse later stood.

By 1882, most of the suburb was under agriculture. Arrowroot, cotton and bananas were all grown in the early years. The Grimes had an arrowroot mill and later sugar was grown. In 1869, Amos Radcliffe built the first sugar mill in the area and later the Pearlwell Central Sugar Mill was opened. A series of bad winters in the 1870s destroyed the sugar industry and arrowroot, grains and vegetables dominated later farming in Tennyson.

The river was the primary means of transporting people and crops until the railway line went through in 1884. At the beginning of the twentieth century the population increased as facilities and transport improved.

After World War One, industrialisation grew as farming declined. In 1934 the first school in Tennyson opened. There were no shops in the suburb until after the Second World War when a butcher, grocery and unofficial post office began in Lancelot Street.

In the following decades the powerhouse was built, the markets were relocated to Rocklea, with access via Tennyson and more light industry developed. The character of Tennyson changed from semi-rural to a busy semi-industrial and commercial suburb, although the area near Oxley Creek remains a quiet residential enclave.

Notable residents

James Strong bought 41 acres of land where Oxley Creek joins the Brisbane River in 1861. He cleared much of the land and planted a variety of crops, including arrowroot, sugar and potatoes at various times. The floods of 1863 and 1864 inundated his land, but he continued to farm in the area. He built a solid house with verandahs on all sides, opposite the end of Merlin Street. He named it 'Softstone' after the area, but by 1897 the name was changed to 'Tennyson'. It was built above the flood level and survived the 1893 flood.

Strong also owned 95 acres across Oxley Creek, and Strong Street, Graceville, was named after him. He was an elected member of the Stephens Divisional Board and he lived in 'Tennyson' until 1917. The house continued to stand until the 1970s.

Thomas Pamphlett was the first white man to cross Oxley Creek at Tennyson, and his name has been commemorated in a variety of enterprises in the area, including the bridge. In 1823, with three other ex-convicts, he left Sydney to collect a load of timber. They were blown off course by a five-day gale, and, believing they had been blown south, they set off to sail north to Sydney. After three weeks sailing, the remaining three men landed on Moreton Island and after befriending the local Aborigines they crossed to the mainland.

They walked to the Brisbane River and then upstream to find a place to cross. At Tennyson, Pamphlett swam Oxley Creek to get a canoe that the Aborigines had stored there. They crossed the river, but the undergrowth was too thick, so they returned to the south bank and continued downstream and then crossed further down.

At Redcliffe, they met John Oxley who was investigating the site for a future convict colony. They helped him explore the Brisbane River and then returned to Sydney. Pamphlett later broke the law again and was returned to Moreton Bay - this time as a convict!

Landmarks

Tennyson Power Station was built on the site of 'Hayslope', Thomas Martin's elegant home. The Brisbane City Council acquired the land in 1947 and began clearing the site two years later. The site was chosen for its solid foundations, closeness to water and access to Ipswich coal from the railway line.

It was built in two stages with a diesel powered auxiliary plant being built as well. The first stage was opened in 1953. The contractor, Australian General Electric, installed General Electric 5,000 kW turbo alternators generating at 11,000 volts at a speed of 3,000 rpm. The plant was assembled by BCC employees and cost one million pounds. It stopped working in 1986.

Tennyson State School opened in 1934 after several years campaigning by local residents. William and John Walker, a local firm, built the school for 32. The first teacher was Benjamin Muldoon. Suffering from low attendance, the school was to be closed in 1967, but 25 pupils were enrolled in 1968. The school was closed in 1972 and reopened shortly afterwards as a special school.

The first request from a bridge spanning Oxley Creek was sent in 1863. In the 1930s there was a plan to build one at the end of King Arthur Terrace, but it met with public opposition. Finally, Pamphlett Bridge was opened in 1964.

Reference: BRISbites, 2000

Photograph R Dow 21 Nov 2009

The weather forecast is good for this afternoon.

104 bus

Corinda Station
Stop 58, Browne St (approaching Oxley Rd)    1.25pm    2.28pm    3.09pm     3.32pm
   
Tennyson (Dexter St)
Tennyson Station,               1.31pm    2.34pm    3.15pm    3.38pm

Train

Friday 3rd June

Tennyson 3.58pm arrive Corinda 4.01pm.

Regular suburban passenger rail services to Tennyson have now ceased.

A number of members and others were on board, or boarded at Tennyson for the last scheduled service.

The 3.29pm service at Tennyson had >450 pax on board (6 car).  Estimate from member on board, and confirmed by our observations from platform.

The 3.59pm (the last one) had around 350 pax on board.  
Reports of school students circulating petitions on board the second last service seeking reinstatement of the rail services ...













The 3.29pm service (second last)







The 3.59pm service - the last train









Arrival at Corinda  - the 104 bus will not cope with the pax loads.  Most will have to go via Roma St.







Shortly after the last suburban train left, there was a cross UP and DOWN coalies, platform 1 and 2 Corinda.
Neither train used the UP sub ....  









A ticket from the Tennyson AVVM





Photographs R Dow 3rd June 2011

Quote from: ozbob on June 03, 2011, 18:38:00 PM

Its ok, thats a WORLD CLASS pole in the footpath, indicating that MORE SEATS have been provided.

This too will pass.  In 1993 I rode the last passenger service on the Pinkenba line.  I don't expect to see trains to Pinkenba again, but as we know a service of sorts now runs to Doomben.

We have NOT seen the last trains via Tennyson, and post CRR I hope to see a full time Corinda or Darra via South Brisbane service re-emerge.  Hopefully with a relocated 6 car Tennyson station, closer to the tennis centre (other side of the road overbridge).  And with a Sherwood East station just west of where Sherwood Rd crosses the line.

my photos from today


EMU 38 at Tennyson Station by QGT09, on Flickr


departing Tennyson by QGT09, on Flickr


Final Train to Tennyson by QGT09, on Flickr

Cheers,
QGT

Just out of curiosity, why can't via Tennyson trains just turn around at Corinda using the 5th platform? Then return back across to the Beenleigh line.