Cross River Rail Project

[SteelPan]

I say that across the political spectrum. ie, BOTH the previous Bligh govt and the current Newman govt are doing the right things by the CRR project.  We should all be pls'd, it looks like this project, for my money the most exciting since electrification itself, IS on the road to long-term delivery.  Of course we'd all like it open next week, but that was never going to happen regardless of the brand of govt.  The CRR project however is on the right track for delivery.

Key points for rail freaks like me and those who just enjoy being freaks 

1. KEEP the forward momentum - don't let em off the hook.
2. Wasn't CRR suppose to have a second stage? keep that dream alive IF so.
3. Wasn't there also talk of an underground subway/metro system - is the initial planning being done for that - DON'T let be that in 12yrs time the pollies then say "well, we're thinking of doing some study" - Let's get the planning underway, so in a few years time, we're ready for construction, not endless studies!

[aldonius]

And if you do want to go to the northside with CRR2, what I think would work best is to have it go as RTT suggested, but after Albert St continue to Central, possibly Spring Hill and daylight in the Ekka loop. Simultaneously, the Trouts Rd tunnel gets built, linking with CRR1.

[somebody]

I don't agree with a new path for the Ippy.  It's not needed and it's expensive.  A new path for the Cleveland line makes much more sense and that is needed.

[somebody]

'Just do it': Howes blasts Cross River Rail 'faffing'

Date
    July 27, 2012 - 4:39PM

Marissa Calligeros
brisbanetimes.com.au reporter

The Newman government should stop "faffing about" and commit to the Cross River Rail project, union leader Paul Howes says.

The Australian Workers Union national secretary did not withhold his fire at Premier Campbell Newman, saying the LNP state leader had "gone cold" on public transport investment and had also been "blinded by the mining boom" at the expense of the manufacturing industry,

Mr Howes told a press club luncheon in Brisbane that resolving the capacity constraints on the Queensland Rail network should be a priority for the Newman government.

"That means committing to the Cross River Rail project – not just faffing about with endless reviews and re-designs, and waiting for the Federal Government to fund it," he said.
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"And it means finally delivering on the Moreton Bay rail link."

The LNP engaged a three-person expert panel to review the previous Labor government's plans for Cross River Rail, which found the project was "beyond the scope required to address the immediate rail capacity problem".

Last month the government unveiled a "leaner" Cross River Rail project, void of additional above-ground tracks south of Yeerongpilly or north of Victoria Park.

But, the LNP has still tied the future of the project to the federal government, saying it would not proceed if Canberra did not provide the required $3.6 billion funding.

In his address today, Mr Howes said Mr Newman had failed to include manufacturing in his government's "pillars for growth".

"Manufacturing will be vital to our future prosperity after the mining boom fades," he said.

"I'm worried, however, that the Queensland government doesn't understand this. It's blinded by the boom, and thinks it can just relax and let the good times roll.

"It is ignoring the rate of change going in the world economy, and therefore it is failing to preparing Queensland for the forthcoming Asian century."

Mr Howes also voiced his concerns about the rise of fly-in fly-out workers in regional Queensland towns.

"The influx of high-wage FIFO employees with disposable income, combined with a shortage of local housing, can lead to sharp spikes in localised inflation and decreased standards of living for those who can't afford the increased prices," he said.

"I don't think that our sudden reliance on this model is sustainable over the long term, and I certainly don't think it is desirable."

Mr Howes said the Minerals Resource Rent Tax would go some way in rectifying the problem by directing revenue back into regional infrastructure development.

"Re-instating the Fringe Benefits Tax incentives for company investment in housing would also be a good start," he said.

"We can't allow our economy to be hollowed out, to be consumed by the dreaded Dutch disease."

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/just-do-it-howes-blasts-cross-river-rail-faffing-20120727-22yxa.html#ixzz21npbMgR6

[colinw]

Brisbane Times -> 'Just do it': Howes blasts Cross River Rail 'faffing'

The Newman government should stop "faffing about" and commit to the Cross River Rail project, union leader Paul Howes says.

The Australian Workers Union national secretary did not withhold his fire at Premier Campbell Newman, saying the LNP state leader had "gone cold" on public transport investment and had also been "blinded by the mining boom" at the expense of the manufacturing industry,

Mr Howes told a press club luncheon in Brisbane that resolving the capacity constraints on the Queensland Rail network should be a priority for the Newman government.

"That means committing to the Cross River Rail project – not just faffing about with endless reviews and re-designs, and waiting for the Federal Government to fund it," he said.
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"And it means finally delivering on the Moreton Bay rail link."

The LNP engaged a three-person expert panel to review the previous Labor government's plans for Cross River Rail, which found the project was "beyond the scope required to address the immediate rail capacity problem".

Last month the government unveiled a "leaner" Cross River Rail project, void of additional above-ground tracks south of Yeerongpilly or north of Victoria Park.

But, the LNP has still tied the future of the project to the federal government, saying it would not proceed if Canberra did not provide the required $3.6 billion funding.

In his address today, Mr Howes said Mr Newman had failed to include manufacturing in his government's "pillars for growth".

"Manufacturing will be vital to our future prosperity after the mining boom fades," he said.

"I'm worried, however, that the Queensland government doesn't understand this. It's blinded by the boom, and thinks it can just relax and let the good times roll.

"It is ignoring the rate of change going in the world economy, and therefore it is failing to preparing Queensland for the forthcoming Asian century."

Mr Howes also voiced his concerns about the rise of fly-in fly-out workers in regional Queensland towns.

"The influx of high-wage FIFO employees with disposable income, combined with a shortage of local housing, can lead to sharp spikes in localised inflation and decreased standards of living for those who can't afford the increased prices," he said.

"I don't think that our sudden reliance on this model is sustainable over the long term, and I certainly don't think it is desirable."

Mr Howes said the Minerals Resource Rent Tax would go some way in rectifying the problem by directing revenue back into regional infrastructure development.

"Re-instating the Fringe Benefits Tax incentives for company investment in housing would also be a good start," he said.

"We can't allow our economy to be hollowed out, to be consumed by the dreaded Dutch disease."

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/just-do-it-howes-blasts-cross-river-rail-faffing-20120727-22yxa.html#ixzz21sr2egXL

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Cross river rail a priority, but we've got to get costs down: Newman

Date August 1, 2012 - 4:31PM Daniel Hurst

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has vowed to keep working to reduce the cost of the proposed new cross-river rail project to deal with Brisbane's looming capacity woes.

Mr Newman made the comment as he revealed the top three infrastructure priorities his government would outline in the state's latest submission to federal funding advisory body Infrastructure Australia.

The top three priorities would be fixing the Bruce Highway, tackling Brisbane's inner-city rail problems and building the second Toowoomba range crossing.

Mr Newman said the projects would require substantial federal government funding.

He said a Brisbane inner-city rail solution package would be part of the Queensland government's submission.

Mr Newman said it would include about $300 million in early works to deal with capacity problems due to occur on the inner-city Merivale rail bridge by 2016.

The submission would also include the core of the former government's cross-river rail project, which had been pared back after an expert panel appointed by the LNP suggested some of the above-ground rail work included in the project could be delayed.

Mr Newman said the project would include the core new rail line from Yeerongpilly on the southside to Victoria Park on the northside.

He vowed to look for ways to cut the underground rail project's $4.4 billion price tag even further.

"We're going to do everything we can to value engineer that down," he said.

Mr Newman said the Bruce Highway was the artery of Queensland and his government had committed to pour an extra $1 billion into work along the route if the federal government increased its contribution.

"Fixing the Bruce Highway is my government's top priority," he said.

The Queensland submission is expected to be submitted to Infrastructure Australia on Friday.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/cross-river-rail-a-priority-but-weve-got-to-get-costs-down-newman-20120801-23er5.html

[ozbob]

Blog comment:

Cross River Rail is essential for the all the rail network.

More freight needs to be moved from the Bruce Hwy to rail. The Sunshine Coast line needs urgent upgrades between Beerburrum and Nambour. LNP members on the Sunshine Coast have clamed up since the election. In opposition strident for upgrades, now do nothing.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/cross-river-rail-a-priority-but-weve-got-to-get-costs-down-newman-20120801-23er5.html

[ozbob]

From The Road Ahead (RACQ) Aug/Sep 2012 page 60

big tick for cross river rail

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Cloud over underground rail funds

Cloud over underground rail funds
September 19, 2012 - 3:00AM Daniel Hurst

Brisbane's multi-billion-dollar underground rail project must not be put at risk by federal government threats to withhold infrastructure funding from Queensland, a state minister says.

The revamped $4.5 billion cross-river rail project is currently before the federal government's funding advisory body, Infrastructure Australia, for consideration.

Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan has previously threatened to dock states some of their federal GST or infrastructure funding if they raised state-based mining royalties.

Mr Swan is yet to clarify whether he will follow through on his threat following the Queensland government's decision last week to increases coal mining royalties to raise an extra $1.6 billion over four years.
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Coal miners that have to pay the federal Mineral Resources Rent Tax can claim a credit from the federal government for the state government royalties incurred, meaning the Newman government's decision could cut revenue bound for the federal government and further jeopardise the national budget's chances of returning to surplus.

Queensland Transport Minister Scott Emerson said yesterday he would be worried if the federal government played "political games" over funding for important infrastructure such as the cross-river rail project.

"I think that if the federal government is talking about holding public transport commuters to ransom over this project that is very unfair and very unwise for the federal government," he said.

"This is an important project that needs to be funded."

Federal Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese has previously voiced strong support for the cross-river rail project, originally costed at $8 billion and planned by the Bligh government.

Mr Emerson said he did not believe Mr Albanese would pull funding as a result of the state's royalties decision, insisting the project was a "vital piece of infrastructure" and "beyond politics".

"I don't think Mr Albanese's going to do that. I think he understands how important this project is," Mr Emerson said.

A spokesman for Mr Albanese said the state government had submitted a revised version of the project last month and it was currently under consideration by Infrastructure Australia.

"Until they've done their assessment we don't intend to comment any further on the merits and the like," he said.

Mr Albanese's spokesman said he did not expect an update to the Infrastructure Australia national priority list until mid next year.

"We are currently committed to funding public transport – the Moreton Bay rail link and Gold Coast light rail are examples in southeast Queensland," he said.

"I think Scott Emerson is going to have some issues if there's a change of [federal] government next year because [federal Nationals leader] Warren Truss said they would not be funding public transport."

The comment was a reference to Mr Truss's remarks on Sky News last weekend.

"But it is a fact that the Commonwealth over the years has traditionally funded roads and rails, the national transport network and freight network, rather than urban public transport," Mr Truss told the Australian Agenda program on Sunday.

"Now, we have, and Labor have funded some projects in for urban public transport but in reality that has always been fundamentally the responsibility of states and local government.

"The Commonwealth cannot fund all of the transport projects in Australia and our particular responsibility has been in the interstate transport network, including road and rail and the national highways to deliver that freight task."

The cross-river rail project was planned by the former state government but previously derided by Premier Campbell Newman as an "$8 billion unfunded fantasy" that would not proceed in that form.

In June, Mr Emerson unveiled the government's revised long-term solution, similar to the former Bligh government's proposal, to build two rail tunnels between Yeerongpilly and Victoria Park Golf Complex and four new underground stations at Woolloongabba, Boggo Road, Albert Street and Roma Street.

However, the new proposal, costed at nearly $4.5 billion, no longer includes upgrades to other existing rail stations and removes plans to boost freight capacity south of the city, changes the government says will save between $2 billion and $3.9 billion compared with previous costings.

Mr Emerson, who says the majority must be federally funded, said the state had since managed to cut the cost of the project to $4.45 billion by removing some of the above-ground rail upgrades.

He encouraged Queenslanders to put pressure on the federal government by ringing up their local members to urge them to back the cross-river rail plan.

"If they don't come to the table, if they ignore Queensland, ignore this real issue ... we'll have to go back to the drawing board. But I'm hoping the federal government ... will see the wisdom of what we're doing and back our plan."

Robert Dow, from commuter lobby group Rail Back on Track, said he was encouraged by Mr Emerson's comments in support of the project, which was crucial to address the southeast's public transport needs.

"I've got no doubt the project's got merit. Although the LNP prior to the election would not give a commitment, we always felt they would support it," he said.

"It's going to have to happen otherwise Brisbane's just going to fail."

Mr Swan's office has so far refused to comment on whether the government will follow through on its threat to withhold funding as a result of Queensland's royalties decision.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard also dodged the question while she was in Brisbane for Queensland Labor's state conference on Sunday.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/cloud-over-underground-rail-funds-20120918-264js.html

[Jonno]

Yet the current State Budget pulled early funding for Project.  Don't throw stones in glass houses. 

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> City Plan under constant review

[Stillwater]

Mr Emerson, currently on a grand tour of the Bruce Highway, places great emphasis on the fact that the Queensland Government has $1billion on the table to upgrade what Mr Emerson always says is a 'federal government road'.  He also wants the feds to fund all the government component of the full cost of CRR Lite -- a 'state government project'.  So, if the feds pull money from CRR because the state has put up mining royalties (thus denying the feds some revenue from the mining resources rent tax), Mr Emerson has the tit-for-tat option of taking back some or all of the $1 billion the state has on offer for the Bruce Highway and re-direct those funds to CRR Lite.

[Stillwater]

Since the state government is not keen on rail, it is likely the next we will hear about CRR will be in the context of the federal election campaign next year, when Infrastructure Australia will inform the federal minister of the big projects to be funded, and by how much.  The feds are likely to ask the state for a contribution, so it will be interesting the see whether the LNP government is up for that.

[Golliwog]

Slight update on the CRR website: http://www.crossriverrail.qld.gov.au/

Also, the Independent Panel Review is online: http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/Projects/C/Cross%20river%20rail/AA%20Export%20report/IndependentPanelReviewCrossRiverRailfull.pdf (4.39MB)

[Golliwog]

Slight update on the CRR website: http://www.crossriverrail.qld.gov.au/

Also, the Independent Panel Review is online: http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/Projects/C/Cross%20river%20rail/AA%20Export%20report/IndependentPanelReviewCrossRiverRailfull.pdf (4.39MB)

Interesting. This contains a table on page 29 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/0qt86rr95isup2i/Figure%205.1.jpg) I was trying to embed that as an image, but it wouldn't show up (at least in the preview anyway). Which lists a summary of a network analysis using criteria such as frequency, interchange, operational efficiency, reliability, legibility etc. I think Simon would agree with much of what they found. However, the main reason I bring this up is because the table is referenced as follows: Figure 5.1 – Bus network features (South East Queensland Bus Network Study, Department of Transport and Main Roads 2012)

Anyone have any idea when this study was commissioned? Or what I contains. Google-ing "South East Queensland Bus Network Study" only yields 5 results, 2 of which are this Independent Panel review, and the other is the DTMR annual 2011/12 report which only says "We started this." I'd be VERY interested to know what is in this study and if it's being used at all in the current SEQ bus review being undertaken by Translink.

[ozbob]

Infrastructure Australia COAG Report 6/12

http://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/2012_coag/files/P195_IACOAG%202012_FullReport_WS.pdf

Page 104 of interest ..

[Stillwater]

The very strong hint from IA is that its funding offer for CRR Lite will be conditional on the state government introducing some sort of congestion pricing tax for Brisbane.  Such a tax, and toll roads, appeal to rural and regional Queensland voters who believe they miss out on big-ticket infrastructure projects and are forced to pay taxes for infrastructure in SEQ, where they travel infrequently.

Where would the tax cordon go?  It would have to be within the portals of the various toll roads and tunnels around and under the CBD so that motorists using these facilities are not charged twice for taking a car to, or through, town.

And how would the government avoid rat-running to avoid the toll?  What should the toll be?  Should it vary by time of day?

And could we expect the government to lead a sensible public debate on this issue against the interference of the likes of the RACQ?

Could we obtain from the government a commitment that revenue raised through a congestion tax would go to public transport upgrades?

[Jonno]

The very strong hint from IA is that its funding offer for CRR Lite will be conditional on the state government introducing some sort of congestion pricing tax for Brisbane.  Such a tax, and toll roads, appeal to rural and regional Queensland voters who believe they miss out on big-ticket infrastructure projects and are forced to pay taxes for infrastructure in SEQ, where they travel infrequently.

Where would the tax cordon go?  It would have to be within the portals of the various toll roads and tunnels around and under the CBD so that motorists using these facilities are not charged twice for taking a car to, or through, town.

And how would the government avoid rat-running to avoid the toll?  What should the toll be?  Should it vary by time of day?

And could we expect the government to lead a sensible public debate on this issue against the interference of the likes of the RACQ?

Could we obtain from the government a commitment that revenue raised through a congestion tax would go to public transport upgrades?

They will just play politics and delay CRR whilst spending the amount required to build CRR on their own completing Newmans TransApex Plan. 

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Woolloongabba towers plan in limbo

" ... Plans to sell and redevelop 10 hectares of prime Brisbane government-owned real estate have stalled in anticipation of a firm announcement about the Cross River Rail project ... "

[Jonno]

Here comes CRR cancelation!!!! Feds will be blamed and State money redirected to TransApex!

[Stillwater]

"The site's future is now in limbo, with no decision on its redevelopment expected until the viability of Brisbane's proposed underground rail project is determined."

Hasn't its viability been determined?  It now becomes a financial exercise, with the state government appearing to adopt a stance that it won't put a dollar into construction of CRR Lite.  All the money will have to come from the feds, in its view.  In turn, the feds are saying how about a congestion tax or other, additional revenue-raising measures from state end.

Feds may see worth in announcing some sort of funding commitment at the election next year, but it is unlikely to be for the total cost of construction, which has gone from an estimated $4.5 billion to what IA says is a $5.3 billion project, and that is  just for CRR Lite.  The politics would play out something like this -- federal government announces $3 billion contribution.  The state will argue that Queensland has been short-changed.  Feds say adopt additional revenue-raising measures, such as selling Go-print site and/or a congestion tax or 'betterment' tax on sites where the value of private land will rise considerably around proposed stations.

Queensland will argue it needs that money to 'pay down Labor's massive debt' and a Labor federal government wants to increase the debt by building CRR Lite and expecting Queensland to chip in financially.  Besides, the state will argue, it has postponed CRR Lite through better signalling and platforms around the Merivale Street Bridge.

It's likely to be the usual mexican stand-off.

[Stillwater]

Project dead for another 4 years while state pays down 'Labor's big bad debt' and feds chase the 'surplus'.  What will be the cost of CRR Lite in 2016?  Most likely the cost before they shaved off the so-called extras!

[Mr X]

A little birdie has told me that the state's actual debt is $35bn, of which $10bn is from flood recovery. The other $30bn is profit making debt from companies the state owns, thus it's misleading to include this balance in the total debt.

State was also heading for a budget surplus anyway and the LNPs 'slash and burn' ideology has done little to change what was already due to occur.

tl;dr: the big bad debt line is a pile of horse s$&@.

[Jonno]

Project dead for another 4 years while state pays down 'Labor's big bad debt and feds filles the 'surplus'.  What will be the cost of CRR Lite in 2016?  Most likely the cost before they shaved off the so-called extras!

Meanwhile road construction to the value of CRR if not more will be spent attempting to "reduce congestion" or "make roads safer". 

[colinw]

Brisbane Times -> Gabba towers set to be approved

[ozbob]

http://www.crossriverrail.qld.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=55

Latest news –November 2012

The Cross River Rail project has won a major urban planning award from the Planning Institute of Australia (Queensland). The project won the "Best Planning Ideas Award - Large, Regional or Urban Project" at the 2012 Awards for Planning Excellence for the project's Detailed Feasibility Study.

In presenting the award, the Planning Institute of Australia said the study "represents a new benchmark for integrative land use, transport and business use development for major infrastructure projects in Australia".

[SurfRail]

If it's ever built...

[Stillwater]

The 'Best Planning Ideas Award' must be a bit like the 'Florence Nightingale Award' in the Yes Minister episode about the hospital without patients, but with hundreds of bureaucrats running it.  Cross River Rail is the rail project without trains and passengers.

[colinw]

Wow!  Imagine how good it would be if we actually built it! 

I'm guessing that this award was for the "speculative fiction" subgenre.

[SteelPan]

http://www.crossriverrail.qld.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=55

Latest news –November 2012

The Cross River Rail project has won a major urban planning award from the Planning Institute of Australia (Queensland). The project won the "Best Planning Ideas Award - Large, Regional or Urban Project" at the 2012 Awards for Planning Excellence for the project's Detailed Feasibility Study.

In presenting the award, the Planning Institute of Australia said the study "represents a new benchmark for integrative land use, transport and business use development for major infrastructure projects in Australia".

GREAT post
might mean something to somebody if it even existed!  A perfect example of the pathetic state of infrastructure development in this state/country.  Awards now given for the theory, of possibly, maybe, doing something, at some not yet determined date - in the long-term future!

[Stillwater]

We now have in Australian politics a sort of 'aspirational' planning for new strategies.  Remember Connecting Queensland 2031 that would have become Connecting Queensland 2036, then '41 had Labor remained in power?  Labor had a plan for a 'world clarse' transport network that it never stuck too.  At the federal level, the government has introduced a National Disability Insurance Scheme that is funded for a few 'pilot projects'.  The government also supports a $6 billion reform of the education system nationally, but the $6 billion is no-where to be seen.

State and federally, governments have sworn to 'bring down the cost of living for taxpayers' while introducing cosmetic initiatives such as free travel after so many go-card journeys.  False economy.  They have mastered the art of promising things they won't deliver on - and now are being awarded for it.  The glossy brochure and the 'drive through' video are cheap to produce and go a long way in the world of virtual reality.

[SurfRail]

The more and more I think about, the clearer it becomes to me.

With the projected extensions, I think we probably need as many as 3 versions of Cross River Rail, otherwise we just end up repeating the same problem of shoving too many different stopping patterns down the pipe.

I've been thinking about this - maybe a KMZ is in order.  2 distinct through-routed stopping patterns per corridor, and that's it.

Route 1 - suburbans (Ferny Grove to Murrarie and Salisbury)

Route 2 - mains (Shorncliffe and Airport to Redbank and Wulkuraka, with Lockyer Valley to Brisbane expresses via the Gowrie-Grandchester realignment)

Route 3 - CRR1 (southern and central Gold Coast + northern Gold Coast and southern Logan to Caboolture and Sunshine Coast, with a Sunshine Coast Hinterland shuttle and direct services to Brisbane in peak).  Existing tunnel design except all trains go via Kelvin Grove/Alderley to the NWTC and rejoin the existing route at Strathpine.

Route 4 - CRR2 (Springfield and Ipswich via Ripley to Eagle Junction and Cleveland).  Tunnel from Corinda-ish through UQ, City, Valley, Teneriffe and Bulimba, splitting into 2 legs - one to Doomben (effectively reversing the line and taking it off the existing network) and one to Cannon Hill/Murrarie.

Route 5 - CRR3 (Flagstone and Loganlea to Petrie and Kippa-Ring).  6 tracks from Salisbury to Yeerongpilly (should fit easily enough), tunnel from Yeerongpilly to UQ to City to Spring Hill to Ekka to Albion.

With the right kind of signalling this completely future proofs the region.  Run a train every 4-5 minutes on each individual stopping pattern, with 24-30 trains per hour per corridor per direction.

Now serious foaming time:

Plus a cruciform light metro with the intersection at Buranda - Loganholme to Bracken Ridge and Capalaba to Darra via UQ and Indooroopilly...

Plus surface light rail in the inner city (19# routes, Cityglider, Kangaroo Point)...

Plus light rail and redevelopment for the Redcliffe Peninsula, Ipswich and Toowoomba...

Plus a huge light rail system for the Gold Coast...

[somebody]

Route 1 - suburbans (Ferny Grove to Murrarie and Salisbury)

I say no to this.  Unless there is a quad at least as far as Salisbury.  Otherwise the via Merivale Bridge trains would interact with the via CRR1 trains.

I'm surprised you've suggested it to be honest.

[SurfRail]

Route 1 - suburbans (Ferny Grove to Murrarie and Salisbury)

I say no to this.  Unless there is a quad at least as far as Salisbury.  Otherwise the via Merivale Bridge trains would interact with the via CRR1 trains.

I'm surprised you've suggested it to be honest.

Agree with your sentiments, I would not suggest clashes like that - see my Route 5 point.  6 tracks Yeerongpilly to Salisbury.  Plenty of room for them, although a bit of resumption and road realignment would be called for.

You could just terminate the Merivale Bridge service at Yeerongpilly in the alternative, but my reasoning is that eventually Moorooka and Rocklea are intended to be bypassed by the express patterns due to the positioning of the tracks and the new TSD at Clapham.  In my scenario the only thing stopping at Rocklea and Moorooka would be the via Merivale service, the other 4 patterns would run express.  (The via UQ corridor might need to dive before Yeerongpilly and have a below or underground stop there.)

[somebody]

So it's not a staged plan then.  Phew!

[ozbob]

Cross River Rail moving ahead as part of the Brisbane Inner Rail Solution

--> http://www.crossriverrail.qld.gov.au/

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/C/Cross-River-Rail/Early-Capacity-Works.aspx

Early Capacity Works

The Early Capacity Works will deliver a comprehensive suite of leading-edge initiatives targeted at getting more capacity out of inner Brisbane's rail system until the core Cross River Rail project is delivered. These works are part of the Brisbane Inner Rail Solution.

These initiatives will increase capacity during the peak periods for all south east Queensland rail services by:

    Enabling peak spreading (providing passengers with more services during the shoulder peak periods)
    Minimising dwell times (the time the train is stopped at a station)
    Optimising internal train capacity (more people per train)
    Increasing network capacity (allowing more trains to run more safely and reliably on the existing network)
    Increasing train services (up to the limit of the existing infrastructure).

A whole-of-Government Steering Committee has been established to lead the delivery of the Early Capacity Works.

The Committee is being led by the Coordinator-General, and includes representatives from Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Rail and other agencies.

Last updated
    10 September 2012

I know some work has been done with improving dwell times, staff have been instructed to minimise dwell times.

They are looking at 24 TPH at peak .

Shoulder peaks?  Not sure what is planned.

[SurfRail]

^ 2 trains per hour 

[Stillwater]

The feds will be asked to fund the Brisbane Inner Rail Capacity Early Works, or whatever they are called, and the feds will be asked to meet all of the government costs of constructing CRR Lite.  CRR Lite has been delayed, forcing the necessity for some capacity enhancements in the interim.  So, the feds will be asked to meet the costs of the early capacity works while the delay to a start on CRR Lite means that project will cost more ultimately due to rising construction costs and the effects of inflation.  The Queensland Government acknowledges that the feds will be paying at both ends.  Their solution is to have another level of government pay for their transport initiatives.  (Handy, as it avoids awkward questions about new taxes or fare rises to meet the cost.)

The issue for the feds is whether they think it is good value to pay for the early interim works, or will they see that as throwing good money away.  Would it be a better proposition, financially, to bring on CRR Lite early?  The LNP created this problem by delaying a start on CRR Lite.  Taxpayers will end up paying more for the capacity enhancement works PLUS CRR Lite than they would have by building CRR Heavy earlier.

Queensland - the smart state, yeah.

[Stillwater]

In Queensland, power companies are owned by the state government.  Julia Gillard's plan to change the way they operate to save each family, on average, $250 annually in electricity costs means that is $250 less per Queensland family not going into state enterprise coffers.  The state government sees it as a cost shift -- Julia Gillard looks good at the state government's expense.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/sparks-fly-between-qld-energy-minister-mark-mcardle-and-pm-gillard-over-power-prices-as-electricity-grid-faces-extreme-heat-test/story-e6freoof-1226528629486

Queensland is planning the same tactic in respect of CRR -- get some kudos out of a project that will be funded by Gillard's mob.  This tit for tat goes on daily in government.  Another example is the state closing down public aged care homes (Eventide etc), saying that the private sector will do a better job caring for old folks.  No, private aged care places are funded by the federal government.  Result?  State saves, feds take up bigger cost burden.  Feds bring in a mining tax that says mining companies will be compensated from the Commonwealth for mining royalty increased inflicted by the states?  What happened?  The states said 'you beauty' and put up mining royalties to pass on the largesse to voters.  Those same voters, as federal taxpayers, have to do without a federal government service, or must pay increased taxes to make up the difference.

This pointless cost shifting has to stop.  Only when it does will we get a workable funding arrangement in place for things such as better public transport.

[ozbob]

The IA pie is not going to go too far ...

Both Melbourne and Sydney have big plans.  Melbourne already has a big slice of the pie with the Regional Rail Link, but they are pushing on for a lot more. Adelaide and Perth are doing nicely ...

Queensland needs to get its act together or they will simply be left behind. Some may argue Queensland has already missed the bus and train ...