Article: Rail upgrade to add 30 mins to Gold Coast commute

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

Rail upgrade to add 30 mins to Gold Coast commute

Rail upgrade to add 30 mins to Gold Coast commute
Tony Moore | April 9, 2008 - 3:14PM

Work will begin tomorrow on the $70 million track duplication of the Helensvale to Robina rail line, forcing Gold Coast trains onto a different timetable.

Buses will replace some trains and they will take an extra 30 minutes to make the journey.

Four morning services and five afternoon services between Robina and Beenleigh will operate on an altered timetable tomorrow and Friday.

Queensland Rail (QR) will then close the track between Coomera and Robina stations from 8pm on Friday until the last train on Sunday, April 13.

This will affect all inbound and outbound services between the two stations, with buses replacing train services for the duration of this period.

Buses will also run directly to Brisbane Airport.

QR passenger services executive general manager Andy Taylor said customers travelling on the buses would have an extra 30 minutes added to their trips.

As part of the track duplication project, a new 16.6km second track is being built between Helensvale to Robina to provide more train services from Beenleigh and the Gold Coast.

The second rail track will be finished between Helensvale and Nerang by Monday, with the stretch from Nerang to Robina ready by August.

Once this work is done, there will be the rail capacity to run extra train servives from Robina.

[ozbob]

A great pity that the line was not built as a double mainline from the outset.
Another example example of flawed planning and projections of the highest order.

Let us hope the same mistake is not made with the new line to Springfield. 

Does Queensland Transport ever learn?

I for one sure hope so!