Judy Spence announces new Services to Tennyson - New Tennis Centre

[Mozz]

On the Channel Ten news tonight at 5.10pm Judy Spence was asked by reporters how people would get to the new Pat Rafter Tennis Centre given there is no or little parking at the centre for spectators - her response was that people could use rail at either Yerongpilly or Tennyson - which then had a cut from Channel Ten to the reasonably disused Tennyson Railway Station and some comments that it looked quite run down and not in keeping with the brand spanking new Tennis Centre. I suppose it makes perfect sense, there is a new Tennis Centre at Tennyson and there is a Tennyson Railway Station, so let's use the existing railway station to get spectators to the centre given there is no parking at the centre.

There was also mention of a lack of pedestrian overhead access to the Tennis Centre requiring some tricky movements across busy roads to get to the centre.

Congrats to the Government for realising the need to use existing infrastructure and facilities. Now I wonder when the new timetables are going to be released incorporating Tennyson Railway Station now that the Tennis Centre is actually open for business.

[ozbob]

 

[Dean Quick]

Whilst millions were being spent on the new tennis centre, nobody thought about access to it ?? A very run down and little used railway station sits right next to our new WORLD class sporting facility. Quite simply, the most basic principles of easy and frequent public transport were neglected during the planning of the facility. Its embarrassing really.   

[ozbob]

There has been some general discussion about the possibility of a rail shuttle.  There is also the capacity to construct a special events platform next to the new Tennis centre where the present sidings are.  This would then make it a seamless transport experience.

This thread details the present transport arrangements --> http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1694.0

Even a rail shuttle from Corinda to the present Tennyson station would be of value.

[Mozz]

I just had a look at the Translink thread on how to get to and from the Tennis Centre and there is lots of references to buses and some reference to trains from Yerongpilly but nothing about Tennyson railway station, come on Translink pick your act up - a State Government Minister has announced Tennyson Railway station as a means of getting to and from the Tennis Centre - so get cracking and make it so.

[Derwan]

It's okay... nobody goes to watch tennis anyway.   

[Arnz]

Another issue is that the Tennyson Railway Station has short platforms.  IT can only fit 3 cars so it'll take quite a bit of work to fix that up.

[ozbob]

Media Release 3 January 2009

SEQ:  Tennyson Tennis Centre a success, public transport arrangements wanting

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport users has called for an urgent upgrade of public transport facilities to allow seamless travel to the new Tennyson Tennis Centre.  A Citytrain rail shuttle service between Yeerongpilly and Corinda via Tennyson is needed.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

?The opening of the new tennis centre at Tennyson is very welcome.  Sadly, the public transport arrangements have been found wanting.  There is a railway station adjacent to the tennis centre and it is a major failing to have not included that in the public transport plan.  The walk for many from Yeerongpilly railway station is difficult.  Car parking is very restricted. Shuttle buses are limited from Yeerongpilly and Corinda railway stations and add complexity to what could be a seamless rail journey. Comments on radio 612 ABC Brisbane on January 3rd by patrons have further highlighted the transport issues.?

?Tennyson railway station even in its present neglected state has the capability of accepting three car electric trains.  A three car train can transport 500 passengers. A shuttle between Corinda and Yeerongpilly would be an immediate logical addition to the present public transport options. Not only would it allow patrons to be transported to the centre itself by rail, it would also allow direct access from the western (Ipswich - Rosewood) line. People from suburbs like Toowong could travel direct by rail via Corinda rather than having to travel via Roma St and  then catching trains on the Beenleigh line.?

?In time an upgrade of Tennyson rail station should be considered.  An alternative option would be to build a special events platform next to the centre where the present railway sidings are located.?

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[brad C]

TTA website offers no additional services to or from the centre other than those regular Beenleigh line services. However there is an additional rather late service of an evening terminating at Bowen Hills at 0013hrs.
Reference is made to the 'clock face' times for arrivals and departures to and from Yeerongpilly.

Given that there is no third road platform at Yeerongpilly, there is obviously no capacity for Gold Coast travellers to visit the tennis centre apart from transfers at Beenleigh to the all stoppers.

It is encouraging to see public transport featuring so prominently in the planning of this first class tennis centre (not).
Compare this to the emphasis on public transport and the link ways that connect suncorp stadium to Milton Rail.

Comparing the two, one wonders if it is the same country.

[ozbob]

Here are a couple of recent photographs of Tennyson railway station.  Fully functional station ..  why not use it?




Go card reader, help point in place.



Photographs R Dow 7th December 2008

[ozbob]

Some suggestions from members and others  for rail utilisation ...

Doomben - Corinda via Tennyson, regular service.

Tennis specials from Central, Sherwood, Tennyson.  Central, South Brisbane, Tennyson.  Pick up all stations.  Reverse at end of day. 

On Tennis days some of the Gold Coast Services  to be designated tennis specials.  Run via Tennyson (with a stop).  Reverse at end of day.

Simply run a shuttle between Yeerongpilly and Corinda during tennis days to connect with southern and western lines.

Shuttle between Corinda and Tennyson only.

--

Seems silly not use an asset already in location.

[ozbob]

This afternoon on radio 4BC, the regular weekly session with Mr Paul Scurrah Executive General Manager QR Passenger Services had a significant discussion on the Tennyson loop line and some consideration for its use.  A caller made a strong case for regular services via Tennyson.  Mr Scurrah mentioned that it would be discussed with TransLink.

[ozbob]

This makes our calls to utilise the Tennyson loop line even more cogent ..

From the Courier Mail click here!

Fans dodge traffic outside Queensland Tennis Centre

Fans dodge traffic outside Queensland Tennis Centre
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Patrick Lion, Michelle Hele and James O'Loan

January 05, 2009 11:00pm

TENNIS fans attending the Brisbane International have been left stranded over a promised walkway to the new Queensland Tennis Centre at Tennyson.

And the Bligh Government admits the project should have been completed before the tournament began this week.

As fans battled a dangerous road crossing outside the Brisbane International yesterday, Transport Minister John Mickel was unable to say when the footbridge linking the train station and stadium would be finished, how much it would cost or who would build it.

The uncertainty comes after former premier Peter Beattie promised the project - similar to the overhead pedestrian footbridge outside Suncorp Stadium - when construction of the tennis headquarters kicked off two years ago.

"The Tennyson Riverside Development will also deliver major improvements to local infrastructure, including an overhead walkway connecting the tennis centre to the Yeerongpilly Railway Station," Mr Beattie said at the time.

Property developer Mirvac yesterday said its winning bid to construct the stadium and apartments involved providing $1.5 million for the walkway across Fairfield Rd.

"The agreement is for the money to be provided when it is needed," a spokesman said.

However, Mr Mickel said, the bridge had still not been put out for tender but relied on another tender, currently under selection, for the nearby Yeerongpilly Landing development.

"Originally it had been intended to have the footbridge completed in time for the tennis centre opening," he said. "The anticipated cost of the project will be determined by the final design scheme and the precinct development master plan."

The revelations are an embarrassment for the Government, which has already seen a cost blowout for the stadium from $60 million to $82 million.

Local Labor MP Simon Finn insisted the walkway was a "much-needed safe crossing" three years ago but yesterday insisted a temporary fence, wider footpath and a controlled crossing were "very safe".

However, tennis fans said the lights had failed to work in peak times on the busy road.

Teneriffe couple Aaron and Samantha Knott said police had to step in. "They need to rush (the overpass) through," Mr Knott said.

[mufreight]

There is no practical reason why the Tennyson railway station can not be used, Yes the platform is only three cars long but at the present time a number of train services operated by six car trains use this station and as is done elsewhere trains could make two stops until such time as the platforms are extended. As for the walk to the tennis centre there is sufficent room under the Softstone street road bridge over the rail line for the provision of a walkway which would remove the need for pedestrians to cross any road between the Tennyson rail station and the tennis centre but this would be a simple and logical solution to the problem.

[ozbob]

Excellent points mu, thanks!   I think we will see in a more enlightened public transport environment increased inner city services which the Tennyson loop line will no doubt play its part.  As we see more services on the long haul lines with the capacity in from Darra, and from Northgate, more two tier timetables (as on the Gold Coast line).

I think re-establishing a permanent service through Tennyson will be a successful strategy to allow innovative journey paths by rail.  For example, Darra to Park Road.  One approach could be trains running Doomben to Richlands via Tennyson?  People who want the express run to town could change at Darra, either way.  Just ideas ...

Cheers
Bob

[mufreight]

A suggestion that is a little out of the square regarding services, an hourly service each way from Ipswich via Corinda, Yeerongpilly and Dutton Park to Clevland, this would provide connections accross the Corinda Tennyson link and provide a connecting service between the Ipswich and Beenleigh /Gold Coast line, an alternative route for passengers to destinations such as South Bank without having to change platforms when they change trains and would service the tennis centre at Tennyson on a regular basis, it will one would assume be used during times when tornauments are not being played either by social players or for training so there will be a need .
This proposal would serve that need as well as providing a needed link service that was withdrawn not so long ago.  As a trial it could be operated by a three car set and stepped up mto a six car operation when there were events at Tennyson.

[ButFli]

There is no need to worry about Tennyson Station. There will be no use for it once the foot bridge to Yeerongpilly is in place.

We are talking about 300m of walking. 500m from the main stadium to Tennyson Station or 800m from the main stadium to Yeerongpilly. Keep in mind that Tennyson can only handle 3-car trains and has wheelchair access to one platform only. Both Stations will need pedestrian bridges built before the are appropriate for use. Tennyson has the disadvantage of being very close to residential property.

No offence to the keener members of RAIL: Back on track but there is absolutely no reason to choose Tennyson over Yeerongpilly other than the gunzel's dream of seeing Tennyson become an active station. Use the Tennyson Loop by all means but the station itself is beyond saving.

[ozbob]

I hear what you are saying Butfli. QR Passenger Services is supportive of Tennyson being brought up to a fully serviceable standard in time.  I have no doubt that we will see resumption of regular services through Tennyson in the years to come.  Maybe part of an inner city metro like service particularly as the various high density TOD like developments are completed.  Watch this space ...

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

Footbridge, what footbridge?

Footbridge, what footbridge?
Tony Moore | January 7, 2009 - 5:17AM

The Queensland Government cannot say when a planned $1.5 million footbridge from Yeerongpilly Rail Station will be built over Fairfield Road to the new Queensland Tennis Centre at Tennyson.

The footbridge was originally planned to be part of the Queensland Tennis Centre, but was removed from the final plan in 2007, in a tender subsequently won by Mirvac.

The footbridge was supposed to extend from the rail bridge at Yeerongpilly Station, run over Fairfield Road and into the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Animal Research Institute on Fairfield Road, right beside the tennis centre.

People trying to get to the new $82 million tennis centre - which opened this week after being budgeted at $60 million - would not have to walk down Fairfield Road and cross at traffic lights to get to the tennis centre if the footbridge was finished.

There are two similar projects on this land near Tennyson: the Tennyson Riverside Development which includes the Queensland Tennis Centre, and the Tennyson Landing Project, which is trying to transform 14 hectares of land into a mix of residential, parkland and retail centres plus a sports science research facility.

This Tennyson Landing Project - which started in 2006 - includes the DPI research facility site where the footbridge was originally proposed to be built.

Three companies submitted expressions of interest in June 2007 for the Tennyson Landing Project; Mirvac, which has already won the tender for the Tennyson Riverside Development, Stockwell and a consortium including Watpac, Seymour Constructions and Maquarie Bank.

A spokesman for Transport Minister John Mickel, said the footbridge had been "deferred."

"It will be there and it was always planned and always will be, but it has been deferred," the spokesman said.

However the spokesman was unable to say when the tender for the Tennyson Landing Project would be finalised.

"There is no date for that at the moment," he said.

"I am not aware of a time schedule of when it will be finalised and awarded."

Mirvac did allow $1.5 million in its original submission to win the Tennyson Riverside Development to build the footbridge, but the need to build the bridge was removed before the contract was finalised.

Mr Mickel's spokesman said the State Government removed the bridge from the contract to allow the tenders on the DPI site the ability to plan without a pedestrian bridge through the site.

"They have deferred it because it made sense to await the selection of the tender for the Yeerongpilly Landing Development so that it could be properly incorporated into there," the spokesman said.

"If they had built the footbridge into the Yeerongpilly Landing site and put it out there to tender as a piece of public infrastructure, I think the belief was that would compromise the best outcome for the tender."

Meanwhile Translink said they had not been asked to allow the Tennyson rail station, right beside the new tennis centre, to be used during the Brisbane International.

"The Queensland Tennis Centre is serviced by buses (routes 104 and 105) and also by trains at nearby Yeerongpilly and Corinda stations," a spokesman said.

Translink said Tennyson train station could only take three carriages and was not on its four-year upgrade plan.

[ozbob]

Noted the 8.27am Airport service from Corinda via Tennyson was EMU43/48 this morning. Six cars.  Stops at Tennyson. As with all 6 car services via Tennyson punters for Tennyson travel in the first three cars.  Similar to the north coast line practices.  Not a big deal TransLink.  This is one train dedicated tennis fans could catch?   

[david]

Just spotted this on the QR Citytrain website

Service adjustments for the remainder of the Brisbane International Tennis Tournament

For the remainder of the Brisbane International Tennis Tournament, the following adjustments have been made to services to and from the Gold Coast to service Yeerongpilly station.

Thursday 08 January - Inbound
Services from the Gold Coast will commence stopping Yeerongpilly after the morning peak period. The first service to depart Yeerongpilly will be at 9.22am. Following this, each service from the Gold Coast will stop at Yeerongpilly up to and including the last service of the day, TOA1, that departs Yeerongpilly 23:52.

Please note ? Airtrain service that departs Robina at 6.04pm, operates via the dual gauge line and is unable to stop at Yeerongpilly.

Thursday 08 January - Outbound
The first Gold Coast service to arrive at Yeerongpilly will be at 9:09am. Following this, all Gold Coast services will stop at Yeerongpilly up to and including the service departing Central station at 3.54pm, subsequently departing Yeerongpilly at 4.09pm.

Please note - Peak hour services travelling via the dual gauge line between 4.00pm and 6.20pm will not stop at Yeerongpilly.

Post afternoon Gold Coast peak services will resume stopping at Yeerongpilly from 6.39pm and will continue until the last service of the day that departs Yeerongpilly at 11.30pm.

Friday 09 January - Inbound
Services from the Gold Coast will commence stopping at Yeerongpilly after the morning peak period. The first service will stop at Yeerongpilly at 9:22am. Following this, each service from the Gold Coast will stop at Yeerongpilly up to and including Bowen Hills service departing Yeerongpilly 00:52 (Saturday).

Friday 09 January - Outbound
The first Gold Coast service will stop at Yeerongpilly at 9:09am. Following this, all Gold Coast services will stop at Yeerongpilly up to and including the service departing Central station at 3.54pm, subsequently departing Yeerongpilly at 4.09pm.

Please note - Peak hour services travelling via the dual gauge line between 4.00pm and 6.20pm will not stop at Yeerongpilly.

Post afternoon Gold Coast peak services will resume stopping Yeerongpilly at 6:39pm and will continue until the last service of the day that departs Yeerongpilly at 12.39am (Saturday).

Saturday 10 January - Inbound
The first service from the Gold Coast will stop at Yeerongpilly at 9.52am. Following this, all services from the Gold Coast will stop at Yeerongpilly up to and including the last service of the day departing Yeerongpilly 12.52am (Sun).

Saturday 10 January - Outbound
The first Gold Coast service will stop at Yeerongpilly at 9.39am. Following this, all Gold Coast services will stop at Yeerongpilly up to and including the last service of the day departing Yeerongpilly at 12.39am (Sunday).

Sunday 11 January - Inbound
The first service from the Gold Coast will stop at Yeerongpilly at 12:22pm. Following this, all services from the Gold Coast will stop at Yeerongpilly up to and including the last service of the day departing Yeerongpilly 11.52am.

Sunday 11 January - Outbound
The first Gold Coast service will stop at Yeerongpilly at 12:39am. Following this, all Gold Coast services will stop at Yeerongpilly up to and including the service departing Yeerongpilly at 11.09pm.

IMO, they should've done this earlier. I suppose its better late than never. Ought to congratulate QR for making these changes

[ozbob]

 

[ozbob]

Media Release 8 January 2009

SEQ:  Most Gold Coast trains to stop at Yeerongpilly for remainder of International Tennis Tournament

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport users has welcomed the announcement of Gold Coast trains stopping at Yeerongpilly for the remainder of the tennis.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"On the QR Citytrain web site is a service update advising of changes to the Gold Coast line services for the remainder of the Brisbane International Tennis Tournament (1)."

"In short, patrons can now make use of the express services both inbound and outbound to head to the tennis with most trains stopping at Yeerongpilly.  This is a good move.  Well done QR Passenger!"

Reference:

1.  http://www.citytrain.com.au/plan_your_trip/service_alterations/service_alterations.asp

Contact:
Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org