Article: Quicker trips for Coast rail travellers

[ozbob]

From Gold Coast Bulletin click here!

Quicker trips for Coast rail travellers

July 28th, 2008

RAIL commuters now have a faster trip home thanks to the completion of the $70 million Helensvale to Robina track duplication.

Welding on the final 9km of the 16.6km duplicated track was completed on Saturday and testing completed yesterday.

Acting Transport Minister Paul Lucas said Gold Coast commuters would save up to three minutes a trip when they travelled to Robina.

"The new track means trains can pass each other between Nerang and Robina, whereas previously trains needed to wait at Nerang for Brisbane-bound trains to pass.

"This work will deliver added benefits later this year and early next year when timetable revamps will deliver more capacity on the busy Gold Coast and Beenleigh lines."

Mr Lucas said that eight new rail bridges had been built and 11 upgraded across the whole project.

Work on the first 7km section from Helensvale to Nerang was completed in April.

"There will also be further track flexibility improvements in 2009 when 'crossovers' are installed at Helensvale and Robina, allowing trains to continue to run if a disruption occurs on one of the two tracks," said Mr Lucas.

The latest project was the third major rail upgrade completed on the Gold Coast rail line in two years.

"A total of $348 million worth of rail upgrades has already been completed," he said.

"The other project under way on the Gold Coast, the $324.4 million extension of the rail line from Robina to Varsity Lakes, has this month reached the one-year mark of construction.

"It is due for completion in late 2009, with 4.1km of two new tracks, a new station, car parking, bike lockers, security and easy access."

[stephenk]

"This work will deliver added benefits later this year and early next year when timetable revamps will deliver more capacity on the busy Gold Coast and Beenleigh lines."

New timetable around the new year then? How about more capacity on lines that are busier than the Gold Coast and Beenleigh Lines?

"There will also be further track flexibility improvements in 2009 when 'crossovers' are installed at Helensvale and Robina, allowing trains to continue to run if a disruption occurs on one of the two tracks," said Mr Lucas.

Why haven't these been installed as part of the duplication?