Article: Freight train causes delay

[Fares_Fair]

Freight train causes delay
Maroochy Journal
Thursday 28 July, 2011 at 12:00am
by Sherine Conyers

Commuters along the Sunshine Coast copped another blow to their services last week after a freight train broke down near Eudlo on Friday delaying services for more than an hour.
It followed a spate of 'police incidences' over the past three weeks which caused massive delays to both Sunshine Coast and Caboolture commuters.

Palmwoods commuter Jeff Addison said his fellow commuters had reported the freight train incident to him after the 6:08pm Roma Street to Nambour train and the 5.45pm Gympie North service were reversed backwards after the single-track blockage on Friday.

Mr Addison said his associate was told of a possible five minute to five hour delay after the train arrived at Mooloolah.

He said the train then reversed backwards to Landsborough where no station staff or QR personnel were available. After further delays, buses finally arrived.

"The passengers finally arrived at Woombye station at about 9pm," he said.

"It really points to the need of the duplication of the railway line to occur, this is the classic example of why the duplication of the railway line needs to occur, to enable passenger services to get around freight trains," he said

A Queensland Rail spokesperson confirmed the freight breakdown at about 7.30pm on Friday night between Eudlo and Palmwoods.

"One inbound service and four outbound services were affected as a result of this incident.

"Alternative transport arrangements (buses and taxis) were made for customers, with some experiencing delays of more than one hour. Queensland Rail would like to apologise for the inconvenience."

Then on Tuesday the 5.50am Nambour to Roma St train was delayed after police confirmed a truck collided with a boomgate on western side of the Landsborough crossing.

Later that morning the 6.14am Nambour to Roma St train was also delayed by internal power problems at Palmwoods Station.

The QR spokesperson said two major upgrades to the Sunshine Coast rail line were recently completed and two future rail duplication projects planned for the line.

"The South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program 2010-2031 identifies the Beerburrum to Landsborough Track Duplication project for completion by 2020, and the Landsborough to Nambour project by 2031.

"These projects will improve train travel times for commuters by duplicating and straightening the Sunshine Coast rail line.''

http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/sunshine-coast/freight-train-causes-delay/story-fn8m0yxo-1226102587569

[Stillwater]

The QR spokesperson said two major upgrades to the Sunshine Coast rail line were recently completed and two future rail duplication projects planned for the line.  Beerburrum-Landsborough and Landsborough-Nambour ?? I assume.  What's the betting that when I am in the nursing home and softening my milk arrowroot biscuits in my tea before I can eat them, Landsborough-Nambour will be split further into 2 or 3 projects. 

[Fares_Fair]

I'm wondering what the 2 recent? major upgrades are.
I imagine one would be the Caboolture to Beerburrum duplication that ended suddenly in April 2009 (you know, the one that the Ministerial Briefing note says achieved nothing).
Not sure what the other is ...

Regards,
Fares Fair.

[ozbob]

No muffins either ...

The fact that the Sunshine Coast line doesn't make the latest glossy brochure, the Queensland Infrastructure Plan is cause for some concern. But hey, I am sure there will be another in a few months ...

[Fares_Fair]

Oh dear, all it talks about is improving road freight ...
and something about a train line from Beerwah to Maroochydore in brief (and in future).

Puts hand up to say there is a rail line here 
Lets use it to transport lots of freight, and as a bonus save lives.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[SurfRail]

I'm wondering what the 2 recent? major upgrades are.
I imagine one would be the Caboolture to Beerburrum duplication that ended suddenly in April 2009 (you know, the one that the Ministerial Briefing note says achieved nothing).
Not sure what the other is ...

Regards,
Fares Fair.

Almost certainly the Beerwah grade separation.

[Stillwater]

Yep, the Beerwah overpass is the second 'recent' upgrade after Caboolture-Beerburrum.  How recent is 'recent' though?

[Fares_Fair]

recent history, usually means about 50 years ...
recent in government terms, well to quote an old cliche: a week is a long time in politics.


Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]