What are your priorities for public transport in 2010?

[ozbob]

Not so much of a wish list, but what are reasonable suggestions for 2010?

I will start:

On time train performance of >95% around the clock.

[ozbob]

Much improved administrative support for go card users:

a.  Direct free call number and call back service for mobile only users for fixed fare reimbursement claims and other queries for go

b.  On line form for simple claims for reimbursement fixed fares

c.  24h turnaround for reimbursement of fixed fares

Rapid response to go card equipment failures.  Days and weeks just doesn't cut it.

[somebody]

More rail services, and a commitment to come up with a decent rail timetable for use by 2011.

[#Metro]

Frequency: Abolish 1979 timetable forever. 20 minutes off-peak on all lines* during a transition period, then down to every 15 minutes from 6am-11pm, all day every day just like the BUZ.

Capacity Building: Improvements to allow higher volume of trains at higher frequencies (new link to city), grade separation, sectorisation, crossing conflicts removed etc.

Reliability: Everyone is paying more now, expectations go up too; Less track faults and whole-of-network shutdowns (is Ms Nolan going to tell us what the investigation found?)

Truth: Improper, faulty and misleading statistics need fixing - on time performance, train overcrowding; and the omission of efficiency metrics (which Perth has no problem publishing) needs fixing up. Benchmarking with Melbourne, Sydney and Perth should also be standard.

* Except Tennyson, Doomben, Rosewood and Nambour-Gympie lines.

[somebody]

And a more logical bus system.  In particular, why aren't Kelvin Grove Rd services in KGSBS?  Next priorities are putting all services to The Gap & the west in there, if they can all be made to fit.

Of course, it goes without saying that they need to sort out the counter peak issues at RCH & RB&WH, which they could do really easily if they had the willingness (note I didn't say funding?)

[stephenk]

1. Solve the inbound pm peak overcrowding issue at RCH Herston
2. Daily or weekly capping on go-card
3. 15min or shorter peak frequencies (or at least attempt to minimise those 20+min gaps)
4. 15min off-peak frequencies
5. For Translink to actually try and make public transport attractive rather than doing the opposite (due to lack of action on above points).

[somebody]

4. 15min off-peak frequencies

Seriouslty doubt that this would be achievable on all lines in 2010.

[O_128]

1.15 or 20min off peak frequencies
2. the free call emergency number in trains to compliment the emregency buttons.
3. Funding for the rest of the springfield line
4. Confirmation of cross river rail study.

[stephenk]

4. 15min off-peak frequencies

Seriouslty doubt that this would be achievable on all lines in 2010.

Where did I say "all lines"?
It is not unreasonable to expect 15min off-peak inner suburban frequencies on busier lines. It just comes down to the Government and Translink prioritising their funding. Perth, Sydney (to limited extent), Melbourne, Hamburg, Berlin, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo, Rome, Naples, Munich, Lisbon (and many more cities) all seem to manage better off-peak frequencies on their suburban rail systems than Brisbane.

[somebody]

Where did I say "all lines"?

I thought not specifying any lines or "busiest" line(s) implied all major lines.  Even if they just did Ferny Grove at least that would be something.  Caboolture is more deserving, of course.

[Fridge]

Timetables adjusted on the Sunshine Coast Line to reflect the gains from the Caboolture - Beerburrum Duplication

[Jon Bryant]

In addition to all the good suggestions I would add Bus lanes introduced on all major roads, publishing of real time transit data for use by google maps and other transit applications, private sector invitation to develop TOD development at all stations and a moretorium on freeway construction

[Fares_Fair]

TRAIN SERVICES TO COMPENSATE FOR THE 20% goCard FARE HIKES and 40% PAPER TICKET FARE HIKES

1.  A Sunshine Coast express service from Landsborough (Zone 13) through to Bowen Hills (Zone 2).
2.  More services on the Sunshine Coast line, at minimum to match [per capita] the services on Gold Coast line.
3.  Timetable to be adjusted for the Beerburrum-Caboolture duplication
     [30% time saving quoted in press release 24.12.08] as promised by no less than 2 Transport Ministers !


Regards,
Fares _Fair.

[stephenk]

1.  A Sunshine Coast express service from Landsborough (Zone 13) through to Bowen Hills (Zone 2).

Wouldn't that be a bit unfair on people who use stations Elimbah to Beewah, who may have a reduced service as a result?

It would be like suggesting a Gold Coast service to run express from Robina!

[#Metro]

It would be like suggesting a Gold Coast service to run express from Robina!

Well, it does get quite full. And people do stand from the Gold Coast all the way to Brisbane. Horrible.
I'm surprised that no-one has brought a Deep Vein Thrombosis case against QR.
I caught it once and someone almost fainted on board.

If they build the line to Gold Coast Airport, people are simply not going to fit on.
They will have to apply more and more trains until the frequency is metro-like.
The Mohring effect suggests that they are going to have to heap more services on that line.
The train is bursting like a bloated sardine can by the time it gets to Helensvale.

Its not called Bombay Express for nothing. (What names should the other lines have?)

[verbatim9]

Daily, weekly capping on the go card for sure. Its more expensive then the comparable daily paper ticket.

[stephenk]

Well, it does get quite full. And people do stand from the Gold Coast all the way to Brisbane. Horrible.

Since the March 2008 timetable only a handful of passengers have to stand the distance. In many other cities such as Tokyo and London, many passengers have to stand for much longer. I happen to have little sympathy for people who choose to live 90km from where they work.

I'm surprised that no-one has brought a Deep Vein Thrombosis case against QR.

I think you are more likely to get DVT sitting down?

If they build the line to Gold Coast Airport, people are simply not going to fit on.

Hopefully the new rail tunnel and infrastructure enhancements will have opened before then, allowing for more Gold Coast services to run.

The train is bursting like a bloated sardine can by the time it gets to Helensvale.

Based on some observations I made in May 2009, peak am trains passing through Park Rd either had a few empty seats, or only a few standing passengers. This isn't exactly a bloated sardine can is it? Yet most ex-Beenleigh and ex-Cleveland services had little standing space left.

[verbatim9]

Fix up the fare errors when travelling to the Airport with a go card. 14.50 paper ticket zone 1-2 but Go card fare 16.90 for zone 1-2?

29-Dec-09 12:06:02 PM   Touch off   Dom Airport    -16.90   *
29-Dec-09 11:15:42 AM   Touch on transfer   South Bank       
29-Dec-09 11:13:40 AM   Touch off   'South Bank' Busway Station [BT010806]    -1.12   *
29-Dec-09 10:57:13 AM   Touch on transfer   'Sunnybank' Mains Road [BT005638]       
29-Dec-09 10:56:57 AM   Touch off   'Sunnybank' Mains Road [BT005638]    -2.32   *
29-Dec-09 10:37:37 AM   Touch on   'Nottingham' Algester Road [BT010691]

[Arnz]

Well, it does get quite full. And people do stand from the Gold Coast all the way to Brisbane. Horrible.

It's not that full. My observations from 2 weeks that there are a few "backward facing" seats available on the services I observed at the time at Southbank in the afternoon peak, the standees are crowded around the doors and I hadnt seen too much standees in the aisle.  

Not to mention, IMO  GC commuters bringing their own stools are pretty much giving a bad name to the commuters of the region via  "selfishness" by hogging standing room and/or partially blocking people from getting off the train around the door area. I've observed 3 people getting on at Southbank asking people to move their stools so they can get to the few Backward facing seats available.

And another thing, the first 2 Nambour to Roma Street services in the morning peak has standees starting from Beerwah through to Central, having caught it a few times when I had early starts (and its a longer travel time than the Gold Coast Line) because the first 2 services of the morning peak are only operating as 3-car units.  They should be 6-car units, but as we know Qld Government has no money.   

Us commuters from up north do express our concerns regularly at the overcrowding on specific services (I'll admit the local newspapers up here do carry on about overcrowding like the GC newspapers), but not too many commuters carry on and take it over the top like the GC commuters bringing their own stools.

[Arnz]

1.  A Sunshine Coast express service from Landsborough (Zone 13) through to Bowen Hills (Zone 2).

Wouldn't that be a bit unfair on people who use stations Elimbah to Beewah, who may have a reduced service as a result?

It would be like suggesting a Gold Coast service to run express from Robina!

Not if they introduce a Landsborough - Roma Street sweeper leaving 10-15 mins behind the "Super Express".  However that would either require

1. The triangle siding at Landsborough to be demolished and replaced by a "electrified" turn-back siding, or
2. Empty running from Caboolture.

and most importantly getting train path/s for the "Super Express" and the Landsborough-Roma St sweeper around the assortment of Caboolture all-stoppers and expresses during the morning peak, since both trains are running different express patterns.

[ozbob]

Media Release 30 December 2009

SEQ:  Public transport commuter priorities for 2010!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has put forward a number public transport priorities for 2010! (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track Members are active public transport commuters on all modes. The key priority for 2010 is increased frequency of services, particularly rail. Gaps of 30 minutes and even an hour or more are a disincentive for travel. We note Government and Translink commitments to an extra 301,000 new public transport seats every single week (2). Where are these services?"

"To allow higher volume of trains at higher frequencies there must be ongoing capacity building such as grade separation, sectorisation, crossing conflict removal and further track duplications and triplications. The Cross River rail project is a key priority.  The Moreton Bay rail link and the line to Springfield need to be brought forward." 

"The Sunshine Coast line needs an urgent timetable review and extra rail services. Gaps and a failure to capitalise on the track upgrade between Caboolture and Beerburrum are a positive disincentive to public transport use. Why are trains without toilets frequently rostered on long haul services to Nambour?  This is very difficult for many commuters."

"Reliability of public transport must be improved."

"Improper, faulty and misleading statistics need correcting - on time performance, train overcrowding; and the omission of efficiency metrics needs fixing up. Benchmarking with Melbourne, Sydney and Perth should also be standard."

"The number of buses using the northern busway must be increased to adequately handle the counter peak congestion.  There are often long waits for commuters at both RBWH and RCH Herston busway stations.  Why build expensive busways if you are not going to run adequate services on them?"

"A 100% Go card ticketing environment requires prompt repair of broken equipment.  Improved administrative support for go card users is also needed.  A number of railway stations need more go card readers and the placement of the ticket machines in the bus stations and key bus interchanges must be done forthwith.  Fare capping and periodical options for the go card are needed to encourage maximum use of public transport."

"It is clear that the road centric transport fixation in south-east Queensland is in leading to a congestion meltdown, with a horrific impact to the community in terms of injury and death. Bus lanes should be introduced on all major roads with a moratorium on freeway construction. More roads is just encouraging more and more congestion. Redirect funding to true sustainable transport solutions."

"It is highly likely that increasing oil prices will have a significant impact in 2010 and beyond.  Now is the time to move forward with proper public transport investment to future proof transport in south-east Queensland."


References:

1. http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3190.0

2. http://download.translink.com.au/ticketing/100104_fares.pdf

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[Dean Quick]

I would like to see * A firm start on the Keperra- Ferny Grove duplication
                         * A positive outcome and firm start date on the new river crossing study
                         * A commitment to bring forward the springfield line completion date
                         * A ramp up of station improvements across the entire network
                         * A firm start on the Beerburrum to Landsborough duplication

[stephenk]

Not if they introduce a Landsborough - Roma Street sweeper leaving 10-15 mins behind the "Super Express".  However that would either require

If trains are timetabled approx every 30mins in the am peak, and your "sweeper*" service runs 10-15mins behind a "Super Express", then stations not served by the "Super Express" (Elimbah to Beerwah) would have a service gap increase of 33-50%! That isn't good, especially if the arrival times in Brisbane mean that some passengers will have to catch a service 30mins earlier than present to get to work on time.

If there was a track slot made available for an extra North Coast service into Brisbane, then allow both services to serve all stations to Caboolture. Timetables and service patterns need to me made more homogenous, not even more random than they are at present.

Out of interest, how many overcrowded North Coast peak services are either:-
1)Not a 3-car unit?
2)Not an IMU?

* A sweeper service is usually defined as an all stops service that picks up passengers left behind by a previous all stops service.

[Fridge]

Well if these sweeper services are introduced before the duplication to Landsborough is completed you might as well not run any counter-peak rail services, the two that already operate, (the Nambour Train that arrives Nambour at 7.56am and Roma St Train that departs Nambour at 4.57pm) will have to be replaced with rail buses.  For the simple fact that they already take too long as they give way to every other service heading in the opposite direction. 

[mufreight]

With infrastructure,
1. a start on construction of the new cross river link,
2. acceleration of construction of the Springfield line.
3. work to recommence on the Beerburrum - Landsbrough duplication.
4. Electrification from Rosewood to Gatton.
Operations.
1. Improved frequencies with major lines having a minimum 20 minute off peak frequency, preferably a 15 minute frequency, Ipswich - Caboolture, Ferny Grove - Clevland and Beenleigh - city.
2. realistic coordination of rail and bus services.
3. bus services such as in Ipswich to extend to 9pm or later if warranted.
4. Go card equipment that works reliably.
5. The public interface between the public and Translink improved so that it can give immediate responses to commuters including refunds on Go card malfunctions, the use of a call centre that is unable to respond in any meanimgful manner and a ten day response time, (if you are lucky) is an absurdity in itself that effectively deters commuters.      

[somebody]

1.  A Sunshine Coast express service from Landsborough (Zone 13) through to Bowen Hills (Zone 2).
2.  More services on the Sunshine Coast line, at minimum to match [per capita] the services on Gold Coast line.
3.  Timetable to be adjusted for the Beerburrum-Caboolture duplication
     [30% time saving quoted in press release 24.12.08] as promised by no less than 2 Transport Ministers !

I must side with stephenk on your point 1.  There is no way that the frequency of this line is enough to justify bringing in express services, even if the single track limitation didn't apply.  Point 3 is a no-brainer.

Other priorities for the Nambour line would surely be (in no particular order):
Beerburrum-Landsborough duplication
6 car platforms as far as Nambour
removal of the change at Caboolture: just run the service through if demand isn't enough for an express service.

4. Electrification from Rosewood to Gatton.

Why bother?  The Rosewood line has a tiny patronage; what would make it better if went to Gatton?

[mufreight]

Electrification to Gatton, the usage of the services to Rosewood at the present time justifies that service, at Gatton there is currently the University which has been further expanded over recent years with many who attend there forced to commute due to lack of residential accomodation for students within the area.
The Government is in the process of building what will be a 5000 bed prison at Gatton, a prison of that size will require 2500/3000 staff to operate and as most of the inmates visitors are financialy disadvantaged will use public transport to visit there loved ones. then there is the resident population of the Lockyer Valley area (west of Grandchester and the Little Liverpool Range) who commute to Ipswich/Brisbane on a daily basis for employment, or study which in a survey in 2008 was more than 1800 people daily.
If public transport (electrified rail) were provided there is a potential for over 4000 passenger journeys in each direction daily, surely enough to justify such a service alone without those commuters originating between Grandchester and Rosewood

[ozbob]

There are also a number of residential developments planned along the corridor Ipswich to Rosewood and further out.  I think in time it will be an important commuter rail link:

eg.

Need for the electricity infrastructure upgrade
According to the South East Queensland Regional Plan, growth in the western corridor and Ipswich is anticipated to continue at a substantial rate.
Queensland Rail (QR) has requested ENERGEX provide infrastructure to increase electricity supply to the Ipswich-Rosewood rail line at Wulkuraka to cater for the expected growth in rail traffic in the region. This request supplements ENERGEX's need to construct a new electrical substation in the adjacent Wulkuraka industrial area to provide electrical reinforcement into the Ipswich CBD, western suburbs, and the Amberley airport region.

http://www.energex.com.au/upload/whatshappening_pdf/20070723_111432_6880762.pdf

[#Metro]

Why not include Toowoomba into the Translink zone. At present they are excluded.

[stephenk]

Electrification to Gatton, the usage of the services to Rosewood at the present time justifies that service, at Gatton there is currently the University which has been further expanded over recent years with many who attend there forced to commute due to lack of residential accomodation for students within the area.
The Government is in the process of building what will be a 5000 bed prison at Gatton, a prison of that size will require 2500/3000 staff to operate and as most of the inmates visitors are financialy disadvantaged will use public transport to visit there loved ones. then there is the resident population of the Lockyer Valley area (west of Grandchester and the Little Liverpool Range) who commute to Ipswich/Brisbane on a daily basis for employment, or study which in a survey in 2008 was more than 1800 people daily.
If public transport (electrified rail) were provided there is a potential for over 4000 passenger journeys in each direction daily, surely enough to justify such a service alone without those commuters originating between Grandchester and Rosewood

Are the prison and university within walking distance of Gatton station? Or would connecting bus services have to be added to the mix?

[Arnz]

Other priorities for the Nambour line would surely be (in no particular order):
Beerburrum-Landsborough duplication
6 car platforms as far as Nambour
removal of the change at Caboolture: just run the service through if demand isn't enough for an express service.

First point is a no brainer.  

2nd point, there is already 6-car platforms up to Nambour.  Temporary extensions to short platforms north of Mooloolah opened in December.

3rd point. Nearly weekday services except 2 services already operate express, stopping at Northgate and Petrie. (The exceptions are 8:23 and 11:11am soutbound, and 9:47 and 3:53am northbound ex-Caboolture)

Weekend services are split into half.. 5 services in each direction operate express (with intermediate stops at the usual locations), whilst 4 services in each direction operate as Shuttles.  This decreases to 3-4 services express in each direction on Sundays.

What I'd be suggesting is a 2-hourly clockface timetable on Weekends, all services running through express as 3-car units, or 6-car ICEs (Gympie North).

Theres no point running all-stations to Nambour.  They just recently got rid of the last of those services in 2006 and replaced them with express services (with the effected all-stops services being cut back to Caboolture)

[Arnz]

Why not include Toowoomba into the Translink zone. At present they are excluded.

Toowooomba are a part of the QConnect system. 

If a TransLink services was introduced to Toowoomba, it would work similarly to Gympie North (the train service is TransLink, Gympie buses are Qconnect)

[somebody]

Why not include Toowoomba into the Translink zone. At present they are excluded.

The unsubsidised commercial bus service is better than anything Translink would provide.

Re: Nambour line
Good that the 6 car platforms is done

I still think that all stations to Nambour beats all to Caboolture change all to Nambour.  Perhaps all the Nambour trains should be in addition to the Caboolture trains which means running express south of Caboolture.  Probably stops at Petrie, Strathpine (maybe), Northgate and Eagle Jct.  Doesn't sound like it's a big upgrade from present, but neither would weekend 15 minute frequency to Corinda be big upgrade.

[Arnz]

I still think that all stations to Nambour beats all to Caboolture change all to Nambour.  Perhaps all the Nambour trains should be in addition to the Caboolture trains which means running express south of Caboolture.  Probably stops at Petrie, Strathpine (maybe), Northgate and Eagle Jct.  Doesn't sound like it's a big upgrade from present, but neither would weekend 15 minute frequency to Corinda be big upgrade.

Have to disagree with you on the first point.  Remaining shuttle operations are best off replaced by express services (There are paths available south of Caboolture in off-peak/weekend, its the lack of funding from the government which I believe is stopping this), and gradually reduce the shuttle services as more units are available.

For a start, the ICE that operates the 2 shuttles (in each direction) Mon-Fri are better off being extended to Roma Street, and the unit cleaned/rested at Mayne instead of being parked at Caboolture for 3 hours.

Re: Stopping patterns.  No need to change it.  Northgate and Petrie are fine as stops for the current Brisbane-Nambour/Gympie and v.v services.  The only thing I might suggest is replacing Northgate with Eagle Junction (have Shorncliffe passengers change at Eagle Junction, Airport and Doomben at the one stop).

[mufreight]

Electrification to Gatton, the usage of the services to Rosewood at the present time justifies that service, at Gatton there is currently the University which has been further expanded over recent years with many who attend there forced to commute due to lack of residential accomodation for students within the area.
The Government is in the process of building what will be a 5000 bed prison at Gatton, a prison of that size will require 2500/3000 staff to operate and as most of the inmates visitors are financialy disadvantaged will use public transport to visit there loved ones. then there is the resident population of the Lockyer Valley area (west of Grandchester and the Little Liverpool Range) who commute to Ipswich/Brisbane on a daily basis for employment, or study which in a survey in 2008 was more than 1800 people daily.
If public transport (electrified rail) were provided there is a potential for over 4000 passenger journeys in each direction daily, surely enough to justify such a service alone without those commuters originating between Grandchester and Rosewood

Are the prison and university within walking distance of Gatton station? Or would connecting bus services have to be added to the mix?

The university is within walking distance of the old and I understand now disused station at Lawes, as for those traveling to the prison both staff and visitors they will be catered for by the local bus operator as an extension of the local service, potentialy higher passenger numbers than from Nambour.
As for Toowoomba at a later date the electrification could be extended to Helidon which would enable a resumption of the old Coordinated service between Toowoomba and Helidon which could be operated by either one of the local Toowoomba operators or by Translink as a seperate service.

[Arnz]

The university is within walking distance of the old and I understand now disused station at Lawes, as por those traveling to the prison both staff and visitors they will be catered for by the local bus operator as an extension of the local service, potentialy higher passenger numbers than from Nambour.

The Nambour line has the advantage of more walk-up pax.  

Past Rosewood, however, the walk up passengers would be much lower due to the lower population inbetween Ipswich and Gatton.  The Nambour-Gympie Line also handles park and ride commuters from the Sunshine Coast, and the Sunshine Coast hinterland at the busier stations of Landsborough, Beerwah and Nambour, on top of passengers from the smaller towns the railway line serves.

Landsborough Station benefits from a lot of Park and Ride Passengers driving from the Sunshine Coast.  Not to mention it is the main interchange station of the Sunshine Coast, as well as being the most used station on the Nambour/Gympie North line per the last government patronage report.

At Landsborough, Cars are usually overflowing out on the street.  Nambour Station to a lesser extent also benefits from walk up pax from the Hinterland, especially those out in the former Noosa Shire Council areas.

[O_128]

Electrification to Gatton, the usage of the services to Rosewood at the present time justifies that service, at Gatton there is currently the University which has been further expanded over recent years with many who attend there forced to commute due to lack of residential accomodation for students within the area.
The Government is in the process of building what will be a 5000 bed prison at Gatton, a prison of that size will require 2500/3000 staff to operate and as most of the inmates visitors are financialy disadvantaged will use public transport to visit there loved ones. then there is the resident population of the Lockyer Valley area (west of Grandchester and the Little Liverpool Range) who commute to Ipswich/Brisbane on a daily basis for employment, or study which in a survey in 2008 was more than 1800 people daily.
If public transport (electrified rail) were provided there is a potential for over 4000 passenger journeys in each direction daily, surely enough to justify such a service alone without those commuters originating between Grandchester and Rosewood

Are the prison and university within walking distance of Gatton station? Or would connecting bus services have to be added to the mix?

The university is within walking distance of the old and I understand now disused station at Lawes, as por those traveling to the prison both staff and visitors they will be catered for by the local bus operator as an extension of the local service, potentialy higher passenger numbers than from Nambour.
As for Toowoomba at a later date the electrification could be extended to mHelidon which would enable a resumption of the old Coordinated service between Toowoomba and Helidon which could be operated by either one of the local Toowoomba operators or by Translink as a seperate service.

Though in our dreams to cut down travel times would it not be better to build a new alignment between Helidon and Toowoomba

[verbatim9]

Why not include Toowoomba into the Translink zone. At present they are excluded.

Yeah I so dont understand why they havent included Toowoomba in the Translink Zone. Electrified Rail to Toowoomba and Light Rail loop from Toowoomba station to the Uni and back might be a good Idea.

[Arnz]

Though in our dreams to cut down travel times would it not be better to build a new alignment between Helidon and Toowoomba

True. 

Though unfortunately this is down the list on priorities, behind the GC line extension and the Sunshine Coast Railway from Beerwah Station.  The coasts has "bigger" populations therefore its likely they'll get rail related infrastructure first before those west of Redbank.

[mufreight]

Electrification to Gatton, the usage of the services to Rosewood at the present time justifies that service, at Gatton there is currently the University which has been further expanded over recent years with many who attend there forced to commute due to lack of residential accomodation for students within the area.
The Government is in the process of building what will be a 5000 bed prison at Gatton, a prison of that size will require 2500/3000 staff to operate and as most of the inmates visitors are financialy disadvantaged will use public transport to visit there loved ones. then there is the resident population of the Lockyer Valley area (west of Grandchester and the Little Liverpool Range) who commute to Ipswich/Brisbane on a daily basis for employment, or study which in a survey in 2008 was more than 1800 people daily.
If public transport (electrified rail) were provided there is a potential for over 4000 passenger journeys in each direction daily, surely enough to justify such a service alone without those commuters originating between Grandchester and Rosewood

Are the prison and university within walking distance of Gatton station? Or would connecting bus services have to be added to the mix?

The university is within walking distance of the old and I understand now disused station at Lawes, as por those traveling to the prison both staff and visitors they will be catered for by the local bus operator as an extension of the local service, potentialy higher passenger numbers than from Nambour.
As for Toowoomba at a later date the electrification could be extended to mHelidon which would enable a resumption of the old Coordinated service between Toowoomba and Helidon which could be operated by either one of the local Toowoomba operators or by Translink as a seperate service.

Though in our dreams to cut down travel times would it not be better to build a new alignment between Helidon and Toowoomba

At over $3 billion for the new range crossing (the Grandchester to Gowrie range crossing has been planned as a concept but is directed at freight more than passenger traffic as it effectively bypasses Toowoomba) it would be a little hard to fund at this time but we live in hope that dreams may one day become fact.