Station Upgrades

[ozbob]

So updated:

https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/forcustomers/access/station-access-guide

Total stations 156

Independent access

88 stations which is 56.4%

Assisted access

44 stations which is 28.2%

Limited access

24 stations which 15.4%

Compliance deadline is Dec, 2022.

Of the 156 stations 35 have full height full length platforms = 22.4%

A further 5 are " coming soon " ( so is a proper timetable ..  )

A further 7 stations have some platforms full height but other platforms not:

Altandi
Bowen Hills
Central
Fruitgrove
Kuraby
Roma St
Runcorn

South Bank will have platform one full height soon.

Brisbanetimes --> Half of Queensland Rail stations not fully accessible

Almost half of Queensland Rail's train stations are not fully accessible, leaving anyone in a wheelchair, with a pram or injured unable to travel by train.

The state government has announced the Albion train station would receive a multimillion-dollar accessibility upgrade as part of a $750 million joint development with the government and property developer, Geon Property – almost four years after it first called for expressions of interest.

The expressions of interest released in May 2014 said "the successful developer must also invest significantly in the integration of the railway station into its plans".

Currently, Albion station is only accessible by stairs or a steep ramp and does not have high platforms for easy boarding.

This station is one of 72 Queensland Rail stations that is not fully accessible.

A decision is also still pending on an Australian Human Rights Commission report about NGR trains having disability access issues, including toilets and pathways being too small for wheelchairs.

Transport and Main Roads minister Mark Bailey said the Albion station would be upgraded to include improvements such as raised platform sections providing assisted boarding points, and other accessibility features such as hearing aid loops, signage and tactile floor surfaces.

"The developer is responsible for works providing access to the station."

The upgrade is still at least a year away with construction not expected to start until 2019-20.

Disability advocate Geoff Trappett, from Inclusion Moves, said the state government delivered what it was required to do under federal legislation, but nothing more.

"Queensland Rail is simply keeping pace with that, but they are by no means going above and beyond," he said.

"Queensland Rail needs to move to make sure they are not just ticking boxes, but that they're actually achieving outcomes for people with disability and achieving outcomes that will ensure train travel is accessible to all of the community."

Mr Trappett described Queensland's disability access as "islands of accessibility".

"There are some train stations that are fantastic, but there are also some train stations that you know you need to avoid," he said.

"The amount of funding that is put into disability access it will always come down to political football.

"When political football is involved minority groups generally lose out and people with a disability are one of those minority groups."

Mr Trappett also called out the listing of stations as having 'assisted access' as misleading.

"Assisted access isn't a concept that sits within the federal legislation. A station is either compliant with the federal legislation or it is not compliant," he said.

"Any of those ones which say 'assisted access' may as well say 'not compliant'."

Mr Bailey said the Palaszczuk government was committed to improving accessibility so all customers could travel without barriers.

"[The government] is rolling out a Station Accessibility Upgrade Program at high-priority stations across the network," he said.

Information about the Station Accessibility Upgrade Program on Queensland Rail's website stated priority for accessibility upgrades was determined by patronage, nearby community facilities, existing degree of accessibility and existing asset condition.

Queensland Rail's station access guide, last updated December 2017, said Queensland Rail was committed to providing accessible rail services for all customers, before outlining that only about 53 per cent of its stations were fully accessible.

Mr Trappett said the Transport and Main Roads as a department was behind in its accessibility action plan.

"It ran out at the end of last year and they have not been able to produce a new one as yet," he said.

The outdated plan was designed to align with the Queensland Disability Plan 2014-19 which lists "make it easier to access a range of transport options and make public transport more accessible" under priority seven.

Shadow transport minister Steve Minnikin said the LNP supported the proposed accessibility upgrade at Albion train station.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/980481905253478406

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/980483118267166720

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/980487243981774848

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

2nd April 2018

Half of Queensland Rail stations not fully accessible

Good Morning,

Brisbanetimes has highlighted the unsatisfactory situation with rail station accessibility compliance this morning.

Brisbanetimes --> Half of Queensland Rail stations not fully accessible

We have pointed this out before.  The sooner public transport is under a proper statutory authority, Public Transport Queensland, away from the TMR / TransLink failure contagion the better.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

10th February 2018

Queensland Rail Station Access Guide has errors of fact - update

Good Morning,

We note that the QR Station Access Guide has now been further updated
( http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/forcustomers/access/station-access-guide ).

Both Banoon and Sunnybank stations are now showing correctly that they do not have high level platforms.

We repeat our call for a full compliance audit of all the railway stations on the SEQ rail network so that we can be
confident that the Queensland Rail Station Access Guide is a true reflection of the status of all stations.
We are not confident that it is correct.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Updated snapshot:

https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/forcustomers/access/station-access-guide

Total stations 156

Independent access

88 stations which is 56.4%

Assisted access

44 stations which is 28.2%

Limited access

24 stations which 15.4%

Compliance deadline is Dec, 2022.

Of the 156 stations 35 have full height full length platforms = 22.4%

A further 5 are " coming soon " ( so is a proper timetable ..  )

A further 7 stations have some platforms full height but other platforms not:

Altandi
Bowen Hills
Central
Fruitgrove
Kuraby
Roma St
Runcorn

South Bank will have platform one full height soon.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/jackietrad/status/999054118067978240

[Stillwater]

It would be good if train-skipping trains on the Cleveland Line stopped at Buranda.

[not_available]

There seems to have been actuall process on that little platform extention thing on the North side of Strathpine.
Most of some platform has been put on. Temporary?

[brissypete]

Received a flyer at Fairfield Station this morning regarding the station upgrade, design phase with artists impression. The artists impression on the flyer shows a major improvement including 3rd platform. New overbridge with lifts of course, platform humps only but given the curved platform not surprising. Has the potential to be a massive improvement.

Sent from my G8141 using Tapatalk

[#Metro]

Any possibility of full height platforms and straightening?

[SurfRail]

About the only way I could see that could work would be to build the new platform on the dual gauge track first, then close and eventually slew the middle track, and finally the eastern track.  Much more expensive and complicated.

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> $17.6M promise, but only $50K in the budget

UPGRADES to East Ipswich train station are unlikely to be finished within the next three years, despite being a key election commitment.

The budget revealed only $50,000 of a promised $17.6 million had been allocated to urgent upgrades at East Ipswich train station to make it accessible to people with a disability.

A steep ramp and a set of stairs is the only access to the station.

During the election campaign, Ipswich MP Jennifer Howard said the limited accessibility was an issue voters had raised frequently during her term as the state representative.

The State Government has committed to funding the rest of the project, with the $50,000 allocated in this year's budget to undertake the design of the upgrade, Ms Howard said yesterday.

That means it will be at least one year until construction starts, which will likely take two years to finish.

"The most important thing people need to know is the upgrade is fully funded," Ms Howard said.

Ms Howard was unable to give a time frame on the works but said she was committed to keeping the community informed, as updates became available.

All public transport must be brought up to minimum accessibility standards by 2022.

Inclusion Moves founder Geoff Trappett said while he was glad East Ipswich had been scheduled for upgrades, he was suspicious of the small funding allocation.

"To have a small amount of funding included in this year's budget simply to say you have started a project does nothing for social inclusion for people with a disability," he said.

Mr Trappett said the lack of access made people with a disability "feel like second class citizens".

"To have areas that are completely blocked off to an entire subset of the population, in this day and age, is just unacceptable," he said.

Rail Back On Track transport advocate Robert Dow has doubts about whether the government will be able to meet the 2022 deadline for disability access compliance.

"About 50 per cent of the train stations aren't compliant," Mr Dow said.

"It feels like they are not taking disability compliance seriously. At this rate we're not going to make it."

Queensland Rail is executing an accessibility action plan, with the first projects rolling out in 2015.

Upgrades have been finished at Graceville, Dinmore, Alderley, Newmarket and Nambour. Works have started at Strathpine, Boondall and Morayfield.

A further eight stations, including East Ipswich, are listed as in the design stage.

A 24-hour assistance service for people with a disability is also available via text message, phone and email.

Visit queenslandrail.com.au for more information.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1007295448644632576

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1007730322266456065

[verbatim9]

When will the redevelopment of Southbank station start? When Brisbane Metro construction gets on the way or in the next few months. It's atrocious. Reminds me of South Yarra not very functional for transferring and not very visually appealing.

[ozbob]

Ha ha.  I used catch a train from Windsor to South Yarra and then transfer to the Dandenong service to go Hughesdale when I was attending Chadstone High School in the first half of 1960s.  You are right, not much difference from today to then.

Apparently there is a significant upgrade planned to be done shortly.

[SurfRail]

I gather there is some limited platform resurfacing and raising to happen.

The interchange with buses is very poor unless you happen to be transferring between the busway and P2/3, which would be very unlikely except maybe to Gold Coast trains in the PM peak leaving from P3.  Getting to P1 is a right pain in the neck, especially if you need the lifts in which case you are using up to 4 (busway to Tribune St, Tribune St to P2/3, P2/3 to Vulture St, Vulture St to P1). 

Chatswood it isn't.

[ozbob]

Train Station Accessibility
Michael Berkman MP

https://www.michaelberkman.com.au/train-station-accessibility

PETITION to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey MP and the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland:

Currently, more than half of the state's train stations do not comply with federal disability standards for public transport. These standards mandate that all stations in Queensland must be upgraded by 2022. There is still no clear plan for how the government will get there.

The social and economic benefits of public transport accessibility are very clear, yet Taringa and Auchenflower Stations still have major accessibility issues. This excludes many members of our community from using the stations, hindering their access to the rest of our public transport network.

We understand both Queensland Rail and the Queensland Government are committed in principle to making public transport accessible for all. Now it's time to turn this commitment into action. Accordingly, your petitioners request the Government fund and install accessibility upgrades to Taringa Station and Auchenflower Station by 2020. We also request the Government commit to a binding, fully funded plan to make all of Queensland's train stations fully accessible.

>> https://www.michaelberkman.com.au/train-station-accessibility

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1014994412982554624

[brissypete]

When will the redevelopment of Southbank station start? When Brisbane Metro construction gets on the way or in the next few months. It's atrocious. Reminds me of South Yarra not very functional for transferring and not very visually appealing.

Not to mention the "temporary" ticket office and toilets on P2/3 which have been closed since the Southpoint building opened many months ago.

Sent from my G8141 using Tapatalk

[achiruel]

I would just like to have a little rant about accessibility.  Why were the platforms at Loganlea station to extended to full height for their full length? They're dead straight! QR can't excuse curved platforms as an excuse at this station. Also why does it not have any lifts?  This is a pretty major used station, nearby to the Logan Hospital, also closest station to Griffith Uni Logan Campus, interchange from Gold Coast to Beenleigh lines and also a number of bus services, and yet the upgrade is barely half-arsed. More like one-quarter-arsed.

QR is a joke...

[STB]

I would just like to have a little rant about accessibility.  Why were the platforms at Loganlea station to extended to full height for their full length? They're dead straight! QR can't excuse curved platforms as an excuse at this station. Also why does it not have any lifts?  This is a pretty major used station, nearby to the Logan Hospital, also closest station to Griffith Uni Logan Campus, interchange from Gold Coast to Beenleigh lines and also a number of bus services, and yet the upgrade is barely half-arsed. More like one-quarter-arsed.

QR is a joke...

Loganlea is scheduled to be upgraded with the funding from the Qld budget, there are now renders of the upgrade on the Qld Rail website with lifts etc for Loganlea station.  No idea when it will happen though.

[not_available]

Strathpine's p2/3 extension northward looks to be finished. Still fenced off though.

[kram0]

Yet still nothing from the government re Central station upgrade. I have a feeling this is well behind schedule.

[JustSomeTrainGuy]

^ I'd like to think they've stuffed something up majorly in the design phase that means it can't be upgraded as planned, something similar to the NGR stuff up. e.g. If they plan on raising platforms 1/2 and 3/4, why have they placed new skirting around the pillars at the current platform height? Seems a little backwards that they would do that and then remove it again when the platforms are raised.

The project page once said (now its just a page that says "Work is progressing") that there is a sample of the new tiles on display at the Roma St end of platform 3/4, but nothing is there in reality.

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Work to start on Morayfield station upgrade

Major construction will start this year, to improve the accessibility of a major train station north of Brisbane.

The John Holland Group has been awarded the contract for the accessibility upgrade of Morayfield Station, which is on the Caboolture line.

State Labor MP for Morayfield Mark Ryan said early preparation at the station would continue before major construction started later this year.

"Queensland Rail has been undertaking works at the site on foundations, structures and platforms, in preparation for the relocation of overhead electrical equipment," Mr Ryan said.

"With the John Holland Group now engaged, customers will see major work start to take shape at Morayfield Station from later this year, once detailed construction plans have been completed."

Mr Ryan said the accessibility upgrade would provide customers using Morayfield Station with a step-free path of travel through the station.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said the upgrade would support 250 jobs for contractors and suppliers from the construction industry, including electrical, carpentry, painting, plumbing, labouring, roofing, glazing and traffic control.

"The station will remain open throughout the major project, however there may be some temporary impacts to station facilities as construction progresses," he said.

upgrades

Upgrade feature

■ New station building

■ Accessible toilet

■ New footbridge with lifts

■ Easier access on and off trains

■ Hearing aid loops

■ Extended platform shelters

■ Upgraded lighting

■ CCTV cameras

■ New signage

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Train station upgrades won't meet deadlines

IT is "appalling'' the State Government will not meet a 2022 federal deadline to make all suburban train stations accessible to people with mobility problems, state Greens MP for Maiwar, Michael Berkman, says.

Mr Berkman quizzed state Transport Minister Mark Bailey about the issue in parliamentary Estimates.

Mr Bailey admitted the government was behind schedule to meet the federal deadline, with an upgrade at Auchenflower train station only in the design phase.

He gave no time frame for upgrading the Taringa station's disability access.

"Sure, there is a substantial investment required, but this is what the federal legislation requires,'' Mr Berkman said.

"The fact the government has given up on the 2022 target is disappointing.

"One thing I find frustrating is the government's response that 83 per cent of commuters now have a disabilities-accessible station.

"It's not possible for everyone to bounce down to the next station if they don't have one nearby.''

Mr Bailey said in Estimates that the Toowong, Graceville and Indooroopilly stations were now accessible, while Auchenflower's upgrade was in the early phase.

"The very nature of upgrades to accessibility of stations over time has been that obviously the higher volume stations were targeted earlier (by) successive governments,'' he said.

"I think it is fair to say that no state will meet that federal requirement in terms of having all of their stations fully accessible by that date, but Queensland is more advanced than other states.

"We are doing that work as quickly as we can, but it does take a little bit of time to do that, because you have to involve communities in the consultation and design.

"You also have to keep the rail system open 24/7 or, depending on the station, a lot of the time, so you have to work around those issues of operation throughout.

"You also have to keep all of the workers and the people who use the station safe throughout.''

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/mcberkman/status/1027079704929431553

[SurfRail]

Perth is the most compliant (admittedly because most of their route km are post the DDA, and the rest was completely rebuilt by like 1992 and has been further upgraded since).  If it isn't, it would be a fairly trivial matter to fix anything left compared to anybody else's network.  Every platform / train interface is compliant, although access to the platform isn't necessarily always accessible.

Melbourne has fully stepless access to every platform except at Heyington, although that doesn't equate to DDA compliance.

https://wongm.com/2017/11/history-ramps-versus-stairs-melbourne-railway-stations/
https://www.danielbowen.com/2017/11/06/dda-compliant-stations/

[ozbob]

Morayfield station update August 2018

[ozbob]

Strathpine station update August 2018

[red dragin]

Have we discussed how Boondall, which is dead straight and flat, is being upgraded with lifts, new buildings, but only central platform humps?

[achiruel]

Have we discussed how Boondall, which is dead straight and flat, is being upgraded with lifts, new buildings, but only central platform humps?

Just like Loganlea, except no lifts there! Ridiculous for such a major station.

[Stillwater]

Is not Loganlea adjacent to the Logan Hospital?

[SurfRail]

This is now standard.  Some dill within QR has clearly justified this on the basis of lower cost expenditure and failed to take into account the impact on dwell times, DDA compliance more generally etc. 

We were finally getting some traction a few years back when South Brisbane, Sandgate etc were being done.  For ruler straight platform edges it is abysmally stupid and short-sighted not to be doing the whole length.

I'm deeply concerned we will end up with something monumentally silly at Central 1-4 now.  It's bad enough that the 2 other busiest stations on the system only have half (or less) raising.

[achiruel]

Is not Loganlea adjacent to the Logan Hospital?

Correct. Also station for bus transfer to Griffith Uni Logan, and interchange between Beenleigh/Gold Coast trains. Having no lifts is disgraceful.

[red dragin]

Some dill within QR has clearly justified this on the basis of lower cost expenditure and failed to take into account the impact on dwell times, DDA compliance more generally etc. 

Which when you think about it in the scheme of things, the costs of lifts would be far greater.

As I've suggested before, surely some prefab slabs would be the way to do it. Build in all the anchor points for chairs, signs.

• Rip out all the 'furniture' night one of a shutdown.
• Drop prefab slabs in place and anchor through the first day and into the second night.
• Reinstall all the 'furniture' on the last day and evening.

[SurfRail]

^ Not quite that simple, particularly where you have manned stations and more substantial facilities - but that isn't an excuse for only raising the middle of the platform in any event.

[red dragin]

^ Not quite that simple, particularly where you have manned stations and more substantial facilities - but that isn't an excuse for only raising the middle of the platform in any event.

The challenge would be doorway heights, but if the slabs sloped back away from the tracks (helps with the prams rolling on the tracks issue), you could reduce this step.

Will still require planning and design, but on the straight platforms like Boondall, would avoid the 6+ months of temporary structures.

[mufreight]

doorway heights were not a problem at Dinmore and Graceville

[red dragin]

doorway heights were not a problem at Dinmore and Graceville

They've been an issue at Woodford, since the platform was raised the step up into the doorways has gone. My subconscious is still to remember there is no step though 

[Cazza]

Loganlea Station:



You can really see the difference in height between the train and platform in the shot of the first EMU (around 2:30 mins).

The station itself looks very run down. Tactiles missing, lack of sheltered seating and of course the lack of full height platforms. On both platforms, there are humps (shown around 4 mins and then again slightly after).

Edit: Someone really needs to get some WD-40 onto those NGR brakes ASAP!