Shorncliffe Station

[Derwan]

I went on a bit of a bike ride today.  From my house in Boondall, I headed through Deagon, Sandgate and on to Shorncliffe.  I was exhausted so decided to take the train from Shorncliffe back to Boondall.

The set-up at Shorncliffe is interesting.  Presumably because of the level crossing just near the station, the guard has to press a button in a little box at departure time to activate the signal.  It was the first time I'd seen something like this.  I guess it's normal for terminating stations near level crossings.  Does anyone know if Ferny Grove is the same?  Any others?

There is plenty of space at Shorncliffe for duplication and stabling if necessary.  Duplication between Sandgate and Shorncliffe would have to be one of the cheapest projects they could undertake.  Sandgate Station is duplicated.  There are 2 tracks at Shorncliffe but no second platform.  All that would be needed is the second platform at Shorncliffe (with overbridge) and the bit of track between Sandgate and Shorncliffe (including 2 level crossings).  They might have to do away with the locomotive turnaround point at Shorncliffe though.

[Emmie]

The level crossings there are also quite primitive, Derwan.  The main car park for Sandgate station is on the far side of the rail line, off Curlew St, across the rail line.  The level crossing has lights for cars and pedestrians, but no barrier gate at all.  Curlew St is a dead end, but beyond the car park is a school sports ground, a children's playground and a dog off lead area, so there are always lots of cars and walkers crossing.

I agree, it would be very easy to duplicate the lines, allowing more frequent train services and some stabling.  Currently only a couple of trains during peak hour use Platform 2 at Sandgate station.

[O_128]

maybe why it is taking so long to duplicate is taht They want to do it properly by removing levle crossings

[beauyboy]

If you go to the Archives you will find that Shorncliffe was to have 3 platforms and of been duplicated by now. I was on the Post war rail modernisation plan. But as we all know most of the projects on this plan were never enacted or heavily postponed.

Shorncliffes level crossing is problematic. Recently on a steam trip the loco (1089) did not set off the gates and blocked a inbound city service and forced an outbound service to be trunkcated.

Donald

[stephenk]

As far as I'm aware Ferny Grove also requires the guard to press a button upon departure to activate the level crossing. Apparently it takes 2 minutes for the signalling to allow a train to enter the single-track section from Ferny Grove after it has been cleared by an arriving train. This sadly means that Ferny Grove can only handle a train every 9-10mins instead of 7-8mins.

Going back to Shorncliffe, I would agree that when duplication is required, it should be relatively cheap compared to other duplications.

[somebody]

At the risk of playing devil's advocate, what benefit would the duplication get though?  Even the single track should be able to handle 6tph, and there's only 3tph in the peak.  If the signalling has a problem, couldn't we just upgrade that?

[O_128]

At the risk of playing devil's advocate, what benefit would the duplication get though?  Even the single track should be able to handle 6tph, and there's only 3tph in the peak.  If the signalling has a problem, couldn't we just upgrade that?

because then we can raise the frequnecy you will noticew that if the frequency was upped on the shorncliff line there would be me much less strees at northgate

[ButFli]

If you go to the Archives you will find that Shorncliffe was to have 3 platforms and of been duplicated by now. I was on the Post war rail modernisation plan. But as we all know most of the projects on this plan were never enacted or heavily postponed.

But what possible use could there be for 3 platforms at a terminus station? It doesn't make sense!

[mufreight]

One would assume that the three platform concept would have originated pre electrification with the basis being to allow sufficent tracks to allow for locos to run around their trains

[stephenk]

Sorry, heading off-topic, but 3 tracks at a dead end terminus is the optimum number of tracks for a high reversing capacity as it has the minimum number of conflicting moves. However on suburban rail systems dead end termini need to be handling at least 11tph for a 3rd platform to be required. So, a 3rd track won't be needed at Shorncliffe anytime soon!

[p858snake]

FG has a key system up near the end of the ramp behind the station. From what I have heard it controls the gates as well as the track signalling and the merging bit between FG and Keppera station since it's a single track coming into FG.

[longboi]

Yep, you guys are spot on. The signals off Shorncliffe are operated by a push-button and at Ferny they are operated with a key.

At the risk of playing devil's advocate, what benefit would the duplication get though?  Even the single track should be able to handle 6tph, and there's only 3tph in the peak.  If the signalling has a problem, couldn't we just upgrade that?

I think FG-Keperra duplication is needed more urgently than Shorncliffe-Sandgate. Its a 4min section and needs all the extra services it can get!

[somebody]

I think FG-Keperra duplication is needed more urgently than Shorncliffe-Sandgate. Its a 4min section and needs all the extra services it can get!

I meant that the Sandgate-Shorncliffe duplication wasn't needed AT ALL, in the forseeable future.

[longboi]

I think FG-Keperra duplication is needed more urgently than Shorncliffe-Sandgate. Its a 4min section and needs all the extra services it can get!

I meant that the Sandgate-Shorncliffe duplication wasn't needed AT ALL, in the forseeable future.

And I would agree. Beefing up capacity would be as simple as more creative use of Sandgate Platform 2.

[Emmie]

I took the dogs down to the off-lead area on Curlew St yesterday, where there's an ungated level crossing on the line between Sandgate and Shorncliffe.  There was orange plastic everywhere, and warnings of Road Works ahead (though no sign of people actually working at the time) - so maybe they are finally going to upgrade that crossing to a safe level.