Darra platform confusion (from on buses thread)

[petey3801]

OK this is the big dummy spit ...

I got a train from Richlands ..  [ this is a down Springfield ]

Got to Darra, detrained platform 2 headed to platform 1 for the IPPY ...

WRONG WRONG ..

After I had limped to one Darra, I discovered that the next IPPY was going into road 3  // WTF
So I limped back to 3 ...

OK Smarties, you will say check the PIDS . WTF ... most of them, at least the critical ones were blank ( yes I took photographs)_  so you see?  there was a problem. ..

Suggestions:

Guard announce on arrival at Darra (which is now a junction station - big time) if you want to go to Ippy platform X  accurately .. or PIDs that are actually informative?

How finky hard is it?  Or am I just a dreamer ...

I actually noticed the other evening on the way back to Redbank our train went from the Subs at Corinda to the mains and stayed there through Darra. Might have finally gotten the picture that not all UP trains need to use P1 at Darra, everywhere else in the world manages to have people change platforms, and now that Springfield is a different line officially, Translink may have finally realised it can work that way, as it does in peak anyway.

As for the PIDs, yeah, there seems to be a lot of problems with them, all around the network!! Guards and Drivers don't actually know what platform the other trains will be coming on for sure, only from what platform they 'normally' leave from, like most passengers!

[ozbob]

Something has to give here.  It is very difficult if someone heads to platform one at Darra, which is the apparent norm out of peak for the UP Ippy, only to discover that the train is coming in platform 3. They cannot make it over to the other platform in time, particularly if elderly or mobility impaired.  Darra is a disaster of design ...

[ozbob]

@James  my ' WTF ' ^ was not directed at you cobber, it was a reflection on the failed bus review process.  Sorry for any confusion .. 

[James]

@James  my ' WTF ' ^ was not directed at you cobber, it was a reflection on the failed bus review process.  Sorry for any confusion .. 

I thought you'd passed out from shock thinking I now supported Quirk's bus stupidity.

Alas, while trips like that make me enjoy my bus service, the times I miss the 411 and have to walk from the 412 more make up for that.

[petey3801]

Something has to give here.  It is very difficult if someone heads to platform one at Darra, which is the apparent norm out of peak for the UP Ippy, only to discover that the train is coming in platform 3. They cannot make it over to the other platform in time, particularly if elderly or mobility impaired.  Darra is a disaster of design ...

Yes, indeed! Hopefully platform 3 for UP Ippy becomes the norm from now on, would certainly make DOWN Springfield -> UP Ippy transfers much easier, just simply walk across the platform. Working PID screens would be nice as well!

[STB]

Something has to give here.  It is very difficult if someone heads to platform one at Darra, which is the apparent norm out of peak for the UP Ippy, only to discover that the train is coming in platform 3. They cannot make it over to the other platform in time, particularly if elderly or mobility impaired.  Darra is a disaster of design ...

Yes, indeed! Hopefully platform 3 for UP Ippy becomes the norm from now on, would certainly make DOWN Springfield -> UP Ippy transfers much easier, just simply walk across the platform. Working PID screens would be nice as well!

Wait, doesn't that mean that trains from Ipswich depart from Platform 4, and trains to Springfield depart from platform 1?

[petey3801]

Something has to give here.  It is very difficult if someone heads to platform one at Darra, which is the apparent norm out of peak for the UP Ippy, only to discover that the train is coming in platform 3. They cannot make it over to the other platform in time, particularly if elderly or mobility impaired.  Darra is a disaster of design ...

Yes, indeed! Hopefully platform 3 for UP Ippy becomes the norm from now on, would certainly make DOWN Springfield -> UP Ippy transfers much easier, just simply walk across the platform. Working PID screens would be nice as well!

Wait, doesn't that mean that trains from Ipswich depart from Platform 4, and trains to Springfield depart from platform 1?

Yep, but that's exactly what happens now.

[ozbob]

At Darra platform 4 is the down main, trains from Ipswich.

Platform 3 is UP main.  Used for UP trains to Ipswich at peak, not used generally out of peak.

Platform 2 is down SUB, used for trains from Springfield.

Platform 1 is UP sub, used for Springfield and has been the normal platform used for UP Ipswich.

All roads at Darra are bi-di too, but that is how the platforms are generally used.

It would be better and consistent if all UP Ipswich used platform 3, and all UP Springfield platform 1.   This would stop confusion, and has the bonus of an easy platform transfer at Darra from DOWN Springfield trains to UP Ipswich.

Platform 4 I I 3 platform island platform 2 I I  platform 1

Here is a mud map to make some sense of the track layout from Darra to Darra West  (from http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4042.msg29264#msg29264 )

[ozbob]

Access to platform one from the other platforms is not straightforward either.  Footbridge at UP end does allow transfer, although for platform one slightly indirect.  Lifts to subway (down end) on platform 4 and 3/2.  Subway does not communicate directly with platform one.  Have to access platform via stairs or the ramp and walk the equivalent of half way up the platform to get on to the platform!  Which means if you are on platform one and you suddenly realise your train is actually going in on platform 3, it is difficult to get over to that platform in time.

[longboi]

You still have the same issue in the opposite direction (Ipswich > Springfield) however...

[SurfRail]

It really is a balls-up.

Time to call for the project to be completed - electrify the fourth track and build fourth platform at Oxley and most of these issues will just vanish.