Timetable comment: What do you think?

[ozbob]

Received this feedback.  Thanks! Any comments?

Citytrain currently work on a 30 minute off peak timetable.  What if they used this during the peak times as well and then put in intermediate express type services between these trains during the peak time.  Even if there was only one train between the standard services, this would make a service spacing of 15 minutes.

The Caboolture line for example currently has services only every 20 minutes during the peak.  Most of these have some express running and therefore people for intermediate stations find themselves having to change trains.  With the regular services providing an all stations service, those for intermediate stations would then gravitate to these services leaving the expresses for the through travellers.

I think if you look at the other lines, you will probably see a similar pattern.

When they get to be a more full on rail system and run 20 minute off peak service, one intermediate service would then give 10 minute service spacing during the peak period.

Even with this scenario, this only means about 24 trains per hour through the Roma Street ? Bowen Hills corridor from each direction.  This equates to a train every 2.5 minutes.  Easily achievable with the current signalling as currently they could run at less than 1 minute intervals.

The only drawbacks are:

Extra units turning out and going back into the shed.

Loss of the ability to let trains stand at platforms for catch up time ( a fudge to help maintain on time running).

Loading and unloading times at Central (this could be helped by making sure the platform levels are all correct to allow walk off/ walk on access).

Just an idea.

[brad C]

This broad timetabling is followed on the lighter patronised lines (Shorncliffe and Cleveland) during the PM peak but the notion of a "set" express working on the trunk lines is the distance out from the CBD of the express working and the necessary headways to avoid catch up.
On the caboolture line for example, headway must also be factored in for commuter services to the 'short north' and for the 1700hr departure of the tilt train service to Bundaberg.
The presence of additional trackage to Petrie permits many express services to overtake all stations, which is positive proof that investment in rail infrastructure actually works!!
The big problem for QR is appreciating that PM peak does not suddenly end at 1745hrs and that if Translink's definition of "off peak' ending at 1900hrs is believable, there is a right to expect more frequency on key lines at least until 1830hrs.
Try getting a seat on an Ipswich or Caboolture Service at 1800 or 1830.

One of the other frustrations with the current timetable is huge gap between the 1642 and 1706 services to Caboolture, whilst there are 2 trains to Petrie only in this intervening period.
Is there any wonder that the 1706 service to Caboolture is one of the network's most crowded services, whilst the following caboolture service does not stop at the stations between Petrie and Caboolture, which are the very areas where the population has mushroomed in past years.
Again, these timetables have not been adjusted since 1993.
Time to get serious with some new blood in the timetable department or to at east call on the services of some regualr passengers (who might just be able to assist after 34 years of commuting this line)
Brad C