Keperra to Ferny Grove Rail Upgrade

[somebody]

Problems with terminating at Coppers Plains is you have a GC train on your arse at that point and if you run 1min GC train will more than likely be 1min late

Better than the Kuraby plan where if you run 1 minute late the GC train is delayed by 5 minutes.

True, but also why QR probably terminate currently extra peak services at Yerongpilly.

That's because they used to run via Tennyson, and in some cases still do, just out of service.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Others then run express to Kuraby to form a Kuraby-Bowen Hills/wherever service. One that does this in the morning can sometimes make the following Gold Coast express service come to a stop at just past Yeronga and follow yellows/double yellows all the way to Coopers Plains.

[BrizCommuter]

Do any of the QR signalling experts on this forum know if there is any terminus protection signalling at dead end termini such as the new Ferny Grove and Cleveland? Or is there nothing other the buffers and driving skill to stop an overrun?

[petey3801]

Depends on what station with regards to the actual protection the buffers give (ie: concrete block like Cleveland, movable buffer stop with extra rails ala Domestic Airport), and the exact signal indications given, but in all cases with dead end stations (Airport, Cleveland, now Ferny Grove, and dead ends in general) the train must slow to a max speed of 20km/h 150m out (ie: platform length away) from the buffer stop.

[BrizCommuter]

Depends on what station with regards to the actual protection the buffers give (ie: concrete block like Cleveland, movable buffer stop with extra rails ala Domestic Airport), and the exact signal indications given, but in all cases with dead end stations (Airport, Cleveland, now Ferny Grove, and dead ends in general) the train must slow to a max speed of 20km/h 150m out (ie: platform length away) from the buffer stop.

But is there anything to enforce that this speed limit is adhered to?

[mufreight]

ATP can provide this speed control and a no power and brakes applied past a set point to provide this protection, but the majority of the rollingstock currently in use is either not equiped or not fully equiped with equipment tha can be configured to operate in this manner.
This equipment would also need to be applied accross the entire fleet to enable the close up operation of trains to maximise the numbers of train paths over a given section of congested track.
An expendature of many hundreds of millions more for both on train and track side equipment will for instance be required over and above what is required for new platforms and track for the LNP's proposed solution to increase train paths to and from the south of the river and through the CBD.

[BrizCommuter]

So in other words, there is currently no method of enforcing speed control on terminus approach in SE Queensland's commuter rail network?

[petey3801]

So in other words, there is currently no method of enforcing speed control on terminus approach in SE Queensland's commuter rail network?

Not except for policies and procedures, same as anywhere else in the system. Dataloggers on trains are downloaded at random every day (and on units that have an incident of course) and traincrew found not to be completing their duties to the correct procedures will be/are, for lack of a better word, punished.

It's the same for the rest of the network. There is nothing stopping a train going around a 50km/h corner at 100km/h except the driver.

[somebody]

Excluding the Tilts which are ATP fitted, QR do have a better safety record than Cityrail which does have such protections.  At least as far as I can see.

[Golliwog]

An update:
This week they closed off the Archdale St access to the car park, access is now via Samford Rd. This was to provide an extra 25 parks. In the next week they are closing off the last of the carparks off Conavalla St, which loses 11.

Work in the corridor is still mainly focussed on the bridge, with the retaining wall there nearly finished. They have done a bit more back filling and surface preparation there. I believe they have put in new fence posts for when they reinstate the normal fence between the rail line and the golf course.

Work on the new platforms is going well. They have installedthe drainage pipes to be buried in the platforms and today started erecting the cover along the platform. From the looks of it, it will be one continuous roof for the length of nearly the whole platform except for part of the last car, though they may have just left that out now for construction reasons, as they are using the city end of the platforms to give vehicles access up onto the platform. At the moment the platforms are only at the old lower level, including the new straight edge platform 2, so I assume they are going to be doing something similar to what they did at south bank and installing coping stones on top later and filling the rest with concrete to make it a level platform.

[mufreight]

Perhaps they will not raise the platforms supposedly to save money using the excuse that the station is only undergoing a refurbishment and not an upgrade as has been the excuse for not raising the platforms at Toowong.
Toowong is undergoing a $3 million refurbishment unlike South Brisbane where the platforms were raised in its recent still ongoing upgrade.
It is believed based on the somewhat confusing figures posted by Translink that Toowong has a higher daily passenger usage than South Bisbane.
So much for a program of the progressive raising of platforms as the stations are upgraded/refurbished to ensure that they are compliant with disability access by 2020.

[somebody]

Is there anywhere on www that has the simple total pax per station per day average for year? I have only found the peak numbers for inbound/outbound.

This comes close (unless I've mixed up my links): http://translink.com.au/resources/about-translink/what-we-do/customer-research/100501-public-transport-survey.pdf

Has station entries from 7am to 8pm weekdays.  Not quite there but close.

[Golliwog]

Nope, Ferny Grove is definitely being raised. They started laying the coping stones today. But the roof isn't going any further toward the city end of the platform as they also put an end bar on it. Still, with the current stopping location on the shared track, it's only the very front door that isn't covered, which I think is fine seeing as no one is going to move all the way down the platform, even if it was dry.

Forgot to add they've put up form work and reo for 3 blade columns for the station building. Not sure if they've poured yet, but can't see why they wouldn't have.

[ozbob]

Ferny Grove





















Photographs mufreight 2nd March 2012

[Golliwog]

Some good pics.

Didn't notice anything major that had been completed during the shut down, though they appear to have replaced at least some of the steel sleepered track between Keperra and Samford Rd with concrete sleepers. Similar seems to have been done at Mitchelton during the closure as well, though they also resurfaced at least the Osbourne Rd level crossing, if not the Blackwood Rd crossing as well. Blackwood Rd was only closed for a few parts of the weekend, not all of it like Osbourne Rd was.

Within the station precinct they are opening the new bus interchange on Conavalla St sometime this week I believe. I'm not sure but I think it may be in its final location on that side. If I can read the map correctly, the one on the Samford Rd side is meant to go where the temporary platforms are, so I doubt we'll see that until the end.

[Golliwog]

Geoff Wilson people were at the station this morning handing out Public Transport Hub Updates.

As well as a list of "traffic congestion busting initiatives" being undertaken within the electorate, and a letter advising residents that Mr Wilson has lobied the Main Roads minister to examine the feasibility of extending Archdale Rd through to Samford Rd, and that this is most definitely going to have a community consultation involved to gauge whether locals actually want it or not, it has a timeline from QR for the rest of the upgrade:

Qld Rail advise following timelines at Ferny Grove Railway Station:

February - closure of Arbor Street entrance (additional 25 car parks)
March - opening of new Conavalla Street bus interchange (additional 135 car parks)
April - opening of new platform and track
      - removal of temporary platform
May - Tavern construction commences (short term temporary loss of 175 car parks)
June - opening of new station platform facilities
2nd half of 2012 - extra 15 minute off peak train services

[ozbob]

When the Tavern opens we can go out for a luncheon tour .. 

[SurfRail]

2nd half of 2012 - extra 15 minute off peak train services

And this was from QR, not just party political stuff they were handing out?

Fascinating.  Makes me wonder whether or not Campbell's plan was actually just confirmation of the maintenance of funding for something QR had already worked out and that the ALP was just trying to keep its powder dry...

It'd be nice if this was a fait accompli no matter who gets elected.

[p858snake]

Main Roads minister to examine the feasibility of extending Archdale Rd through to Samford Rd,

Though to Samford Road directly? or to Melno Court (or whatever its called) in the woolshed area? which is where it would line up with, If memory serves me correctly.

And if came out to samford road where I think it would, It would be just past the arana hills turn off onto a bend so unless it was oneway it would produce... Traffic fun!

[aldonius]

There's no good way to do it now that the houses have been built in there (and it's Merino Close, I think).
In any rational setup, it would come out as a signalised crossroads directly across from the England Rd turnoff. But that's not really possible anymore without resuming brand new houses.

[somebody]

2nd half of 2012 - extra 15 minute off peak train services

And this was from QR, not just party political stuff they were handing out?

Fascinating.  Makes me wonder whether or not Campbell's plan was actually just confirmation of the maintenance of funding for something QR had already worked out and that the ALP was just trying to keep its powder dry...

It'd be nice if this was a fait accompli no matter who gets elected.

I'm inclined to think that they are trying to make us think so, as opposed to it being a fact.

[Golliwog]

With Archdale, I always assumed it'd go through and have a sharp-ish right turn and connect to Samford Rd either at Owarra Avenue West, or just inbound of that to avoid changing the tennis centre there. Though the TC could change their access to come from the extended Archdale Rd seeing as their current one has issues.

[Golliwog]

2nd half of 2012 - extra 15 minute off peak train services

And this was from QR, not just party political stuff they were handing out?

Fascinating.  Makes me wonder whether or not Campbell's plan was actually just confirmation of the maintenance of funding for something QR had already worked out and that the ALP was just trying to keep its powder dry...

It'd be nice if this was a fait accompli no matter who gets elected.

I'm inclined to think that they are trying to make us think so, as opposed to it being a fact.

It is all on paper with "Geoff Wilson MP..." on the top, as opposed to the normal project updates from the project team, but perhaps this could be confirmed with QR?

[aldonius]

Good point about Owarra - hadn't considered that. Got its own set of layout and visibility problems with the section of Samford Rd that's directly inbound though.

[somebody]

I want to know the hours of the 15 minute frequency.

Geoff Wilson's website makes no mention of the 15 minute frequency.  Perhaps it's not posted yet.

[#Metro]

The announcement last year was 4 extra trains per DAY.
When an election is on and you're in the hot seat, they'll sell their mother to get in!

Now I wonder if any of them have woken up to the benefits of BUZzing the 359, 350 and 594...

[Gazza]

Maybe we were just highly effective in our meeting with QR and they included it 

[Golliwog]

The announcement last year was 4 extra trains per DAY.
When an election is on and you're in the hot seat, they'll sell their mother to get in!

Now I wonder if any of them have woken up to the benefits of BUZzing the 359, 350 and 594...

I was actually never convinced that the article that had the 4 extra trains line in it wasn't a mistake made by the journo. It wasn't Brisbane Times, or even The Courier Mail, just the local North West News.

[SurfRail]

2nd half of 2012 - extra 15 minute off peak train services

And this was from QR, not just party political stuff they were handing out?

Fascinating.  Makes me wonder whether or not Campbell's plan was actually just confirmation of the maintenance of funding for something QR had already worked out and that the ALP was just trying to keep its powder dry...

It'd be nice if this was a fait accompli no matter who gets elected.

I'm inclined to think that they are trying to make us think so, as opposed to it being a fact.

Two competing principles in me - one is the lawyer who is paid to be cynical, the other is the one who was taught to assume good faith (even when dealing with governments).  They are about neck and neck on this question.

[Golliwog]

The new platforms are looking closer and closer to completion. The ramps has been cast, the slab at the bottom of the ramp looks like it should be cast in the next few days and most of the work left up on the platforms seems to be cosmetic and electrical works. The second track was having it's wires put up alongside the platform recently, and track machines were on the new track at the platform last week. Also noted that within the corridor (at least on the Keperra station side of the bridge) that they have "Danger, overhead live wires" signs now attached to every second or third OH post next to the access road.

Given the upcoming closure http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1331079865 from 8pm Friday the 6th April till the last train on Monday 9th April between Mitchelton and Ferny Grove, and the timeline given out last week, this may be the last closure before the dupilcation opens up. May be being a bit optimistic there though.

[petey3801]

Being a 4-day closure I wouldn't be surprised if that is being used to commission the second track and new platforms. Don't quote me on that though, just a thought!

[BrizCommuter]

Will we see 4 extra trains per day from April 10th?  

Maybe the 07:06 ex Ferny Grove might run on time for a change?

[Golliwog]

Will we see 4 extra trains per day from April 10th?  

Maybe the 07:06 ex Ferny Grove might run on time for a change?

Haha, who knows? If they do any temporary timetable changes once the duplication is open, all I really expect is the Mitchelton starters extended to Ferny Grove and the expresses bumped to leave 5 minutes earlier and to stop all stations.

Related to the 7.06am service, the 6.45am service (the one directly before it) has been getting solid loadings of late. Standing down the aisles from somewhere around Alderley/Newmarket.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Queensland Rail ‏ @QueenslandRail

Keperra - Ferny Grove Rail Upgrade: Today the Conavalla St bus interchange at FG stn will close & re-open at Samford end of Conavalla St.

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Twitter

Queensland Rail ‏ @QueenslandRail

The permanent drop-off zone also opened today. Thx FG cust & community 4 support as we bring u an improved stn in 2012. http://ow.ly/9DIxc

[p858snake]

Is this what was being handed out the other day with the 15m freq statement?

[#Metro]

So they are matching the promise - Delivering 15 minute off-peak service is a commitment.

[Jonas Jade]

I think Labor's 15 minute Ferny Grove plan is what sci-fi tv fans call a retcon.

[SurfRail]

I think Labor's 15 minute Ferny Grove plan is what sci-fi tv fans call a retcon.

Can't wait to see QR staff with forehead ridges and bat'leths.

[somebody]

I think Labor's 15 minute Ferny Grove plan is what sci-fi tv fans call a retcon.

I don't care about that.

What I care about is what is the operating hours of the 15 minute frequency?  Is it to be better than the LNP?

[Golliwog]

Is this what was being handed out the other day with the 15m freq statement?

No, though I did get one of those in my letterbox as well. It was a yellow A4 double sided page being handed out at the station. He might have some left overs at his electorate office? Ours has already ended up in the bin sorry.