10 Aug 2010: SEQ: Sunshine Coast line is not shining

[ozbob]

Media Release 10 August 2010

SEQ:  Sunshine Coast line is not shining

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 again called for an increase in train frequency and upgrades on the Sunshine Coast line.

The most important factor to encourage public transport use is that services must be frequent, bottom line. A recent statement by the Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading campaign aiming to entice more Aussies to the Sunshine Coast highlights the disconnect between various Government departments (1).  The appalling rail timetable for the Sunshine Coast acts as a major disincentive for tourists to visit and complicates the daily life of Citizens in the Sunshine Coast with such poor public transport support (2).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"A number of urgent improvements to the Sunshine Coast line are needed to boost service quality and patronage on this line. RAIL Back On Track strongly supports the Beerburrum-Landsborough duplication, and CAMCOS (Caloundra and Maroochydore Corridor Options Study) railway line to Maroochydore and beyond. Immediate actions are needed though."

"An increase in train frequency is required as morning peak hour trains can be very crowded, even the weekend service from Gympie North on a Sunday afternoon is well patronised and usually overloaded by Nambour. A regular and reliable clock-face timetable with hourly or at bare minimum a service every two hours is needed, as is the filling of major service gaps in the timetable. Few people are willing to wait more than an hour for a train to get home."

"The crowded early morning peak services should be upgraded from current short-train 3 car  to 6 car trains, or more trains put on so that more people can catch a service that isn't crowded. More train stabling at stations on the Sunshine Coast line should also be considered as a priority."

"The integration between bus and rail needs an urgent review in conjunction with the rail service increases.  Long waits for connecting buses are also anti-public transport."

"Gympie North should have a service frequency upgrade, and at least two extra daily services between Gympie North and Brisbane should be established."

"All trains north of Caboolture should be toilet equipped Interurban Multiple Unit or Inter Capital Express trains.  Commuters are increasingly  locked out of toilets at stations and often the trains are older units that do not have toilets. This is not acceptable, hapless commuters sitting with legs crossed for hours."

"It is interesting to note that Melbourne is actively upgrading its regional and country rail services, and is recording dramatic increases in passenger growth as a direct result of this. For example, VLine services to Geelong are so busy that VLine has now taken the unusual step of publishing the morning timetable on its website with passenger loadings, so that passengers can avoid overcrowded trains, with 4 services in the morning and 4 in the afternoon peaks being over 80% full (3).

"What commuters and tourists want is very simple:

1. More trains, more often, and
2. A regular, reliable buses that will take them to their local station in time to catch the train."

"The public transport arrangements to and from the Sunshine Coast are a long way from 'world class', they are in fact barely fourth class.  It is time that urgent direct action was taken to fix this appalling situation."

References:

1.  http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=71006

2.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4183.msg31509#msg31509

3.  http://www.vline.com.au/community/home/howbusy.html

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4225.0

[ozbob]

Feedback received.  Discussion on this post see --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4240.0

Can people with a greater knowledge of these things than I explain what happens when scheduling passenger trains on the North Coast Line north of Nambour?  There are only two return services Monday-Friday to Cooroy, with one of these having origin and destination at Gympie North.  The 11am (ish) service from Central to Cooroy arrives at Cooroy at 1.30pm, there to sit on the main line until it returns to Brisbane at 1.48pm.  On some days, depending on the operational schedules of the Sunlander and two Tilt Trains, these move back and forth through Cooroy (stopping to transfer passengers to and from Noosa and its hinterland areas), but can be held at Nambour, Pomona or on a crossing loop north of Eumundi.

Its possible for Cooroy-bound passengers to sit on the Citytrain service at the cooroy siding, within view of the platform, for up to 10 minutes, while waiting for a Tilt Train or Sundander to pass through, before being shunted back onto the main line, then to alight at Cooroy.  The same 'dance of the trains' can occur at Nambour.

It would appear that there would seem to be a slot allocated for all passenger trains on this section of the North Coast Line, and that is it (until the morning and evening train bound for Gympie North passes through.

For safety reasons, short station platforms on the North Coast Line to Gympie (with the exception of Traveston, which is likely to closed) have been lengthened.  QR/Translink say there are no plans for additional all-stations passenger trains north of Nambour, where the rule of thinking seems to be that no passenger train slots can be allocated without running longer freight trains.  This can't be achieved without having longer crossing loops/sidings on the single track.  And there is no money for that.

The "Bombay Express' from Gympie North in the morning is crowded beyond Nambour and only the old and infirm can expect a seat south of Landsborough.

[ozbob]

Follow up to all outlets:

12th August 2010

Greetings,

The Sunshine Coast line needs urgent action.  Passengers will be the priority?   Time to demonstrate that we feel.

Recent feedback.  We don't make these things up.  It is deplorable that the public is treated in such a poor fashion.  Rather than close Traveston the service frequency should be increased and the public encouraged to move to safe sustainable mass transit.

Feedback received.  Discussion on this post see --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4240.0

Can people with a greater knowledge of these things than I explain what happens when scheduling passenger trains on the North Coast Line north of Nambour?  There are only two return services Monday-Friday to Cooroy, with one of these having origin and destination at Gympie North.  The 11am (ish) service from Central to Cooroy arrives at Cooroy at 1.30pm, there to sit on the main line until it returns to Brisbane at 1.48pm.  On some days, depending on the operational schedules of the Sunlander and two Tilt Trains, these move back and forth through Cooroy (stopping to transfer passengers to and from Noosa and its hinterland areas), but can be held at Nambour, Pomona or on a crossing loop north of Eumundi.

Its possible for Cooroy-bound passengers to sit on the Citytrain service at the cooroy siding, within view of the platform, for up to 10 minutes, while waiting for a Tilt Train or Sundander to pass through, before being shunted back onto the main line, then to alight at Cooroy.  The same 'dance of the trains' can occur at Nambour.

It would appear that there would seem to be a slot allocated for all passenger trains on this section of the North Coast Line, and that is it (until the morning and evening train bound for Gympie North passes through.

For safety reasons, short station platforms on the North Coast Line to Gympie (with the exception of Traveston, which is likely to closed) have been lengthened.  QR/Translink say there are no plans for additional all-stations passenger trains north of Nambour, where the rule of thinking seems to be that no passenger train slots can be allocated without running longer freight trains.  This can't be achieved without having longer crossing loops/sidings on the single track.  And there is no money for that.

The "Bombay Express' from Gympie North in the morning is crowded beyond Nambour and only the old and infirm can expect a seat south of Landsborough.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
RAIL Back On Track

Media Release 10 August 2010

SEQ:  Sunshine Coast line is not shining

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 again called for an increase in train frequency and upgrades on the Sunshine Coast line.

The most important factor to encourage public transport use is that services must be frequent, bottom line. A recent statement by the Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading campaign aiming to entice more Aussies to the Sunshine Coast highlights the disconnect between various Government departments (1).  The appalling rail timetable for the Sunshine Coast acts as a major disincentive for tourists to visit and complicates the daily life of Citizens in the Sunshine Coast with such poor public transport support (2).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"A number of urgent improvements to the Sunshine Coast line are needed to boost service quality and patronage on this line. RAIL Back On Track strongly supports the Beerburrum-Landsborough duplication, and CAMCOS (Caloundra and Maroochydore Corridor Options Study) railway line to Maroochydore and beyond. Immediate actions are needed though."

"An increase in train frequency is required as morning peak hour trains can be very crowded, even the weekend service from Gympie North on a Sunday afternoon is well patronised and usually overloaded by Nambour. A regular and reliable clock-face timetable with hourly or at bare minimum a service every two hourly services is needed, as is the filling of major service gaps in the timetable. Few people are willing to wait more than an hour for a train to get home."

"The crowded early morning peak services should be upgraded from current short-train 3 car  to 6 car trains, or more trains put on so that more people can catch a service that isn't crowded. More train stabling at stations on the Sunshine Coast line should also be considered as a priority."

"The integration between bus and rail needs an urgent review in conjunction with the rail service increases.  Long waits for connecting buses are also anti-public transport."

"Gympie North should have a service frequency upgrade, and at least two extra daily services between Gympie North and Brisbane should be established."

"All trains north of Caboolture should be toilet equipped Interurban Multiple Unit or Inter Capital Express trains.  Commuters are increasingly  locked out of toilets at stations and often the trains are older units that do not have toilets. This is not acceptable, hapless commuters sitting with legs crossed for hours."

"It is interesting to note that Melbourne is actively upgrading its regional and country rail services, and is recording dramatic increases in passenger growth as a direct result of this. For example, VLine services to Geelong are so busy that VLine has now taken the unusual step of publishing the morning timetable on its website with passenger loadings, so that passengers can avoid overcrowded trains, with 4 services in the morning and 4 in the afternoon peaks being over 80% full (3).

"What commuters and tourists want is very simple:

1. More trains, more often, and
2. A regular, reliable buses that will take them to their local station in time to catch the train."

"The public transport arrangements to and from the Sunshine are a long way from 'world class', they are in fact barely fourth class.  It is time that urgent direct action was taken to fix this appalling situation."

References:

1.  http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=71006

2.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4183.msg31509#msg31509

3.  http://www.vline.com.au/community/home/howbusy.html

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[Stillwater]

Traveston station is being investigated for closure and its platform has not been lengthened -- as have other short-platform stations on the Sunshine Coast/North Coast lines -- because of 'poor patronage'.  The Queensland Government forgets that it bought up properties and de-populated the Mary Valley for the Traveston Crossing Dam, which cannot proceed on environmental grounds.  The government has yet to announce its revitalisation plan for the Mary Valley which, hopefully, will result in a return of train travellers through Traveston when people return to the valley.  Meanwhile the heritage-listed Traveston station building awning has been propped up, but the seating area is closed off for safety reasons.  The Go-Card reader is still operational.  QR Passenger Rail is looking at ways it can replace with permanent structures the scaffolding supporting temporary longer platforms at Eudlo, Mooloolah, Woombye, Eumundi, Pomona and Cooran.  It is also investigating providing sealed car parks at Pomona (serving this town and surrounding communities, such as Pinbarren, Black Mountain and Kin Kin) and Cooroy, which services Noosa.

The following statistics are sobering:

(1)  the annual compounded growth rate for morning peak passenger numbers on the North Coast Line beyond Caboolture is six per cent, second only to the 7.1 per cent for the Gold Coast Line south of Beenleigh to Robina;  (2)  the Inter-City Express (ICE) trains provide insufficient capacity for the depand from Gympie and Nambour (source: Rail Service Infrastructure Requirements Study, October 2007); and (3)  annual freight growth on the North Coast Line is set to diouble over a 20-year period, creating a conflict for scheduling freight trains and passenger trains throughout the day, unless freight trains on this line are made longer, from 670 metres to 1500 metres, but this would require construction of longer passing loops.

Thus, the key to improving passenger services north of Nambour to Gympie would appear to be more efficient, consolidated freight trains.

QR Passenger's position is as follows:

There are no significant changes anticipated to the railway line north of Nambour before 2031.

The operation of additional passenger services between Nambour and Gympie North would not present a trigger to extend passing loops between Nambour and Gympie North

[#Metro]

Traveston station is being investigated for closure and its platform has not been lengthened -- as have other short-platform stations on the Sunshine Coast/North Coast lines -- because of 'poor patronage'.

Isn't there just one service per day? Of course if there are so few trains.
People will not use services if they are not there when they want them.

[ozbob]

 Treasurer and Minister for Employment and Economic Development
The Honourable Andrew Fraser
16/09/2010

Sunshine attracts nearly 10,000 new residents on north coast

The Sunshine Coast is rivalling the biggest Queensland cities as one of the most popular places to live in Queensland a new State Government population report revealed today.

The Population growth highlights and trends Queensland 2010, released by Treasury's Office of Economic and Statistical Research, showed population growth of almost 10,000 people in 2008-09 on the Sunshine Coast.

Treasurer Andrew Fraser said the Sunshine Coast's growth represented 8.2 per cent of Queensland's growth over the year with the fourth largest increase in the state.

"The Sunshine Coast has consistently attracted new residents with an average annual population increase of 9,100 for the past five years to 30 June 2009," Mr Fraser said.

"To be recording such strong growth during the peak of the GFC is testament to the Sunshine Coast's job prospects, strong economy, enviable lifestyle and climate, and overall attraction to both interstate and overseas migrants.

"The Government's $17 billion 2010-11 building program shows our commitment to deliver the services and infrastructure needed for our growing population.

"More than 57 per cent of our record building program is being undertaken outside the Brisbane area, helping to build strong regions for tomorrow's Queensland.

"That means more jobs, better infrastructure and better services for people on the Sunny Coast and other thriving cities."

Population growth highlights and trends Queensland 2010 is now available on the Office of Economic and Statistical Research website www.oesr.qld.gov.au

==============================================================

[#Metro]

The Population growth highlights and trends Queensland 2010, released by Treasury's Office of Economic and Statistical Research, showed population growth of almost 10,000 people in 2008-09 on the Sunshine Coast.

That's 10 trains worth,
no, 20 x 3 car units
no 10 000 seats x 2 x 5

no 100 000 seats a year required to public transport to seat these people this year!

[Jonno]

But TT only 10-15% would be unlucky enough to choose or have to catch public transport!!! Quick build a tol road.

[#Metro]

The Sunshine Coast has THE WORST PT mode share of all the SEQ councils IIRC. This is no accident. Look at the ratio of motorway funding : PT in that area. It is one of the most favorable to the car.

[Arnz]

The service level of Buses (Sunbus) overall on the Sunshine Coast is pretty reasonable.  The main coastal trunk routes are every 15 minutes (Caloundra-Maroochydore), every 30 minutes to inland towns (610:Kawana-Nambour and 616: Maroochydore to University via Buderim, and a lot of 62x Noosa local routes too), supported by the hourly milk runs (for example, Route 602: Nambour to Caloundra via Mountain Creek) going via the backstreets of the main arterial roads.

Patronage and reliability is another question.  The reliability of the trunk/main routes are subject to traffic conditions, especially during holiday periods where bus commuters are a lot higher than normal.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

We can do this

3rd October 2010

Greetings,

The carnage continues ...

Sydney Morning Herald click here!

Quote

... "I've been doing crash for 23 years and to the motoring public: you've won, you've beaten me. I have no idea what we need to do to get the message across to motorists to drive within their capabilities and take time." ...  Police Senior Sergeant.

As a community we need to stand up and demand that a safe rail network is put back into place. This gives folks options other than the gauntlet on the roads. This is something we can do.

The Sunshine Coast needs an immediate upgrade with trains people can use to at least give them the option.

Add a three car shuttle service between Nambour and Gympie North.  This would be a start. Takes a little over an hour from Gympie North to Nambour.  Add in the inevitable delays to train passes etc. a three hour cycle - Gympie North - Nambour - Gympie North.  Say the shuttle leaves at times to facilitate connections with the 'thru' services ex Nambour during the day.  Say 9.15am out of Gympie North, 1pm out of Gympie North, and around 5pm out of Gympie North.  Keep in place the other existing services.  Could be made to work. These times would also connect broadly with terminating Nambour services ex Brisbane.

Road trauma is breaking the nation -->  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?action=articles;sa=view;article=3

The amount of money saved from the horrific road toll in terms of fatalities and injury management would more than cover the cost of the shuttle.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Went to Cooroy for the day on 1st October. 

See --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4549.0

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> One dead in fiery collision between truck, cars

[Stillwater]

Sometimes you could just cry:

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/sunshine-coast-commuters-endure-overcrowded-trains/story-e6freoof-1225884921038

[#Metro]

not good enough of sunny coast  Posted at 9:25 AM June 28, 2010

    One train every 40 mins during peak hour is just disgraceful, which is what we get north of Caboolture. Then try standing for 90 mins due to lack of seats or sitting on the inter-urban trains which are run up there instead of the inter-city trains. You have a numb bum after 90 mins on those bloody seats. The sunshine coast service is a shocker and needs urgent attention.

Comment 11 of 38

Don't get me started  Posted at 9:31 AM June 28, 2010

    I have had the misfortune to need to catch the 5.02 pm and 5.22 pm from Roma Street train a few times recently. Fortunately, I catch it at Roma Street so am lucky enough to get a seat. The timetable to Caboolture between the 4.38 and the 5.22 is atrocious. There is a train that is express from Petrie to Caboolture. How ridiculous is that? My husband saw it go through Burpengary while waiting for me on the 5.22. There were 3 people on it. There needs to be another train to Caboolture at around 5.50 and the 5.13 needs to be express TO Petrie and all stations to Caboolture.

Comment 13 of 38

Voter of Springwood Electorate  Posted at 10:09 AM June 28, 2010

    Our trains don't travel fast enough. They are capable of 100- 120 km/hr but are hamstrung by 1800's track alignments. The 'express' from Beenleigh to Central takes 40 minutes to travel 40 km - an average of 60 km/hr. All curves rated at 60 km/hr (AND LESS!) need to be eliminated. And the frequency needs to be improved - 15 min timings are needed.

Comment 20 of 38

Sam of Gold Coast  Posted at 10:09 AM June 28, 2010

    60% of all Nambour services and 47% of Gold Coast services are over-crowded during peak hour. All of these figures are appalling. We need more trains and we need more frequent services. Come on Anna. Come on QR. Come on Rachel Nolan. Get your act together. You talk about decentralised populations in response to the massive growth YOU are facilitating. Yet you can't even plan for public transport with the population we have now. For shame!

Comment 21 of 38

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/sunshine-coast-commuters-endure-overcrowded-trains/comments-e6freoof-1225884921038

IMHO the trains are a bit slow. Too many stops. Beenleigh line has too many stations to stop at. Time to introduce a 3 tier service or skip stop on that line IMHO. Might require quadruplication though.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

30 December 2010

Greetings,

Today's Courier Mail has an article on the continuing road toll and mayhem on the Sunshine Coast roads.
Coast keeps unenviable road toll record with 58 fatalities in 2010 http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/coast-keeps-unenviable-road-toll-record-with-58-fatalities-in-2010/story-e6freon6-1225977452890
The focus on fatalities is understandable to some extent but it ignores the mounting injury toll and the costs of life long management of the maimed and tortured souls.  The costs of road trauma is now unmanageable.  Road trauma is breaking the nation --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?action=articles;sa=view;article=3

If any other transport mode had the death and injury toll of road transport it would be shut down tomorrow.  It is time that Governments become serious in providing safe sustainable mass transit.  Continued neglect of the Sunshine Coast rail services is unacceptable.  We call on the Queensland Government to  move rapidly in providing all citizens with frequent rail services so that they can at least have the choice of avoiding the carnage on the roads.  This would be responsible Government.

Road safety is an oxymoron.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

===============

Media Release 10 August 2010  re-released 30 December 2010

SEQ:  Sunshine Coast line is not shining

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 again called for an increase in train frequency and upgrades on the Sunshine Coast line.

The most important factor to encourage public transport use is that services must be frequent, bottom line. A recent statement by the Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading campaign aiming to entice more Aussies to the Sunshine Coast highlights the disconnect between various Government departments (1).  The appalling rail timetable for the Sunshine Coast acts as a major disincentive for tourists to visit and complicates the daily life of Citizens in the Sunshine Coast with such poor public transport support (2).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"A number of urgent improvements to the Sunshine Coast line are needed to boost service quality and patronage on this line. RAIL Back On Track strongly supports the Beerburrum-Landsborough duplication, and CAMCOS (Caloundra and Maroochydore Corridor Options Study) railway line to Maroochydore and beyond. Immediate actions are needed though."

"An increase in train frequency is required as morning peak hour trains can be very crowded, even the weekend service from Gympie North on a Sunday afternoon is well patronised and usually overloaded by Nambour. A regular and reliable clock-face timetable with hourly or at bare minimum a service every two hours is needed, as is the filling of major service gaps in the timetable. Few people are willing to wait more than an hour for a train to get home."

"The crowded early morning peak services should be upgraded from current short-train 3 car  to 6 car trains, or more trains put on so that more people can catch a service that isn't crowded. More train stabling at stations on the Sunshine Coast line should also be considered as a priority."

"The integration between bus and rail needs an urgent review in conjunction with the rail service increases.  Long waits for connecting buses are also anti-public transport."

"Gympie North should have a service frequency upgrade, and at least two extra daily services between Gympie North and Brisbane should be established."

"All trains north of Caboolture should be toilet equipped Interurban Multiple Unit or Inter Capital Express trains.  Commuters are increasingly  locked out of toilets at stations and often the trains are older units that do not have toilets. This is not acceptable, hapless commuters sitting with legs crossed for hours."

"It is interesting to note that Melbourne is actively upgrading its regional and country rail services, and is recording dramatic increases in passenger growth as a direct result of this. For example, VLine services to Geelong are so busy that VLine has now taken the unusual step of publishing the morning timetable on its website with passenger loadings, so that passengers can avoid overcrowded trains, with 4 services in the morning and 4 in the afternoon peaks being over 80% full (3).

"What commuters and tourists want is very simple:

1. More trains, more often, and
2. A regular, reliable buses that will take them to their local station in time to catch the train."

"The public transport arrangements to and from the Sunshine Coast are a long way from 'world class', they are in fact barely fourth class.  It is time that urgent direct action was taken to fix this appalling situation."

References:

1.  http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=71006

2.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4183.msg31509#msg31509

3.  http://www.vline.com.au/community/home/howbusy.html

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org