Cross River Rail Project

[ozbob]

The media has a role to play in exposing the government's foibles. Could the Channel 7 RTI unit, based in Brisbane, take up the cause with a passion?

They have the same problem as all Queensland Citizens.  CRRDA is exempt from RTI except for matters relating to Community Service Obligations. 
This is yet to be tested and I am thinking of doing it shortly.

Right To Information (RTI) is just largely a sham. 

I like to think of it as the 'Right To Impede (RTI)' the proper public propagation of information.

Standby Lurkers, the game is going to get a lot more sharp from here ... we don't like being treated as fools!



Run, rabbits, run ...  <

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

Where are the rail service plans?

19th May 2021

Good Morning,

We again call on the Minister for Cross River Rail (CRR) to direct DTMR/CRRDA to release updated rail service plans for Cross River Rail.  The failure to react to our previous publication of the likely SEQ Citytrain Network in 2025 when CRR is commissioned just confirms that we are correct.



Sector 1
Rosewood <> BNE Airport
Springfield Central <> Shorncliffe
Roma St <> Doomben

Sector 2
Cleveland <> Ferny Grove

Sector 3
Varsity Lakes <> Gympie North
Beenleigh <> Kippa-Ring

https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2034.msg246767#msg246767

As can be noted the Cleveland line is critical for the maintenance of services through South Bank and South Brisbane.  Now is the time to address the infrastructure deficits on that line.

Why is it that Victoria can detail how their railway network will operate when Melbourne's MetroTunnel is opened in 2025, the same year that CRR will be commissioned but DTMR/CRRDA cannot do the same for CRR in Queensland?  See https://metrotunnel.vic.gov.au/about-the-project/benefits-for-your-train-line#savings for what DTMR/CRRDA should be publishing.

A failure to update and publish the SEQ Rail Network plans when CRR is commissioned just continues to build a lack of confidence in the project outcomes. Face facts, Queensland has a damning history of recent rail failures, continued obfuscation points to yet another.

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

[achiruel]

The opposition are clueless and a shambles, which leads to the government being incompetent and unaccountable. The Westminster system of government works best when there's a quality opposition, which seems to almost never happen in Queensland.

[#Metro]

They have the same problem as all Queensland Citizens.  CRRDA is exempt from RTI except for matters relating to Community Service Obligations. This is yet to be tested and I am thinking of doing it shortly.

Supreme court injunction?

[ozbob]

^

I don't have a spare $ million 

Nothing stopping RTI seeking CSO information which rail services are in fact.

[ozbob]

Project Change Application 11

https://crossriverrail.qld.gov.au/planning-environment/environment-approvals/eis-project-changes/

The Cross River Rail Authority has submitted a Request for Project Change to the Coordinator-General in relation to Clapham Yard and Moorooka Station.
This process, which includes public consultation and a formal submission process, allows the proposed changes to be evaluated by the Coordinator-General. If the changes are deemed acceptable by the Coordinator-General, they become part of the evaluated Project for construction.

How to make a submission:

The Coordinator-General is responsible for evaluating this RfPC. To be considered in the Coordinator-General's evaluation, submissions must be made online or in writing to the Coordinator-General by 5pm Friday 4th June, 2021.

Send your submission to the Coordinator-General using one of the following methods:

Online: www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/crr

Email: crr@coordinatorgeneral.qld.gov.au

Mail:

c/- EIS project manager – Cross River Rail Project
Coordinated Project Delivery
Office of the Coordinator-General
PO Box 15517
City East, Qld, 4002, Australia

To view the RfPC or for more information about how to make a submission, visit the Department of State Development, Tourism, and Innovation website at www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/crr.

If you are unable to view the information online, please contact the project team to organise a digital or hard copy.

Download RfPC 11 factsheet

[Stillwater]

Words from the Factsheet .....

Coordinator-General Imposed Conditions

CRRDA proposes to change Coordinator-General Imposed Condition 10 as outlined below:

Imposed Condition 10 (Hours of Work):Remove the existing limitation of 80 hours of continuous work within the rail corridor for the Clapham Yard area. This change will allow works to occur within rail possession timeframes approved by Queensland Rail.

Imposed Condition 10 (Hours of Work): Allow haulage of spoil and delivery of materials and equipment 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the Clapham Yard worksite. This change maximises the opportunity for the Project to reuse spoil from other worksites, including spoil from the Cross River Rail tunnel boring machines.

[ozbob]

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2021/442-2021.pdf

Question on Notice
No. 442
Asked on 21 April 2021

MR S MINNIKIN ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (HON M BAILEY)

QUESTION:

Will the Minister provide a breakdown of Cross River Rail Development Authority staff by role
(reported by number and not percentage)?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Chatsworth for the question.
There is no such entity called the 'Cross River Rail Development Authority' in Queensland

====

Correct it is Cross River Rail Delivery Authority  ...

But Mr Bailey could have pointed that out in a response and gone ahead and answered the question, but you know hey?   Queensland!

Place is overrun with fukwits ...

[ozbob]

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2021/457-2021.pdf

Question on Notice
No. 457
Asked on 21 April 2021

DR M ROBINSON ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS
(HON M BAILEY)

QUESTION:

With reference to the publicly announced 15 minute time saving for rail travel from the Redlands
to the City due to Cross River Rail—

Will the Minister confirm (a) if this projected timeframe stands as correct and (b) the
commencement date for construction of the duplication of the line from Manly to Cleveland to
facilitate the projected time savings?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Oodgeroo for the question.

(a) Cross River Rail (CRR) will transform the way we travel to, through and from Brisbane in
the future. Multiple major transport investments in South East Queensland (SEQ), including
ongoing road and bus improvements across the Redlands region, will improve the
connectivity of our network for passenger transport users.

The Cross River Rail Delivery Authority, Department of Transport and Main Roads,
Queensland Rail and other experts, are planning the seamless integration of new services
into the SEQ rail network once Cross River Rail becomes operational. This work includes
consideration of wider rail network strategies, and other factors like the impact on patronage
due to COVID-19.

Queenslanders can have full confidence that planning to determine the exact configuration
and timing of services will be completed well ahead of Cross River Rail's opening.
There are a number of ways travel time savings and other travel benefits will be generated
for Redlands public transport passengers with the introduction of CRR. CRR will create new
high-capacity stations in convenient city centre locations, enable better interchanges
between bus and rail services, and lead to shorter journeys door-to-door, especially for
commuters travelling to the heart of the Brisbane central business district (CBD) and to
Woolloongabba.

It is clear that commuters will notice great benefits from the first CBD train station built in
more than 120 years. The new underground Albert Street station will dramatically improve
connectivity to the southern part of the CBD from its main entrance.

For example, a commuter wanting to travel to Queens Wharf Precinct, walking from Roma
street, would typically take 17 minutes. From the new Albert Street station, this walk would
take just five minutes. This is a 12-minute saving in walking time.

There will be more direct public transport to more locations and greater capacity for future
service increases. More services, via the new CRR alignment, will mean less congestion
on the existing rail lines through the city and inner southern area.

The Palaszczuk Government consistently backed commuters with more train services than
ever before with another 105 weekly services—or 58,000 seats—added to the network to
increase social distancing during COVID-19.

CRR would not be happening if the LNP was in office. In addition, even as recently as last
year, the LNP have stated its support for the New Dutton Station option, which would have
meant Cleveland line commuters facing a nine-minute walk to interchange to access CRR
stations.

In contrast, Cleveland line commuters on the current CRR project route can seamlessly
change at Boggo Road for new tunnel services for the first time to the Gabba and Albert
Street and Ekka stations.

Economies worldwide are enduring the harshest economic downturn in generations, and
Queensland's economy is not immune. We know that every job counts more than ever right
now. The Palaszczuk Government will always back Queenslanders and jobs, especially as
we rebound from a global pandemic.

Thousands of construction workers on CRR would have been robbed of their jobs if this
project did not go ahead. I note that no progress was made on duplication of the Cleveland
line by the 2012–15 LNP Newman Government, of which the Member for Oodgeroo was a
part.

(b) The Palaszczuk Government remains committed to delivering efficient and reliable rail
connections for the residents of eastern Brisbane and Redland City along the Cleveland
line. This commitment is reflected in the recommendations and actions of ShapingSEQ and
the recently released South East Queensland Regional Transport Plans. Single track and
slow curved tracks limit how many services the Cleveland line can currently run. The extra
capacity on the network enabled by CRR will make other rail network growth projects like
the Manly to Cleveland line duplication more viable.

TMR is currently undertaking planning for the Cleveland line, which includes the Manly to
Cleveland section. This planning will result in a better understanding of the possible
reliability and travel time improvements to identify the most suitable solutions to address
and enhance rail services on the line.

Commencement of any construction would occur following the completion of planning and
identification of the most suitable solution to improve reliability and travel time on the
Cleveland line, in line with demand and other network priorities.

The Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program 2020–21 to 2023–24 represents a
record investment in road and transport infrastructure for the fifth year in a row, with $26.9 billion
in works committed over the next four years, supporting an average of approximately 23,600
direct jobs over the life of the program. Of this, $120.2 million is committed across the Redlands
City area.

With the pandemic impacting Queensland businesses and communities, significant road
upgrades will be delivered to help stimulate the economy as part of Unite and Recover:
Queensland's Economic Recovery Plan. These upgrades provide immediate economic record
benefits, support more jobs and deliver ongoing benefits of vital infrastructure for years to come.

[ozbob]

" ... The Cross River Rail Delivery Authority, Department of Transport and Main Roads,
Queensland Rail and other experts, are planning the seamless integration of new services
into the SEQ rail network once Cross River Rail becomes operational.  ... "

^ this what worries me.  I don't think they really have  a clue ...

Cannot even publish simple operational network plans. We have been burned before by these clowns

Pretty stations are nice but it is how the network will operate is the real game.

Queenslander!  On the way to yet another monumental half baked cluster-fuk!

Lurkers, tell your leaders to publish the rail network plans.  Then we might have some confidence, until then ...

[Cazza]

"Queenslanders can have full confidence that planning to determine the exact configuration
and timing of services will be completed well ahead of Cross River Rail's opening.

Bailey obviously hears us loud and clear but still treats us as fools... It's pretty insulting actually as we are literally giving them free, well informed, factual information.

[ozbob]

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/92161

Cross River Rail tunnel has now pushed under the Brisbane River

Published Today at 07:00 AM23rd May 2021

JOINT STATEMENT

Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Mark Bailey

The first of the two giant Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) excavating Brisbane's Cross River Rail's twin tunnels has now carved its way beneath the river, and is moving northwards under the CBD

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the successful under river crossing by TBM Else is a major milestone for this transformational project.

"Else was now tunnelling its way towards the new Albert Street station, while TBM Merle was making her own crossing to ensure the twin tunnels break through to Roma Street, then onto the Normanby portal by the end of the year.

"Not only is this project streamlining our public transport network, it is also a vital part of our economic recovery.

"Everything about Cross River Rail is big," Ms Palaszczuk said.

'When so many work sites around Australia shut down last year because of the coronavirus threat the tunnel project fired up.

"It is putting more than $4 million a day into the economy and more than 2400 people have worked on the project since it started."

"When trains start running to parts of the inner city in 2025, more than 7700 workers, including 450 trainees and apprentices can boast they had a hand in building the project which will re-define peoples journeys to parts of the inner city."

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said Cross River Rail will change the way we travel to, from and through Brisbane in the future, and it is creating 7, 700 jobs for Queensland.

"While progress above ground around the surface of the 2-hectare old Brisbane Transit Centre site at Roma Street is impressive the tunnelling work out of sight and underground is breathtaking.

"The big boring machines are tunnelling through up to 30 metres of hard rock a day with a crew of up to 15 people working on them at any one time.

"The TBMs are lining the tunnel walls as they go with 25,000 big precast concrete segments, weighing 4.2 tonnes each," Mr Bailey said.

"The big project is a key component of the Palaszczuk Government's $56 billion dollar infrastructure guarantee over the next four years to drive Queensland's economic recovery from Covid-19."

This adds to the $1 billion Gympie Bypass, the $514 million Bruce Highway upgrade south of Townsville, the $480 million Bruce Highway upgrade south of Cairns, the $194 million Bruce Highway upgrade north of Rockhampton, and the $150 million Walkerston Bypass near Mackay.

Member for McConnel, Grace Grace said the project is delivering a huge economic boost to Queensland.

"Cross River Rail is injecting about $4.1 million into the economy every day, with more than 90 per cent of this flowing directly into Queensland businesses, at a time when they need it the most."

Ms Grace said the exciting milestone of crossing under the river was also one of the most technically challenging parts for crews.

"As you could imagine, burrowing under the Brisbane River with two 1350-tonne mega machines has required extensive planning," she said.

"Crews undertake probe drilling in front of the TBMs to determine the type of geology they will pass through, while special systems on the machines and the design of the tunnels themselves ensure this new river crossing will be watertight."

Mr Bailey said the mega machines would continue below the Albert Street site before breaking through at Roma Street later in the year and then finally emerging at the project's northern portal near Normanby by the end of the year.

"The sheer scale of work happening on this transformational project both on and below the surface means great benefits for the state now and into the future," he said.

To track the progress of Cross River Rail's TBMs and roadheaders, visit the project's website.

Cross River Rail tunnelling fast facts:

Cross River Rail's twin tunnels will be the first rail crossing for the Brisbane River since the Merivale Bridge opened in 1978;

The two TBMs are named in honour of two ground-breaking Queensland women – trailblazing engineer Else Shepherd AM and pioneering feminist Merle Thornton AM;

Each TBM weighs 1350 tonnes and is 165 metres long;

A crew of up to 15 people will work in a TBM at any one time;

TBMs work at a rate of 20 to 30 metres per day;

TBMs excavate the bulk (about 3.5km) of Cross River Rail's 5.9km of twin tunnels, with the rest excavated by road headers;

The TBMs will install 25,000 concrete segments weighing 4.2 tonnes each along the tunnel walls as they go;

At their deepest points, the tunnels will be 58 metres below the surface at Kangaroo Point, and 42 metres below the Brisbane River;

Each TBM is fully equipped with crew facilities, offices and toilets;

The TBMs will generate 315,000 cubic metres of spoil as they make way for the twin Cross River Rail tunnels.

ENDS

[ozbob]

" ... Cross River Rail will change the way we travel ... "  <

[Stillwater]

The Minister is probably correct in saying that: "Queenslanders can have full confidence that planning to determine the exact configuration and timing of services will be completed well ahead of Cross River Rail's opening." The planning will be done eventually, just not now it would seem (because they can't tell us).   It probably means that a sheepish delegation from TMR/QR will book an appointment with the (then) minister about nine to 12 months out from the tunnel completion to inform him/her 'we stuffed up'. Internal reviews will follow, scapegoats found and pundits will blame everything on Jackie Trad (after all, she's gone, so blaming her would vent the public anger). Band-Aid solutions will be ordered.

As to the comment: "This big project is a key component of the Palaszczuk Government's $56 billion dollar infrastructure guarantee over the next four years to drive Queensland's economic recovery from Covid-19. This adds to the $1 billion Gympie Bypass, the $514 million Bruce Highway upgrade south of Townsville, the $480 million Bruce Highway upgrade south of Cairns, the $194 million Bruce Highway upgrade north of Rockhampton, and the $150 million Walkerston Bypass near Mackay."

What portion of those project costs are being met by the Federal Government? Of those five projects, the vast bulk of costs are being met by the Commonwealth, of the order of up to 80 per cent. The Palaszczuk Government's contribution to 'its' $56 billion infrastructure program is far smaller -- more hype. And taxpayers want to know they are getting value for money. Is that the case with CRR?

[ozbob]

The network configuration must be known to build the project.

Exact frequencies, timetables etc. obviously need to be done down the track. 

Anyway, we have provided the public with the likely overview ...  CRRDA and Government don't want to share the good news ...

#happytohelp

====



Sector 1
Rosewood <> BNE Airport
Springfield Central <> Shorncliffe
Roma St <> Doomben

Sector 2
Cleveland <> Ferny Grove

Sector 3
Varsity Lakes <> Gympie North
Beenleigh <> Kippa-Ring

https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2034.msg246767#msg246767

Note: The suggested pairings are fluid in the sense that in peak trains could connect with lines the same sector of course, but the pairs would be the majority of workings. Pairings don't indicate that all services meet those pairs end to end.
They don't now, and wouldn't in 2025.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/MarkBaileyMP/status/1396283756789465088

[BrizCommuter]

Brizcommuter: Cross River Rail - Not "More Trains, More Often".
https://brizcommuter.blogspot.com/2021/05/cross-river-rail-not-more-trains-more.html

[#Metro]

Great post Brizcommuter.

[ozbob]

Brizcommuter: Cross River Rail - Not "More Trains, More Often".
https://brizcommuter.blogspot.com/2021/05/cross-river-rail-not-more-trains-more.html

Thanks.  Sent to all outlets.

Cross River Rail - Not "More Trains, More Often"

https://brizcommuter.blogspot.com/2021/05/cross-river-rail-not-more-trains-more.html

Cross River Rail's (CCR) advertising slogan "More Trains, More Often" was recently replaced with
"Transforming the way we travel". This is no surprise to BrizCommuter and other rail experts who have questioned CRR's ability to significantly increase trains services throughout SE Queensland in its current form, since project iterations and budget cuts removed critical infrastructure required to maximise the effectiveness of CRR.

Unlike new train tunnels in London, Auckland, Sydney, and Melbourne, where the proposed peak train services frequencies (in trains per hour per direction - tph) are publicly available, this information is unavailable for Cross River Rail. Whilst such a map was available in the Cross River Rail business case, changes to the track layouts at Mayne (near Bowen Hills) mean that the diagram is now out of date, with line pairings and expected train service frequencies no longer possible.

As the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority is keeping things hidden from the public, rail enthusiasts have had to step in to create a chart of expected line pairings are shown on the base image, helpfully created by Rail Back on Track member timh. BrizCommuter's expected line pairings, and maximum possible 2025 am peak inbound frequencies (based on currently funded or expected infrastructure) are as follows:

    Sunshine Coast/Caboolture (12tph) & Redcliffe (12tph) to/from Gold Coast (12tph) & Beenleigh (6tph) (plus provision for future Salisbury-Beaudesert Line 6tph) via CRR.

    Shorncliffe/Northgate (8tph) & Airport (4tph) & Doomben (2tph) to/from Ipswich/Rosewood (12tph) & Springfield (12tph) via Mains Tracks.

    Ferny Grove (8tph) to/from Cleveland (8tph) via Suburban Tracks - yep, that's 16tph of unused track capacity!

It is quite likely that due to insufficient trains, train crew, funding, and lack of political willpower that some of these frequencies may not be possible in 2025.

So why isn't Cross River Rail able to offer "More Trains, More Often"?

    No additional Northside tracks - as there are no addition tracks on Brisbane's Northside due to budget cuts, it is now a case of shifting which trains go where. There may be 20% increases to frequency on the Caboolture and Redcliffe Lines, but this due to new ETCS signalling, and not CRR.

    Restrictive track layouts at Mayne - changes to the track layouts at Mayne to save money, will force all Caboolture and Redcliffe services through CRR, and will leave the Suburban tracks idling with just 8tph through the city (down from 22tph).

    Salisbury to Dutton Park 3 track limitations - the Achilles heel of Cross River Rail, means that up to 24tph contra-peak services will have to fit on one track, this will slow down contra-peak express services, and also prevents contra-peak services to/from the Gold Coast/Beenleigh Line (and eventually Salisbury-Beaudesert Line) corridor travelling via South Bank (in normal operation).

    Capacity required for Salisbury to Beaudesert Line - this proposed line will require at least 6tph train paths in the peak. Due to the Salisbury to Dutton Park 3 track limitation, this will eat into the capacity available for the Gold Coast/Beenleigh Lines.

    Beenleigh Line track capacity limitations - whilst the proposed 3rd track at Loganlea may allow for a significant increase in Gold Coast Line services, it may also curtail the Beenleigh Line to Loganlea. This means that the Gold Coast Line may need 2 tiers of services - express and semi-express, and possibly additional turnback capacity. Gold Coast Line commuters need to be informed as to what will happen to their train services!

    Cleveland Line single track - one of the benefits of CRR was that it would allow for significant increases to train services on the Cleveland Line. However, this is only possible if there is a partial or full duplication, and/or additional turnback capacity at Manly or Lota. As this is not funded, the Cleveland Line is likely to keep its infrequent and unreliable form for many years after CRR opens.

    Less trains via South Bank - if the Cleveland Line is not duplicated, and due to all Gold Coast/Beenleigh services running via CRR, then there is likely to be a decrease in train services running through South Bank section (Roma Street to Park Road) which serves many businesses, hotels, hospitals, and tertiary education facilities.

    Un-electrified 4th track between Corinda and Darra - whilst this doesn't directly affect CRR train services, service frequency increases on the Ipswich and Springfield Line have been included in the CRR business case. These service increases would be due to ETCS and not CRR. Unfortunately the lack of 4th electrified track between Corinda and Darra, and lack of 4th platform at Oxley may throw a spanner in the works of these proposed service increases.

    Sufficient trains and crew - to increase train services for CRR, you need more trains and more train crew. The new trains (NNGRs?) have not been ordered, and it takes many years to grow train crew staffing. BrizCommuter is very concerned!

[ozbob]

Guest post FB RBoT

[ozbob]

... "Everything about Cross River Rail is big," Ms Palaszczuk said. ...*

* https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/92161



====

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1396484573836431363

[ozbob]

Good Morning Lurkers

About time hey?  Have a nice week ... you have had plenty of opportunity to be transparent and honest. 

So, as it will be   

Uh ... oh ...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1396534388440002560

[#Metro]

What's the story with the Corinda-Darra unelectrified fourth track. Surely that would be a quick and easy fix - it's mostly adding poles and wires.

What would fixing this do?

[ozbob]

I have just been to the display at Oxley railway station this morning (28 May 2008) for the Corinda to Darra upgrades.

It is OFFICIAL the 4th line is going to be built!! YAY!!!!   

BUT it would appear that immediate electrification of the 4th line is not yet guaranteed. There will be no additional platform at Oxley for
the 4th line.

I know that many are endeavouring to see if the funds can be found to electrify the 4th line from the outset. It would make a lot more sense and be much more cost effective whilst everything else is being done!

Originally they were not going to build the 4th line.  It got added late into the project scope due to efforts of the Chief Engineer at Trackstar.    What you have is an electrified quad track (bi-directional) through to Corinda, then 3 tracks electrified to Darra East (Pannard St) and then electrified quad through to Darra West.  It is a farce!  Trains crossing over at Pannard because of the dumb arrangement.  More wheel wear, points wear etc. 

A 4th platform at Oxley to service the UP sub would allow seamless running of the all stations trains on the subs and express services on the  mains.  Much more functional and capacity proofing.

The portals are in place. Some  point work would be needed at Corinda, the platform at Oxley (plans were drawn up for it) and OLE completed.

This was the half baked project leader!!   

This was the original concept.

An information leaflet (Newsletter Corinda to Darra Upgrade)  was in my mail box when I got home tonight.

This is the layout of the works between Corinda and Darra.
From the Newsletter No 1 May 2008

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/CrossRiverRail/status/1396639598286094340

[MTPCo]

^ as far as I am aware* this is the first time that CRRDA has used any of its social media channels to notify the public of the consultation aspects of any of the RfPCs.

*I have gone back through the historic feeds but not exhaustively.

[ozbob]

^

I did a twitter search.  Last ones were in June 2019. Only three May 2019 (1) and June 2019 (2).

E.g.

https://twitter.com/CrossRiverRail/status/1137872032576757760

[ozbob]

Has been well demonstrated Cross River Rail sales spiel has been bullsh%t basically.

The wider network and rollingstock deficiencies point to the abject failure that the rail division of DTMR has been now for some time.
(they were behind the half baked UP sub Corinda - Darra failure too).

It is essential to get rail out of this poorly performing outfit - roads biased organisation that does  little to actively promote rail.

I am tired of the bumbling incompetence.  Going to call it as it is from here.

Tell that to your bumbling masters lurkers ...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1396387263437709318

https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1396387545852772352

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/UnionProudCWood/status/1396669757617623041

^ Craig is on the ball.   

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> How Cross River Rail is building twin tunnels under the Brisbane River $

It's the engineering miracle happening right under our feet.

Thousands of concrete segments are being meticulously installed inside the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail tunnel as it makes its way under the Brisbane River.

The concrete segments, produced out of the Wagners Precast facility at Wacol, are loaded on to two massive tunnel boring machines (TBMs) and then configured into rings to line the tunnel wall as the machines move through. ...

It is a network operational flop!

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1397250099827265536

[ozbob]

Latest is that the Government is hiding behind " Cabinet in Confidence " and will not detail the rail network plan.

They really are hopeless hey?  Also a major major embarrassment.

No matter we have our own ...

[ozbob]

I am thinking of forming our own ' Citizens Inquiry into Operational Deficiencies with CRR '.

Stop laughing Lurkers ...

Let's go back a number of years.  We alerted the public to the fact that the NGR trains were deficient from around 2014.  We stepped up our attempts to get that project ' back on track ' from around 2015.  We even requested the QLD Auditor General look at the project, but they declined.  Had they acted on our request at that time many hundreds of millions of $ perhaps could have been saved.  Money that could have been used to properly duplicate the Sunshine Coast line through to Landsborough North for example.  I did a press conference at Goodna railway station in 2015 with three television news setups pointing out the problems.  YOU IGNORED US!  Not unlike the situation with the clearly botched operational planning for Cross River Rail.  So when the going gets tough, we get going HARD, HARDER AND HARDER.

So we kicked off our own NGR Public Inquiry in 2018 http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=13112.0  You laughed. But with the help particularly of former Premier Campbell Newman we were able to drive the Commission of inquiry into New Generation Rollingstock Trains https://www.traininquiryngr.qld.gov.au led by his Honour Retired District Court Judge Michael Forde.  I appeared before his Honour as part of this Inquiry.

I would suggest you take us and our proposal for a Public Inquiry into the Operational Deficiencies with CRR seriously. We have pieced together much information that clearly indicates you need to do a lot better.  We don't have a problem generally with the tunnel or stations as such.  It is the lack of transparency with the operational aspects and clearly botched operational planning that is our concern.

No threats, just a promise. We will attempt to save this project for future Queensland.

====

There are no frontiers ...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1397570111783899142

[ozbob]

Citizens Inquiry into Operational Deficiencies with CRR

https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?board=103.0

[Stillwater]

^ We've gone back to the days of Joh Bjelke-Petersen when whole trolley loads of documents would be wheeled into Cabinet and voted upon as being 'Cabinet-In-Confidence' ... and wheeled back out again. The only stuff that should be confidential is sensitive commercial prices, etc ... the operational plan doesn't fall into that category.

[#Metro]

This is ridiculous, it's easier to figure out what's in Coca Cola and the Colonel's KFC secret spices than CRR line capacities. 

[ozbob]

^ We've gone back to the days of Joh Bjelke-Petersen when whole trolley loads of documents would be wheeled into Cabinet and voted upon as being 'Cabinet-In-Confidence' ... and wheeled back out again. The only stuff that should be confidential is sensitive commercial prices, etc ... the operational plan doesn't fall into that category.

Exactly.  The rail service plans exist they are contained in the ConOps.  They could be released without any prejudice to CIC or security/safety issues as they claim.  Utter BS trotted out by Government. Other jurisdictions like to keep their citizens properly informed, not here in banana-land. 

Campbell Newman said to me once " Robert, you lot are the effective ' opposition '  when it comes to public transport matters ".  What a sad indictment on the lack of focus and drive of the opposition hey?  This fiasco with Cross River Rail should be fertile ground for the Opposition, but they seem to be either unable or lack the competence and confidence to point out the circus it is.

The Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk used to be my local member years back.  And she was Transport Minister for a while.  I found her approachable and had meetings with her in that role.  She was very responsive. I rang her directly one Sunday morning when I found passengers waiting for trains on the platform at Goodna railway station during a track closure.  She acted. Lately I think the spin army and ' staffer firewall ' is stopping a lot things getting through.

So, the wheels are turning.  Stay focussed Lurkers , you will need to be ...