Cross River Rail Project

[ozbob]

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

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/934660351257227264

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

27th November 2017

Cross River Rail must proceed now

Good Morning

We note the KAP is still insisting the Cross River Rail be scrapped as a condition of support for an incoming government.
[ Katter's Australian Party would want to scrap Cross River Rail in any Labor deal > https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland-election-2017/katter-s-australian-party-would-want-to-scrap-cross-river-rail-20171126-p4yx86.html ]

Cross River Rail (CRR) is supported strongly by Labor of course and the Greens.  CRR is an enabler for the rail network for SEQ and will open up more train paths for freight trains to and from regional Queensland, as well enable future extensions and frequency and capacity increases.  Without CRR the transport system will collapse in SEQ causing a massive drain on the state's finances for more and more traffic congestion inducing roads.  It will in time mean less investment in regional Queensland.

Cross River Rail is also a key enabler for Regional Rapid Rail to the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coasts, and in time other places such as Toowoomba.

We would suggest if the KAP want to make conditions a good one would be that an incoming Government commit to the upgrade of the Sunshine Coast Line between Beerburrum and Landsborough North (stage one) and then further upgrades to Nambour.  This will have a big benefit for the Northern Queensland as more freight train paths would be opened up.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ Attached: https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12341.msg200931#msg200931 ]

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/934824370676973570

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/934825727911849989

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/934827756205981697

[ozbob]

Queensland Times 27th November 2017 page 19

Let's get cracking on promises

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/934885585402994690

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/934891224355323904

[SteelPan]

CRR - subject to ALP forming govt - is going to happen!  Great....

1) financing - we've been promised a PPP structure....shocking history of them in Qld.....what's going to change now? [I think Southbank TAFE area MAY have been a PPP.....anywhere else in Qld....ever actually been a PPP?]

2) can we continue it [in PPP form] underground, from the 'Gabba to Beenleigh? [3/4 strategic stops a long the way]

Unless we do "2" are we not simply putting more and rapidly growing traffic into a 100yr old suburban corridor?

Let's DO CRR......but let's do it right....now's the time to highER speed Brisbane/Gold Coast!

[aldonius]

As you've noted, PPPs are actually pretty sucky. The State doesn't have anywhere near enough spare cash to throw at almost quintupling the tunnel length. Let's focus on getting the core done.

Much as I would like to see rail along the M3, it's way down the priority list.

[SteelPan]

I don't think it's as easy as that....although we are talking Quuueeennnssslllaaannnddd.....you can't just say, hey we're going to get this piece of real sexy track in the middle, but the ends are 100yr old terrible......any rail corridor, can only operate to the capacity of its weakest point! The GC line from wherever the VERY EXPENSIVE CRR connects to the existing system, is going to be an even more "ordinary service" with more and more capacity hitting it.

Also, if the PPP model works - and it's the one the state govt claims makes CRR achievable now, one would think a more expansive tunnel project would make it, as an infrastructure investment, even MORE attractive to the financial markets!!!

This is all my concern.....you've got 1) a bunch of ever smiling pollies, that if you turn reality ON for 5mins, have in overwhelming majority wafer thin to NIL real-world experience in their CV's, their backed by a way bloated state bureaucracy, with a very troubled project history and a set of existing financial accounts already screaming in pain, with a crazy "no sale of existing public assets" mentality, that frankly, any Year 10 "Business Principles" class would rip to total shreds.....

As I said, 3 cheers for Cross River Rail.....4 Cheers for Getting it RIGHT!   

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/RailExpressNews/status/934973377986490368

[ozbob]

Rail Express --> Cross River Rail saved as Labor declares Qld victory

Labor looks poised to secure the 47 seats it needs to form a majority government in Queensland, all but locking in the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project championed by the Palaszczuk Government.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was confident at a Sunday press conference that her Labor Party would secure the 47 seats needed to rule as a majority government, after Queenslanders went to the polls on Saturday.

Referencing a prediction from prominent elections specialist Anthony Green – that Labor will win at least 47, and as many as 49 seats – the incumbent premier tentatively declared victory, but said she would hold off on making ministry appointments until the final vote was counted.

"I am confident of a Labor majority," Palaszczuk said.

"I'll be talking with my colleagues about how we can better talk to Queenslanders about the things that we do, and the things that matter to them.

"It is now my job to work with people who feel somehow separated from the normal hustle and bustle of politics," she added, referencing the roughly 13.8% of Queenslanders who voted for One Nation as their first preference.

With three quarters of the votes counted, Labor had received 35.9% of the primary vote, down 1.6% from the 2015 election. The Liberal National Party, led by Tim Nicholls, saw a bigger swing, earning 33.5% of the primary vote, down 7.8%.

One Nation's 13.8% was up 12.8%, while the Greens' 9.7% primary vote was up 1.3%.

The election, among other things, became something of a referendum on Cross River Rail, a major rail tunnel and station project through the Brisbane CBD.

Palaszczuk, along with her treasurer Curtis Pitt and transport minister Jackie Trad, vowed to fully-fund the $5.4 billion project, despite the Turnbull Government's refusal to commit funding due to an inferior review of the project's business case from independent advisor Infrastructure Australia.

Nicholls, while not ruling out the project entirely, had said there were major questions that would have to be answered before an LNP government would support it.

The LNP's pre-election transport policy document did not include Cross River Rail, but did support the Brisbane Metro plan, from Brisbane Mayor Graham Quirk, also of the LNP.

Brisbane Metro is a proposed high capacity public transport line through the Brisbane CBD.

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 28th November 2017 page 15

Cross River Rail must proceed now

WE NOTE the Katter Australian Party still insists that the Cross River Rail be scrapped as a condition of support for an incoming government.

Cross River Rail (CRR) is supported strongly by Labor and the Greens.

CRR is an enabler for the rail network for southeast Queenland and will open up more train paths for freight trains to and from regional Queensland, as well enable future extensions and frequency and capacity increases.

Without CRR, the transport system will collapse in south-east Queensland, causing a massive drain on the state's finances for more and more traffic-congestion-inducing roads. It will in time mean less investment in regional Queensland.

CRR is also a key enabler for Regional Rapid Rail to the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coasts, and in time other places such as Toowoomba.

We would suggest future governments commit to the upgrade of the Sunshine Coast line between Beerburrum and Landsborough North (stage one) and then further upgrades to Nambour.

This will have a big benefit for northern Queensland as more freight train paths would open up.

— ROBERT DOW Rail Back On Track

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/935251563743911936

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

1st December 2017

Time to act decisively to fix public transport for SEQ

Good Morning,

More confirmation of the utter shambles the transport network is becoming in SEQ.
Couriermail --> Brisbane traffic problems as bad as Sydney's, says Uber data

" ... Big-ticket projects such as the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail public transport system and improvements to the Gateway and Logan Motorways were necessary. But by using data more cleverly, lots of smaller enhancements could be made across the city. ... "

Fortunately it does appear that Cross River Rail will continue.  It is fundamental that the public transport be improved to help improve transport options for citizens.  We need roads of course, but we need to sort out our rail and bus networks particularly.

It is now  427 days since the first wave of cancellations associated with rail fail (30 September 2016). Seriously, how much longer can this circus continue? Aggressive attempts must be made now to get rail services back to an acceptable frequency.  The present reduced service timetables are forcing more and more onto the already overloaded and congested roads. No doubt there will be even more hard service reductions over the Summer Holiday period compounding the perception of a failed network.  The Commonwealth Games public transport for the overall network is looking rather shambolic sadly.

The New Generation Rollingstock trains are still not in passenger revenue service after 650 days since the first unit was towed out to the Wulkuraka Maintenance Centre.  DDA and DSAPT non compliant trains are still being imported!

Snap out of it!

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Rail Express --> Turnbull should "hear the people" on Cross River Rail: Albo

Shadow transport and infrastructure minister Anthony Albanese has called on the prime minister to "heed the clear message" from the Queensland election, and invest Commonwealth funding into the proposed Cross River Rail project.

Albanese highlighted Cross River Rail as a pivotal issue, particularly for voters in the state's south-east, ahead of the election last week.

Now it looks like the incumbent Palaszczuk Labor Government will win the 47 seats it needs to govern the state with a majority, Albo says Turnbull should get on board.

"During the Queensland election campaign the Liberal-National Party rejected Cross River Rail," he said this week. "The LNP's flogging at the hands of voters on Saturday, particularly in Queensland's south-east, sounds a clear message to Mr Turnbull that Queenslanders understand the importance of infrastructure investment to economic and employment growth.

"Mr Turnbull should listen."

The $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project would provide a second rail crossing of the Brisbane River in the city's CBD, easing congestion on the existing rail network, and the CBD's road network.

An earlier iteration of the project was approved by Infrastructure Australia, and looked ready to go ahead under LNP Premier Campbell Newman in 2013, but was cancelled after the roads-only Abbott Government came into power at that year's federal election.

Unlike the earlier version, the latest business case for Cross River Rail was rejected by Infrastructure Australia, effectively ruling out any Commonwealth funding at this stage, under the Turnbull Government's infrastructure policy.

But Albanese is adamant the Infrastructure Australia backflip is a mistake, and has repeatedly urged the Government to provide money for Cross River Rail.

"Since Mr Turnbull ousted Tony Abbott, he has expressed rhetorical support for public transport projects," the shadow minister said. "But he has maintained the Coalition's refusal to invest in Cross River Rail, leaving the Palaszczuk Government to go it alone on this important project."

The Palaszczuk Government has said it is willing to provide all the funding needed, if it must.

[Monster]

CRR - subject to ALP forming govt - is going to happen!  Great....

1) financing - we've been promised a PPP structure....shocking history of them in Qld.....what's going to change now? [I think Southbank TAFE area MAY have been a PPP.....anywhere else in Qld....ever actually been a PPP?]

2) can we continue it [in PPP form] underground, from the 'Gabba to Beenleigh? [3/4 strategic stops a long the way]

Unless we do "2" are we not simply putting more and rapidly growing traffic into a 100yr old suburban corridor?

Let's DO CRR......but let's do it right....now's the time to highER speed Brisbane/Gold Coast!

Southbank TAFE IS a PPP and successful one at that. Others in QLD, not so much. One problem with PPP's is that the client (The Govt) always takes a subservient POSITION and allows to be pushed around by the private sector. Mainly because the Govt doesn't know what it REALLY wants from a PPP (ie the EXACT infrastructure) and it's that uncertainty that gets in the way.

If you're going PPP, you want to make sure you are 100% certain on the product you want. That can include the ability to add on in future years, but unless you are prescriptive with the Private Sector, you'll be wasting valuable $$$$, take longer to get a result and end up with a product that isn't the right one.

[#Metro]

Southbank TAFE IS a PPP and successful one at that. Others in QLD, not so much. One problem with PPP's is that the client (The Govt) always takes a subservient POSITION and allows to be pushed around by the private sector. Mainly because the Govt doesn't know what it REALLY wants from a PPP (ie the EXACT infrastructure) and it's that uncertainty that gets in the way.

I think this is the main problem with Gov't in general.

Look at a 100% government project - Cross River Rail. It didn't know what it wanted on three separate occasions. Whole thing changed

every time there was an election. We almost lost it again this time around. Tunnel entrance was going to be here, then it was there, then

it was minus any land acquisition, Dutton Park was out then it was in. Then it was going to have buses, then there were no buses. etc.



It is also why they hire armies of consultants and are in never-ending "review" mode.

The MPs are elected for their political and party ideologies, they are almost always non-experts in whatever they are managing, so they

have to pay $$$ to hire them.

If you look at somewhere like Perth, the PTA was very strict about what it wanted from both the New Metro Rail project (rail network

expansion) and the SmartRider - costs for both these projects are extremely good by any measure.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> The people have spoken, now it's time to deliver Cross River Rail

Wise politicians know that voters are always right.

Whatever we think, election results provide the ultimate reality check about the will of the people.

We ignore them at our peril.

One of the realities that is clear after the Queensland election is that south-east Queenslanders want efficient public transport.

The Palaszczuk Labor government was re-elected promising to build the Cross River Rail project, which will provide a second rail crossing of the Brisbane River in the city's CBD to add to the Merivale Bridge, which is approaching full capacity.

Cross River Rail is not just about Brisbane.

It will increase the capacity of the rail network throughout south-east Queensland, including the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast.

It is the game changer that allowed the Palaszczuk government to commit to new stations at Pimpama, Helensvale North and Worongary-Merrimac.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has refused to back Cross River Rail, but needs to reconsider his position, which is based on politics, rather than looking at the project on its merits.

In capital cities and high-growth areas across the nation, traffic congestion is eroding Australians' quality of life and acting as a handbrake on economic growth.

The Bureau of Transport, Infrastructure and Regional Economics has reported that in 2015, traffic congestion cost the national economy $16.5 billion in lost economic activity.

Governments must work together to tackle congestion, which would boost productivity and set a platform for stronger economic and employment growth.

Cross River Rail is a no-brainer. It was approved by the independent Infrastructure Australia in 2012.

On the basis of that assessment, the former federal Labor government and the former LNP Queensland government, led by Campbell Newman, reached a deal in 2013 to deliver the project.

Then along came the greatest political wrecker of our times, Tony Abbott, who cancelled all Commonwealth investment in passenger rail and transferred the money to the construction of toll roads.

Mr Abbott had outlined his distaste for public transport in his 2009 book Battlelines, in which he wrote: "Mostly there just aren't enough people wanting to go from a particular place to a particular destination at a particular time to justify any vehicle larger than a car and cars need roads."

This was a bizarre position - so absurd it hardly bears serious scrutiny.

Since ousting Mr Abbott, Mr Turnbull has refused to reinstate Commonwealth funding for Cross River Rail. As a result, the Palaszczuk government has commenced the project alone.

Its re-election demonstrates that Queenslanders support the project and understand the link between infrastructure investment, quality of life and economic prosperity.

Mr Turnbull should listen to the message and get on board with a funding contribution.

It appears his reluctance to provide funding is linked to his desire to enlist more private investment into the project using  mechanisms such as value capture, under which governments would help pay for the project by selling space above new train stations for high-rise development.

Value capture is not a new concept but it has a legitimate place in funding projects. Indeed, it was part of the 2013 deal to deliver Cross River Rail, which the federal coalition scrapped.

But value capture will never replace actual government investment.

And according to federal budget papers, actual investment will fall off a cliff over the next four years, from the $9.2 billion promised in the 2016 budget to $4.2 billion by 2020-21.

Another lesson from the Queensland election is that voters will punish political parties that put political tactics ahead of the public interest.

It is somewhat ironic that the Shadow Treasurer, Scott Emerson, was the Transport Minister in the Newman Government who agreed to a joint proposal with the former Federal Labor Government to advance Cross River Rail.

The more recent cynical opposition to the project hurt the LNP's economic credibility and no doubt contributed to Mr Emerson's failure to hold his seat.

Efficient states need efficient capital cities and regions.

Increasing rail capacity through Brisbane will reduce rail congestion right throughout the state's south-east.

Queenslanders got it right on Cross River Rail.

It is now time for governments to work together and build it.

Anthony Albanese is the Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Tourism.

[verbatim9]

No doubt Cross River rail will go ahead. Maiwar has been declared by the Greens. Another voice in Parliament for Cross River Rail and other Pending Public Transport Projects. We may also get a PTA or more autonomy for Translink. I think the Translink brand should still prevail under written and supported by a PTA.

Sent from my XT1562 using Tapatalk

[v6hilux]

Election is over - CRR is back in it's box on the top shelf!

[kram0]

It's Xmas holidays. Don't expect to hear anything until late January at the earliest.

[SteelPan]

WHY....I thought the State Govt was all about "working hard"......Tues 2 Jan is a gazetted work day...obviously the Premier will want a Cabinet Meeting THAT day, to get even harder working for Queensland!

Trust me, CRR IS "back in its box", until about 4-6 months out from the NEXT state election, when more stories of "work underway" will be pulled out for the extra-gullible....again!!!!

[Derwan]

Trust me, CRR IS "back in its box", until about 4-6 months out from the NEXT state election, when more stories of "work underway" will be pulled out for the extra-gullible....again!!!!

But... but... look!  The Go Print building has been demolished!  That means they're working on CRR...... right?

[v6hilux]

Trust me, CRR IS "back in its box", until about 4-6 months out from the NEXT state election, when more stories of "work underway" will be pulled out for the extra-gullible....again!!!!

But... but... look!  The Go Print building has been demolished!  That means they're working on CRR...... right?

The project will be completed in about 180 years.

[Stillwater]

Something's happening - the sign says so.  And there is a sign!  Maybe there will be a QR Code connecting to the drive-through video.

[ozflier]

Can anyone remind me what Labor promised for the Sunshine Coast rail upgrade.
I know it was a reduced version of the original plan by Bligh.

[ozbob]

Can anyone remind me what Labor promised for the Sunshine Coast rail upgrade.
I know it was a reduced version of the original plan by Bligh.

Details here > https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/B/Beerburrum-to-Nambour-Rail-Upgrade-Project

[ozbob]

Trust me, CRR IS "back in its box", until about 4-6 months out from the NEXT state election, when more stories of "work underway" will be pulled out for the extra-gullible....again!!!!

But... but... look!  The Go Print building has been demolished!  That means they're working on CRR...... right?

Right!   

[SteelPan]

My sources are tighter than a confessional with a lawyer in it......but...word is.....

CRR WILL be mentioned in a Premier's Office News Release by the end of the 3rd Qrt of 2018 AND.....possibly....a NEW Glossy Brochure is a good chance by the end of the year......NO word on a new "fly through" before 2020 but......   

Queensland.....public/private deals have a strong track record......   

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/CrossRiverRail/status/952704279533436928

[kram0]

My source inside the Labor party who works alongside major projects involving Trad has stated they know they won the city because of CRR and it will be full steam ahead. This is there project, and they want to be seen delivering. Let's hope they are right, only time and the awarding of major contacts will tell.

[aldonius]

Fingers crossed that Queensland doesn't get a major natural disaster between now and the TBM launch!

[James]

Keep an eye out for when the tenders come out. ANZ Infrastructure Pipeline states that shortlisting is currently taking place for tenders, with the final tender to be awarded in late-2018.

Once the contracts are signed, it is game on. I can't see the ALP breaking its own contract - would be political suicide, they'd just borrow more money, wince and hope nobody sees borrowing for CRR as "bad" debt.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/CrossRiverRail/status/953773433413779456

[SteelPan]

YES...this is critical detailed work....that you common-folk don't understand and it will take "some years" to progress....look, it's important that the "inherent water table measurement factored, cubed to the revolving value matrix of the total earth removed divided by forth quartile deviation from total drilling bore squared to Newtons 3rd law of political speech-fest...."

LOOK....we demolished....a building....massive works underway........ 

"Queensland.....the Home of Totally Natural PPP Death....."

[Stillwater]

I miss all those TV and newspaper ads keeping me informed of progress on CRR.  What is happening?  Keep going to the letterbox ... there's no brochure in amongst the Hervey Norman and Bunnings catalogues. 

[matlock]

Steel, your random pessimism is strange. They've demolished a building, begun boring for geotechnical reasons and already seem to be moving toward tendering out the construction. What exactly are you sceptical of?

Brisbane voted heavily for Labor in the last election. Labor knows that this tunnel will make or break them come 2020, so expect it to be well underway by then.

[James]

Steel, your random pessimism is strange. They've demolished a building, begun boring for geotechnical reasons and already seem to be moving toward tendering out the construction. What exactly are you sceptical of?

Brisbane voted heavily for Labor in the last election. Labor knows that this tunnel will make or break them come 2020, so expect it to be well underway by then.

To be fair, the demolition of the former GoPrint site is just smoke and mirrors, and the geotech boring is merely the essentials required for the tenderers to come up with a design and so forth.

Once the tenders are awarded (late-2018, as per my earlier post), the project will be very hard to stop. In the mean time, the project is still one big flood or cyclone away from being pushed back even further, not that industry would be very happy if AP & co. did that.

[aldonius]

Tenders late 2018?

Fingers crossed particularly hard, because we should be through the worst of this summer's storm season and late 2018 (if they stick to it) should be before the worst of next's.

[Stillwater]

A good summary from the ANZ Infrastructure Pipeline site.  (states that Qld Govt still chasing federal funds for CRR despite saying that the state will fund the project 100 per cent).

The Cross River Rail (CRR) project, identified by Building Queensland, aims to provide an additional rail crossing across the Brisbane River.

The project involves the delivery of a 10.2 kilometre north-south rail link from Dutton Park to Bowen Hills through the Exhibition showgrounds, including 5.9 kilometres of rail tunnel under the Brisbane River and CBD, as well as four new underground stations at Boggo Road, Woolloongabba, Albert Street and Roma Street.

Demand for Brisbane's rail services is forecasted to double by 2026, and triple by 2036. The project seeks to respond to these demand pressures.

The 2017-18 Queensland Budget allocated $1.95 billion towards the project, adding to the Government's $800 million in-principle commitment in June 2016 and their $50 million allocation towards scoping work and the establishment of the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority (CRRDA).

A $129 million equity injection will be provided to CRRDA in FY2017-18.

In the lead up to the 2017 state election, the now re-elected Government committed to deliver the project.

The Queensland Budget also indicated that it will allocate the remaining $2.6 billion required over 2021-22 to 2023-24 but will still seek Federal Government contributions and proceeds from commercial funding sources, such as the development of Government land around stations, to reduce the cost to the State. The Federal Government has committed $10 million towards the project to date.

In February 2017 the Queensland Government released a Request for Change of Proposal for public comment, outlining proposed alterations to the alignment and station locations of the project. The Change of Proposal was approved by the Coordinator-General in June 2017.

In July 2017 Infrastructure Australia (IA) released its evaluation of the business case, finding material concerns that would likely result in the Benefit Cost Ratio of the project being less than one.

In August 2017, Building Queensland made the business case publicly available. The document has been updated to reflect changes in population statistics and government policy in the 14 months since being provided to government. Consequently the project's benefit cost ratio has been raised to 1.41.

In the 2017-18 Budget, the Federal Government said the project has the potential to be supported through the $10 billion National Rail Program, subject to a positive business case.

The Queensland Government and the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority held an industry briefing on August 30 2017, which provided a comprehensive overview of the project as well as timeframes for procurement.

The CRR main works have been split into two packages:

- The Tunnel, Stations and Development (TSD) package, to be delivered as a Public Private Partnership; and
- The Rail, Integration and Systems package, to be delivered as an Alliance.

Early works commenced in August 2017 after approval from the Board of CRRDA in June.

[red dragin]

They should have just called it a road tunnel, gone to the Feds, got their money, then said "whoops, we've Queenslandered it, only our non compliant trains will fit so now it's a train tunnel".