QT - (16/07/2008) Rail work hits fans' Supercar travel plans

[Sunbus610]

Rail work hits fans' Supercar travel plans
July 16, 2008
By Elizabeth Spry

QUEENSLAND Raceways general manager Keith Lewis is disappointed Ipswich train services will be disrupted on the same weekend he expects 60-70,000 people at the Willowbank track.

Mr Lewis said the City of Ipswich 400 V8 Supercar round would attract tens of thousands.

"We submitted a traffic management plan to the Queensland State Government which was approved almost a month ago," Mr Lewis said.

"I would have though the State Government would have passed that information on to the department of transport and QR."

On Saturday and Sunday all Brisbane's suburban network's inbound and outbound trains between Sherwood and Ipswich will be replaced by bus services due to track work.

QR passenger executive general manager Paul Scurrah said the decision to close the line was made more than 12 months ago and was not made lightly.

"QR looked at alternative dates after being made aware of the V8 Supercar event, but it would have been too costly and created too many logistical difficulties to change it," Mr Scurrah said.

"People can still catch public transport to the V8 Supercars and have fun and I urge them to do just that."

Mr Lewis said he received assurances from QR that there would be enough buses in place to transport spectators planning to travel by rail.

Track work also occurred during the Ipswich Cup and has prompted TransLink to develop a master list of planned events so disruptions to train services can be better planned.

For the time being however, Ipswich City Council Mayor Paul Pisasale urged residents to be patient.

"You can't have growth without inconvenience," Cr Pisasale said.

"They're putting new public transport services into Ipswich and our region and to do that they have to do line construction.

"I'm a little bit upset because of the Ipswich 400 V8 Supercars, but what can we do?"

People planning to catch trains this weekend should allow an extra 30 minutes on to their trip.

Queensland Times (Ipswich) story HERE

[ozbob]

RAIL Back On Track has been calling for over a year now for the establishment of a community event database to assist with track closure planning. Hopefully this will be in place in the near future and closures can be planned in a manner more empathetic to the community and major events ....

From Courier Mail click here!

Rail work to disrupt trains to Willowbank V8 Supercar races

Rail work to disrupt trains to Willowbank V8 Supercar races
Article from: The Courier-Mail

By Leanne Edmistone

July 18, 2008 12:00am

TRACK work will disrupt Queensland Rail services to Ipswich this weekend as 65,000 people converge on nearby Willowbank for the V8 Supercar series.
It will be the second time in a month that scheduled rail  work has coincided with a major event  and disrupted public transport services in the area.

Upgrades were also carried out on the Ipswich Cup day, held at Bundamba on June 14.

Queensland Raceways general manager Keith Lewis yesterday said the scheduling clash was "disappointing'  but was not expected to have a huge impact on spectators heading to the Willowbank complex.

The 3.12km circuit will host round seven of the 2008 V8 Supercar Championship series, the City of Ipswich 400, plus a large support program  starting tonight.

Tomorrow  and on Sunday all suburban inbound and outbound train services between Sherwood and Ipswich will be replaced by buses.

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

Delays of up to 30 minutes are expected.

Mr Lewis said only about 1000 race fans were expected to use public transport of the expected 65,000 crowd across the three-day event.

"We'd like to have a railway station to the front gate of the motorway precinct, then it might have an impact," he said.

Mr Lewis said  the event date changed each year, but government departments were notified as soon as possible.

QR passenger executive general manager Paul Scurrah said the works were scheduled more than a year ago.

"QR looked at alternative dates after being made aware of the V8 Supercar event but it would have been too costly and created too many logistical difficulties to change it," he said.

As part of the Corinda to Darra Rail Upgrade project, new tracks will be laid and Oxley and Darra stations will be upgraded with new facilities, security, accessibility and extra parking.

Mr Lewis said motorists could expect possible delays in the area between 8.30am and 10.30am, and again from 3-4pm each afternoon. The largest crowds are expected on Sunday.

[ozbob]

This will be of interest too -->  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=938.msg4126#msg4126 (below)

-----------------------------------

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]

Added this comment to the CM blog:

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) has been calling for over a year now for a Community Events Database to be set up, so that track closures can be planned in an empathetic manner with regard to major community events.

Again Ipswich suffers a lack of efficient rail public transport when it needs it most. Last month it was no trains for the Ipswich cup.

Track closures are necessary to allow essential upgrades/maintenance but they do not have to clash with major community events. A bit of foresight would avoid this heartbreak. More details here --> http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=938.0

[ButFli]

Poor old QR. It seems they just can't get it right when scheduling closures of the Ipswich line. Is it just that they are incredibly unlikely or is there a major event scheduled along the Ipswich line every weekend?

[Mozz]

Advice on ABC radio this morning about drivers needing to avoid Ipswich Motorway at Riverview due to large traffic accident (300metres or so from Riverview Railway station) inbound towards Ipswich.

Buses will find it difficult to convey passengers when the Motorway is closed.

Pity those trying to get to the V8 supercars at Qld Raceway at Willowbank. Only 50 - 60,000 people expected there this weekend.

[ozbob]

Yes, always seems to happen when there is a line closure!

I noted in the paper this morning that buses will also be running from Ipswich railway station to the races at Willowbank.  How convenient!   

[Mozz]

After having sorted out my travel and pickup arrangements to the Ipswich round of the V8 Supercars next Sunday I read a flyer in my letterbox telling me of loud night time works to be undertaken on the 21/22/23 of August - hmmm I thought to myself that date of the 23 sounds familiar - yep it's the weekend of the V8 supercar round so no trains running between Corinda and Ipswich - buses to run between stations. ( well i suppose buses will run between stations if they can get through the crowded Ipswich Motorway ... and there isn't a crash on the motorway which regularly happens).

The crowds are going to be 100,000 plus for the weekend, it is a major and significant event for SEQ.

QR website doesn't mention the event, nor does the translink site (apparently a Pink concert is somehow more significant to translink because it gets a mention as an forthcoming event).

[ozbob]

Mozz, on the 12th May 2007 I wrote to the usuals with the suggestion of a community event database in an attempt to stop these major clashes.

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

12 May 2007

To:  transport@ministerial.qld.gov.au
CC:  translink@transport.qld.gov.au,  inala@parliament.qld.gov.au,
deagon.ward@ecn.net.au,  premiers@ministerial.qld.gov.au,
mailman@qnp.newsltd.com.au,  mount.ommaney@parliament.qld.gov.au,
moggill@parliament.qld.gov.au,  lytton@parliament.qld.gov.au,
bundamba@parliament.qld.gov.au,  ipswich@parliament.qld.gov.au,
ipswich.west@parliament.qld.gov.au

Dear Minister,

Our organisation, RAIL Back On Track  is concerned with the apparent contempt the public transport commuter community is being shown by Queensland Transport, Translink and QR.   For example, this weekend is the weekend of the Ipswich Show.  Why on earth is this the weekend that is chosen to close the railway lines from Corinda to Rosewood?  Surely some consultation with the community could provide for weekend closures that do not disrupt in a major way community activities.  Folks plan for these events for long periods of time and it is heart breaking to have it ruined by a lack of consideration of transport authorities.

The Oxley Village Street Fair was 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.  Morale is such now that the organisers are unlikely to attempt that again, such was the effect.

Just as a side note, on my morning walk today I called into Oxley Railway Station. There waiting expectantly for non-arriving trains was a group of hapless commuters.  I politely informed them of the track closure and directed them to the bus stops.  When there are track closures a very bright sign alerting commuters to changed travel arrangements is needed.  Lets think outside of the square for a change!  Presently publicity for these planned track closures is not getting through to many commuters.

Surely when planning track closures, some consideration be given to the community events.  We all appreciate the need for track maintenance and so forth, but it can be done in an emphatic way for the community.  It may be necessary to set up some sort of Community Event register that folks could use when planning maintenance closures.

We would appreciate some positive action on this matter rather than spin.

Yours sincerely,


Administration
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

The Oxley Street Fair was ruined by a closure. Buses were trying to run up the streets through the stalls.  Such was the chaos and heartbreak, it has never happened again.

It is not that hard is it?  

[Dean Quick]

Who dam well cares!!! Improvements to our rail system are much more important than greenhouse gas producing car racing events that I believe should be banned anyway!!!

[ozbob]

Each to their own.  The problem is the huge crowds cause problems for the substitution buses and the Ipswich line commuters get caught up  with delays.

It would be best if track closures were not on the same weekend.

Cheers
Bob

[Dean Quick]

I see your point Bob but I'm sure that the people charged with the responsibility of co-ordinating and planning these major shutdowns to facilitate the ongoing improvements we so desperately need have many factors to consider and a car race probably isn't high on the priority list, therefore I am willing to give them a break on this one.

[#Metro]

Hmm. QR does know something in advance- even despite being subject to uncertainties.
I remember seeing on their previous website about how careful planning was chosen so that the critical "diamond" at Roma St could be replaced on the day with the least number of people using trains.

The information on trackwork wouldn't be useful though, until made "official" and by then it might be too late.

I'm always hearing about track work being done on the Ipswich line. I'm getting the impression that the Ipswich line seems to have rather frequent track works, compared to say the Caboolture or Cleveland lines. Perhaps it's just a perception thing, or there is some major project going on...

[stephenk]

I'm always hearing about track work being done on the Ipswich line. I'm getting the impression that the Ipswich line seems to have rather frequent track works, compared to say the Caboolture or Cleveland lines. Perhaps it's just a perception thing, or there is some major project going on...

...triplication/quadruplication Corinda - Darra
...grade-seperated junction at Darra.

[Mozz]

Some interesting observations from some on this forum.

But take the nature of the events out of it. In the past three years track closures have been implemented on the biggest (not the smallest) events in the Ipswich area.

1.  Ipswich Cup 2 years running (20,000 plus attendees and walking distance from the bundamba train station)
2.  V8 Supercars 60,000 plus attendees over the weekend and two years in a row
3.  Ipswich Show

Track closures are needed to undertake work but seriously you can't tell me that a smidge of common sense would suggest that the  average 1 weekend a month closure needed to undertake the works could actually happen on other than these three weekends each year?

Last year QR was apologetic but blamed the collision of V8 supercars 2008 and the Ipswich line track closure on a previously planned closure 12 months in the making. So the reason it happened this year when the weekend is a completely different weekend in a different month is?

These events are not the local school fete. One is internationally televised and watched by millions aroud the world.

Last year there was chaos on the Ipswich motorway with multiple crashes on the V8 supercar weekend causing traffic gridlock.

Even without crashes (if that ever happens) there is very heavy traffic on the ipswich motorway and surrounding feeder roads on this weekend.

Apparently buses conveying passengers to and from the train stations that are closed on this weekend will need to use the gridlocked roads.

Say what you want but the ball has been well and truly dropped in the past and it continues to be dropped into the future.

RBOT has suggested solutions to this issue in the past, they are still valid.

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

60,000 V8 fans; trains on hold

60,000 V8 fans; trains on hold
Article from: The Courier-Mail

By Robyn Ironside

August 21, 2009 07:19am

FOR the second year running, Queensland Rail will close the line between Corinda and Rosewood train stations on the same weekend as Willowbank's V8 Supercars.
In a message on its website, Queensland Rail says that from "the first train on Saturday August 22 to the last train on Sunday August 23 all QR Citytrain services will be replaced by bus services''.

"Delays of up to 30 minutes may be experienced'', reads the statement.

Queensland Raceway is providing transport to and from Rosewood station for fans heading to the track.

This morning organisers were putting on a brave face, saying the rail-line closure should not significantly impact transport arrangements.

"Queensland Rail is running buses instead,'' said a spokeswoman from Willowbank.

But Robert Dow from commuter advocacy group Back on Track said Queensland Rail needed to coordinate track works around major events.

"We've been calling for a community events database to allow advanced planning to be done,'' Mr Dow said.

"We know track work has to be done requiring closures from time to time, but it should be done in a manner that's empathetic to community needs.

"It's not the time to be closing the track when 60,000 to 70,000 people are going to Queensland Raceway.''

He said replacing trains with buses meant the "already overloaded Ipswich motorway'' would be even more congested.

"If there's a crash like there was last year, it'll be chaotic.''

Mr Dow said said in 2007 Queensland Rail scheduled track works which closed the entire Ferny Grove line on the same weekend as Riverfire.

"There's also been closures when the Ipswich Show has been on.''

[Mozz]

Linkk to currrent CM blog comments:

124 at last count:

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/comments/0,23836,25960116-3102,00.html

[stephenk]

Can I ask how many people were expected to use public transport to this event?

[Mozz]

Good question. It's not an event as listed by Translink or QR websites.

I was going to but not now due to the inherent non timetable running of the replacement buses.

Even if the public transport component of the 60,000+ event attendees was a few thousand, the issue has grown to encompass the recurring inability to not schedule Ipswich line track closures when there are 3 major events in the Ipswich area - V8 supercars, Ipswich Cup and Ipswich Show.

It's only 3 weekends in a year with respect to the Ipswich line, seriously only three weekends but with respect to V8 supercars it's twice in two years and the same for the Ipswich cup. That sort of result can't be random ..... or could it??

They have been closing the Ipswich line for around 1 weekend a month while for some time now and commuters have ok with it ..... except where commonsense suggests that Ipswich events with 20,000+ and 60,000+ are held and the rail line is closed.

I really hope there aren't serious traffic incidents this weekend on the Ipswich Motorway or Cunningham highway as there were last year.

[ozbob]

There are two aspects to this. 

1.  Folks going to the car races.  For those who use public transport rail to Ipswich shuttle bus to the race track.  Numbers are several thousands.

2.  The long suffering Ippy punters.  They get caught up in the traffic nightmare on the highway in the buses substituting for rail.  Simple commuting to work or play becomes a marathon.  The closure could have been done last weekend or next. The lack of planning is unbelievable.  There is no notice taken of either the Ipswich Races, the show or the V8s.  It is only three weekends out of 52.  Surely a little foresight could have been exercised, particularly as it has been raised a number of times now.  Many people along the Ipswich line and in Ipswich and further out rely heavily on the rail.

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail 22nd August 2009 page 10

QR puts racegoers in pits

[ozbob]

Presently at Corinda, on board SMU226, ETD 7.13am  CAB.  No problems bus Oxley to Corinda, staff on job everything well organised at Oxley and Corinda.  Let's hope the traffic doesn't swamp the rail buses later today.

[ozbob]

Minister, I realise you have probably been under quoted but relatively speaking most of the car race patrons may not use public transport, however the impacts on the regular Ipswich/Rosewood line punters can be horrendous due to the traffic chaos.  This is why the track closures need to avoid weekends when the buses will struggle due to the heavy traffic! 

From the Queensland Times click here!

Fans get in gear for v8 supercars action

Fans get in gear for v8 supercars action

Zane Jackson | 22nd August 2009


V8 SUPERCAR fans travelled from as far away as New Zealand to watch their Ford and Holden heroes take their cars for a pre-race hit-out at the Queensland Raceway yesterday.

While more than 60,000 people are expected to hit Ipswich this weekend for the main Queensland 300 races, hundreds of dedicated fans turned up yesterday to watch the practice sessions.

Bundaberg resident Bev Tapp took her family trackside to watch her favourite drivers do what they do best.

?I came down for the first time last year and loved it - I enjoyed it so much that I made sure we came down again for this year's event,? she said.

Kiwi Grant Findlay said he travelled from New Zealand to combine his passion for V8 supercars with a family holiday.

?This is the first time we've been here and so far so good - I'm just really looking forward to the races now,? he said. ?It looks like it'll be a good course to watch the action.?

While Queensland Raceway organisers are bracing themselves for a bumper crowd this weekend, Queensland Rail has angered fans with their decision to replace trains between Corinda and Rosewood stations with a 30 minute longer bus service.

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale said he was extremely disappointed with QR's decision to coincide the track work with Ipswich's biggest sporting event.

?I'm calling for common sense to prevail, I understand they have to do track work but it shouldn't be on the same weekend as a major event like this,? Cr Pisasale said.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said Brisbane events like Riverfire and football at Suncorp Stadium mean there were few other weekends to do the track work on.

?About 50,000 people attend this event each year and I understand that only about 500 of them use public transport,? Ms Nolan said.

[Mozz]

Wouldn't it be great if those responsible for the continuing debacle were actually supporting the use of public transport.  Throwaway lines such as:

?About 50,000 people attend this event each year and I understand that only about 500 of them use public transport,? Ms Nolan said.

Here is a thought, how about setting some aspirational goals and actually try to increase the number of people travelling to attend large scale events by public transport.

Next year let's try to get thousands using public transport rather than hundreds.

We could start by having the V8Supercars event listed as an event on the Translink or QR websites - what about free rail/bus connection travel for public transport commuters, radical ideas I know, but these are serious times.

[O_128]

Wouldn't it be great if those responsible for the continuing debacle were actually supporting the use of public transport.  Throwaway lines such as:

?About 50,000 people attend this event each year and I understand that only about 500 of them use public transport,? Ms Nolan said.

Here is a thought, how about setting some aspirational goals and actually try to increase the number of people travelling to attend large scale events by public transport.

Next year let's try to get thousands using public transport rather than hundreds.

We could start by having the V8Supercars event listed as an event on the Translink or QR websites - what about free rail/bus connection travel for public transport commuters, radical ideas I know, but these are serious times.

for something like V8 supercars i am going to say that the majority of these people drive V8s or V6s and have never used pt in there life.

[p858snake]

...Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said Brisbane events like Riverfire and football at Suncorp Stadium mean there were few other weekends to do the track work on....

Is someone forgetting that theres approx. 52 weekends in a year....

[#Metro]

?About 50,000 people attend this event each year and I understand that only about 500 of them use public transport,? Ms Nolan said.

I wonder which year these figures were taken from? If they were last year's then of course hardly anyone went by PT (train) because it wasn't running!!!

With traffic and parking that bad, you could provide buses at $10/ride and still get a full bus.

[ozbob]

Traffic was heavy.