Nambour station

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson

Nambour station car park expansion

Dozens more Sunshine Coast passengers will be able to park at Nambour train station, with 50 much needed additional spaces created on vacant land.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said the expansion of parking, beyond the current 90 spaces, would be a massive boost for passengers and residents.

"We promised at the election to revitalise frontline services and this decision delivers on that commitment," Mr Emerson said.

"The community has been calling for extra car parking at this site since a building on Price Street was demolished last year.

"This decision also aligns with our promise to deliver better infrastructure and planning.

"The site has been surveyed and several options have been developed and we expect to add about 50 sealed car spaces and lighting.

"We've been working with Sunshine Coast Regional Council on the preferred options."

Mr Emerson said the site had been fenced off since last year when asbestos was discovered in the footing of the building.

"Early works will begin next month, which includes the removal of all contaminated material," he said.

"Construction will be underway mid-year with completion expected late this year.

[Stillwater]

After initial announcement in 2014, not much happened.  Upon re-election of Mr Peter Wellington as local member, and person with the balance of power in the Queensland parliament, work took off.  Car park extension finished, save for a bit of landscaping, but remained cordoned off last week.  Now for completion of the disability access at the Nambour railway station that Mr Emerson, the former Minister, halted due to political expediency.  Time some questions were asked about that, particularly how the underpass access will be maintained during construction, and what will happen re access to the Over 60s Club rooms.

Actually, the whole Nambour Station precinct (opened in 1966) is looking a bit tired.

Meanwhile, the push for SC rail duplication rolls on unabated, but even Mr Wellington acknowledges that will require Federal Government financial assistance. 

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Wellington says full steam ahead for Nambour station upgrade

From mid-next year commuters can look forward to improved rail experiences, with Nicklin Independent MP Peter Wellington confirming detailed planning was underway for the Nambour train station upgrade.

Early construction works are due to commence from December and the upgrades will reshape the 124-year-old station which experiences 3600 passenger movements daily.

"At the end of the project in mid-2016, Nambour station will be independently accessible via paths, ramps and a lift without the use of stairs," Mr Wellington said.

"While a detailed design is yet to be finalised, the upgrade will include a new lift from the subway to the station forecourt, raising a section of the platforms for improved access to trains, additional passenger shelter, upgraded accessible parking spaces and improved toilet facilities.

"This is a big win for our community and will significantly improve access to the station for all customers including those with disabilities, the elderly, parents with prams, people with injuries or even simply those carrying luggage."

Mr Wellington said the upgrade was expected to generate about 150 jobs during construction, with the station to remain open throughout the works.

"At times, some temporary access changes to the station and subway will be experienced however Queensland Rail will work closely with passengers and the Nambour community to ensure they are kept well informed," he said.

For those wishing to stay abreast of the latest project news, email stationsupgrade@qr.com.au or phone 1800 722 203.

[Arnz]

Have to question the breakdown of the 3600 passenger movements daily.  Is that by average overall (including off-peak, weekend and QR long-distance), or was that the weekly figure? (which divided by 7 days is a average of 515 passenger movements daily across all QR long-distance and interurban services).

[ozbob]

Maybe the daily figure includes people using the station as a thoroughfare .. 

3600 seems a lot.

[Stillwater]

Who know what it includes.  The station underpass is a major thoroughfare for people getting from one side of town to the other, and not necessarily just for those catching a train.  The 3600 figure could also include the numbers of people who catch a train, PLUS those who use the buses at the adjacent bus interchange.  For the time being, Nambour is the major tertiary hospital serving the Sunshine Coast.  People use PT to Nambour, then walk up the hill to the hospital.  Around the hospital are the offices of specialists and pathology companies etc.  It is a busy little place. 

Too often QR looks only at the train passenger portion of those passing beneath and over its railway and forgets that QR is the state government agency that provides a public thoroughfare for the entire community, not just train users.

[Stillwater]

This Sunshine Coast Daily article sheds some further light on what's proposed at Nambour Station:

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/nola-ramps-up-access-for-others/2763361

[Stillwater]

News today that, in addition to the current art house theatre at the Nambour Civic Centre (adjacent to the Nambour railway station), the centre will be reconfigured to provide for an additional four cinemas.  This will make the Nambour Civic Centre a major entertainment venue.  it is likely that restaurants etc will flourish there also.  At night, the Coles supermarket car park will be utilised, but so will the station car park.

The Queensland Government should take the opportunity to call for expressions of interest from the private sector for the sale of the airspace above the Nambour station, using any revenue to upgrade the station to accommodate eventual track duplication (extra platform and passing loop) as part of a TOD development.

The deal, involving Majestic Cinemas, will make Nambour a centre for theatre-goers, drawing people from across the hinterland.  Currently they have to travel to Maroochydore to see a blockbuster movie.  Public transport would be the preferred means of travel for many theatre patrons, particularly teens.

This state government may be against selling assets, but (in this case) the asset is thin air!  And it is worth something!

TMR should get on board and explore opportunities for working with the developer to see what enhancements can be made, utilising space above the station and the bus interchange.  It would boost Nambour, and raise revenue for the state -- win, win all round.

[nathandavid88]

The problem with the airspace idea is that it's not as simple as just offering up the airspace for development and watching the money come in. Developing over a railway station adds a lot of complexity and cost to any development which is why there, AFAIK, haven't been any major projects involving railway airspace built for quite a while now. There have been a few projects proposed that could have included airspace use (Southpoint and the Milton come to mind), they either haven't proceeded beyond a proposal, or have been built adjacent to the stations rather than over them. And this is projects involving inner city stations. I think it would be twice as difficult to find a developer willing to take it on in a location like Nambour.

[ozbob]

http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/Community/Projects/Pages/Nambour-Station-upgrade.aspx

Nambour Station upgrade

​Queensland Rail is upgrading Nambour Station to improve accessibility and make it easier and safer for customers to use.

The works are part of the Queensland Rail Station Upgrade Program which focuses on providing greater accessibility to rail services.

The station upgrade is designed to achieve independent accessibility, meaning that all train platforms can be accessed independently via paths, ramps or lifts, without the need to use stairs.

Improvements will include:
 

   
• a lift from the subway to the station forecourt to allow easier access to the train
• a raised section of platform encompassing the core zone and assisted boarding point
• additional shelter
• new accessible toilet facilities
• upgraded hearing augmentation loop and tactile platform surfaces to assist people with hearing and vision impairments
• upgraded CCTV and lighting

The design process is underway and construction is expected to start late in 2015 and finish in 2016. Routine maintenance at the station will also continue during 2015.

The station is expected to remain open throughout works, with no planned changes to the timetable during construction.

Temporary changes to station access will be communicated to the public prior to works.

For regular updates on the station upgrade, join the project's email mailing list here.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation while we build you a better station.

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

Water bubbler?  What colour???   

[Fares_Fair]

$10m cost for these works 
Original cost was $3.3 million (at June 2012 when work was canned).

Scope of works must have changed an awful lot or else there is some gross exaggeration in this $10m figure.

So now disabled people will be able to turn up and get on one of the 13 daily southbound rail buses to Caboolture before transferring to a real train.
(Note to journalists, I'm not kidding here)

Great apple basket after the station is upgraded..   still rotten apple services.

[Stillwater]

I remember when this was a $4 million project that was cancelled in order to save money.  It remains unclear whether this upgrade is confined to the railway station side of the fence, or whether it also includes upgrades to the bus interchange on the town side of the fence.  It there a schematic?

This is curious:

"The station upgrade is designed to achieve independent accessibility, meaning that all train platforms can be accessed independently via paths, ramps or lifts, without the need to use stairs."  Essentially, Nambour has only one platform with a track either side, one being a terminating line.

Can QR give a guarantee that this work won't have to be jack-hammered or altered when, eventually, Nambour Station gets another platform under track duplication?  Is there a provision in this plan for another lift-well to what will be the new platform? Or do we deal with that issue when it becomes bleedingly obvious?

[Stillwater]

It would be good if QR was a bit more pro-active in telling us what is happening re Nambour station upgrade.  In the stop-start way QR goes about these things, a $4 million disability upgrade was planned, then pulled at the last minute for political reasons, then the job was re-examined and we now have a $10 million upgrade, which includes some platform work and improved toilets.

The QR website reveals that tenders for the revised upgrade closed on 12 October 2015 (after QR said work would start late in 2015).  The tender was awarded on 4 November -- something a pollie or two might like to spruik about, particularly as Nambour is at the heart of the Speaker's electorate and he keep Labor in power at the state level.

It would appear that a separate tender must be let for 'temporary platform and bussing facilities'.  A media statement saying what's going on would seem appropriate.

[ozbob]

Nambour Weekly page 7

[Stillwater]

Nambour station will be closed for up to six months from the end of February while work proceeds.  Concrete block and steel footings for what will be a temporary platform are being installed on the opposite side of the track serving the No.2 platform (on the bus interchange side).  It will become the new No.2 platform for the duration of works.  This will require the bus interchange to be relocated temporarily to the car park (hospital) side of the station.  As the subway will be closed, a shuttle bus will operate back and forth from the front of the station to the new bus interchange in the car park.  Parking might be a bit tight, but extra spaces have been provided on the former Sunstrip Printers site.

Nambour has a low station platform.  This will be raised and resurfaced progressively to allow the No.1 platform to continue to be used, with restrictions.  Passenger shelters will be upgraded.  Part of the platform north of the station building will be closed permanently and the platform extended slightly to the south to compensate.  New toilets, refurbishment of the station roof, lift and renovation of the subway will complete the makeover.

Not clear how access will be maintained to the '60 and Better' club rooms, which are part of the station complex.

[ozbob]

^ thanks for the update.  Sounds good!   

[ozbob]

Nambour station upgrade

>> http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/Community/Projects/Pages/Nambour-Station-upgrade.aspx

Nambour bus station temporary changes

>> http://translink.com.au/service-updates/69426

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

Inspected progress on the @QueenslandRail Nambour station upgrade with local MP Peter Wellington today. Also discussed other #Nicklin issues pic.twitter.com/0NFj4VRO5J

— Stirling Hinchliffe (@StirlHinchliffe) January 17, 2017

[SurfRail]

Another platform raised to 50% or less of its length.  Pillocks.

[Stillwater]

Makes you wonder what happens re convenience for passengers with mobility problems who travel on the Spirit of Queensland and Tilts.  This is a major stopping place for these trains, connecting to the Sunshine Coast.

[Stillwater]

late March is projected completion date.  Maybe time for RailBOT excursion to Nambour for official opening.  Be good to see the bus station facilities upgraded now.

[Stillwater]

The underpass has reopened after refurbishment - bright, colourful and lots of lighting.  Steps take you closer to the station entrance.  Lift not yet operating, but is being tested.  Half the main platform has been closed off while work on toilets continues.  Island platforms 1-2 operational (one platform, trains either side).  The roof is very high, so wind will blow rain towards anyone waiting there.  A bit more signage tells you where the station is.  The bus station needs a bit of spruce-up.  Over 60s club rooms are being used for storage, it seems.

[Stillwater]

It rained at Nambour today - nothing unusual about that.  It also rained on the people waiting at the island platform now serving Platforms 1 and 2.  It is a narrow platform with a very high roof -- so high in fact that the slightest breeze blows the rain in, and it is useless for protection from the sun, except around midday when the sun is directly overhead.

Solution:  Fix to the side of the steel posts supporting the roof a series of steel louvres at the top, for about one third of the height of the posts, matched by louvres at the back of the seats.  Depending on which way the rain/sun is coming, people can shelter on the other half of the platform.  The temporary Platform 2, on the bus interchange side, is being dismantled.

QR wants to take control of the site by the end of the month (next week), but there is another 3 weeks worth of work to do, according to contractors.

The reason for the delay?  Supposedly, TMR signed off on the project specifications without realising that the railway tracks were too low relative to the platform floor height.  Rectification work was required.  Also, QR did not book in the services of signals specialists, required as part of the project.  The result of both of these was an eight-week delay to the project.  The expectation is that the contractors must quicken the pace, making up for the TMR/QR stuff-ups.

Main work now is concentrated on Platform 1 at the northern end, including new toilets.

[ozbob]

20th September 2017

Media Release
Deputy Premier, Minister for Transport and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Jackie Trad

Access for all at Nambour station

A multi-million-dollar accessibility upgrade is now complete at Nambour station, a key transport hub and the third busiest station for commuters on the Sunshine Coast line.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Transport Jackie Trad said the Palaszczuk Government's Nambour station upgrade created 250 jobs and was part of the Labor Government's $212 million program to make rail travel more accessible for all.

"I'm extremely proud to unveil the newly upgraded and now independently accessible Nambour station today," Ms Trad said.

"This upgrade means that everyone in the Nambour community, including wheelchair users, the elderly, travellers with luggage and parents with prams can now travel safely and easily.

"The station is now independently accessible and all platforms can be reached by paths, ramps and lifts, without using stairs.

Member for Nicklin Peter Wellington said the station upgrade ensures community accessibility.

"There is a new lift from the subway to the station forecourt, accessible toilets and parking, as well as a raised platform to provide safer and easier access to trains," Mr Wellington said.

"On the platform there are extended waiting shelters, new signage, and improved lighting and CCTV, as well as a range of accessibility features like hearing aid loops and tactile flooring surfaces.

"This is great news for the people of Nicklin and I am proud to have played a role in delivering this significant upgrade."

Ms Trad said that commuters to the new station would benefit from colourful new artwork from Brisbane based visual artists The Brightsiders and local artist Simon Degroot.

"Queensland Rail partnered with The Brightsiders to brighten the bus interchange, and renowned artist Simon Degroot to refresh the subway, creating a colourful and welcoming walkway for the thousands of customers who pass through every week," Ms Trad said.

"The artwork was delivered by the Positive pARTnerships program, which aims to harness the abilities of local artists, to transform stations and provide a sense of pride and ownership in rail infrastructure."

Local artist Simon Degroot said this was the fourth Positive pARTnerships project he had been involved in, having completed murals at other train stations including Milton, Toombul and Fortitude Valley.

"The design acknowledges the beautiful relationship of old and new, with the selected shapes capturing the historical spirit of Nambour," Mr Degroot said.

"It was fantastic to be part of this exciting project and create a mural that serves as a simple method to add beauty to an ordinary subway, while reflecting the close ties between railway, communities and art."

ENDS

[Arnz]

^

Which also raises the question, why wasn't Beerwah and Landsborough (the 2 most busiest stations on the SCL) earmarked for Platform raising to door height anytime soon?