Ministerial Statement: Trains getting ready to roll from Richlands

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan
10/01/2011

Trains getting ready to roll from Richlands

Hundreds of new public transport customers will have access to train services when the state-of-the-art Richlands station opens for business from Monday 24January.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said a special community day will take place on Sunday 23 January to mark the opening of the new station.

The first passenger train service to run from Richlands Station will be at 5.40am on Monday morning the next day

"The community day is an opportunity for people and particularly school children on the last day of their holidays, to see the new station for the first time," Ms Nolan said.

"Similar to the openings of the Gateway Bridge and Clem7, people will be able to take their time, walk through the station and inspect this new state-of-the-art facility in safety.

"It's part of a vital new rail corridor that will service one of Brisbane's fastest growing regions and ultimately extend to Springfield by 2013.

"The new Richlands train station includes a bus interchange for up to four buses at a time, a park 'n' ride with 650 car parks, secure storage for 88 bicycles and 32 bike racks, 15 kiss 'n' ride bays and three taxi zones," she said.

An interim timetable will consist of 10 morning peak and 12 afternoon peak trains, including some all-stations trains between Richlands and the CBD, as well as shuttles between Richlands and Darra stations.

The timetable will run from 24 January until the new Ipswich and Caboolture timetable is finalised and begins operating during the first half of 2011.

Customers will have the option to park 'n' ride at the station, or use the two new suburban feeder bus routes which will service Richlands station from day one.

Route 465 (Heathwood via Forest Lake shops to Richlands) and Route 466 (Willawong via Inala to Richlands) will be delivered by Brisbane City Council and run seven days a week.

Route 462 (Darra station to Forest Lake and Inala) will also have a new timetable to provide a feeder service to nearby Darra station.

"I would like to invite all local residents and train enthusiasts to come along on Sunday 23 January for the station opening," Ms Nolan said.

"Buses on the new routes 465 and 466 will run free of charge on the Sunday from 9.30am to 2.30pm.

"There will also be free shuttle buses operating to and from the event plus entertainment and food stalls."

Queensland Rail has advised there will be a track closure between Corinda and Rosewood on the weekend of the 22 and 23 January while the finishing touches are made to the overhead power grid for trains operating between the Richlands and Ipswich lines.

The interim Richlands line train timetable, changes to local bus services, free event shuttle buses, and track closure information is available at www.translink.com.au or phone 13 12 30, anytime.

[p858snake]

"I would like to invite all local residents and train enthusiasts to come along on Sunday 23 January for the station opening," Ms Nolan said.

Queensland Rail has advised there will be a track closure between Corinda and Rosewood on the weekend of the 22 and 23 January while the finishing touches are made to the overhead power grid for trains operating between the Richlands and Ipswich lines.

Why invite the train fans.... It's not like there is going to be any there.

I bet this line isn't capable of steam is it, if it's just a matter of no power to that section on the day?

[ozbob]

http://www.translink.com.au/travel-information/services-and-timetables/event-transport/details/346

Richlands train station opening

In brief

    * Dates:Sunday, 23 January to Sunday, 23 January
    * Start:10:00am
    * Finish:2:00pm

Public transport services to the event

Hundreds of new public transport customers will have access to train services when the state-of-the art Richlands station opens for operation on Monday 24 January 2011.

Scheduled services

Use the journey planner or call TransLink on 13 12 30.

Normal TransLink ticketing and fares apply on all TransLink bus and train services.

In addition, free bus shuttles will commence at 9.30am with last service leaving Richlands at 2:30pm.

Shuttles will run continuously through the day from the following locations:

    * Corinda train station – Browne St
    * Darra train station – Manburgh Tce
    * Wacol train station – Akenside St
    * Inala Civic Shopping Centre bus interchange – stopping all stops on bus route 460 through Forest Lake
    * Orion Town Centre, Springfield, stopping at Woodcrest State College (Nev Smith Drive).

The two new scheduled services will also operate free-of-charge from 9.30am to 2.30pm for the opening event:

    * Route 465 (Heathwood to Richlands)
    * Route 466 (Willawong to Richlands)

Both services run seven days a week and provide dedicated bus to train connections from Richlands Station.

Public transport services from the event

Scheduled services

Use the journey planner or call TransLink on 13 12 30.

Normal TransLink ticketing and fares apply on all TransLink bus and train services.

Other information

From the first train on Saturday 22 January until the last train on Sunday 23 January, all train services on the Ipswich/Rosewood line between Corinda and Rosewood will be replaced by buses.

Find out more about the Richlands station interim train timetable.

Buses will stop all stations between Corinda and Rosewood in both directions. Passengers are advised that delays of up to 30 minutes may be experienced.

TransLink thanks passengers for their understanding and patience.

Further information

Please visit queenslandrail.com.au for more information.

[AnonymouslyBad]

Wow, with this community day and all those free buses serving it, the opening day must cost just as much as the line itself!

[ClintonL94]

I bet this line isn't capable of steam is it, if it's just a matter of no power to that section on the day?

There actually is a steam train going to Richlands provided by ARHS on the 5th March

Details here

Anyone interested to attend this steam train event?

Considering steam is capable to run on this line, there could've been steam shuttles but the track work avoids this..

[ozbob]

Media release 11 January 2011

SEQ: Richlands railway station opening, two important things missing

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 welcomed the opening of the Richlands rail station on the 23rd of January 2011, with the regular rail services commencing on the 24th January 2011 (1).

"The opening of the Richlands railway station will mark the beginning of a rail extension to Springfield."

"Rail Back on Track has previously called for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) feeder buses to Richlands station to make public transport a real option for residents of Forest Lake, Doodanella, Ellen Grove and Inala (2). High frequency buses to rail have been shown to be critically important in collecting patronage, such as in Perth (3) and also supports Transit Oriented Development (TOD) (4).  Without these, we believe patronage will be lower than it could be. The new bus routes to feed Richlands railway station from nearby suburbs are very welcome."

"It is disappointing that a track closure from Corinda to Rosewood coincides with the open day at Richlands railway station on the 23rd January 2011 and which means rail services will not be running for the opening. The arrangements for shuttle bus on the day will however allow access to the new station."

"The lack of a direct bus service from Springfield to Richlands railway station is of concern however.  A bus route replicating the Springfield railway line would allow a much more direct access for residents of the greater Springfield area into the rest of the public transport network at Richlands railway station, rather than bus via Goodna railway station."

"We have been close observers of the Darra to Richlands railway project for many years, and congratulate all at the construction team on a job very well done!"

References:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5228.0

2. SEQ: Feed rail when Richlands opens!
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4805.0

3. Rockingham City Centre Transit System
http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/Projects/CompletedProjects/RockinghamCityCentreTransitSystem/tabid/81/Default.aspx

4. SEQ: Richlands rich in Transit Oriented Development potential
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4805.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org