Future projects poll

[#Metro]

A list of potential rail projects.     
Everybody has 3 votes, so use all of your votes and pick your top three.
Any that are missed, post here.

[Golliwog]

I voted as follows:
Keperra-FG duplication - Once this and the included 3rd platform at FG are built it pretty much makes this line contraints free asides from the inner city constraints and turn around times at FG.

Ellen Grove and Springfield lakes stations - While not 100% necessary from the starting of the line, it makes little sense to not build them now and come back later to put them in. Plus the sooner they are in, the sooner people can start chaning their commutes.

4th platform at Oxley and 4th track electrification - Similar to above however given that once the Corinda to Darra quad and the Springfield line is built all stations between Darra and the city would be quads bar Oxley and only having 3 electrified lines would put constraints on timetabling that could so easily be removed.

[#Metro]

Feel free to spruik your pet projects 

[somebody]

Seems that there isn't a clear winner here, although Beerburrum-Landsborough duplication is out in front by 1 vote.

[#Metro]

There isn't a clear winner as there are many options, but a closer look shows that upgrades on the Sunshine Coast line - CAMCOS (6 votes) and the Landsborough duplication (6 votes) are well supported.

So I would say Sunshine Coast Line upgrades, from the poll results.

[somebody]

There isn't a clear winner as there are many options, but a closer look shows that upgrades on the Sunshine Coast line - CAMCOS (6 votes) and the Landsborough duplication (6 votes) are well supported.

So I would say Sunshine Coast Line upgrades, from the poll results.

Interestingly, Trouts Rd, which is deemed by some to be a Trainspotter (Foaming) Fantasy idea, is equal with that now!

I can't see Trouts Rd without a tunnel from Enoggera to the CBD.

[#Metro]

Trouts road does have merit. It could be another route to share the freight load.
It opens up areas on the fringes of the city, and the land for it is already reserved, which should keep a lid on housing resumptions and project costs.

Coupled with a feeder bus network to extend the reach of rail, it should get enough patronage.

Its either railway or multi-lane freeway bypass if you ask me.
Dressing up a freeway proposal dating back to the 1965 Wilbur Smith Freeway Plan with bus lane and veloway decoys isn't going to cut it, unfortunately. I hope nearby residents like spaghetti junction multi-level stacked interchanges.

Even if it does need a tunnel (I have not looked into this at all, so I can't say for sure) this has to be balanced against the need for a tunnel at the other end if it is a road.


An example of a local feeder network (illustration purpose only) from the Newstead-Bulimba-Cleveland maps thead:

[#Metro]

Trouts Rd thread now updated with an ideas map.
All the usual warnings about speculative ideas threads applies. ---> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3629.0

[mufreight]

Perhaps when considering these ideas it might be well worth factoring in the curve radius and gradients for these lines, if the proposed line via Trouts Road were to be built the costs of achieving grades of less than 1 in  60 would be quite considerable and were the line to used as a freight line it would need grades of less than 1 in 100 with no curves less than 800m radius, a big and costly ask.

[colinw]

I voted CAMCOS, Landsborough Duplication and "Other".

My "Other" vote is for post-CRR phase 1 extension of CityTrain as additional track adjacent to the Interstate line.  Initially as far as Greenbank (stations at Acacia Ridge, Algester, Parkinson, Johnson Rd Hillcrest for Browns Plains, Boronia Heights & Greenbank), followed by an extension to the Flagstone urban development areas (intermediate station at Pub Lane).

[#Metro]

I voted CAMCOS, Landsborough Duplication and "Other".

My "Other" vote is for post-CRR phase 1 extension of CityTrain as additional track adjacent to the Interstate line.  Initially as far as Greenbank (stations at Acacia Ridge, Algester, Parkinson, Johnson Rd Hillcrest for Browns Plains, Boronia Heights & Greenbank), followed by an extension to the Flagstone urban development areas (intermediate station at Pub Lane).

That would count as a vote for Sunnybank-Browns Plains (the 2nd option via interstate line)

Perhaps when considering these ideas it might be well worth factoring in the curve radius and gradients for these lines, if the proposed line via Trouts Road were to be built the costs of achieving grades of less than 1 in  60 would be quite considerable and were the line to used as a freight line it would need grades of less than 1 in 100 with no curves less than 800m radius, a big and costly ask.

Agreed, though any project is going to be costly. It would be easier, but less of a good idea, to put a freeway in then. Cost seems to be no object if things like $465 million dollar 1km busways get the green light.

[somebody]

Perhaps when considering these ideas it might be well worth factoring in the curve radius and gradients for these lines, if the proposed line via Trouts Road were to be built the costs of achieving grades of less than 1 in  60 would be quite considerable and were the line to used as a freight line it would need grades of less than 1 in 100 with no curves less than 800m radius, a big and costly ask.

I do not see why Trouts Rd would be used for freight.

[colinw]

That would count as a vote for Sunnybank-Browns Plains (the 2nd option via interstate line)

Eh, I don't see a 2nd option there?  Have I missed a thread somewhere?

In any case, I want to get the rail system to Browns Plains, Greenbank & Flagstone.  The Mt Lindesay Hwy is the ONLY major arterial road out of Brisbane that doesn't have a corresponding passenger rail line.

[#Metro]

Thanks to everyone who voted!

[somebody]

That would count as a vote for Sunnybank-Browns Plains (the 2nd option via interstate line)

Eh, I don't see a 2nd option there?  Have I missed a thread somewhere?

Before you joined.

I think they are different things though.  Sunnybank-Browns Plains was to be a Gowan Rd line AIUI.  colinw wanted an SG alignment line.

In any case, I want to get the rail system to Browns Plains, Greenbank & Flagstone.  The Mt Lindesay Hwy is the ONLY major arterial road out of Brisbane that doesn't have a corresponding passenger rail line.

The Westlander hardly counts as a passenger service.  The XPT on SG is far better, and that's not too far from the Mt Lindesay Hwy.

[colinw]

That would count as a vote for Sunnybank-Browns Plains (the 2nd option via interstate line)

Eh, I don't see a 2nd option there?  Have I missed a thread somewhere?

Before you joined.

I think they are different things though.  Sunnybank-Browns Plains was to be a Gowan Rd line AIUI.  colinw wanted an SG alignment line.

Gowan road?  I don't think so!  The construction & resumption costs would be astronomical.  It would be insanity to take a branch off the Beenleigh Line anywhere in the stretch from Banoon to Kuraby, as you would have to resume a lot of properties, overcome some steep grades and probably tunnel (or build elevated along a road like Pinelands Rd).  Madness when the interstate corridor already exists and is for the most part wide enough to take extra tracks.  The kind of costs that would be incurred for a line from Sunnybank to Browns Plains might be justified in the CBD, but in an area of low density sprawl they are not, particularly when there is an existing rail corridor that is severely under-utilised.

In any case, I want to get the rail system to Browns Plains, Greenbank & Flagstone.  The Mt Lindesay Hwy is the ONLY major arterial road out of Brisbane that doesn't have a corresponding passenger rail line.

The Westlander hardly counts as a passenger service.  The XPT on SG is far better, and that's not too far from the Mt Lindesay Hwy.

Oops, looks like I wasn't clear enough.

I meant within suburban / interurban distances, not long distance, i.e. as far as Browns Plains, Greenbank, Flagstone & Beaudesert/Bromelton.  The XPT doesn't even stop at Greenbank any more, but the western corridor at least has the Rosewood Line (which I would very much like to see extend to Gatton eventually).  

What I meant was :-

- A1 / M1 / Bruce Highway to north -> Caboolture Line & Nambour services + tilt trains, etc.
- M3 / M1 to south -> Beenleigh Line + Gold Coast line
- A7 / M7 Ipswich Motorway & Warrego Hwy to west -> Ipswich/Rosewood Line
- M5 / A5 Centenary Hwy to south west > soon to have Springfield & eventually Ripley line.

But the Mt Lindesay Highway has NOTHING.  A daily XPT which doesn't even stop.

In any case, I don't even think of either the Westlander or XPT as meaningful or useful passenger services - frankly I wouldn't give a damn if either closed down and left their respective lines free for freight-only operation.  The future of Brisbane - Sydney passenger rail is decline & closure unless we get serious with an east coast high speed rail system.  As for the Westlander, it doesn't deserve to survive in its present form.   A higher speed DMU to Charleville running at least daily might constitute a decent service, the Westlander doesn't.  And as far as Toowoomba will need to be developed as a real interurban service - but not on the current alignment.

[somebody]

I think they are different things though.  Sunnybank-Browns Plains was to be a Gowan Rd line AIUI.  colinw wanted an SG alignment line.

That may be, but that was the proposal.