Ministerial Statement: Extra services to begin on new Mitchelton to Keperra

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
21/02/2008

Extra services to begin on new Mitchelton to Keperra track

Passengers will benefit from extra train services on the busy Ferny Grove line from Monday following the opening of the $46 million track and station upgrade between Mitchelton and Keperra.

Minister for Transport John Mickel and Member for Ferny Grove Geoff Wilson officially opened the new 2.5 km section of track today at Grovely Station.

"The completion of this project will provide a range of benefits to north-west Brisbane passengers," Mr Mickel said.

"From the end of March, all three-carriage trains during peak hour on the Ferny Grove line will be upgraded to six-carriage trains. This means more leg room for passengers on this popular line.

"An extra morning and an extra afternoon peak hour service will also be added, taking the total morning peak services to 14 and afternoon peak services to 16.

"Overall the March service improvements will provide an extra 1525 seats for passengers on the Ferny Grove line.

The end of March will also see express services run from Mitchelton to Bowen Hills instead of from Enoggera to Bowen Hills,'' he said.

Mr Mickel said more infrastructure projects were planned to enhance services on the busy Ferny Grove line.

"Our long-term goal is to duplicate the line all the way to Ferny Grove as identified in the 2006-2026 South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan. Delivery timeframes for this project are to be determined.

"This goal allows the State Government to continue to improve services for customers while meeting the growing public transport needs of the area."

Mr Mickel said the $46 million project included construction of new station buildings at Grovely and Oxford Park stations and an additional platform and new footbridge at Grovely.

"The station upgrades include new shelters, improved security coverage, additional lighting, real-time passenger information systems and more car parking," Mr Mickel said.

"Station facilities have also been improved to meet Disability Access Standards with lifts, accessible toilets, tactile paving and hearing aid loops.

"The finishing touches are currently being make to the stations and are expected to be completed in April."

Mr Wilson said the Ferny Grove line was one of the busiest on the Citytrain network and the new track would be a winner for commuters.

"With more services on offer, hopefully more people will be encouraged to climb on board public transport. It will help ease traffic congestion on our roads and that means a cleaner environment," he said.

"We're investing in more than public transport, we're investing in our local community - families and young people who rely on public transport to get to school or work or the local shopping centre.

"We're building a better public transport system to help people get safety and quickly to where they want to go.

"I'm delighted with the new station upgrades. Not only will they help people with disabilities, they'll help mothers pushing prams and elderly people who rely on public transport to get around.

"The new express service that is coming on line from Mitchelton to Bowen Hills at the end of March will also be welcomed by busy commuters," Mr Wilson said.

The Mitchelton to Keperra track duplication is part of $7 billion funding that has been committed under the Queensland Government's 20-year SEQ Infrastructure Plan to plan and build a better rail network.


February 21, 2008

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[Derwan]

Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
21/02/2008

"From the end of March"

This clarifies the timing. 

The Ferny Grove line will be affected by closures this weekend, no doubt putting the finishing touches on the section that was officially opened today.

The previous announcement suggested that the additional services might be running from Monday, but I dare say that the new section will be used from Monday, but the new services will commence (as per this announcement) at the end of March.

[Arnz]

Good to hear.  But the EMUs/SMUs have to come from somewhere, and with currently 12-13 IMU160s in service and closing in on 16.  Also to add with the recent training of Caboolture and Nambour crews on the new trains.  The IMU160s would at least have to replace some EMU timetabled Nambour runs, with the EMUs then re-allocated to the extra Ferny Grove services.

[mufreight]

How many of the new batch of suburban sets if any have been delivered.
Shorncliff line could soak up at least another 6 sets and Ipswich likewise,
When will they be ordering more and why with the increase in patronage 11.9% on the Ipswich line alone last year