Ministerial Statement: Major rail and road infrastructure on track for delivery

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
31/01/2008

Major rail and road infrastructure on track for delivery

Around $1 billion will be injected into new rail and road infrastructure in the boom western corridor of south east Queensland, Minister for Transport John Mickel announced today.

Mr Mickel said work included an upgrade of the Ipswich rail line between Corinda and Darra, a new rail line between Darra and Springfield and duplication of the adjacent Centenary Highway.

"This is about planning for the state's growth and building on Queensland's future,'' Mr Mickel said.

"The project includes the first new urban rail line to be built in the past decade and forms part of the Queensland Government's $82 billion, 20-year infrastructure plan to manage growth.

"Our aim here is to provide smart, innovative road and rail transport solutions now and for the future,'' Mr Mickel said.

The first part of the upgrade will begin immediately while the rest of the project will start in the second quarter of 2008.

"The $189 million Corinda to Darra Third Track project is the first in a series of projects to improve rail services in the west, increasing rail capacity for trains and improving rail service reliability for passengers," Mr Mickel said.

"The construction of a 5.2 km new track alongside the existing two tracks will be completed by the TrackStar Alliance, which includes QR limited.

"The project is expected to be completed by early 2010 and will include upgrades to Oxley and Darra stations with new facilities including shelters, lighting and security cameras, additional secure bike lockers and car parks, and improved access arrangements for passengers with disabilities.

"Early works started last month, including setting up the main site office near Corinda station and earthworks in the existing rail corridor and near the Cardiff Road bridge in Darra."

Mr Mickel said work on the rail line between Darra and Richlands and duplication of the Centenary Highway to four lanes to the Logan Motorway interchange would begin in May. The project is being completed by the Horizon Alliance, which includes QR limited.

He said it was expected the rail line and the duplicated highway to the Logan Motorway interchange would be operational in 2011.

"The rest of the project, which involves the continuation of the rail line to a new station at Springfield and duplication of the road through to Springfield, is planned for completion by 2015,'' Mr Mickel said.

"This western corridor is significant for the planned development of South East Queensland and timely infrastructure is essential to support expected population growth.

"The Greater Springfield area has a population of 15,000 which is expected to reach up to 120,000 in the next 15 to 20 years. This is on top of the growth in communities such as Richlands, Inala, Forest Lake and Camira.

"This rail line will support the government's public transport strategy for the area and generate new jobs, economic growth and significant investment in infrastructure and services as well as supporting Greater Springfield as an economic destination in its own right."

Mr Mickel said the Darra to Springfield Transport Corridor project was the first large-scale project in Queensland to deliver integrated road and rail infrastructure.

"Constructing the road and rail at the same time will save time, minimising disruption to residents and road users during the construction period,'' he said.

The road component of the project will continue duplication of the Centenary Highway from the new four-lane motorway link under the Boundary Road overpass initially to the Logan Motorway interchange and then in later stages through to Springfield.

Duplication of the Centenary Highway to Logan Motorway will help ease congestion in this western corridor and dovetail with planned improvements to interlinking road networks.

Minister for Main Roads Warren Pitt said the road component of the project will continue duplication of the Centenary Highway from the new four-lane motorway link under the Boundary Road overpass initially to the Logan Motorway interchange and then in later stages through to Springfield.

"Duplication of the Centenary Highway to Logan Motorway will help ease congestion in this western corridor and dovetail with planned improvements to interlinking road networks," Mr Pitt said.

Member for Inala Annastacia Palaszczuk said she welcomed the upgrade announcement.

"The completion of road works to the Logan Motorway interchange and the dual rail line from Darra to a rail station at Richlands mark the initial stage of the Darra to Springfield Transport Corridor project,'' she said.

The new station at Richlands will be built to the east of the Centenary Highway between Garden and Progress Roads. It will include a significant "park 'n' ride" facility for 650 cars, a bus interchange and passenger drop-off area.

As part of the project, construction of a new pedestrian and cycling bridge over the Centenary Highway linking Springfield and Springfield Lakes began in November 2007.

Further information on the Darra to Springfield Transport Corridor project is available on 1800 887 464, email info@horizon.incite.com.au or visit www.qr.com.au/seqip''

31 January, 2008

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[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

Four-year delay for new rail line

Four-year delay for new rail line
Tony Moore | January 31, 2008 - 2:01PM

Residents in one of South-East Queensland's fastest-growing areas face a four-year delay in getting a government-promised rail line.

Queensland's newest passenger rail line - from Darra to Springfield - will not be finished until 2015, four years behind the State Government's original estimate of 2011.

Transport Minister John Mickel this morning at Darra rail station announced the three-stage project to get the rail line from Darra to Springfield.

However, the costs for the final stage from Richlands to Springfield have still not yet been confirmed, even though a planning study went to State Cabinet in November.

The State Government originally estimated $840 million for the motorway and rail project to Springfield. However, that sum has already been allocated to build a rail line from Darra to Richlands and to widen the Centenary Highway from Darra to the Logan Motorway.

This project also includes widening the Centenary Highway from two lanes to four lanes.

The first stage includes a new 5.2 kilometre rail track between Corinda and Darra stations costing $189 million.

Work is already underway on this stretch of the project which will mean a new platform, new footbridge and 70 extra car spaces at Oxley rail station and similar work at Darra station, all to be finished by 2010.

The second stage work includes building two rail lines from the Darra station to the new Richlands station, just north of Progress Road, then widening the Centenary Highway to four lanes from the intersection at the Ipswich Motorway at Darra through to the Logan Motorway will cost just over $800 million.

The new four-lane Centenary Highway starts from under the new Boundary Road-Keliher Road overpass.

Mr Mickel said the rail line to the Richlands rail station on Pine Road and the widened Centenary Highway to the Logan Motorway would be finished by 2011.

However, Mr Mickel said the final stretch to Springfield will not be completed until 2015.

"The rest of the project, which involves the continuation of the rail line to a new station at Springfield and duplication of the road through to Springfield is planned for completion by 2015," Mr Mickel said.

This is four years after Queensland Rail originally estimated - as late as October last year - that the rail line would be linked to Springfield.

Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale and the Springfield Land Corporation are both using the 2011 finish date in their official promotional material, which can be found online.

Costs for the rail link from the new station at Richlands to Springfield were also not included in this morning's announcement, Queensland Rail confirmed.

SEQIPRail program manager John King said further research on the costs were now underway, with rail stations planned for Richlands, Ellen Grove, Springfield Lakes and Springfield.

"We need to go back and review that now," Mr King said.

"And we will be doing that bit of work between now and the end of the year, working out what that cost is."

Mr Mickel defended the delay in finally getting a rail station on the southern side of the Ipswich Motorway, despite almost 50 years of suburban growth in suburbs in Inala, Richlands, Forest Lake and west to Springfield.

"Having worked in Inala, I never want to see people go through what those people went through in the seventies when we couldn't even get a Brisbane City Council bus there," Mr Mickel said.

"At least we have the money for it now. The point is that as the area grows and expands - we have been able to fund improved bus services through that area, all through Forest Lake - but now we are delivering on a commitment where we identified a growth area and delivering on a road and rail combined, that is the great excitement of this project."

It will include a park-and-ride facility for 650 cars, a bus interchange and a passenger drop-off zone.

Local MP Anastacia Palaszczuk said the new rail line from Darra to Richlands would be a significant advantage to the Richlands, Inala, Forest Lake community.

She said the Richlands rail station - between Garden and Progress Roads - would be a tremendous advantage and include a new Brisbane City Council centre close to the station.

[ozbob]

RAIL Back On Track welcomes this commitment to the railway to Springfield, although we hope it would be sooner than indicated.

We support the construction of all planned railways stations from the outset of initial construction. This is both cost effective and will allow maximum utilisation of the railway line by all residents.

We note that the line to Richlands will be a dual track, and hope that the rest of the line is planned for duplication from the outset.




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Media Release 31 January 2008

Brisbane:  Springfield railway, better late than never!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport has welcomed the commitment from the Queensland Government to commence works for the railway to Richlands and then Springfield, although the completion date has been put back to 2015 for the Richlands to Springfield section.

Robert Dow said:

?Today?s confirmation of the railway line to Springfield is great news for all Queenslanders.?

?This is the beginning of a smart rail renaissance in Queensland.?

?We are disappointed that the line to Springfield itself will not be completed till 2015 but we are grateful for the commitment made today by Minister Mickel and the Queensland Government.?

?RAIL Back On Track has strongly supported the calls for the railway line to Springfield and we suggest that all four railway stations be built as the line is rolled out (references 1, 2).?

?A double line to Richland is a great start, and with the triplication of the line from Darra to Corinda high frequency services will be able to be introduced from Ipswich as well as Richlands and finally Springfield.?

?This line is important as the western regions of Brisbane are some of the fastest growth areas in Australia.  Looming fuel price increases and environmental costs require that rail infrastructure is lead out now.  The railway to Richlands and Springfield is very necessary.?

?As a nation we need to continue to think rail.  Adding a second 3?6? gauge line to the standard gauge corridor to Bromelton is smart!?

?Building the long awaited railway from Petrie to Kippa-Ring is essential.?

?Rail is the sustainable transport solution for the future!? said Robert Dow, spokesman for RAIL Back On Track.

References:

1. http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=246.0

2. http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=321.0

Contact:

Robert  Dow

Administration
admin@backontrack.org RAIL Back On Track
http://backontrack.org

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[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

Broken rail promise devastates Springfield

Broken rail promise devastates Springfield
Tony Moore | February 1, 2008

Stakeholders have expressed extreme disappointment in the four-year delay to bring a rail link to Springfield, arguing developers and families had invested heavily on the promise of a 2011 completion.

Transport Minister John Mickel announced yesterday that the rail line to Springfield would be built by 2015, four years later than promised.

Springfield councillor David Morrison believed the increasing costs of the State Government's water grid projects forced it to delay building the rail line to Springfield.

"Our belief is that the State Government had committed to building the rail line to Ipswich by 2011," Cr Morrison said.

"Ex-premier Beattie and our state member indicated [that] on many occasions.

"Many developers have invested heavily in the region on the weight of what has been said, and written.

"But I am still glad that the commitment is still there.

"If there is any possibility for the state to reconsider the timeframe I would encourage them to do so as the cost of construction in four years' time will be much much higher than the present costs."

Springfield currently has a population of 15,000, which is expected to reach 80,000 in 20 years, with three families moving to the suburb each day.

The State Government had originally argued the rail line could be extended through to Springfield by 2011, despite private concerns the government could not meet the deadline.

A page on Queensland Rail's website was yesterday reporting 2012 as the finishing date for the Darra to Springfield project, but it was updated late yesterday.

Representatives from the Springfield Land Corporation may meet with the State Government to discuss ways of fast-tracking the rail link.

Springfield Land Corporation (SLC) managing director Bob Sharpless yesterday said a 2011 completion was "never really locked in".

However, Mr Sharpless said SLC would meet with the Government to discuss their options.

"We are aware of the sort of priorities being faced by the Government in terms of new infrastructure," Mr Sharpless said.

"We are quite pleased that it has been formally announced.

"[We] would like to sit down with them to see if there is any way where Stage 3 (from Richlands to Springfield) can be brought forward."

An agreement between SLC and the State Government in the mid-1990s allowed the construction of the existing Centenary Highway to be completed ahead of schedule.

t is this stretch of the highway which is to be widened to four lanes, with a rail line running beside the highway to the Orion Shopping Centre at Springfield.

Mr Sharpless said the scale of the rail project - now a dual line project - was larger than first considered in the mid-1990s, and included the possibility of a future rail link through Ripley and back to Ipswich.

However, a spokeswoman for Mr Mickel, who took over the ministry from current Infrastructure Minister Paul Lucas, yesterday said the complexity of the project meant the project could no longer be "fast-tracked".

"As planning has progressed, a range of construction, safety and operational issues have been designed for," she said.

"The result will be world-class infrastructure, but it means that fast-tracking is now not an option."

On the revised timeline, the 4km rail extension from Darra to Richlands, a new state-of-the-art station at Richlands and a 5km widening of the Centenary Highway to north of the Logan Motorway Interchange will all be completed by 2011.

By 2015, the 12km track extension from Richlands to Springfield, a new station at Springfield and a widening of the Logan Motorway should be completed.

Overseeing the project is the Horizon Alliance, comprising Queensland Rail, the Department of Main Roads, John Holland Pty Ltd, Kellogg Brown and Root Pty Ltd (KBR) and GHD Pty Ltd.

The Darra to Springfield project is the first project for the the Horizon Alliance.

[ozbob]

http://www.qr.com.au/SEQIP/projects/Springfield/default.asp

Updated.



From above link:


Public displays

Come along to our staffed information displays in February 2008 to find out more about the project and talk to project team members.

Staffed displays will be held at the following locations:

Springfield
Springfield Fair Shopping Centre, Springfield Parkway, Springfield
Thursday 21 February 2008, 10am - 2pm

Orion Springfield Town Centre, 1 Main Street, Springfield Lakes
Thursday, 21 February 2008, 3pm - 7pm

Forest Lake
Forest Lake Village Shopping Centre, 235 Forest Lake Boulevard, Forest Lake
Friday, 22 February 2008, 10am - 2pm

Inala
Inala Town Centre, Corsair Avenue, Inala
Saturday, 23 February, 10am - 2pm

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

Traders left trackside over Springfield rail link

Traders left trackside over Springfield rail link
Tony Moore | February 2, 2008 - 5:11AM

Retailers at a Springfield shopping mall say they can't understand why the centre is set to undergo a massive expansion when a planned rail link to the area has been delayed by four years.

On Thursday, Transport Minister John Mickel said the new rail line will not reach the expanding shopping centre until 2015, with retailers reporting they bought in to Orion Shopping Centre expecting the rail line to be finished by 2011.

Construction on a 60,000 square metre, $70 million expansion of Orion Shopping Centre is set to start this year, with plans for it to one day become the largest shopping centre in Australia.

But shopkeepers are questioning why the new rail line has been delayed when the shopping centre is about to be expanded.

Coffee Club franchisee Peter Ribes said the rail line was one of the key reasons he bought in to the Orion Shopping Centre.

"Certainly the rail line coming out here was one of the reasons why we bought the franchise at the Orion Shopping Centre," Mr Ribes said.

"So it is disappointing that it is not going to be here as soon as it was anticipated."

He said the rail line would bring extra foot traffic to the centre and boost business.

About Specs owner Rod Houston said he too was under the impression the rail line was coming to Springfield by 2011.

Mr Houston previously worked in a business working on the Beenleigh-Gold Coast rail line and the Springfield line was one reason he bought his optometry business at Orion.

"We originally thought 2011 - but 2015 - that's a long way off."

Yvette Tattan from Mary Ryan Bookstores said the decision to delay the rail line was short-sighted given the rapid expansion of the shopping centre.

"It is going to be the biggest shopping centre in the Southern Hemisphere, so not to have public transport out to here is a bit crazy isn't it," Ms Tattan said.

Rhonda Diffey from the Nextra Orion newsagency said she thought plans for the rail line were "coming along nicely".

Patisserie owner Laszlo Lanczos said all the traders were disappointed.

"We had all heard about [the rail line]. We thought it would help bring people here to the centre.

"[But] 2015 is too late. It should be here by 2011."

Opposition infrastructure spokeswoman Fiona Simpson said the delay raised concerns that the Government could not afford its own $82 billion infrastructure plan.

Ms Simpson said she believed that the rising costs of key parts of the South-East Queensland Water Grid had forced the State Government to reshedule the project into stages and push back the link to Springfield.

"We want to make sure that [the Government] is going to correctly plan its infrastructure development plan," she said.

"We have to make sure that they do this and we don't end up with a 200 kilometre gridlock."

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

More trains to Ipswich, and faster: Mayor

More trains to Ipswich, and faster: Mayor
Tony Moore | February 1, 2008 - 12:03AM

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale says the extra rail line planned between Corinda and Darra could mean more express trains along the Ipswich line.

He welcomed the commitment of approximately $1 billion to transport infrastructure in the western corridor, but was surprised to learn the rail line would not be finished until 2015, a delay of four years on earlier projections.

"The announcement today that works will commence next month on the Darra to Richlands section of the proposed Springfield Rail line is great news for our city," Cr Pisasale said.

"The third track to be built between Corinda and Darra will also benefit Ipswich line commuters when it is completed by early 2010.

"This will hopefully lead to more express trains between Ipswich and Brisbane and a reduction in travel times between the two centres.

"The 2006-26 South-East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program identifies 2016 as the estimated completion of rail to Springfield.

"It is tremendous that the State Government has now committed to 2015 for the completion of this important project.

"This is another significant step forward in opening up the western corridor through Springfield and the Ripley Valley," Cr Pisasale said.