Dedicated Freight Rail Network

[Jon Bryant]

Let me stir things up...again.  So bear with me.  This is long-term (maybe short-term) rail planning which is urgently needed.  The way I look at it anyway is we have all these mad cap road projects actually being built around the city so we might as well have some rail ideas to match.  At least these ideas will reduce congestion and actually return value for the massive investment especially as fuel prices start to sky rocket.  Sure it is dreaming as many will say but sustainable solutions will be needed sooner than we think.

Here goes.  The reality is that the continued use of inner city lines (those shared with the passenger network) for freight is going to become more and more constrained as passenger service frequencies are increased, extended outside peak times and new lines added. Refer to http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3131.0 Also as we increase densities around our passeger network noise issues may also become a problem. 

Accordingly, there needs to be a dedicated freight network that avoids the CBD/InnerCity and operate on its own dedicated lines. Some of these may be co-located with the passenger network but must operate independently wherever possible.  The Cleveland line will/already does need duplication and triple/quadification to service the passenger needs of those along its route. Refer to http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2797.msg17823#msg17823.

Southside: Does it not make sense to link Acacia Ridge with the Port via the Gateway and Logan Motorway easements from the the south. Rather than head in towards the CBD the train would head south a bit and then east along the Logan Motorway before heading north along the Gateway Motorway. 24 x 7 access as fast as they like.  No noise issues as the train is unlikley to be louder than the traffic. (Could be wrong there but surely if it is built correctly?). Refer to http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3083.40#lastPost. This would also allow direct access to the Port from Bromelton, when it is up and running, plus a link to the Southern Freight Corridor, Toowoomba and/or Wawick, the Inland Rail Line and beyond. The Feeways are already there so how can a rail line make things worse?

Linking the Port/South of the city is harder beause of the River...to state the obvious.   Interested in other's ideas here.  Other than head through the CBD the alternative is a tunnel under the river near the Gateway Bridge (maybe shared with my Greater Circle line. http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2124.0) to re-join the Gateway Motorway on the northside of the river, links into the Airport Industry areas and somehow join the North Coast line at Northgate or Bald Hills (someone had suggested extending the Airport Line to the north to allow a North Coast -Airport Service. Is there room for this on the North Coast line? 

The next problem is west to north.  The easiest option would be to link the Ipswick line to the Gateway line using the Logan Motorway easement. I had already suggested a passenger line along this alignment.   http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2168.0 Is there room for this on the Ipswich line? It is a little bit indirect but surely if it is a fully dedicated freight network the ability to move goods anytime of the day and night must make it beneficial.

Interested in the views other than "I am dreaming".  I know I am but as a town planner it is in my blood.  Assume budget is not a constraint.  It has not been for the NSBT and Airport Link.  Mufreight?

[#Metro]

This is a good proposal Johnno; I think there are a few people on Rail BOT who have a Town/Urban Planning background.
Ideas are usually refined before going further, so dreaming is OK.

Perhaps a QR National might set aside money for dedicated track? With freight set to increase by 50% IIRC, it might become a possibility. IIRC miners in WA have built their own (automated?) iron ore trains and 1000s of km's to haul payloads from the mines.

On the other hand, a lot of freight is moved around at night when there are few (or no) passenger services around.

[Jon Bryant]

I noticed that the original post in the New Line Discussion was a SEQ - Western rail loop idea.  

Recent events have highlighted the need for a western rail loop to skirt Brisbane.

A media release 12 Dec 2007 was the start point --> http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=341.0

A letter to the editor was published in the C-M


Quote
Published Courier Mail December 15

The derailment at Petrie has again highlighted the increasing congestion problems of mixing freight and suburban passenger rail services.  As Citytrain services are ramped up it will become very difficult to provide around the clock access for freight trains on the present railway network through Brisbane.

Consideration should be given to building a western rail loop which could be used for freight trains, essentially independent of the suburban network.

A possible general route would be Caboolture, Dayboro, Fernvale, Ipswich, Bromelton.  Bromelton is ideally situated for a major freight interchange distribution centre as it is on the standard gauge railway from the south.  It is interesting to note that both Dayboro and Fernvale were once serviced by Queensland Railway branch lines.

Now is the time for the real big rail decisions and investment.

The route suggested was merely a start point for discussion.  A letter to the editor has been published today in the C-M Dec 17 from Ray of Redbank.  Ray suggests a better route would Caboolture to Kilcoy and down the Brisbane valley to Ipswich.  A great suggestion too.

Please comment on your suggestions for a possible route.  A western rail loop will be needed to allow freight to bypass the CBD axis, this will be more critical as Citytrain services are increased.

Cheers
Ozbob

This added to the proposal would create a freight ring route.  Massive tunnel under the D'Agular Range but why the hell not!!!  The wanted to do it with a Freeway (not the tunnel bit) so again rail is better.

[somebody]

No noise issues as the train is unlikley to be louder than the traffic. (Could be wrong there but surely if it is built correctly?).

I think rail is quite loud, but I can assure you after living near the Capt Cook bridge that there is little that is more obtrusive than road noise.  I've also lived over the road from a loud airconditioner (high rise) and while that was probably more dB, it was constant and less obtrusive.

[#Metro]

Stumbled on this, might be of interest to the discussion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Sydney_Freight_Line

[somebody]

Stumbled on this, might be of interest to the discussion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Sydney_Freight_Line

FWIW, this is happenning largely because Sydney's main Freight yard at Chullora is within the passenger network on all sides.  Brisbane's situation is different in that the main freight yard at Acacia Ridge is outside the passenger network, at least for standard guage trains.  Also, there is an absolute freight curfew (I think 6-9am, 3-6pm) in Sydney North of Campbelltown, east of Penrith and South of Hornsby.  I think the borders could be broader than that, but I'm quite sure of those ones.