1 Apr 2009: SEQ: Brisbane Inner City Rail Upgrade needed urgently

[ozbob]

Media Release 1st April 2009

SEQ:  Brisbane Inner City Rail Upgrade needed urgently

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport users has said that there is need for an acceleration of the proposed inner city rail upgrade to ensure an efficient rail network.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The Inner City Rail Capacity Study was listed in the initial Queensland submission to the national infrastructure audit. It is listed as an 'urgently needed urban congestion project'. The reason it is an 'urgently needed urban congestion project' is that the 4 tracks that currently carry QR Citytrain services through the CBD axis are nearing their capacity. Currently the suburban and main tracks carry up to 19 and 13 trains per hour (tph). Theoretically around 6 more tph could be added on each track. However the reality of the current infrastructure constraints makes this increase impossible to operate."

"Even with the inner city tracks running at full capacity, the increasing patronage on QR Citytrain will mean that the existing inner city tracks will soon be insufficient for the required number of train services. As the patronage increases the system will slow down effectively reducing capacity due to extended station dwell times."

"New inner city rail lines will need to be built across under the city, linking with the existing rail network at each end. The first new line should be built from Dutton Park to Exhibition - Bowen Hills to take pressure off the services that currently cross the Merivale Bridge - currently the busiest section of the QR Citytrain network."

"The construction of the Dutton Park - Exhibition line connection will not only provide relief for cross river and CBD rail operations but would also relieve the demands on the road network for destinations such as the Gabba, Gardens Point/Parliament House area of the city and Royal Brisbane Hospital/Exhibition."

"An essential and pivotal part of the concept if it is to be effective is a rail to rail interchange between the new line and the existing rail system at Central."

"Examples of other current infrastructure constraints include the single track sections on the Cleveland and Ferny Grove Lines. Infrastructure projects are urgently required to remove these constraints to allow the existing inner city tracks to be used at their maximum."

"Queensland, we need to get cracking or we will be a failed transport state!"

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org