Darra Station - upgrade

[somebody]

I'm much more concerned that Fortitude Valley doesn't have a drinking fountain!

Indooroopilly & Toowong don't have one either, but Milton does only on Platform 2/3.

So, the most recently redeveloped stations have been omitting them, perhaps the standards are a pain.

[ozbob]

Darra is an interesting station these days.





















Photographs R Dow 10th November 2010

[neidailou]

*

11.5 DRINKING FOUNTAIN
Queensland Rail will advise if drinking
fountain(s) are required.
If a drinking fountain is required, it
must comply with the DSAPT in shape,
location and operation.
Refer to Appendix C for further details

Platforms 2 and 3 and 4 do not have drinking water fountains.  Presumably one hasn't either but haven't been on that platform but I cannot see any. (Oxley platform 3 does not have drinking fountain either).

* http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/resources/guideline/tod/appendix.pdf  page 54  
Queensland Rail Station design guide PS-CS-MAN-0013 Version 3.1.July 2010

What dictates if drinking fountains are required?   No toilets and now no water, platforms not full height ...  snap out of it QR, time stations were made vibrant community centres ...

I believe there is a drinking fountain on platform 4 near the vending machines

[mufreight]

Yes there is a water fountain on platform 4 at Darra but not on platforms 2&3 and also have been informed that none will be provided on platform 1, it would seem that no provision has been made foe any water supply on these platforms, raising the point of if there is no water supply provided on the platforms there is no fire hydrant supply either which must raise a safety hazard.

[ozbob]

Welcome neidailou!  Thanks for pointing that out, I forgot about the one on 4.  There are toilets on 4 too.

Darra is a lot better now of course, but some of the basics could have been done better eg. water on 2 and 3 and 1, and better functional integration into the community.  This is a bigger issue and is a way of capturing value to defray infrastructure costs.

[somebody]

Yes there is a water fountain on platform 4 at Darra but not on platforms 2&3 and also have been informed that none will be provided on platform 1, it would seem that no provision has been made foe any water supply on these platforms,

It is unlikely that many pax will be waiting for trains on platform 1.  People would be mostly using that platform for alighting.

[mufreight]

There would be a number of commuters who could potentially be using platform 1, transfers from Ipswich line trains going to Richlands and Springfield when the line is extended that far and if Richlands is on a 30 minute frequency that has the potential for a long wait.

[somebody]

There would be a number of commuters who could potentially be using platform 1, transfers from Ipswich line trains going to Richlands and Springfield when the line is extended that far and if Richlands is on a 30 minute frequency that has the potential for a long wait.

If they work in Ipswich you mean?  Some of those, I guess.

But I really think that a water fountain on Darra #1 is well down the priority list, and even well down the priority list of water fountains.  What about fountains on:
Milton #1
Fortitude Valley 1/2 & 3/4
Indooroopilly 1/2
Toowong 1/2

All of which are far more important.  Darra #1 would be on a par with Indro/Toowong 3/4 IMO.

And especially when Darra already has a water fountain.  I'm not sure if there is one at Bowen Hills either.

[ozbob]

As far as drinking fountains go, all platforms, all stations should have the basics to include water IMHO.

One of the reasons they are not is because of the ferals wrecking and polluting the systems around the City rail network.

Anyway ..

Rest weekend at Darra.  Work has been proceeding western end of platform one and work proceeding on the foot bridge fit out.



















Photographs R Dow 13th November 2010

[mufreight]

There would be a number of commuters who could potentially be using platform 1, transfers from Ipswich line trains going to Richlands and Springfield when the line is extended that far and if Richlands is on a 30 minute frequency that has the potential for a long wait.

If they work in Ipswich you mean?  Some of those, I guess.

But I really think that a water fountain on Darra #1 is well down the priority list, and even well down the priority list of water fountains.  What about fountains on:
Milton #1
Fortitude Valley 1/2 & 3/4
Indooroopilly 1/2
Toowong 1/2

All of which are far more important.  Darra #1 would be on a par with Indro/Toowong 3/4 IMO.

And especially when Darra already has a water fountain.  I'm not sure if there is one at Bowen Hills either.

Point remains that this is a new build station and basic provisions should be made as to working in Ipswich again in attempting to defend the indefensible you overlooked the fact that those who would be affected to the greatest degree by the failure to provide this basic facility on platform 1 are not those proceeding to Ipswich who would make a cross platform transfer, platform 2 to platform 3 but those proceeding to Richlands and Springfield, seem to recall that there are education and high tec employment facilities there that would generate high commuter usage and these would be departing Darra from? yes the penny has dropped, platform 1.   

[somebody]

attempting to defend the indefensible

Don't know that I was doing that.  Just trying to make the point that I am unsure why you would be so focused on this one, while ignoring others.

It really annoys me that there isn't water at Fortitude Valley, and why wouldn't it?  If I have had a couple of drinks, I want water!  I also find it annoying that there isn't one on Milton #1.  I find these somewhat more annoying than it being missing from Indooroopilly, which is my station, in spite of a $26.5m makeover.

In Sydney there are few water fountains anywhere (one on Clarence/King Sts is about the only one), and I don't think there are any anywhere on the train system.  I suppose Brisbane is hotter so there would be more demand.

[Derwan]

Point remains that this is a new build station and basic provisions should be made

Definitely!  It's just a tap!  They spend millions on making everything DDA compliant, but they can't supply a tap so that their "customers" can have a drink?  I guess if it's not legislated, they just don't bother.

[mufreight]

attempting to defend the indefensible

Don't know that I was doing that.  Just trying to make the point that I am unsure why you would be so focused on this one, while ignoring others.

It really annoys me that there isn't water at Fortitude Valley, and why wouldn't it?  If I have had a couple of drinks, I want water!  I also find it annoying that there isn't one on Milton #1.  I find these somewhat more annoying than it being missing from Indooroopilly, which is my station, in spite of a $26.5m makeover.

In Sydney there are few water fountains anywhere (one on Clarence/King Sts is about the only one), and I don't think there are any anywhere on the train system.  I suppose Brisbane is hotter so there would be more demand.

You could have fooled me on that.
On the subject of water fountains in Sydney unless they have been all torn out the majority of stations in Sydney had them. not always on the platforms but they were there.
I again go back to the comment that on a new build or refurbishment of a station there are basic minimum facilities that need be provided such as drinking water and accessible toilets for commuters, not provided at the new stations at Beerburrum and Elimbah where the waits are often quite extended for commutes of considerable duration and despite which the trains frequently also fail to provide toilet facilities.
It is the espoused intention of Queensland Rail to encourage patronage yet the failure to provide adequate facilities effectively discourages patronage.   

[somebody]

I've been catching trains in Sydney for over 20 years, and the only stations I can think of which have them are Martin place and Kings Cross.  I think.  Perhaps they are at Edgecliff and Bondi Junction.  I haven't used those stations often enough to pay too much attention.  I'm fairly sure that fountains are not present at major stations such as Wynyard/Town Hall/Central/Parramatta.

It seems hard to see exactly how Queensland Rail are encouraging patronage, and I would certainly agree with your comments about the need for toilets at Elimbah & Beerburrum.

[ozbob]

Darra, and the water fountain on platform 4 ...













Photographs R Dow 14th November 2010

[mufreight]

I've been catching trains in Sydney for over 20 years, and the only stations I can think of which have them are Martin place and Kings Cross.  I think.  Perhaps they are at Edgecliff and Bondi Junction.  I haven't used those stations often enough to pay too much attention.  I'm fairly sure that fountains are not present at major stations such as Wynyard/Town Hall/Central/Parramatta.

It seems hard to see exactly how Queensland Rail are encouraging patronage, and I would certainly agree with your comments about the need for toilets at Caboolture & Beerburrum.

ELIMBAH, unless they have been removed in the last week there are toilet facilities at Caboolture

[somebody]

Corrected.

[ozbob]

In the space of an hour, two up coal, three down coal, and one down loco train.
It seems these days more freight movements on the western line between Corinda and Ipswich than passenger trains.
It used to be in the order of about 40% freight, I think it is probably about 50 - 55% now ..
























Photographs R Dow 15th November 2010

[Gazza]

Forgive my ignorance, but which way is up and down in terms of trains in Brisbane, and which tracks are the suburbans versus the mains? I'm not up to date with the jargon.

[somebody]

Forgive my ignorance, but which way is up and down in terms of trains in Brisbane, and which tracks are the suburbans versus the mains? I'm not up to date with the jargon.

Mains: Milton-Sherwood, Fortitude Valley-Northgate platforms #3 & #4.  Roma St #8 & #9, Central #5 & #6
Suburbans: Milton-Sherwood, Fortitude Valley-Northgate platforms #1 & #2, Roma St 4-7, Central 1-4.

[STB]

Forgive my ignorance, but which way is up and down in terms of trains in Brisbane, and which tracks are the suburbans versus the mains? I'm not up to date with the jargon.

With regards to 'up' and 'down'.  Basically, any train that's heading south is an 'up train', and any train heading north is an 'down train'.  Think of it from the early days of Ipswich, up trains would go up the hill (towards Toowoomba - South), and down trains, down the hill (towards Ipswich - North).

[ozbob]

Queensland is very confusing with up and down directions.  The western line is the not the same as the northern line.  Related to the fact that railways in Qld started at Ipswich, so Ipswich to Brisbane was down.  Brisbane to Cairns is down.  It is a little confusing at times.

An up train at Oxley for example is a western (Ipswich bound train).  An up train at Northgate is actually heading to Brisbane ...

[STB]

Yeah...forgot to mention that.  It's a mighty strange (but in general it works) system.

[ozbob]

Gazza, thanks for the question.

Posted this --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4853.0 from qrig.org

Will help all of us.

[mufreight]

Seems that in terms of frequency on the Ipswich line there is a greater frequency of freight services than passenger services off peak.
Maybe we should all paint ourselves black and make like lumps of coal then we would get a better service frequency,
well just a thought.       

[ozbob]

Work proceeding at Darra on western end platform 1, car park the western end north side (behind the bowls club).
Looks like a kiss n' ride area north side east end well advanced.  Fit out of the footbridge underway.

Trains galore through Darra. SMU232 on route tuition today.





























Photographs R Dow 22nd November 2010

[ozbob]

Red boards still on the branch line.  Down coalie coming off the up sub loop Darra.











Photographs R Dow 23rd November 2010

[ozbob]

RM 1901 heading through Darra on the main UP.  Might be doing signalling testing on the branch later today/week.




Darra service platform 2, this service was converted to the 8.28am Ipswich service, the normal train ran into platform 3 and pax moved over.  Possibly the first Ipswich service to depart from platform 2 in the new life ...  
















School bus 782 using bus stop A Darra





Photographs R Dow 24th November 2010

[ozbob]

Photographs R Dow 26th November 2010

[ozbob]

Western end of platform one nearly finished!











Photographs R Dow 27th November 2010

[ozbob]

SMU243 on route tuition









Photographs R Dow 1st December 2010

[ozbob]

Darra 1st December 2010.  Locomotives go onto the Richlands branch line for signal testing.

Signal is set for the UP branch line to Richlands!








Locos returning on the down branch line














Some more trains through Darra











Photographs mufreight 1st December 2010

[colinw]

What a marvellous shot.  3 distinct generations of QR electric rollingstock in one photo. 

[ozbob]

   mufreight takes some great photographs.

Darra is the fast becoming the centre of the railway universe!   

The variety of trains that run through now is amazing ..

[ozbob]

Platform one west is taking shape

Footbridge now has some colour finish

EMU01/73 down service at Darra














Next station 'Richlands' ... SMU 203 passes through platform one Darra on route tuition.
Who knows, maybe trains might start running to Richlands this week as well for tuition.



Photographs R Dow 6th December 2010

[ozbob]

SMU 207 on route tuition.  No trains seen on the branch line, although there was some signal activity, possible testing for fault resolution.

Up Darra service terminating on platform 2











Ramp to access platform 4 western end, stairs still not open western end























Photographs R Dow 7th December 2010

[ozbob]

The temporary go card reader towards the eastern end of platform 3 has now been removed.  This leaves two readers at the eastern end of 2/3.

[ozbob]

Go card readers, one at the western end of platform 2/3 and one at the western end platform 4 next to the stairs for the footbridge have been positioned.  Work still continuing with the footbridge, not open yet.

Western end of platform one is finally nearing completion.  AVVM is on platform one.

Platform one







Photographs R Dow 17th December 2010

[mufreight]

Rumored that the footbridge might be in use for access to platforms 2,3 & 4 Monday or Tuesday of next week.

[ozbob]

Rest weekend, fortunate as has been bit wet.

Not long now ..























Photographs R Dow 19th December 2010