Article: The Yandina Black Hole On the Need for Better Public Transport ...

[ozbob]

From Transit Australia October 2013 pages 292-293

The Yandina Black Hole
On the Need for Better Public Transport for the Sunshine Coast

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

8th November 2013

Greetings,

For your interest and hopefully action?

Recent article in Transit Australia. SEQ's failing fare structure is getting an international reputation ..

From Transit Australia October 2013 pages 292-293

The Yandina Black Hole
On the Need for Better Public Transport for the Sunshine Coast





Oh dear!

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[STB]

NB: Originally posted in the 2014 Fares thread, just removed that post to post it here when I spotted this thread.

While fares is a clear issue, it seems Rod who wrote the article isn't aware or doesn't understand the logistical part of train timetable planning which is pinned to what infrastructure we have.  He also needs to understand that there are many more trains that use the Sunshine Coast line other than just those 8 freights and the Gympielander, but also those trains share tracks further south down to Caboolture on mostly single track and also beyond Caboolture into the city which as we all know is becoming congested.

Must say though, I think further education on these issues is needed to prevent misinformation like he has written in some regard is needed, as it seems they only see it on a local level, but not on a network wide scale, which when it comes to planning and infrastructure, you really need to be aware of the network overall and not just the local area.

[ozbob]

Fares is the main message.  The lack of proper passing arrangements though is a major issue north of Beerburrum - Nambour.  This creates problems where with better loops and stations etc. ( eg. dance of the trains ) stop start is avoided and better flows ..

Nambour itself is a basket case ...

Time to bite the bullet.  Move the limited Nambour stabling to Yandina and sort Nambour to avoid ' dances' etc ...

[Fares_Fair]

NB: Originally posted in the 2014 Fares thread, just removed that post to post it here when I spotted this thread.

While fares is a clear issue, it seems Rod who wrote the article isn't aware or doesn't understand the logistical part of train timetable planning which is pinned to what infrastructure we have.  He also needs to understand that there are many more trains that use the Sunshine Coast line other than just those 8 freights and the Gympielander, but also those trains share tracks further south down to Caboolture on mostly single track and also beyond Caboolture into the city which as we all know is becoming congested.

Must say though, I think further education on these issues is needed to prevent misinformation like he has written in some regard is needed, as it seems they only see it on a local level, but not on a network wide scale, which when it comes to planning and infrastructure, you really need to be aware of the network overall and not just the local area.

Concur, I have read many Government reports that state congestion as the issue, including the FOI document I obtained that states that the duplication to Beerburrum not going through to Landsborough would NOT improve capacity until it goes through to Landsborough.
Other than that it is an interesting article.

[Stillwater]

It is a cracker of an article.  The government bangs on about affordable housing and affordable living.  Many of the SCL towns are wonderful communities with good amenities, schools, services and shopping centres etc.  Housing is affordable.

While the government chases and supports developments such as Caloundra South, on the basis of so-called 'affordable living' (it won't be), it ignores the means whereby it can sustain and improve on what it has got, namely the railway towns of the Sunshine Coast.

As to congestion and SC trains adding to that congestion south of Caboolture, that issue could be addressed through shuttles, terminating at Nambour for a few trains a day north of there, and at Caboolture, where there are some shuttles to Nambour already.

The impending return of a Noosa Council should provide the impetus for the state government to work with that council and the SC Council, community groups and business etc to establish a joint taskforce on public transport/TODs serving the Sunny Coast.

The banging-on continues around revitalising Nambour and its shopping precinct.

Nambour station is crying out for a complete rebuild, even before duplication.  Coles has gone in next to the station.  The Civic Centre could be extended, integrated with a shopping and movie complex, upgraded car parking, relocation of the train stabling to a more suitable spot and a pedestrianisation strategy linking the hospital precinct with the shopping precinct on the other side of the railway line.

Airspace above Nambour station could be sold off and that money used to rebuild the station itself.

The trouble is that QR is not equipped to consider such cloud-thinking.  It would involve something like the involvement of the Department of State Development to pull things together.  The council would have a vital role, but its attitude is that QR should take the lead.

So long as we have nothing happening because of a lack of vision and a lack of cooperation among departments and councils, the problem just sits there like a festering sore.  At Palmwoods, we have a row between QR and the council that is halting a redevelopment of what is a lovely town.

I understand that QR has killed off looking at train stabling at Yandina, preferring sites closer to Nambour.

Duplication Beerburrum-Nambour has been placed in the too hard basket.  Consequently, and unfortunately, practical things that could be done, consistent with eventual duplication, in and around the towns along the line are also in the too hard basket, when they don't belong there.

QR is not in the town planning business, yet there are things that could be done TODAY around Sunny Coast railway towns that would not be inconsistent with eventual duplication, but which could enhance those towns considerably and make them better places to live than they are now.

Lateral thinking is required, involving town planning initiatives and the private sector that could enhance precincts around railway stations, allowing for duplication eventually.  We must break the mindset that says duplication occurs in 2031-2035 and everything is on hold until after that.

That attitude dooms the SC railway towns to a future where lifestyle will deteriorate, shopping opportunities will go elsewhere (probably to Caloundra South), traffic movements will be restricted and basket cases such as Nambour will be maintained for years and years.

A joint council-state taskforce that would examine the issue of station precincts, housing, parking, car and pedestrian movements etc at prominent hinterland towns would allow those places to develop in the certainty that, when duplication comes, they are ready for that eventuality.

Who knows, with a bit of broad thinking, the private sector might even pay for a new railway station and a (single line) relocation along short sections of track near town centres in exchange for the existing station land and track alignment.  Track duplication would follow.  Heavens, we might even rid ourselves of a temporary platform or two and the annual cost of hiring the scaffolding!

Why not call for expressions of interest from the private sector along the lines of: "Tell us your ideas for using the Woombye railway station and its surrounding land, but in exchange you will have to pay for the new Woombye railway station and a track deviation along the line of eventual duplication.'

QR is incapable of this type of thinking.  It is unfair for councils to think that they can solely.  A Sunshine Coast Hinterland Towns Revitalisation Taskforce, with joint cooperation of council and state, is required.  The Department of State Development should be the lead agency and QR a minor player.

QR is incapable of being the major player or the project coordinator, but everyone is looking to them to be.  In such circumstances, QR's attitude is that 'everything will be right until 2031', but that is a nonsense.

Unless the people of the SC see action on this matter (a joint taskforce approach), they may feel inclined to continue to vote for independents such as Peter Wellington and Clive Palmer.

[ozbob]

Yandina is a perfect for stabling.  QR has the land, town supports.  Eventually trains will need to be extended any way ...

Time for Q/Line,  it is just too hard for the present mob ...  QR is a train operator, TMR has the limited vision.

Time to outsource planning to VicTrack ..  lol

[Gazza]

Time for Q/Line,  it is just too hard for the present mob ...  QR is a train operator with limited vision.

Isn't that a bit harsh, considering how well they've sweated things with the Jan 2014 timetables?

[ozbob]

Yes,  I actually meant TMR ... 

QR has argued for years about the necessary upgrades, TMR just keep shutting things down ..

[ozbob]

VicTrack --> https://www.victrack.com.au/ 

excellent model for Queensland  ...

[Gazza]

I do have to ask though, but how well would Yandina residents respond to rapid residential expansion in the town, if it meant they got a better rail service for it.

[ozbob]

Yandina is already undergoing residential expansion.  Having trains run through to stabling there would be a bonus.

eg.  http://www.theretreatyandina.com.au/

[Stillwater]

Population now estimated at 8000.  Factsheet: http://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/addfiles/documents/community_planning/yandina_snapshot.pdf

Note reference to lifestyle and affordable housing.

[Arnz]

As to congestion and SC trains adding to that congestion south of Caboolture, that issue could be addressed through shuttles, terminating at Nambour for a few trains a day north of there, and at Caboolture, where there are some shuttles to Nambour already.

Nambour Station only has one through platform.  Operating Nambour-Gympie North-Nambour shuttles is gonna be quite complicated without having to do dance of the trains to access the sole through platform.

More Cab-NBR shuttles makes no sense in the off-peak (or daytime weekends) when there is plenty of capacity south of Caboolture, not to mention the lack of capacity on the single track sections when freights and travel train has priority on the slots.

The only time where CAB-NBR shuttles makes any sense is counter-peak, which they operate those shuttles already (where peak-direction trains to/from Nambour has priority over other trains), or Sat/Sun early morning services starting from the Caboolture stabling yard, or evening Sat/SUN positioning runs from Nambour back to Caboolture yard to stable overninght.

[mufreight]

with the length of the existing platform at Nambour there would be room for a crossover between the main line and the loop about halfway down the length of the platform that would allow trains to cross there with both trains having platform access.

[James]

I don't see why we need more trains Nambour - Gympie North. A few RailBuses from Nambour to Cooroy/Cooran/Pomona (depending on demand) should be enough. The demand out there really isn't high enough to support more than a bus anyway.

[ozbob]

There actually is a strong community push for more rail services.  The towns are expanding and the locals much prefer rail to the very dangerous roads.

The tilt trains are being used by the locals.  Maybe a year or two yet but more trains would be very useful.  Particularly to allow access into Nambour for the hospital at reasonable times (proportionally a lot of Seniors in the towns between Nambour and Gympie North).

[ozbob]

E.g.



Media release 1st September 2012

SEQ: Nambour - Gympie North, more rail services needed.

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has called for some more weekday rail services between Nambour and Gympie North (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Following discussions with citizens at Pomona recently, it is clear that there is a need for some rail shuttle services between Nambour and Gympie. This has been raised before by RAIL Back On Track and others (1). There are plenty of train-paths available for more services north of Nambour."

"The population on the Sunshine Coast and hinterland is expanding and the population is aging.  Many citizens are no longer able to drive or choose not to drive cars.

"A lot of people in towns like Gympie, Pomona, Cooroy, Cooran and so forth travel locally, particularly to and from Nambour for medical appointments, business and social reasons."

"A service that departs Nambour say around 7am, for a return from Gympie North at around 8.30am would be very useful for the community."

"Similarly a service that departs Nambour say around 4.30pm for return from Gympie North at 6pm."

"The present limited rail weekday services are departures from Nambour at 11.30am and 7.36pm and departures from Gympie North 5.56am and 1.20pm (2). Keep these as is, but add in the two proposed shuttle services."

"This would have a tremendous positive impact in this part of Queensland in terms of improved mobility and would provide a safe option for travel other than the very dangerous roads. The infrastructure is there; stations and track, time it was properly used!"

References:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4615.msg36068#msg36068

2. http://translink.com.au/resources/travel-information/network-information/timetables/120723-sunshine-coast-line.pdf

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Access to the tilt services was partly the result of ^

[ozbob]

with the length of the existing platform at Nambour there would be room for a crossover between the main line and the loop about halfway down the length of the platform that would allow trains to cross there with both trains having platform access.

Jolly good idea ... might do for a stop gap and least stop trains dancing at Nambour ... which is bizarre to say the least ...

[Stillwater]

  on both counts