Darra to Springfield Stage 1 construction Darra to Richlands

[Golliwog]

I know the shopping centre I work at (Great Western at Keperra) employs a security guard or two all night (from about 7pm I think). I don't know about attacks on people (they tend not to but up bulletins about that sort of thing), but there have been shops held up with weapons which we get notified of as a safety thing.

[ozbob]

Darra West

















Photographs R Dow 19th June 2010

[Jon Bryant]

I agree with Jonno.
The maths does not stack up for large park and rides. They are obscenely expensive, some parking is inevitable, but there should be a view to getting it back in the future. Bicycles and bus users should get priority positioning. Actually, it may make more financial sense to run a shuttle bus or pay for taxis for commuters.

The safety issue also rings true. There was that victorian thread with that guy bashed at Hopper's crossing waiting in the car park for a connecting bus. You do not want to be in a car park at night waiting for a bus. Its the wrong environment.

One idea would be to simply develop a shopping centre around it like Helensvale Station, and share the car park. Though this might sound strange it has two benefits- costs can be shared with the developer, safety is improved and more people will use the train. Should parking be free?

...and people never get attacked in shopping centres then? This seems to be an argument based on perceptions and not facts.

Still, I would agree that an appropriate mix of residential & commercial development, a bus station, and car park would be better than just a car park.

A shopping centre surrounded by car parking is as unsafe as a station also surrounded by car parking.  With such little numbers and massive expense the car park just does not make sense.  Mix use centres surrounded by higher density residential is the only solution short and long-term.

[Golliwog]

I agree, but if the car park costs so much, can you imagine the cost to build what you describe?

[Jon Bryant]

I agree, but if the car park costs so much, can you imagine the cost to build what you describe?

A developer would build it and sell it.  So the cost to the Government is only the station.  if done correctly the Governmdnt could make money out of it

[Golliwog]

Yes, but developers may not be interested right away. Would you be ok with having your station upgrade, or this extension put on hold until they could find a developer willing to build it?

[Jon Bryant]

Yes, but developers may not be interested right away. Would you be ok with having your station upgrade, or this extension put on hold until they could find a developer willing to build it?

this is not what the Market is saying.  Close to stations gets a premium.

[Golliwog]

This is true, but I would prefer that on the off chance that the station was not popular with developers (for whatever reason) that the station upgrade could go on anyway. A little birdy told me this is possibly the thinking with the Ferny Grove station upgrade. Kind of a waste to build the car park in the first place if its just going to be developed, but at the same time, even with TODs becoming more popular developers still want to provide parking. As do tenants, one of the new occupants of the Boggo Rd building are doing a deal with UQ to purchase/permanently lease parking spots for all their employees so they can drive in.

[O_128]

This is true, but I would prefer that on the off chance that the station was not popular with developers (for whatever reason) that the station upgrade could go on anyway. A little birdy told me this is possibly the thinking with the Ferny Grove station upgrade. Kind of a waste to build the car park in the first place if its just going to be developed, but at the same time, even with TODs becoming more popular developers still want to provide parking. As do tenants, one of the new occupants of the Boggo Rd building are doing a deal with UQ to purchase/permanently lease parking spots for all their employees so they can drive in.

Why not just lease somewhere out in the burbs if that is the case?

[mufreight]

Leasing property for a business out in the suburbs reduces costs but potentially disadvantages at least 3/4s of the staff if they are spread out over a number of directions, obviously it is more productive to lease parking space than to lose critical staff.

[ozbob]

Thanks to Horizon Alliance and QR Passenger I was afforded the opportunity for a close look at the new Richlands railway station this afternoon.
Work is progressing, the basic station is complete.  Bus stops nearly complete, provision for bicycles as well.  This will be a very welcome addition to the  network.


























Next stop Ellen Grove!



Photographs R Dow 21st June 2010

[Mozz]

I will be interested to see the security arrangements for the carpark - I would expect that it will require at least one fulltime security officer and video surveillance 24 x 7.

[ozbob]

Track going down ..













Photographs mufreight 25th June 2010

[Golliwog]

Isn't that bit of a zig zag on the part going to Springfield mean the trains are going to have to slow down more than they would normally have to?

[Derwan]

Isn't that bit of a zig zag on the part going to Springfield mean the trains are going to have to slow down more than they would normally have to?

I doubt that'll be the final alignment.  There always seems to be kinks and zigzags when they initially lay tracks - which are eventually smoothed out.

[Golliwog]

True, that is one of the benefits of ballasted trackbeds. Relatively easy to realign it.

[mufreight]

But the points are not high speed closed frog points.

[ozbob]

Photographs mufreight 27th June 2010

[ozbob]

Down branch line almost ready for the ballast train







Photographs mufreight 29th June 2010

[ozbob]

A rail train, well some of the wagons thereof, made it onto the branch yesterday.  Has been recorded by mufreight, photographs coming.

Ballast trains will be on the branch next week too.

Progress!

[Golliwog]

http://www.translink.com.au/mediarelease.php?id=161

Track laying starts on the new rail line to Richlands
Monday 5 July 2010


Track laying has commenced on a new railway line that will extend rail services beyond the upgraded Darra railway station to a new station at Richlands by 2011 and on to Springfield by 2013.

Construction of the 14.5 kilometre line will start at a junction with the Ipswich line (west of Darra) and continue all the way to Springfield by 2013, two years ahead of schedule.

In June Premier Anna Bligh announced in the State budget that the 10 kilometre section of the line from Richlands to Springfield would be brought forward by two years.

"Track construction as far as Richlands is expected to take around five months and will be followed by communications and signals testing as well as driver training," said Ms Bligh.

"We will see trains running to Richlands for the first time in the first half of 2011. The project will then continue immediately to extend the rail from Richlands to Springfield.

"We expect the Springfield line to be open by 2013, giving 18,000 residents access to world class public transport two years ahead of schedule."

Ms Bligh said the Springfield rail line would include a new station near the Orion Shopping Centre with an integrated bus and rail interchange facility, enabling commuters to easily switch between rail and bus.

"With the Darra to Springfield rail line, the government is making a total investment of more than one billion dollars to bring rail infrastructure to Springfield," she said.

"Part of our Growth Management plan in Queensland is to ensure public transport keeps pace with the rapid population growth in Brisbane's western corridor region and this project is an essential part of that."

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said that QR and TransLink were currently conducting a review of timetables on the Ipswich and Caboolture lines to utilise the State Government's new infrastructure

"Community consultation on the new timetables will take place later this year with the aim to implement the timetable in the first half of 2011, "she said.

The Darra to Springfield Transport Corridor project is the first integrated road and rail project for South East Queensland.

State Member for Inala and Minister for Disability Services and Multicultural Affairs, Annastacia Palaszczuk said approximately 80 per cent of construction work on the first stage of the project to Richlands was now complete.

"The Richlands station building is structurally complete and is well equipped to cater for people with a disability, with lift access to the platform and seven car spaces for people with a disability located in the 650-space car park," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"Cyclists and pedestrians can access the station along the 5.6 kilometre shared access path that runs adjacent to the station building. Secure storage facilities for bicycles including lockers, racks and cages are available, offering passengers alternatives to using their cars to travel to the station," she said.

Stage 1 of the Darra to Springfield Transport Corridor project includes constructing a passenger railway line from Darra to a new station at Richlands and upgrading the Centenary Highway from two to four lanes to north Logan Motorway interchange.

The project is part of the Queensland Government's $124 billion South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program 2009-2026.

For more information on the project, please call 1800 887 464 (freecall), email info@horizon.incite.com.au or visit www.qr.com.au/seqip

[ozbob]

Joint Statement:

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh

Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan

Minister for Disability Services and Multicultural Affairs
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk
05/07/2010

Track laying starts on the new rail line to Richlands

Track laying has commenced on a new railway line that will extend rail services beyond the upgraded Darra railway station to a new station at Richlands by 2011 and on to Springfield by 2013.

Construction of the 14.5 kilometre line will start at a junction with the Ipswich line (west of Darra) and continue all the way to Springfield by 2013, two years ahead of schedule.

In June Premier Anna Bligh announced in the State budget that the 10 kilometre section of the line from Richlands to Springfield would be brought forward by two years.

"Track construction as far as Richlands is expected to take around five months and will be followed by communications and signals testing as well as driver training," said Ms Bligh.

"We will see trains running to Richlands for the first time in the first half of 2011. The project will then continue immediately to extend the rail from Richlands to Springfield.

"We expect the Springfield line to be open by 2013, giving 18,000 residents access to world class public transport two years ahead of schedule."

Ms Bligh said the Springfield rail line would include a new station near the Orion Shopping Centre with an integrated bus and rail interchange facility, enabling commuters to easily switch between rail and bus.

"With the Darra to Springfield rail line, the government is making a total investment of more than one billion dollars to bring rail infrastructure to Springfield," she said.

"Part of our Growth Management plan in Queensland is to ensure public transport keeps pace with the rapid population growth in Brisbane's western corridor region and this project is an essential part of that."

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said that QR and TransLink were currently conducting a review of timetables on the Ipswich and Caboolture lines to utilise the State Government's new infrastructure

"Community consultation on the new timetables will take place later this year with the aim to implement the timetable in the first half of 2011, "she said.

The Darra to Springfield Transport Corridor project is the first integrated road and rail project for South East Queensland.

State Member for Inala and Minister for Disability Services and Multicultural Affairs, Annastacia Palaszczuk said approximately 80 per cent of construction work on the first stage of the project to Richlands was now complete.

"The Richlands station building is structurally complete and is well equipped to cater for people with a disability, with lift access to the platform and seven car spaces for people with a disability located in the 650-space car park," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"Cyclists and pedestrians can access the station along the 5.6 kilometre shared access path that runs adjacent to the station building. Secure storage facilities for bicycles including lockers, racks and cages are available, offering passengers alternatives to using their cars to travel to the station," she said.

Stage 1 of the Darra to Springfield Transport Corridor project includes constructing a passenger railway line from Darra to a new station at Richlands and upgrading the Centenary Highway from two to four lanes to north Logan Motorway interchange.

The project is part of the Queensland Government's $124 billion South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program 2009-2026.

For more information on the project, please call 1800 887 464 (freecall), email info@horizon.incite.com.au or visit www.qr.com.au/seqip
==============================================================

[ozbob]

--> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4042.0

[ozbob]

Ballast train 5th July 2010























Photographs mufreight 5th July 2010

[ozbob]

Ballast train 7th July 2010. Appears most went on the down sub line (not the branch itself)















Photographs mufreight 7th July 2010

[ozbob]

From the South West News 7th July 2010 page 5

Work on rail link begins

[colinw]

Good progress, but I for one will not be happy until the Government changes its stance on Ellen Grove & Springfield Lakes stations.

It seems bizarre to decide that the area needs a railway, and then run it past two major residential areas without stopping.  Unless the connecting bus services are high quality with seamless connections, people are going to need to get in their car first to access the railway.  And once they are in the car, a goodly percentage of people stay in it and don't bother with public transport.

I'm particularly worried about the Springfield Lakes case, where to access the railway people will have to travel a few km in the wrong direction first.  Seems to me that they are far more likely to hop straight on the shiny new recently upgraded motorway and drive to work ...

The Government needs to re-think this, and commit to building all the planned stations in time for the opening of the line.

[Golliwog]

I think theres a good chance they will, but they seem to want to get as much political mileage out of this rail line as they can.

[mufreight]

Doing a little crystal gazing here but as it seems that there is to be minimal provision for parking at the station at Springfield and similarly at Springfield Lakes that will be a disincentive for commuters to use rail, but provides more justification for the immediate construction of the station at Ellengrove where there is room available for perhaps 500 plus parking spaces which would service the Ellengrove and Forest Lakes areas relieving the parking demand at Richlands and thus making space for commuters from Springfield, Springfield Lakes, Deebing Heights, Rilpey and White Rock. The access by road to Ellengrove from these suburbs would by comparison with Richlands be difficult and without the additional parking capacity that a station built at Ellengrove could provide immediately commuters would be deterred from using rail and would instead continue their commutes by car along the Centenary Highway to the western suburbs or via the Ipswich Motorway to the CBD
We can but hope that a little practical reality may dawn (as well as the prospects of considerably reducing the construction costs) which will see the stations at Ellengrove and Springfield Lakes built and commissioned as the line extends towards Springfield and ultimately into the Ripley Valley.

[O_128]

Its always been said that Springfield is not going to have much parking but Springfield lakes and Ellen grove will

[Jon Bryant]

Its always been said that Springfield is not going to have much parking but Springfield lakes and Ellen grove will

Car parking provides for such little % of overall patronage, is expensive and removes opportunities for TOD development.  Further there is no evidence that says the introduction of a feeder service will nort work. If we continue to follow the practices of the past why do we expect or hope for a different outcome.  The station should be built and developed with TODs surrounding them from day one. 

[colinw]

To put it in perspective, a 500 space car park wouldn't even fill a single 6 car train if every car had only one occupant.

Stations need significant walk up, kiss & ride and connecting bus patronage otherwise they are providing only a token service.

[mufreight]

Quite right Colinw but car parking is only one component and many of those driving to a station have no choice other than making their entire commute by car and possibly as many as half of those cars carry more than one person with the result that a 500 vehicle car park would see some 700/750 cars not making the longer commute.

To put it in perspective, a 500 space car park wouldn't even fill a single 6 car train if every car had only one occupant.

The other components are as noted feeder bus services, kiss and Ride set down facilities and active transport such as walking and bikes.

If the theory of not providing car parking facilities at stations was to be taken across the board then a lot of money has been spent for little advantage other than to take some thousands of cars off the road system throughout south east Queensland that would otherwise be adding to the congestion costs of our road system.

Stations need significant walk up, kiss & ride and connecting bus patronage otherwise they are providing only a token service.

[ozbob]

Went down and had a look at the progress





Photographs R Dow 8th July 2010

[ozbob]

Darra West the UP sub loop is now in place.


















UP from Darra







Photographs R Dow 9th July 2010

[ozbob]

Some more photographs around Darra West















Photographs mufreight 9th July 2010

[stephenk]

Quite right Colinw but car parking is only one component and many of those driving to a station have no choice other than making their entire commute by car and possibly as many as half of those cars carry more than one person with the result that a 500 vehicle car park would see some 700/750 cars not making the longer commute.

Absolutely, whilst active transport, feeder bus services, and drop off-areas need to be provided, sizeable car parks are an essential requirement in low population density cities. Every car in the station car park, is one less car on the road to the CBD!

[QGT]

I went to Richlands Today and got some pictures
http://sites.google.com/site/queenslandgreattrains/Home/train-pictures-2010/darra-to-springfield-transport-corridor/richlands-station/july-2010

Cheers,
QGT

[somebody]

Absolutely, whilst active transport, feeder bus services, and drop off-areas need to be provided, sizeable car parks are an essential requirement in low population density cities. Every car in the station car park, is one less car on the road to the CBD!

While I am reasonably comfortable with the notion of providing parking on the Gold Coast line, I am VERY uncomfortable with the plans for Ferny Grove station.  Ripping down the tavern, abolishing train overruns and making it harder to extend the line by another 1-2km in the future are all aspects I do not like about it.

Also, I believe that the car parking proposed to be implemented is offering very poor bang/buck.  Improved bus services would provide a walk up to more people and make it easier to not have a car.

I guess I'm coming more into line with Jonno the longer I am on this board.

[stephenk]

Absolutely, whilst active transport, feeder bus services, and drop off-areas need to be provided, sizeable car parks are an essential requirement in low population density cities. Every car in the station car park, is one less car on the road to the CBD!

While I am reasonably comfortable with the notion of providing parking on the Gold Coast line, I am VERY uncomfortable with the plans for Ferny Grove station.  Ripping down the tavern, abolishing train overruns and making it harder to extend the line by another 1-2km in the future are all aspects I do not like about it.

Also, I believe that the car parking proposed to be implemented is offering very poor bang/buck.  Improved bus services would provide a walk up to more people and make it easier to not have a car.

I guess I'm coming more into line with Jonno the longer I am on this board.

Did you take part in the community consultation? If you didn't, now is a bit late to start complaining.