The Sunshine Coast Case : Rail duplication Beerburrum to Nambour

[#Metro]

  WOW! It is like she reads this forum?!

[Old Northern Road]

I have trouble believing that retard can read

If the people of the Sunshine Coast are stupid enough to vote for her then I hope no money is spent on them

[Jonno]

If there isn't anyone standing for the next election, then perhaps Pauline Hanson is your next best bet.

If getting a duplicated rail line requires supporting Hanson politics then rip the whole lot up and throw it all away That lady is vile and does not represent anything but hatred!!

[#Metro]

Orange Team's vote is higher than The Greens.
2016 Federal Election Result - QLD
http://www.abc.net.au/news/federal-election-2016/results/senate/#sqld

Blue Team
960,467 votes    35.27%  -6.12% swing

Red Team
717,524 votes    26.35%  -2.17%

Orange Team
250,126 votes    9.19%    +8.64%

Interestingly, if you add the swings: 6.12 + 2.17 = 8.29, indicating that most were former Blue team voters, plus a few former red team voters.

If we go deeper:

Sunshine Coast list of FEDERAL electorates

Fairfax

PASQUALI, Robert   Pauline Hanson's One Nation      9,006 votes   9.74%

Fisher
No candidate

Longman
PEDERSEN, Michelle   Pauline Hanson's One Nation       8,293 votes   9.42%

Wide Bay
COTTAM, Elise Anne   Pauline Hanson's One Nation       14,022 votes   15.60%

Conclusion: If any orange team candidates were to run, they would automatically have about 10% of the vote. Some of the margins for MPs on the SC are quite large, but it would really reduce that significantly. Any new seats created would be anyone's to take as there would be nobody to defend it.

[#Metro]

If getting a duplicated rail line requires supporting Hanson politics then rip the whole lot up and throw it all away That lady is vile and does not represent anything but hatred!!

Commenting on a transport proposal as good or bad is a neutral thing. Perhaps Ozbob can comment on this?

Sadly, there is Islamophobia present on the Sunshine Coast. And no doubt orange team will try tap into that. You can see just how extraordinarily high the Orange Team vote is for Wide Bay electorate - 15%!! 

Anti-mosque group 'won't talk to muslims'
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/we-wont-talk-to-muslims-says-holt/2648973/

Ugly scenes no way to stop a mosque on Sunshine Coast
http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/ugly-scenes-no-way-stop-mosque-sunshine-coast/2394480/#/0

[Jonno]

Doesn't make it right.  We are better than that!! Hanson's party is no place to seek support!!

PS IT IS NOT ISLAMAPHOBIA IT IS JUST RACISM Pure and simple. Islam today People from another Country tomorrow

PSS It is not their country to take back either!!

[techblitz]

Pauline aint going anywhere....her support will only grow from here....labor and liberal have made sure of that.....Johnno perhaps you should look to them for answers on why one nation has grown its voter base.....

[#Metro]

Doesn't make it right.  We are better than that!! Hanson's party is no place to seek support!!

PS IT IS NOT ISLAMAPHOBIA IT IS JUST RACISM Pure and simple. Islam today People from another Country tomorrow

PSS It is not their country to take back either!!

Agreed. But perhaps you were thinking Xenophobia? Islam is a religion, not a race.

[aldonius]

(cross-thread double-posting, woohoo)

I've just finished mapping out the combined primary vote for ON and ALA in the Senate earlier this year (ALA included because their preferences flowed incredibly strongly to ON).

https://fusiontables.googleusercontent.com/embedviz?q=select+col2+from+1bflq1rjPT4kigJWu3FIR3AlxBj_8KH3Bb4p83cNY&viz=MAP&h=false&lat=-27.282174561085736&lng=151.36845361328122&t=1&z=8&l=col2&y=2&tmplt=2&hml=TWO_COL_LAT_LNG

Sunshine Coast isn't a particularly strong sector for the Hansonites, though if the seat boundaries fall the right way they might be able to manage a second place somewhere.

The Hansonites' strongest Senate result cluster by far was around Gatton (low 30s on average), where ON also ran a lower house candidate. He got just over 20% for that electorate as a whole, although it's very much an electorate of two parts and the other part 'only' averaged about 15% in the Senate.

Note that due to many more parties contesting the Senate, the ON Reps candidates seem to be doing a bit better than the ON Senate vote. However, this ought to 'cancel out' in terms of projected seat winnability, as both Labor and the LNP have the same effect happen to them.

[ozbob]

#2tracks rail duplication story @7NewsSC
The truth is out there@PaulineHansonOz @FionaSimpsonMP @TimNichollsMP @jackietrad @AnnastaciaMP pic.twitter.com/l1MqBUQRM6

— Jeff Addison (@Jeffrey_Addison) October 7, 2016

[ozbob]

The fact that the SCL is an issue for politics of all persuasions is welcome. 

Please keep discussions on SCL here about SCL.  Pure politics please discuss in the political threads. Thanks!

[ozbob]

. @QLDLabor @LNPQLD @QldGreens #qldpol https://t.co/hud9dmzTmm

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) October 7, 2016

[ozbob]

Media release 9th October 2016



SEQ: Sunshine Coast Line (SCL) rail duplication plans fall short

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org), a web-based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers, has thanked the state government for advancing plans to duplicate the Sunshine Coast Line (SCL) to Landsborough, but has called on the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) to explain its 'minimalist' approach that won't see duplication extended north to Nambour.

Jeff Addison, Sunshine Coast spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The new preferred alignment for the SCL, for which a business case and funding justification will be prepared in 2017, is available for public comment on the TMR website.

"The proposed 17km duplication between Beerburrum and Landsborough will address efficiency issues, allow more passenger trains to run and will overcome some conflicts between passenger and freight trains on this line.

"We warmly welcome this move and trust it gets its well-deserved funding to proceed in 2017.

"The Campbell Newman led LNP Government announced rail duplication from Beerburrum to Landsborough, at the end of their first term in office, in January 2015, at a cost of $532 million.

"We call on the Annastacia Palaszczuk Government to do the same, at the end of their first term in office.

"If the LNP can do it, why can't Labor?

"What is disappointing is planning for the next stretch of 22km between Landsborough and Nambour.

"The plan is to stick to the current winding alignment and single track, but extend passing loops where trains can pass each other and upgrade station precincts on their current footprints.

"This minimalist approach will stymie the SCL for decades into the future, because the two fundamentals, grade (slope) and alignment will stay as they are.

"The station upgrades will set the track alignment into the future.

"Poor grade and track alignment limits everything, and that isn't changing north of Landsborough.

"Extending the passing loops at Eudlo and Woombye will help freight train efficiencies, as will track reconfiguration at Palmwoods.
However, the plan to build lift and footbridge overpasses at Mooloolah, Eudlo, Palmwoods and Woombye stations and implementing dual platforms at Mooloolah, Eudlo, Palmwoods and Woombye sets the inefficient alignment in stone.

"Rail duplication to Nambour probably won't occur in our lifetime, if ever.

"Clearly TMR knows that failure to plan for duplication to Nambour will upset hinterland communities.

"Public information sessions are not scheduled north of Landsborough, probably because the department knows the reaction it will get.

"It's utterly appalling and shows a complete disregard for the Sunshine Coast community.

"The LNP should hold the state government to account for scaling back the SCL duplication plans north of Landsborough.

"Hopefully the Speaker, the Hon. Peter Wellington MP, will make appropriate representations to the Premier on behalf of the voters of Nicklin, his electorate," Mr Addison said.

Reference:

Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade Project
http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/B/Beerburrum-to-Nambour-Rail-Upgrade-Project

Contacts:

Jeff Addison
Sunshine Coast Region Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Media release: ' SEQ: Sunshine Coast Line (SCL) rail duplication plans fall short '
> https://t.co/NPpZbaEPju#qldpol@the_daily @CouncilSCC pic.twitter.com/l4e0WZ5m4E

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) October 9, 2016

[Fares_Fair]

I will be meeting with TransLink's rail division for a full briefing on the Sunshine Coast line, at a mutually agreeable time and place.

[DJR96]

My 2c......

I'm going to stick my neck out and generally approve of the latest design. On the proviso that the billion or so dollars saved is reserved for getting the CAMCOS under way.

Beerburrum to Landsborough will cost around $600m to fully duplicate. Landsborough to Nambour would be twice that. And it won't greatly increase patronage from the coast. At least not much more than bus services connecting to Landsborough to get people from all along the coast. So I can understand the thinking here.

However, we need to pressure them for that little extra to get 140kmh alignment for all the duplicated section. Only a few extra bends need increased radii.

I'm pleased to see they've adopted my plan for the Barrs Rd extension to Coonowrin Rd.

And whilst pleased to see a plan for a Landsborough overpass, I don't like it. Introducing a roundabout to Caloundra St will be a bottleneck in the near future and doesn't relieve the need for traffic lights at the eastern end with Steve Irwin Wy. And it requires resumption of quite a few blocks of land.
I provided this drawing:-

which I still think would work better without the land resumptions.

(Closer view):-


Anyways, I intend to be at the info sessions on Saturday in Landsborough (from about 10:45 onwards), and at the Glasshouse Mountains one too.
Andrew Powell MP will try to make it on the Saturday if possible too.

[Fares_Fair]

Rail duplication to Nambour is more about resolving the freight crisis on the North Coast Line. The benefits of duplication to Nambour extends the 1668 km up to Cairns according to the 2007 Brisbane to Cairns Corridor Study. It's not just passenger services that are impacted/improved.
Freight is where the money is.
Passenger services are subsidised.

The benefit to the Queensland economy of rail duplication to Nambour was $4.57 Billion in 2011.

I'd be keen to know the figure for a CAMCOS link to Caloundra. I don't think it would be in the same league.
(Light rail will be the go for Maroochydore to Caloundra, according to SCCouncil plans)

[tazzer9]

There is no downside to the full duplication and realignment to nambour (ideally to yandina because that bit is awful)

Freight is obviously the biggest beneficiary but it will improve travel times on long distance services by 20 minutes.   It will improve the traffic congestion on the bruce highway and major roads like nambour connection road by getting people out of their cars and getting containers off trucks.   
It will likely save lives because every other day there's a fatality along the highway.   
Better for the environment because burning coal is slightly better than burning petrol.
The ETT has the possibility of becoming cost-neutral. 

[ozbob]

Beerburrum - Nambour Rail Upgrade
Community information sessions Oct 2016 start tomorrow
> https://t.co/bcaRqzA5Vr
... #qldpol@the_daily pic.twitter.com/QOellSsMwU

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) October 13, 2016

[DJR96]

Don't get me wrong. I think full duplication would be great and I'd like to see it done as much as any one.
But the extra expense - well over a billion dollars more - is hard to justify. The current plans include longer passing loops to allow longer freight trains to pass which will improve opportunities.
But given that any State government is strapped for cash, raiding super funds and selling off other assets to get anything done, it's not hard to see why they aren't doing the full duplication.

[tazzer9]

The government is strapped for cash because we waste money on crap like ill designed M1/M3 merges and hospital redundancy payouts just for the same people to get rehired.   We don't have money because we let the mining companies run the show and give very little back.  QLD could be one of the wealthiest places in the world but the politicians made sure that didn't happen.

The landsborough-yandina section of the NCL is so monumentally slow, upgrading that is actually of larger benefit to freight than beerburrum-landsborough.
It will be done one day anyway.   We should be doing it now while while borrowing rates are low and minimising the project costs. 

[DJR96]

Is anyone familiar enough with Eudlo to comment on the possibility of completely relocating the station to the eastern side of the township?
It would go a long way to straightening out a number of bends either side of town.

If this is at all possible, I would suggest not spending any money on upgrading the existing station there.

The Mooloolah Valley and Palmwoods stations appear to be on a suitable alignment to allow for re-alignment of the line either sides of those towns.

The Woombye station platforms could be re-constructed rotated a bit to straighten out the alignment either side of it. Thus allowing proper duplication and re-alignment of the line in the future without having to re-do upgrade work at the stations. This would also free up more space for car parking too.

Just some thoughts.......

[Stillwater]

The plans have been released and, on current planning, the line will run roughly where it is, with some curve easing.  Public submissions are welcome.  Eudlo remains a town that could do with a makeover and some (modest) growth.

[Arnz]

^^

Looking at the project website, they are largely keeping most of the original 160km/h alignment for the Beerburrum to Glasshouse Mtns section.  As known part of those works were already done back in 2009 before it was halted weeks after the 2009 state election.

This section will require re-aligning the Steve Irwin Way and a road new overpass just north of Beerburrum Station on the Beerburrum to Glasshouse Mtns section next to a re-aligned and duplicated NCL.



The Glasshouse Mtns to Landsborough section only has slight curve easing just north of Glasshouse Mtns station and for the most part putting an extra track next to the existing 120km/h section.

[DJR96]

Spot on Arnz, the first bend that they've skimped on (heading north) is the last one before the Landsborough station. Shame they haven't increased the radius on that one too because it's a reasonable straight through north of town.

[Stillwater]

Whatever came of the study into ARTC management of the Queensland non-metropolitan rail freight network?

http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/australia-nz/artc-to-study-queensland-network-takeover.html
http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2014/2/25/joint-statement-artc-to-investigate-incorporating-queensland-into-the-national-rail-network
http://www.qtlc.com.au/artc-to-investigate-incorporating-queensland-into-national-rail-network

It would involve a long-term lease of the network by the ARTC (as is the case in other states), not a sale of the rail asset.

Control by the ARTC is the administrative vehicle for directing federal rail infrastructure funds to Queensland, particularly the Sunshine Coast Line and North Coast Line to Townsville.

Will the state government make the study findings available publicly?   Perhaps some civic-minded person will leak it. 

Could it be that state Labor is looking after its union mates, while knocking back potentially millions of dollars in track upgrades?

http://www.rtbu.com.au/_dbase_upl/03_2014-03-20_QRCirc_Update.pdf

The report is sitting somewhere, along with all those other bits of strategic thinking and good/bad ideas that flow from the bureaucracy from time to time.

[tazzer9]

Spot on Arnz, the first bend that they've skimped on (heading north) is the last one before the Landsborough station. Shame they haven't increased the radius on that one too because it's a reasonable straight through north of town.

Maybe because everything but freight will be stopping at landsborough?  And freight going down to 80kph isn't that much of an issue.

[Stillwater]

The Queensland Government has given the strongest indication yet that its focus for duplicating the SCL to Nambour extends only as far as Landsborough.  With track enhancements on a single track planned between there and Nambour, the emphasis is on the CAMCOS corridor, as revealed on page 62 of the Shaping Queensland document - the new SEQ Regional Plan.  It is available for public comment.


http://www.dilgp.qld.gov.au/noindex/shapingseq/draft-south-east-queensland-regional-plan.pdf

[Stillwater]

Remember all those reports that say how the state government is planning infrastructure commensurate with new growth and development?  The reality is an extra 100,000 homes for the Sunny Coast and no firm timetable for duplication Beerburrum-Landsborough North.  I am thinking coffee caravan beside the Bruce Highway traffic jam.  It will be a real money spinner. 

Interesting to note that Nambour now being eyed for a makeover -- long overdue as a TOD, particularly as the station is being redeveloped.

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/how-government-will-fit-100000-new-homes-on-the-co/3103725

[Stillwater]

There was movement at the station (Landsborough Station)

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/show-us-the-money-for-highway-and-rail-upgrades-mi/3104635

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Show us the money for highway and rail upgrades, Minister

ONE day after handing out $10 million for Brisbane's Cross River Rail and Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Darren Chester will visit the Sunshine Coast.

Mr Chester, accompanied by Federal Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace, will get to see firsthand one of the Bruce Hwy crash hotspots near Palmview.

The Federal Government announced a $929 million upgrade of the section of the road from the Caloundra Rd to Sunshine Mwy interchange in September, which includes this part.

Mr Chester will also get to see our antiquated rail system, which Rail Back on Track advocate Jeff Addison says hasn't had major work done on it since it was built in 1891.

Then he will go and visit Aura, the future home of 50,000 new people who will have to work around the Sunshine Coast's limited major infrastructure upgrades.

Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace hoped to impress upon the Minister the importance of the Bruce Hwy upgrade from Caloundra to Caboolture as well as the long-overdue duplication of the railway line.

And while rail is traditionally a State Government responsibility, Mr Wallace has the case to argue the Coast needs a share from the Federal Government.

"The Federal Government has shown it is inclined to fund those projects," Mr Wallace said.

"It announced yesterday $10 million funding for the planning of Brisbane's Cross River Rail.

"It has given $95 million for the Gold Coast light rail stage two.

"It has given $583 million for the Moreton Rail Line.

"It has given $1.7 billion for the Sydney metro line and it has given $850 million for Melbourne metro.

"Clearly the Federal Government has shown it is prepared to fund rail project in cities."

He said the upgrading of the Bruce Hwy was the "number one priority" for the Sunshine Coast.

But he didn't believe it was an "either or approach".

"It is important we are looking at both. Any money poured into the duplication of the railway line has benefits for north Queensland, freight and commuters to Brisbane."

#2tracks 

[Fares_Fair]

^
Unchanged since 1891 was reference to its grade and alignment.
There were changes to the 2 tunnels (new tunnels built) near Eudlo and Mooloolah in the 1930's.

[Stillwater]

A new magazine has hit the news stands of the Sunshine Coast.  Backstory focusses on issues of concern to the Sunshine Coast and the feature article of the second issue outlines the woes of public transport users across the coast.  It tells the story of unfulfilled pollies' promises and the individual absolute commitment of people determined to use PT against all odds. 

The principal focus is a 'Mrs Buckett' of Currimundi who endures a 3-hour trip by bus and train to visit her family at Cannon Hill, a distance of 90km.  She leaves home at 7am, catches the 7.18am bus to the Caloundra Bus Station and transfers to a 7.35am bus to Landsborough railway station.  From there, she takes the 8.36am train to Central, transferring to a Cleveland train at 10.02am.  Finally, she arrives at Cannon Hill at 10.27am.  The go-card cost for an adult making this journey is $13.09, the news magazine reports.  The article lists the local politicians for those who want to complain about the poor PT service on the Sunny Coast.

Check out the front cover: http://backstorynewsmag.com

Momentum is building.

[Fares_Fair]

Whatever came of the study into ARTC management of the Queensland non-metropolitan rail freight network?

http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/australia-nz/artc-to-study-queensland-network-takeover.html
http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2014/2/25/joint-statement-artc-to-investigate-incorporating-queensland-into-the-national-rail-network
http://www.qtlc.com.au/artc-to-investigate-incorporating-queensland-into-national-rail-network

It would involve a long-term lease of the network by the ARTC (as is the case in other states), not a sale of the rail asset.

Control by the ARTC is the administrative vehicle for directing federal rail infrastructure funds to Queensland, particularly the Sunshine Coast Line and North Coast Line to Townsville.

Will the state government make the study findings available publicly?   Perhaps some civic-minded person will leak it. 

Could it be that state Labor is looking after its union mates, while knocking back potentially millions of dollars in track upgrades?

http://www.rtbu.com.au/_dbase_upl/03_2014-03-20_QRCirc_Update.pdf

The report is sitting somewhere, along with all those other bits of strategic thinking and good/bad ideas that flow from the bureaucracy from time to time.

I know that that ARTC report you reference is in the hands of Transport and Main Roads, it has been so since May 2015.

#burystuff.com

[Stillwater]

"The Queensland Government is committed to the progressive priority upgrade of the North Coast Line to improve its safety, efficiency and reliability."

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/B/Beerburrum-to-Nambour-Rail-Upgrade-Project

Looking forward to seeing the commitment take reality ... eventually.

[Fares_Fair]

I can confirm that the Business Case for the Sunshine Coast line duplication Beerburrum to Landsborough and the associated track extensions at Eudlo and Woombye, dual platform constructions and park/ride works from Landsborough to Nambour, will be handed to Gov't by Q1 2017 (i.e. by 31 March 2017).

Also the works will be presented to Gov't as one single package.
That's good news.

[Stillwater]

Beerburrum-Nambour planning should consider people movements to and from the existing Australia Zoo (Beerburrum) and the proposed new water park – a rival to Wet and Wild – north of Landsborough.

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/investor-eyes-coast-for-400m-action-sports-precinc/3052981

http://www.australiazoo.com.au/?gclid=CM6Il4nyntACFYwHvAodofoFtQ

http://www.svgazette.com.au/huge-water-park-planned-for-hinterland
http://blog.queensland.com/2014/07/29/webber-wave-pool-sunshine-coast
http://www.ausleisure.com.au/news/major-new-waterpark-planned-for-sunshine-coast

[ozbob]

Railway Digest Oct 2016 page 4

[Stillwater]

The federal government has announced a $181m loan to the Sunshine Coast Airport (owned by the SCRC) so that a major expansion can occur:

https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/Council/News-Centre/Fastest-growing-airport-on-track-to-expand-140616

Someday a railway line will get there.

[Stillwater]

As Philip Laird points out, the average speed of the Tilts south of Maryborough West is 64 kph.  QR passenger trains must slow to 50 kph on some sections.  Faster times mean more efficient use of rolling stock and a superior ride for passengers.  Additional people would be attracted to faster trains between Brisbane and the SC.