The Sunshine Coast Case : Rail duplication Beerburrum to Nambour

[Gazza]

It's just too slow. 100 km/hour, 130 km/hour is not fast enough.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICE_4_(Deutsche_Bahn)

The K3 trains are to be for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, 12 of the K1 trains are to be operated into the Netherlands.[17]

On 5 March 2013, DB announced that it had approved a 12 car 250 km/h train configuration that would raise capacity over, and replace in the base order, the existing 10 car train - seating capacity would increase from 724 seats to 830 seats. The order was altered in expectation of growing ridership for DB's long distance services.[1]

LD, is it really necessary for you to make repetative posts within  half an hour of each other?


For the NCL, I agree with what others have said about design speeds north of Beerwah.

100km/h is fine for freight, and probably fine for the small towns north of Beerwah served  by the current line.

If we really want to give the people of the SC a rail service equal to that of the GC, then build a fast line on the CAMCOS alignment where the population is (To at least Caloundra)

It would not surprise me at all if a Caloundra spur would generate more patronage than every station north of Beerwah combined.

[Stillwater]

Infrastructure Australia has the Beerburrum-Landsborough upgrade listed as a National Freight Network project with 'real potential' status.  Oh, and the cost is now estimated at $770 million.

[#Metro]

Looks like we will have to agree to disagree on this.

100km/h is fine for freight, and probably fine for the small towns north of Beerwah served  by the current line.

Rail is a long term investment. We are talking 50-100 year horizons. Long distance travel is best served by fast services, much faster than now, and it needs to be faster than 100km/hour if it is going to compete with cars and be a serious alternative to road travel or never ending expansions to the Bruce Hwy.

Speed actually saves money as well, in terms of labour/operating costs. The speed attracts more passengers, and consumes fewer labour hours. It could also be built to standards that only require one driver per train, cutting labour costs by 50%, in addition to savings you get from speed alone.

Something that goes 100/km hour is not appropriate for something as far away as the SC. Part of me is starting to doubt whether it is a good idea to sink new investment money into what is essentially a legacy system (narrow gauge, limited speeds). It is a bit like getting the latest steamship when there are planes around.

At the minimum, an investigation should look at something at least twice this speed, preferably faster, for the SC corridor.

[#Metro]

Just look at this. It is not good.

I think even with CAMCOS the trip will still be totally uncompetitive vs car:

MAROOCHYDORE to CENTRAL

Rail and bus takes about 3 hours. Car 1.25 - 2 hours at best. Sorry to upset people / rock the boat, but I think its not good enough.
Even with expensive upgrades like CAMCOS, it will still not be good enough. A good project should aim to make a BIG dent in travel times in a situation like this.

[Arnz]

If we really want to put a dent into the speeds of rail to the SC, and going into foaming territory, it would mean building Trouts Road corridor, then going up the Bruce Highway at Carseldine as part of a "faster" alignment. 

Although the highway alignment suits a HSR alignment more, stations at North Lakes (Anzac Ave turnoff), Burpengary Central (town centre), Caboolture East (Caboolture Turnoff), Caboolture North (Pumicestone Road turnoff), then turn off onto the CAMCOS corridor (Bells Creek) would be a lot faster. 

Going up Trouts Road, then following the Bruce Highway would be somewhat competitive with the car (although the station stops would slow it a bit), it follows the highway like Perth, and the 130km/h speeds (assuming the design speed matches the current generation IMUs).  A SC-Bris train following the Bruce Highway alignment passing by the usual Anzac Avenue turnoff (North Lakes) to Old Gympie Road traffic jam during the usual morning peak and afternoon peak traffic on Bruce Highway every weekday would be a sight to see.

[Arnz]

If we really want to give the people of the SC a rail service equal to that of the GC, then build a fast line on the CAMCOS alignment where the population is (To at least Caloundra)

It would not surprise me at all if a Caloundra spur would generate more patronage than every station north of Beerwah combined.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, CAMCOS is the 'new Redcliffe'.  The newest 'vaporware' line in the never never especially when most of the region is combined with the traditional Liberal voters. 

You'd likely to see the Maglev Bus to Caboolture before any form of CAMCOS is constructed at this point. 

The more likely medium term upgrade at this point is the Beerburrum-Landsborough duplication and potentially half-hourly to Landsborough during the day only as extended Caboolture express trains (assuming trains in the evening still get stabled at Caboolture & Elimbah, plus the peak hour trains getting stabled at Woombye & Nambour) with 1tph extending to Nambour into the evening (remaining hourly) with increased feeder buses (existing 605/615) feeding in at Landsborough similar to the 740/745 on the GC.

[#Metro]

If we really want to put a dent into the speeds of rail to the SC, and going into foaming territory, it would mean building Trouts Road corridor, then going up the Bruce Highway at Carseldine as part of a "faster" alignment. 

I think I continue with this in the foam thread:
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11970

[James]

If we really want to put a dent into the speeds of rail to the SC, and going into foaming territory, it would mean building Trouts Road corridor, then going up the Bruce Highway at Carseldine as part of a "faster" alignment. 

Although the highway alignment suits a HSR alignment more, stations at North Lakes (Anzac Ave turnoff), Burpengary Central (town centre), Caboolture East (Caboolture Turnoff), Caboolture North (Pumicestone Road turnoff), then turn off onto the CAMCOS corridor (Bells Creek) would be a lot faster.

I'd actually argue that this isn't really the case. As it is, Petrie - Caboolture is already rated to 120km/h for express trains (or it is at least capable of it). I'd expect that you'd naturally make Petrie a stop, so the alignment coming in/out of Petrie would be less of a problem, then you have Trouts Rd to Strathpine, so only the Strathpine - Petrie stretch would be sub-par. Probably not worth building an entirely new rail line over.

What's probably most important is Trouts Rd and CAMCOS. You would not believe how feeder buses haemorrhage time. Travelling a distance in the car which takes 10 minutes can take 30+ minutes in a feeder. In the interim though, at least duplications to Landsborough (at 160km/hr rated) should make the line just as good as the GC.

[#Metro]

Perhaps take a look at Fares_Fare twitter feed. It is just incredible the work that is required. Timber bridges, sharp curves etc - why not just go de novo??

[Old Northern Road]

If we really want to put a dent into the speeds of rail to the SC, and going into foaming territory, it would mean building Trouts Road corridor, then going up the Bruce Highway at Carseldine as part of a "faster" alignment. 

Although the highway alignment suits a HSR alignment more, stations at North Lakes (Anzac Ave turnoff), Burpengary Central (town centre), Caboolture East (Caboolture Turnoff), Caboolture North (Pumicestone Road turnoff), then turn off onto the CAMCOS corridor (Bells Creek) would be a lot faster.

I'd actually argue that this isn't really the case. As it is, Petrie - Caboolture is already rated to 120km/h for express trains (or it is at least capable of it). I'd expect that you'd naturally make Petrie a stop, so the alignment coming in/out of Petrie would be less of a problem, then you have Trouts Rd to Strathpine, so only the Strathpine - Petrie stretch would be sub-par. Probably not worth building an entirely new rail line over.

What's probably most important is Trouts Rd and CAMCOS. You would not believe how feeder buses haemorrhage time. Travelling a distance in the car which takes 10 minutes can take 30+ minutes in a feeder. In the interim though, at least duplications to Landsborough (at 160km/hr rated) should make the line just as good as the GC.

Strathpine to Lawnton is dead straight so no problem there.
With Trouts Rd I think you could probably do Maroochydore to Roma St in 80-90mins and that is stopping all stations Maroochydore to Beerwah then Caboolture,Petrie, Strathpine, Alderley

[Arnz]

I'd actually argue that this isn't really the case. As it is, Petrie - Caboolture is already rated to 120km/h for express trains (or it is at least capable of it). I'd expect that you'd naturally make Petrie a stop, so the alignment coming in/out of Petrie would be less of a problem, then you have Trouts Rd to Strathpine, so only the Strathpine - Petrie stretch would be sub-par. Probably not worth building an entirely new rail line over.

What's probably most important is Trouts Rd and CAMCOS. You would not believe how feeder buses haemorrhage time. Travelling a distance in the car which takes 10 minutes can take 30+ minutes in a feeder. In the interim though, at least duplications to Landsborough (at 160km/hr rated) should make the line just as good as the GC.

A small part between Narangba and Burpengary was originally at one point rated for 120km/h (all MUs) in the late 90s and early 00s but was later downrated to 100km/h. 
The remaining parts varies between 80km-100kmh.

Strathpine to Lawnton is dead straight so no problem there.
With Trouts Rd I think you could probably do Maroochydore to Roma St in 80-90mins and that is stopping all stations Maroochydore to Beerwah then Caboolture,Petrie, Strathpine, Alderley

That part is limited to 100km/h for freighters & traveltrain/existing Caboolture/Nambour/Gympie expresses.

Sending the Trouts Road alignment up the Bruce Highway at least gets it up to 120km/h-140km/h for the vast majority of the Bruce Highway alignment.

Bob and/or Mod request: Can we get part of this thread (from Reply #1157 onwards where the HSR discussion starts) moved over to the GC/SC HSR thread in the Wacky Dude (foaming) forum?

[ozbob]

This discussion is fine here.  It is very relevant to the broader issue of the duplication.

[Gazza]

Just look at this. It is not good.

I think even with CAMCOS the trip will still be totally uncompetitive vs car:

MAROOCHYDORE to CENTRAL

Rail and bus takes about 3 hours. Car 1.25 - 2 hours at best. Sorry to upset people / rock the boat, but I think its not good enough.
Even with expensive upgrades like CAMCOS, it will still not be good enough. A good project should aim to make a BIG dent in travel times in a situation like this.

Few realities about MSR/HSR.

-They don't share trackage with freight trains.
-They have wider station spacing.
-They tend not to be anchored by small towns like Nambour and Gympie.

Its great that you've been able to do graphs showing that a 250 km/h train is faster than a 100 km/h train.

But I think the fact that the NCL line upgrade argument has always been freight focused, and that the current line runs through lots of small towns that are going to want to retain their station (I'm guessing FaresFair wouldnt want to see Palmwoods closed in the interests of faster line speeds).

What this means is that you are unlikely to hit those lofty speeds on the current route.

So stressing about the current line only being 100kmh or 160kmh whatever is pointless, because a proper fast train with a 50-100 year view isn't going to be running anywhere near the current line, and it won't be carrying freight

[Fares_Fair]

Speed of a train is everything to its efficiency for freight or passengers, but especially for freight which is the economic argument basis.

Passenger improvements are just a collateral advantage.
I'm not calling for railway towns to be closed.
I'm calling for freight trains to be allowed to compete with the Highway and the report gives a damning assessment of the current circumstance.

It's clear that they are reducing the proposed design speed from 160kph to 100kph.
Going backwards design speed wise and not gaining ground or efficiency.

Queenslander ! 

[petey3801]

Freight train speeds in QLD are limited to 100km/h max, with some limited to 80 and others 60.

[#Metro]

Few realities about MSR/HSR.

-They don't share trackage with freight trains.
-They have wider station spacing.
-They tend not to be anchored by small towns like Nambour and Gympie.

True

Its great that you've been able to do graphs showing that a 250 km/h train is faster than a 100 km/h train.

What are you trying to say here Gazza?

I did not draw the graph. It is autogenerated from Google Maps as I wanted to know what the current travel times between both road and rail are. Clearly shows that taking a train is 2-3x slower than car. It's a horse-and-buggy option.

We are going to pay billions to upgrade this line. What are we going to get in return? A PT service that is still going to be 2x slower than car, most likely. It's not good, even with upgrades.

But I think the fact that the NCL line upgrade argument has always been freight focused, and that the current line runs through lots of small towns that are going to want to retain their station (I'm guessing FaresFair wouldnt want to see Palmwoods closed in the interests of faster line speeds).

One cannot run HSR or MSR along the current alignment. True. But it would achieve separation of passenger and rail networks, with benefits for both.

What this means is that you are unlikely to hit those lofty speeds on the current route.

That's obvious. More reason not to use the current route for passenger services.

So stressing about the current line only being 100kmh or 160kmh whatever is pointless, because a proper fast train with a 50-100 year view isn't going to be running anywhere near the current line, and it won't be carrying freight

Isn't pointless. The point is the current line or upgrades to it will still result in a service that is totally non-competitive with car. What is the purpose of public transport? To move people. If you want passengers, it needs to be good. Longer distances like SC should not be served by 100km/hour train services, as is the case in much of Europe.

Proper speed for distances like the SC line is 200 - 260 km/hour range. That is an uncontroversial observation. It's too short for planes and too long for cars to be competitive. On safety* and capacity grounds**, HSR rail wins hands down. Speed saves money in operation and with a new line the signalling etc can be all built to support DOO which would mean 50% further saving on labour costs.

* Driving long distances is dangerous due to fatigue, alcohol, skill (or lack thereof) of other users. Common justification
of road upgrades is safety.

* Single motorway lane has around 1500 - 2000 pphd. Train ~ 12 000 pphd (assume 5 min intervals). This is useful for peak loads during holiday periods when the entire highway becomes a car park.

[Fares_Fair]

Freight train speeds in QLD are limited to 100km/h max, with some limited to 80 and others 60.

Thank you.

Yes, but is that speed restriction because of the windy narrow gauge uneven graded predominately single track?

[#Metro]

If it takes 3 hours to travel 100km from Maroochydore, that is an average speed of:

100 km / 3 hours = 33 km/hour average speed   

How much faster will it be to Maroochydore even if we assume all upgrades are done and CAMCOS??

Car and do it in 1.5 hours, which is better at about

100 km / 1.5 hours = 66 km/hour average speed

[Gazza]

Freight train speeds in QLD are limited to 100km/h max, with some limited to 80 and others 60.

Thank you.

Yes, but is that speed restriction because of the windy narrow gauge uneven graded predominately single track?

I think the point is going to 160 km/h basically just benefits the tilt train.

Freight trains certainly never get near that.... I think 115 Is the fastest any freight train runs in Australia.

For passenger trains to/from Nambour designing to 160 is probably a bit redundant too, because the stations are so close together.
Eg only 4km Woombye to Nambour
3.3km Palmwoods to Woombye
5km Eudlo to Mooloolah

Etc.

Whist the track conditions north of Beerburrum are poor, nobody seems to talk about the number of stations over that distance being an equal handicap on ever getting an attractive travel relative to driving.

[petey3801]

Freight train speeds in QLD are limited to 100km/h max, with some limited to 80 and others 60.

Thank you.

Yes, but is that speed restriction because of the windy narrow gauge uneven graded predominately single track?

No, it is a rollingstock restriction. Even on long, straight, high speed sections up north, freight still has the same limitations. The fastest freight trains in this country are 115km/h. Even across the world, freight trains with greater than 120km/h speed limit (roughly) are rare, with a small amount in Europe being 160km/h capable on specific high speed freight lines.

[Fares_Fair]

Thank you petey, appreciate your confirmations and expertise.

The fact remains that in the 1990's, there was 118km of deviations built to a nominal 160/120kph alignment standard.
NCLCIS Final Report version 2, 23/02/2015, p26.

The future of freight looks grim if they''ll never get beyond 100kph.

The 60kph restriction for bulk and general freight is in the Brisbane Metro region, and it's primarily to reduce potential of SPADS. No ATP system and the complexity of signalling in a multi-track environment are the reasons given for that restriction.

[Fares_Fair]

NCLCIS - Final Report version 2, 23/02/2015, p30

"As noted in Section 3, major curve easings were undertaken in the various upgrade projects in the 1980/1990s [Petrie – Caboolture electrification, Main Line Electrification (MLE), and Main Line Upgrade (MLU) projects], duplications between Gladstone and Rockhampton, and the Mackay Bypass). The alignment standards adopted for the MLU project were to a strategic design standard of 160 kph south of Gladstone and a 120 kph minimum standard between Rockhampton and Townsville. More recently the Caboolture – Beerburrum duplication has included re-aligning to the 160 kph standard."

A 100kph design is going to restrict the North Coast Line from whenever it occurs and into the future.
No Gold plated ($8 billion) CRR style expenditure for freight up to Cairns.

In fact CRR needs a revised business case if one reads these latest reports, because of the 43.6% reduction in freight paths in and out of Brisbane from 2007 to 2013, and a proposed freight terminal at Beerburrum where longer freight trains may be constructed.
These appear to be game-changers in the line dynamics.

[Gazza]

The question I wonder though, is if you wanted to get line speeds up to the 120/160 standard wouldn't you do it north of Nambour where:

-You're not doing cuttings and tunnels through a national park (Eg you might be able to build 100km of 160 track elsewhere for the same price as 50km worth through the rugged terrain of the Sunshine coast)
-In areas where the train can actually flatten it.

It would be difficult to imagine freights or anything doing much above 100 south of  Nambouru because it's a mixed traffic environment.

Maybe in the middle of the night when no passenger trains are running  :conf

I would sat Beerburrum to Landsborough, and Palmwoods to Nambour would be no great challenge to build to 160 because there's not much in the way of straightening it.

But the bit around Eudlo where tunnels and so forth are required is where you'd be paying s large step increase in cost (going from 100 to 160) for limited additional time saving

http://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/resources/project/landsborough-nambour-railway/landsborough-to-nambour-rail-report.pdf

By my calculations, the section from just north of Landsborough, to Palmwoods is about 11km of rail. A non stop train would clear that in 6 min 40 seconds if it were going at 100, or just over 4 minutes if travelling at 160.

I would be interested in seeing the relative costs of the 100 option versus the 160 option.

[Fares_Fair]

The area from Mooloolah to Palmwoods is probably the windiest section of track, literal S bends.
The removal of these would greatly improve the potential speed (and I'm talking freight trains here as that is where the economic argument lies).

As for the freight train speed being limited by the mixed bag of services on this section of track, that is the case, the report cites freight train speeds in the Brisbane Metropolitan area (to Nambour) currently as 60 kph (with 100 kph for all passenger trains) and limited by no ATP system, the complexity of signalling in a multi-track (oh, the irony) environment and freight train braking distances and to reduce the potential of Signals Passed at Danger (SPADS).

Improving passenger services is just collateral advantage.
Yes, there are the two tunnels, one between Mooloolah and Eudlo and Eudlo and Palmwoods.

Unfortunately, I have no information that indicates the cost difference between the 100 kph and 160 kph standards.
Suffice to say that the reduction in design speeds is a measly minimalist approach to an already struggling North Coast Line.

For the record, the Bruce Highway design speed is 130 kph.

The Landsborough to Nambour Corridor Study cited passenger train time saving of 17 minutes 40 seconds just between Nambour and Caboolture (under a 160 kph design speed).

[Stillwater]

Once QR National was sold off to private enterprise, government took its eyes off the NCL.  Remember the debate about selling track (below-rail) as part of the package?  They thought they could sell off the responsibility yet retain the asset.  That didn't work, did it?  The reports are depressing to read -- reveal years of neglect so we have reached what would seem now is crunch time for rail freight operations between Brisbane and Townsville.

[petey3801]

There are no blanket freight speed restrictions around the suburban area. Freight trains capable of traveling at 100km/h are quite able to do 100km/h, where speed limits permit.
The only restrictions are related to train type and local slower speed limits in places.
Normal intermodal freighters are generally good for 100km/h (except in certain circumstances, such as speed limited locos or transfering out of gauge loads etc). Cattle trains are limited to 80km/h (rollingstock limitation and likely to keep the cattle happy too), infrastructure trains are often 60km/h limited (rollingstock limitations). Local speed limits are just like tilt train speed limits vs electric pax rollingstock restrictions, just lower speeds in some places than others (ie: Springfield line, for example, is up to 140km/h for electric pax rollingstock, all other trains are limited to 60km/h due to signal spacing, among other things).

[ozbob]

First priority in my mind is to get the track amplification from Beerburrum to Landsborough North.

Next improve passing loops etc. between Landsborough North and Nambour.

This is surely achievable within our state resources, with some funding support from Feds in recognition of the the freight gains.

Focus.

[Stillwater]

Lead item in the local news bulletins on ABC Sunshine Coast this morning ... Jeff Addison calling on PM to fund SCL duplication in support of freight efficiencies.  PM is in the region today.  Premier also wanting to chat to PM about rail.  Watch this space. 

[ozbob]

Focus ...   

[Fares_Fair]

The 522p Ranbury NCLCIS version 2 report dated 23/02/2015, is a damning indictment of Governmental inaction.
It is more than just extraordinary, the future of freight is at risk on the line.

The 10 year Action Plan (Draft) is not due to start for at least 10 years.
It is described in other documents as a 10-20 year investment.

It's both a state and national crisis to put it bluntly.
Maybe something will come from PM Malcolm Turnbull's visit to Wide Bay today.

I've been tweeting a lot of the facts from the report, with photographs of the relevant sections of the report, e.g.

Bruce to Highway to receive $8.5 billion by 2022/23
#2tracks to receive 'severe under-capitalisation' #qldpol #auspol

It's real gobsmack stuff in this report.
Can't wait to see the SEQCI which covers Brisbane to Nambour in a lot more detail.

I am also in the process of reading the entire 522 page Ranbury report.

[Stillwater]

It is a strange, perverted way in which politics plays such a large part in the provision of infrastructure in Queensland.  That is how, for instance, a football stadium in Townsville has become a top infrastructure project for the state -- as always, to be funded by the federal government in the eyes of our local political leaders.  It follows that, in the peculiar ways things work in the Pineapple State, a few very ordinary politicians may be the catalyst for bringing forward work on duplicating the Sunshine Coast Line.

Jeff Seeney wants to quit state politics to stand for the federal seat of Wide Bay in the federal election to be held later this year.  Wide Bay covers Gympie and areas to the south of there, as far as Cooroy.  Mal Brough has announced he won't be contesting the Sunshine Coast seat of Fisher, held previously by wine-lover Peter Slipper.  Jarad Bleije, the State Member for Kawana, is expected to throw his hat in the ring for Fisher.  And the larger than life Clive Palmer will have a battle on his hands retaining the seat of Fairfax, which includes Nambour and towns south, where track duplication is planned.  The LNP will want to win back that seat.

The SCL duplication is at the top of the agenda of almost every voter, organisation and council in the region.

The LNP, in particular, would want to retain Wide Bay and Fisher and undo Mr Palmer.  In considering election promises for the entire region, political parties would be tempted to put some federal dollars towards duplicating Beerburrum-Landsborough and ironing out the kinks further north in the seat of Wide Bay, where Warren Truss is retiring.

Politics shouldn't play the part that it does in the provision of transport in Queensland, but this time the pollies are going to find it difficult to resist the pent-up tension regarding this issue.  Let's remember that these seats tend to vote conservative.  State Labor will have nothing to lose from stirring the pot during the federal election campaign, calling on the federal government to fund duplication, and maybe releasing reports showing the work is long overdue.

[Stillwater]

First there was Caloundra South, a city the size of Gladstone, to be developed at the southern end of the Sunshine Coast.  Now there is Palmview, a small city the size of Gympie, to be built adjacent to the Bruce Highway, south of Nambour turnoff.

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/state-government-fund-basic-infrastructure-palmvie/2950356
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/tradies-to-win-at-new-estate/2635114

State Government still refuses to commit to SCL upgrade.  Bruce Highway choked with cars even before these new cities are built.  Welcome to Queensland – beautifully infrastructure free one day, perfectly stuffed the next.

[Stillwater]

Another case of gridlock on the Bruce Highway this morning.  Traffic jam 10km long.

  http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/murrumba-downs-crash-backs-bruce-hwy-traffic/2951221

State Governments says 'meh'

[red dragin]

Another case of gridlock on the Bruce Highway this morning.  Traffic jam 10km long.

  http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/murrumba-downs-crash-backs-bruce-hwy-traffic/2951221

State Governments says 'meh'

This is the third in that section of road. There is a gentle left hand bend northbound, where drivers seem to just go straight on and into oncoming traffic.

The traffic was screwed in the area, my trip to the station via Kindy took 20 minutes longer. I never encounter delays on that drive. Almost had a sickie and went fishing.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow 44 minutes ago Brisbane, Queensland

Worst road grid-lock ever in SEQ/Bris today. Will more roads really fix it?

> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11398.msg170182#msg170182 ... #qldpol



==============

^ according to a number of traffic reporters (surface and air), worst ever congestion/grid lock this morning for SEQ/Brisbane ..

  < slow clap 

[achiruel]

Imagine how much less inconvenient this congestion could have been had KR line been opened, CRR/Trouts Rd been constructed, NCL duplication in place and some decent feeder buses in Moreton Regional Council.

[Stillwater]

STOP PRESS:

ABC Sunshine Coast radio is reporting in its news bulletins that the state government has told construction and civil engineering firms privately to 'gear up' for a start on Beerburrum-Nambour track duplication in financial year 2018-19.  The ABC has sought a comment from the state government.

Previously, the government has confirmed that the business case for duplication between Beerburrum and Landsborough and track improvements beyond that to Nambour would not be ready until mid-2017.  A new EIS would be required also.

[#Metro]

Hmm.  We have been through this routine and procedure before. The report. The animation. The announcement.

Until I actually see signed contracts, I would not count it as anything. Telling firms to 'gear up', what the hell does that mean? The basic EIS and business cases are not even complete.

Cross River Rail got much further than SC rail line did, and after 8 years, it is still not built. And that's in the CBD!

Pre-requisite is that PM has to bless the project. Otherwise it usually won't get up.

[Arnz]

Agree with LD in this case, unless if there are actual contracts signed combined with more details (such as will it be Beerburrum-Landsborough North only with only crossing loop extensions north of Landsborough? will it be the whole shebang like the Moreton Bay line? (this scenario is highly unlikely)) or other similar questions,  I'm taking this announcement with a grain of salt.

[#Metro]

Agree with LD in this case, unless if there are actual contracts signed combined with more details (such as will it be Beerburrum-Landsborough North only with only crossing loop extensions north of Landsborough? will it be the whole shebang like the Moreton Bay line? (this scenario is highly unlikely)) or other similar questions,  I'm taking this announcement with a grain of salt.

Arnz, you need the whole salt shaker. No doubt there is need for a distraction given the seating in Parliament is dead heat now, plus no money (can't sell or lease anything, and don't want to borrow either). Situation isn't chaos now, but gov't will need to walk on eggshells for the next two years not to upset any of the cross-benchers.

Remember, they still haven't managed to get the back door of the bus to swing open and take passengers, lol.