Redcliffe Peninsula line & associated changes - rail

[HappyTrainGuy]

...and passengers from Carseldine not being able to get a seat.

Oh those poor people having to actually stand now

I haven't seen the off peak loadings but its finally a step in the right direction for upping the frequency considering the bcc has done a p%ss poor job of getting people to the train stations.

[tazzer9]

Going off how busy the off peak ipswich and caboolture trains are, the new service pattern has really increased patronage. 
Only just realised today that most off peak sunshine coast trains are run from either springfield or ispwich/rosewood so that will definitely improve that service due to less forced transfers at roma st.

[BrizCommuter]

The problem is exacerbated by the fact the Northgate services show up as "CA##" or "##CA" (ie Caboolture line shortworkings), which makes the online timetable a pain in the neck to follow.  If these are treated as being Shorncliffe line workings it would be much simpler and more accurate.

As mentioned in my blog, the whole Northgate to CBD timetable information is a complete stuff up. Should just be simply shown as a short working Shorncliffe Line service, as shown on map, and as referred to from other timetables.

[ozbob]

Here is the first two days of all line including RPL data  for 1st time from http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/forcustomers/otr/dailyotr

Settling down ... 

[petey3801]

Rightio, the count is in:
AM Peak (0600 ex Terminus, pre-0900 arr Central)
FYG: 5 (with a couple pre-0600 departures also as 3 car)
NTG: 6
SHC: 3
CAB: 1
KPR: 0 (one that arrives at Central 0947)
DBN: 2
BDT: 0
IPS: 3
SFC: 1
BNH: 1
KRY/CEP: 2
CVN: 0 (two that arrive Central 0911, 0928)
MNY: 1
NBR, VYS: 0 (NBR has a couple 5 car ICE units)

Total AM Peak: 25 3car Services.

PM Peak (1600-1900 ex Central)
FYG: 1
NTG: 3
SHC: 3
CAB: 2
KPR: 0
DBN: 3
BDT: 0
IPS: 0
SFC: 0
BNH: 0
KRY/CEP: 2
CVN: 2
MNY: 0
VYS/NBR: 0 (NBR has one ICE).

Total PM Peak: 16 3car Services


Note: Completely subject to change.

Excellent information. Thanks for your hard work. As some of these services would use the same train, would you also happen to have figured on the number of 3-car trains utilised  (rather than services). Thanks.

Sorry, only just got the time to have a look through this. By my reckoning, of the services mentioned above:
19 of the 25 AM peak 3 car trains are separate 3car trains that do not form other peak services;
11 of the 16 PM peak 3 car trains are separate 3car trains that do not form other peak services.

[Arnz]

So if I calculated it correctly, that's roughly (9.5) 10x 6-car NGR units required to solve the 3-car problem.

Assuming 48x NGR units are required to replace the EMUs and ICEs,
Another 10x NGR units required to solve the 3-car peak issue.

That leaves 17x NGR units for expansion (eg 15 minute Kippa-Ring to Springfield services, expanding the 15 min services on certain corridors that only have them on weekdays to weekends (subject to staff availability) and weekday off-peak daytime hourly Ipswich-Brisbane-Nambour services).

I would assume QR would want to solve the 3-car issue first when the first NGR units are pressed into service in 2017 before starting EMU/ICE replacement.

[BrizCommuter]

Rightio, the count is in:
AM Peak (0600 ex Terminus, pre-0900 arr Central)
FYG: 5 (with a couple pre-0600 departures also as 3 car)
NTG: 6
SHC: 3
CAB: 1
KPR: 0 (one that arrives at Central 0947)
DBN: 2
BDT: 0
IPS: 3
SFC: 1
BNH: 1
KRY/CEP: 2
CVN: 0 (two that arrive Central 0911, 0928)
MNY: 1
NBR, VYS: 0 (NBR has a couple 5 car ICE units)

Total AM Peak: 25 3car Services.

PM Peak (1600-1900 ex Central)
FYG: 1
NTG: 3
SHC: 3
CAB: 2
KPR: 0
DBN: 3
BDT: 0
IPS: 0
SFC: 0
BNH: 0
KRY/CEP: 2
CVN: 2
MNY: 0
VYS/NBR: 0 (NBR has one ICE).

Total PM Peak: 16 3car Services


Note: Completely subject to change.

Excellent information. Thanks for your hard work. As some of these services would use the same train, would you also happen to have figured on the number of 3-car trains utilised  (rather than services). Thanks.

Sorry, only just got the time to have a look through this. By my reckoning, of the services mentioned above:
19 of the 25 AM peak 3 car trains are separate 3car trains that do not form other peak services;
11 of the 16 PM peak 3 car trains are separate 3car trains that do not form other peak services.

Thanks, much appreciated!

[BrizCommuter]

So if I calculated it correctly, that's roughly (9.5) 10x 6-car NGR units required to solve the 3-car problem.

Assuming 48x NGR units are required to replace the EMUs and ICEs,
Another 10x NGR units required to solve the 3-car peak issue.

That leaves 17x NGR units for expansion (eg 15 minute Kippa-Ring to Springfield services, expanding the 15 min services on certain corridors that only have them on weekdays to weekends (subject to staff availability) and weekday off-peak daytime hourly Ipswich-Brisbane-Nambour services).

I would assume QR would want to solve the 3-car issue first when the first NGR units are pressed into service in 2017 before starting EMU/ICE replacement.

Off-peak services are largely irrelevant to the current lack of trains issue. Lack of train crew is more of the issue.
Peak periods are when there are insufficient trains. Replacing 3-car with 6-car services, running Cleveland expresses later in pm peak, filling in the 15 min gaps on irregular 6tph peak services (e.g Ferny Grove pm peak, Gold Coast line post Coomera-Helensvale, and improving frequency in shoulder peak periods should be the priorities for the NGR. BrizCommuter intends on writing a detailed article on this sometime soon.

[#Metro]

I really hope we can get more trains and drivers at the next election. Seem to be running low on them.

[SurfRail]

I think we should promulgate a pathway of what we expect as the NGRs enter the fleet.

First and foremost would be eliminating 3 car trains outside the Rosewood shuttle.

Beyond that, I can see the following tweaks that are needed and can be delivered without major new infrastructure - in no particular order:

- Sector 1 rewrite to maximise the amount of throughrouting from Springfield to Kippa-Ring and Ipswich to Caboolture, provide for even 15 minute headways on Springfield to Kippa-Ring, permanent Ipswich express running and greater counter-peak headways (especially between the CBD and the western lines).

- Extend the reach of Northgate terminating services to cover more of the peak on weekdays

- Extend 15 minute headways to run Shorncliffe to Manly and Ferny Grove to Kuraby, and together with Springfield to Kippa-Ring run these 7 days per week from 6am-9pm minimum.

- Improve shoulder peak services

- Extend the coverage of Cleveland express services

- 7 day service on the Doomben line, half-hourly from early morning to midnight (at minimum)

- Hourly service to Landsborough at minimum, if not Nambour.

- Fill in holes in the Gold Coast peak timetable when the Robina extra stabling and Coomera duplication are finished

- Order another 40 sets to keep the orders going with a view to retiring all pre-2007 rollingstock (71.5 x 6 car sets + 4 ICEs) by 2021/2022, leaving 115 x 6-car NGRs + 28 x 6-car IMU/SMU permanent lashups to maintain 1 toilet per train + 4 x 6 car toiletless SMU pairs.  Expand stabling capacity as necessary to accommodate the additional trains where there is already room in the reserve (eg Clapham or Banyo).

- Close Bindha, Wynnum and Gailes to improve running time (and in Gailes' case off-set the loss of parking room by building extra facilities at Wacol and Goodna).

[tazzer9]

Eliminating the 3 car trains as the NGR's enter will be fairly simple. 
1. I would like to see all nambour trains become NGR's.   With some more gympie services and them being either ICE's or 6 car IMU100/120.
2. See all gold coast trains becoming NGR, and with that slightly modify the timetable accordingly.
3. See all Springfield trains become either NGR or SMU260/IMU160 and modify that timetable accordingly.
4. expansion of 15 minute weekday services to the terminus of all lines except rosewood (30 mins but all through routed),gold coast and beenleigh. (only possible while having permanent use of the dual gauge, which will likely happen during comm games)
5. permanent express on the Ipswich line
s

All the other lines can live with toiletless trains.   

[Arnz]

^^

I would say 15 mins to Caboolture (30 mins to Landsborough, hourly to Cooroy - extended from Nambour). Other alternative is to build a turnback platform at Landsborough and run beyond there as hourly Landsborough-Cooroy shuttles with through-running in peak. 
This would require duplication Beerburrum to Glasshouse Mtns on the original 160km/h (140km/h for MUs) alignment at the minimum, though preferably extend the duplication to Beerwah with the track only slightly deviated north of Glasshouse Mtns to allow 140km/h running up from the existing 120km/h (all passenger trains including Tilts) to improve reliability.

For hourly beyond Nambour to Cooroy, Eumundi would need to be upgraded to a 2 platform station as it's the only passenger station on the NCL without a crossing loop.  Preferably a Island platform.

Some upgrades south of Kuraby would be needed for reliable 15 mins GC runs (technically it's possible on current infrastructure, although it would mean changing stopping patterns on both Beenleigh and Gold Coast services regardless if they had extra rollingstock/staff or not) and in addition the 15 min services needs to be extended from Altandi Coopers Plains to as far as Kuraby in combination with amplification south of Kuraby.

Doomben should probably be throughrouted on the Cleveland line to pick up the skipped stations if we are to look at the two-tier structure on the Cleveland line on a similar level like the Kippa-Ring/Caboolture/Sunshine Coast and Beenleigh/Gold Coast lines

[BrizCommuter]

http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2016/10/redcliffe-peninsula-line-what-no.html
Redcliffe Peninsula Line - What No Expresses?

[#Metro]

I want an express from my stationitis
1. Affliction in which commuters think that they should have a frequent express train service from their nearest station to home, to their nearest station for work.
2. Absolutely no regard for the fact that other people with different journeys also need to get to work.
3. Involves a lack of knowledge of how railways actually work. 

You miss out a few key symptoms: sweating, rash, lack of sleep, high blood pressure etc from express to my stationitis.

At the end of the day, the best way to get to work faster, is to live closer to your place of work! 

Excellent observation Brizcommuter. This is why we need open slather on TOD!!

[ozbob]

http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2016/10/redcliffe-peninsula-line-what-no.html
Redcliffe Peninsula Line - What No Expresses?

Thanks 

BrizCommuter:
Redcliffe Peninsula Line - What No Expresses?
> https://t.co/DFDglUcOr5
" I want an express from my stationitis "#qldpol pic.twitter.com/szGTPSnVGF

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) October 6, 2016

[ozbob]

The newly opened Redcliffe rail line already has commuters cranky. @samheathwood9 #9News https://t.co/yKwHBzbCwO

— Nine News Brisbane (@9NewsBrisbane) October 6, 2016

[STB]

Welcome to the Me Generation (the ones who want their own personalised timetable to suit their needs and think they know better than the experts when they themselves have zero knowledge).  Can't please everyone, railways have very practical constraints and the timetable is designed for a reason.  Bus wise, I thought the connections were pretty decent when I went up there and from what I've seen on paper, it's pretty well known in the industry that it can take a week or two for things to settle down as drivers and operational staff get used to the changes themselves.

At the end of the day, the best way to get to work faster, is to live closer to your place of work!

This is one of the main reasons why I moved from Wellington Point to Spring Hill, so I could be closer to university and other facilities that I depend on, which is all within 5kms of the CBD.  When I was living in Wellington Point, I was basically wasting 90mins a day in just getting to/from the city via train, and it was taking a toll on me mentally and physically.

[#Metro]

I think there are also too many stations on the line as well.

Some of them seem spaced very closely. Kallangur and Murrumba Downs are just 950 m apart.

It would be helpful if planners laid out the options - more stations, will be slower or fewer stations, faster.

Seems like everyone wanted a station near them - and then express on top of that. 

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/service-updates/100726

Train service changes

Last updated: 5.53am Friday 7 October 2016

An intensive training schedule is currently underway to train Queensland Rail drivers on new infrastructure through Petrie.

This training unfortunately has an effect on services whilst accredited drivers pilot others through new infrastructure to gain their competency.

The below service alterations are in place today to facilitate this training.  These alterations have been planned to minimise disruption for customers as best as possible, with most occurring outside of peak periods.

We apologise for any delay to your service and thank you for your patience.
Service Alterations:

    The 5.47am Ferny Grove to Coopers Plains train has been cancelled. The next Ferny Grove to Coopers Plains train will depart Ferny Grove at 6.02am
    The 6.59am Beenleigh to Ferny Grove train will run express from Kuraby to Salisbury.
    The 7.19am Northgate to Roma Street train has been cancelled. The next Northgate to Roma Street train will depart at 7.27am.
    The 8.19am Northgate to Roma Street train has been cancelled. The next Northgate to Roma Street train will depart at 8.27am.
    The 8.24am Shorncliffe to Cannon Hill train will run express from Roma Street to Cannon Hill.

[Old Northern Road]

I think there are also too many stations on the line as well.

Some of them seem spaced very closely. Kallangur and Murrumba Downs are just 950 m apart.

It would be helpful if planners laid out the options - more stations, will be slower or fewer stations, faster.

Seems like everyone wanted a station near them - and then express on top of that. 

Also cheaper if you have less stations.

Murrumba Downs should have never been built. In fact most of the suburb of Murrumba Downs is closer to Kallangur station. Even build a multi-story car park at Kallangur if needed and upgrade Dakabin station (not to mention improve the disgraceful bus services in the area).

Mango Hill and Mango Hill East could have been combined into one station as well. Again a multi-story car park would be needed.

[Old Northern Road]

- Close Bindha, Wynnum and Gailes to improve running time (and in Gailes' case off-set the loss of parking room by building extra facilities at Wacol and Goodna).

No need to do that with all the fat in the timetable. I'm pretty sure Shorncliffe trains used to take 32/33 mins to get to the city instead of the 37mins they currently take.

[Stillwater]

^^

Interesting ideas, Arnz.

Re Eumundi, however, it is one of the stations where the plywood and scaffold platform is to be replaced.  While plans have yet to be released and construction yet to start (thought to be early in 2017), the most probable station configuration would be as present (single platform).

Nambour-Gympie North shuttle (two extra services a day) have been discussed elsewhere here and would appear to have some support within QR.

[ozbob]

Here is the first two days of all line including RPL data  for 1st time from http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/forcustomers/otr/dailyotr

Settling down ... 

OTR 6th October 2016 http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/forcustomers/otr/dailyotr

[ozbob]

Seems more than a few issues at this time hey?

Speculating but maybe the safe-working requirements to work around the signalling system and need for pilots is effecting the OTR.

[BrizCommuter]

Apparently TransLink will be adding the Northgate peak services to the Shorncliffe Line timetable.

[ozbob]

Apparently TransLink will be adding the Northgate peak services to the Shorncliffe Line timetable.

Thanks!   

[urbanplanr]

WHy not create a Northgate line timetable similar to Beenleigh?

[Gazza]

Because its such a short line its easier to have Northgate short workings on the one sheet.

[Arnz]

The short-working Northgate runs are starting to show as BRSH instead of BRCA in journey planner.

[BrizCommuter]

WHy not create a Northgate line timetable similar to Beenleigh?

The Northgate services are effectively short running Shorncliffe Line services and thus it is most logical to have them on the Shorncliffe Line timetable (as per Coopers Plains services being on the Beenleigh timetable and Manly services being on the Cleveland timetable).

[ozbob]

OTR still not good ..

http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/forcustomers/otr/dailyotr

[BrizCommuter]

Only just noticed that since the 4th of October, the 6:55 ex Ferny Grove has been extended from Roma St to Park Rd. Yay. Updated on journey planner, but incorrect on new .pdf timetable. Are TransLink's timetable publishers a bunch of drunken monkeys at the moment?

[ozbob]

612 ABC Brisbane

Should you be concerned about 'manual switching' on the new Kippa-Ring Line

When the new Redcliffe Peninsula Rail Line opened at the start of last week, it was big news. 131 years in the making.

All the previous problems in signalling had been supposedly ironed out. But last night I received a tip off via Twitter (pictured) that there were in fact still some bugs in the system.

This tipster says they can actually hear the signalling system being manually switched and they say it's causing delays.

Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe is unavailable for an interview this morning, but you'll hear from Queensland Rail's acting Chief Operating Officer Martin Ryan in a moment.

Queensland's shadow transport minister is Andrew Powell:

[ozbob]

^

My comment:

G'day,

Been known for a quite while that manual authorities/system would be used for a while when RPL opened.

As Mr Powell has stated was known.

It was the LNP that set up the failure with their poor choice of system when in Government!

Cheers
Robert

[BrizCommuter]

^lots of reports on social media of trains arriving at Kippa-Ring later than timetable. Manual route selection, or poorly designed crossover layout?

[ozbob]

^lots of reports on social media of trains arriving at Kippa-Ring later than timetable. Manual route selection, or poorly designed crossover layout?

The OTR above shows that.  Basically due to the need for pilots and the manual routing etc. I understand. 

[ozbob]

http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/forcustomers/otr/dailyotr

[BrizCommuter]

^ not looking good.

BrizCommuter has blogged about the Ferny Grove Line timetable mistake.
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2016/10/yet-another-timetable-mistake.html
Can anyone can find any other new timetable mistakes?

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Caboolture line train services cut to four inner-north stations

NORTHSIDE commuters are seeing red after train services to four inner-north stations were cut following the introduction of the new Redcliffe Peninsula line.

Nundah, Toombul, Wooloowin and Albion train stations are bypassed by the Caboolture line, which now runs express from Bowen Hills to Northgate (stopping only at Eagle Junction) leaving commuters to catch alternate services.

Nundah commuter Sandra Ritchie said other services, such as the inbound Shorncliffe line train, were crowded, arriving with only three carriages so that "by the time it got to us we were crammed like sardines".

"It's appalling we've had this very good service ripped away from us," she said.

Raa Shepphard said her commute from Bald Hills to a new job at Toombul had blown out to nearly an hour since the new line was introduced.

"They might have added five stops but they've taken four away. So many people have been affected trying to get to work," she said.

Nundah commuter Richard Finnila said the changes were a smack in the face.

"People have been encouraged to move into transport node neighbourhoods like Nundah and yet (now) we have a reduced frequency in train service," he said.

"There has to be a better balance."

A TransLink spokesman said 17 extra daily peak services were introduced to run between Northgate and Roma St stations during peak travel times.

"These additional services mean frequency during peak times remains as high as six minutes or better at Albion and Wooloowin stations and 7.5 minutes at Nundah and Toombul stations," he said.

"We closely monitor all changes to timetables and make adjustments where required."

CALL TO REINSTATE SERVICES

State LNP MP for Clayfield Tim Nicholls called on the State Government to reinstate the services and "get the area back on track".

He said commuters were reportedly told by Transport and Main Roads staff to "ditch their normal station and get on directly at Eagle Junction station".

"If this is happening it's an appalling state of affairs," he said.

"The new train times and stations are confusing. I will be expressing my concerns to the Transport Minister about the reinstatement of the Caboolture line to these four stations."

[ozbob]

^