Upgrades to Beenleigh Depot

[ClintonL94]

I've noticed this for sometime and thought it was just upgrading to concrete sleepers, but there is two tracks that have been extended. Originally both had enough space for a 3 car now there's enough space for a 6 car.

Before

After

From what I know, the only 3 car services are the 8:08 Beenleigh to Bowen Hills and the 8:29 Beenleigh to Bowen Hills Express. These 2 services are decoupled to 2 x 3 cars from the terminating train at 8:04. Since there is a upgrade in the depot maybe these 2 services won't need to be decoupled or there could be a extra service.

Clinton.

[Derwan]

From what I know, the only 3 car services are the 8:08 Beenleigh to Bowen Hills and the 8:29 Beenleigh to Bowen Hills Express.

IIRC from another thread, these 2 services were to be upgraded to 6 cars - so the increased stabling may enable that.

[ClintonL94]

After reading the INNER CITY RAIL CAPACITY STUDY Pre-Feasibility Report

CLICK HERE FOR ICRCS Pre feasibility (It is a large PDF 3.4 MB)

I read this for the Beenleigh Line to be completed by 2015.

"New platform at Beenleigh or stabling re-arrangement" Page 89.

So it looks like the stabling re-arrangement has being chosen instead of a new platform(for now at least).

By looking at the Before link it looks like the depot can hold 11 x 3 cars and the After link can hold 14 x 3 cars.

Clinton.

[stephenk]

After reading the INNER CITY RAIL CAPACITY STUDY Pre-Feasibility Report

CLICK HERE FOR ICRCS Pre feasibility (It is a large PDF 3.4 MB)

I read this for the Beenleigh Line to be completed by 2015.

"New platform at Beenleigh or stabling re-arrangement" Page 89.

So it looks like the stabling re-arrangement has being chosen instead of a new platform(for now at least).

Clinton.

Stabling "re-arrangements" may mean re-alignment the tracks so that the sidings are between the running tracks. This would result in trains entering service not having to occupy the Gold Coast bound platform and track.

An new platform may involve a side platform (to the NE) allowing a train entering service to dwell out of the way of the Gold Coast bound/terminating trains, but a conflicting move would still be required between the new platform and the Brisbane bound track.

[ClintonL94]

Today

Went passed Beenleigh Depot and saw quite a few stacks of concrete sleepers and 2 large piles of ballast.

[IMGT]http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/1953/s6300874.jpg[/IMGT]

Apologies for the blurry photograph.

Clinton.

EDIT: Fixed image link

[somebody]

Stabling "re-arrangements" may mean re-alignment the tracks so that the sidings are between the running tracks. This would result in trains entering service not having to occupy the Gold Coast bound platform and track.

An new platform may involve a side platform (to the NE) allowing a train entering service to dwell out of the way of the Gold Coast bound/terminating trains, but a conflicting move would still be required between the new platform and the Brisbane bound track.

Much prefer the second idea to the first one.  I don't think it is cost effective to move the stabling, even if there is a conflicting move in the AM peak with trains enterring service from stabling.

The second idea would probably allow the headways between Beenleigh & GC trains to be tightenned to 2 mins or maybe a bit tighter.  At least it improves operating margin.  It requires knocking over the corner of the building nearby.

[ClintonL94]

Update:

The 7:45am Beenleigh to Bowen Hills is also a 3 car. This train leaves the depot at the single 3 car track.

[ClintonL94]

I haven't been able to see much of the upgrade at Beenleigh depot due to a new wall that has been installed along the main line.. although I found on nearmap the latest images(18-Jan-2011) to get a idea of what the upgrade is..

http://www.nearmap.com/?ll=-27.719615,153.207859&z=19&t=k&nmd=20110118

I believe the upgrade is not finished yet - I do see workers still entering the depot during my visits to Beenleigh station..

Regards,
Clinton

[somebody]

Good.  This should help to get rid of the 3 car services.

[ClintonL94]

I was at Beenleigh today and the depot was full of trains due to the trackwork from Dutton Park to Beenleigh. I've never seen the Bus Interchange so full!(I wasn't able to take a photo)

Logan City buses that use Beenleigh as the terminus had to use Alamein Street just outside the interchange as a stop. There was no notice about that. I asked the QR Manager and he said "Just wait here(at the interchange) and your bus will pull up when the Rail Buses depart" My bus never pulled up here. I missed the last bus service for today because of false information.


New barb wired fences installed for security! That'll keep the vandals out

Photograph of Clinton Larsen 1 May 2011

[HappyTrainGuy]

Not when they leave the front gate wide open like that

In all serious, that's some really crazy amounts of wire there. Could be mistaken for a prison.

[somebody]

Looking at nearmap, it seems this project is now finished.  Is that correct?

[p858snake]

In all serious, that's some really crazy amounts of wire there. Could be mistaken for a prison.

Same could be said for a lot of their new builds and upgrades.

[ClintonL94]

Looking at nearmap, it seems this project is now finished.  Is that correct?

Yes, the upgrade is now complete. The main aspect of the project was to upgrade the security, at the same time minor upgrades to capacity. An additional 5x3 cars can now be stored in the depot bringing the capacity to 16x3 car trains.

Obviously, the gate at the front gets closed when the last service leaves the depot at 7:50am Mon-Fri(peak) and reopens from first terminating peak to last service(closes overnight!!).

http://www.nearmap.com/?ll=-27.719273,153.208106&z=18&t=k&nmd=20110619

[petey3801]

.

Obviously, the gate at the front gets closed when the last service leaves the depot at 7:50am Mon-Fri(peak) and reopens from first terminating peak to last service(closes overnight!!).

http://www.nearmap.com/?ll=-27.719273,153.208106&z=18&t=k&nmd=20110619

It's actually an automated gate, linked in with the signalling, so when a train has the road in/out of the yard, it gate will open. When the signal is put back to red (train is clear), the gate closes.

[somebody]

.

Obviously, the gate at the front gets closed when the last service leaves the depot at 7:50am Mon-Fri(peak) and reopens from first terminating peak to last service(closes overnight!!).

http://www.nearmap.com/?ll=-27.719273,153.208106&z=18&t=k&nmd=20110619

It's actually an automated gate, linked in with the signalling, so when a train has the road in/out of the yard, it gate will open. When the signal is put back to red (train is clear), the gate closes.

That's an interesting tit bit.

[mufreight]

Seems that a similar security gate system will be used at both ends of the new Redbank stabeling facility.