Major Track Work from Corinda to Ipswich: Saturday 14 Jun - Sunday 15 Jun

[ozbob]

From Citytrain website

Major Track Work from Corinda to Ipswich: Saturday 14 Jun - Sunday 15 Jun 2008


From first train Saturday 14 June to last train Sunday 15 June 2008, all Brisbane?s suburban network inbound and outbound services between Corinda and Ipswich will be replaced by bus services.

Buses will stop at all stations from Corinda to Ipswich with a connecting train to Brisbane City.

This trackwork is part of the Corinda to Darra project. This project will improve public transport for existing and future residents in Brisbane?s western suburbs.

Delays of up to 30 minutes may be experienced.
Guardian Train services may be affected during this track closure.

The Queensland Times has a front page article today (28 May 2008) highlighting this closure and the impact on the Ipswich Races, an annual event. (Article is below in thread).

For your information, RAIL Back On Track has previously endeavoured to get a community database in place so these sort of clashes could perhaps be avoided.


Check out these links for some background.

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=83.msg202#msg202

The Ipswich show was impacted last year.  A response was received to this letter indicating that they would look into setting up a database to avoid clashes.

Another example, Ferny Grove line closed during River Fire --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=193.msg580#msg580

Since the major disruptions to the Oxley Village Fair due to the track closures, buses running through the street fair, the community has abandoned that event.

The fact remains if the weather was inclement, the authorities would have no hesitation in moving the closure to another weekend.

The manner in which communities are treated with respect to closures, no consultation and heavy handiness is very disappointing.

The community is tired of being treated poorly and subsequent ruining of their events.  A community database of these events would allow the essential maintenance and upgrade work to be done in a manner that does not disrupt the events.

The maintenance and upgrades are essential.  But some consideration on the impact at community level with respect to their annual events, would help endear a feeling of cooperation and well being.

Admin

Ed: updated forum links

[Mozz]

Well that's not much fun, as a regular attendee to the Ipswich Cup I can say that the crowds are not small, between 20-30 thousand people - bigger than some capital city race days in this country.

I was going to travel to and from by rail but I don't know now given the variability of the buses and the published 30 minute delays which I would suspect when dealing with 20,000 + crowds at this event 30 minutes might be the minimum delay.

Let's hope sanity prevails and the work is rescheduled and I would call upon those responsible for track maintenance to spend some time checking the relevant lines for events to try and avoid these issues. As I said previously it is a huge event with tens of thousands of people attending (and 10 mins walk from the Bundamba railway station) not something that should have been easily missed.

[ozbob]

From Queensland Times click here!

Rail line closed for Ipswich cup

The following error occurred:

Rail line closed for Ipswich cup
May 28, 2008
By Yvonne Gardiner

ALMOST 1000 of Ipswich Cup-goers have been derailed by a bureaucratic bungle.

Queensland Rail (QR) has decided to close the Brisbane to Ipswich rail line on Saturday, June 14, for track work when hundreds of commuters are expected to travel to Bundamba for the Ipswich Cup.

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale says the decision needs to be reversed.

"This is our number one event for the year," Cr Pisasale said.

"(The track closure) is going to affect a lot of people coming from Brisbane.

"It's going to hurt the city.

"QR have made a mistake and it's got to be fixed."

Ipswich Turf Club general manager Brett Kitching, already bogged down with the planning that goes with hosting about 20,000 cup day race-goers, said yesterday QR had been very apologetic, but refused to open the line on June 14.

"IT'S going to cost QR a motza," Mr Kitching said.

"I blew up a bit when I first got the call (advising about the rail closure).

"They're doing whatever they can.

"QR have to replace the trains with buses.

"They'll be having messages at all of the train lines.

"It all goes ahead, except there are express buses instead of trains."

Cr Pisasale is concerned about the extra congestion caused by additional buses using the Ipswich Motorway.

QR buses plan to take a "back route", from Wacol to Redbank, Mr Kitching said.

The Corinda to Ipswich rail line will be closed from the first train on June 14 to the last train on June 15.

QR executive general manager Paul Scurrah said QR apologised for any inconvenience.

He said 817 people caught trains for last year's Ipswich Cup day.

"I am confident that the buses will more than cater for the passengers expected to use our services this year," Mr Scurrah said.

"Almost all possible weekends are being used to complete major construction or maintenance work.

"The track works on June 14 and 15 are to allow the building of two extra tracks and two new railway stations between Corinda and Darra and eventually the spur line to Springfield.

"Work is also underway on the Ipswich-Logan Motorway Interchange at Gailes and the upgrade of the Centenary Highway Bridge at Darra."

Mr Scurrah said the program of track closures for this corridor was developed more than 12 months ago.

"QR will ensure future planning takes into account the cup day," he said.

Ipswich Turf Club chairman Wayne Patch said the train disruption on cup day was "not ideal".

"Blind Freddie knows that this is the biggest event of the year in Ipswich," Mr Patch said.

"I understand the track maintenance and upgrades need to be done, but not on Ipswich Cup day.

"You'd really be preferring people to come by train, not in the traffic."

For details about rail services, call TransLink on 13 12 30 or visit www.translink.com.au.

[mufreight]

It would seem that Translink has learnt nothing from experience and that the new head of that tragedy is committed to following the path of his predecessor.
It also most unfortunate that the new QR Executive Manager for the passanger group Mr Paul Scurrah would seem to be considerably less sensitive to the community secsetivities than his predecessor Mr Andy Taylor in his comments regarding the effects of the timing of the line closure.
We would hope this will be the last occasion this avoidable sort clash with the needs of the community will occour.

[Mozz]

I would suggest that if QR are claiming 817 people travelled to the Ipswich Cup by Rail that may only be the number recorded as having travelled and the actual number again might be significantly higher. Given the logistics of the day and the need to meet up with others I will need to organise one of those filthy petrol driven motor vehicles to get to and from the event because delays of up to 30 minutes which may well blow out to hours when the large number of passengers are taken into account - trains can carry 817 passenger in a single train - this equates to 12 - 15 full buses.

[ozbob]

Media Release 28 May 2008

SEQ:  Planned Ipswich Line Closure weekend 14th - 15th June 2008 causes community concern

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport users has backed calls by the Ipswich Mayor Cr Pisasale and Ipswich Turf Club general manager Brett Kitching to move the track closure on the Ipswich line on the weekend of 14th to 15th June to another weekend.  This closure will have a severe impact on the Ipswich Cup Race Meeting which is being held at Bundamba on the weekend of the proposed line closure.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

?There have been previous line closures on the Ipswich line for maintenance weekends which have impacted severely on a number of community events in the last couple of years.  People are becoming very sensitive to these impacts.?

?In May 2007 when the Ipswich Show was on, that weekend that was chosen to close the railway lines from Corinda to Rosewood.?

?The Oxley Village Street Fair in 2007 was also ruined in a similar fashion.  The weekend that the Fair was on the railway was closed for routine track maintenance; the chaos caused by buses disrupted the fair and kept many citizens away. As a result of the disruption it appears that the annual Oxley Village Street Fair has now been abandoned.?

?In May 2007, RAIL Back On Track suggested to the Minister for Transport that a community database could be set up where various groups could register their events and this would help to plan track closures that would have less of a negative impact on community events (1).?

?It appears that no progress has been made with that suggestion.?

?Last August, during the River Fire weekend there was a closure of the Ferny Grove line. This is possibly the busiest weekend for public transport in south-east Queensland and calls for the reversal of the closure of the line were not successful (2). As a result major disruption was experienced by citizens attempting to get to the River Fire Festival. In fact, many people missed much of the celebrations as a result.?

?I have noted in the past that planned track closures have been cancelled at the last minute due to inclement weather.  There is clearly some flexibility and calls to defer the closure on the Ipswich line are reasonable.?

?Calls from the Ipswich Community for a cancellation of the closure of the Ipswich railway line for the Ipswich Cup weekend should be supported!?

?A community event database should also be set up so that closures can be planned in a more informed manner.?

?We all appreciate the need for closures to allow track maintenance and upgrades, but surely it can be done in a more empathetic manner with regard to the community.?


References:

1.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=83.msg202#msg202

2.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=193.msg580#msg580

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Queensland Times 30 May 2008 page 8 not online

[ozbob]

To further support the calls for a move of the closure of the Ipswich line and my comments in the above article.

Check out this.
From QR Citytrain web site here!

Cancelled - Major Track Work from Petrie to Nambour / Gympie North: Saturday 31 May - Sunday 1 Jun
line
The service alteration between Petrie and Gympie North has been cancelled due to wet weather.

From 2.00am Saturday 31 May to last train Sunday 1 June 2008, all Brisbane suburban network and QR interurban inbound and outbound services between Petrie and Gympie North will be replaced by bus services.

Buses will stop at all stations from Petrie to Gympie North with a connecting train to Brisbane City.

This track work is part of the Caboolture to Beerburrum Track Duplication project, constructing a second track from Caboolture to Beerburrum to provide more trains on the North Coast line.

Along with the new track, Elimbah and Beerburrum stations will be upgraded with new facilities, security, accessibility and extra parking.

Delays of up to 30 minutes may be experienced.
Guardian Train services may be affected during this track closure.

For further information call TransLink on 13 12 30 or visit www.translink.com.au

[ozbob]

Queensland Times 5 June 2008 page 9

Cup transport on track with extra bus services

Cup transport on track with extra bus services

Peter Foley

IT STARTED as a bureaucratic bungle but the decision to close the Ipswich to Brisbane rail line on Ipswich Cup day could be a blessing in disguise.

Last month, the QT reported Queensland Rail (QR) was closing the line for track work on Saturday, June 14, the day of Ipswich?s biggest social and sporting event.

While the decision could have derailed travel plans for hundreds of Cup-goers, Ipswich Turf Club (ITC) general manager Brett Kitching said QR had gone a long way to putting things right.

?QR has put a huge effort into providing for Ipswich Cup day transport requirements,? Kitching said yesterday.

?As a result of the QT?s front page story, we?ve got 25 extra buses and possibly a better service than we would have had before.

?Up to 45 buses are available on June 14 for the Ipswich to Corinda line and to the Ipswich Turf Club.  The buses replace the trains picking up at stations at the times that trains were arriving and departing.?

He said QR had learned from its decision and it was unlikely to happen again on Cup day next year or on similar big days.
?The outcome is QR has now set up an events register so they will be able to take an event like Cup day into account when they are doing their track maintenance schedule,? Kitching said.

?The other thing is people now realise you should check with Ipswich before you go and make decisions like that.?

Keep reading the QT for the full Ipswich Cup day bus schedule and timetable.
All next week the QT will report on all the big events of the Ipswich Cup on and off the track.

[ozbob]

From Quest Ipswich News click here!

Buses on track for cup day

Buses on track for cup day

IPSWICH, June 5: Up to 45 buses have been made available for rail commuters on June 14 following Queensland Rail's (QR) decision to close the Ipswich line on Ipswich Cup day for track work.

The program of track closures, developed more than 12 months ago, had scheduled works on June 14 and 15 to allow for the building of two extra tracks and two new railway stations between Corinda and Darra, and eventually the spur line to Springfield.

Ipswich Turf Club general manager Brett Kitching met with representatives from QR, Ipswich City Council, police, traffic and security on Tuesday to finalise a backup plan.

He said he was "pretty happy" with the alternative put in place by QR.

"They've worked hard to get a replacement plan," Mr Kitching said.

"It's just going to be difficult to get word out to everyone who had intended on catching the train."

Mr Kitching said bus services would replace trains on June 14, with departure and arrival times the same as the train timetable.

"Those wishing to utilise the service should go to their train station for pick up and drop off," he said.

Additionally, he said the intermediate services would make a stop at Bundamba Primary School, catering for those attending the cup.

Mr Kitching said express services, which would run from Ipswich and Corinda stations to Gate 1 at the Ipswich Turf Club, had also been created.

He said these buses would operate from about 10am-2pm and 4-8pm.

Mr Kitching said QR was compiling an events register to assist with the scheduling of future works.

"And they now have the date from us for next year's Ipswich Cup," he said.

Thanks QR for assisting with good back up support.

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

Cup day 'ruined' by rail closure

Ipswich Cup 'ruined' by rail closure
Marissa Calligeros | June 12, 2008 - 11:59AM

Saturday's Ipswich Cup race meeting could be "ruined" by a Queensland Rail decision to close the Ipswich line this weekend to allow for routine maintenance and track construction.

An irate Ipswich Turf Club general manager Brett Kitching today slammed Queensland Rail, which has refused to back down on plans to carry out maintenance work on the biggest day in Ipswich's social calendar.

The Ipswich Cup meeting regularly attracts crowds of 20,000 people. However, it's feared more than 3000 could be sliced from that number on Saturday because of the Ipswich line closure between Corinda and Ipswich.

Train passengers will have to instead catch a bus from Corinda to attend the meeting.

"We don't need this at this late stage ... we're two days out from race (day) and there is mass confusion about what public transport will and won't be available," Mr Kitching told brisbanetimes.com.au.

"The club has worked hard in previous years to get as many people as possible using public transport.

"We have already had people call and say they won't be coming because of the hassles with public transport."

Robert Dow, from commuter group Rail: Back on Track, said the line closure could ruin the entire event.

"Folks plan for these events for long periods of time and it's heartbreaking to have it ruined by lack of consideration of transport authorities," Mr Dow said.

QR's general manager Paul Scurrah said it was not possible to delay the maintenance work.

"(Queensland Rail) acknowledges calls to reverse the decision but wishes to emphasise that the decision to close this line was made more than 12 months ago and was not made lightly,'' Mr Scurrah said.

"QR looked at alternative dates but it would have been too costly and created too many logistical difficulties to change it.''

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale said the debacle highlighted long-standing communication problems between the community and transport authorities.

However, he did compliment Queensland Rail for adding an extra 25 express buses to services that will shuttle patrons from Corinda train station to Bundamba.

In contrast, Mr Dow said the extra express buses had come too late.

"There have been previous line closures on the Ipswich line for maintenance (on) weekends which have impacted severely on a number of community events in the last couple of years. People are becoming very sensitive to these impacts," Mr Dow said.

Railway lines were also closed from Corinda to Rosewood during the Ipswich Show. Line closures also caused major disruptions to the Oxley Village Street Fair last year.

"In May 2007, Rail Back on Track suggested to the minister for transport that a community database could be set up where various groups could register their events," Mr Dow said.

"This would help plan track closures that would have less of a negative impact on community events.

"We all appreciate the need for closures to allow track maintenance and upgrades, but surely it can be done in a more empathetic manner with regard to the community."

[ozbob]

QR have contacted us and have confirmed that:

QR has scheduled extra station staff to assist passengers at Corinda station. In addition, between 9.30am and 1.00pm shuttle buses will run direct from Ipswich and Corinda to the Ipswich Turf Club. Patrons travelling to the races from intermediate stations between East Ipswich and Oxley will be conveyed by scheduled rail buses to the bus stops on Brisbane Road adjacent to the Turf Club at Bundamba.

Following the event on Saturday from 3:30pm to 8:00pm, TransLink Transit Officers will be stationed at the Ipswich Turf Club to assist customers with their journeys. Shuttle bus services will then provide patrons with transport following the event to a number rail stations across the network to enable passengers to catch connecting rail services.

Thanks QR, I am sure everyone appreciates the extra efforts being made for this great Community event.  Hopefully when the 'Events Register' is in place major community events will be worked around in future.

[ozbob]

13 June 2008

Major track works to improve the QR interurban rail network

Line closed Corinda to Ipswich Saturday 14 June ? Sunday 15 June 2008

QR wishes to advise passengers that QR interurban rail services between Corinda and Ipswich will be disrupted this weekend to enable major track work to deliver on our commitment to improve services to our customers.

QR Passenger Executive General Manager Paul Scurrah said QR had arranged buses to operate on all timetable services both inbound and outbound between Corinda and Ipswich from the first train Saturday 14 June to the last train Sunday 15 June 2008.

?We regret any inconvenience this disruption may cause our passengers,? Mr Scurrah said.

?In an effort to minimise disruptions, buses will stop at all stations from Corinda to Ipswich, with connecting trains to Brisbane City.

?I urge people to allow an extra 30 minutes to get to their destination.

?TransLink Transit Officers and QR Customer Service Officers will also be on hand to assist people with their journeys.?

?This track work is part of the Corinda to Darra project to improve public transport for existing and future residents in Brisbane?s western suburbs,? Mr Scurrah said.

?The closure this weekend is critical to enable us to progress the new 3.5 km section of track.

?Along with the new tracks, Oxley and Darra stations will be upgraded with new facilities, security, accessibility and extra parking.

?The benefits to passengers will be extensive with new facilities including departure lifts and footbridges, modern buildings and shelters, improvements to the station environment and extra car parks.?

Mr Scurrah said QR apologised to passengers for any inconvenience caused by this temporary change.

?I would like to thank our customers for their patience while we build a better rail system across south-east Queensland.?

Future line closures will continue over the next few years as QR delivers an extensive infrastructure plan to cater for the expected growth across the state?s south-east corner and to meet additional demand for services.

The Corinda to Darra Rail Upgrade project is part of the Queensland Government?s South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program 2007-2026.

The project is part of approximately $7 billion that has been committed to investigate, plan and build a better rail network, including 144 kilometres of new track and 44 new trains.

For timetable information please call TransLink on 131230, visit www.translink.com.au or for further information a QR customer service officer is available on 07 3606 5555.

For more information: QR Corporate Affairs 3235 2180 / 0409 494 296.

-ENDS-

[ozbob]

I called into Oxley railway station about 6am 14th June on my morning walk.

The stairs and lift to the platform were being fenced off.

Unfortunately there are no signs in place alerting passengers to the changed travel arrangements with the track closure. Normally there are rail bus signs and passenger alerts. Hopefully this will be placed shortly.

Many passengers don't know about the closures so it is important they are in place early.  I alerted some folks to the changes ... 

[ozbob]

Signs now at Oxley.

Corinda ready for a busy day!

Railbuses at Corinda




Darra station well signed



Photographs R Dow 14 June 2008

[ozbob]

From Courier Mail click here!

Rail line closure may hit Ipswich Cup race attendance

Rail line closure may hit Ipswich Cup race attendance
Article from: The Courier-Mail

By David Earley

June 13, 2008 03:20pm

THE closure of the Ipswich rail line this weekend for maintenance could see a large drop in attendance for the Ipswich Cup.
However the Cup is one of the biggest meetings of the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival, and according to the Ipswich Turf Club service will be better than ever.

Up to 3000 spectators could be missing from the usual crowd of 20,000, but Ipswich Turf Club general manager Brett Kitching yesterday played down the significance of the track closure, saying people would experience a faster trip than if the train line was open.

"They'll actually get here quicker and easier, to a better drop-off point, than what they would have if they'd caught the train," he said.

"It's just on a bus, not a train."

Queensland Rail is closing the line between Corinda and Ipswich for routine maintenance on Saturday and Sunday, replacing the train with a bus service that will stop at all stations.

After complaints about the effect this would have on the thousands of people travelling to the Ipswich Cup on Saturday, Queensland Rail has now scheduled 25 express buses to run directly from Corinda station to the front gates of the Ipswich Turf Club, a service Mr Kitching says will be better than the shuttle buses that have been used in the past.

"With the trains running, the shuttle buses collect them at Bundamba Station and bring them down to the main gate," he said.

"From Corinda, the express bus running to Gate One replaces stopping at each station on the way and then hopping on the bus."

Despite the better service he said will be provided because of the closure of the Ipswich rail line, Mr Kitching said the regular shuttle bus service will return next year.

"Sure we'd much prefer the trains to be running," he said.

"There's been a number of people contacting us, and said they're not coming because they can't get the train, but not a whole lot.

"But it's no good sitting around wallowing.

"It's better off getting on with what you've got."

[ozbob]

Media Release 15 June 2008

SEQ:  Community engagement by QR Passenger Services acknowledged and appreciated

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport users has acknowledged and thanked QR Passenger Services for the ongoing community engagement activities, and responding to the impacts caused by the necessary  weekend track closures in a supportive manner.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

?RAIL Back On Track has received much feedback from the public and members commenting on the positive aspects of QR Passenger Services community engagement activities throughout this year.?

?The community appreciates the opportunity to put forward suggestions for improvements on matters such as timetables, station facilities, parking, integration of services and so forth.?

?This weekend has seen the closure of the main western line from Corinda to Ipswich for rail passenger services.  Bus has been substituted for rail. As Saturday the 14th of June was the Annual Ipswich Cup Meeting there was much community concern on the potential adverse impacts of the closure on the cup (1).?

?QR Passenger services responded by engaging the concerned community representatives and ensuring that  additional buses would be made available to facilitate transport to and from the Cup Meeting, and also had extra staff in place at Corinda Railway Station and arranged for extra TransLink Transit Officers to assist at the Ipswich Turf Club.?

?I personally checked the arrangements during the Saturday at Corinda, Oxley and Darra.  All was working well.  QR also updated us as during the day too.?

?RAIL Back On Track acknowledges the efforts being made by QR Passenger services and we look forward to being able input further suggestions for timetable changes in September and future timetable change points.?

?Favourable comments have also been received and noted on some excellent communication practices by train crew and station staff during service issues that do arise from time to time.?

?These initiatives are welcome and further help citizens make the move to environmental friendly public transport."

?Thank you QR Passenger Services.?

Reference:

1.   http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=935.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

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