13 Mar 2011: SEQ: Gold Coast timetable revamp could be done quickly

[ozbob]

Media release 13 March 2011

SEQ: Gold Coast timetable revamp could be done quickly

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters believes that the Gold Coast line has the least mediocre timetable on the network, and so is surprised at the advice that the Gold Coast line's timetable is the next in line for a revamp (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back on Track supports a clock face timetable for peak, counter peak and off peak, a rationalisation of Sunday services to be less different from Saturday services and the removal of padding from the timetable.  This seems to be the limit of achievablity on the current infrastructure, without even more primarily positioning services.  Currently, there are three southbound services departing Central on a weekday within the 38 minutes until 5:34m to be followed by 51 minute gap.  Clearly at least one and probably two of these services are largely positioning, and would be more useful delaying the hourly frequency which onsets southbound after 8:24pm, but the infrastructure doesn't allow for this.  However, it is unclear why these services couldn't be re-timed so that there is a 30 minute clockface frequency.  Indeed, it is unclear why the whole timetable isn't clockface."

"The main infrastructure constraint for peak services is the seven space Robina stabling yard.  It had been rumoured that this was planned to be increased to ten space when it was five space, but it seems that it has been decided not to proceed fully with this, quite yet.  Currently, every space is used.  The two extra spaces implemented in recent years plus the previously unused space were used up by the 4:34am and 6:02am ex-Varsity Lakes services and the Varsity Lakes extension, which wasted one space due to the dwelling arrangements at Varsity Lakes caused by the poor train frequency to the Airport."

"The main infrastructure constraint for off peak services is the lack of 'quadding', or alternative infrastructure to allow passing moves in both directions.  A while ago, it was proposed on the RAIL Back On Track forum to run bi-directional passing moves on the triplicated tracks, which would allow 15 minute frequency both to Beenleigh and Varsity Lakes (2).  Limitations are that it cannot be maintained counter peak, especially in the PM where conflicting moves bite hard and is likely to have a large and negative effect on reliability.  Also, the northbound Gold Coast trains could currently only serve Park Rd if they use platform 4, which is presently locked off and not in service."

"The other issue is messing with the timetable would presumably require sign off from Airtrain.  In the recent past negotiations with Airtrain have not been successful (3,4,5).  A reasonable service on Airtrain would effectively be one more space in the Robina stabling on current run times."

"Recent timetable revisions have seen the addition of significant amounts of fat to the Gold Coast timetable.  The timetable dated 14 July 2007 (6) is 4 minutes faster Robina to Central for most weekday services and 5 minutes for most weekend services compared to the current timetable (7).  The other issue is the 5 minute run time between Robina and Varsity Lakes is too slow.  4.1km on 120km/h track doesn't even reach a 50km/h average speed.  A 3 minute run time here ought to be achievable.  It seems the only reason to have a 5 minute run time is to artificially inflate the on time running statistic.  Notice how the evening slowdowns due to rock throwers hasn't resulted in any timetable change.  While this could allow a more reasonable dwell at Varsity Lakes in the daytime from the current 32 minutes to 9 minutes in the daytime without messing with the Airtrain and also freeing up a space in the Robina stabling, this would reduce the operating margin to a greater degree.  $256 million was spent on the Salisbury-Kuraby triplication (8) which didn't result in significant timetable enhancements being possible, it only made the service more reliable.  Must we have the additional padding for reliability even after such expenditure has been made?"

"RAIL Back on Track prefers that if this is to be done as a priority, these points are able to be addressed quickly to move on to other lines where there is lower fruit to be picked.  Also improving the feeder buses to the Gold Coast line would be better done after the train timetable revamp. RAIL Back on Track members have some particular concerns about the 761 and 765 bus routes (9)."

"Stations beyond Northgate and Darra languish with half hourly frequency stopping all stations and therefore the promises of ExpressLink to Ipswich and Caboolture and UrbanLink to Strathpine (10) are not delivered on.  RAIL Back on Track feels that delivery of these promises, which are achievable quite easily now, are the real priority."

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

References:

1.   http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2011/03/transport-minister-answers-your-questions.html?site=brisbane&program=612_breakfast

2.   http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4506.0

3.   http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/travel/minister-questions-airtrains-monopoly-20101013-16iqr.html

4.   http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2010/10/airtrain-answers-its-critics.html?site=brisbane&program=612_breakfast

5.   http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5202.0

6.   http://backontrack.org/docs/tt/070714_GoldCoast.pdf

7.   http://translink.com.au/resources/travel-information/services-and-timetables/timetables/100427_goldcoast.pdf

8.   http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/NetworkServices/SEQIP/CompletedProjects/Pages/SalisburyKuraby.aspx

9.   http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5172.0

10.   http://www.connectingseq.qld.gov.au/About/Rail.aspx

[ozbob]

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