Cross River Rail Project

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/933010304174141440

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/933010935366631424

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

22 November 2017

LNP plan to can Cross River Rail

Good Morning,

Media this morning confirms the LNP will can Cross River Rail.  An outcome that will disastrous for the future of the rail network and precipitate terminal gridlock and chronic transport failure for SEQ. This will in turn effect all of Queensland as SEQ stagnates economically and the flow on will effect all of Queensland.  Cross River Rail is essential for capacity and frequency increases on the entire network and will enable the planned rail expansions to places such as Flagstone, Ripley, Caloundra and Coolangatta.  Remember Infrastructure Australia had Cross River Rail as the number one project in Australia a couple of years back.  A change of Governments and they now will not give it the priority status it once had.

There is a lot of pent up rail demand on our network.  We have seen very significant passenger load increases on the urban rail networks throughout Australia.  SEQ has stagnated to a degree.  This was due to the failed five year fare path, and then impacted by rail fail.  The new fare structure for SEQ has now been implemented.  As rail fail issues, particularly the crewing problems, are overcome, the timetable will return to better frequencies and passenger loads will boom.  To delay Cross River Rail would be an absolute folly and would create enormous problems in the years to come.

LNP Leader Tim Nicholls has said the ' Brisbane Metro ' is the answer.  Wrong, it is part of the answer together with Cross River Rail.  The Brisbane Metro is essentially bi-articulated buses running on the existing busways with some flow improvements. The good thing about the Brisbane Metro is that it will force bus network reform for Brisbane.  Something our politicians have been too gutless to do otherwise.  The Brisbane Metro is not going to address the wider public transport needs across SEQ however.  Cross River Rail is essential in this respect.

It will be difficult for many to support the LNP, or One Nation for the Queensland Election on the basis of ' killing  Cross River Rail '.
You make your bed, you lie in it in the end.

Best wishes,
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org


References:

18 Jul 2017: Will the LNP axe Cross River Rail?
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2017/07/will-lnp-axe-cross-river-rail.html

16 Nov 2017: LNP & PHON - The Consequences of Bad Decisions
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2017/11/

Cross River Rail all but ruled out under an LNP government
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland-election-2017/cross-river-rail-all-but-ruled-out-under-an-lnp-government-20171121-p4yx56.html

Queensland Election 2017: LNP leader Tim Nicholls indicates he would delay Cross River Rail
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/queensland-election-2017-lnp-leader-tim-nicholls-indicates-he-would-delay-cross-river-rail/news-story/7bc7a901e88ca12b489b9d9e36f37269

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/933018077297442816

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/933024297609658368

[SteelPan]

I don't have a problem supporting CRR...I'm sure the LNP ultimately don't....and if we're talking "3yrs" difference....well....I think everyone can accept it's been a rather poorly handled effort over the last 3yrs and this rush to have it "underway"....it isn't....has looked amateurish!

I'm all for CRR....but, as the Feds have said....where's the real BIG plan here....where is the AFTER CRR plan, that sees CRR as simply first step in a bolder plan for more heavy rail, to new parts of Brisbane? It's crazy to develop at billions of dollars CRR to feed into the already snail-trail service to Beenleigh......the line that, apparently, the millions of tourists we claim we will pull in from places like China will encounter.....yeah....right!

3 Cheers for CRR....but 4 for doing it right and IF that takes 3 more years.....who knows!

Also, honestly, where's the money coming from? Where's the business case that Infrastructure Australia have committed to?

Bring on CRR.....but let's all get it right!

[ozbob]

' kill it ' < quote PHON

This project has been evaluated many many times
It must continue now..

[kram0]

I don't have a problem supporting CRR...I'm sure the LNP ultimately don't....and if we're talking "3yrs" difference....well....I think everyone can accept it's been a rather poorly handled effort over the last 3yrs and this rush to have it "underway"....it isn't....has looked amateurish!

I'm all for CRR....but, as the Feds have said....where's the real BIG plan here....where is the AFTER CRR plan, that sees CRR as simply first step in a bolder plan for more heavy rail, to new parts of Brisbane? It's crazy to develop at billions of dollars CRR to feed into the already snail-trail service to Beenleigh......the line that, apparently, the millions of tourists we claim we will pull in from places like China will encounter.....yeah....right!

3 Cheers for CRR....but 4 for doing it right and IF that takes 3 more years.....who knows!

Also, honestly, where's the money coming from? Where's the business case that Infrastructure Australia have committed to?

Bring on CRR.....but let's all get it right!

I'm historically a LNP voter and have even assisted on polling day in the past but I for one don't trust Nicholls. If CRR doesn't start now it will be a longer delay than just 4 years.

And that's why my vote is going to CRR for the long term future of the city.

[ozbob]

Good on you kram0 

Reminder, Cross River Rail Business Case > http://buildingqueensland.qld.gov.au/business-case/cross-river-rail/

[ozbob]

Facebook is going off!  Join in at > https://www.facebook.com/RAILBackOnTrack/posts/1852650438082468   

[Gazza]

I don't have a problem supporting CRR...I'm sure the LNP ultimately don't....and if we're talking "3yrs" difference....well....I think everyone can accept it's been a rather poorly handled effort over the last 3yrs and this rush to have it "underway"....it isn't....has looked amateurish!

I'm all for CRR....but, as the Feds have said....where's the real BIG plan here....where is the AFTER CRR plan, that sees CRR as simply first step in a bolder plan for more heavy rail, to new parts of Brisbane? It's crazy to develop at billions of dollars CRR to feed into the already snail-trail service to Beenleigh......the line that, apparently, the millions of tourists we claim we will pull in from places like China will encounter.....yeah....right!

3 Cheers for CRR....but 4 for doing it right and IF that takes 3 more years.....who knows!

Also, honestly, where's the money coming from? Where's the business case that Infrastructure Australia have committed to?

Bring on CRR.....but let's all get it right!

They have gotten it right though.

Ok, the station might be on Albert St rather than next to the pet Casino...But considering Adelaide is the only city with a major station next to a Casino, I don't think it's make or break.

Besides, Albert st has the most central catchment area for ALL commuters in the cbd

[#Metro]

It is hard to know where to start with this Blue Team rabble.

- Blue Team don't like Cross River Rail and want to bin it. But they don't want to come out and say that explicitly, no no noooo.

It's just this big projection unto others: "infrastructure Australia didn't like it", "We didn't see the business case" and so on.

Load of rubbish.

- IA didn't like it. Really? - the BCR and NPV were both positive. Which is more than can be said about their "duplicated M1 motorway" which hasn't been to IA, and doesn't have a BCR or NPV for it calculated. What a scam.

- "We didn't see the business case". Yes, but IA somehow did. How do you explain that? And remember when the Blue Team were talking about the "leaked" CRR business case. Either they saw it (the leaked one) or they did not. Or do they live in an alternative universe where you can both see it and not see it at the same time??

- "Brisbane METRO will be the solution for congestion". This statement just reveals the true levels of obsfucation they are willing to take to hide the fact that they want to bin CRR. None of the busway buses originate from the gold coast.

"We haven't seen the business case" BULL.

Deputy LNP leader Deb Frecklington on Wednesday used a budget estimates hearing to table a page from the executive summary of the project's business case – a document that is not yet public.

"We haven't seen your business case either," Ms Frecklington replied.

"Well apparently you have, because you tabled a document from the business case," Ms Trad said.
Ms Trad demanded to know how Ms Frecklington came to be in possession of a cabinet-in-confidence document.

http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/cross-river-rail-has-no-trains-opposition/news-story/33afe26576e548bd4fcc9dc599e4f841

[Stillwater]

It's the game of politics, Metro.  The LNP have a secret copy, but they have not seen the Business Case 'officially'.  So yes, they can both see it and not see it simultaneously.  This allows for maximum flexibility to straddle both sides of the barbed wire fence .... 'Yes, we support it .... it is a good project .... just not needed now'.

Taking that stand means the money allocated to CRR can re redistributed to small projects across the state in LNP marginal electorates.  Politics is not about service to the people, it is about gaining, and retaining, power.

[techblitz]

It's the game of politics, Metro.

aint that the truth.....labor is promising jobs with adani....
*cough cough*
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-22/china-will-finance-adani-mine-insiders-say/9177470

anna.p could pretty much pull off one of the most perfectly timed swindles in history.....where the 'real' decision on adani will be made mere days AFTER she gets voted back in.

[ozbob]

Facebook is going off!  Join in at > https://www.facebook.com/RAILBackOnTrack/posts/1852650438082468   

Still going off! 

[techblitz]

^ I see Elizabeth has gotten in on the action and stirring up some responses 

[ozbob]

^ I see Elizabeth has gotten in on the action and stirring up some responses 

Yo, that's FB.  Some very sensible comments from others though.   

[v6hilux]

Tim comes clean on Cross River Rail project:

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/queensland-election-2017-lnp-leader-tim-nicholls-indicates-he-would-delay-cross-river-rail/news-story/7bc7a901e88ca12b489b9d9e36f37269

Why did you put up a link to a SUBSCRIPTION ONLY article?

Can you copy and past the text please?

[ozbob]

Tim comes clean on Cross River Rail project:

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/queensland-election-2017-lnp-leader-tim-nicholls-indicates-he-would-delay-cross-river-rail/news-story/7bc7a901e88ca12b489b9d9e36f37269

Why did you put up a link to a SUBSCRIPTION ONLY article?

Can you copy and past the text please?

See > https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12633.msg200735#msg200735

[ozbob]

Just a general comment on subscriptions.  If you want media to survive it is necessary to either purchase hard or digital copy in the end.

I subscribe to a number of media outlets because I want them to continue.  Even if on occasion they are biased and inaccurate. 
Overall though it would not be a good place without them.

[techblitz]

the bias/covering non-important topics is one reason....the other is poor user experience(UX).....if they must flood their front end with links,ads and tracking scripts(which by the way smacks of desperation)......at least do it right and go modular....stop trying to load everything at once.....simple....

[Stillwater]

Checking the facts on Cross River rail:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-22/fact-check-cross-river-rail-queensland-election/9148448

[ozbob]

Checking the facts on Cross River rail:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-22/fact-check-cross-river-rail-queensland-election/9148448

Gold!  Certainly leaves the LNP and One Nation out on a limb ..

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/933602494407516160

[Derwan]

A 3-year delay is effectively an indefinite delay.  Tim is attempting to appeal to those of us who support CRR.  "What's another 3 years when it's already been delayed for so long?"  This is, of course, a load of rubbish.

If CRR is "delayed", what will happen is as follows:

• The Cross River Rail Delivery Authority will be disbanded
• The Cross River Rail Delivery Authority Act will be repealed
• Early works will be shut down
• No further investigative or preparation work will occur

In 3 years (assuming LNP remain in power), we'll get budget after budget indicating that "we can't afford CRR yet".  There will be more begging from the feds who won't be forthcoming.  "3 years" will turn into 4, 5, 6, 7......

We cannot afford to have the momentum stopped on this..... not again!  If we want public transport to move forward, we cannot afford to have the LNP in power.

[ozbob]

A 3-year delay is effectively an indefinite delay.  Tim is attempting to appeal to those of us who support CRR.  "What's another 3 years when it's already been delayed for so long?"  This is, of course, a load of rubbish.

If CRR is "delayed", what will happen is as follows:

• The Cross River Rail Delivery Authority will be disbanded
• The Cross River Rail Delivery Authority Act will be repealed
• Early works will be shut down
• No further investigative or preparation work will occur

In 3 years (assuming LNP remain in power), we'll get budget after budget indicating that "we can't afford CRR yet".  There will be more begging from the feds who won't be forthcoming.  "3 years" will turn into 4, 5, 6, 7......

We cannot afford to have the momentum stopped on this..... not again!  If we want public transport to move forward, we cannot afford to have the LNP in power.

+1

[Stillwater]

Tim says he will leave $200m in the kitty to keep the CRR Delivery Authority operating, but one wonders what it will do.  Will it be just like the fabulously dynamic Citytrain Response Unit, I wonder?

[ozbob]

Tim says he will leave $200m in the kitty to keep the CRR Delivery Authority operating, but one wonders what it will do.  Will it be just like the fabulously dynamic Citytrain Response Unit, I wonder?

I think it is to try to give  ' cover ' of sorts to the real intentions.  They will can CRR full stop.  Just political con (again) IMHO.

Queensland polyticks is rotten!

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Queensland Rail fail: Passenger survey shows dissatisfaction has almost quadrupled


Administrator of Train Back On Track Robert Dow outside the Fortitude Valley Train Station. Picture: AAP/Josh Woning

PASSENGER dissatisfaction with Queensland Rail has almost quadrupled in three years.

An annual survey by a commuters' group reveals the proportion of passengers rating southeast Queensland's train services as poor or very poor has soared from 12.5 per cent in 2014 to 48 per cent.

Rail Back On Track spokesman Robert Dow said it reflected the impact of the QR "Rail Fail" and ongoing public frustration at delays in fixing the system.

"This is really quite diabolical,'' he said.

The rail result contrasts markedly with those for other modes. The overall rating for buses has improved, less than 10 per cent of travellers think ferries are poor or very poor and light rail is virtually unchanged over the three years, at less than 10 per cent dissatisfaction.

"Rail is the only one that has nosedived," Mr Dow said. "It's really quite striking the way it has fallen off.

"I expected some effects from 'Rail Fail' but this is a lot worse than I had expected.''

The opening of the long-awaited Redcliffe Peninsula Line in October 2016 exposed a shortage of drivers that led to mass cancellations across the network and ongoing disruption and reduced timetables.

The Rail Back On Track survey of regular travellers found more than half rate the frequency and reliability of train services as inadequate.

"They (Queensland Rail) have been spinning that rail is going OK now. You don't get these kinds of results from a service that is going OK," Mr Dow said.

"This is hard evidence as to the impact on the travelling public. And still we are looking at more service reductions over the Christmas/School Holidays with no doubt a very compromised overall rail service leading up to, during and after the Commonwealth Games."

Transport Minister Jackie Trad said commuter data collected by TransLink showed satisfaction with public transport at its highest levels since 2012. "And we have on time running back above 95 per cent.

"We have been working hard to fix the trains after the deep cuts to driver training the LNP Newman-Nicholls government undertook."

"Rail Fail'' led to the resignations of QR CEO Helen Gluer and chairman Ian Klug. Transport Previous transport minister Stirling Hinchliffe stepped down following the release of the Strachan inquiry report into the debacle in February.

The latest report from the Citytrain Response Unit, set up by the Palaszczuk Government to monitor progress on QR's response to the Strachan recommendations, said "stress periods'' during the winter and September school holidays and the Ekka had been "successfully managed''.

It also noted that 128 of the 200 extra drivers needed had been selected and 36 trained since October last year. The target for full recruitment is next year.

The Strachan report said 200 more guards were also needed, but 263 have been selected and 105 trained so far.

QR chief executive Nick Easy said "significant progress'' had been made recruiting and training more drivers and guards internally and among former staff and the current external recruitment campaign was the next step in meeting the target and "ensuring a pipeline of talent for the future given some guards are expected to progress to trainee driver positions".

Meanwhile, Mr Dow branded the LNP's decision to delay the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project as "disastrous''.

He said it would result in "terminal gridlock and chronic transport failure for SEQ''.

"Cross River Rail is essential for capacity and frequency increases on the entire network and will enable the planned rail expansions to places such as Flagstone, Ripley, Caloundra and Coolangatta."

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/933737932610867201

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/933742434604826624

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor

Queensland Times 24th November 2017 page 11

Killing vital rail plan will not be forgotten

THIS week, the media confirmed the LNP will ditch Cross River Rail.

This is an outcome that will be disastrous for the future of the rail network
and precipitate terminal gridlock and chronic transport failure for Southeast Queensland.

This will in turn affect all of Queensland as Southeast Queensland stagnates economically.
Cross River Rail is essential for capacity and frequency increases on the entire network.
It would enable the planned rail expansions to places such as Flagstone, Ripley, Caloundra and Coolangatta.

Remember Infrastructure Australia had Cross River Rail as the number one project in Australia a couple of years back.

There is a lot of pent-up rail demand on our network.
We have seen significant passenger-load increases on the urban rail networks throughout Australia.

To delay Cross River Rail would be a folly and would create enormous problems in the years to come.

LNP leader Tim Nicholls has said the Brisbane Metro is the answer. Wrong, it is part of the answer,
together with Cross River Rail. The Brisbane Metro is essentially bi-articulated buses running on the existing busways
with some flow improvements.The good thing about the Brisbane Metro is it will force bus network reform for Brisbane;
something our politicians have been too gutless to do otherwise.

The Brisbane Metro is not going to address the wider public transport needs. Cross River Rail is essential in this respect.

It will be difficult for many to support the LNP or One Nation for this election on the basis of killing Cross River Rail.

You make your bed, you lie in it in the end.

ROBERT DOW RAIL Back On Track

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/933789414869762048

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/RailExpressNews/status/933534075540815872

[ozbob]

Rail Express --> AusRAIL: Albanese condemns Nicholls over Cross River Rail

Shadow transport and infrastructure minister Anthony Albanese has slammed Queensland's Liberal National Party ahead of this weekend's state election, saying party leader Tim Nicholls "should stand condemned" for his opposition to the Cross River Rail project.

The shadow minister spoke with Rail Express on the sidelines of AusRAIL PLUS in Brisbane on Thursday, and voiced his support for the ARA's National Rail Plan.

"The industry is very clear. The National Rail Plan, put together by the industry, is a plan full of merit, full of thought, full of not just the interests of the rail industry, but the impressive thing about it is it clearly outlines why it is in the national economic interest to have a strong rail sector," Albanese said.

The member for Grayndler said that while the ARA plan calls for a bipartisan approach to infrastructure development, it isn't Labor's fault Cross River Rail has become a divisive issue ahead of Saturday's state election.

"[The plan] does call for bipartisanship," he said.

"I find it remarkable, that Tim Nicholls, as treasurer in the Newman Government, presided over all of those cuts, one of which happened to Cross River Rail.

"We sat down [in 2013] with the treasurer, with the premier, Campbell Newman, who acknowledged this just recently in an interview I did with him on Sky News. It was all signed off in 2013, following Infrastructure Australia's 2012 recommendation.

"Tim Nicholls presided over that delay after Tony Abbott said he wouldn't support any rail projects, and now he's saying that this Saturday, if he is elected premier along with One Nation, who also oppose the project, that they will stop Cross River Rail in its tracks."

Albanese said the cancellation of Cross River Rail would have "disastrous consequences for urban congestion here in Brisbane, and also disastrous consequences for those growth corridors on the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast".

"For that reason, I'm very hopeful that the Palaszczuk Government will be re-elected on Saturday; they deserve to be so.

"And Tim Nicholls deserves to stand condemned, for walking away from a project that every expert agrees is absolutely necessary."

[#Metro]

I am actually optimistic about Cross River Rail regardless of the result on Saturday.

There are only four slots for trains in the morning peak apparently - it is unreasonable to think that will last for very long.

What is not sustainable will not be sustained. At some point more trains will be added to the Gold Coast and Beenleigh lines, and then

there will be a problem. And it will be impossible to deny that.

So I think that will force the hand of the government (whatever stripe it is) in the end.

Blue Team might decide to go into negotiations with Brisbane City Council to resurrect the BaT tunnel I suspect.

They will just put metro buses in the bus component.


The other reason why I am optimistic is the Federal level. The Turnbull Government is toast - totally divided, full of disloyalty, full of people that

we aren't even sure are constitutionally allowed to be there, a deputy PM that was revealed to be a New Zealand citizen, Tony Abbot's constant

"friendly fire". Nobody wants to re-elect such a complete mess as that. It is beyond repair - people have stopped listening so it is irrelevant what

they say on from now.


If Blue Team get in on Saturday, CRR will no doubt form a central part of a Shorten Government offering. He will get into office and make the

funds available, and use that to undermine blue team in the next round. Queensland has a long history of being a red team administered state,

very few and fleeting blue team governments in modern times.

[ozbob]

No BaT.  Nicholls has ruled that out and besides it was all bullsh%t.  Don't forget DM Schrinner said he was very pleased it (BaT) was junked.

The bi-articulated buses on the busways is sensible, with future transitway extensions.  Cross River Rail is needed and will be done.

[verbatim9]

^^Not another expensive revised plan and business case (20million). Each time a change in Government new reviews, plans and business cases.  Nearly for every segment from infrastructure to retail. Yawn!!!!

Sent from my XT1562 using Tapatalk

[Stillwater]

Agree with your summation re Turnbull Govt, Ozbob.  Tim Nicholls is retaining CRR Delivery Authority only to say 'see, we haven't killed it off'.  With the politics ever at play, Bill Shorten, in government, would offer a couple of billion for CRR to Tim Nicholls as Premier (not that I think he will be after Saturday) so as to embarrass the buggery out of Tim and Co. and put them in an impossible position.

In Queensland, we have always committed to the big picture and then proceeded to build a half or a third of the project and brought that bit into service.

The problem with CRR is that you can't just build a third, or just build a tunnel without a rail line through it.  It is an 'all or nothing' BIG BIG project.  It has to be done in one go.

Those developers that want to capitalise on the project by building projects above or near new stations are not going to hang around forever while the politics plays out.  They want certainty that the thing will be built.  Maybe things will resolve themselves after tomorrow.

Clearly the election will be close -- Anna will get a majority and would have sufficient support from the cross bench to cancel out an LNP-PHON bloc.  We might even have an independent or two who would support Labor in exchange for goodies in their electorate.

The ALP advertising has done damage. 'A vote for either LNP or PHON is a vote for both'.  ALP plus some sensible crossbenchers versus LNP-PHON.

[v6hilux]

Those developers that want to capitalise on the project by building projects above or near new stations are not going to hang around forever while the politics plays out.  They want certainty that the thing will be built.

With all respect, you obviously have no idea of what is happening now from Greenbank to Flagstone - no idea whatsoever. Come down and count the dozers pushing over trees and tip trucks hammering the local roads. They certainly ARE NOT waiting, they are acting yesterday.

What is not sustainable will not be sustained. At some point more trains will be added to the Gold Coast and Beenleigh lines, and then there will be a problem.

YES, the big problem is no passenger rail to Beaudesert (or least Greenbank/Flagstone) without CRR! The Mt Lindsay Highway is already under attack from 400 B-Double truck movements (and increasing every day) to/from the SCT road /rail logistics centre at Bromelton (a good thing) to major retail shop distribution centres all over the Brisbane region. CRR will get more cars off the highway and commuters onto trains because developers in Greenbank to Flagstone are in full swing right now clearing and building housing estates with 300M square building blocks.

Anyone that doubts this - come down and have a look or get online - https://edqdad.dsdip.qld.gov.au/developmentAssessments/list/front/None/ and don't forget to look at Decided Applications as well.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/934375000399679488

[kram0]

For those of us who are passionate about cross river rail, last nights result should be very pleasing. By the time of the next election, the project will be 2/3 complete and won't even be a talking point as it will be guaranteed.

By 2023 we should all be taking trains via CRR to Queens Wharf casino, Brisbane Live and the Gabba.

I think it's safe to say, Cross River Rail, it's happening.....

[verbatim9]

^^Yay! Cross River Rail and Urban renewal around stations with new convenient retail and business concepts.

Apparently Cross River Rail and Brisbane Live will deliver new direct segregated cycleways from Petrie Terrace to the city avoiding the current road infrastructure.

[BrizCommuter]

CRR is Go, Emerson is Gone!
https://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2017/11/crr-is-go-emerson-is-gone.html