Article: Traveston rail stop on death row

[ozbob]

From the Gympie Times click here!

Traveston rail stop on death row


http://media.apnonline.com.au/img/media/images/2010/03/24/GGT_25-03-2010_EGN_06_120902c1125traveston_1__fct387x238x113_t325.jpg

Traveston rail stop on death row

Carly Morrissey | 25th March 2010

QUEENSLAND Rail has warned Gympie Regional Council it will not upgrade the Traveston train station and means to close it down.

QR has just finished a study to determine whether the station's heritage-listed waiting room can be retained, despite its dilapidated state.

The council had earlier written to QR asking about the future of the Traveston station and QR's reply recommended closing it down at some time in the future.

The letter stated TransLink had informed QR that upgrading the station to required standards was not feasible, given the "extremely low level" of passenger traffic using the station, as well as the considerable cost involved in any upgrade.

In its correspondence to the council, QR noted that Cooran station was only about five kilometres from Traveston and had disability access and bus transfer services. These services were not available at the Traveston station.

Deputy Mayor Tony Perrett said there was no plan for Traveston station, but this was not unexpected.

Cr Graham Engeman said it was a shame the "required standards" would affect everyone who used the facility.

He said it had been used for many years, although it was not up to standard. It was a question of what the government could afford, he said.

Julie Walker said unfortunately the weather boards of the old waiting room had suffered considerable termite damage, so the structure was no longer "perfectly good".

She said her son used the station and now would have to 5km further to Cooran.

The dilapidated waiting room is covered in pigeon droppings and has been cordoned off for safety for some time. Now, however, people waiting for trains have to do so out in the open.

[Sunbus610]

The low level patronage could be due a bit the shabby station/platform facilities there at the moment, it will be disappointing to see Traverston railway station close 

[ozbob]

Media Release 29 March 2010

Queensland:  Rail safety balance needed

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 said media reports of a potential closure of the Kuranda line are a knee-jerk and excessive response (1).  An obsession with rail safety is approaching absurdity.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The rail line up to Kuranda is an engineering masterpiece.  Landslides, avalanches, earthquakes and tidal waves are a fact of life on earth. The rail line is essential to the local economy and besides millions of tourists have safely made the trip.  A minor incident is not cause to close the rail line.  The provision of a pilot track vehicle running ahead of the tourist train would allow the identification of any recent landslips, a rare event in any case.  The obsession with rail safety is out of hand. Mayhem, injury death and destruction continues unabated on the nation's roads, as a community we should be maximising rail travel not reducing it."

"To often it seems we face shut-downs and loss of service due to claims of 'rail safety'.  For goodness sakes, rail travel is at least 40 times safer than road.  Any risk assessment soon identifies that replacing a rail service with a road service is dangerous to the extreme."

"Plans to close Traveston railway station again send the wrong signal (2).  It matters little that few people use the station, partly because of the very poor train frequency.  Rather than close the station, more trains and an upgrade would mean better utilisation by the community. Victoria has done this with their VLine country services and patronage is booming (3). Queensland is just interested it seems in rail cutbacks, which in turn increases the road trauma and damage debit list."

"It is time that a long hard look was taken at the so called rail 'safety policies' that are causing interference to perfectly safe workings. Constant disruption and loss of service for so called safety reasons is wearing thin."

References:

1. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/safety-concerns-may-cause-kuranda-line-to-be-closed/story-e6freoof-1225846582527

2. http://www.gympietimes.com.au/story/2010/03/25/qr-sounds-death-knell-on-traveston-rail-stop/

3. http://www.vline.com.au/index.aspx?sid=0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Sources have suggested that Traveston railway station is to now remain in use.

[colinw]

Sources have suggested that Traveston railway station is to now remain in use.

As it darn well should, particularly with Gympie services increased recently. Hopefully we will eventually see V/Line levels of service to Gympie, Maryborough & maybe even Bundaberg, but until then we should at least be retaining what we have (services and stations).

[somebody]

How many use it?

[colinw]

I'm guessing not many, but that it is probably the ONLY public transport option for those who do.

[Stillwater]

Those who do use it are from around the Mary Valley.  This is where the government siezed the houses and farms and virtually ran people off them to make way for the Traveston Crossing Dam that the federal government stopped on environmental grounds.  Recently, the government announced that it will put the houses back on the market, but it will take years to get the population back into the valley.  A new more direct route between the valley and the station is being constructed, with a new bridge over the Mary River. The junction of Traveston Road (where the station is) and Traveston Crossing Road will be realigned and a commercial / light industrial and service centre established there.  This activity could attract additional patronage.  It would be wrong to wipe the station without first monitoring a growth in patronage brought about by the Mary Valley reconstruction plan.

[Stillwater]

Today was the day designated for completion of the termite eradication program, so will be interesting to see if the dunny-like waiting shed is operating once again.  The Bruce Highway upgrade now includes a high-level bridge over the Mary River and more direct access to the Mary Valley, including a new link for Traveston Road and Traveston Crossing Road, thereby providing a quicker access from the Mary Valley to Traveston station, so there might be a bit more action there once the roadworks are finished next year.

[ozbob]

   I might go up to Traveston in a couple of weeks.  Catch the Gympie Lander and detrain at Traveston.  Enjoy a packed lunch and join the train on the return journey! 

[johnnigh]

Ah, Bob, a true train man, who detrains. I think I'd merely alight, or even just leave, the train.    But what's in a word?
Cheers,
John

[ozbob]

Indeed, and after a nice luncheon on the platform (I will probably be alone .. )  I will entrain!

:bi

[Arnz]

You could probably keep an eye out for some interesting sightings passing through Traveston from the platform, or the surrounding area!

[Set in train]

Today was the day designated for completion of the termite eradication program, so will be interesting to see if the dunny-like waiting shed is operating once again.  The Bruce Highway upgrade now includes a high-level bridge over the Mary River and more direct access to the Mary Valley, including a new link for Traveston Road and Traveston Crossing Road, thereby providing a quicker access from the Mary Valley to Traveston station, so there might be a bit more action there once the roadworks are finished next year.

Is this part of the Cooroy to Curra road upgrade? I'd be keen to see plans of that, reads very well.

[Stillwater]

The Traveston station restoration (hardly an 'upgrade') is a separate project to the Cooroy to Curra Upgrade.  A 12km realignment and widening to four lanes is under way between Federal and Kybong, south of Gympie.  It will be completed substantially next year, but work will continue on a new high-level bridge over the Mary River.  It will provide a more direct road route between the Mary Valley and the Bruce Highway.

[ozbob]

A couple of us plan to travel to Traveston on Tuesday 22nd November, travelling on the day Gympie Lander.  Anyone interested in coming along for the day is welcome to join us.

Depart Roma St 9.33am, arrive Traveston 12.17pm

Depart Traveston 1.42pm

Arrive Roma St 4.21pm

Traveston station information

http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/AllStations/Pages/AllStations.aspx

Traveston
Address
Traveston Road
Traveston  Queensland
4570    
Zones
23
Contact
Tel: N/A
Fax:     
Station Office
Yes

Office Hours
N/A

After Dark Hours
N/A
Facilities Description
Car Bays
0
Nearby Stations
Gympie North
Cooran

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

[SurfRail]

Love to do this one, but I will be working during the day and attending a meeting on the Coast in the evening.

[Stillwater]

At this stage, count me in.

[cartoonbirdhaus]

I can make it too.

[ozbob]

    

[ozbob]

Hey, at this rate there is going to be a massive spike in pax load data at Traveston!   

[mufreight]

Hey, at this rate there is going to be a massive spike in pax load data at Traveston!   

No problem Ozbob, Translink will simply class it as a statistical anomoly and ignore it having already decided on a course of action to close it.

[Stillwater]

Plan is to keep it open at this stage, Mufreight.

[QGT]

At this stage also Count me In! 

[ozbob]

 

[mufreight]

At this stage also Count me In! 

Definately our plan, the question is despite what QR says what is Translink's plan and can it be believed anyway?

[ozbob]

Plan to be at Roma St by 8am or so on day. Might have breakfast upstairs ...

Remember to bring some cool drinks and something to eat, nothing much at Traveston other than the station as such and it is bit hard to eat that .. although the termites gave it a good workout ..

[Stillwater]

And a hat, although there is a shady tree to sit under, on the side opposite the station.

[ozbob]

Traveston has a sad history, Rocky Mail rail disaster at Traveston, 1925  here!

Photograph at the State Library of Queensland --> http://hdl.handle.net/10462/deriv/60517

[Stillwater]

No doubt, as we will find when the final floods inquiry report is received, commissions of inquiry uncover valuable evidence that can prevent history repeating itself.  Given the current debate about the condition of the North Coast Line, these words from the attachment to Ozbob's post are worthy of note:

Ganger, Michael Lourigan, said he had reached the scene of the accident at 4.10am on the morning of the disaster. He had inspected the line from the point of the accident to where derailment had originally occurred but saw nothing present to indicate that the track was out of order.  Lourigan said there was nothing to indicate that the derailment was due to excessive speed. He told the enquiry that due to increased traffic on the North Coast line, it had been more difficult to keep the line up to first class standard.  Lourigan also said that the B17 class locomotives were very hard on the track which was built for far lighter traffic that it was now receiving.

[Stillwater]

Contrary to popular belief in high circles, the restoration of the Traveston station is not finished.  It has just begun.  QR crews will be on site for the next two weeks.  The termite damage is extensive, caused obstensibly after go-card readers were installed several years ago.  The concrete pad on which the readers sit was shored up with dirt touching the woodwork.  This allowed the termites to enter the floor and joists.  They were removed today, as was the wooden seat.  While the work is classed as 'restoration', much of the termite-ridden timber will have to be replaced.  The Yandia goods shed, which had been affected by termites, has been refurbished recently.  

For those travelling to Traveston on Tuesday 22 November, water is available at the Memorial Hall, opposite the station.  The toilets there are locked during the day.  Nearby trees are in need of irrigation.  Bring lunch, don't expect to buy a pie at the shop.  There is no shop.

[Fares_Fair]

I think I'll come along for the ride also ... work will still be there waiting for me on Wednesday.
Besides, it'll be good to see the rest of my beloved North Coast Line.

See you all at Roma Street at about 8:10am (if train on time).


Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Fares_Fair]

Hey, at this rate there is going to be a massive spike in pax load data at Traveston!  

Looks like there will be a long queue (comparatively) at the lone go card reader.  
Better allow extra dwell time.

EDIT 22.11.2011 at 7:35pm: Correction, there were 2 Go card readers at Traveston

[Stillwater]

It's Traveston - customers must alight from the front door of the lead car only.  People will have to queue to get out the door of the ICE too.

[ozbob]

 

[ozbob]

I think I'll come along for the ride also ... work will still be there waiting for me on Wednesday.
Besides, it'll be good to see the rest of my beloved North Coast Line.

See you all at Roma Street at about 8:10am (if train on time).


Regards,
Fares_Fair.

Join us for a coffee upstairs ...

[p858snake]

Hey, at this rate there is going to be a massive spike in pax load data at Traveston!  

Looks like there will be a long queue (comparatively) at the lone go card reader.  
Better allow extra dwell time.

There is two in this pic, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:QR_Traveston_Railway_Station.JPG unless one has been removed.

[ozbob]

I am upstairs Roma St near the Donut King shop.  

Passed an UP coalie just UP from Oxley travelling in.  The coalie was on the UP sub and had nearly stopped waiting for clearance at Pannard.

Also got a brief mention of Traveston Station on 612 ABC Breakfast this morning too .... 

[ozbob]

Timetable for today.

Depart Roma St 9.33am, arrive Traveston 12.17pm

Luncheon

Depart Traveston 1.42pm

Arrive Roma St 4.21pm

[ozbob]

Just leaving Bowen Hills,  ICE 5151A  (car one)  ....