Background to our CRR Inquiry

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' Citizens Inquiry into Operational Deficiencies with CRR '.

Stop laughing Lurkers ...

Let's go back a number of years.  We alerted the public to the fact that the NGR trains were deficient from around 2014.  We stepped up our attempts to get that project ' back on track ' from around 2015.  We even requested the QLD Auditor General look at the project, but they declined.  Had they acted on our request at that time many hundreds of millions of $ perhaps could have been saved.  Money that could have been used to properly duplicate the Sunshine Coast line through to Landsborough North for example.  I did a press conference at Goodna railway station in 2015 with three television news setups pointing out the problems.  YOU IGNORED US!  Not unlike the situation with the clearly botched operational planning for Cross River Rail.  So when the going gets tough, we get going HARD, HARDER AND HARDER.

So we kicked off our own NGR Public Inquiry in 2018 http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=13112.0  You laughed. But with the help particularly of former Premier Campbell Newman we were able to drive the Commission of inquiry into New Generation Rollingstock Trains https://www.traininquiryngr.qld.gov.au led by his Honour Retired District Court Judge Michael Forde.  I appeared before his Honour as part of this Inquiry.

I would suggest you take us and our proposal for a Public Inquiry into the Operational Deficiencies with CRR seriously. We have pieced together much information that clearly indicates you need to do a lot better.  We don't have a problem generally with the tunnel or stations as such.  It is the lack of transparency with the operational aspects and clearly botched operational planning that is our concern.

No threats, just a promise. We will attempt to save this project for future Queensland.

Key questions are to outline the operational shortfalls with CRR and the suggested fixes.  Build it once, build it right.

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There are no frontiers ...

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Cross River Rail - Not "More Trains, More Often"

https://brizcommuter.blogspot.com/2021/05/cross-river-rail-not-more-trains-more.html

Cross River Rail's (CCR) advertising slogan "More Trains, More Often" was recently replaced with
"Transforming the way we travel". This is no surprise to BrizCommuter and other rail experts who have questioned CRR's ability to significantly increase trains services throughout SE Queensland in its current form, since project iterations and budget cuts removed critical infrastructure required to maximise the effectiveness of CRR.

Unlike new train tunnels in London, Auckland, Sydney, and Melbourne, where the proposed peak train services frequencies (in trains per hour per direction - tph) are publicly available, this information is unavailable for Cross River Rail. Whilst such a map was available in the Cross River Rail business case, changes to the track layouts at Mayne (near Bowen Hills) mean that the diagram is now out of date, with line pairings and expected train service frequencies no longer possible.

As the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority is keeping things hidden from the public, rail enthusiasts have had to step in to create a chart of expected line pairings are shown on the base image, helpfully created by Rail Back on Track member timh. BrizCommuter's expected line pairings, and maximum possible 2025 am peak inbound frequencies (based on currently funded or expected infrastructure) are as follows:

    Sunshine Coast/Caboolture (12tph) & Redcliffe (12tph) to/from Gold Coast (12tph) & Beenleigh (6tph) (plus provision for future Salisbury-Beaudesert Line 6tph) via CRR.

    Shorncliffe/Northgate (8tph) & Airport (4tph) & Doomben (2tph) to/from Ipswich/Rosewood (12tph) & Springfield (12tph) via Mains Tracks.

    Ferny Grove (8tph) to/from Cleveland (8tph) via Suburban Tracks - yep, that's 16tph of unused track capacity!

It is quite likely that due to insufficient trains, train crew, funding, and lack of political willpower that some of these frequencies may not be possible in 2025.

So why isn't Cross River Rail able to offer "More Trains, More Often"?

    No additional Northside tracks - as there are no addition tracks on Brisbane's Northside due to budget cuts, it is now a case of shifting which trains go where. There may be 20% increases to frequency on the Caboolture and Redcliffe Lines, but this due to new ETCS signalling, and not CRR.

    Restrictive track layouts at Mayne - changes to the track layouts at Mayne to save money, will force all Caboolture and Redcliffe services through CRR, and will leave the Suburban tracks idling with just 8tph through the city (down from 22tph).

    Salisbury to Dutton Park 3 track limitations - the Achilles heel of Cross River Rail, means that up to 24tph contra-peak services will have to fit on one track, this will slow down contra-peak express services, and also prevents contra-peak services to/from the Gold Coast/Beenleigh Line (and eventually Salisbury-Beaudesert Line) corridor travelling via South Bank (in normal operation).

    Capacity required for Salisbury to Beaudesert Line - this proposed line will require at least 6tph train paths in the peak. Due to the Salisbury to Dutton Park 3 track limitation, this will eat into the capacity available for the Gold Coast/Beenleigh Lines.

    Beenleigh Line track capacity limitations - whilst the proposed 3rd track at Loganlea may allow for a significant increase in Gold Coast Line services, it may also curtail the Beenleigh Line to Loganlea. This means that the Gold Coast Line may need 2 tiers of services - express and semi-express, and possibly additional turnback capacity. Gold Coast Line commuters need to be informed as to what will happen to their train services!

    Cleveland Line single track - one of the benefits of CRR was that it would allow for significant increases to train services on the Cleveland Line. However, this is only possible if there is a partial or full duplication, and/or additional turnback capacity at Manly or Lota. As this is not funded, the Cleveland Line is likely to keep its infrequent and unreliable form for many years after CRR opens.

    Less trains via South Bank - if the Cleveland Line is not duplicated, and due to all Gold Coast/Beenleigh services running via CRR, then there is likely to be a decrease in train services running through South Bank section (Roma Street to Park Road) which serves many businesses, hotels, hospitals, and tertiary education facilities.

    Un-electrified 4th track between Corinda and Darra - whilst this doesn't directly affect CRR train services, service frequency increases on the Ipswich and Springfield Line have been included in the CRR business case. These service increases would be due to ETCS and not CRR. Unfortunately the lack of 4th electrified track between Corinda and Darra, and lack of 4th platform at Oxley may throw a spanner in the works of these proposed service increases.

    Sufficient trains and crew - to increase train services for CRR, you need more trains and more train crew. The new trains (NNGRs?) have not been ordered, and it takes many years to grow train crew staffing. BrizCommuter is very concerned!

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