Sector 2 (Stage 2) Timetable reviews

[SurfRail]

Modified my comment as you were quoting it - does something in the pm Cleveland timetable look a bit fishy to you? Nice though it would be...

[#Metro]

OMG I AM GOING TO HAVE PUPPIES!!

High frequency almost everywhere, even on the Beenleigh line all stations!

COMMUTERS within 10km of the city will no longer have to wait more than 15 minutes for a train under a radical $25 million timetable overhaul.

Champagne for everyone!!

[SurfRail]

Seems Doomben has gone half-hourly.  Excellent.

Hours of operation still limited to 7-8pm, hourly on Saturday and still no Sunday services.  This should be a priority for fixing when new trains start arriving.

[STB]

Modified my comment as you were quoting it - does something in the pm Cleveland timetable look a bit fishy to you? Nice though it would be...

I did see that. That's a massive improvement in the counter peak at least for the Cleveland line in both the AM and PM peaks will have a train every 15mins Buranda to Cleveland in both directions.  Makes me wonder if they will do it for the other lines (I haven't had a proper look yet).

[SurfRail]

There's something similar for Shorncliffe.  If that's not an error then it's a bloody fantastic outcome, and it appears to indicate they only need rollingstock to get 15 minute service all the way to Cleveland and Shorncliffe all day.

You might want to check the crossing location times.

I actually have trouble believing this is accurate TBH.

[STB]

Hey SurfRail, I take it you've noticed a train out of the Gold Coast every 8 mins during AM peak hour?   Same heading to the Gold Coast during PM peak hour .

[STB]

There's something similar for Shorncliffe.  If that's not an error then it's a bloody fantastic outcome, and it appears to indicate they only need rollingstock to get 15 minute service all the way to Cleveland and Shorncliffe all day.

You might want to check the crossing location times.

I actually have trouble believing this is accurate TBH.

Doesn't seem to be an error to me, there's a 1min dwell for trains from the City heading to Cleveland at Wellington Point.  And in the PM peak, the trains from Cleveland dwell for 1min at Wellington Pt to cover any slight late running.

But yes you are right, with more rollingstock, Cleveland-Shorncliffe corridor will have 15min services all day!*

*Except during off peak, where they will still need a spare path on the Cleveland line between Manly and Cleveland.  So, given this new timetable I'm expecting a 15min timetable - Manly-Shorncliffe and 30min timetable Cleveland-Shorncliffe come 2016 onwards with the new rollingstock.   Probably will help with the case to duplicating the Manly to Cleveland section with this news.

[SurfRail]

Hey SurfRail, I take it you've noticed a train out of the Gold Coast every 8 mins during AM peak hour?   Same heading to the Gold Coast during PM peak hour .

Yep.  Not in the most useful part of the AM peak I think but it will help spread the loads.

Should push the case for track amplification along nicely.

[STB]

How Embarrasing. It makes the Brisbane City Council bus pseudo-review look like the bunch of poo that it is.

See Brisbane City Council, this is what happens when you do a proper overhaul and review and rewrite the network from scratch!    See, it's not that hard now is it .

This timetable seriously sets up how things will be done in the future as more rollingstock and crewing comes online, with hopefully adjustments to the freight paths.

Applause to Qld Rail and TransLink!    Now, THIS is a review!

[STB]

Now the question is - which trains are going to be 3 car sets, and which are going to be 6 car sets .

[ozbob]

Interview scheduled on 612 ABC Brisbane 7.15am today on new timetables.

4KQ News have also followed up.

Thanks!

[STB]

Not sure if anyone has noticed, but the Sunday hourly morning services are gone, upgraded to run every 30mins as they should, same with the night time services.  Monday to Thursday will now have a train every 30mins, instead of hourly.

Also, the Cleveland expresses finish early! Last express is at 5:09pm  .

[Arnz]

I've noticed that all lines except the Sunshine Coast Line has 1-2 simplified stopping patterns in peak.   The SCL has 4 stopping patterns, increasing to 5 patterns in the afternoon peak.

Afternoon    Central    4.22pm    All stations from the CBD to Bowen Hills, express to Caboolture (stopping only at Northgate), then all stations to Nambour

Surely they would have to the change the 3:30pm, 4:00pm and 6:00pm services in the afternoon to maintain the consistency (may mean 3 less services for Albion to Nundah but compensated by the Sector 2 increases to Shorncliffe and Doomben). 

I don't see that happening, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's only one of the 3 existing services being modified (my tip would be only one out of either 3:30pm and 4:00pm being modified to be be same pattern as the new 4:22pm)

[Arnz]

The new 4:22pm service to Nambour will be a Springfield starter, but won't be as super packed (to Caboolture) like the old 5:22pm due to the stopping pattern and being early in the peak.

[ozbob]

ABC FM Gold Coast and 4BC Fairfax News have also followed up.

Thanks!

[Cam]

A couple of earlier services leaving the city on the Beenleigh Line at about 5 and 5.30am on weekends for XPT arrivals.

Interesting 15 minute gap in the AM peak for Gold Coast commuters.

[Cam]

Opening paragraph of the CM story is misleading - what about weekends and weeknights?

[ozbob]

612 ABC Brisbane

Breakfast with Spencer Howson

200 new trains services a day - but who are the losers?

22 October 2013 , 9:03 AM by Spencer Howson

Fed up of using a timetable to check when a train is coming? Don't think there are enough of them?

From next January south-east Queensland will get an extra 200 train services a day.

The Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson has announced more frequent peak-time services on a number of lines and an expansion of the off-peak 15 minute service.

Robert Dow is from the lobby group, Rail Back on Track:

Click --> here!

[Cam]

Great to see 15 minute frequency from Beenleigh starting early from 4.48am.

6.48am & 6.59am ex Beenleigh will be packed by the time they reach the city. Hopefully additional services will be added in a year or two to fill the 15 minute gaps. Some passengers may change at Loganlea & Altandi to services from the Gold Coast if there is a minimal wait.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Extra train services to cut waiting times, provide more seats

[DayboroStation]

The new 4:22pm service to Nambour will be a Springfield starter, but won't be as super packed (to Caboolture) like the old 5:22pm due to the stopping pattern and being early in the peak.

Does this mean that the current 4:22pm Central to Caboolture express (which starts from Richlands at 3:48pm) will be abolished, or is this an ADDITIONAL service to the existing one? Translink's website is a little ambiguous. Would be good to clarify.

[Arnz]

The new 4:22pm service to Nambour will be a Springfield starter, but won't be as super packed (to Caboolture) like the old 5:22pm due to the stopping pattern and being early in the peak.

Does this mean that the current 4:22pm Central to Caboolture express (which starts from Richlands at 3:48pm) will be abolished, or is this an ADDITIONAL service to the existing one? Translink's website is a little ambiguous. Would be good to clarify.

I would assume the existing service will be extended to start from Springfield (once it opens) and extended to continue on through to Nambour. 

The preceding service into Springfield is formed from Bowen Hills, so they would have to find a 6-car IMU or 6-car IMU/SMU hybrid to replace the existing 6-car EMU/SMU per the toilet requirement for the Nambour line.

There are also 2 extra Caboolture services departing Central at 3:55pm and 4:10pm (assumably to compensate for the missed stops if they're keeping the changed stopping pattern)

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/1046/details

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Boost in train services for south-east Queensland

[STB]

Something I've noticed, the 2min separation between Cleveland and Manly trains during peak hour is going to be tight, which I suspect we'll ride the yellows for a bit.  I'm assuming they are doing some major work with the signalling as well to allow the short separation between trains?

Also they've removed a bit of the fat from Cleveland and Brisbane bound trains with the cross at Wellington Point (previously Thorneside).  One will hope that a minor sniffle in the network won't cause problems to the on time running to be safely met.

Other than that, for the Cleveland/Beenleigh/Gold Coast lines, the connections at Park Road are much better!  No more running up the stairs just to watch the Beenleigh or Cleveland trains leave without you with a 30min wait for the next one, while at the same time hoping you don't injure yourself running for them. 

[red dragin]

With all sets in operation (based on media) they are not leaving much room for breakdown replacements. Are the ICE sets going to see more work with this new schedule?

[paulg]

Very impressed by the new timetables. Will look forward very much to the increased frequencies.

[Cam]

15 minute frequency leaving the airport 3.04pm to 6.04pm then half hourly until 7.04pm then back to 15 minute frequency until 8.34pm.

[STB]

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2013/10/22/460403_gold-coast-news.html

New trains to ease commute pain
RELIEF is coming for Gold Coast commuters after years of squeezing into the infamous "Bombay Express".

Transport Minister Scott Emerson will today announce seven new trains will service the overcrowded Gold Coast to Brisbane line.

Overcrowding on the peak-hour trains earned the train line the nickname "the Bombay Express".

Some passengers have even resorted to bringing their own seats to avoid standing for the hour-long trip to Brisbane.

Three morning and four evening services will start in January as part of a massive Queensland Rail timetable shake-up, which will give the city an extra 93 trains a week.

Coomera MP Michael Crandon, who had long campaigned for extra rail services, said it was a great result for the 7500 Gold Coasters who caught peak-hour trains each weekday.

Mr Emerson said there would also be a new stopping pattern, with trains stopping at all stations between Varsity Lakes and Beenleigh, running express to and from Park Road, and stopping at Loganlea and Altandi.

I also see the naysayers already out in force.  Have also spotted foaming and 'I want an express to my stationitis' also out in force on social media and news websites this morning.  Ho hum  .

[ozbob]

Those odd slots are there for future services when fleet expansion occurs, believe it or not ...

[ozbob]

Always a little pain with gains.

The authorities stared down sector one naysayers, and so will it be with sector 2.

I have long moved past narrow minded individuals who cannot and will not think of the wider massive community benefit. 

[Stillwater]

More trains and faster frequency welcomed, but the push back of the departure of the Gympie North service ex Central at 5.51pm weekdays means a longer run home for those travelling to the end of the line at Gympie North.

[ozbob]

I suspect that might have been in response to customer feedback SW.  Was a little early for many.

[Derwan]

15-minute peak frequency on the Shorncliffe Line isn't great - but a welcome improvement on what we previously had.  I don't think we'll see any more improvement until the duplication between Sandgate and Shorncliffe and a second platform at Shorncliffe.

Off-peak (week days) to Northgate will increase to 6tph with the Shorncliffe, Caboolture and Northgate terminators.  Albion to Eagle Junction will get even more with the Doomben and Airport Line trains.

Overall very happy with the improvements.

[Arnz]

Looks like my tip from way back has happened.  They must've paid Airtrain some $$ to have the trains stop at Albion and Wooloowin.

People in Albion and Wooloowin would be loving this right now. 

However, it would be nice had they converted the Caboolture/Nambour trains during off-peak to run express Bowen Hills - Eagle Junction - Northgate (then all stations to Caboolture or exp Petrie-Caboolture then all stations to Nambour).    But that's not likely to happen. 

[Cam]

For those using outer Beenleigh Line stations, a change at Loganlea or Altandi to/from a Gold Coast service may speed up you trip - weekday peak only.

EDIT: Added weekday peak only.

[Derwan]

There is some inconsistency in the Cleveland Timetable.  Off-peak services will run to Cannon Hill - but peak services will run express through it.  This could cause a bit of confusion and it'd be better to make it consistent (i.e. express to/from Cannon Hill).

Also, the TransLink website is therefore incorrect when it says (for peak):

Cleveland to Cannon Hill - Every 15 minutes
Cannon Hill to CBD - Every 7-8 minutes

Cannon Hill should be replaced with Morningside if the timetable is to remain as it.

I personally think it should be express to Cannon Hill.  This would make it much easier to remember where the 15-minute frequency runs to and where the expresses run from/to.

[nathandavid88]

Seems like QR and Translink have really hit the mark on this! I am particularly glad to see the change from Coopers Plains to Altandi (I've whinged about it enough times ). I hope that the voice announcement from Altandi says something along the lines of "For connections to the South East Busway, please change at Altandi". Some signage telling people to exit through the north exit of the station for bus transfer wouldn't hurt either, as people disembarking at the southern end of the station or using the pedestrian bridge would likely come out the south Alconah Street exit and face a longer walk up for the buses.

The only thing I would have liked to see is Sunday services to Doomben. Is it really that hard just to replicate the hourly Saturday timetable to run on Sunday as well? But other than that, full marks to QR and Translink! I just hope that there was someone keeping an eye on both Sector 2 and the Translink Bus Network Review so that buses that actually do connect to trains (in my personal case, LCBS routes) still retain a decent connection.

[SurfRail]

Over all very happy indeed I think.  The "issues" are generally things which can be fixed when the NGR stock starts arriving and we can pump the empty slots full of trains.

[STB]

There is some inconsistency in the Cleveland Timetable.  Off-peak services will run to Cannon Hill - but peak services will run express through it.  This could cause a bit of confusion and it'd be better to make it consistent (i.e. express to/from Cannon Hill).

Also, the TransLink website is therefore incorrect when it says (for peak):

Cleveland to Cannon Hill - Every 15 minutes
Cannon Hill to CBD - Every 7-8 minutes

Cannon Hill should be replaced with Morningside if the timetable is to remain as it.

I personally think it should be express to Cannon Hill.  This would make it much easier to remember where the 15-minute frequency runs to and where the expresses run from/to.

I live on the line and I disagree.  Morningside is far better as a stop for the express than Cannon Hill, given that Morningside is far more busy than Cannon Hill is, and anyway, all trains originate from Manly during peak hour, not Cannon Hill.   We also can be quite confident in saying that Cannon Hill is just a temporary measure until the new rollingstock arrives and QR can deal with the crewing and freight path issues, which hopefully will happen sometime in 2016-ish.

[aldonius]

Woohoo, this is (mostly) excellent!

UQ student perspective: The new times are certainly worse for many of us, but some have wins, too.
The critical factor is "when does your train go through Park Road, given that it takes 10-15 minutes between there and your class?"

Ferny Grovers will have a tight connection, arriving at :47 at Park Road uni-bound, and home-bound we lose the (perfect) :04 services for a tantalising :57 and a ho-hum :12.

Outer-Cleveland-line UQ students (in particular) will have to shift to an earlier service to get to 8am classes on time, though for 9am they have a near-perfect 8:44 arrival. They've definitely got it bad inbound off peak - :59 & :29 at Park Rd!
Inner CL is essentially unchanged in arrival times, and have a net win on frequency boost. Painfully tight connections remain outbound for all Clevelanders, at :00, while inner-CL has a ho-hum :15 option.

Massive win, however, for Gold Coasters - all GC trains now stop at Park Rd full-time! Tight :47 arrival, ho-hum :12 departure.

Net win for Doomben I suppose, with the frequency boost, though most of theirs still terminate at Roma St. Their fate lies with whatever comes through after them.

Shorncliffe times are perfect inbound in peak and for inner section. Past Northgate it's equally bad as now.

Beenleigh have it perfect in peak with a :42 arrival. Inner section has a tight :02 departure, while outer section and any slower-moving inner-sectioners have a rather annoying :17.

From a bus-queue/crowd perspective regarding AM peak:
Beenleigh have it pretty good. Clevelanders should arrive as the Beenleigh pax step onto the bus. Shorncliffers arrive right on CL tails.
Simultaneous Ferny and GC arrivals (just as the last of the SHCers step onto the bus) mean they'll face consistently long lines, compounding on the already-tight arrival time.