New timetable - Sunshine Coast Caboolture line

[ozbob]

Your suggestions please.

[ozbob]

I think similar approach to the Ipswich line.  Anything north of Caboolture runs express Caboolture - Petri? - Northgate - CBD.  

Caboolture to Northgate all stations.  Northgate to CBD express (this is covered by Shorncliffe to Darra all stations) main pattern.

Peak expresses Caboolture - Petri - Northgate - CBD.

All trains north of Caboolture IMUs or equivalent.

[Arnz]

Short suggestion to fix the evening gaps.  At this stage, the issue would be finding a extra set of crews to operate the extra service in each direction.

*7:23pm Roma Street to Nambour service pushed forward to 7:11pm (turns back at Nambour to form a new 9:19pm Nambour-Roma St service).
*New service departing Roma St at 8:24pm (stows overnight in the yard)

[rob2144]

There is a service that runs empty to Caboolture around 9:20pm that could easily take passengers

[somebody]

Eagle Junction is a more important stop than Northgate, IMO.  If you are stopping at Northgate, you should also stop at EJ.

15 minute weekday frequency on this line requires tinkering with the line pairings.  I'd think it should still be the one done first though.  Shorncliffe services in the daytime can go with the weekend South Bank idea.

[Arnz]

I'm gonna be more controversial this time, and as for this suggestion.  I'd would say increase off-peak/weekends to Landsborough every 90 minutes (clockface - example - Northbound departures from Roma Street at: 5:00am, 6:30am, 8:00am, 9:30am, 11:00am etc)  - theres double track to Beerburrum, make the most of it.  

Demolish the Triangle Siding at Landsborough, and replace with a "electrified Turnback siding" to make it easier to turn-back trains at Landsborough without blocking either the main line platform or the side platform.  

* Increase Landsborough frequency every 30 minutes, once Beerburrum-Landsborough duplication complete.

* Retain peak services beyond Landsborough to Nambour and Gympie.

The only issue at that point is rollingstock allocation - theres enough trains/crew, but all new rollingstock are not being used effectively atm.

A 'new' Route 635 Railbus (serviced by Sunshine Coast Sunbus) to operate the Landsborough-Nambour subsitution rail-bus service in the off-peak/weekends, alongside the existing 605 (Calounda-Kawana) and 615 (Mooloolaba-Maroochydore) link services.  

[Derwan]

Demolish the Triangle Siding at Landsborough, and replace with a "electrified Turnback siding" to make it easier to turn-back trains at Landsborough without blocking either the main line platform or the side platform.  

I like this idea but does patronage between Caboolture and Landsborough warrant it?  (I'm asking - I have no idea!)

Looking at Google Maps, there is plenty of room for a 3rd (turnback) platform at Landsborough.

Where will the Sunshine Coast branch come off the main line?  North of Landsborough?  Perhaps the Landsborough terminators could then become the services that travel to the Sunshine Coast?

(Like I said, I have no idea.  I'm posing hypotheticals for discussion.)

[somebody]

I think a Landsborough turnback makes enormous sense.  You could then have an improved frequency as far as Landsborough, which is where a lot of the bus connections happen.  Also, with single track north of Landsborough likely to stay, frequency cannot rise above hourly if all trains continue to Nambour; with the exception of fleeted peak services.

[Arnz]

Eagle Junction is a more important stop than Northgate, IMO.  If you are stopping at Northgate, you should also stop at EJ.

Caboolture expresses should be serving both Northgate and Eagle Junction.  

As for Sunshine Coast expresses, its either Northgate (or Eagle Junction) but not both.  IMO, I'd swap Northgate with Eagle Junction for Sunshine Coast trains, have passengers swap for Shorncliffe, Doomben and Airport at the one stop.

I like this idea but does patronage between Caboolture and Landsborough warrant it?  (I'm asking - I have no idea!)

Looking at Google Maps, there is plenty of room for a 3rd (turnback) platform at Landsborough.

Landsborough is the busiest station on the Sunshine Coast branch of the NCL (2nd busiest is Nambour, followed by Beerwah and Palmwoods).  It also serves as the Sunshine Coast's main PT Interchange (buses to Maleny, Caloundra, Kawana, University, Mooloolaba, Maroochydore) and a Park & Ride station on top of the local residents using the service.  

Since it's the main interchange, most passengers normally get off at Landsborough and either drive and/or catch the bus back home.

On a normal workday, cars are overflowing out on the main street of Landsborough.

Where will the Sunshine Coast branch come off the main line?  North of Landsborough?  Perhaps the Landsborough terminators could then become the services that travel to the Sunshine Coast?

(Like I said, I have no idea.  I'm posing hypotheticals for discussion.)

CAMCOS branches off just north of Beerwah.  Hence my proposal for a Beenleigh-style like turn-back siding at Landsborough, at least till CAMCOS (if ever) gets constructed.

If CAMCOS gets cancelled, the siding could probably easily be expanded to a small depot (allowing increased peak services out of Landsborough in the future).