Bribie Island rail suggestion

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Bus driver's left-of-centre idea to bust traffic goes viral

QUEENSLAND'S leading train advocate has jumped on board a Bribie Island resident's off-the-rails idea to bust road congestion.

Calls for a second Bribie bridge have been growing louder in recent months, with Moreton Bay Regional Council 2020 mayoral candidates Adrian Raedel and Dean Teasdale throwing their support behind the idea.

And state Liberal MP for Pumicestone Simone Wilson will later this month host a community forum to discuss what needs to be done to relieve pressure on Bribie Island Rd.

But local resident Morgan Freney, who drives buses in Caboolture, has come up with his own left of centre idea.

Mr Freney posted images to Facebook of his plans to create a Bribie Island rail line, which received 183 comments and 125 reactions.

"The thing about building another bridge is it will be another 15 years before it will be replaced and it's going to continue getting busier," he said.

"Everyone's going to need to get to work in Caboolture and the city, so I thought 'why not?'."

Using the TransLink app Mr Freney calculated his idea would cut public transport travel times by 44 minutes to Brisbane and up to 34 minutes to Morayfield Shopping Centre.

Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said it could take cars off the Bruce Hwy and Bribie Island Rd, assist population growth and add value to properties in the region.

"In principal it's a good idea, but there'd have to be a lot of work done for a feasibility study," he said.

"It's something worth looking at in the longer term depending on the projected population."

The council has a history of backing public transport infrastructure after it part-funded the Redcliffe Peninsula Line, which was completed in 2016 after years of lobbying both state and federal governments.

But Mayor Allan Sutherland said the council wouldn't be rushing into another large-scale rail commitment any time soon.

"If the Redcliffe Peninsula Railway Line experience taught us anything, these discussions can literally take 100 years," he said.

"What I want to see is all levels of government working together on a more immediate solution to safety and congestion concerns on Bribie Island Road as we all know is a significant problem."

A Department of Transport and Main Roads spokeswoman said there were no plans for a Bribie rail line.

"We have completed a study to identify a corridor for a future duplication/replacement of Bribie Island Bridge," she said.

"The study also confirmed the current bridge will continue to meet community needs until 2031."

Local MP Ms Wilson was contacted for comment, but did not respond.

Her forum is scheduled for 10.30am March 17 at the corner of Sylvan Beach Esp and Benabrow Ave, Bellara.

Phone 3474 2100 for more information.

[timh]

"Left of Centre" alright. I'm all for more rail infrastructure but that seems like it just wouldn't get the patronage with current population. I agree with his idea though that it's better long term thinking.

Not a fan of his alignment though. Goes past an awful lot of nothing...

[ozbob]

 

https://twitter.com/couriermail/status/1104946561312833537

[red dragin]

Can I take my 4WD and camper trailer/boat on the train to Bribie Island?

Given its a tourist destination and beaches and the waterways are the main draw card, I don't see this going far. The new bridge has already been mapped out in a basic form, there's just no political will (ie election) to do much about it.

The bottleneck also reduces the demand on the island and keeps it the way it is. Make it easier and even more will go there.

[ozbob]

Survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VZDXRLF

[Gazza]

Bribie isn't growing anymore since no more land is being released right?

Just do a Bribie to Wamuran BRT...I don't think demand is at heavy rail levels.

[timh]

People seem to be overlooking the opportunity for the rail to make it easier for day trip tourists from Brisbane to visit Bribie. Not unheard of. I'd use it for that if the speeds were quick enough.

[SurfRail]

^ I don't know that $150 million a km is worth that benefit.

[Stillwater]

Perhaps an east-west light rail line might work in future when population density demands: Western end of Bribie Bridge through Sandstone Point/Ningi residential area and industrial estate just off the Bruce Highway, into Caboolture, then west to Wamuran via West Caboolture master plan development.   

Heavy rail would not be feasible.  Line should not extend to Woorim. Have feeder/collector buses on Bribie serve light rail.

[red dragin]

Ningi residents are against the current road being widened, but also against a bypass of the town. Doubt they'll support much else either.

As Gazza said, Bribie is built out, there are only 18,000 odd residents according to the last census. Average age of 59.3 years. Hardly commuters to the CBD on a daily basis.
http://stat.abs.gov.au/itt/r.jsp?RegionSummary&region=313011363&dataset=ABS_REGIONAL_ASGS&geoconcept=REGION&datasetASGS=ABS_REGIONAL_ASGS&datasetLGA=ABS_REGIONAL_LGA&regionLGA=REGION&regionASGS=REGION

Widening the bridge is just going to induce more day trippers.
https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/B/Bribie-Island-Bridge-Corridor-Study

Many more PT black holes in SEQ that could do with the funding before this.

[SurfRail]

Can we worry about getting the 640 to levels of service comparable to something like the 745 before talking about any kind of rail?  With current levels of service, rail is contraindicated.

GCLR2 functionally replaced the old 709 which ran every 15 minutes during the day and ran until near midnight, 7 days a week.  That was over half the distance and despite fairly big gaps (eg Coombabah Wetlands) there were a number of trip attractors and population centres along the route, all of which still have frequent service despite the 709 being withdrawn.

On a weekend, the 640 will not let you leave Bribie after about 5:30 or get back to Bribie unless you are at Cabbo by 6pm.

Priorities folks.