8 Apr 2011: SEQ: Sunshine Coast Line capacity constraints need urgent action

[ozbob]

Media release 8 April 2011

SEQ:  Sunshine Coast Line capacity constraints need urgent action

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 revised passenger rail timetable for the Sunshine Coast Line, but warns that the largely single-track line is running 'at capacity', with no operational efficiency gains possible without substantial investment in track duplication north towards Nambour – something the state government now says won't happen for a further 20 years (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The frustration of Sunshine Coast commuters at the standard of their rail services culminated in a passenger boycott of trains recently and loud protests that a proposed new timetable to start on 6 June 2011 had failed to recognise their travel patterns, especially for city workers (2).

"RAIL Back On Track thanks Queensland Rail and TransLink for recognising the most glaring deficiencies in the original timetable and for altering times to better meet customer needs (3).  What we now have is near best possible scheduling of Sunshine Coast and Caboolture passenger trains, given the constraints of the most congested section of single-track railway line in Australia, north of Beerburrum."

"For passengers, this is best illustrated by the fact that more than 40 per cent of the rail services on the new schedule will not be operated by trains, but by buses travelling between stations.  We note promises from the Bligh Government for rapid trains taking about an hour from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane (4).  The reality of the new timetable is a journey time that's 10 minutes longer than the old schedule."

"The need for buses and the shunting of passenger and freight trains on the Sunshine Coast Line, coupled with slow speeds due to a steam train alignment all conspire against:

·    the Sunshine Coast Council's targets for getting people out of their cars and onto public transport

·    the state government's balanced infrastructure investment between road and rail, resulting in inaction on rail and a shifting of costs to road users on the Bruce Highway, especially freight operators

·    the federal government's freight efficiency targets and its expectations of the Sunshine Coast and North Coast lines as part of its national transport network."

"The solution is track duplication.  The state government recognised this by developing plans for dual tracks between Beerburrum and Nambour and by guaranteeing funding for the next stage to Landsborough, augmented by a CAMCOS rail spur to Caloundra by 2016 (5).  Inexplicably, the money was withdrawn and the construction schedule altered to 2031 for both the upgrade to Nambour and the heavy rail extension to the Coast.  We have a dichotomy between what the government has said it would do and what the real plans are."

"This is not good enough, especially in light of government plans for massive population expansion around Caloundra South and Glenview.  There exists a real opportunity to grow sensibly the railway towns of the Sunshine Coast as solid, established communities offering affordable housing alternatives and linked to the wider coast by bus, also to Brisbane by rail."

"Options should be pursued aggressively and in a way that lets people have a say."

"RAIL Back On Track calls for the establishment of a joint local, state and federal government working group to coordinate the responsibilities each level of government has in respect of rapid rail transport, population growth and land use planning (6)."

"Right now, all three are being looked at separately.  They need to be examined together, as a whole.

"We also look forward to the Opposition developing its Sunshine Coast transport strategy before the next state election."

References:

1. http://www.dlgp.qld.gov.au/resources/project/landsborough-nambour/mp_landsborough_nambour_rail_IAS.pdf

2. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5472.0

3. http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/queensland-rail-timetable-changes

4. http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/mms/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=71317

5. http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=42417

6. http://www.dlgp.qld.gov.au/resources/project/landsborough-nambour/mp_landsborough_nambour_rail_IAS.pdf

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion area Sunshine Coast --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?board=38.0

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

21 April 2011

SEQ:  Sunshine Coast Line capacity constraints need urgent action

Greetings,

Failed freight train, services on the Sunshine Coast disrupted now.

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1303327076  6.09am 21 April 2011

Sunshine Coast line delays

Customers may experience delays of up to 30 minutes on the Sunshine Coast line due to a failed freight train at Landsborough.

Citybound trains will stop at Mooloolah and buses will be provided to transfer to Caboolture train station.

Workers are attempting to move the failed freight train.

It is time that the promised track amplification was done.  It is a failure of grave significance not to have addressed the infrastructure deficit with respect to the Sunshine Coast Line.

If the present authorities are unable to drive the necessary transport projects, please stand aside and let those who will carry on with the urgent tasks.

No more spin please, just do it.

Best wishes
Robert

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

========================

Media release 8 April 2011

SEQ:  Sunshine Coast Line capacity constraints need urgent action

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 revised passenger rail timetable for the Sunshine Coast Line, but warns that the largely single-track line is running 'at capacity', with no operational efficiency gains possible without substantial investment in track duplication north towards Nambour – something the state government now says won't happen for a further 20 years (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The frustration of Sunshine Coast commuters at the standard of their rail services culminated in a passenger boycott of trains recently and loud protests that a proposed new timetable to start on 6 June 2011 had failed to recognise their travel patterns, especially for city workers (2).

"RAIL Back On Track thanks Queensland Rail and TransLink for recognising the most glaring deficiencies in the original timetable and for altering times to better meet customer needs (3).  What we now have is near best possible scheduling of Sunshine Coast and Caboolture passenger trains, given the constraints of the most congested section of single-track railway line in Australia, north of Beerburrum."

"For passengers, this is best illustrated by the fact that more than 40 per cent of the rail services on the new schedule will not be operated by trains, but by buses travelling between stations.  We note promises from the Bligh Government for rapid trains taking about an hour from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane (4).  The reality of the new timetable is a journey time that's 10 minutes longer than the old schedule."

"The need for buses and the shunting of passenger and freight trains on the Sunshine Coast Line, coupled with slow speeds due to a steam train alignment all conspire against:

·    the Sunshine Coast Council's targets for getting people out of their cars and onto public transport

·    the state government's balanced infrastructure investment between road and rail, resulting in inaction on rail and a shifting of costs to road users on the Bruce Highway, especially freight operators

·    the federal government's freight efficiency targets and its expectations of the Sunshine Coast and North Coast lines as part of its national transport network."

"The solution is track duplication.  The state government recognised this by developing plans for dual tracks between Beerburrum and Nambour and by guaranteeing funding for the next stage to Landsborough, augmented by a CAMCOS rail spur to Caloundra by 2016 (5).  Inexplicably, the money was withdrawn and the construction schedule altered to 2031 for both the upgrade to Nambour and the heavy rail extension to the Coast.  We have a dichotomy between what the government has said it would do and what the real plans are."

"This is not good enough, especially in light of government plans for massive population expansion around Caloundra South and Glenview.  There exists a real opportunity to grow sensibly the railway towns of the Sunshine Coast as solid, established communities offering affordable housing alternatives and linked to the wider coast by bus, also to Brisbane by rail."

"Options should be pursued aggressively and in a way that lets people have a say."

"RAIL Back On Track calls for the establishment of a joint local, state and federal government working group to coordinate the responsibilities each level of government has in respect of rapid rail transport, population growth and land use planning (6)."

"Right now, all three are being looked at separately.  They need to be examined together, as a whole.

"We also look forward to the Opposition developing its Sunshine Coast transport strategy before the next state election."

References:

1. http://www.dlgp.qld.gov.au/resources/project/landsborough-nambour/mp_landsborough_nambour_rail_IAS.pdf

2. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5472.0

3. http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/queensland-rail-timetable-changes

4. http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/mms/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=71317

5. http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=42417

6. http://www.dlgp.qld.gov.au/resources/project/landsborough-nambour/mp_landsborough_nambour_rail_IAS.pdf

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

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