A new paradigm ..

[ozbob]

Congestion and cancellations are taking their toll on commuters on the Citytrain network.  Time to think outside the square!

Here is a plan to trial.

Trains from Ipswich / Rosewood  in morning peak should run express from Darra to Roma St,  with stops at Corinda and Toowong.  Shuttle services should run at 10 minute intervals all stations from Darra to Central and hence via Exhibition loop all stations back to Darra.  These shuttles could be 3 car units.  This would also provide a service to the Exhibition loop.  The addition of a station at Normanby would be very convenient and also help relieve pressure on the inner city buses.

In the afternoon / evening peak just reverse this.

People coming in from stations past Darra would have a convenient quick congestion free trip to the CBD. This would help relieve Ipswich Highway congestion. Folks on the inner stations would have a frequent service, and not have the congestion issues as of now.  This could be a model for other lines.

[Derwan]

I had a similar idea for the north side.  Trains are packed by the time they get to Northgate making it difficult for those closer to the city to board trains that actually stop at all stations.  Why not run "inner city" services from Northgate to the city?  This would alleviate the overcrowding and allow more services from further out to run express between Northgate and Bowen Hills.

Same thing in the afternoon.  People cram on all stations trains and then get off before Northgate.

Of course, with two lines merging into one at Northgate and extra services from there, it might be time to run 3 tracks in the peak direction instead of 2.  Yes, this is possible!  It may require some additional points just north of Bowen Hills (where the trains would merge/split) to function effectively.

[ozbob]

Pulling these comments together, this letter sent today.

------------------------------------

28 October 2007

QR Passenger Services Group
GPO Box 1429
Brisbane QLD 4001
Australia

Dear Sir/Madam


We would like to propose the following timetable changes on the TransLink Citytrain services to Ipswich to help improve services and ease congestion.

Trains from Ipswich / Rosewood in morning peak should run express from Darra to Roma St, with stops at Corinda and Toowong.  Shuttle services should run at 10 minute intervals all stations from Darra to Central and hence via Exhibition loop all stations back to Darra.  These shuttles could be 3 car units.  This would also provide a service to the Exhibition loop using the Exhibition station year round.  The addition of a station at Normanby would be very convenient and would also help relieve pressure on the inner city buses.

In the afternoon / evening peak just reverse this.

People coming in from stations past Darra would have a convenient quick congestion free trip to the CBD. This would help relieve Ipswich Highway congestion. Folks on the inner stations would have a frequent service, and not have the congestion issues as of now.

This approach could be extended to the northern line with shuttle services running from Northgate, and the longer haul services express from Northgate to Bowen Hills.
This could be a model for other lines.


We would also like to extend an invitation to QR to visit our website at http://backontrack.org .

Thank you for your consideration.

Yours sincerely,


Robert B Dow
Administration
RAIL Back On Track

admin@backontrack.org

[brad C]

Dear Bob
Just to add to the debate re express services on the Northgate to Bowen Hills Sections, there are some relevant points why this would not be feasible:
(i) passengers from Eagle Junction already have Airport/Robina Services and Doomben services, thus taking a load off outer services from EJ inbound
(ii) air port services require headway from Eagle Junction to Bowen Hills for their express working, thus forcing congestion even on the main running lines in the AM
(iii) outer suburban services from Caboolture and the Short North already take advantage of the additional trackage from Petrie with some express services from Petrie/Strathpine to Bowen Hills with Northgate and Eagle Junction stops. These are squeezy services.
(iv) there is no refuge platform at Northgate, making terminations at that station difficult, given the amount of through services to outer suburbs.
(v) unlike the north coast lines, it is difficult to extend express working along the Shorncliffe line without disadvantaging passengers from stations such as Banyo, Nudgee and Binda, Would you believe that in the diesal era, there was an express service from Sandaget to Brunswick street in the AM peak, departing sandgate at 7.08 and arriving Brunswick Street at 7.33, worked with SX carriages. What a morning heart starter for the rail enthusiast!!

I agree that there needs to be longer express hauls on the busier lines. However, one must also appreciate the importance of inter-modal service points such as Indooroopilly and Eagle Junction and the response to passenger needs at these stations, not to mention the importance of inner stations as important employment hubs (Milton, Toowong and Toombul)

Perhaps sweeper express services, closely followed by a dedicated all stopper would be the way to go.
Definitely no 3 cars on the busier lines in peak!!!

my 2 cents worth.....

Brad C

[ozbob]

Hi Brad,

Thanks for your comments.  Yes, many factors involved.  Start with the simple proposition and then see what can be done.  All your points are very valid IMO, and add to the mix.   Clearly we have congestion issues on most if not all lines in peak.  Rather than just simply trying to squeeze one or two extra services here and there by looking at the patterns that are being run, it may well be possible to increase capacity dramatically within the present line restrictions. 

The Ipswich line is one that can be easily adapted due to the 4 track main line in from Corinda.  All stations from Darra to the CBD every 10 minutes in peak would work well even in 3 car mode.  Most of the passengers are from stations past Darra in early times in peak.  This would also provide the opportunity to run a loop service too.  An alternative would be use these services for the Airport, if the airport line was brought back into normal citytrain operations in terms of fares etc, frequency etc. 

There are no simple solutions but it is time the 'thinking' was taken out of the old paradigms and into the new.

More comments needed folks, more the merrier!!

Regards
Bob

[mrciclismo]

Hi Everyone,

I agree with ozbob's proposal for shuttle services servicing the inner stations and express services servicing the outer ones.  Recently I was in Perth and they have this arrangement not just in peak but all the time (as far as I could tell).  The trains ran very well, were not over crowded even in peak times and it all just worked very well.  It also makes it easier to plan your journey as there are no complicated variations of express services as there are now (e.g. some express services stop at Toowong and some don't).  In Perth they use two car units for all inner stations and four car units (ie. 2+2) for outer express services.

Also, we need to reduce the number of zones at some stage, it currently is overly complicated.  In Melbourne they have two zones (down from three a year ago) and in Perth they have four zones (most of the lines actually only cover two zones).  Make the system easy to use and inexpensive and the commuters will use it 

My 2 cents worth....

[Derwan]

(i) passengers from Eagle Junction already have Airport/Robina Services and Doomben services, thus taking a load off outer services from EJ inbound
(ii) air port services require headway from Eagle Junction to Bowen Hills for their express working, thus forcing congestion even on the main running lines in the AM
(iii) outer suburban services from Caboolture and the Short North already take advantage of the additional trackage from Petrie with some express services from Petrie/Strathpine to Bowen Hills with Northgate and Eagle Junction stops. These are squeezy services.
(iv) there is no refuge platform at Northgate, making terminations at that station difficult, given the amount of through services to outer suburbs.
(v) unlike the north coast lines, it is difficult to extend express working along the Shorncliffe line without disadvantaging passengers from stations such as Banyo, Nudgee and Binda, Would you believe that in the diesal era, there was an express service from Sandaget to Brunswick street in the AM peak, departing sandgate at 7.08 and arriving Brunswick Street at 7.33, worked with SX carriages. What a morning heart starter for the rail enthusiast!!

As Bob said, all valid points.  Here are my thoughts on each one:

(i)  Airport trains service EJ but not Wooloowin or Albion.  Trains from Doomben are few and far between.  We're also talking about Nundah and Toombul, which are becoming increasingly busy with the new unit complex developments there.

(ii)  Airport trains will be one of many running express.  I don't see this as an issue.

(iii)  As you say, these are squeezy services - so there should be more of them.  Having trains from Northgate to the city would allow this to happen.  Even some of the "all stations" trains could then run express from Northgate to Bowen Hills.

(iv)  I thought about this one too.  One alternative would be to electrify part of the branch line that goes into Golden Circle and allow changeovers to occur there - similar to the areas just north of Bowen Hills that are used on weekends.

(v)  I've thought about trains running express on the Shorncliffe line and yes, it'd be difficult.  But running more trains express between Northgate and Bowen Hills would help.  (Of course it'd be nice - for me - if trains ran express between Boondall and Bowen Hills!)

[richard]

The idea of a new paradigm is an excellent one.  I believe an inner city service is worthy of trial, but we need to get a few more trains out there before it will be a reality.  That doesn't mean that we shouldn't be thinking about it now.  If we accept that Northgate to Corinda (sorry Bob!) is the inner city, both stations have ideal turnback opportunities - the Corinda yard and the Bindha head-shunt.  At Corinda the train could probably stay at one of the five platforms while the crew changed ends and not block traffic.

However, it may be preferable to route the trains from Northgate through to Northgate, travelling via South Brisbane and Indooroopilly (or Indooroopilly and South Brisbane - the direction would be set by demand, and may vary depending on the time of day).   

richard

[ozbob]

Yes for sure Richard, Corinda is ideal but down the track Darra could be a good start point too

Darra does have 4 platforms, presently one is not used.  The triplication of the line from Corinda to Darra is starting soon so Darra will be able to be utilised then.  Initially, until those upgrades in place Corinda is the logical turnaround as for now. Most of the Corinda yard has been recently decommissioned however and taken over by an Engineering depot associated with the upgrades by the look of things.

Exciting times out Darra way!!

Cheers
Ozbob

[richard]

POint taken, Bob - it is simply a matter of where to draw the line.  Wacol and Redbank have turnback room as well.  Guess we will have to leave it to the timetable - where is there time to change ends, maintain a clockface timetable and not be too far out to lose its clssification as innre suburban.  Must say, though, I am leaning towards running from Northgate to Southbank, all station or express to Sherwood then all stations to Northgate in the morning peak, and the other way round the loop in the afternoon.

richard 

[mch]

Many have suggested additional trains and this has been promised in the timetable for next year when hopefully there will be additional units and crews.
There is an area that needs to be addressed, Infrastructure.
All of the electric units are capable of speeds of 100 km/hr, but there are still a large number of speed restrictions caused by curves, bridges or track work that result in trains not being able to run at their top speed.  In the inner city areas, trains do not have the ability to get up to top speed, but in areas
?   Corinda to Ipswich
?   Yeerongpilly to Beenleigh and the Gold Coast
?   Park Road to Cleveland
?   Northgate to Caboolture and Nambour
?   Northgate to Shorncliffe
?   Mitchelton to Ferny Grove.

By working on these areas, travel times can be reduced and this will lead to getting more out of each unit and crew in a given time.
Letting these areas deteriorate or just stagnate has caused many of the closures and problems of the past.  It is not enough to just have these lines, but they need to be kept up to date with the latest technology to maintain an acceptable service.

[ozbob]

Excellent comment mch!

Some evidence of infrastructure upgrade work going on and soon to be ramped up.  But a lot more needs to be done for the long term for sure.