15 Jan 2010: SEQ: The rail future appears in most unlikely places ...

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Media Release 15 January 2010

SEQ:  The rail future appears in most unlikely places ...

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has said a simple timetable alteration to an inbound Citytrain service as a result of an operational delay on the Ipswich line early this morning, has demonstrated dramatically what can be achieved when the Corinda to Darra upgrade is complete.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"This morning the 6.12am service from Oxley to Caboolture was delayed about 13 minutes. This meant that the two trains were running very close together inbound. The 6.12am service and the following 6.25am service from Oxley (1)."

"The late running 6.12am service was changed to run express from Corinda to Roma Street.  The train left Corinda at 6.31am and arrived at Roma Street station at 6.41am.  Time taken for the journey from Corinda to Roma St was ten minutes, half the normal all stations time."

"The track upgrade between Corinda and Darra includes a further third track for suburban trains and an additional fourth line for freight trains (2), so that two tracks will become four. This upgrade is scheduled for completion by the end of this year."

"The upgrade will allow more express services to run to and from Darra and the City with considerable reductions in the time of the journey. Services to and from Ipswich can run express patterns between the CBD and Darra, with limited stops.  Additional sweeper services say between Darra and Shorncliffe, together with trains to and from Richlands when that line is complete will mean a high frequency commuter rail service that services both the long and short haul commuters runs with considerable time savings for the long haul runs."

"Similar operational capabilities need to established on the Caboolture/Sunshine coast line, and further enhancements on the Beenleigh/Gold Coast line. The ability to operate multiple tier timetables will go a long way in providing safe, sustainable and fast transport options for commuters."

"Rail will then give the sustainable transport capacity needed to support the surging population of south-east Queensland."

References:

1.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1862.msg19466#msg19466

2.  http://www.qr.com.au/SEQIP/projects/Corinda/default.asp

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org