Cross River Rail Project

[Arnz]

Reading the article.  5TPH beyond Caboolture with duplication (sans CRR and ETCS-L2) would only be theoretically possible as far as Landsborough.  24 Min Headways (2-3TPH) would still apply beyond Landsborough, e.g

4:00 Nambour
4:12 Landsborough
4:24 Nambour
4:36 Landsborough
4:48 Nambour
5:00 Landsborough
5:12 Nambour
5:24 Landsborough
5:36 Nambour
5:48 Gympie North (Not linked to the typical Caboolture/Sunshine Coast running).
etc.

[#Metro]

Good read BrizCommuter.  So what is the speculation that, behind the political fight, is a row over whether fed funds go to CRR (that door seems to have closed) or that - following the Business Case for North Coast Connect project - the Federal Government announces funding for Trouts Road Corridor rail?

IIRC there was a similar situation in 2013 when Federal Red Team offered some funding (30%?) for Cross River Rail, but the Newman Government rejected it... this is a similar situation.

A good compromise is that the Feds part-fund Cross River Rail, but on the condition that the project is altered to provide stubs into the Cross River Rail tunnel design for a Trouts Road connection.

[BrizCommuter]

Good read BrizCommuter.  So what is the speculation that, behind the political fight, is a row over whether fed funds go to CRR (that door seems to have closed) or that - following the Business Case for North Coast Connect project - the Federal Government announces funding for Trouts Road Corridor rail?  Those politicians with tiny minds seem to have a fixation about CRR being funded (or not) by the Federal Government without having the smarts to realise that an opportunity for big bucks from Canberra, on a scale of rail funding for Sydney and Melbourne, could come in the form of money for Trouts Road Corridor.  So Queensland might get its 'fair share' of funding (whatever that is) for major rail infrastructure after all.

If Queensland wants more money for transport infrastructure, it should take the preparation of Business Cases more seriously than they do currently. Incomplete information, fudging the figures, assumptions get us nowhere.

I'm not convinced that the Trouts Rd corridor is seriously on anyones radar, though it should be. Building CRR without stubs (especially when there is no turnback capability at Roma St) is a big mistake. The projected peak frequencies for the Gold Coast and outer Beenleigh Line services, and suitable frequencies for Caboolture/Sunshine Coast, and Trouts Rd local services would be a very close match, allowing for efficient use of resources.

Reading the article.  5TPH beyond Caboolture with duplication (sans CRR and ETCS-L2) would only be theoretically possible as far as Landsborough.  24 Min Headways (2-3TPH) would still apply beyond Landsborough,

Yes, the frequencies mentioned in the article would only be for the duplicated sections of the Sunshine Coast Line. I've made a few edits to clarify this.

[ozbob]

For discussion on Brisbane Live see > https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12760.msg208373#msg208373

Included here because of cross referencing to Cross River Rail ..

Couriermail --> New entertainment precinct Brisbane Live! a step closer

PLANS for a new $2 billion entertainment precinct in the heart of Brisbane have taken a major leap forward.

The State Government is directing $5 million to a formal business case to support the Brisbane Live! proposal in a sign of commitment to the development above the Roma Street Railyards.

"Brisbane Live! is a very exciting proposal that will deliver decades of economic and employment opportunities in what is an underused part of the city," Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said.

The project — modelled on the LA Live! concept in Los Angeles — will feature a 17,000-seat arena for entertainment and sports events as well as restaurants, bars, cinemas and other venues and scope for hotel, apartment, commercial and education developments.

The vision is being developed alongside the Cross River Rail network and would be above the new Roma St underground station.

It is the final piece in a once-in-a-lifetime infrastructure boom over the next 5-10 years that will position Brisbane as a world-class city and tourist destination.

Brisbane Live! will complement the $5.4 billion CRR, the $1 billion Brisbane Metro public transport system, the $3 billion Queen's Wharf casino, entertainment and hotel precinct, the $1.3 billion second runway to double flight capacity at Brisbane Airport, the $160 million new cruise ship terminal to take super-liners and an expected expansion of South Bank Parklands and surrounds.

"We have never seen anything like this," Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Daniel Gschwind said. "We all refer to Expo 88 as a game changer, and it was, but this suite of new developments is on a completely different scale."

The business case will be prepared by Building Queensland and the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority which is developing the masterplan for the Roma St precinct. It is due to take six months and consider construction costs, economic benefits, delivery and procurement options.

Brisbane Live! is the brainchild of AEG Ogden, which is partnering with the Government in an early operator engagement agreement.

Chairman Harvey Lister said the $450 million arena was designed to host world-class acts and sports up to Olympic level as well as booming esports video gaming events. "We are delighted to see the enormous amount of determination and commitment by the Premier and Deputy Premier to make something happen that the city really needs," he said.

The inclusion of Brisbane Live! is expected to boost the business case for the CRR, delivering the economic benefits Infrastructure Australia has demanded to see before restoring its high priority project status.

Ms Trad called on the Turnbull Government to support Cross River Rail in Tuesday's Federal Budget.

[Fares_Fair]

Good read BrizCommuter.  So what is the speculation that, behind the political fight, is a row over whether fed funds go to CRR (that door seems to have closed) or that - following the Business Case for North Coast Connect project - the Federal Government announces funding for Trouts Road Corridor rail?  Those politicians with tiny minds seem to have a fixation about CRR being funded (or not) by the Federal Government without having the smarts to realise that an opportunity for big bucks from Canberra, on a scale of rail funding for Sydney and Melbourne, could come in the form of money for Trouts Road Corridor.  So Queensland might get its 'fair share' of funding (whatever that is) for major rail infrastructure after all.

If Queensland wants more money for transport infrastructure, it should take the preparation of Business Cases more seriously than they do currently. Incomplete information, fudging the figures, assumptions get us nowhere.

I'm not convinced that the Trouts Rd corridor is seriously on anyones radar, though it should be. Building CRR without stubs (especially when there is no turnback capability at Roma St) is a big mistake. The projected peak frequencies for the Gold Coast and outer Beenleigh Line services, and suitable frequencies for Caboolture/Sunshine Coast, and Trouts Rd local services would be a very close match, allowing for efficient use of resources.

Reading the article.  5TPH beyond Caboolture with duplication (sans CRR and ETCS-L2) would only be theoretically possible as far as Landsborough.  24 Min Headways (2-3TPH) would still apply beyond Landsborough,

Yes, the frequencies mentioned in the article would only be for the duplicated sections of the Sunshine Coast Line. I've made a few edits to clarify this.

Hello Brizcommuter,
I can assure you that the Trouts Road Corridor is an option to be considered (at my request to the Consortia) under the North Coast Connect business case.
The business case will investigate all avenues.

Kind regards,
Fares_Fair

[#Metro]

Cross River Rail Survey (members) >> https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=13128.msg208381

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Hansard

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2018/2018_05_16_DAILY.pdf

Questions without notice

Cross River Rail

Mr POWER: My question is for the Deputy Premier and Treasurer. Will the Deputy Premier
update the House on the progress of the Cross River Rail project?

Ms TRAD: I thank the member for Logan for the question. As the member for Logan and most
people on this side of the House know, it is the Palaszczuk Labor government that is committed to
building the infrastructure that is critical to meeting the growth demands in the South-East Queensland
region and right across the state.

Cross River Rail is critical. It is critical to double the capacity of heavy rail right across the
South-East Queensland region. For an area like Logan—a high-growth area that the member for Logan
and many members on this side of the House represent—Cross River Rail is critical. It will mean that
people living in Logan, on the Gold Coast and in the outer suburbs can get to work faster and can get
home to their families sooner.

Opposition members interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! Member for Coomera, I can hear you above all others. You are cautioned.

Ms TRAD: I advise the member for Coomera that it is this government that went on to improve
exit 54. His government did nothing about it. There was not one single dollar spent on the M1 by those
opposite—no light rail on the Gold Coast and no Cross River Rail. They gave zero dollars to
infrastructure, apart from their 'tower of power', 1 William Street. I am pleased to advise the House—

Ms Palaszczuk interjected.

Ms TRAD: I take the interjection from the Premier. We should table the Auditor-General's report
into 1 William Street—that single piece of infrastructure that those opposite commissioned.
Very recently we announced that the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority would take responsibility
for the feasibility study and business case process for the Brisbane Live development. AEG Ogden has
put a lot of work into how we can develop a new entertainment venue for our city of Brisbane. I am
pleased to report to the House that preliminary work is underway. The benefits to our city and our state
in terms of jobs and tourism are huge. It is really obvious that those opposite do not like ideas, projects,
infrastructure or workers. They cannot sit through a question time about critical issues such as
infrastructure, jobs and how we meet the demands of a growing population. We are now at five million
people. I think the antics and the contributions from those opposite ought to be clear to the people of
Queensland. They are simply not up to the job.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/JoshBavas/status/999515772694114304

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Gabba revamp plans revealed

PLANS to improve seating, upgrade video screens and build a state-of-the-art external precinct have been uncovered as part of a proposal to modernise the ageing Gabba stadium.

A report commissioned by the State Government has been released as part of the Sport and Recreation master plan, which identifies a number of shortcomings in Brisbane's major oval ground.

Currently, the Gabba suffers from a lack of atmosphere and experience for spectators while athletes suffer from below standard facilities, the report finds.


Key to improving the spectator experience is the implementation of a "grand entrance", similar to that of world-class stadiums around the world such as Emirates Stadium, home to the Arsenal football club in London.

"Improving the arrival experience for all patrons and fans is a key priority," the report says.

"This is important both for adding to the atmosphere before a game as well as for patron safety."

It comes as Cricket Australia stripped Brisbane of the traditional first Test match of the summer because of shortcomings with the Gabba.

Brisbane has found itself fifth in the pecking order, now behind the likes of Adelaide and Perth following significant redevelopments to their oval grounds.

Key to the consideration of the report is improving the seating arrangements for concerts and other non-sport related events by adding significant corporate and dining areas.

Also acknowledged in the report is the planned arrival of the State Government's much-spruiked Cross River Rail which is planned to have a Gabba Station, aimed at improving the significant public transport issues with the site.

The total cost of the upgrades are not released in the report, which has been given a 10-15 year time frame.

Sport Minister Mick de Brenni has been contacted for comment.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Gabba game-changer gathers pace in Cross River Rail spin-off

The Gabba is going to change.

Not next week and not in the next six months.

But over the next 10 to 15 years the Brisbane Cricket Ground at Woolloongabba will change.

The Gabba is where Peter Siddle took an Ashes hat trick in summer 2010 and where Lions centre-half forward Jonathan Brown kicked 10 goals in winter 2007.

It was where the Socceroos played their first home game, against New Zealand in 1923.

If you are lucky, you were at two of these games. If you made all three, buy three casket tickets now.

Almost a decade on and the Gabba is getting creaky.

Where a future upgrade of the Gabba fits in the Queensland Government's funding priorities will be clearer by the end of the year when its Sport and Active Recreation Strategy is finished.

However a new-look Gabba has long been linked to Brisbane's underground rail project, the Cross River Rail, because one of its key underground rail stations is right across Main Street at Woolloongabba.

On Friday, a report accidentally released under Right to Information shows what the Palaszczuk Government has in mind for the Gabba.

There is nothing yet in the budget for building anything because it is still just a collection of thoughts, but some money for planning could be there on June 12.

The July 2017 Brisbane Cricket Ground Vision and Master Plan gives these broadbrush suggestions to improve the Gabba.

The report opens with this reminder.

Every other major sports ground in a capital city in Australia has been modernised in the past five to seven years.

This is what they are thinking.

Outside the ground

1 - Major street trees planted on the old Go Print site, new landscaped gardens and street trees along major roads.

2 – The Go Print site opposite the Gabba and nearby green spaces could become landscaped gardens with big screens.

3 - A new entrance to the Gabba would be built, possibly off Main Street, entering to a reconfigured Level 3 of the stadium.

4 – The bridge over Main Street at the Gabba has to be a striking statement.

5 – Walkways could be built over Main, Vulture and Stanley streets.

6 - Improve the use of the heritage brick building on Main Street.

7 – Noted that there is poor street furniture, the outside has confusing access points and public transport points are not obvious.

Inside the ground

1 - Six new entrances.

2 - Proposed major changes to disconnected function rooms.

3 – New Queensland Lounge.

4 – Double the size of the Members Bar.

5 – New larger suites.

6 – A new "field level" suite close to the AFL players areas on Vulture Street.

7 - Opening up large sections of Level 2 along Stanley Street.

8 – A big new spectator deck beneath the western scoreboard.

9 - Big new video scoreboard on east and western sides.

Overall, the stadium will be opened up to the light, new entrances will be built, and extra places to sit, have a drink and watch sport will be made available.

The way it gets from what it is today, to what is planned in the next decade, will be similar to the upgrade of Roma Street Station.

At Roma Street, there's been a plan since 2016 for a 17,000-seat music venue, plus business and education facilities over the top of the train station.

The future Roma Street Station and its Brisbane Live entertainment precinct is now part of the Cross River Rail project.

On May 6, the Palaszczuk Government announced it would put forward $5 million to put together a business case to evaluate Brisbane Live as part of the benefits of the Cross River Rail project.

It is likely a similar type of approach will be taken at the Gabba and potentially Queensland's June 12 budget might include some money to put together a business case.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad, who is overseeing the Cross River Rail Project, in general terms acknowledges links between Cross River Rail at Woolloongabba and upgrading the cricket ground.

In February 2018, Ms Trad said the new station would almost double the number of people using public transport to get to big games at the Gabba.

"We know better transport will dramatically improve the match day experience for fans and the new station will see its expected average daily passenger load of 18,000 potentially double to more than 30,000 users for major events," she said.

Sports Minister Mick de Brenni believes the two projects are linked.

"Cross River Rail is a game changer for Brisbane, and upgrades to the Gabba are absolutely contingent on the delivery of Cross River Rail," he said.

However, the upgrade is a long-term project.

"The Gabba is an iconic stadium, and its name is synonymous with the greatest cricket wicket in the world," Mr de Brenni said.

"Along with world-class cricket, what we want to see is an amazing fan experience, be it as home of the Lions AFL or for other entertainment.

"We'll be making sure Queensland sports fans and players get the stadium they deserve," he said.

"But our immediate priorities are all about making sure Queenslanders can get to work on decent roads, can access world-class hospital services, and give their kids the best schooling available.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/CrossRiverRail/status/1006064829931520000

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/jackietrad/status/1006666734240194562

[achiruel]

ALP posting on Facebook that CRR will allow trains every 5 minutes (i.e. 12tph) for both Caboolture and Kippa-Ring lines.

(i) With the current 3 tracks between Northgate and Petrie, is it possible to do this while maintaining a 4tph counter-peak service on both lines (keeping in mind the need to get the trains to the terminii as well). Yes, I realise there is currently only a 2tph counterpeak service on these lines, but it really should be upgraded to 4tph.

(ii) If it can be done with CRR in place, what prevents it being done without it? Certainly south of Northgate where both trains share the same track pair to the exclusion of other lines, with decent signalling in place, 24tph should be achievable.

(iii) Where are the traincrew and rollingstock going to come from for this frequency?.

[Arnz]

(i) With the current 3 tracks between Northgate and Petrie, is it possible to do this while maintaining a 4tph counter-peak service on both lines (keeping in mind the need to get the trains to the terminii as well). Yes, I realise there is currently only a 2tph counterpeak service on these lines, but it really should be upgraded to 4tph.

Counter-Peak still has the odd freighter in the opposite direction (although they have to wait at loops or at the "crossovers" if on the 3 track section as passenger services take the utmost priority).

Some services start/continue from Nambour so there's also scheduling to take into consideration.

Edit: Plus the morning Long Distance Travel Network (Traveltrain) arrivals as well.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Current hold up is Bowen Hills-Roma Street for the mains as there are procedures in place for driver swaps/clearing trains/waiting for spaces to use the cross overs. CRR will have different track pairs through Bowen Hills. Theres a new holding road to be installed. Also allows for additional running ie express to city via CRR for some services. The issue with providing additional Caboolture or a Nambour service in morning peak hour was because Petrie-Zillmere was a parking lot of trains dead running to form Petrie services, crossover limitations and at times having 3 trains all configured to head to the city for morning peak hour running. Now that Kippa Ring is up that issue has been removed. So time and additional rollingstock will come out of that. You would be surprised.

[James]

ALP posting on Facebook that CRR will allow trains every 5 minutes (i.e. 12tph) for both Caboolture and Kippa-Ring lines.

(i) With the current 3 tracks between Northgate and Petrie, is it possible to do this while maintaining a 4tph counter-peak service on both lines (keeping in mind the need to get the trains to the terminii as well). Yes, I realise there is currently only a 2tph counterpeak service on these lines, but it really should be upgraded to 4tph.

(ii) If it can be done with CRR in place, what prevents it being done without it? Certainly south of Northgate where both trains share the same track pair to the exclusion of other lines, with decent signalling in place, 24tph should be achievable.

(iii) Where are the traincrew and rollingstock going to come from for this frequency?.

It is not quite possible - 20tph is possible with current infrastructure, 24tph requires either:
a) An extra platform at Central/Roma St like the suburbans do now, which hence requires CRR, or
b) ETCS Level 2 (no CRR).

Just my 2 cents - the ALP has always told some white lies on CRR capacity on the mains. In Maiwar they campaigned on 'a train every 6 minutes through Toowong station' - before #RailFail, this already happened in the peaks, and rolling stock and drivers aside, there's nothing stopping anybody from doing that again.

Most of the benefits will come on the southside, where if you share current capacity out 'evenly', you currently only get 9tph for Beenleigh/Cleveland and 6tph for the Gold Coast.

[BrizCommuter]

CRR is claiming combined 27tph in the am peak from Sunshine Coast/Caboolture/Kippa-Ring. I doubt that more than 24tph would be realistically and reliably possible, even with ETCS.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/MarkBaileyMP/status/1008553025751867392

[verbatim9]

CRR is claiming combined 27tph in the am peak from Sunshine Coast/Caboolture/Kippa-Ring. I doubt that more than 24tph would be realistically and reliably possible, even with ETCS.

24 tph sounds more realistic @ every 5 mins but still alot of trains. They must be talking 2032 or beyond. Be tight to squeeze in reliable services under 5 min intervals. Trains will be stop/starting inbetween stations.

[Cazza]

Bring on 40TPH I say

[verbatim9]

^^That would be amazing if a QR train could accelerate that fast out of a station too.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/CrossRiverRail/status/1008594803393589254

[BrizCommuter]

CRR is claiming combined 27tph in the am peak from Sunshine Coast/Caboolture/Kippa-Ring. I doubt that more than 24tph would be realistically and reliably possible, even with ETCS.

24 tph sounds more realistic @ every 5 mins but still alot of trains. They must be talking 2032 or beyond. Be tight to squeeze in reliable services under 5 min intervals. Trains will be stop/starting inbetween stations.

24tph is a train every 2.5mins.

[BrizCommuter]

Bring on 40TPH I say

The Victoria Line is actually timetabled for every 100secs/36tph. The trains are automatic (with driver controlling doors and start button). Radio based distance to go signalling. Most bogies are powered for high acceleration. Not really directly comparable to suburban railways. BTW Paris Line 14 runs every 85secs, but with shorter 90m long trains.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Cross River Rail needs 50 more trains in order to function as planned, insider says

CROSS River Rail cannot deliver the promised improvements to Brisbane's public transport system unless the State Government immediately orders another 50 new trains.

Transport advocate Robert Dow has warned the Palaszczuk Government is all about spruiking about its new rail system but not backing it up with more trains and infrastructure upgrades including the Cleveland line and re-opening the Tennyson loop.

He said even with 75 New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) trains coming online and the retention of several classes of passenger cars it was still not enough to reach the level of service the Labor Government had spruiked.

"They want to service the lines with 15-minute frequencies but we have worked out you need another 42 trains, more like 50 in round figures, because no train runs 100 per cent of the time," Mr Dow said.

"It would take six years for that number of trains to be built and unless they order them today they can't deliver that service.

"The Government is all focussed on Cross River Rail but you need to put the rest of the network into position to maximise its benefit."

It's estimated the network is at least a dozen six-car trains short of providing adequate extra services on the existing network and a further 29 are required to meet the CRR projections.

Mr Dow said the duplication of the Manly to Cleveland line and the amplification of the Kuraby to Beenleigh line were identified in the Inner City Capacity Study announced under the-then Bligh Labour Government in 2008.

Those upgrades are even more of a priority because of the promises Labour had made about the benefits of the $5.4 billion project for southeast Queensland's growing population, he said.

"There is not enough capacity between Beenleigh and Kuraby, they need to start thinking about the Salisbury to Beaudesert line," he said.

"The Cleveland line has some real issues and amongst them is that it's a single-line section that lacks proper turn-back facilities."

He said the re-opening of the Tennyson spur, between Corinda and Yeerongpilly stations would also improve capacity besides providing a more direct route for passengers on the Ipswich and Springfield lines to the Gabba CRR station.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey did not answer questions about the need to immediately order more NGR or if all of the promised benefits of CRR could be delivered without needing to address concerns raised by Rail Back on Track.

He said they were training more drivers and crew and implementing all 36 recommendations of the Strachan Inquiry (2017) which examined QR's training procedures and identified the need to protect corridors for future rail expansion.

"We are developing a southeast Queensland Rail network strategy to support the $5.4 billion investment in Cross River Rail," Mr Bailey said.

"The strategy will consider future service plans and infrastructure investments over a 10- to 30-year horizon.

"The future service plans will inform future resourcing and rolling stock requirements and planning work has started to identify corridor protection requirements for upgrades of the Manly to Cleveland and Kuraby to Beenleigh rail lines.

"The Palaszczuk Government has already committed $160.8 million in this year's budget for the Beerburrum to Nambour duplication project with design work underway to be followed by construction."

Tennyson Ward councillor Nicole Johnston said the Tennyson spur should reopen to daily passenger trains and include the restoration of the local station, which closed in 2011, to complement CRR.

[ozbob]

Projected AM Peak frequencies 2026

The 2026 proposed service pattern is from http://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/assessments-and-approvals/cross-river-rail-project.html
Specifically document Volume 1 – Request for project change  page 27

[ozbob]

The article at the CM has been informed by BrizCommuter's work on his blog.

Particularly

Will QR's Rail Fail impact Cross River Rail's opening?  http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com/2018/03/will-qrs-rail-fail-impact-cross-river.html

And 

QR's most unreliable service - 7:28am from Manly?  http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com/2018/05/qrs-most-unreliable-service-728am-from.html

Well done Briz! 

[ozbob]

Did a prerecorded interview with Ben Davis 4BC earlier this afternoon for replay later this afternoon on Brisbane Live show.

[Stillwater]

Well done Ozbob, BrizCommuter and Fares Fair -- all regular commentators about rail initiatives in Queensland.  Nice to know that RailBOT is the 'go to' place the media trust to give a fair an honest appraisal, as opposed to the political and corporate spin coming from government/Ministers/QR/departments/Translink.

[aldonius]

That service pattern is interesting. (Have we been through it in detail?)

Summary:
16tph from Kippa-Ring and none of it via CRR.
28tph (!!!) via the mains at Albion, of which (only) 12tph goes into CRR. (So much for sectorisation!)
18tph into CRR from the south.
The number of via-Central services is fairly balanced. 38 from the north, 36 from the south/west. But there's some mains/subs misalignment.

All told, this is how I'm reading the pairings:

- Caboolture + Nambour to Gold Coast via CRR (8+4 tph)
- Exhibition to Beenleigh via CRR (6 tph)

- Kippa-Ring to Ipswich express (6 tph)
- Kippa-Ring to Springfield all stops (10 tph)
- Bowen Hills to Rosewood express (4 tph)

- Ferny Grove + Doomben to Cleveland (8+2 tph)
- Shorncliffe + Northgate to Roma St + Salisbury (4+4; 2+6 tph)
- Airport to Roma St (4 tph).

[BrizCommuter]

That service pattern is interesting. (Have we been through it in detail?)

Summary:
16tph from Kippa-Ring and none of it via CRR.
28tph (!!!) via the mains at Albion, of which (only) 12tph goes into CRR. (So much for sectorisation!)
18tph into CRR from the south.
The number of via-Central services is fairly balanced. 38 from the north, 36 from the south/west. But there's some mains/subs misalignment.

All told, this is how I'm reading the pairings:

- Caboolture + Nambour to Gold Coast via CRR (8+4 tph)
- Exhibition to Beenleigh via CRR (6 tph)

- Kippa-Ring to Ipswich express (6 tph)
- Kippa-Ring to Springfield all stops (10 tph)
- Bowen Hills to Rosewood express (4 tph)

- Ferny Grove + Doomben to Cleveland (8+2 tph)
- Shorncliffe + Northgate to Roma St + Salisbury (4+4; 2+6 tph)
- Airport to Roma St (4 tph).

The service patterns were discussed in this article from Feb 2017 - https://brizcommuter.blogspot.com/2017/02/cross-river-rail-mk3-analysis-winners.html

[JustSomeTrainGuy]

Sorry if this has been discussed before, but if the current "choke point" on the network is the Merivale Bridge, why can't Airport/Gold Coast services be diverted via Tennyson (running express from Yeerongpilly to Roma St and vice versa) and therefore cross the river at Indooroopilly instead? The infrastructure already exists. Does the Ipswich/Springfield line (Roma St to Corinda) not have the capacity to service this? I'm not saying that CRR isn't necessary, but it could be delayed until the issues/"kinks" above are ironed out.

[SABB]

The choke point is not the Merivale Bridge. It is between the Roma Street portal and Countess Street.

[matlock]

That service pattern is interesting. (Have we been through it in detail?)

Summary:
16tph from Kippa-Ring and none of it via CRR.
28tph (!!!) via the mains at Albion, of which (only) 12tph goes into CRR. (So much for sectorisation!)
18tph into CRR from the south.
The number of via-Central services is fairly balanced. 38 from the north, 36 from the south/west. But there's some mains/subs misalignment.

All told, this is how I'm reading the pairings:

- Caboolture + Nambour to Gold Coast via CRR (8+4 tph)
- Exhibition to Beenleigh via CRR (6 tph)

- Kippa-Ring to Ipswich express (6 tph)
- Kippa-Ring to Springfield all stops (10 tph)
- Bowen Hills to Rosewood express (4 tph)

- Ferny Grove + Doomben to Cleveland (8+2 tph)
- Shorncliffe + Northgate to Roma St + Salisbury (4+4; 2+6 tph)
- Airport to Roma St (4 tph).

The service patterns were discussed in this article from Feb 2017 - https://brizcommuter.blogspot.com/2017/02/cross-river-rail-mk3-analysis-winners.html

One thing which I want to note about the article is that I'm not so concerned about the potential capacity problems for the Ipswich and Springfield lines. You mention that 6 minutes is as good as it gets for services along that stretch, which is accurate (and achievable at present), but realistically 10tph along Ipswich and 6tph along Springfield yields 16tph at Indro, Toowong and Darra, assuming they become interchange stations between the all-stops Springfield line and the express Ipswich line.

That's a train less than every four minutes. It's entirely possible that commuters travelling further out could catch the faster (and more frequent) Ipswich line to skip the inner-city Springfield line stops to Toowong, Indro or Darra (in the PM peak) and then interchange for a Springfield service, at which point there should be far fewer passengers on the Springfield trains due to other passengers disembarking. Altogether I feel that capacity shouldn't be an issue if passengers take advantage of express trains.

Your point stands though: it could and should be implemented now.

[ozbob]

Did a prerecorded interview with Ben Davis 4BC earlier this afternoon for replay later this afternoon on Brisbane Live show.

Here is the interview:

4BC Brisbane Live with Ben Davis  22nd June 2018

> https://backontrack.org/docs/4bc/4bc_brisbane_22jun18.mp3 10.7 MB

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1010321016860446720

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Land still owned by inventor of house block resumed for rail project

A quirk in Queensland's title deeds system means a former Brisbane alderman, property developer and auctioneer who died 116 years ago remains the owner of a block of land in Mary Street being resumed for a new underground train station in Brisbane.

John Cameron's property in "Esk Lane" off Mary Street has never been passed to his relatives, and under early title deed arrangements, the dead developer remains owner.

The underground rail station will be the Albert Street train station and will be part of south-east Queensland's $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project.

Cameron, who designed and laid out Brisbane's first fully-planned residential estate outside the central city in 1898, is considered the father of the suburban residential house block in Queensland.

He was said to be the first Queensland property developer to propose dividing large blocks of land into small "lots".

He designed Waverly Estate off Boggo Road in an area that became known as Dutton Park, close to the Boggo Road Prison. It was designed and created by Mr Cameron's firm, Cameron Brothers, then one of Brisbane's leading property valuers.

Mr Cameron is still the registered owner of Esk Lane, which today is a short right-hand bend off Mary Street, known as 100a Mary Street.

Fairfax Media could not immediately contact a family connection on Friday, although his relatives still operate Crisp Property Valuation services in Brisbane.

The Cross River Rail Delivery Authority, the body running the Cross River Rail project, has acquired the block of land so it can push ahead with the design of the underground Albert Street rail station.

No major work will begin on the Albert Street station until the second half of 2019. However, when work starts it will become the first new train station built in Brisbane's central city in 120 years, deputy premier and South Brisbane (Kurilpa) MP Jackie Trad said.

"It will open up the southern part of the CBD and improve the connectivity with QUT, Queen's Wharf and the City Botanic Gardens," Ms Trad said.

Eventually 220,000 passengers will use the underground train station every week.

Ms Trad said Mr Cameron's career was interesting as the young city of Brisbane grew from a penal colony.

"Mr Cameron was a self-made man of many talents," she said. "He was a successful businessman, alderman for the South Brisbane ward, he published two books and played a big part in shaping the early days of our great city."

Ms Trad said history searches showed Mr Cameron's firm Cameron Brothers drew up Waverley Estate in 1898.

"He was involved in the creation of Brisbane's first residential suburb, Waverley Estate at Boggo Road," she said. "Coincidentally, that area that will have a new Cross River Rail underground station."

Records show John Cameron was born in Launceston, but moved to Queensland in 1861. He began work as a livestock auctioneer before forming the historically respected property auctioneer firms Trundle and Cameron (with auctioneer Charles Trundle) and later Cameron Brothers.

He was a friend of Patrick Mayne, a butcher who also became a Brisbane alderman and who confessed to one of Brisbane's most grisly murders while one of city's wealthiest patrons.

Patrick Mayne became an alderman in 1865, while John Cameron's public career began a decade later.

He became a well-known figure in Brisbane's early days. An amateur historian, Cameron published two books: The Fisherman: a guide to the inexperienced: how when and where to catch fish and The fire stick: incidents in the shearers' strike: a tale of Australian bush life.

His family also owned the Doobawah property at Ormiston, and he died in 1902, when he was buried in Toowong Cemetery.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> The largest demolition project in Brisbane since the Executive Building

Work has begun to tear down the nine storey Landcentre building at Woolloongabba for the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project.

Preparation work on the 16,000 square site, which also include the removal of the South Brisbane Dental Hospital, has begun following the appointment of a demolition contractor, with heavy demolition to start in September.

Acting Treasurer Steven Miles said demolition company DECC Pty Ltd, which specialised in large-scale demolition projects, won the contract to clear the site.

"The Landcentre will be Brisbane's second largest demolition project in recent years, following the removal of the old 16 storey Executive Building at 100 George Street as part of the Queen's Wharf development," he said.

After the $4.52 million job, the Landcentre, dental hospital and GoPrint sites will become the first full station site "prepped and ready" for Cross River Rail.

"This site will be the engine room of the project, hosting the massive tunnel boring machines which will dig the Cross River Rail's twin 5.9 kilometre tunnels under Brisbane's river and CBD," Mr Miles said.

The Cross River Rail station at Woolloongabba will be built 27 metres underground, with 220 metre-long platforms.

The new station at Woolloongabba was expected to allow high-density commercial and residential development, connect rail with The Gabba stadium and the area could contain a mix of retail, cafes and restaurants.

Demolition at the Landcentre location is due to be finished in early 2019, with major construction to begin later next year.

DECC Pty Ltd has previously removed the old Law Court Buildings in Brisbane's CBD and cleared the Herston Quarter, Petrie Paper Mill and the Grand Centre Toowoomba Shopping Centre.

Cross River Rail is due to be operational by 2024.

[Stillwater]

Jargon: "After the $4.52 million job, the Landcentre, dental hospital and GoPrint sites will become the first full station site "prepped and ready" for Cross River Rail."

The publicity around CRR is being egged-up.  Next the PR machine will tell us ... 'this is the tenth blade of grass to be felled for CRR", the Minister said. "There's no stopping us now!"

[kram0]

I am confident CRR will definitely go ahead and while this is good news and another step forward. Until I see some major works such as TBM preparation, I will continue to have an element of doubt.