Planned closures - discussion

[ozbob]

Parramatta has a train every 10 minutes?  Used to until the mid-2000s service cuts.

Your sure about that?

CityRail --> here!

[somebody]

From 11:06am ex-Parramatta it drops back to 15 minutes.  Not counting hourly Blue Mountains line trains (because they don't count).

I don't know why either.

[ozbob]

It's CityRail!   

Guess the point the correspondent is making is that the frequency out of Ipswich is poor ...

[Cam]

Guess the point the correspondent is making is that the frequency out of Ipswich is poor ...

I think that just about everyone agrees on that. Will the Ipswich mayor complain about it publicly now Queensland has an LNP Government or is infrequent public transport to/from Ipswich only a minor issue to him?

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times click here!

Show attendance breaks record

Show attendance breaks record

Geoff Egan | 21st May 2012 5:25 AM

MORE than 20,000 people made their way through the gates to the Ipswich Show, breaking the record attendance set last year.

The weekend saw the biggest Ipswich Show ever with more rides, more pavilion and ring entries, more entertainment and more patrons than ever before.

The huge turnout comes despite rail transport being shut down for the weekend by Queensland Rail.

Ipswich Show Society president Marcia Cruickshank said the show had been a great success.

"The whole event has been really, really good," she said.

"Our figures are just that bit higher than last year, which we expected because we put more on this year than before.

"We've had easily 20,000 and we might even have a bit more than that.

"If the rail lines were running, we probably would have had even more."

While record crowds made their way to the show on Friday and Saturday, Mrs Cruickshank said they were expecting to crack the record throughout the day on Sunday.

"We've still got some great entertainment on today," she said.

"It's been a real family fun day and we've had a great crowd.

"There are the Alvin and Chipmunks shows for the kids which have been really popular."

The demolition derby, camel races and fireworks had been hugely popular, drawing people to the show each night.

[Fares_Fair]

Caboolture Herald Tweet
6:14am 21 May 2012

Planned closure from Northgate - Caboolture from 10pm tonight.

[Fares_Fair]

Caboolture Herald Tweet
6:14am 21 May 2012

Planned closure from Northgate - Caboolture from 10pm tonight.

This closure to allow for construction work on the new overpass at Narangba Station. 

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times 23rd May 2012 pages 1 and 14

QR pledges trains will run for Cup



Trains on track for our big race

[ozbob]

Feedback received, thanks:

Regarding the regular track closures&  getting advance notice of when the Ipswich to Corinda part of the line is closed on weekends, we have had problems for the last 2 years or more in planning holidays. This is an aspect which has not been mentioned in the newspapers. As we usually book at least 2 months in advance (for cheaper air fares etc) we have found that trying to find out in advance when the line is going to be closed on a weekend is impossible! We have tried the internet, tried phoning various sections of QR/Translink - this latest time even our local station-master, who was issuing our tilt-train tickets, could get nothing out of them! So, to be sure, we can never leave on a weekend even tho' we would prefer to do so. If indeed the track work schedule is set out months in advance why can't the public be privy to this information too?

=================

Published Queensland Times 25th May 2012 page 9

Publicise closures

[ozbob]

http://www.scottemerson.com.au/media-releases/passenger-first-approach-to-track-maintenance.html

Passenger-first approach to track maintenance

Thursday, 31 May 2012 11:34

A list of maintenance track closures of up to 18 months will end the public transport uncertainty for major event organisers.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Scott Emerson said within the month of June Queensland Rail will publish a long-term forward plan of maintenance track closures for football fans, music lovers or show goers.

"Queensland Rail will consult with event organisers to ensure they can plan their events around track closures well in advance," Mr Emerson said.

"If changes to scheduling of closures are necessary, this can be done well before there is any cost to taxpayers.

"I want a passenger-friendly and community-focused approach that was sadly lacking under former Transport Minister and current Leader of the Opposition Annastacia Palaszczuk."

Mr Emerson said the long-term list of maintenance closures was the result of a string of track closures scheduled under Labor that clashed with important events, including this month's Ipswich Show.

"Under Labor, work was scheduled on the Ipswich line between Corinda to Rosewood from August 4 to 5, clashing yet again with the V8 Supercars at Willowbank," Mr Emerson said

"Despite the public outrage we saw two years ago when the Labor Government did exactly the same thing, you would think that they would have learnt their lesson.

"I have asked Queensland Rail for the closure on the Ipswich line to be rescheduled to a more appropriate time.

"Contrast this with the Leader of the Opposition who was happy to leave race fans stuck in pit lane.

"Other scheduled closures between Toombul and Gympie North, and Toombul and Shorncliffe are the same weekend as the Caboolture Show this year, June 9 to 11.

"The cost of cancelling the closures on the Caboolture and Shorncliffe lines at this late stage would be in excess of $3 million.

"When we're heading towards $85 billion in debt and having to pay $100 million in interest each week that is a cost we can't afford.

"Queensland Rail has met with the Caboolture Show Society Chairman Max Herschell, and is working with the Society and TransLink to ensure there are adequate bus services to the showground."

Sent to all outlets:

19th May 2012

Re: Ipswich show is on this weekend, and of course a track closure

Greetings,

The upset with the closure of the railway line from Corinda to Rosewood this weekend and clashing with the Ipswich Show is easily avoided.

As pointed out earlier in the week if an advance list of planned track closures was made available publicly at least six months ahead, this would help identify any significant issues ahead of time and perhaps allow for an alternative date for clashing event or track closure.

An example of advanced notice of track closures is here  http://www.cityrail.info/service_updates/trackwork/trackwork_calendar.pdf   Sydney's CityRail

It is time that this issue was put to bed.  We have been highlighting the issue and solutions for 5 years now.  The community is tired of being ignored and treated poorly.

It is not rocket science.

Best wishes

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

Sent to all outlets:

16th May 2012

Re: Ipswich show is on this weekend, and of course a track closure

Greetings,

How about publishing track closures in advance.  The much maligned CityRail network in Sydney at least puts up a decent notification of upcoming track closures.

E.g. --> http://www.cityrail.info/service_updates/trackwork/trackwork_calendar.pdf

Organisations that claim to be customer focussed really need to be customer focussed.

This is just another example of the lack of timely and transparent information made publicly available in Queensland.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

16 May 2012

Ipswich show is on this weekend, and of course a track closure

Greetings,

The Ipswich show is on this coming weekend
THE IPSWICH SHOW 18th, 19th, & 20th May 2012  http://ipswichshow.com.au/

And of course there is a track closure from Corinda to Rosewood, to just rub it in further, and make it difficult for punters to get to and from Ipswich.

Track closure --> http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1333498768

Punters were promised that track closures would be infrequent and timed not to clash with significant community events.  Fat chance hey?

This is track closure  number 13 or 14 in 16 months or so.

Hopeless!

Best wishes
Robert

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

[Fares_Fair]

This is a great response to the concerns raised.
Up to 18 months notice, to be issued as of next month.

Unfortunately too late for the Caboolture Show, but a good move none the less.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Its unfortunate that it clashes with the show but that shutdown on the NCL needs to happen considering the amount of work that has already been postponed/delayed to fit into it.

[petey3801]

Just found on Translink website that a trackwork calander is now available:
http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/RailServices/City/Pages/Planninganevent.aspx

[Fares_Fair]

Just found on Translink website that a trackwork calander is now available:
http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/RailServices/City/Pages/Planninganevent.aspx

Good work, well done Queensland Rail   

[Mozz]

Great to see it up there in real life finally.

Not so great to see a handful of months in the next couple of years without a closure on the Ipswich line when it had previously been indicated that 3-4 closures a year would be the situation.

[somebody]

Home Travel information Service updates Albion to Milton and South Brisbane track closure
Albion to Milton and South Brisbane track closure
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Last updated: 9.30am Tuesday 24 July 2012

From 10pm to last train on Wednesday 1 August, tracks will be closed from Albion to Milton and South Brisbane.

Be sure to plan your journey in advance and allow for extra travel time due to track works (up to 60 minutes).

The first train services to be affected by this closure are:
Beenleigh line

    8.59pm service departing Beenleigh at 8.59pm will terminate at South Brisbane at 9.54pm

Ferny Grove line

    9.28pm service departing Ferny Grove at 9.28pm will terminate at Bowen Hills at 9.53pm

Ipswich line

    9.07pm service departing Ipswich at 9.07pm will operate express from Milton to Albion

Caboolture line

    8.52pm service departing Caboolture at 8.52pm will operate express Albion to Milton

Richlands line

    9.48pm inbound service departing Richlands will terminate at Milton at 10.15pm.  Buses will replace 10.07pm outbound service from Bowen Hills to connect with train services at Milton

Cleveland line

    9.22pm inbound service departing Cleveland will terminate at South Brisbane at 10.19pm.  Buses will replace the 10.37pm outbound service from Bowen Hills to connect with train services at South Brisbane

Shorncliffe line

    9.37pm inbound service departing Shorncliffe will terminate at Albion at 10.03pm. Buses will replace the 10.19pm service from Roma Street to connect with services at Albion

Airport line

    9.29pm service departing Domestic Airport will terminate at Albion at 9.42pm. 9.59pm service departing Domestic Airport will operate express from Albion to South Brisbane, then as scheduled to Varsity Lakes

Gold Coast line

    8.48pm service departing Varsity Lakes will terminate at South Brisbane at 10.01pm. Buses will replace the 11.18pm service from Bowen Hills to connect with train services at South Brisbane

Sunshine Coast line

    8.13pm service departing Nambour will terminate at Albion at 9.52pm.  11pm outbound service from Roma Street will be replaced by buses to Nambour

Services will return to normal on Thursday 2 August.

Bus replacement services

Buses will replace trains in both directions between Albion to Milton and South Brisbane

Ipswich/Rosewood line

Trains will operate between Ipswich/Rosewood and Milton, running express between Milton and Albion. Buses will operate for customers wanting stations between Milton and Albion.

Richlands line

Trains will operate between Richlands and Milton.  Buses will operate between Milton and Bowen Hills.

Beenleigh/Gold Coast lines

Trains will operate between Beenleigh/Varsity Lakes and South Brisbane. Buses will replace trains from South Brisbane to city stations.

Cleveland line

Trains will operate between Cleveland and South Brisbane. Buses will replace trains between South Brisbane and city stations.

Airport line

Trains will operate between the Domestic Airport and Albion. Buses will replace trains between Albion and Roma Street.

Ferny Grove line

Trains will operate between Ferny Grove and Bowen Hills stations. Buses will replace trains between Bowen Hills and city stations.

Shorncliffe line

Trains will operate between Shorncliffe and Albion stations. Buses will replace trains between Albion and city stations.

Caboolture/Sunshine Coast line

Trains will operate between Caboolture/Nambour and Milton. Buses will replace for customers wanting stations between Albion and Milton.
Affected stations

    Albion
    Bowen Hills
    Fortitude Valley
    Central
    Roma Street
    South Brisbane
    Milton.

Improvement works

    overhead preventative power line maintenance.

Need assistance?

If you require assistance please call 3606 5555 or SMS 0428 774 636.

Queensland Rail and TransLink are working together to improve the train network and provide a better service experience for you.

Affected services:

    Beenleigh
    Ferny Grove
    Shorncliffe
    Doomben
    Ipswich/Rosewood
    Caboolture
    Richlands
    Cleveland
    Sunshine Coast
    Gold Coast

http://jp.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/details/1342407489

Is this a first for this sort of closure?

[ozbob]

Vaguely recall something similar a while back.

Will catch more than a few punters, eager to get home ...

Uni semesters are on as well.  Lectures/classes can run through to 9pm, which means for some being stuffed around heading home ...

[HappyTrainGuy]

Nope. Not a first.

[colinw]

The Milton <-> Albion express running of Ips/Cab trains is via Exhibition?

[somebody]

The Milton <-> Albion express running of Ips/Cab trains is via Exhibition?

Probably.  Shorncliffe<->Richlands could happen in the same way.

[Golliwog]

http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/NetworkServices/ConstructionUpgrades/MajorInfrastructure/CurrentProjects/KeperratoFernyGrove/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Temporary road closure - Arbor Street level crossing
15-17 September 2012

Arbor Street, between Samford Road and Conavalla Street, will be closed from 5am Saturday 15 September to 3am Monday 17 September 2012 to complete to complete track work across the level crossing.

Motorists will be detoured via Tramway Street (see map below). Access to the BP service station via Arbor Street will be maintained.

Queensland Rail thanks you for your patience during these works.

Part of the works being undertaken during the track closure next weekend. Also, as I understand it, from around the middle of this week part of the car park at Gaythorne station is to be temporarily closed as they do work to replace the timber pedestrian bridge. Haven't found anything online about this, but there were leaflets put on the windscreens of the cars at Gaythorne.

[Golliwog]

More info on the Gaythorne station pedestrian bridge replacement. Its to be a like for like replacement to replace the deteriorating timber and steel structure. The new bridge will be the same in that it will be stair access only. Not sure how its being setup and if it will allow lifts/ramps to be relatively easily retrofitted on.

The works starting Tuesday evening are to prepare the site for the bridge to be installed in the weekend closure and be open for business Monday morning.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow

Bit odd, no twitter updates from @TransLinkSEQ re track closures this weekend. re http://jp.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/details/1348035347 ...

[ozbob]

Well well ..   

==========

Twitter

12m TransLink SEQ TransLink SEQ ‏@TransLinkSEQ

Track closure between Dutton Park and Cleveland stations from first train Sat 10 Nov to last train Sun 11 Nov. http://tinyurl.com/b9nsw6w

[Cam]

During today's track closure between Redbank and Rosewood there is a railbus service running express from Ipswich to Redbank, another leaving Ipswich and stopping at East Ipswich, Booval, Bundamba and Redbank as well as another leaving Ipswich and stopping Ebbw Vale, Dinmore, Riverview and Redbank. I was aboard the direct service that left Ipswich at about 12.40pm. It arrived at Redbank Station at 12.53pm. The Caboolture train departed just after the bus arrived but before any of the passengers from the railbus made it to the platform.

Surely the Caboolture train could have been delayed a minute or two so that passengers did not have to wait almost thirty minutes for the next train? Why bother having a direct railbus between Ipswich and Redbank if it means a longer wait at Redbank for the next train?

[ozbob]

Very disappointing Cam  ...  they just don't try ...  there would have been a comms centre set up at Redbank I would expect.  How hard is it?

TransLink are organising the buses these days.

An interesting observation is that when there is a closure say Corinda to Rosewood, on a Sunday morning they run extras in the hour gaps, so that a train departs at least every 30 minutes.  This helps punters avoid longish waits for a train departing Corinda.  They never seem to advertise this fact either.

[HappyTrainGuy]

I'm guessing the train was on the workshop side and the rail buses were using the normal bus stop bays? It could have simply been a visability issue of the guard not being able to see the bus/passengers arriving on the other side or it could have been a networks op issue with freight trains still using the line (IIRC freights are still running the Ipswich corridor but electrics can't due to Ipswich works shutting down the overheads). But I'm going to go with the lack of viasbility especially if it was a certain type of EMU.

Edit: Bob, the coms would have been on different channels (local area coms, bus coms, and train crew coms). Highly unlikely train crew had any information due to their coms being trains-control and most coms areas that I've seen during closures are set up where the buses depart from only have local and bus coms.

[ozbob]

Corinda is good example.  They usually set up a comms centre along the concourse, opposite and near the main station office.  Often a train can be held for a minute or so if a bus is just arriving etc.  as a message is simply relayed to the QR station staff who can then hold the train to enable the pax to make it.  It is not QR's issue per se, but a lack of communication at the interchange.  They need to improve that.

[somebody]

An interesting observation is that when there is a closure say Corinda to Rosewood, on a Sunday morning they run extras in the hour gaps, so that a train departs at least every 30 minutes.  This helps punters avoid longish waits for a train departing Corinda.  They never seem to advertise this fact either.

6 Jun 2011 had these extras into the timetable, which makes them not "extras" any more.

[ozbob]

Yes, now it is timetabled, prior too wasn't clear ...  they used to run through to Brunswick Street/Fortitude Valley the extras.

[ozbob]

One of the extras ...

At Corinda



Corinda EMU22 lead unit on the 7.13 Fortitude Valley service (Brunswick St desto)

April 11, 2010

[HappyTrainGuy]

Corinda is good example.  They usually set up a comms centre along the concourse, opposite and near the main station office.  Often a train can be held for a minute or so if a bus is just arriving etc.  as a message is simply relayed to the QR station staff who can then hold the train to enable the pax to make it.  It is not QR's issue per se, but a lack of communication at the interchange.  They need to improve that.

Oh clearly without a doubt there needs to be better communication between them. Even having someone on the platform with the guard giving updates about where the buses are would help. Some stations are better than others. For reference Northgate they set up shop outside the Queensland Clubs building (QR usually stay on the platforms with the bus crews taking over once they leave the station). Dutton Park usually has their tent under the trees across the road from the station. Petrie is tight for space but they are either set up at the station buildings towards the parking building or take up a few parking bays opposite the interchange/zebra crossing.

[Cam]

I'm guessing the train was on the workshop side and the rail buses were using the normal bus stop bays?

Yes, the Ipswich-Redbank direct bus used the bay on the south side of the station. The Ipswich bound buses used the northern side car park.

At 5.29pm yesterday, I saw at least 15 people waiting on the platform for the next Caboolture train - just 6 minutes after the 5.23pm service would likely have departed. I assume that most of these passengers had arrived on a railbus. So it appears that this problem was not an isolated case.

On the way to Ipswich earlier in the day, the bus driver used the radio to alert the waiting bus driver of the Rosewood railbus that there were passengers for Rosewood on board.

[somebody]

If we had the full time express service to Ipswich + 4tph Richlands, holding the train at Redbank would have had impact limited to Redbank, Goodna, Gailes, Wacol and lesser impacts at Darra, Indro, Toowong and Milton.

[Set in train]

SMH today, p.4:

West faces weeks of disruptions despite plans to fix maintenance
Jacob Saulwick
   THOUSANDS of western Sydney commuters and train users will face disruptions next month when RailCorp embarks on a trackwork program that will require trains to be replaced by buses.
   The Transport Minister, Gladys Berejiklian, has pledged to overhaul the way trackwork is performed in Sydney, including fewer weekend closures.
   In the meantime, commuters will face severe disruptions to services between Wednesday, January 2, and Sunday, January 20.
   Over that period, buses will replace all weekday trains between Glenfield and Fairfield on the South Line; between Liverpool and Villawood on the Inner West and Bankstown lines, and on the Cumberland Line that links Campbelltown and Blacktown.
   On weekends during that period , buses will replace trains on the South Line between Macarthur and Granville, on the East Hills line between Macarthur and Kingsgrove, on the Bankstown Line between Liverpool and Villawood, and on the Southern Highlands Line.
   Ms Berejiklian said in November weekend trackwork, long the bane of Sydney train users, would eventually be cut back as she proceeded with an overhaul of the city's train operations.
   Next month's work represents an attempt to catch up on maintenance while weekend trackwork is still the norm. In this instance, RailCorp is even planning weekday work.
   An international rail management expert, Rolf Bergmaier, has said it is rare in European train systems to regularly close lines for weekend trackwork.

Note well: "   An international rail management expert, Rolf Bergmaier, has said it is rare in European train systems to regularly close lines for weekend trackwork."

[ozbob]

Not sure about Perth and Adelaide, but Sydney Melbourne and Brisbane seem to have some real issues with track maintenance.  It never seemed to be the problem it is today in days gone. I cannot recall routine track closures on the VR in the my youth, there may well have been but I just cannot remember them happening like they do today.

Sydney seems to have been forced into a block closure to cope.

[petey3801]

It never seemed to be the problem it is today in days gone.

I think this is what has put us into the mess we're in today. When I first moved up to Brisbane ('05), there were no closures at all for trackwork. Seems like the network was just run on minimal maintenance and slowly got into a state of almost disrepair. After a while, the lack of trackwork starts to pile up and we start getting the constant failures etc. that we see today.

I cannot recall routine track closures on the VR in the my youth

This could be due to much less strict safety practices compared to now, where you need to wade through 5 tons of paperwork before even setting your eye on the track!

[ozbob]

Yep, I hear you Petey ...

Lot more work was done even when trains were running, something not done in the same way today.  Although a number of months ago, at Goodna on the down side there was track repairs undertaken (down line) even though the line still in service.  Hadn't seen that for a while ..

Various historical tales around of track being joined up just before the next train was due ... many close calls ...

[ozbob]

Some catch up closures will be occurring during  next week ..

Track closure due to flood recovery works

- Roma Street to Albion and Milton

Queensland Rail continues to repair and inspect rail lines and infrastructure across the state, following the effects of Cyclone Oswald. To accomodate recovery works at Fortitude Valley, tracks will be closed between Roma Street to Albion and Mitchelton according to the following details:

Dates: Monday 11 February to Thursday 14 Feburary
Time: Each night from 10.00pm to the last train service
Works include: Overhead wires and crossover repairs at Fortitude Valley, following damage caused by falling scaffolding.

- Redbank to Rosewood track closure

Due to the severe weather conditions as a result of Cyclone Oswald, essential track replacement works on the Ipswich line were unable to be completed during the Corinda to Rosewood track closure (25-28 January). These essential works must be completed to avoid lengthy delays to the overall track replacement program at Ipswich.

Dates: Tuesday 12 February to Thursday 14 February
Time: Each night from 8.00pm to the last train service
Works include: Essential track replacement and overhead signal modifications at Ipswich

During these times, buses will replace trains in both directions. Services will return to normal after the above stated times.Be sure to plan your jour ney in advance and allow for extra travel time due to track works (up to 60 mintues).

[Fares_Fair]

I reckon that things are just starting to improve, as borne out by my Total Time Lost statistics thus far.
Albeit, they are a snapshot of just my services.

December 2012 and January 2013 were ranked 18th and 13th respectively.
They were the least time lost out of the previous 18 months.

Further all my services have had working amenities since Thursday 17 January, 2013.
The Ministerial direction was made as of Monday 21 January, 2013.

Only exception to this was Wednesday 30 January, 2013 when an EMU train (no amenities) was used in the midst of the recent flood crisis.
We let that one go through to the keeper... given the difficult circumstances.