26 Oct 2012: SEQ: Disabled access could have been provided more widely

[ozbob]

Media release 26th October 2012

SEQ: Disabled access could have been provided more widely

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has highlighted the upgrade of non accessible railway stations. The issue of disabled access to the suburban rail network has recently captured much media attention. Today, 30 stations in the QR suburban network remain completely inaccessible to wheelchairs and prams (1).

What should be noted however is the very recent missed opportunity to address the issue.

Rail Back on Track member Gavin Seipelt said:

"Upgrading stations to current accessibility requirements  is costly, at around $15-$20 million per station.

"However, in 2011,  QR received $200 million  in funding for the station upgrade program (2).

"This was enough money to upgrade 10 to 14 stations to disabled access, in other words 1/2 to 1/3 of the remaining inaccessible stations would have been fixed.

"Instead, the program opted to spend the money across 50 stations. Funds were spread so thinly that most stations received only minor cosmetic upgrades.

"As a net result, a mere three stations are receiving proper upgrades to allow new disabled access namely, Sandgate, Narangba and Alderley.

"Additionally, some stations received major renovations and new buildings despite already having lifts for example, $10 Million spent at Eagle Junction.

"Things such as landscaping, tiling, new paint schemes and murals, whilst very nice, need to take a back seat for a few years until the remaining 30 inaccessible stations in the network are brought up to standard."

"RAIL Back On Track members believe most of the available funds for station upgrades should go towards lift and ramp installation."

References:

1. http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/AllStations/Pages/CityStationsAccessibility.aspx

2. http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/NETWORKSERVICES/CONSTRUCTIONUPGRADES/CITYNETWORKSTATIONUPGRADES/Pages/default.aspx

Contacts:

Gavin Seipelt
Brisbane West Region Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9194.msg111459#msg111459

[Gazza]

http://www.thesatellite.com.au/news/facelift-on-its-way-for-corinda-train-station/895649/

My local station, Corinda had $1.1 million spent on it, despite already being disabled compliant.

Money was spent on such things as:

-An fancy roof thingy at the bottom of the ramp (Cannot for the life of me understand the point of it, it has no seat underneath, and buses pull up 50m away) and angular concrete blocks.


-Sandstone retaining walls and plantings.


-Mesh over the station.


Can someone out that way get a pic of the concrete triangles at Bundamba, (preferably with the anti wheelchair staircase in the background lol) ? That would really push the point.

[HappyTrainGuy]

I'd be carefull bashing the steel mesh. IIRC they were reccommended...rushed after someone had climbed over and threatened to jump onto the overheads/tracks causing long network delays. Similar station upgrades also had the steel mesh added during their DDA upgrades at Petrie, Lawnton, Bald Hills, Carseldine, Zillmere, Geebung, Virginia, Northgate, Toombul and Eagle Junction during the late 90's/00's.

[#Metro]

To be fair, many stations are dumps from circa 1900s and are in an unacceptable state. Wooden overbridges? This isn't 1892!
Check out Dutton Park shelters which has dry wood rot or termites eating at it (or both?).

I have to say, though, better consultation would mean that we would have had a chance to put our view forward that bringing stations up to standard was a better idea than fancy concrete. But the thing is, ramps are boring, landscaping is sexy and so are big buildings which symbolises improvement without actually being a core improvement (read: timetable frequency, span, speed, reliability, accessibility). Politicians love this because you can print pretty pictures in election material and newspaper articles but you can't really photograph frequency, and basic ramp upgrades aren't really newsworthy.

^ Reminds me a lot about QR, everything except what matters (read: frequency, span) is top-class. With FG line improvements, hopefully this will change.

[Gazza]

^I wouldn't advocate diverting funds from necessary upkeep (like a rotting bridge)
But that should be funded from normal maintenance expenditure.

And yes, I get its not 1892, but at the same time, whats worse, and old "unacceptable" station, or someone unable to use the station in the first place.

Just get those final 30 done (In reality only 28 need major work)...THEN we can start doing all the other stuff.

And in reality, many stations without lifts would get their old buildings upgraded in the first place...Eg ones on the FG line.

HTG a few stations got this mesh in the upgrades, and in many cases it was purely architectural, tacked onto the outside of buildings, not actually preventing access to areas.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Nothing different to when Toombul got its mesh covers installed. Its similar to Corinda but during the upgrades just had the mesh bolted on from the inside. Even the steps leading to the platforms from the overhead walkway still have the original hand rails on the outside of the mesh with newer ones on the inside. If you try to you can still access these areas but it has prevented people from just hopping over the hand rails.

If you do some digging around I think you'll find there were 2 or 3 instances in quick succession at Corinda where people simply climbed on to the outside of the walkway preventing trains going past for a few hours each time. Pretty sure it happened in late March/early April last year.

Edit: Spelling errors.

[Gazza]

Ah gotcha. 

[HappyTrainGuy]

Toombul for reference. Its a bit dark but what can you do



Just to clarify Toombul didn't get the mesh from the most recent upgrade but from an upgrade quite a number of years ago.

[ozbob]

The media hysteria is a bit over the top. 

Queensland Rail have always been up front and honest with the station accessibility issues.  Yes, perhaps money could have been better directed and I think you will find that is the case from here.  We raised this issue previously with Queensland Rail and they indicated they are reviewing how the DDA plan is implemented.  So good news.

Some of the media can be little self righteous at times  ...

Twitter

8h Robert Dow Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow

QR has always been very honest and upfront re station access issues --> http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/AllStations/Pages/CityStationsAccessibility.aspx ... @612brisbane