Ipswich to Springfield Public Transport Corridor Study

[ozbob]

Ipswich to Springfield public transport corridor study.

--> http://www.pb.com.au/isptcs/

Extending the Darra to Springfield (when built) line to Ipswich via Augustine Heights, Ripley, Yamanto, Ipswich.

Queensland Transport invites comments on the draft EIS.

Map (external link PDF) --> here!

[ozbob]

Ipswich to Springfield Public Transport Corridor Study

> http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Travel-and-transport/Rail/Ipswich-to-Springfield-Public-Transport-Corridor-Study.aspx

The Queensland Government has conducted a study for future public transport options, infrastructure and services between Ipswich and Springfield. The study was undertaken by Parsons Brinckerhoff on behalf of the Department of Transport and Main Roads to determine the best future public transport options to:

    provide public transport networks and services ahead of major population growth to encourage preferred types of development
    support employment and industry growth in the Western Corridor
    improve transport connections with the rest of the south east Queensland region by providing public transport options.

The preferred corridor has now been approved for preservation, and property owners have been contacted.

=======================

Ipswich to Springfield Public Transport Corridor Study publications

>> http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Travel-and-transport/Rail/Ipswich-to-Springfield-Public-Transport-Corridor-Study/Ipswich-to-Springfield-Public-Transport-Corridor-Study-publications



http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/-/media/Projects/I/Ipswich-to-Springfield-Public-Transport-Corridor-Study/Pdf_ipswich_springfield_eis_1_overview_background_figure1_1.pdf?la=en

[ozbob]

This is starting to gain some legs locally.

[tazzer9]

From the pic, it looks like the ipswich stabling yard will go and it essentially form a loop.     It also looks like it will be approximately the same time from darra to Ipswich no matter which way it will go.

[SurfRail]

I don't think there is any real need to get rid of Ipswich stabling.  There is room for a flat junction west of Ipswich using the old alignment, and I expect a flat junction is all you would need.  (This assumes the southern freight line is built so the only regular traffic not going towards Ripley would be Rosewood shuttles once per hour and less regular movements like the Westlander.)

There would need to be stabling somewhere along the extension, the closer to Ipswich the better (on the assumption Ipswich would be a terminating location for both lines).

[petey3801]

I like that they're progressing it, but not a fan of the amount of stations. They had started to turn the corner with the Springfield line but then the wheels fell of the cart again for Kippa Ring. Need to get out of the mindframe of a station on every corner (metaphorically) and have new build lines focussing more on speed with larger station spacing with bus services filling in the gaps and feeding to the station hubs.
My thoughts on stations would be something along the lines of Redbank Plains, Ripley Central, Yamanto and one station between there and Ipswich, two at an absolute stretch.

[tazzer9]

Station spacing seems pretty good to me.   No one likes to walk to a bus stop with fairly infrequent services and catch, then catch a train, then have the possibility of needing to change trains and then have to get a bus to get to your final destination.   Ferny grove line has stations every 1km with limited feeder buses and look how popular it is due to walk up patronage.  Its runs through fairly low density suburbs.   

[red dragin]

If you look at them as in relation to the Brisbane CBD, then yes, too many stations.

In relation to the Ipswich CBD, possibly one or two less would be nice. Berry Street seems an odd choice of location, not much there and with Amberley so close, not likely to be much in future.

From memory the are a few large hills out that way, making walking not as an attractive option. The line appears to follow the natural flatter land wherever possible.

[#Metro]

It looks very curvy. What is the speed design for it?

Agree with others. Seems like too many stations. They should set it up like Perth - 3 km spacings minimum.

I don't necessarily think it is DTMR's fault - politicians get more favour if they promise a station near everyone's house

because people naturally think infrastructure = quality service. Which slows things down.

[petey3801]

If you look at them as in relation to the Brisbane CBD, then yes, too many stations.

In relation to the Ipswich CBD, possibly one or two less would be nice. Berry Street seems an odd choice of location, not much there and with Amberley so close, not likely to be much in future.

From memory the are a few large hills out that way, making walking not as an attractive option. The line appears to follow the natural flatter land wherever possible.

Fair point, although I would still only leave in the two stations between Yamanto and Ipswich. I would still take out, for example, Ripley North, Swanbank and one of the Redbank Plains stations. Deebing South might still be an OK spacing between the others.
With regards to the taken out stops in relation to the Ippy CBD, with rail taking the long way around to Ipswich, travel times to the Ippy CBD from Redbank Plains, Ripley, Swanbank and Redbank Plains would be quite a bit shorter by road than by rail unless rail has high average speeds, only achieved by longer average station spacing. The stations I have included are "central" stations for the areas involved which would be quite well serviced by a good, frequent feeder bus network meeting every train off-peak and at least every second train in peak, plus adequate P+R depending on each station.

Ferny grove line has stations every 1km with limited feeder buses and look how popular it is due to walk up patronage.  Its runs through fairly low density suburbs.   

True, Ferny Grove has good patronage for walk up, however the line itself is very windy and slow, compared to a new, greenfield, fast alignment. It is also still quite close in to the City compared to the Springfield to Ipswich line (apart from the closer parts in to Ipswich proper).
Take the Gold Coast line as an example of what I see the Springfield to Ipswich line (and other new, greenfield lines) should look like, just with better feeder services (both in frequency and span). Gold Coast line gets quite good patronage in peak and off-peak even with the rather ordinary feeder services. With good feeders, it would be fantastic!

It looks very curvy. What is the speed design for it?

Presumably 140km/h, like the Richlands to Springfield section. I think the curvy look is exaggerated due to the scale of the map. In reality, I think it should be able to sustain 130-140km/h, apart from the part from University to Ipswich at least.

[Old Northern Road]

If Ripley becomes as large as they say it will then I wonder if in the future they will have Springfield/Ripley trains run express from Darra and Ipswich trains stopping all stations. Ipswich trains are so slow between Darra and Ipswich that there is almost no point having them run express.

[ozbob]

If Ripley becomes as large as they say it will then I wonder if in the future they will have Springfield/Ripley trains run express from Darra and Ipswich trains stopping all stations. Ipswich trains are so slow between Darra and Ipswich that there is almost no point having them run express.

Yes, could well be the case eventually.  I have confidence that the line will get to Ripley, not so confident for the stretch back into Ipswich.  The corridor into Ipswich from Yamanto is through ever increasing suburbia.  Options other than heavy rail for Ripley to Ipswich are being looking at including Light Rail and Bus Rapid Transit (electric).

[red dragin]

Perhaps ultra long term (and slightly foamy) it could head towards the Ebenezer coal loop instead, if it needed to be a circular route at all.

[tazzer9]

Perhaps ultra long term (and slightly foamy) it could head towards the Ebenezer coal loop instead, if it needed to be a circular route at all.

Why, there is nothing near there and probably never will be. 


Maybe for stopping patterns having a three tiered service would be best.   Express Milton to Corinda, stopping at Indro (and/or Toowong) then running all stations to Ipswich and looping back via Springfield or via Redbank.   Then having Corinda to city all stations.   Corinda is an ideal terminating location. 

[#Metro]

I am a bit surprised with the proposal.

Surely it would make more long-term sense to not have the rail line go to Ipswich, but turn south and head through Willowbank and Mutapilly.

There could be some new towns established there, and the stations spaced far apart (a la Perth) broadly following the Cunningham Hwy.

If people want to go to Ipswich, put a station in at Yamanto, and a bus along Warwick Road.

[Gazza]

You sound almost begrudging "of people who want to go to Ipswich".

[ozbob]

These days, I reckon I go to Ipswich more often than Brisbane   

Living at Goodna I have a choice!    

[tazzer9]

You sound almost begrudging "of people who want to go to Ipswich".

They are the heroes who risk getting robbed and stabbed on a daily basis.   **jokes joke**

but in all seriousness ipswich and the surrounding area is almost large enough now and certainly will be large enough in the future for local rail services.   similar to the hunter line.   Trains shouldnt be designed about getting people from ipswich to brisbane, but getting from ipswich to the other side of ipswich

[#Metro]

I think back in 2007 (can't remember exactly) there was a plan (yes, a million of those eh?) to have more people move into the Ripley Valley as that was where the spare land was (also yarrabilba).

Hence the rail line.

http://www.dilgp.qld.gov.au/planning/priority-development-areas/ripley-valley.html

On a side note, one of the interesting curiosities is why the Ferny Grove line hasn't been extended into Samford Valley.

The line is short, times to CBD are competitive and there is plenty of land out that way.

[OzGamer]

It would be expensive and there will never be the density or population in Samford to justify it. Buses to Ferny Grove make much more sense.

Ripley Valley was meant to be bigger than Springfield and Yarrabilba combined, so that makes much more sense.

[Golliwog]

On a side note, one of the interesting curiosities is why the Ferny Grove line hasn't been extended into Samford Valley.

The line is short, times to CBD are competitive and there is plenty of land out that way.

You mean re-extended? Used to go all the way up to Dayboro from memory.

It would be expensive and there will never be the density or population in Samford to justify it. Buses to Ferny Grove make much more sense.

Ripley Valley was meant to be bigger than Springfield and Yarrabilba combined, so that makes much more sense.

Never is a famous last word. I wouldn't say development is booming out there but it is getting a bit bigger. The killer for feeder buses though is the current bus route doesn't do a very good job of covering much of Samford Valley, but any bigger and it would become un-usable. And once you have multiple routes then the number of buses required to take them all over the range to Ferny Grove becomes pretty high.

I'd actually like to seem them look at extending the rail to Samford Village before they make Samford Rd 4 lanes from Ferny Grove station (also probably not a near future need, but it is a very well trafficed road. Do a proper transport study.

[#Metro]

Never is a famous last word. I wouldn't say development is booming out there but it is getting a bit bigger. The killer for feeder buses though is the current bus route doesn't do a very good job of covering much of Samford Valley, but any bigger and it would become un-usable. And once you have multiple routes then the number of buses required to take them all over the range to Ferny Grove becomes pretty high.

I'd actually like to seem them look at extending the rail to Samford Village before they make Samford Rd 4 lanes from Ferny Grove station (also probably not a near future need, but it is a very well trafficed road. Do a proper transport study.

There would need to be a developer and a deal made. Feeder buses aren't going to raise land values, but a train or busway station will.

It is interesting to note that towns along the V/line route to Bendigo have grown quite a bit since V/line services became frequent, convenient etc.

[OzGamer]

It would be expensive and there will never be the density or population in Samford to justify it. Buses to Ferny Grove make much more sense.

Ripley Valley was meant to be bigger than Springfield and Yarrabilba combined, so that makes much more sense.

Never is a famous last word. I wouldn't say development is booming out there but it is getting a bit bigger.

The thing is neither the state government, the council, nor the local residents will ever stand for enough density of development to warrrant a rail line. There are simply more important places to extend rail lines rather than over a range to a semi-rural development.

[SurfRail]

Samford is not going to see a railway, end of.