Darra to Springfield Stage 1 construction Darra to Richlands

[#Metro]

It looks excellent already, and actually like a busway-style rail station.

[#Metro]

Premier inspects Darra-Springfield corridor and announces new Ipswich train service. - Sunday 29 November 2009

Premier Anna Bligh has announced a permanent new Ipswich rail service while inspecting progress on Stage 1 of the $800 million Darra to Springfield Transport Corridor.
Ms Bligh said a temporary 4.42pm weekday train service from Central Station to Redbank, which started in November to offset Coronation Drive roadwork delays, would now be made permanent.

"This service has proven a real winner, carrying 300 to 600 passengers each weekday," she said.

"We've looked at these patronage figures and decided that the State Government will continue the funding from mid December."

That extra coro-drive service became permanent it seems...
40 million/km actually relatively cheap too...

http://www.translink.com.au/mediarelease.php?id=25

[ozbob]

The rail bridge over Warrender St Darra (Darra West)












Photographs mufreight 22nd February 2010.  Thanks to Horizon Alliance for permission for these photographs.

[ozbob]

Richlands railway station 10th March 2010



















Photographs R Dow 10th March 2010

[Jon Bryant]

Nice station shame about the freeway

[#Metro]

Don't stop! Keep building all the way to springfield!

[O_128]

Why is the freeway even needed?? surely the aim of the rail line would be to remove cars from the freeway.  Also how hard is it for the designers/builders/trans link to make sure the entire station has covering to even out passenger load over the length of the train

[ozbob]

Couple of photographs of the Richlands flyover Darra West





Photographs TrainGreg 11th March 2010

[ozbob]

Platform 4 closed this weekend.  (The change in numbering of platforms has occured apparently - the new platform 1 is taking shape of course).
Shuttle buses Darra to Oxley  (platform 3 temporary open).

Details --> http://www.translink.com.au/servicechange.php?id=494


Checked out the arrangements, all good.  Plenty of convenient mini-buses, signage and personnel in attendance.















Photographs R Dow 13th March 2010

[ozbob]

Here is the latest example of penny pinching on the Corinda - Darra - Richlands project



23 Jan 2010 date of aerial photograph source nearmap.com

I have crudely drawn in the double line to Richlands crossing over the 4th line that goes under the Richlands branch, this line joins up with main UP.  Incredibly it is not going to be electrified from the point where it leaves the sub and joins back on to the main west.  This will restrict operations by sparks of course should be it necessary.   How much would a few hundred metres of line cost to be electrified?  

[ozbob]

Some photographs from the 15th March.






Richlands Branch




Platform 3  still bit of a step ..





Photographs mufreight 15th March 2010

[ozbob]

Richlands last Wednesday, 24th March.









Photographs R Dow 24th March 2010

[Derwan]

Don't stop! Keep building all the way to springfield!

It's interesting to note that the Gateway Upgrade project has now been extended to include the section between Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Rd and Miles Platting Rd.  With further upgrades planned both south and north of the current upgrades, I think we'll see works continuing rather than shutting down and restarting.

Meanwhile, on rail........

[Golliwog]

Well at least those set the precedent for the rail project to be extended as well. I mean, we did already see the Coorinda to Darra upgrade go from 3 to 4 tracks, although the lack of electrification on the 4th line is dissapointing.

[ozbob]

Update from Richlands.

Station is looking good ..























Photographs R Dow 3rd May 2010

[Jon Bryant]

Unfortunately the surrounding TOD development is underwhelming though!!! What a great opportunity to demonstrate a long term out come at the same time as contructuon.  Instead we get ugly, dark, unsafe car parking area.   What a lost opportunity that clearly shows the short sightedness of our Governments at all levels.  Grade Mark = C-

[ozbob]

I hear you Jonno, but is worthwhile to point out there has been a flurry of residential town house construction, particularly along Archerfield Road which is a short walk to Richlands railway station.  Yet another shopping complex is planned in Archerfield Road as well.  There certainly is potential for some TOD like development very near the station.  Richlands will drain well from Inala and Forest Lake.  The 650 car park will probably be full by 6.30am is my guess.  There are generous bus stop areas, although the turns in and out of the bus areas do look a bit tight but it is still a bit early to really discern the flow patterns.

[Derwan]

I wonder if any thought has been given into potential future expansion.  What if one day the line to Springfield and beyond requires quadruplication?  Is there enough space without having to make major changes?

I certainly hope that any new infrastructure has a certain level of future-proofing.

[ozbob]

The line in from Darra to CBD will be quad soon (with the caveat of the UP sub not being electrified all the way to Corinda at this time), double through to Springfield will be more than enough.  The planing still has the single line section from Richlands to Stepham as far as I know, that must be a double.  Darra will be the point where the Ipswich and Springfield lines merge so the quad capacity will be needed (as well as freight on the Ipswich line).   Richlands has enough room for passing loops, but the branch line up from Darra and over the highway is double, no real potential to increase that easily.

The major failings with the Corinda to Darra, Richlands project are:

Failure to build the 4th platform at Oxley.

Failure to completely electrify the UP Sub from Corinda to Darra.

Failure to electrify the UP sub loop from Darra to the Western Main.

Failure to have high level platforms at Oxley and Darra.

The continuing notion of the single line section from Richlands to Stepham.

A failure to commit to the construction of the stations at Ellen Grove and Springfield lakes at time of initial line construction.

The good thing is that it is being built, and will give capacity. New sections are bi-directional and will have considerable flexibility.

The fact that they will need to return to address the shortcomings by 2015 is not the fault of the construction team.

[Derwan]

I realise the double will be more than enough for now... I'm talking 50 years down the track.  Who knows?  If another track or 2 is required, it'd be nice to think they carved out enough space to just lay another track beside - rather than having to rip out bridges, completely redesign stations and cause a lot of upheaval because they have to widen the trench the track runs along.

[ozbob]

Some photos around Darra/Darra West, steady progress



















Photographs with permission mufreight 18th May 2010

[#Metro]

Does anyone know what the cost for this rail construction (total or per/km) is?
It will help with the new lines thread.

Edit: $800 million for 5km
http://www.qr.com.au/SEQIP/projects/springfield/default.asp
http://www.mainroads.qld.gov.au/en/Projects/A-Z-Search/A-E/Darra-to-Springfield-Transport-Corridor-road-and-rail-project.aspx#project-info

[ozbob]

Richlands station up close

From Progress Road



Kiss and Ride drop off point



Towards Springfield



Up line trackbed



Lift from platform



Towards Springfield



Springfield end stairs



Lift concourse level



Concourse



Bus stop



Car park



Garden Road exit



Bus stop



Walkway



Station







Alignment towards Darra



Bus stop



Photographs with permission mufreight 18th May 2010

[david]

Those are excellent close-up photos! Thanks for sharing!

Looks like Richlands is progressing rapidly. Perhaps they will be able to open it at the same time as the finish of the Corinda to Darra project (which seems to have stalled again) later this year.

[longboi]

Richlands is looking fantastic! The lighting and glass is awesome  I also like the design of the bus stops with the separated lanes and indented bus bays

[O_128]

Richlands would have made a great TOD, isnt it interesting how residents are happy with a noisy highway slicing through there suburbs yet are up in arms about anything over 3 storeys high

[ozbob]

Some observations on Twitter from an inbound train earlier today (sequence bottom up):

# I think the footbridge at Darra needs an upgrade to match the new station ... new bridge for Riverview is to happen now, excellent!    
about 2 hours ago  via web

#
 
UP Sub Darra to Oxley electrification to cross overs near Sussanah St Oxley, from there to Corinda not electrified
about 2 hours ago via web


#
 
Footings for the OHT supports in place ...
about 2 hours ago via web

#

Just had a look at the Richlands Branch from the train. Looks like the UP sub loop west Darra is to be electrified now, commonsense prevails
about 2 hours ago via web

[ozbob]

I also noted the points from the sub down? to the loop are in place near the Centenary Highway road overbridge at Darra West.  Plenty of room under the bridge to for track amplifications ..  The overhead power wires for the third line (sub down) which will parallel the existing main down and up from the highway to Darra are also done (this was done when the new alignment was constructed and wired, save them coming back). Will still need the fine tuning but good move nonetheless.  The third line (sub down) is not laid yet.

Here is a mud map to make some sense of the track layout from Darra to Darra West  (real railway country!  )  Approximate only just to show the general track layout.

[ozbob]

Richlands ? Springfield here we come ..















Photographs mufreight 2nd June 2010

[ozbob]

Richlands station













Photographs mufreight 2nd June 2010

[ozbob]

Received Issue number 9 update Newsletter via snail mail.  Not added to the web site yet ( http://www.qr.com.au/SEQIP/projects/Springfield/default.asp )

Headlines:  The new Richlands Station building is now structurally complete.  Track laying will commence soon on the 4.5km dual-track railway line that runs parallel to the Centenary Highway.

[Jon Bryant]

Sorry I still struggle with the only structure around the station being a dark and dangerous car park plus it is adjacent to a freeway off ramp.  This really is a TOD antithesis and just shows how far our transport planning has to go.  Even our public transport us encouraging poor land use and further sprawl.

[stephenk]

Sorry I still struggle with the only structure around the station being a dark and dangerous car park plus it is adjacent to a freeway off ramp.  This really is a TOD antithesis and just shows how far our transport planning has to go.  Even our public transport us encouraging poor land use and further sprawl.

Is it really dark and dangerous? Sounds like a slight over exaggeration. Anyway, it's not even finished yet.

[Jon Bryant]

It certainly darker and more dangerous than a plaza surrounded by restaurants, apartments, schools and shops.  Late night and early morning it will certainly feel unsafe to many who will then decide not to take public transport.  That is the reality of park and rides. No argument. a video camera is no comfort. Interstingly enough these same people happily vist Berlin, Muich, Vienna, Cophengagen, Vancouver, etc. and happily jump off and on their transit system because they feel safe and the stops are convienient to where they are travelling to and from. 

The park and ride is a symptom of the "we can only get 15% of all trips so we need to capture a much wider area to make a service viable" mantra.  This is a false, narrow-minded and self-serviving assumption that has left our city (particularly the major corridors) ugly, noisy, unsafe and unsustainable as a whole.  The longer we accept this inaccurate assumption the more we will engrane the car as the first, second and third option for travelling with public and active transport a distant last place.   Our urban form needs to dramatically change from a LAesque region to a far more dense and compact group of satellite cities that have extensive co-location of uses, etc. 

Why dramatically increase frequency of train service if the only way to realistically get to the train station is by car and the car park maybe holds 600 cars.  That is enough car parks to fill one train yet between 6am and 9pm up to 120 trains could stop at the station assuming a 15min frequency during that time as mentioned in the Network Plan.  The maths just does not add up.  We must locate significantly more people adjacent to the station and feed it with frequenct local feeder services or we run the risk of ramping up rail services but only a small number of passengers can get near enough to the station to catch it.

[#Metro]

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?

[mufreight]

Joono has raised a good point and no doubt when the new QR format comes into operation there will be those in QR who will see the benefits of further development at Richlands.
As other stations on the line come into operation they will in turn (hopefully) ease the demand for parking at Richlands for commuters from Forest Lake and Springfield which will encourage development at Richlands in the form of a TOD covering the station area site and posibly extending from the Progress Road to Garden Road over the Centenary Highway as well as over the station site.
Time will no doubt see a demand for such a development.

[somebody]

The other point about car parking is that it is what the politicians are being asked to provide, apparently.  If Henry Ford had asked people what they wanted, they would have said "a faster horse".

Not that I am saying people's ideas of what they want aren't interesting BTW.

[Jon Bryant]

This is because the Govt is doing absolutely nothing to educate otherwise and in fact their behaviour and press realeases celebrating road projects they are encouraging the belief that driving a car vital to our economy and society.  Henry Ford would be very proud indeed.  PS. His company has successfully shut down LA's transport system and the electric car.   

[stephenk]

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.

[#Metro]

If you have contradictory facts, please post them.

Is it fair to compare the rate (and severity?) of attacks a shopping centre that might hold thousands of people, have good lighting, security and people everywhere with a desolate carpark that might have a have a handful of commuters waiting for a bus late at night?