Keperra to Ferny Grove Rail Upgrade

[somebody]

As Ferny Grove is not a depot station with avaliable crew they are extra crew which have to be sourced from and returned to the nearest depot, Mayne/Bowen Hills on completion of their shift so it becomes additional crews for the additional services plus two additional crews, one for each peak because of the spread of hours.

I does cost, but it isn't a big deal.

One possible solution is pretty obvious. Make Ferny Grove a crew depot, and park the last two trains of the evening there. Would be significant savings, although I don't know if Ferny Grovers would be upset.  Having no reason to be upset didn't stop Shorncliffers. Perhaps countered by the need to have night time security at Ferny Grove.

[Golliwog]

There is going to be a tavern right next door. But when they upgrade the station they should be putting in new lighting and cameras, so I think that would be enough of a deterrent. Anyone who did vandalize the trains would soon see their mug shot up on the screens at Central.

[Mozz]

Maybe not - many of the tagging community are quite proficient in the use of: hoodies, scream masks, the old balaclava, ski masks ....

[Golliwog]

Maybe not - many of the tagging community are quite proficient in the use of: hoodies, scream masks, the old balaclava, ski masks ....

...wonder if they would put those up at Central anyway?

[Golliwog]

Work is progressing. There are now signs up stating the open date for the new temporary platforms. The temp. ticket office is all but ready, they poured the slab to connect the ramp from the office/toilets to the footpath leading up to the platforms today. The ramp and raised area adjacent to the ticket office is all covered, as are the two ticket machines next to it, though no signs of this cover beign connected to the platform. They've also in the last week put in 4 go card readers at the end of the ramp to the platforms.

Some of the turnouts have been prepared with sleepers attached. I think even more ballast has arrived, its all but piling against the fence the vacant lot shares with BP.

Only downside so far is the little newsagent store that currently resides in the existing ticket office building, hasn't been provided with space in the temporary office. They had a sign up today notifying customers that after the switch we would have to either come to their parent newsagency (Ferny Way I think) or use the BP.

Within the corridor between FG and Keperra, they appear to be playing around with the culverts. Not sure if the goal is just to extend or realign them, or to replace them with totally new ones all together.

[Golliwog]

With the long weekend closure from Mitchelton to Ferny Grove, the Translink left some questions to be asked about the Dawn Service train. The page gave a time of departure from Ferny Grove, but also went on to point out that trains wouldn't be operating Mitchie to FG, but didn't give a time of departure from Mitchelton. So I emailed them, they responded and have since updated the website, and also gave a timetable for the rail bus stops at all station FG to Mitchelton. The train leaves Mitchelton at 3.53am with a railbus leaving Ferny Grove at 3.30am, Keperra (3.35am), Grovely (3.39am), Oxford Park (3.42am), Mitchelton arrive (3.47am).

Also, further to an article in the North West News complaining about the lengthy time that boom gates are down for trains on Dawson Pde, there was an article in this weeks edition stating that at the same time as the Keperra-FG duplication theres a signalling upgrade going on that will reduce the boom gate down time by roughly 30 seconds (14 cars apparently). Didn't give details of what exactly the signalling upgrade entailed, anyone know any more about that?

EDIT: Oh and they've also put up a bunch of signs and there was an advertisement in this weeks NW News letting us know that the Arbor St level crossing will be closed for the duration of the rail closure.

[aldonius]

Received today: community update regarding the temporary platform.
In use from 27th April, only entry is at Samford end, temporary ticket office and toilets adjacent to temporary platform entry.
City end entrance to existing platform will close permanently as of 8pm 21/04/11.

New platform & station building complete "in 2012".

[petey3801]

Also, further to an article in the North West News complaining about the lengthy time that boom gates are down for trains on Dawson Pde, there was an article in this weeks edition stating that at the same time as the Keperra-FG duplication theres a signalling upgrade going on that will reduce the boom gate down time by roughly 30 seconds (14 cars apparently). Didn't give details of what exactly the signalling upgrade entailed, anyone know any more about that?

Most likely, something similar to Newfarm/Alderly/Wacol etc. Trains will approach the station on a Red signal (thereby slowing the trains down more), LX will activate on approach to the signal, signal steps up to proceed at around the same time as the train comes to a complete stop.

That's my guess at what will happen, anyway.

[Golliwog]

Also, further to an article in the North West News complaining about the lengthy time that boom gates are down for trains on Dawson Pde, there was an article in this weeks edition stating that at the same time as the Keperra-FG duplication theres a signalling upgrade going on that will reduce the boom gate down time by roughly 30 seconds (14 cars apparently). Didn't give details of what exactly the signalling upgrade entailed, anyone know any more about that?

Most likely, something similar to Newfarm/Alderly/Wacol etc. Trains will approach the station on a Red signal (thereby slowing the trains down more), LX will activate on approach to the signal, signal steps up to proceed at around the same time as the train comes to a complete stop.

That's my guess at what will happen, anyway.

Would that cost $100,000? I think that was the quoted price of the signalling upgrade. Not 100% sure on that, I don't have the article on me.

[petey3801]

Doubtfull if that was all they were doing. That scenario I said was only for trains heading towards Ferny Grove though... It is entirely possible they may be doing something to the signalling to enable a later triggering of the level crossing on the inbound run too, which may start running up the cost.

[BrizCommuter]

http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com/2011/04/grovely-level-crossing.html
BrizCommuter's take on this article.

[#Metro]

BrizCommuter must have a chilled water supply handy. 

Cold Shower... WHOOSH

[BrizCommuter]

BrizCommuter must have a chilled water supply handy.  

Cold Shower... WHOOSH

BrizCommuter is taking anti-spin pills, but there is so much utterly ridiculous spin* emanating from TransLink, Queensland Government, and to a lesser extent QR, that the pills are just not effective.

* including misleading and false statements!

[#Metro]

Gee. They must be putting hallucinogens into the QR "low fat frequency" muffins.
I swear, I am seeing double the train frequency at my local station... and double the seats within the carriages!

[railguy83]

More interesting is that there are more comments on this thread about stuff other than the Keperra-Ferny Grove upgrade.
Ferny Grove has been shut for a few days now, ripped up back to samford road and rebuilt again, and no comment discussion on this yet...

From what i have seen the new turnout is in for the temporary platform, 2 new bufferstops have been installed, the temp platform/ticket office is ready, Arbor St level crossing has been ripped up (still not relaid yet today) and the new pedestrian mazes on Arbor St look ready now.

Lots of progress and Wednesday will intersting seeing everyone using the new platform 

[Golliwog]

Yeah I had a look early on, and have driven past a few times and seen the track machines going. The track machines were also doing some work on the city side of Samford Rd, but I'm not sure what they did there, could have just been a general re-leveling or something. From what I saw they were focused pretty intently on getting the turnout in and re-aligning things for that, as they go they've been replacing the old sleepers with concrete ones as well. I wasn't sure if they were going to put both sets of tracks crossing Arbor St in now to avoid having to close it all down again, I suppose we'll see on Wednesday?

[Golliwog]

So there were QR staff on hand today. No muffins, just free water (or at least when I went through anyway). New platofrm functioning as planned. Mostly. Theres still a little work to do, I was told the rain yesterday meant some of the work wasn't finished. Currently the PIDs have not been shifted across to the new platform, but the PA system appeared to be working so I assume until they shift across they'll use that to let passengers know which train is which. There also appeared to be an issue with lighting on the platform when I went through. I think they may have made changes to the signalling with the boom gates on Arbor St. They now seem to open much sooner once the train has crossed than they used to. Thats just anecdotal though.

Work seems to be continuing in the corridor for the duplication, though the on and off rain isn't helping, things are looking a little washed out in some of their holes. Not much they can really do about that though.

[Golliwog]

Some little but good things I've noticed on the temporary platform. The lighting is now working fine, which is certainly a plus. Not sure about PIDs, I wasn't really looking. But on a totally small thing that doesn't make much difference to the everyday user, but all the difference to the sometimes user, at the top of the exit ramp from the platform there are now two exit signs with arrows. The one on the left with a left pointing arrow directs you to the bus interchange, and the one on the right directs you to Samford Rd. Heres hoping things like this get adopted in the final station, but also work their way across the network.

[ozbob]

Visited Ferny Grove this fine Sunday morning.  Markets at FG car park full.  There is an opportunity there for increased Sunday morning train frequency to get folks to visit ...  anyway, certainly a changed railscape at FG.











































Photographs R Dow 15th May 2011

[somebody]

Does anyone know when this work is likely to be finished?  Only info I can find is 2012.

[Golliwog]

Does anyone know when this work is likely to be finished?  Only info I can find is 2012.

You know as much as I do. Though the impression I got was somethings may be done late 2011 the rest early 2012. The heavy rain we've had looks as if its hampered some of the works in the corridor between K-FG. What looked to be a culvert to be replaced/extended is now a giant muddy puddle, but elsewhere in the corridor works are steaming ahead. They've poured at least half the base slabs for the box culverts the go under the line just before it crosses Samford Rd, and have the extension box culverts on site already. They also appear to have been assembling the full diamond crossover so I wouldn't be surprised if they slot that in during the next shut down. They've pulled up all the old sleepers and removed some of the loose materials from the old platforms, but other than that haven't really touched them. Again, they may be waiting for a full shut down to bring in the heavy equipment.

[p858snake]

Did they ever end up giving a reason for ditching the third platform from the plans?

Does anyone know when this work is likely to be finished?  Only info I can find is 2012.

It will probably be hard to find that info, Most government departments (and QR will probably the same) only give out {start/middle/end} of <Year> to the public so that projects can be early or late without people complaining about it.

[SurfRail]

Did they ever end up giving a reason for ditching the third platform from the plans?

The reason given me was that they believe they can keep 5 minute headways with only 2 platforms (and no turnback).

[somebody]

Did they ever end up giving a reason for ditching the third platform from the plans?

The reason given me was that they believe they can keep 5 minute headways with only 2 platforms (and no turnback).

Given that even CityRail can do even better than this with only two platforms at Bondi Junction, I don't see why they couldn't?

[Golliwog]

So it now comes down to are they putting in a crew depot, or just sending out an extra crew or two in peak to enable a quick changeover. Its been pointed out on this forum that a crew change is the only reliable way to have a turn around under 8 minutes.

[SurfRail]

Did they ever end up giving a reason for ditching the third platform from the plans?

The reason given me was that they believe they can keep 5 minute headways with only 2 platforms (and no turnback).

Given that even CityRail can do even better than this with only two platforms at Bondi Junction, I don't see why they couldn't?

Bondi Junction has trailing crossovers, doesn't it?  We're not exactly talking oranges and oranges here.

I have no doubt it is achieveable irrespective of that, but I doubt very much that it will actually be achieved here.

[somebody]

Given that even CityRail can do even better than this with only two platforms at Bondi Junction, I don't see why they couldn't?

Bondi Junction has trailing crossovers, doesn't it?  We're not exactly talking oranges and oranges here.

I have no doubt it is achieveable irrespective of that, but I doubt very much that it will actually be achieved here.
[/quote]
You mean a siding at the far end of the platform?  Indeed it does, but this is not used in peak anymore as there are now double crossovers.  The siding was needed when this wasn't present.

[Golliwog]

So another closure this weekend starting 7.30pm tonight until last train Sunday. There's also been announcements in the local paper and on big electronic boards that the Samford Rd level crossing will be closed for the weekend as well. From that it sounds like they may be putting the 2nd track in across Samford Rd. I can't see them getting approvals to close it multiple times just to make things easier for them. The culvert extension adjacent to this is almost complete from the looks of it, just needs the head wall to be constructed and then back filled on top.

[railguy83]

Yes the closure is on, any one been down there during the closure to look at how it is going?

[aldonius]

I'll go through on Monday, pictures possible but unlikely.

[Golliwog]

The most I saw was on Friday night from a railbus. They had started going hard on the Samford Rd crossing, but at that stage hadn't started anything with the diamond crossover. Which makes sense, by then they had only had the line closed for an hour, if that. Not sure what else they were putting in or if they were going to be connecting the two together, though I did notice from my train that morning that they looked prepared to put some of it in, though the culverts still didn't look ready for track to ontop yet.

[aldonius]

So... I went through about 10:30am, the Samford Rd crossing has had the centre island slightly reconfigured to accommodate the new track, but that section is all asphalted at the moment. Compacted gravel immediately on the Keperra side... as it was... basically, very little change. Earthworks continue along the corridor.

[railguy83]

I would expect that they have put the new formation in under the road, i guess they will do the track later once the multicell culvert and formation towards Keperra is complete...

[aldonius]

Today, Project Update No.5 was delivered, with lots of artist's impressions of the new station building. Not online yet.
It's cool architecture and all, but I'd still prefer not having to wait there.

[Golliwog]

I had a read through that today as well. They do seem to have taken feedback from the consultation in. Theres still going to be 2 bus interchanges, but the one on Conavalla St is no longer a bus indent as residents were worried about narrowing of the street, so its now going to be in the car park with a drop off zone for cars as well. There is now going to be a pedestrian linkage along the old rail alignment to Archdale Rd, no car access though. The bus interchange from the FG side is still right next to the station entrance though, which is good. Theres going to be 2 main bike storages as well as end of trip facilities (showers, change room etc). The new tavern area is shaded in as well.

I'll agree the some of the artists impressions look a bit interesting (nothing as bad as Indro though). Did find the pic showing the bus interchange amusing though. It of course has a bus making use of it, the thing is though, its a Garden City depot artic bus.

[aldonius]

Articulated buses... we can only live in hope.
The Samford Rd side bus stuff is probably the best thing about the station revamp. When it's closer to completion a feeder bus media release would probably be timely - but then, network integration always is.
On a side note, does anyone know if Brisbane Bus Lines ever expressed interest in operating more TransLink services to Samford?

[SurfRail]

Articulated buses... we can only live in hope.
The Samford Rd side bus stuff is probably the best thing about the station revamp. When it's closer to completion a feeder bus media release would probably be timely - but then, network integration always is.
On a side note, does anyone know if Brisbane Bus Lines ever expressed interest in operating more TransLink services to Samford?

Somebody would need to pay for more buses. unless the government was willing to accept some of their older vehicles.  They only have 2 low floors.

[aldonius]

Much is explained. Thanks!

[BrizCommuter]

Anyone else read this weeks North West News?
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com/2011/07/keperra-to-ferny-grove-duplication-100m.html

[ozbob]

From the North West News 29th June 2011 page 5

Commuters hail review / Ferny Grove station plans finalised



Carries on the 'tradition' of grand structures but very little in the way of service improvement ... LOL

If we had an upper house, there would be a good chance of some Public Transport Party reps getting up.  As it is no chance, appalling ...