Indooroopilly Station Upgrade

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail 29-30 August 2009  page 52

Danger at Indooroopilly Station

[mufreight]

As has been noted previously they spent $26 million to upgrade the station and make is comply with the standards for disability access to the platforms but sections of the platforms do not comply even with WH&S requirements of step heights to get from the platforms onto the train, much less allow for disabled access to the trains.
The old fable that the platforms could not be raised because they are built on a curve and would create problems wirh the operation of freight services is exactly that, a furphy, the Westlander operates through platform 6 at Central on its outbound journey from platform 10 at Roma Street when it travels through Central And Fortitude Valley through the hole in the wall at Bowen Hills onto the Exhibition line so it can access the main line to travel to the west at Roma Street.
This train is locomotive hauled and hauls a number of freight waggons attached to the rear without problems.
Platforms 5 and 6 at Central are at carriage floor height and curved at their eastern ends.
The facts remain that it is possible to have platforms built at carriage floor height even on curves without any adverse effect for freight operations and it is short-sighted stupidity and a penny pinching disregard of the public that they are not raised when stations are refurbished or built new, such as been the case at Indooroopilly and the new platform at Oxley, it will be interesting to see if this disregard for the convenience and safety of passengers is repeated with the new platform at Darra and the old platforms, at that location when they are rebuilt as part of the Corinda - Darra works for the Springfield line.
No doubt it will again be a build it on the cheap direction by SEQIP who it would seem is intent on creating station environments that are as passenger unfriendly as possible rather than as user friendly as possible to encourage public transport usage.

[O_128]

I really cant see why platforms need to be lower than the floor. Take roma street for example why must it drop halfway down because there is a curve. The Springfield line better be at floor height. Does anyoneknow about varsity

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Rail platform curve puts passengers in danger

Rail platform curve puts passengers in danger
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Ursula Heger

September 15, 2009 12:00am

COMMUTERS at one of Brisbane's largest stations are being injured after falling in a large gap between the train and platform despite a $26.5m upgrade.

The Courier-Mail has learned rail passengers at Indooroopilly Station, including a 15-year-old intellectually disabled boy, have been injured boarding trains.

Local MP Scott Emerson said he expected the problems to have been fixed by the recent $26.5 million upgrade, but he had still received numerous complaints.

Passengers yesterday struggled getting into trains, with a knee-high step of about 40cm and about a 15cm gap between the train and platform. Queensland Rail disputes the size of the gaps.

Regan Hill, who suffers from a rare brain birth defect, fell in the gap while travelling with his carer last month.

His mother, Raewyn Hill, said her son could have been severely injured after the doors began to close while he was trapped.

"He had tried to pull himself up on the two handles on either side of the door, he didn't have enough momentum, and he slipped and fell down and one leg was stuck," she said.

"His carer was trying to pull him out from behind, and she couldn't, and that's when they said the train doors were closing. There was a man on the train who helped get him on, luckily."

Mrs Hill said she had written twice to Queensland Rail about the incident, and had been advised that there were special areas where people with disabilities could access trains.

But she said she was just trying to ensure the same situation did not happen to other children or passengers.

Mr Emerson said he had heard of several other serious cases where people had come to harm after falling.

"I have had three people contact my office, and someone from my office witnessed one where a young boy slipped through and the mother had to grab him out," he said.

"Queenslanders have a right to be alarmed if the Bligh Government believes this unsafe station is the standard for its infrastructure projects. Surely passenger safety should be this Government's priority."

QR passenger executive general manager Paul Scurrah said the gap had been left to stop trains hitting the platform, as Indooroopilly station was built around a curve in the line.

"QR is not able to raise platforms at Indooroopilly station, because raising them would cause some trains to strike the edge of the platforms, which are curved," he said.

[justanotheruser]

Another reason why they need staff on the platform to clear trains to leave. The three cases in Sydney that I personally know (actually know the people involved) of people having doors shut on them and dragged along the platform were all situations where there was no station attendant to clear the train. In peak hour at Sydney CBD stations they now have three sation staff to clear the train before it leaves. I find it to be a case of laziness here in Brisbane at many stations that they don't do this. If my local station with one staff member at a time can manage to clear trains (from two seperate platforms) why can we not have someone doing the same at some of these stations where they have more than one staff member. There would be one to sell tickets (as well as AVVM's and go cards) and one to clear trains. At some stations this would still leave an extra staff member to help where needed.

[p858snake]

Another reason why they need staff on the platform to clear trains to leave. The three cases in Sydney that I personally know (actually know the people involved) of people having doors shut on them and dragged along the platform were all situations where there was no station attendant to clear the train. In peak hour at Sydney CBD stations they now have three sation staff to clear the train before it leaves. I find it to be a case of laziness here in Brisbane at many stations that they don't do this. If my local station with one staff member at a time can manage to clear trains (from two seperate platforms) why can we not have someone doing the same at some of these stations where they have more than one staff member. There would be one to sell tickets (as well as AVVM's and go cards) and one to clear trains. At some stations this would still leave an extra staff member to help where needed.

But isn't that kind of the point of the second "driver" in the middle of the train, to step out and wait then blow the whistle to indicate that it's all clear?

[justanotheruser]

But isn't that kind of the point of the second "driver" in the middle of the train, to step out and wait then blow the whistle to indicate that it's all clear?

Yes in a unrealistic world!!! Not having a go at you so please don't take it that way. It is just fact if the doors are open people are going to try to get on the train. What if the guard only looks in one direction? Obviously some are not looking at all as was the case I mentioned in another thread where there was a steady stream of people getting off the train still when the doors were shut by whomever controls them. Having the second set of eyes helps. It means they can be looking in opposite directions at the same time. If safety is an issue then that is what is needed.

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail 12th October 2009 page 15

Stop-gap solution

[Cam]

I entered Indooroopilly station from the subway this morning but couldn't see a PID to assist in my decision of which platform to take. Knowing that the express services to the city depart from platform 4, I walked up to that platform & there wasn't even a PID on that platform. There is a scrolling red PID on platforms 1/2 that is difficult to read from platforms 3/4. Why wasn't a PID placed in the subway in the upgrade like they are placed in the subway under Central?

[somebody]

I entered Indooroopilly station from the subway this morning but couldn't see a PID to assist in my decision of which platform to take. Knowing that the express services to the city depart from platform 4, I walked up to that platform & there wasn't even a PID on that platform. There is a scrolling red PID on platforms 1/2 that is difficult to read from platforms 3/4. Why wasn't a PID placed in the subway in the upgrade like they are placed in the subway under Central?

Pretty sure there are or were PIDs in the subway.

[petey3801]

Yeah, they're built into the subway walls IIRC.

[Cam]

Yeah, they're built into the subway walls IIRC.

You are correct. They are easily missed if you are walking from Coonan St to platforms 3/4. A PID on platform 3/4 would be of benefit too.

[somebody]

Yeah, they're built into the subway walls IIRC.

You are correct. They are easily missed if you are walking from Coonan St to platforms 3/4. A PID on platform 3/4 would be of benefit too.

Yes.

They are basically at the base of the stairs to platform 1/2.

[ozbob]

Indooroopilly Densifies as New 21 Storey Development Proposed --> http://brisbanedevelopment.com/eldorado-indooroopilly/

[verbatim9]

https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9952.msg249381.msg#249381

^^The vision I have for the Indooroopilly station is similar to that of the Puhinui upgrade. This being a new integrated interchange station and TOD development at the current Bunnings site.

A dedicated mass transit corridor can pass over or under the station, which originates from South Brisbane, West End, UQ and Indooroopilly High and St Peter's schools. This can continue under the Indooroopilly shopping centre with a new station there, then Indooroopilly primary school, Chapel Hill, Kenmore Central, then Kenmore Village.

It could continue to Kenmore State High school if viable?

The new station could be completed in conjunction with the new bridge and tunnel portal across the Brisbane River over the next 6-8 years. Open by 2030; This will  ensure Indooroopilly station is DDA compliant and ready for semi automation in the near future and full automation later.

Other features of the station can include floor to ceiling glass walls and screen doors. Climate controlled platforms and enhanced modern waiting areas, escalators, full sized lifts and next generation (scan and go/grab and go) 24/7 retail and gym environments.

This station could also act as a major stop/interchange point for the proposed  Toowoomba fast rail.