Station Upgrades

[kram0]

I'm not sure if it's possible, but Beenleigh line should plan to run all services 2 x per hour outside peak, express from Kuraby to Park Rd, with 4 x per hour from Kuraby to City, and Gold Coast services leave as is.

[nathandavid88]

Probably terminate at beenleigh, run dead to bethania to turn back.   What about using the rarely used cattle platform at holmview (if its electrified)?

Just checked with Google Maps, it's not electrified.

[petey3801]

True, and neither of which are going to happen. I think the closest that it will come to it will be having 15min services on the GC turning back at Beenleigh with a turnback crew, using crossovers at Ormeau for the duration of the games, or somehow getting 15min services to the Coast from the City for the duration of the games (using Bethania p3 and delaying Beenleigh all stoppers etc).

I have a feeling this will become the norm during the 2018 Commonwealth Games. You can always simply occupy a platform and turn around there - whether Ormeau or Coomera would simply depend on how the train timings are. It doesn't require pouring concrete.

Yep, Beenleigh at least has a crew depot so trains can be turned back quite quickly. The addition of a crossover just south of the middle road would also help this scenario.

[SurfRail]

Building a siding just to north where the old temporary station was located might help, no?  There seems to be room, and it would only need to be accessible from the south.  You'd need to relocate the existing crossover north of the station closer to the tunnel.

[James]

Yep, Beenleigh at least has a crew depot so trains can be turned back quite quickly. The addition of a crossover just south of the middle road would also help this scenario.

I more meant the latter - trains running GC - Brisbane every 15 minutes and seeing Beenleigh line customers get shafted for the duration of the games. Given the timing of the games in particular, you could feasibly have school holidays scheduled to occur for the duration of the games, allowing a reduction in service on the Beenleigh line (and perhaps elsewhere) to provide rolling stock/track capacity to run the extra services. I should have been clearer.

Turning around anywhere between Coomera and Beenleigh would not be hard either though.

[aldonius]

Demountables in the Alderley station carpark. Could this be? Anyone got more information on what they're for?

[ozbob]

Could be, Alderley is mentioned >> Station Accessibility Upgrade Program http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/Community/Projects/Pages/Stationaccessibilityupgradeprogram.aspx

Yep ..

ALDERLEY STATION DDA UPGRADE  > http://www.tendersonline.com.au/TenderDetails.aspx?uid=cctol240038

Tendering Authority: Queensland Rail

Description:
Contract No. ATC.933

Tenders are invited from Contractors for the Alderley Station Upgrade. The project will make the station more operationally efficient, improve Disability Discrimination Act compliance and incorporate a safe and comfortable environment for staff and customers with improved pedestrian access. The upgrade will include platform raising, station building replacement, awnings to both platforms, a new overpass, stairs and lifts to each platform, new entrances from both sides of the Station, as well as new services including lighting, CCTV and power supply and new Network services. The Work will also include removal of the existing footbridge and buildings, the relocation of a heritage listed shelter and adjustments to traffic and pedestrian facilities and parking.

The Works under the Contract comprises the construction and completion of the Alderley station upgrade and associated works as more particularly described in or reasonably inferred from the cotnract Documents.

Tender documents will be available for downloading from the Queensland Government eTendering website https://secure.publicworks.qld.gov.au/etender/index.do on Wednesday 7th December 2011.

Select Queensland Rail Limited and then relevant tender item. Note: New users of the e-Tendering site will need to register on-line prior to downloading the documents.

Please Note: As per the Conditions of Tendering a compulsory site inspection is to be held at -

Time: 10:00am on 15th December 2011
Venue: Alderley Station, meeting at the Hall Street Station entrance.

Tenderers planning to attend the site inspection must register via email with Principal's Supervising Reprensentative, Kark Kalle at: karl.kalle@qr.com.au

Enquiries about any matter relating to this Tender must only be directed to:

Philip Williams
Ph 07 3235 2336
Email philip.williams@qr.com.au

Tender closes at 2.00pm AEST on Tuesday, 27 January 2012

[#Metro]

Went to the QR link. Would be good to have Morningside added to the mix, given how important it is for the bus network reform as an interchange station. Could be largely self-funding with commercial development also. Would have to be very carefully managed as potential for politicking there.

As part of this Program, the State Government recently committed $212 million to deliver accessibility upgrades to 14 high priority stations across the next five years including:

Graceville
Dinmore
Alderley
Newmarket
Nambour
Strathpine
Boondall
Auchenflower

[ozbob]

Auchenflower is a key point of access to the Wesley Hospital.  It is rather sad  how it has languished for years ..  the ramps are far to steep for mobility impaired passengers to use safely.

[ozbob]

For interest ..

IRJ --> Variable platform screen doors ready for testing

MITSUBISHI Heavy Industries is planning to conduct trials in Tokyo this autumn with an improved version of its Dokodemo Door (Anywhere Door) platform screen door system, which is designed for lines where door positions and spacing might vary between different types of rolling stock.

Verification testing at Miurakaigan station on the Keikyu Kurihama Line is being funded with the aid of a technology grant from the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Tourism's Railway Bureau.

The test installation will be the equivalent length of one vehicle, and testing will focus on the interface system, which relies solely on platform equipment to operate the doors, with no need to modify rolling stock. The trials will also validate the performance of the doors under actual operating conditions.

[tazzer9]

There are so many cheap and simple ways of producing the same effect as a variable platform screen door.   Why do theytry and over engineer the heck out of something that could be so simple.

[verbatim9]

https://brisbanedevelopment.com/southpoint-deliver-6million-south-bank-train-station-upgrade/

Southpoint to Deliver $6 million South Bank Train Station Upgrade

July 31, 2016
Located at the southern gateway to South Bank, one of Queensland's largest transit oriented developments is set to deliver major improvements with an estimated $6 million upgrade to the existing train station late this year.

With over 60,000 passengers passing through on a weekly basis, South Bank is one of Brisbane's busiest train stations and now set to form a key feature of the new $600m mixed-use Southpoint's dining and retail precinct.
In partnership with Queensland Rail and South Bank Corporation, Anthony John Group will deliver design enhancements to the station's layout and customer facilities, resulting in improved public safety, accessibility and overall appearance. Upgrades will include:
The installation of two new escalators, staircase and lift, providing direct pedestrian access from Southpoint's Grey Street retail and dining forecourt to the station platform.A new ticketing office, staff facilities and public toilet amenities.A new feature station entry linking to Southpoint's upper ground retail and dining level, emphasised by a sub-tropical designed glass awning structure and an open area under.Widening of pedestrian pathways for increased user-friendliness and traffic flow.New digital timetable and event update monitors.Extra comfort and shade protection with a proposed new awning and seating structure.
Anthony John Group Managing Director Tony John said the planned upgrades will further enhance the already abundant public and lifestyle amenity on offer whilst playing a key role in supporting increased resident, worker and tourist populations in the area.
"Careful planning considerations have gone into this from the outset. With an estimated 2,000 new workers in Flight Centre's Global Headquarters, over 1,000 new apartment residents and a new Woolworths anchored 4,500sqm retail and dining precinct, we wanted to ensure we mitigated the risk of additional pedestrian and vehicle traffic congestion, remove barriers to access and indeed increase usage, supporting growth in South Bank visitation and in turn local business."
"In line with true transit oriented planning principles we have specifically designed Southpoint to exploit all access opportunities to public transport, incorporating features that encourage transit ridership and of course maximise patron safety."
South Bank Corporation Chief Executive Jeff Weigh echoed similar sentiments, confirming the upgrade would provide residents, workers and visitors to the precinct a world class arrival experience.
"Improvements to the station's accessibility, including more direct and safer linkages, better technology, and overall amenity will ensure that public transport continues to be an ideal method of travel to and from South Bank well into the future."
The proposed station upgrades are currently underway and will be completed by late 2016 in line with the opening of the new Southpoint retail and precinct.
A new flagship Emporium Hotel at Southpoint is scheduled to open in early 2018 whilst a selection of residential apartments remain for sale, priced from $1,850,000.

[kram0]

I also heard they plan to raise both platforms now, not just platform 1.

[SurfRail]

^ That would be good news.  I didn't even think platform 1 was being raised, just spruced up.

I think South Bank seriously needs to be gated given the revenue leakage that happens here, but that would require 3 separate concourses/exits:

- The one the developer will be delivering, which would be the main station office
- A concourse arrangement along Vulture St
- Something at street level on Tribune St

So probably not overly cost effective to do compared to somewhere like South Brisbane with only one exit in normal use.

[verbatim9]

http://www.westendmagazine.com/south-bank-station-upgrade/?platform=hootsuite

More than 60,000 passengers pass through South Bank station each week, passengers who can now look forward to a six million dollar station upgrade.

The upgrade, which is already underway, will result in major improvements to the buzzing station. Once the upgrade is complete South Bank station will form a key feature of Southpoint, a development in the heart of Southbank that will encompass a 600-million-dollar lifestyle, retail, and dining precinct.

In partnership with Queensland Rail and South Bank Corporation, Anthony John Group will deliver design enhancements to the station's layout and customer facilities. This will improve the stations accessibility, and overall appearance, and is something Brisbane locals can look forward to enjoying by late 2016.

There will be two escalators installed as well as a staircase and lift. These will provide direct pedestrian access from the platform to Grey Street, which will be a key retail and dining location in Southpoint. To make the station even more accessible there will be a new station entry linking to Southpoint's dining and retail precinct, which will see many new workers, locals, and tourists using the station once Southpoint is completed.

As well as accessibility, the upgrades focus on comfort and ease of use for travellers. A new ticketing office, public toilets, and seating under an awning will be installed. The technical side of travelling has not been lost on the developers, with new event update monitors and digital timetables being included in the upgrade.

The proposed station upgrades are currently underway and will be completed by late 2016 in line with the opening of the new Southpoint retail and community precinct.

Words by Anna Ghioni
Image accessed via Southpoint's Facebook Page

[Golliwog]

Thirty. Seven. Days. 

That's what, about the same amount of time it took to build the temporary platforms at Ferny Grove? 

The temporary platforms at Newmarket are now pushing half a year of construction, and still not open! 

Does anyone know what's up with that? Is it some issue with the temporary platforms themselves, or are they just not yet ready to start the rehab works on the current platforms? (feel free to shift this to a more appropriate thread if required)

[aldonius]

Thirty. Seven. Days. 

That's what, about the same amount of time it took to build the temporary platforms at Ferny Grove? 

The temporary platforms at Newmarket are now pushing half a year of construction, and still not open! 

Does anyone know what's up with that? Is it some issue with the temporary platforms themselves, or are they just not yet ready to start the rehab works on the current platforms? (feel free to shift this to a more appropriate thread if required)

They look... almost done now? Electric conduit's been put up. Haven't noticed any roofing, though.

[tazzer9]

It looks like the are funnelling all the electrical cabling through the conduits.   The platforms themselves along with associated critical infrastructure have been ready for months.

[BrizCommuter]

Thirty. Seven. Days. 

That's what, about the same amount of time it took to build the temporary platforms at Ferny Grove? 

The temporary platforms at Newmarket are now pushing half a year of construction, and still not open! 

Does anyone know what's up with that? Is it some issue with the temporary platforms themselves, or are they just not yet ready to start the rehab works on the current platforms? (feel free to shift this to a more appropriate thread if required)

They look... almost done now? Electric conduit's been put up. Haven't noticed any roofing, though.

Oh, the roof will take another 2 years. 

BrizCommuter has blogged on the painfully slow Newmarket station accessibility upgrade.
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2016/08/newmarket-go-slow.html

[tazzer9]

If the situation on the NCL regarding temporary platforms has taught us anything, they will eventually commission the temporary side platforms at newmarket, forget about doing the upgrade on the main platform for 7 years. Then they will commission study after study about what really is the best way to upgrade newmarket, they will do it, but  bungle up something major like only raise half the platform.

[BrizCommuter]

If the situation on the NCL regarding temporary platforms has taught us anything, they will eventually commission the temporary side platforms at newmarket, forget about doing the upgrade on the main platform for 7 years. Then they will commission study after study about what really is the best way to upgrade newmarket, they will do it, but  bungle up something major like only raise half the platform.

You are not too far off the mark. Newmarket station was refurbished around half a decade ago, minus things that might have been useful, such as disability access.

[petey3801]

I believe the temp platforms at Newmarket will finally come in to use from Monday.

[verbatim9]

Next will be an total upgrade of Roma Street station for CRR

[BrizCommuter]

Photo taken on last night of Newmarket's Island platform being in use for a while.

[SurfRail]

I'm curious to know if they constructed the temporary platforms at the correct height.

[Golliwog]

Kinda hoping as well that they set up a timelapse camera... seems the done thing for most infrastructure projects like this 

[petey3801]

I'm curious to know if they constructed the temporary platforms at the correct height.

Low level unfortunately!

[ozbob]

Newmarket temporary platform pic.twitter.com/jOTZTcPyZy

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) October 4, 2016

[ozbob]

Newmarket station pic.twitter.com/Zo1F5nevAd

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) October 5, 2016

[ozbob]

An observation by mufreight at Dinmore station today (8th October 2016)

It appears that the position of the humps is incorrect? Or is this a change of policy/procedure?



Photograph mufreight 8th October 2016

[petey3801]

I thought the same when I first saw it. I think it may have to do with the positioning of the lifts, keeping the platform the same height from the lift to the middle of the train?

[mufreight]

The workers on site tell that that is as far as they are going now if the guard is to remain in the middle of the train and the hump line up with the last door on the fifth carriage and the first door almost of the last carriage on trains going to Ipswich and on the second carriage on trains going to Brisbane then these raised sections are no use either for the existing train sets with the guard riding in the leading end of the fourth carriage or for the NGR sets where since it would seem that no provision has been made for the guard to travel in the middle of the train, (trailing end of the third carriage or the leading end of the fourth carriage) one must assume that the guard on the NGR sets will travel in the cab of the last carriage (trailing end of the sixth carriage)
The sections of raised platform at this station are of no use for disability access.
This again raises question as to where the guard will travel on the NGR sets and what arrangements will be made for assisted access to trains
If all guards are moved to the rear of the trains then all of the disability access points will have to be moved and the raised portions of platforms at Fortitude Valley, Petrie and Dinmore will remain monuments to a lack of planning and waste of money.
At Dinmore the logical option is to raise the entire platform but judging from the ramped ends at the Brisbane end of the raised sections there is no intention to do that.
Graceville is also seemingly getting missplaced raised sections of platform that like Dinmore are neither configured for middle of train dissability access or end of train disability access.

[petey3801]

That's as far as they're going for now or at all? I would be highly surprised if the hump does not line up with the middle of the train (at least the first door of the fourth car).

There is zero question about where the guard will be on the NGR, they will be at the back.

[mufreight]

If the guards go to the rear of the NGR sets as seems to be the likely solution then where will the guards travel on the existing 2x3 car sets and what happens for assisted loading/unloading for disability access?

[ozbob]

An artist's impression for the upgraded Dinmore station from the Station Accessibility Upgrade Program web page at http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/inthecommunity/projects/station-upgrade-program/station-accessibility-upgrade-program seems to suggest full length raising.



If you look at the photograph mufreight took


it may just be the beginning of the run for raising the edge.  The blocks start with a taper and then just flat edge.  I think it might be continued.  We will see.

[petey3801]

Yes, will most certainly be extended from where it is now. Current bit is there simply because that is where they are currently working.
Regarding guards position:
NGR - Rear of train.
Everything but NGR - Same position as now.
Assisted boarding procedures haven't been released as yet, but likely won't change on current units. On NGR they will still be in the middle of the train, probably a mix of guard assist and platform staff assist (where available).

[bretto82]

The car for wheelchairs on the ngr sets will be the 3rd or 4th car depending on which is the lead cab so heading to Ippy if it's the 3rd car heading back to the city will be the 4th car that car also has the toilet in it is what I have heard from people in the know

[ozbob]

Woo hoo, #Palmwoods railway station finally to get a new coat of paint and other tidyings up. pic.twitter.com/Y9HiUbGzsg

— Jeff Addison (@Jeffrey_Addison) October 19, 2016

[BrizCommuter]

Ooops!  Driver just opened doors on wrong side at Newmarket (out of service island platform/construction site instead of temporary side platforms).

[bcasey]

Ooops!  Driver just opened doors on wrong side at Newmarket (out of service island platform/construction site instead of temporary side platforms).

Related to this, I have a question for Petey3801. Are there sensors on the train that automatically prevent the doors on the wrong side from being open (i.e a proximity sensor to make sure the platform is within a certain distance of the door), or is it entirely on the driver to not make a mistake?