Announcement at Roma St of extra services Ipswich and Caboolture lines

[ozbob]

I attended an announcement by the Premier and the Minister for Transport at platform 3 Roma St station this morning (30th Sep)

There are to be some extra pre-peak services on the Ipswich and Caboolture lines starting in two weeks.

Only one extra service on each line I understand, but this is the beginning of further improvements to follow.  Details will follow.

Some photographs.

The Premier and Minister Mickel at the announcement




On board SMU 263 with Mr Paul Scurrah QR




The real action ...   Note CITYTRAIN IS BACK!!

Rare photograph of SMU263 on dual gauge (Platform 3), IMU166 on gauntlet track (Platform2)




SMU263  Platform 3 dual gauge track 3'6" and 4' 8.5"






IMU166  Platform 2 Roma St  dual gauge gauntlet track 3'6" and 4 8.5"



Photographs R Dow 30 September 2008

[ozbob]

Tuesday September 30, 2008

New trains and new services for early birds

Premier Bligh has announced new early-bird train services for the busy
Ipswich and Caboolture lines while inspecting one of the first new
trains for the Brisbane region.

Ms Bligh inspected one of four new suburban trains at Roma Street
station as the State Government's new train roll out gathers speed.

Ms Bligh and Minister for Transport John Mickel said the daily inbound
services would be added to both the Ipswich and Caboolture lines in
mid-October this year.

The early bird services will leave both Caboolture and Ipswich around
5.30am and arrive at Brisbane Central station before 6.30am. 

"These services will add more capacity on these two busy lines and this
new train is part of a $585 million roll out of 44 three carriage trains
and associated stabling yards work," said the Premier.   

"Since February we've added 57 extra carriages to the fleet and by early
2009 we will have added another 24.

"We all need to change our behaviour to bust congestion and that's why I
want services like this to give people the opportunity to change their
own routines.

"Using these services commuters have the opportunity to come to work
early and leave early missing the morning and evening peak times. If
they are a success we will look at similar services on other lines."

The new trains travel at a top speed of 130 km per hour with seating for
242 people and standing room for over 500 people.

The $585 million rolling stock order for 44 trains included a stage one
delivery of 16 interurban trains to operate on the Gold Coast and
Sunshine Coast lines. The last of these trains was delivered in March.

The new suburban train Ms Bligh inspected today is part of the stage two
delivery of 14 trains to the urban network by mid 2009.

"Over the next 10 months one of these congestion busting trains, which
are being built in Maryborough, will be delivered, on average, once a
month," she said.

"Today's new services are just the tip of the iceberg and we will be
announcing more new services in the new year."

By mid 2010 a further 14 three carriage trains will have been delivered
to complete the entire 44 train order. 

Minister Mickel said construction workers and people heading to the gym
before work would benefit from the new services.

"Extra rolling-stock and infrastructure improvements due to come online
in the new year will ensure more benefits and more timetable changes,"
he said.

Mr Mickel said public transport patronage had soared almost 40 per cent
over the past four years.

"Patronage for 2007/08 is estimated to be 61.7 million.  This is an
increase of 6.6% from 2006/07," he said.

"Delivery of these new trains shows how the Queensland Government is
planning for the future by meeting demand for passenger rail transport
across South East Queensland as customer patronage continues to grow."

For further information about public transport services, please visit
www.translink.com.au or call 13 12 30, 24 hours a day, seven days a
week.

[O_128]

could thsi be the begginng of platforms 2 and 3 opening to regular timetabling? also is citytrain decals going to be kept or not?

[ozbob]

Could well be Mario, and I hope the Citytrain is back to stay!

[stephenk]

As these new trains will be running extra early-bird services, I hope that they are put to use for a second extra morning peak service and extra evening peak services as well. However that is probably too logical for the "smart state".

Whilst extra early bird services are required due to poor frequencies at that time, it is a gimmick to expect many workers to change their routine. Instead of expecting workers to work earlier hours (of which the majority cannot), QR/Translink need to look at improving peak hour service patterns as well.

[ozbob]

There is a go card touch off device on Platform Two Roma St.  This is because this platform is outside the rail gates, so it could be used as needed. 

[O_128]

it would be ideal to possibly move Cleveland services to platform 3, and open up platofrom 9 for ekka loop?

[ozbob]

I am still not sure if there is a  real commitment to services on the Ekka loop Mario by TTA, although the TTA has said they will look at again.  There are a lot of obstacles BUT we do see regular services during the Ekka don't we?  Platform 3 is used for some services already although these are few.  Platform 3 is sometimes used to facilitate train movements to avoid running through Mayne and so forth as well. I am sure it could be used more often.

I was very surprised to see IMU166 at platform 2 the other day.  The placing of the go card touch device on platform 2 is a good sign as does mean it could be used if necessary too.

From February 2009 I think we are going to see significant changes.  More trains crew and paths will be available, we might even start to approach a 15 minute off peak frequency between 5am and 8pm all lines.  This is the way to move the masses ramp up frequency over wide peak shoulders, and have a high frequency off peak.  This will take pressure off the buses too.

[stephenk]

From February 2009 I think we are going to see significant changes.  More trains crew and paths will be available, we might even start to approach a 15 minute off peak frequency between 5am and 8pm all lines.  This is the way to move the masses ramp up frequency over wide peak shoulders, and have a high frequency off peak.  This will take pressure off the buses too.

This sounds good, but as QR currently can't even run 15 min frequencies to many stations during the peaks at present, I won't hold my breath!

[ozbob]

QUT News story -->

Taken on the day.

[ozbob]

Some feedback received on CAB line:

Did you know that between 6.25 and 6.59 am Monday to Friday (except for a Train from Nambour which runs express from Caboolture to Bowen Hills, there is only one train departing Caboolture that services the stations between Caboolture and Petrie.

Did you also know that the second last time that they (adjusted) the timetable, they brought a service time forward by 1 minute at Burpengary so that the time between trains was not 20 minutes (now 19) during peak hour.  It does not matter that this train is virtually always at least 2 minutes late at Burpengary.

Thanks.