Light rail at Gladstone?

[ozbob]

I just caught a news bulletin that seemed to suggest a light rail transport solution is under consideration for Gladstone?



Huh?

[ozbob]

From ABC News click here!

Resources sector growth putting pressure on councils

Resources sector growth putting pressure on councils

By Chris O'Brien

Central Queensland mayors says they are happy with today's talks in Brisbane about the infrastructure challenges of the resources sector.

The Galilee Bowen Basin Council of Mayors has met with State Government officials.

Whitsunday Mayor Mike Brunker says they want to streamline the planning process.

"To save us getting together and saying 'you show me yours and I'll show you mine'," he said.

"We want a strategic approach to these major companies."

The new Mayor of Gladstone, Gail Sellers, says there is a lot to grasp.

"I think I'm four days in the job so I'm trying to [understand]," she said.

"I've been there for 20 years so most of it I have under control."

Rockhampton Mayor Brad Carter says they have discussed a light rail link to Gladstone.

"To allow workers to live in Rockhampton and commute to Gladstone for work and for people in Gladstone commuting to Rockhampton for health and social services," he said.

The mayors will also meet with the Federal Government.

[Gazza]

To allow workers to live in Rockhampton and commute to Gladstone for work and for people in Gladstone commuting to Rockhampton for health and social services," he said.

How about having people work in Gladstone live in Gladstone, and then provide health and social services, in Gladstone. Radical idea I know.

Woo, 90km on light rail to commute every day, boy that'd be a fun way to spend a couple of hours a day  Right up there with eating cat hair, and poking myself in the eye with a fork.

Doesn't matter how much energy per passenger light rail uses compared to cars, encouraging people to live such a long distance from work when they don't absolutely need to is stupid and unsustainable, and a waste of taxpayers $$$ to shuttle them around.

[#Metro]

What? 
Even I think this idea is a bit crazy 
90km? Maybe they should just ask for more tilt train services?

90km commute, with nothing much in between.

[longboi]

Somehow I think our friends up North aren't entirely familiar with the various types of rail systems available.

[BrizCommuter]

encouraging people to live such a long distance from work when they don't absolutely need to is stupid and unsustainable, and a waste of taxpayers $$$ to shuttle them around.

Try telling that to Sunshine Coast commuters 

[Stillwater]

A lot of commerce takes place between Rockhampton and Gladstone, as is the case with Toowoomba-Warwick, Toowoomba-Dalby, Toowoomba-Gatton and Toowoomba-Kingaroy.  Toowoomba is the major service town for the region.

Rockhampton serves that function for Central Queensland, but not everyone is suggesting that everyone from Emerald and Gladstone should pack up and move there.

Here is an interesting submission regarding transport improvements in and around Rockhampton:

http://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/public_submissions/published/files/419_rockhamptonregionalcouncil_SUB.pdf

Of particular note are these words:  The Australian Government is encouraging the State Government to improve the freight
efficiency of the North Coast Rail Line to accommodate 1500m long trains and higher travel speeds.

I wonder if that applies further south, where passing loops on the Sunshine Coast and North Coast lines are only half that, thereby placing severe operational constraints on both lines for effective freight and passenger train operations.

[somebody]

Try telling that to Sunshine Coast commuters 

What about the Gold Coast ones!?

[Fares_Fair]

Try telling that to Sunshine Coast commuters 

What about the Gold Coast ones!?

Brizcommuter seems to have a regular issue with the Sunshine Coast commuter, so I'm not surprised.  
It's a free country (ok, in debt then).

Regards,
Fares_Fair

[ButFli]

Why does it have to be "light" rail? Why not send a few EMUs up there to run the service? The track is already electrified. The stations are already there. How hard can it be?

[Arnz]

Some of the ICEs being sent up would be a better fit considering the ICEs are doing less work in the proposed draft timetable to be implemented next year. (ICEs are currently only allocated to Gympie North runs + some weekend Nambour-Caboolture shuttles)

[#Metro]

Why can't they just run more normal trains or tilt trains? It could be done with dual mode light rail, but why bother getting an entirely new vehicle when you could just use standard ones?