Queensland Rail - Commonwealth Games timetable

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/959956787511226368

[#Metro]

Will the rail replacement be free or will charges apply??

[ozbob]

1. Beenleigh line notionally gone for the period Thursday 5 April to Sunday 15 April 2018.

2. Gold Coast trains will service the Beenleigh line by stopping at:

    Yeronga
    Coopers Plains
    Altandi
    Woodridge
    Loganlea
    Beenleigh

To be fair, I do think this is probably the best solution for the GC/Beenleigh Line corridor with the available resources and capacity restraints. I can see people up in arms about having to get a bus rather than train. That's fair. However, with the GC trains making additional stops at Yeronga, Coopers Plains and Woodridge, the most stations between a "Beenleigh Line" station and a "GC Line" station is 4 (between both Yeronga and Coopers Plains and Altandi and Woodridge).

I understand that it is not preferable to run rail replacement services, but given that there hasn't been much to celebrate lately in regards to passenger rail services in SEQ, it is the best they can do.

Yep.  I would have hoped for a better outcome for the Sunshine Coast Line as a lot of visitors around and I am sure this is a missed opportunity.

Only way to get the required frequency on the Gold Coast Line is to skip stations as they have done.

Just a real shame about the reduced frequencies overall.  We all knew it was coming.  There should have been a much faster response to the crew shortfalls than there has been in my view.

Such is life ..

[ozbob]

Will the rail replacement free or will charges apply??

Forget to mention.


F R E E ! for everyone.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/danielbowen/status/959908176580698112

[ozbob]

Summary:

1. Beenleigh line notionally gone for the period Thursday 5 April to Sunday 15 April 2018. See for bus replacement > https://translink.com.au/service-updates/166881 Travel on this bus replacement free for all.

2. Gold Coast trains will service the Beenleigh line by stopping at:

Yeronga
Coopers Plains
Altandi
Woodridge
Loganlea
Beenleigh

3. Back to reduced peak and one hour frequency weekends and public holidays, 2 hour Sunshine Coast, basically the same as the recent Summer School Holiday Timetable (except for the 24 hour trains on the Gold Coast line) from Friday 30 March to Friday 20 April 2018.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

4th February 2018

GC2018 - rail timetables comment

Greetings,

Details of the rail services during the Commonwealth Games have been made available today.
https://translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/event-transport/gc2018 & https://translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/event-transport/gc2018/train

Summary:

1. Beenleigh line notionally gone for the period Thursday 5 April to Sunday 15 April 2018. See for bus replacement > https://translink.com.au/service-updates/166881 Travel on this bus replacement free for all.

2. Gold Coast trains at high frequency will service the Beenleigh line by stopping at:

Yeronga
Coopers Plains
Altandi
Woodridge
Loganlea
Beenleigh

3. Back to reduced peak and one hour frequency weekends and public holidays, 2 hour Sunshine Coast, basically the same as the recent Summer School Holiday Timetable (except for the 24 hour high frequency trains on the Gold Coast line) from Friday 30 March to Friday 20 April 2018.

We are not surprised with the network wide service reductions to support the increased frequency for the Gold Coast Line.  We are still disappointed of course.  Perhaps a slightly better frequency on the Sunshine Coast Line instead of 2 hours (weekends and public holidays) would have been good. We expect a lot of visitors to SEQ may wish to visit the Sunshine Coast Region and there might capacity issues at such poor frequency.

The best advice we can give is to allow plenty of time for travel.  If you think it will take two hours, double it.

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/959969805645197312

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/MarkBaileyMP/status/959969596768862209

https://twitter.com/MarkBaileyMP/status/959970786210533376

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/959972655947329537

[brissypete]

As Fairfield is my local station I'll admit I'm a bit unimpressed with having no trains for 10 days. I do hope that signage at closed stations is much clearer than during weekend closures or there will be lots of people waiting for trains that won't stop.

Using Fairfield as an example it's a reasonable distance to the replacement bus stop so clear signage will be necessary with maps and directions, I would hope that platforms will be blocked off as well.

Sent from my G8141 using Tapatalk

[#Metro]

I have to say, the timetable proposal will go down like a stone!

[ozbob]

7 News Brisbane --> Qld govt releases transport plan for Games

Train services on the Gold Coast will triple during the Commonwealth Games, while commuters on the rest of the southeast Queensland network will have to make do with a summer-like timetable.

The state government released its transport plan for the major event on Sunday.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said it had kept its commitment not to close any rail lines during the April 4 to 15 Games, but conceded commuters who used several stations along the Beenleigh line would have to use free buses.

The line would be significantly affected and effectively merged into the Gold Coast line, with just a few stations still serviced by trains.

Mr Bailey it would be similar to when works were being conducted on the tracks, but in this case a "high frequency bus" service would be available.

"Every station on the Beenleigh line will have a continuous service provided by us throughout the whole Commonwealth Games timetable," he said.

There will be a six per cent reduction in train services on the rest of the southeast rail network during the major sporting event.

Queensland Rail chief executive Nick Easy said trains would run every 15 minutes during peak times, every half hour in off-peak times and hourly on weekends on most lines.

Mr Bailey said the Games had been scheduled around Easter and the school holidays, when 21 per cent fewer people used public transport.

"It will be a summer-like holiday timetable," he said.

In comparison, trains, light rail and shuttle buses will operate 24 hours a day on the Gold Coast.

There would be at least six trains per hours to cater for a predicted six million extra trips on the southeast Queensland rail network.

Mr Bailey said there would "absolutely" be enough drivers to service the round-the-clock timetable, but also said just eight of the New Generation Rollingstock trains would be available by April.

There were already five in use, but the government had initially said it could provide up to 15.

Mr Bailey said the government had been left to "clean up the mess" made by the previous LNP government, which signed the contract for the 75 trouble-plagued trains.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

4th February 2018

Call for off peak fares only for the period Friday 30 March to Friday 20 April 2018

Greetings,

We call for off peak fares only for the period Friday 30 March to Friday 20 April 2018 to reflect the diminished service levels on the rest of the SEQ rail network apart from the Gold Coast line. Be some long slow journeys for punters trying to earn a living etc.

Might help to ease some of the ongoing frustration and anger many are feeling due to the length of the rail fail saga.

Thanks
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

4th February 2018

GC2018 - rail timetables comment

Greetings,

Details of the rail services during the Commonwealth Games have been made available today.
https://translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/event-transport/gc2018 & https://translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/event-transport/gc2018/train

Summary:

1. Beenleigh line notionally gone for the period Thursday 5 April to Sunday 15 April 2018. See for bus replacement > https://translink.com.au/service-updates/166881 Travel on this bus replacement free for all.

2. Gold Coast trains at high frequency will service the Beenleigh line by stopping at:

Yeronga
Coopers Plains
Altandi
Woodridge
Loganlea
Beenleigh

3. Back to reduced peak and one hour frequency weekends and public holidays, 2 hour Sunshine Coast, basically the same as the recent Summer School Holiday Timetable (except for the 24 hour high frequency trains on the Gold Coast line) from Friday 30 March to Friday 20 April 2018.

We are not surprised with the network wide service reductions to support the increased frequency for the Gold Coast Line.  We are still disappointed of course.  Perhaps a slightly better frequency on the Sunshine Coast Line instead of 2 hours (weekends and public holidays) would have been good. We expect a lot of visitors to SEQ may wish to visit the Sunshine Coast Region and there might capacity issues at such poor frequency.

The best advice we can give is to allow plenty of time for travel.  If you think it will take two hours, double it.

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/959978415423041536

[ozbob]

The weekday timetable will be the same for Monday <> Friday.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> State Government reveals Commonwealth Games transport plan

COMMUTERS on one of Brisbane's busiest rail lines will be shunted on to buses during the Commonwealth Games.

The State Government has today revealed it's Commonwealth Games transport plan and it shows that while train services on the Gold Coast will triple, the rest of southeast Queensland will be hit with a reduced timetable.

Commuters on the Beenleigh line will face the most pain, with the service effectively merged into the Gold Coast line and only a handful of stations still serviced by trains.

Other stations will be serviced through "high frequency free bus services".

Outside of CBD and South Brisbane stations, Beenleigh trains will effectively run express, stopping only at Park Road, Coopers Plains, Altandi, Woodridge, Loganlea and Beenleigh.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey defended the plan, claiming the State Government had kept its promise not to close any rail lines.

"Every station on the Beenleigh line will have a continuous service provided by bus throughout the whole Commonwealth Games timetable," he said.

Mr Bailey said the cuts were happening during the "usually quiet" Easter school holiday period.

"What we will actually see across the southeast Queensland rail network is considerably more kilometres travelled out there than normal because we have everything out there working 24 hours," he said.

Mr Bailey said there would "absolutely" be enough drivers to service the around-the-clock timetable, but also said just eight of the New Generation rollingstock would be available by April.

Queensland Rail CEO Nick Easy confirmed there would be a 6 per cent reduction in total services across the network.

"What's more important here is there will be a three fold increase and we are travelling an extra 130,000 train kilometres on the Gold Coast line to service these games."

The Games will also affect motorists, with the speed limit on the M1 cut from 110km/h to 100km/h between Logan and Gaven.

Speeds will also drop from 100km/h to 90km/h between the Gateway merge at Eight Mile Plains in Brisbane to Logan.

Department of Transport and Main Roads deputy director general Matthew Longland said planning for the Games transport network had been several years in the making.

"There will be unprecedented demand over a condensed period of time but we are ready and up for the challenges," he said.

"We all understand the inevitable challenges the M1 will face during the Games.

Traffic Management will come into effect on March 20 around the Commonwealth Games village with further restrictions coming into place on March 25.

[ozbob]

As Fairfield is my local station I'll admit I'm a bit unimpressed with having no trains for 10 days. I do hope that signage at closed stations is much clearer than during weekend closures or there will be lots of people waiting for trains that won't stop.

Using Fairfield as an example it's a reasonable distance to the replacement bus stop so clear signage will be necessary with maps and directions, I would hope that platforms will be blocked off as well.

Sent from my G8141 using Tapatalk

Yo. Commiserations.  Blocking off the platforms (where possible and practical) is a good move, it might stop the desperate and dateless waiting for a train that is not going to stop for them.  There will be no requirement to touch on / off as the buses will be free.
If stations have footbridges / subways leave these accessible as punters use them for thoroughfares etc.

[BrizCommuter]

Fail McFailFace - QR's Commonwealth Games Train Service 
https://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2018/02/fail-mcfailface-qrs-comm-games-train.html

[ozbob]

Fail McFailFace - QR's Commonwealth Games Train Service 
https://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2018/02/fail-mcfailface-qrs-comm-games-train.html

Thanks Briz.   

Sent to all outlets:

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/960001297809207296

[verbatim9]

As Fairfield is my local station I'll admit I'm a bit unimpressed with having no trains for 10 days. I do hope that signage at closed stations is much clearer than during weekend closures or there will be lots of people waiting for trains that won't stop.

Using Fairfield as an example it's a reasonable distance to the replacement bus stop so clear signage will be necessary with maps and directions, I would hope that platforms will be blocked off as well.

Sent from my G8141 using Tapatalk

They should have automated announcements active now at stations affected. While stations are closed it should be displayed on PIDs and an Automated announcement reiterating the closure every 20mims. "This station is closed until 20 April  bus replacement services in operation" Translink should start pushing messages periodically out to their own App and third party Apps from today!?

[#Metro]

I just wanted to clarify what the limiting resource was - is it not enough vehicles, or enough vehicles but not enough staff??

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> REVEALED: How the Games will affect Ipswich's rail service

IPSWICH'S rail services will not be drastically reduced during the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

On Sunday the State Government revealed its Commonwealth Games Transport Plan.

The number of daily services operating on the Gold Coast line will be tripled, with trains operating 24/7 for the games, running on average 10 minutes or better for most of the day

With about 176 additional daily rail services on the Gold Coast line every day of the games, there were fears Queensland Rail would close the Rosewood line.

But the fear did not come to fruition, with the line remaining open.

Services on the Ipswich line will run the same as the summer School Holiday Timetable.

There will be reductions at peak times and a one-hour service on weekends and public holidays, but the timetable will remain consistent.

Rail Back on Track representative Robert Dow was "a little bit disappointed" Queensland Rail was returning to the summer holiday timetable on the Ipswich line.

"We come off okay I suppose," he said.

He is calling for off-peak fares only to apply between March 30 and April 20 "to reflect the diminished service levels" on the rest of the southeast Queensland rail network.

"It might help to ease some of the ongoing frustration and anger many are feeling due to the length of the rail fail saga," he said.

Mr Dow encouraged people travelling to the Gold Coast to take advantage of the huge increase in services.

"Once you get on the Gold Coast line, public transport is definitely the best option," he said. 

[ozbob]

I just wanted to clarify what the limiting resource was - is it not enough vehicles, or enough vehicles but not enough staff??

It is fundamentally a driver shortage.  The fact that some of the fleet is increasingly unreliable does not help of course.  At best it seems they will have 8 NGRs in service, not withstanding what the AHRC delivers.  Might have none hey? 

[Stillwater]

Yep BrizCommuter, the pollies are lost in their own spin.  Well put. 

It's a spit in the eye for any international visitors who want to catch public transport to the Sunshine Coast during the Commonwealth Games.  The contrast cannot be more stark, Gold Coast versus Sunshine Coast travel comfort, frequency and trip times.

[achiruel]

The Minister has fed the public a giant pile of male bovine excrement. Claiming no lines would be closed, when the Beenleigh line, for all intents and purposes, is closed.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Buses overtake trains as urban services slashed in Commonwealth Games transport plan

Train services on the Gold Coast will triple during the Commonwealth Games but at a cost to smaller suburban stations on the south-east rail network.

Motorists will also be affected by the transport plan, with the speed limit along a significant section of the M1 to be reduced, fuelling fears of traffic chaos.

The changes are part of the Palaszczuk government's official transport plan, released on Sunday, to cater for more than a million spectators travelling to and from the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in April.

On the M1, from March 1 until April 22, the speed limit will drop from 100km/h to 90km/h between Eight Mile Plains and the Logan Motorway interchange, and from Logan to Gaven the 110km/h speed limit will drop to 100km/h.

The Beenleigh, Ipswich and Sunshine Coast lines will bear the brunt of the reduced train timetable.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the government had kept its commitment not to close any rail lines during the games, but admitted commuters who used several stations along the Beenleigh line would be forced to use free buses instead.

The line would be significantly affected and effectively merged into the Gold Coast line, with just a few stations still serviced by express-like trains, which Mr Bailey said would resemble the frequency seen when track work was being completed.

Meanwhile, Ipswich and Sunshine Coast lines will revert to a "summer-like" timetable, with two-hour gaps expected between weekend trains for the Sunshine Coast.

Queensland Rail chief executive Nick Easy said the 7800 rail services provided across the Citytrain network would decrease by 6 per cent to provide the extra trains on the Gold Coast.

Trains will run every 10 minutes of the day, 24 hours a day, between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, while more frequent services - eight trains an hour - will run when required.

The Gold Coast light rail network from Helensvale to Broadbeach will also run 24 hours a day, with extra services during peak hours.

Commonwealth Games organising committee chairman Peter Beattie said rail services would increase to meet demand when the most popular events were being held.

"That is obviously the opening ceremony, the closing ceremony, the Rugby Sevens finals and several nights when there are a number of events," Mr Beattie said.

Mr Bailey said the decision to increase services to eight trains an hour would be linked to ticket demand.

"When most people are on the Brisbane to Gold Coast line, there will be eight trains an hour," Mr Bailey said.

Public transport to the games is free if travellers have a ticket to a Commonwealth Games event.

The transport plan also includes a network of shuttle buses between venues; shuttle buses to and from 13 temporary park-and-ride stations near Gold Coast train stations; and a tripling of bus services on the Gold Coast.

Gold Coast bus services will increase from 49,000 a day to 141,000 a day during the games and
an extra 4000 bus services a day will be provided on 12 key Gold Coast bus routes.

Only eight of Queensland's new NGR trains are able to be used during the Commonwealth Games, not 14 as originally estimated by the government.

That was confirmed by Mr Bailey on Sunday, who condemned the previous LNP government for ordering "half-priced trains" from India that have required significant modification since they first started to arrive in 2015.

"One of the biggest botch-ups of the previous government was their train contract," Mr Bailey said.

"They ordered half-priced trains from overseas, changed their specifications to make them not compliant on disabilities.

"And now the Palaszczuk government has to clean up their mess."

He said Labor had negotiated and built the Gold Coast light rail connection up to Helensvale ($420 million) and "duplicated" a section of the Gold Coast rail line near Coomera ($163 million) before the Games.

The Opposition argues the original inquiries on Queensland's trains were made before they won office in 2012.

Mr Beattie said the transport plan would provide terrific gains for the Commonwealth Games, "with a little pain".

"There is no gain, without some pain," he said.

Rail commuter group Rail Back on Track questioned the impact on the Beenleigh and Sunshine Coast lines and called for discount fares during the Games.

Buses will be used if there are interruptions to trains during the Games, a Transport and Main Roads spokeswoman said.

[#Metro]

The Minister has fed the public a giant pile of male bovine excrement. Claiming no lines would be closed, when the Beenleigh line, for all intents and purposes, is closed.

Sounds a lot like Christmas 2016. At that time it was suggested that the shortage was a temporary thing, give it 12 months to resolve, and it will all come good...

At least it is possible to have trains every 7.5 mins on the Gold Coast line.

[ozbob]

If you remove the pesky all stoppers!  16 stations will lose their rail service for the period 5-15th April.

I have seen a few rants from affected punters. 

Also TransLink needs to get terminology correct.

https://translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/event-transport/gc2018/train

Gold Coast line services making additional stops at: Yeronga, Coopers Plains, Altandi, Woodridge, Loganlea and Beenleigh stations.

Not quite right is it?  They stop Atlandi, Loganlea and Beenleigh normally. So the additional stops are Yeronga, Coopers Plains, Woodridge.

On this page it is correct:

https://translink.com.au/service-updates/166881

High frequency Gold Coast trains will stop at the following Beenleigh line stations:

    Beenleigh
    Loganlea
    Woodridge
    Altandi
    Coopers Plains
    Yeronga

Semantics I know, but that last one gives the game away.  The Beenleigh line is effectively closed.

[Cam]

The replacement bus service stop for Rocklea is stop 43 on Muriel Ave. The stop may only be 200 - 250m away from the station as the crow flies but is 1.1km (about 14 minutes) to walk because there is no pedestrian access to the northeast of the station. A pedestrian link between the station and Muriel Avenue Park would cut walking time by about 10 minutes between the station and stop 43 as well as residences in the area.

[techblitz]

Geez they really have shafted rocklea....who remembers the bus review?? guess translink finally get their chance to stick it to Sherwood rd/rocklea locals after all(even if only temporary 
Seriously....there is no way the locals will bother with those railbuses from there....116/GCL stops are much closer.
Sunday is the issue as those bus services don't operate.....so no option but to leg it or taxi/uber.
Looks like Salisbury is now going to be parked out as well when all the rocklea park and riders go there.The car park there is only a 20 metre walk to the bus stops....

[tazzer9]

Bus replacements on the beenleigh line is every 30 minutes or better during the off peak?   That's disgustingly bad and will eliminate anyone using the non GC stations during the games.   It should be a bus meeting every gold coast train at a minimum. 

[tazzer9]

How has the doomben line not been shafted.  Its virtually the easiest line to close and replace with buses.   
The light rail won't cope, needs to be greater than 6 minute frequencies.  And going by the reduction to the normal service level during the day suggests they may have staffing issues. 

I know its too late now.  But with the ferny grove line with shafted, they should be running a 15 minute express bus service from ferny grove-roma st stopping only at mitchelton and gaythorne.   Would take massive strain off the rail and would be very useful for anyone going to the games.   Those 3 stations comprise nearly 50% of the total patronage on the ferny grove line anyway. 

[James]

Buses will be used if there are interruptions to trains during the Games, a Transport and Main Roads spokeswoman said.

Oh dear!

I hope there is some sort of concerted effort to keep the tracks clear of any "police incidents" and minimise the impact of LX incidents/bridge strikes. There will come a point where the greater economic good & reputation of the nation will need to come before people's feelings.

IMO, the major fails are, in this order:

• The failure of the Beattie Government to lay down four tracks between Salisbury and Kuraby instead of three. This would have allowed trains every 15 mins and made it feasible to run an hourly Beenleigh line service with an increased Gold Coast line service during the Commonwealth Games. "Half-baked projects, have long term consequences..."
  
• The failure to have enough drivers and guards to run a timetable reliably. The Beenleigh line was just low-hanging fruit for a line closure - not only do you save on guards, but you relieve a restraint on the number of Gold Coast trains that can be run per hour. Annastasia also gets to weasel her way out with "no line closures" - even though for all effective purposes, the Beenleigh line has been closed for the duration of the games.
• The failure to order enough trains. If we're realistic, we can save units by running three-cars everywhere outside of peak - would be more than adequate. And without drivers, you can have 1000 trains and still not run a decent service

It is very sad to see the Beenleigh line shafted in this way, yet the pollies are carrying on like nothing is wrong. I think those at the inner stations have been particularly dudded - no reason why a half-hourly service out to say Coopers Plains couldn't be operated aside from general incompetence & a lack of drivers. Those buses could probably be better used as games shuttle buses!

[#Metro]

Three car trains are unlikely to be a solution.

Doing so you go from two staff to four staff required.

They don't even have enough staff to run existing service.

[verbatim9]

Qr's promotional video published 03Feb18

https://youtu.be/3P1Ez8FaEzo

[SurfRail]

The light rail won't cope, needs to be greater than 6 minute frequencies.  And going by the reduction to the normal service level during the day suggests they may have staffing issues.

"6 minutes" is in reality more like 6.5 minutes and is the absolute limit of what can be delivered with the current fleet.  The ramping down in the middle of the day would be to ensure the timetable isn't completely stuffed by a one of the 17 out of 18 in-service trams going kaput due to operational strains, and because it will be oriented around when the largest number of people are actually travelling.

Why do you think it won't cope?  I have nothing but the utmost confidence in the light rail system.

The lack of any upgrade to most of the city's bus routes is the more significant problem and nobody is saying anything about that except me.  Forgive me for being somewhat insensitive, but I doubt the railway is really going to be carrying that many people compared to the local transport system.

[HappyTrainGuy]

The light rail won't cope, needs to be greater than 6 minute frequencies.  And going by the reduction to the normal service level during the day suggests they may have staffing issues.

"6 minutes" is in reality more like 6.5 minutes and is the absolute limit of what can be delivered with the current fleet.  The ramping down in the middle of the day would be to ensure the timetable isn't completely stuffed by a one of the 17 out of 18 in-service trams going kaput due to operational strains, and because it will be oriented around when the largest number of people are actually travelling.

Why do you think it won't cope?  I have nothing but the utmost confidence in the light rail system.

The lack of any upgrade to most of the city's bus routes is the more significant problem and nobody is saying anything about that except me.  Forgive me for being somewhat insensitive, but I doubt the railway is really going to be carrying that many people compared to the local transport system.

I'm just waiting for a car to go into the trams path or drive onto the tram only bridge

[aldonius]

Or a Coopers Plains boom gate strike.

[tazzer9]

I think the light rail won't cope simply due to the sheer volume of people using it.  Currently at 7.5 minute frequencies it has decent patronage even on the services that won't connect to a train.  Some off peak services are currently to the point of being intrusive to my personal bubble.  Especially since the nerang-broadbeach and nerang-surfers buses won't be the best option during the games.  As you have said, most bus routes won't see a massive improvement driving more people to the light rail. 

[James]

I think the light rail won't cope simply due to the sheer volume of people using it.  Currently at 7.5 minute frequencies it has decent patronage even on the services that won't connect to a train.

I have faith. When Brisbane had the Comm Games in 1982, QE2 was almost served exclusively by shuttle buses. It coped.

The issue I see with the Comm Games on the Gold Coast is the reliance on spectators, volunteers and visitors to come from Brisbane. This in turn puts pressure on the M1 'spine' to cope with an additional load of spectators on top of the usual traffic - this is a road which is already nearly at capacity. Add an extra 10,000 daily trips (which is not an unreasonable estimate) and the road exceeds capacity without adequate peak spreading.