Darra Station - upgrade

[ozbob]

Some more updates from Darra, platform 4 closed.  Bus shuttle in operation, buses are now back on the southern side.



Looking towards Darra from the Cardiff Road bridge










Temporary platform will be gone possibly by the end of May ...








These trees will be removed as clearance needed for OHT and new lines.  Some new trees will be planted a bit further south of the new rail corridor.




Progress with the station generally is now rapid













Photographs R Dow 17th April 2010

[ozbob]

2003

Down EMU56



Photograph R Dow 9th August 2003

[ozbob]

http://www.translink.com.au/servicechange.php?id=547

Darra station - inbound platform temporary closure - effective 24 April 2010

Darra station inbound platform (platform 4) will be closed for upgrades on Saturday 24 April 2010.

Shuttle buses will take all inbound passengers from Darra to Oxley station for rail connections to Brisbane City and other lines. go card holders please touch on at Oxley. Passengers should arrive at Darra station 10 minutes early to connect with their regular service at Oxley.

Passengers travelling to Darra station from stations between Rosewood and Gailes can catch shuttle services at Wacol station. go card holders please touch off at Wacol.

Outbound passengers will not be affected by this closure.

The platform will be closed to ensure passenger safety while while structural steel installation, concreting, roofing and electrical work is taking place. When completed, this work will provide improved facilities for Darra station customers.

[ozbob]

Platform 4 closed.  Work proceeding with the platforms.  Priority is platform 4 and 3/2.



















Photographs R Dow 24th April 2010

[dwb]

Can they not use any powdercoating of the structural elements like they do at busway stations? Makes such a difference in aesthetics!

[O_128]

Can they not use any powdercoating of the structural elements like they do at busway stations? Makes such a difference in aesthetics!

I agree what a pathetic upgrade,no raised platforms, still looks ugly how hard is it to design a busway station style train station???

[ozbob]

Apart from the platform height issue, there is another problem.  That is the lack of weather protection.  Winds and rain often comes from south west through Darra, no real protection lateral on any platform.  A weather skirt around the edges of platform shelters (canopies) might assist in affording a little more protection than what will be achieved.

                    S              

   =======================  -->  Richlands
E =======================    W
  =======================   --> Ipswich
  =======================

                    N

Some old design concepts were sound.  Armadale Station in Melbourne


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/22/Armadale-station-ramp.jpg

[frereOP]

Why on earth do they continue to build curved platforms?  To minimise the gap between the platform and the carriage the platform should be straight.  "Mind the Gap" is the regular announcement on Singapore MRT trains, but with gaps of no more than 10 to 20 mm the gap is almost invisible, it makes the risk of falling down or getting your foot caught near impossible!

[O_128]

Why on earth do they continue to build curved platforms?  To minimise the gap between the platform and the carriage the platform should be straight.  "Mind the Gap" is the regular announcement on Singapore MRT trains, but with gaps of no more than 10 to 20 mm the gap is almost invisible, it makes the risk of falling down or getting your foot caught near impossible!

For the price of the pathetic darra upgrade it would have been cheaper and quicker to just build it where the temp platforms are on the straight

[ozbob]

Yes, I was about to suggest that O_128.  It would have been a lot easier too, 4 new platforms straight and full height.

Next time you are in Central have a look at platforms 5 and 6, and platforms 3 and 4.  5 and 6 are full height, which promptly dispels the myth that full height platforms are not compatible with freight.  Freight wagons regularly run through 6 on the Westlander, and at times intermodals with 2800 class locos have run through there as well.  Car carriers regularly pass through 5 and 6 as well.  Very tight, but they fit.

[ozbob]

In some jurisdictions there has been a requirement since around 2006 for all new stations to be straight.  If that is not really possible only very large radii allowed (~ 1000m).  Indooroopilly should have been sorted out, as should have Darra.  I hear rumours that Indooroopilly might yet have further works to mitigate the platform gap and height issues ....

I can understand that it is not possible to rectify many of the existing stations with the funds available, but surely new stations or significant upgrades should be sorted ... 

[david]

I'm not quite sure whether it's my own wishful thinking or not, but I think that Platform 4 has been raised, although only just slightly. The height gap seems a little smaller, especially towards the straighter end of the platform, near the subway. It looks like Platform 3 (old Platform 2) has also been raised just slightly as well.

Just an aside, Trackstar used to release these excellent construction updates on their website, which laid out everything that was happening and what would happen in the next month or so. However, I haven't received one for quite a while now (almost 11 months). Does anyone have a recent one of these updates for the project in their hands?

[ozbob]

Discussion thread on platform heights and gaps --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3762.0

[ozbob]

Some more photographs.  Platform closeups are western end of platform 4.







































Photographs R Dow 26th April 2010

[ozbob]

@ David

I haven't seen one for a while either David.  Last one --> http://www.trackstar.com.au/images/stories/Project_newsletters/cod_june09.pdf

[ozbob]

Track closure for three days.  Temporary platform is already being removed.  Plan is for platform 3 to open first UP service AM Tuesday.














Ramp and stairs for accessing platform 4 west






Bye temporary platform!



Photographs R Dow 1st May 2010

[Derwan]

Was this ahead of schedule?  Or has time just flown?

[ozbob]

Little bit ahead of time.  There is pressure to lay the new sub lines through Darra as well.  Richlands is  well ahead of schedule (green field).  Darra is a very complex brown-field project and they have done well particularly in view of the wet weather the past year.

[ozbob]

I plan to catch the first UP train from Oxley to arrive at Darra platform 3 5.34am on Tuesday morning 4th (first service to stop at the new platform 3).  There are usually a few punters on board who get off at Darra on that service, bit of history ...  

[ozbob]

Steady progress, the temporary platform is being removed quickly ..






















Strange location for a go card reader ...



Photographs R Dow 2nd May 2010

[frereOP]

Strange location for a go card reader ...



Photographs R Dow 2nd May 2010

Why put Go Card readers (that you can't read anyway) on the new platform?  Why are they not putting in gates to separate paid and unpaid platform areas like those on the Singapore MRT suburban stations?

[dwb]

Why are they not putting in gates to separate paid and unpaid platform areas like those on the Singapore MRT suburban stations?

Why would you?

It is a suburban railway station. Most of them require many gates on different exits, which can't be staffed anyway, so why not just have the pole, cheaper, faster, takes up less space.

[ozbob]

The temporary platform is gone.  The extra go card reader on the edge of platform 2 west looks like a temporary fixture. Surface cabling would suggest that, probably to give a second reader whilst the eastern end of platforms 3/2 closed. Expect that reader will be moved down the other end when eastern access available.













Photographs R Dow 3rd May 2010

[ozbob]

Platform 3/2 having the final touches.  First UP service due at 5.34am May 4.







Photographs R Dow 3rd May 2010

[dwb]

The signage there looks half decent. (This is a compliment, not a criticism)

[Jon Bryant]

Looks like consistent signage between Busway and Rail signage. 

[ozbob]

Darra platform 3 is open!  First UP revenue service SMU234/240.  Looks good!

[ozbob]

Some photographs from this morning ..

On arrival first UP service  (SMU 234/240)



Despite the advice elsewhere, the AVVM was fully functional this morning.














Down empty Westlander





Photographs R Dow 4th May 2010

[david]

Some photographs from this morning ..



Photographs R Dow 4th May 2010

That is a fantastic photo...Darra looks really good in the dark! Perhaps this is what they intended Indooroopilly to look like before they applied that horrendous colour scheme. Well done to Trackstar once again!

Just out of curiosity, where is the new station building going to be located? Is it that steel structure sitting halfway down Platform 4?

[verbatim9]

The colour scheme at Darra is much nicer then the horizontal big banana scheme that they have done at Indooroopilly. I bet Indooroopilly Station has not won any design awards since it has been built!?

[ozbob]

Thanks, yes it looked nice in the early morning half light. The main station buildings/offices will be co-located with platform 4 David is the latest advice I have received.  This will be close to the bus interchanges and will be easily accessible via the lifts and subway.  Not much room on one, could have been on 2/3 as well I guess but probably easier overall on 4. 

Yes, Darra is different from Indooroopilly ...   

[Derwan]

They did a lot over the weekend.  Looking at the earlier photos I was thinking, "Wow, this is supposed to open in a couple of days?"  Then when I saw the photos of the temporary platform being demolished, I started thinking that maybe they should've left it there in case they didn't get the permanent one finished in time.

They've done well.  It looks great.  The lighting is very effective and creates a "safe" atmosphere.  (I personally prefer the "cool white" colour of the lighting.)   

[mufreight]

Now if they had raised the platform to carriage floor height it would rate a plus.
Pity about that.

[Derwan]

Now if they had raised the platform to carriage floor height it would rate a plus.

No doubt this is not the contractor's fault... so they've done well with what they were instructed to do! 

[WTN]

I'm also amazed at Trackstar's speedy efforts.  Lighting is nicely done - quite like a busway.  But if they brought in the remaining elements - painted beams, full length shelters, and carriage height platforms - then that'll be splendid.

[ozbob]

Media Release 6 May 2010

SEQ:  Significant milestone at Darra railway station

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has congratulated the Trackstar Alliance, TransLink and QR Passenger on the successful re-commissioning of the upgraded platform 3 (the former platform 2) at Darra.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Darra railway station is undergoing a transformation. As part of the complex Corinda to Darra track amplification project with station upgrades at Oxley and Darra, and the construction of the Richlands branch line, Darra is being turned into a major rail junction station (1)."

"I travelled on the first QR Citytrain service to use the new platform. It was very impressive to arrive at the new platform in the early morning (2)."

"Ipswich line commuters have had to endure constant track closures associated with these projects, but the pain will be worth the gain with the train in the long term.  The opportunity for increased train frequency and new train paths will endear a commuter revolution from out west."

"The new Richlands railway station is getting close to completion (3).  A modern state of the art station. Exciting days for the rail network."

"The Trackstar Alliance team are actively involved with local citizens and rail commuter consultation and this is appreciated by all.  We look forward to the final commissioning of this hugely significant project. Well done!"

References:

1. http://www.qr.com.au/SEQIP/projects/Corinda/default.asp

2. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1373.msg26362#msg26362

3. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=639.msg26310#msg26310

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Steam at Darra

[ozbob]

More progress at Darra ...

Next stop Richlands







======

















Photographs R Dow 15th May 2010

[ozbob]

Another work weekend at Darra.  Platform 4 is taking shape.  Framework for the station office buildings taking shape eastern end of platform 4.  Ramp will be well protected from the weather, the station canopy has been extended similar to the platform 2/3.  Subway is being worked on, more OHT supports being positioned down from Darra.  By the look of the track bed for the Richlands branch track laying is not that far away.  The OHT supports on the rail bridge over the Ipswich Highway have been positioned for a while now.







Photographs R Dow 23rd May 2010

[ozbob]

Darra upgrade continues









Cross over down from Darra




Photographs mufreight 2nd June 2010