Article: Push for rail in Redbank Plains

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times click here!

Push for rail in Redbank Plains

Push for rail in Redbank Plains

Zane Jackson | 10th August 2011

QUEENSLAND Mayors have called on a plan to build a rail line between Springfield and Redbank Plains to be brought forward as a way of easing road congestion in booming population pockets.

A rail line between Richlands and Springfield will be finished by 2013, while the State Government has preserved a further corridor between Springfield and Yamanto.

The proposed Ipswich to Springfield rail line, which would include a Redbank Plains station, has not been earmarked to be built until 2020-2026.

In their recent Getting SEQ Moving: 2011-2012 submission, The Council of Mayors (SEQ) said having a Redbank Plains station come online was a high priority.

"Extending the rail line through to Redbank Plains will further improve accessibility to public transport for significant urban growth areas of Redbank Plains, Bellbird Park and more of Springfield," the report said.

It said State Government funding is recommended for the project.

Their calls were backed up by Mayor Paul Pisasale, who said the strong rise in housing construction in this corridor "is enough reason for a second look at bringing forward the planned passenger rail to Redbank Plains."

"With the rapid growth of Redbank Plains, especially around School Rd, any additional commitment by the state government would be very welcome and supports Ipswich as the solution to housing sustainable population growth in south east Queensland," he said.

He said possible stations past the upcoming Springfield Central could be at the end of Keidges Rd and School Rd.

But a Transport and Main Roads spokesman said there were currently no plans to bring forward the project.

Robert Dow, spokesman for public transport lobby group Rail Back on Track, said his group would welcome moves to bring forward construction on the Springfield to Ipswich line.

[O_128]

In any ensile county they would go well we may as well connect it up properly before people start living there and provide ipswiches biggest uni a rail station.

[somebody]

Isn't that a somewhat circuitous route to Redbank Plains?

[O_128]

Chances are though that if the loop is ever completed we can have trains running via springfield and via redbank, the main reason I want the link built is to give UQ ipswich a rail service.

[SurfRail]

Isn't that a somewhat circuitous route to Redbank Plains?

Not really - it's "on the way" between Springfield and Ripley, so I'd rather that than forking off from Redbank.

I wonder about the proposed services if this loop ever ends up being built.  I expect you would need to terminate trains at say Ripley, so you have all stations to the city via Springfield and all station to Darra via Ipswich, then express to the city (or run express from Redbank and have a separate all stopping pattern start there).

[mufreight]

If you deviate the line to run through Redbank Plains the additional costs of that deviation could well mean that the Springfield to Ipswich may never be built, and if built the longer running times will disuade passengers from using it anyway.

Has the corridor for the line between Springfield and Ipswich been determined?
Has action been taken to preserve the corridor if it has?
Would Redbank Plains not be better served by a feeder bus service operating between Goodna or Redbank and a station on the as yet only proposed Springfield to Ipswich rail link?

The Moreton Bay (KippaRing) line has been proposed for 103 years now and although the Government has finally committed to buils it they have as yet not finalised the corridor much less started on construction planning.
Dreams are nice but lets have some reality, we are approaching a state election and a Government desperate to stay in power will say or propose anything with no ability or intention of doing anything if re elected.

[ozbob]

Robert Dow, spokesman for public transport lobby group Rail Back on Track, said his group would welcome moves to bring forward construction on the Springfield to Ipswich line.

This is the Mayors not the state Government as such.

Indeed, I actually suggested a proper bus feeder network into the rail heads was the way forward in the short term.  Support for Springfield to Ipswich in principle is wise, but I also pointed there are higher immediate priorities as this time, for example north of Beerburrum ... and more capacity between Petrie and Brisbane particularly because of MBRL and so forth.

[somebody]

Looking at the map it really only touches the edge of Redbank Plains anyway.