Darra to Springfield Stage 1 construction Darra to Richlands

[mufreight]

For the trainspotters, it would seem that the first train to operate into Richlands station will be in this coming week,
Ballast trains are scheduled to operate Monday to Thursday this week with a rail train also scheduled to operate on Wednesday afternoon so it is probable that the honour of the first train to reach the platform will be a ballast train either on Monday or Tuesday, all being well these trains propel up from Corinda about 9.30 am through Darra about 10.00 am on to the branch and should reach Richlands if it goes that far about 10.30 am.
There are a number of good positions for photos from the road bridges at Garden Road and Progress Road.
The rail train on the Wednesday afternoon will probably propel through the station almost to the end of track to the south of the station.

[ozbob]

Ballast train on the UP sub (platform one Darra) going out on the UP branch line.













Photographs R Dow 30th August 2010

[ozbob]

The rail train didn't make it into Richlands station proper today.

Still looking good!














Progress Road Corner ...





Photographs R Dow 1st September 2010

[ozbob]

Richlands, south of the station








Rail train 1st September got as far as the Garden Road bridge








Some different views of Richlands station








Garden Road







Photographs mufreight 1st September 2010

[ozbob]

Ballast train 2nd September 2010 - first train to reach Richlands Station --> here!

[ozbob]

Just past Richlands station








Entry from Progress Road to the bikeway paths





Photographs R Dow 2nd September 2010

[ozbob]

Steady progress


Richlands (south)








Richlands








Richlands North








Garden Road



Photographs mufreight 10th September 2010

[ozbob]

Immediately UP from Darra, the branch and the UP sub loop points







Photographs R Dow 11th September 2010

[ozbob]

Richlands station

Location: http://www.nearmap.com/?ll=-27.596206,152.946618&z=18&t=k&nmd=20100821































Photographs R Dow 12th September 2010

[ozbob]

Darra West, final wiring tasks for the UP SUB loop and junction

Location:   http://www.nearmap.com/?ll=-27.569865,152.943831&z=19&t=k&nmd=20100821






Low level rail bridge at Darra West, UP from Centenary Highway

Location:   http://www.nearmap.com/?ll=-27.570578,152.940792&z=19&t=k&nmd=20100821





Photographs R Dow 12th September 2010

[ozbob]

Diagrammatic representation of the track layout at Richlands

[somebody]

Going to be something of a pain to operate trains on this infrastructure.  Effectively, a single platform at both Darra and Richlands for the branch, unless you can run past Richlands and use the other platform.  There is going to need to be overtaking moves between those platforms.

What were they thinking?

[ozbob]

It is similar layout to Varsity Lakes (mirror image), Varsity Lakes probably more functional.  Do you think a crossing from the UP to DOWN line before the platform would be handy too?  They will be able to head past Richlands and reverse into platform 2 of course.  Is this a blunder?




Darra looks fine to me.

[Golliwog]

I think as long as they can go past the station to come back in the other platofrm, its fine. And my understanding is that this will be the case. I also don't see what the problem with Darra is.

[Derwan]

I think it's silly if trains have to go beyond the station to do a turn-back when there are 2 perfectly good platforms that the procedure could be performed on.  It'd be a lot easier for crews to have breaks (go to the loo).  This applies to Varsity and now obviously Richlands.

Crossovers both ways prior to the platform would allow trains to stop on either platform and execute their turn-back procedure.

[somebody]

If you look at Darra in Nearmap, it isn't possible for a train to get from platform 1 at Darra to Richlands.  Which disagrees with your sketch.

The other problem at Darra/Corinda is that you can't get from Corinda #4 to Richlands (perhaps a minor problem), and similarly you can't get from Richlands to utilise the bi-di Up Main as far as Corinda (more serious).

I think it's silly if trains have to go beyond the station to do a turn-back when there are 2 perfectly good platforms that the procedure could be performed on.  It'd be a lot easier for crews to have breaks (go to the loo).  This applies to Varsity and now obviously Richlands.

And CityRail would agree with you!  I think the only place a reversing siding exists is at Kingsgrove, and that is virtually never used due to it being a pain, but I guess also due to it not fitting in to reasonable stopping patterns.

[Derwan]

If you look at Darra in Nearmap, it isn't possible for a train to get from platform 1 at Darra to Richlands.  Which disagrees with your sketch.

Platform 1 at Darra leads directly on to the Richlands spur... don't know what you're looking at! 

The other problem at Darra/Corinda is that you can't get from Corinda #4 to Richlands (perhaps a minor problem), and similarly you can't get from Richlands to utilise the bi-di Up Main as far as Corinda (more serious).

Yes you can.  Have a look at Bob's combined view in the other thread. 

[ozbob]

The sketch is correct.  I have watched it being built for three years.

This might help to see it.  Look carefully you can see the branch lines, the up sub loop, the mains and the third line next to the mains.

The sparks is on the main up.  Two track vehicles are on the sub down which is platform 2 road Darra. One track vehicle is on the up sub loop, with another in the distance. The up  and down branch lines can be seen. The up goes through platform one road Darra.




This photograph shows the arrangement as well, the DEL (ballast train) is on the down branch line, there is a track vehicle on the points just before the  up branch line, the up sub loop to the left.



(I have found some inconsistencies with nearmap at times).

[somebody]

Ok, thanks for the photo.  That's a relief.  Nearmap is dated 21/8 and doesn't show the road from Darra #1.  Although looking closely you can see a set of points at one end.  My mistake.

But there is still the problem that if heading inbound on the Up Main, you must conflict with trains leaving Corinda #2 to access Corinda #3.

[Golliwog]

But I think the main reason for not putting the double crossover in at Richlands would be due to how expensive a set of points is to make. Reversing around past the station I would agree is not optimal, and yes it would be nice to have the double cross here, but ultimately this is only going to be the terminus station for a short (...ish) period while they continue the line to Springfield. One would assume that they would put the double crossover in there.

[somebody]

But there is still the problem that if heading inbound on the Up Main, you must conflict with trains leaving Corinda #2 to access Corinda #3.

Can this be gotten around by running inbound through Corinda #4 and then to Sherwood #2?

[mufreight]

Routing from plat 4 Corinda to Richlands.
Up Main From Corinda platform 4 through Oxley platform 2 to Panhard Street crossover to Down Suburban to Manburgh Terrace, crossover to Up suburban through platform 1 Darra then on to branch.
The alternative is for Richlands services that they remain on the down suburban through Darra platform 2 then to Richlands using the bi-directional down line on the branch.

[somebody]

Routing from plat 4 Corinda to Richlands.
Up Main From Corinda platform 4 through Oxley platform 2 to Panhard Street crossover to Down Suburban to Manburgh Terrace, crossover to Up suburban through platform 1 Darra then on to branch.
The alternative is for Richlands services that they remain on the down suburban through Darra platform 2 then to Richlands using the bi-directional down line on the branch.

I was thinking of in the other direction. Wrong road through Corinda #4, then use the crossover to Sherwood #2.  The crossovers are in place to achieve this, but I am unsure that the signaling is.  Let's hope so.

[mufreight]

Richlands routing to Corinda platform 4
Depart Richlands either platform to down track through Darra platform 2 continue on down suburban to Panhard Street cross to Up Main then cross to Down Main through Oxley platform 3 to Corinda Platform 5
Alternative is to continue on Down suburban from Darra through Oxley platform 1 to Corinda cross from Down suburban to platform 3 Corinda, then continue inbound on the Down suburban to Sherwood platform 2

[david]

I was thinking of in the other direction. Wrong road through Corinda #4, then use the crossover to Sherwood #2.  The crossovers are in place to achieve this, but I am unsure that the signaling is.  Let's hope so.

This actually happens everyday - the 7:49am Corinda to Bowen Hills departs from Platform 4 at Corinda and uses the crossover to get to Sherwood Platform 2.

[somebody]

I was thinking of in the other direction. Wrong road through Corinda #4, then use the crossover to Sherwood #2.  The crossovers are in place to achieve this, but I am unsure that the signaling is.  Let's hope so.

This actually happens everyday - the 7:49am Corinda to Bowen Hills departs from Platform 4 at Corinda and uses the crossover to get to Sherwood Platform 2.

Ok, so the only questions is can you get from Oxley #2 to Corinda #4.

[ozbob]

Ok, so the only questions is can you get from Oxley #2 to Corinda #4.

Platform 2? or road 2 (platform 1).  Assume you mean down sub at Oxley (platform 1)  no, not directly.  There is a crossing from UP platform 2 to 3 Corinda though.

[somebody]

Ok, so the only questions is can you get from Oxley #2 to Corinda #4.

Platform 2? or road 2 (platform 1).  Assume you mean down sub at Oxley (platform 1)  no, not directly.  There is a crossing from UP platform 2 to 3 Corinda though.

Nup, I meant platform 2.  The suggested AM peak pattern at Oxley is inbound on platforms 2 & 3, and outbound on platform 1.

[ozbob]

Oxley #2 to Corinda #4.

Yes.  That is the UP main, direct.

[ozbob]

Darra West Ballast train 14th September on the UP sub loop

This was the second ballast train to use the loop. Train goes into Darra, and then is pushed up onto the Richlands branch line.  Last photograph shows the train on the branch line on the Warrender St rail bridge.























Photographs mufreight 14th September 2010

[ozbob]

The ballast train run through Richlands today, to the end of the line past Progress Road.











Photographs mufreight 15th September 2010

[QGT]

Is there any Ballast Trains going on to the Richlands Branch tomorrow or Friday???

[mufreight]

Under present normal circumstances the ballast trains are run Monday to Thursday with the usual timing being 9.30 am or thereabouts in through the Darra West junction through either platform 1 or 2 at Darra from where the train then propels on to the branch and ballasts where required, when empty the train then runs out through Oxley and Corinda.
There may be a ballast operated on Sunday but if so it would probably operate to earlier times.

[QGT]

Thanks for the info 

[QGT]

Yesterday I went to Richlands Station and I got some shots looks great looking forward to January 2011 













Cheers,
QGT

[ozbob]

Some more updates, Richlands and branch line down and up from Richlands station

Boundary road looking towards Richlands








Richlands Station -  kiss and ride area (taxi too?)




























UP from Richlands, next stop Ellen Grove!   









Photographs R Dow 10th October 2010

[colinw]

A couple of questions about this project ...

1.  Are any speed boards in evidence yet - what is the line speed from Darra to Richlands likely to be?
2.  Are we likely to see Gold Coast line type speeds (130km/h) from Richlands to Springfield?
3.  Will there be stabling facilities at Springfield, or will the first train of the day from Springfield need a positioning run?

cheers,
Colin

[ozbob]

1.  Are any speed boards in evidence yet - what is the line speed from Darra to Richlands likely to be?

Haven't seen any yet.  Expect it will be 100 km/h past Richlands (only guessing).  Lesser between Darra and Richlands due to the easement down to the main line.

2.  Are we likely to see Gold Coast line type speeds (130km/h) from Richlands to Springfield?

Probably not due to the rolling stock limitations. 

3.  Will there be stabling facilities at Springfield, or will the first train of the day from Springfield need a positioning run?

Don't know yet.

[somebody]

Oxley #2 to Corinda #4.

Yes.  That is the UP main, direct.

Don't you mean DOWN main?

[ozbob]

No, Oxley platform 2 I was referring to, that is the main UP.  

Oxley Platform 1 is the sub down.  Oxley platform 3 is the main down.

The Up sub has no platform at Oxley.