Keperra to Ferny Grove Rail Upgrade

[Golliwog]

Yes, I don't know if I'd go so far as to say that BCC should have contributed funding to rail, but they certainly shouldn't have taken a "rail is a State matter, so lets design most of our bus network as if the rail lines don't exist" approach. As a council, their concern should have been for a better local transport network, and doing everything within their power to reduce congestion. This probably would have entailed lobbying the State to improve rail services, and a very different way of operating the buses. If council funding of some rail improvements was necessary, then so be it.

But co-operation is difficult...

[#Metro]

Yes, I don't know if I'd go so far as to say that BCC should have contributed funding to rail, but they certainly shouldn't have taken a "rail is a State matter, so lets design most of our bus network as if the rail lines don't exist" approach.

Gee whiz, a new road doesn't seem to half as much trouble with 3 layers of government all funding and co-operating, but when it comes to a vehicle that's not using rubber tyres and has four wheels, oh no, we couldn't possibly do that...

[O_128]

Yes, I don't know if I'd go so far as to say that BCC should have contributed funding to rail, but they certainly shouldn't have taken a "rail is a State matter, so lets design most of our bus network as if the rail lines don't exist" approach.

Gee whiz, a new road doesn't seem to half as much trouble with 3 layers of government all funding and co-operating, but when it comes to a vehicle that's not using rubber tyres and has four wheels, oh no, we couldn't possibly do that...

I agree I'm just going from his POV,

One thing that really annoys me is the fact that the trains don't acknowledge busway stations, Eg change here for the cleveland, gold coast lines and UQ services.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Shane, I don't think many people have a problem with how BCC/BT was run prior/the first few years of Translink forming under Cambell Newman. For me (And I assume others) the biggest problem is how Translink has put very little control and enforcement into its whole reason for forming in the first place. What was the point of forming Translink if the whole idea of removing the public service rights from operators and then providing those services as a public service under the intergrated ticketing/Translink banner if all they did was establish a fixed fare and zone structure without having a full network revamp between operators/areas to back it up. In that case they might of aswell just left the operators to do what they want to do with a fixed zone/price structure. Who knows, QR might have already implimented a 15 min frequency if it still had the rights to do so. Private bus operators might have ramped up its services, removed unpopular routes and dumped passengers at interchanges. It could also have made parts of our PT network even worse. I find it mind boggling that its taken these last couple of years since their introduction for them to finally start on these network reviews which still aren't at their potential. Translink could be the best thing that has happened for our PT network but they have just executed it very very poorly. Something that Cambell Newman and BT made the most out it which they did pretty successfully compared to QR/smaller and private operators.

[somebody]

HTG, I think the problem you are talking about there has a name, and it is Strachan.  Nolan & Bligh were pretty useless too.

Let's see how Scales, Emerson and Newman do.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Yeah, Hopefully Newman would run it successfully the same way he did for BT.

[QGT]

Ferny Grove is looking good 



































All photos were taken today (31/03/2012)
Cheers,
QGT

[Golliwog]

Hadn't seen the new sign up about the opening on the platform. Still, it'll be good when it's open.

[Golliwog]

So with tomorrow being the last day of services on the current timetable before the timetable with 'minor' changes begins on Tuesday when services start again, what chance is there that the new timetable will be available? From what I can gather from the changed Ferny Grove bus timetables, the changes appear to only be a few minutes difference on some services, however it's still a timetable change, that we have been notified of through the bus changes but with no clarity at all as to what exactly is changing, except for those that happen to be paired with a bus service. Poor form.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Queensland Rail ‏ @QueenslandRail

Tues 10 Apr the new high-level platform @ Ferny Grove stn will open & train services will run on new 2.6km 2nd track btwn Keperra & FG stns.

[ozbob]

I plan to get out to Ferny Grove early Tuesday morning.

[SurfRail]

Is it too much to hope that they might fix Sandgate to Shorncliffe next?  They could just add it on to the DDA upgrade budget and probably save money...

[Golliwog]

Twitter

Queensland Rail ‏ @QueenslandRail

Tues 10 Apr the new high-level platform @ Ferny Grove stn will open & train services will run on new 2.6km 2nd track btwn Keperra & FG stns.

Interesting:
Queensland Rail ‏ @QueenslandRail
Tues 10 Apr the new high-level platform @ Ferny Grove stn will open & train services will run on new 2.6km 2nd track btwn Keperra & FG stns.

Rod Chester Rod Chester ‏ @Chesterrod
@QueenslandRail Will the changes to Ferny Grove station mean changes to the timetable?

Queensland Rail ‏ @QueenslandRail
@chesterrod FG line timetable is actually under review @ present as part of Stage2 (Cab/Ips was stg1). So will B incr services in nr future

Rod Chester ‏ @Chesterrod
@QueenslandRail great - and thanks


So QR says no change despite Translinks bus timetables showing one... What is going on?!

I plan to get out to Ferny Grove early Tuesday morning.

Not sure yet, but if I'm in Brisbane I'll be on the 6.45am citybound train.

[somebody]

Is it too much to hope that they might fix Sandgate to Shorncliffe next?  They could just add it on to the DDA upgrade budget and probably save money...

I thought they did some work on Sandgate #2 last weekend.

[petey3801]

The only real change to the train timetables will be the removal of the cross at Keperra, meaning FYG bound trains will dep Keperra a couple mins earlier (where a cross was present) and arrive at FYG a couple mins earlier.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Is it too much to hope that they might fix Sandgate to Shorncliffe next?  They could just add it on to the DDA upgrade budget and probably save money...

I thought they did some work on Sandgate #2 last weekend.

Coridor works, checks, maintainence mostly. Platform 2 has been operational for yonks. Its just the lack of an elevator/ramps that access that platform along with pathway access for scooters/wheelchairs/people walking past and unloading of disabled passengers (There is no room for droping off without blocking the road in both directions and if your loading onto the footpath you've then blocked that aswell) that's the main issue for services all using P1. It might be cheap to make a ramp but other things have to get moded too which is the costly part about it.

[Golliwog]

The only real change to the train timetables will be the removal of the cross at Keperra, meaning FYG bound trains will dep Keperra a couple mins earlier (where a cross was present) and arrive at FYG a couple mins earlier.

I think it was the 367 bus timetable has the 7.06am express departing 2 minutes earlier, and also arriving in the city 2 minutes earlier. I know it's only going to be small changes like those you mention, but if they're re-releasing the bus timetables, why is it so hard to re-release the train ones with these minor changes? It's more the principle of the matter than anything else.

No new pdf timetable yet, however: Changes to Cleveland train services and Ferny Grove train line changes

I would put up what is in them, but they involve tables which don't copy well and I don't have time right now to put in all the brackets to get it to display on here as a table.

EDIT: and even then, those two pages contradict each other! The Cleveland page has new station times for the 4.33pm Cleveland to Ferny Grove service leaving Cleveland at the same time, departing Wynnum Central 1 minute later than current, changes of up to 3 minutes behind from there to South Brisbane before leaving Roma St 2 minutes earlier than current, and Central 1 minute earlier, keeping that extra 1 minute saving until Keperra which it leaves at the same time as present and arrives at Ferny Grove at the same time as present (6.18pm). The Ferny Grove page starts with this service at Roma St, and agrees with the Cleveland page, but has it arriving at Keperra and Ferny Grove 2 minutes earlier than current (at 6.16pm). 

Kudos for actually putting something up, but bit of a fail for not doing it sooner, and now there being contradictions.

[p858snake]

Mitchelton to Ferny Grove track closure

From 8pm Thursday 5 April until the last train on Monday 9 April, tracks will be closed between Mitchelton and Ferny Grove.

The last available train services before this closure are:

• departing Beenleigh at 5:29pm, Central at 6:34pm and arriving at Ferny Grove at 7:06pm
• departing Roma Street at 6:51pm, Central at 6:55pm and arriving at Ferny Grove at 7:24pm
• departing Ferny Grove at 7:28pm, Central at 7:58pm and Beenleigh at 9:27pm.

Services will return to normal on Tuesday 10 April.

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

Bus replacement services
Buses will replace trains in both directions between Mitchelton and Ferny Grove stations.

Stations affected

• Mitchelton
• Oxford Park
• Grovely
• Keperra
• Ferny Grove.

Improvement works

• Keperra to Ferny Grove track duplication project works
• preventative maintenance works between Mitchelton and Ferny Grove.

Additional information
Arbor Street rail crossing closure
From 8pm Thursday 5 April to 5am Tuesday 10 April, Arbor Street rail crossing will be fully closed due to maintenance works.

Need assistance

Customers with a disability can call 3606 5555 or SMS 0428 774 636 for assistance.

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

We appreciate your patience as update and maintenance works continue across the network.

It would be nice if Translink placed a date to indicate when these notices were first issued (And any subsequent updates).

[Golliwog]

I've suggested something similar to them with delay notices during peak, etc, putting up what time it was originally posted. I have seen them do it at least once since then, so someone may have been listening. I have also mentioned to them that included the 'last service' list like they do is also an excellent new addition to closures like this that start in the evening rather than after the last service.

[BrizCommuter]

http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/ferny-grove-duplication-to-open-same.html
Is BrizCommuter going to miss the 07:06 from Ferny Grove on Tuesday morning?

[Golliwog]

http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/ferny-grove-duplication-to-open-same.html
Is BrizCommuter going to miss the 07:06 from Ferny Grove on Tuesday morning?

Translink have now informed me that QR is 'investigating' my query about the lack of a new train timetable when the bus ones have been up for a week now. I wonder how many Cleveland line commuters are going to be caught out with the minor changes made to a few services there as well? Although most of their changes are making services leave a few minutes later.

[BrizCommuter]

http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/ferny-grove-duplication-to-open-same.html
Is BrizCommuter going to miss the 07:06 from Ferny Grove on Tuesday morning?

Translink have now informed me that QR is 'investigating' my query about the lack of a new train timetable when the bus ones have been up for a week now. I wonder how many Cleveland line commuters are going to be caught out with the minor changes made to a few services there as well? Although most of their changes are making services leave a few minutes later.

Unfortunately, with zero working days until Tuesday 10th, BrizCommuter will be surprised if we see any service information changes in time. In fact there is no mention of the new Ferny Grove and Cleveland Line train times on TransLink's home page.

Interestingly, TransLink's journey planner is still showing 07:06 as the departure time for Tuesday. Is that wrong as well, or was it just a typo in the bus timetable? Sadly, it is looking like yet another classic TransLink & QR information stuff-up.

[somebody]

Interestingly, TransLink's journey planner is still showing 07:06 as the departure time for Tuesday. Is that wrong as well, or was it just a typo in the bus timetable? Sadly, it is looking like yet another classic TransLink & QR information stuff-up.

It already is a classic stuff up.  The new timetable isn't ready, and no doubt won't be ready until the second half of the year.  Perhaps they want to bed the infrastructure down first, but still, the consultation should be further advanced than it is.

[BrizCommuter]

After a further look at the new Ferny Grove connecting bus timetables, BrizCommuter has also noticed that the 396 timetable (as well as the previously mentioned 367) also shows the previously 07:06 (? now 07:04am) ex Ferny Grove as running two minutes earlier at Mitchelton (07:13am instead of 07:15am) as well. Still no mention of this train service change on TransLink's website, train timetables, or journey planner. 

[SurfRail]

Fascinatingly, there do appear to be printouts showing these changes - which I have only seen at Robina Station. 

[STB]

After a further look at the new Ferny Grove connecting bus timetables, BrizCommuter has also noticed that the 396 timetable (as well as the previously mentioned 367) also shows the previously 07:06 (? now 07:04am) ex Ferny Grove as running two minutes earlier at Mitchelton (07:13am instead of 07:15am) as well. Still no mention of this train service change on TransLink's website, train timetables, or journey planner. 

It's been there for the past few days now - http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1333520819

[BrizCommuter]

After a further look at the new Ferny Grove connecting bus timetables, BrizCommuter has also noticed that the 396 timetable (as well as the previously mentioned 367) also shows the previously 07:06 (? now 07:04am) ex Ferny Grove as running two minutes earlier at Mitchelton (07:13am instead of 07:15am) as well. Still no mention of this train service change on TransLink's website, train timetables, or journey planner. 

It's been there for the past few days now - http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1333520819

Nope. The service changes at that link do not show any changes to the 07:06 service.

[somebody]

Most outbound trains will depart three minutes earlier from Keperra station. The new timetable will be available soon.

No details, and it seems like the Grovely-Keperra time will become either tight or negative.

[somebody]

FWIW, the 5:41pm ex-Roma St train is the combination of a Bowen Hills terminator from Cleveland and a Roma St starter for Ferny Grove.

[BrizCommuter]

Most outbound trains will depart three minutes earlier from Keperra station. The new timetable will be available soon.

No details, and it seems like the Grovely-Keperra time will become either tight or negative.

I think that should have read most outbound pm peak trains will depart three minutes earlier from Keperra station. Unfortunately, TransLink appear to be lacking in the proof reading department.

Here is another public service announcement from BrizCommuter for Tuesday morning.
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/if-you-catch-0706am-from-ferny-grove.html

[BrizCommuter]

FWIW, the 5:41pm ex-Roma St train is the combination of a Bowen Hills terminator from Cleveland and a Roma St starter for Ferny Grove.

A fairly sensible move. With the number of trains lacking, efficient timetabling such as this will be important for phase 2.

[somebody]

FWIW, the 5:41pm ex-Roma St train is the combination of a Bowen Hills terminator from Cleveland and a Roma St starter for Ferny Grove.

A fairly sensible move. With the number of trains lacking, efficient timetabling such as this will be important for phase 2.

Fair point, but I thought it was more of an issue in the morning than the evening?

If they were willing to break sectorisation and reduce Central dwell by 1 minute, the 6:48am IPS-BH train could form the 6:49am RS-DBN and the 6:54am RCH-BH could form the 6:53am RS-MCH.  Also the 6:30am IPS-BH could form the 6:30am IPS-Airport if it's an IMU160 without needing to squeeze the Central dwells.

I think these moves would actually be a reduction in conflicting moves as you don't need to access Roma St #7 from Normanby.

[petey3801]

I think that should have read most outbound pm peak trains will depart three minutes earlier from Keperra station

Why do you say that? The off-peak trains dwell at Keperra (outbound) for around 3-mins to await a cross with the inbound trains currently, which will be removed once the dup is opened tomorrow...

[somebody]

I think that should have read most outbound pm peak trains will depart three minutes earlier from Keperra station

Why do you say that? The off-peak trains dwell at Keperra (outbound) for around 3-mins to await a cross with the inbound trains currently, which will be removed once the dup is opened tomorrow...

Couldn't they have designed a timetable which prevented this?

[BrizCommuter]

I think that should have read most outbound pm peak trains will depart three minutes earlier from Keperra station

Why do you say that? The off-peak trains dwell at Keperra (outbound) for around 3-mins to await a cross with the inbound trains currently, which will be removed once the dup is opened tomorrow...

Sorry, didn't read the bus timetables correctly. After a re-check of the new bus timetables, the off-peak arrival times at Ferny Grove appear to be 2 minutes earlier than previously shown.  So if trains depart Keperra 3 minutes earlier, 1 extra minute of running time/padding has been added between Keperra and Ferny Grove.

Still no info from TransLink on the 07:06/04. Any other service changes that TransLink have forgotten to inform commuters about?

[petey3801]

I think that should have read most outbound pm peak trains will depart three minutes earlier from Keperra station

Why do you say that? The off-peak trains dwell at Keperra (outbound) for around 3-mins to await a cross with the inbound trains currently, which will be removed once the dup is opened tomorrow...

Couldn't they have designed a timetable which prevented this?

More than likely, but that's the way the timetable is/was.

[somebody]

Sorry, didn't read the bus timetables correctly. After a re-check of the new bus timetables, the off-peak arrival times at Ferny Grove appear to be 2 minutes earlier than previously shown.  So if trains depart Keperra 3 minutes earlier, 1 extra minute of running time/padding has been added between Keperra and Ferny Grove.

More likely that 4 minutes Grovely-Keperra is reduced to 2 in those instances, rather than 3 as mentioned by Translink.  There's a couple of instances of 5-6 minutes in the timetable at present, I think it's the 5 minutes Grovely-Keperra which are being reduced by 3 minutes.

It should be noted that Keperra->Grovelly was 1 minute in 1995, not 2.

[ozbob]

At Darra, inbound on EMU79, Ferny Grove here we come!

[ozbob]

At Roma St, aiming for the 6.29am Ferny Grove, which is due at FG around 7.02am?  Should hopefully be able to see if the 7.06am UP is a 7.04am UP ...

Always kind of funny how the down Ipswich trains miss the down Ferny Grove trains at Roma St by a couple of minutes.  Guess it is too leave time for a cup of hot chocolate ...

[ozbob]

Fortitude Valley, EMU 62 heading to FG,  ontime ...