Toowoomba <> Brisbane

[OzGamer]

Another thing to bear in mind is that battery electric technology is coming along rapidly and it is not out of the question that within 5-10 years it would be feasible for a train to run on the wires out as far as Rosewood and then switch to battery from there. You could even have a few bits of wires just for charging batteries a bit at platforms. There could be a passing loop for diesel freights while the electric passenger train spends a couple of minutes at the platform at Laidley or Gatton getting passengers on an off and topping up the batteries.

This is absolutely plausible given the technology direction we are heading in right now.

[verbatim9]

Another thing to bear in mind is that battery electric technology is coming along rapidly and it is not out of the question that within 5-10 years it would be feasible for a train to run on the wires out as far as Rosewood and then switch to battery from there. You could even have a few bits of wires just for charging batteries a bit at platforms.

I wouldn't hold your breath on that one. A train uses alot more energy than a tram catenary free. European Countries are still steaming ahead with electrified catenary. They would be the first to implement the technology if it was feasible.  (Having catenary also helps stablise the train and prevent derailments.)
   

[colinw]

Battery electric already exists in service in Japan, on the 3'6"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EV-E301_series

Nothing wrong with DMUs anyway. No need for the 25KV ever to go past Rosewood, if anything it should end at Wulkuraka depot.

[OzGamer]

Battery electric already exists in service in Japan, on the 3'6"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EV-E301_series

Cool. And then there's this, running on AC power:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EV-E801_series

This could pretty much be bought off the shelf and run from Ipswich to Laidley.

[verbatim9]

Battery electric already exists in service in Japan, on the 3'6"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EV-E301_series

Cool. And then there's this, running on AC power:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EV-E801_series

This could pretty much be bought off the shelf and run from Ipswich to Laidley.

Lol! 65kph and 2 car units wont cut it from Rosewood to Toowoomba. Especially with another 1 million people expected to settle in Se Qld in years to come.

Did I mention Train stabilization with Catenary "Reduced derailments"

Baseload power has to be put into something with premises starting to swap and produce their own.

[SurfRail]

I don't think very much of that growth will be happening west of Rosewood.

[nathandavid88]

I don't think very much of that growth will be happening west of Rosewood.

West of Rosewood no, but growth of the suburbs of Toowoomba itself I would consider quite possible. That said, any transport between Toowoomba and Brisbane/Ipswich needs needs to be looked at from a speed and connectivity point of view, moreso than outright capacity.

[verbatim9]

https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10197.msg217387.msg#217387