2032 Olympic Village Alternative (Albion Park)

[Rail Rookie]

To start with the following points:

1. Not even sure we can change the location of Olympic village now, so most of this might be a moot point  :conf
2. NWTC route (tunnel and quad track) obviously should be the Gold Standard for route to connect CRR and Sunshine Coast etc., but atm doesn't seem like much hope.
3. With the State and Federal SEQ Deal including the olympics, I thought my proposal may be able to get split funding, making it more likely to get off the ground.
4. The proposed Olympic Village seems to be a blackspot for transport (apart from extending Doomben Line) which has been stated before to be taken off the Northshore Master Plan. Apart from Doomben Line the only other suggested rail connection to this area has been the East-West Metro (starting from UQ and terminating at Northshore). This would cost more coin than my proposed project, which is why I think it could work.

I remember reading about Albion Park as being a possibility for the Olympic stadium etc. location, but I believe it could be developed for the Olympic Village. I would only look at developing Albion Park Raceway area south of Greg Chappell St (not stadium above tracks/Burrow St/Abbotsford) that article looks at.
https://brisbanedevelopment.com/olympic-games-legacy-infrastructure-key-to-seqs-transport-success/

See Proposed Routes https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1Ur-U_VSh5P-6QupBuyLnkfGpuIdj0aMr&usp=sharing

Grey Line
Would be used to connect the Olympic Village easily with CRR Line. There would be an U/G station at Bowen Hills (which connects to Ferny Grove Line) and to Mains. Station also connects near Perry Park, which could be looked at for Olympics. The line would continue to the NEW Albion Park Station (Olympic Village). You would either keep Allan Border Field or also develop.

Continue to Oriel Rd Station, which I see as being a good spot for bus connections using Oriel Rd, Lancaster Rd (Ascot) and then Nudgee Rd to Hamilton/Northshore area.

Line would then connect up with Toombul Station at surface level. This line is not adding any capacity, its more with connection to key areas (mainly for Olympic Village). Total Cost $5-6B (includes quad track $0.6B and LX $1.2B, Tunnel and Stations $4B). This location would be good for the newstead footbridge at breakfast creek, the bikeway infrastructure already in place, industrial area could be turned into excellent green spaces. I'd probably get rid of Doomben Line, as we can use bus connections instead.

Other Projects Regardless of Grey or Orange Project
1. Completing the level crossing removals for Sunshine, Virginia, Strathpine and Beams Road. Cost $1.2B
2. Remove Sunshine and Virginia Stations, I feel like these two areas do not serve any residential areas well. Use bus connections to Northgate or Geebung Stations.
3. Quad track from Strathpine Station to Northgate (12km single track). Cost $0.6B

Orange Line
Joining up with NCL Quad track (Geebung Station) and connecting with CRR at Roma St through Exhibition Station. The CRR tracks at Mayne Yard would be separate from 4 tracks from Bowen Hills (would add 5th and 6th track if possible). Portal Tunnel at Albion Station heading towards NEW Wavell Heights Station (Bus Connections with Shaw Rd, Rode Rd, Edinburgh Rd). Portal surfaces after Hamilton Rd and connects with Geebung Station. Not too many houses will need resumptions. This route would shave roughly 2km off current route and be straighter.

This project would allow CRR Line to be completely separate from Shorncliff, Doomben and airport lines, generally the Mains from Ipswich and Springfield. Apart from this, it doesn't really add too many stations in key areas (unlike Grey Line IMO).

Summary
If I went with Grey Line and Other Projects (excluding Orange Line) it would cost roughly $5.4B (similar to CRR  cough cough, why not call it CRR2.0). If you split this funding it would be $3B State and Federal. They could sell it as for the Olympics as it connects Roma St, olympic village, Gabba, GC and SC Line, Robina Olympic Village. Pretty much a 1 stop shop. BCC could also chip in $ for the LX removals, car users would love it as well. This may not be the ideal proposal, but would it have a better chance of getting money and implemented compared to NWTC, quad track to Salisbury, GC fast rail etc.?   

[matlock]

Very far fetched, but I'll entertain it for a minute.

Your dive site would come into very close proximity with the Clem Jones Tunnel. I'm not saying it's impossible, since I'm not an expert, but there's already underground infrastructure in the vicinity which may prevent your idea from happening.

If the dive site is fine, the next change I would make is for the grey line to swing further east after diving near Exhibition and have a station at Newstead rather than Bowen Hills. Newstead needs its first station more than Bowen Hills needs its interchange - the area is underserved by PT given its density. Would be a tighter curve/longer journey but would also give a greater catchment area than your proposal which is an interchange at Bowen Hills.

Crosby Park station is fine - the area is dense already and access to Albion station from that area is poor given how much of a barrer Frodsham Rd and Sandgate Rd are to cross for pedestrians.

Oriel - maybe? Just seems like it's a bit close to the existing mainline. Could be placed on the other side of Sandgate Rd, although I could see the Ascot community kicking up a fuss about a train station.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Sunshine station is quite a popular station for those with disabilities with several industries in the direct area providing significant employment opportunities. Given the frequency of the station a bus option from Geebung would provide more difficulties for these people. Also the span of hours that the railway has also trumps the bus network with the first services arriving there before buses have even left the local depot. Virginia is also used a lot by school students and those via the park and ride where there are no bus services/difficult to access the station on foot.

Best of luck closing those stations