Express Services Analysis : Sunshine Coast (Updated 01.12.2010)

[Fares_Fair]

I have compiled an analysis of the Rail express services to the Sunshine Coast,
comparing the current timetable with the draft 2011 timetable.
This is a weekday services analysis only.
I have not included the Caboolture to CBD express services.

LEGEND TO LIST e.g. Caboolture-Petrie - 14 X
denotes express leg start and end stations - and the 14 X = number of those services.

CURRENT TIMETABLE
3 Express Patterns observed, they are:

Type 1. 20 Bypassed Stations
Type 2. 18 Bypassed Stations
Type 3. 14 Bypassed Stations

Type 1.
20 Bypassed Stations
Caboolture - Bowen Hills - 3 X
Bowen Hills - Caboolture - 2 X

Type 2.
18 Bypassed Stations
Caboolture - Bowen Hills (incl. Petrie/Northgate Stops) - 8 X
Bowen Hills - Caboolture (incl. Petrie/Northgate Stops) - 9 X

Type 3.
14 Bypassed Stations
Bowen Hills - Northgate - Petrie - 1 X

DRAFT 2011 TIMETABLE
4 Express Patterns observed, they are:

Type 1. 13 Bypassed Stations (9 + 4)
Type 2. 20 Bypassed Stations
Type 3. 14 Bypassed Stations
Type 4. 9 Bypassed Stations

Type 1.
13 Bypassed Stations (9 + 4 Stations)
Caboolture - Petrie - Northgate - 6 X
Northgate - Petrie - Caboolture - 8 X

Type 2.
20 Bypassed Stations
Caboolture - Bowen Hills - 2 X
Bowen Hills - Caboolture - 2 X

Type 3.
14 Bypassed Stations
Caboolture - Northgate - 4 X
Northgate - Caboolture - 3 X

Type 4.
9 Bypassed Stations
Petrie - Northgate - 2 X
Northgate - Petrie - 2 X

SUMMARY
Currently there are a total of 23 weekday express services from Roma St to Nambour.
These comprise a total of 420 stations bypassed.
Average Express Leg = 18.26 Stations Bypassed.


Under the draft 2011 timetable there are a total of 29 weekday express services from Roma St to Nambour.
These comprise a total of 396 stations bypassed.
Average Express Leg = 13.66 Stations Bypassed.

Interesting Observation:
Whilst there are 6 more express services in total under the draft 2011 timetable,
the express legs themselves are shortened by (on average) 5 stations.
24 less stations are bypassed (weekly) under the proposed timetable, that has got to mean longer trips.


Regards,
Fares_Fair

[Arnz]

Hi Fares_Fair

I've had a look at the current timetable, and excluding the Caboolture-only expresses, there are actually only 3 stopping patterns.

1. Bowen Hills to Caboolture (with stops at Northgate and Petrie) and vice-versa - 18 Stations passed
- Northbound x9
- Southbound x8
2. Bowen Hills to Caboolture (non-stop) and vice-versa - 20 stations passed
- Northbound x2
- Soutbound x3
3. Bowen Hills to Northgate to Petrie* - 14 stations passed
- Northbound x1

*Note the current timetable says Pattern 3 only runs express Bowen Hills to Northgate, this service actually also runs express Northgate to Petrie, then stops all stations Petrie to Nambour.

Counting the weekday expresses up, that's 60 Northbound, and 51 Southbound*, express services a week.  

*I've included the Friday night only express in the Southbound figures.

The draft 2011 timetable, has 4 patterns.
1. Gympie Trains: Bowen Hills to Caboolture (non-stop) and vice-versa - 20 stations passed.
- Northbound x2
- Southbound x2
2. Northgate to Caboolture, stopping Petrie and vice-versa - 13 stations passed.
- Northbound x8
- Southbound x6
3. Northgate to Caboolture (non-stop) and vice-versa - 14 stations passed
- Northbound x3
- Southbound x4
4. Northgate to Petrie and vice-versa - 9 stations passed.
- Northbound x2
- Southbound x2
Counting the weekday expresses up, that's 75 Northbound and 70 southbound, express services a week.

I have not counted the railbuses, counter-peak shuttles and weekend services into the figures.

[Fares_Fair]

Hello Arnz,

Thank you for the feedback.
It's appreciated.
Our figures match on the draft 2011 timetable.
I get 29 per day services x 5 days = 145 total services. (your 75 + 70 total).

I cannot reconcile our current timetable figures.
I was up to 10:30pm last night working this all out so I may be a bit fuzzy.
I'll sit down again tonight and go through it all.

I shall revise it in light of your comments on the current timetable Pattern 3 situation and see what I get.
I didn't include the Caboolture to Roma Street expresses either.
Thank you again for your comments. Back to the drawing board.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Fares_Fair]

Hello Arnz,

I have downloaded the 23 August, 2010 Sunshine Coast timetable from the website.
I used the 29 June, 2009 edition.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Fares_Fair]

I have updated the observations section of the express services analysis.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.