The Sunshine Coast Case : Rail duplication Beerburrum to Nambour

[Stillwater]

The Sunshine Coast MPs all know the logic of duplicating the SCL to Nambour.  At various times, they have drawn on the logic to push a political barrow.  Unfortunately, that is where the debate sits.  They will contemplate making a promise on duplication only when threatened politically.  Like Superman, they are about to enter the period when they are exposed to political Kryptonite -- the judgement of the people in the lead-up to a state election.  It is the only thing we have got before they are no longer exposed and, once again, they bluff and bluster their way through another three years of doing nothing.

The way to Clive Palmer's heart is to feed him the political ammunition of past undertakings made by the likes of Mr Powell and Ms Simpson, since repudiated.  In turn, he will provide that ammunition to his party's SC candidates -- or maybe the briefings may have to be provided individually to his candidates, once they are known.  PUP can then attack the credibility of LNP sitting members.  (Clive seems to like that.)  It is grubby, it is messy, but it is where politicians want to take this matter.

A new front in the battle -- and the more productive one -- would be to have the mayors of the SC and Noosa stand shoulder to shoulder and demand action from politicians.  Maybe we could draft a letter for both men to sign and send to the Premier.  It would be good, too, if that letter was an open letter, printed in the SCD.  That would put a light to this issue and set the Kryptonite aglow.

So (1) draft a joint mayoral letter; (2) one of us approach [individually, or, alternatively, via Mr R. Dow] the Mayor of the SC and another the Mayor of Noosa.

Clive picks up on the populist causes.  If he thought supporting duplication to Nambour was something in the hearts of the people, and it would represent an opportunity to discredit LNP members, he would throw it out there in his rambling political sprays.

LOL, maybe we could get him to donate the iron ore from which the steel for the extra track could be forged!  Maybe have him suggest that the Chinese build it.  That's the level of his thinking.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Jeff Addison ‏@Jeffrey_Addison 23m

Today's front page #SunshineCoast @the_daily. RAILROADED AGAIN?

http://t.co/5VEMIBU6sq



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Twitter

Front page story text of today's #SunshineCoast @the_daily. Why we need #2tracks rail duplication. Main story p7. http://t.co/s7pq3Mre0n



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Twitter

Jeff Addison ‏@Jeffrey_Addison

#2tracks needed #SunshineCoast @the_daily, p7. Billion-dollar trains 'slowed by Coast rails' Tweet 3 of 3 http://t.co/aNsFJMzOAv

[Fares_Fair]

Article: Billion-dollar trains 'slowed by Coast rails'
Sunshine Coast Daily
by Kathy Sundstrom |
30th Jan 2014 11:55 AM


THE State Government says a multi-billion-dollar contract to deliver 75 new trains in south-east Queensland will provide "more services" for the Sunshine Coast.

But regular commuter and rail advocate Jeff Addison cannot see how this will be possible.

At present, 42% of the Sunshine Coast's existing services have to be rail/bus because of the antiquated railway line.

And with a single-line track, no matter how fast or new the train is, it unlikely to exceed the current maximum fastest average speed of 59kmh on the route to Brisbane.

Mr Addison said infrastructure restrictions were "killing the use of transport between us and the CBD".

"My question is what it will mean for the Sunshine Coast when the State Government says we will get 'more trains more often'," Mr Addison said.

"We got 10 weekly services out of this recent round of additions. The Gold Coast got 93."

Treasurer Tim Nicholls and Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson announced yesterday Bombardier NGR Consortium has been contracted to design, build, finance and maintain the new trains under a 32-year contract valued at $4.4 billion.

The contract would save taxpayers "more than $11 million per train", based on government calculations.

"The contract will deliver the new trains over the next five years and maintenance for a 32-year operational

period, at a fixed price, so there are no hidden surprises for taxpayers," Mr Emerson said.

"This investment will increase the capacity of our rail fleet by about 30% and will mean more trains more often."

No further detail could be provided as to how services to the Sunshine Coast would be increased, except an assurance it would happen.

Mr Addison hoped the saved money would be used "to improve our Sunshine Coast services".

His peak home journey on Tuesday still involved standing for 35 minutes from Roma St station to Petrie station with "about 22 people unable to find seats".

The new 4.22pm service was not full, but he said that was a time when many people were yet to finish work.

He had nearly a 30-minute wait for the rail bus at Landsborough station.

Mr Addison said the "high fares and our poor frequency mixed with slow speeds is severely hampering the use of public transport between Brisbane and the Coast". The first of the new trains will start running next year.

[Fares_Fair]

Jeff Addison ‏@Jeffrey_Addison  · 2h 
Letter to the Editor, #SunshineCoast @the_daily, p15. 'Route ripped up'
I sent off detailed reply to points raised. pic.twitter.com/T9M8Y9UoW3

[Arnz]

As much as it would be nice (re the express pattern), it is currently  to have all trains run express on that pattern for the reasons mentioned by basically everyone on this board.   

The only trains/services that are able to run express Bowen Hills to Caboolture non-stop, are the Gympie North trains, due to the operational requirements of the ICE.  The most notable requirement being the ICE requiring use of the 'suburbans*' tracks on outbound services to Gympie North.  (*can also be referred to as the Eastbound Tracks for the non-technically inclined).

Also to add  I always thought Eagle Junction instead of Northgate was a better suited stop for pre-2011 Sunshine Coast services, allowing interchange to 3 lines at the one place (Doomben, Airport and Shorncliffe), it may be a short back-track for Shorncliffe folks, but personally thought Airport passengers should've got priority instead of having them perform the Bowen Hills bracktrack. 

I would think getting a consistent stopping pattern on the Sunshine Coast line post-duplication Beerburrum to Landsborough at least (if it ever happens) should be the priority afterwards. 
The short term (pre BUM tunnel and post NGR) is all Nambour services (peak and off-peak) running express from Northgate to Petrie to Caboolture (no shuttles) on a hourly off-peak daytime frequency. 

Gympie North trains, assuming the ICEs are still kept by then (and also assuming any continual rumors of them being withdrawn are just rumors), will continue to run express Bowen Hills to Caboolture (and v.v) via the Surburbans. 

[Fares_Fair]

Jeff Addison ‏@Jeffrey_Addison  · 2h 
Letter to the Editor, #SunshineCoast @the_daily, p15. 'Route ripped up'
I sent off detailed reply to points raised. pic.twitter.com/T9M8Y9UoW3

Reply to this Letter to the Editor - Unpublished.

Reply: Route ripped up (Letter to the Editor, SCD, Wed. 4th Feb)
Dear Ken, I am unaware that this interior rail route has been ripped up, however the reason would probably be that the cost of maintaining it, exceeded its viability. There is advantage in utilising and upgrading the North Coast line from Beerburrum to Nambour. The short passing loops do limit freight trains of effective length to utilise the track. We already have the regular 'dance of the trains' north of Landsborough where trains move onto passing loops to let other trains glide past before reversing again to get back onto the single line track. Rail duplication would eliminate this problem and allow increased services for us and for freight. Currently freight trains are supposed to be 1500m long, but these are limited by the single line track's shortest passing loop to just 650m long. Ironically, this shortest passing loop (in 1668km) is located at my home town of Palmwoods. I have read many reports and studies, including joint State & Federal government reports that all state the need for the duplication of this rail line to Nambour (and beyond). No report anywhere that I have found, has ever contained the route you suggest as an option. Ours is a critical supply line to far north Queensland. This can be proven by the miraculous recent repair of the Price St Nambour rail bridge in under 21 hours. The entire span was replaced and re-erected in record time. As for the $2 billion argument you raise, I have been told by 2 serving state government Ministers, the Hon Andrew Powell MP and the Hon Steve Dickson MP, that the rail duplication project to Nambour has the 2nd highest rail priority in Qld, second only to the Underground Bus and Tunnel scheme (UBAT). Re; your point about speeding up trains by running them longer express legs, this cannot be done without removing trains between Caboolture and Brisbane. Queensland Rail reports acknowledge that they need duplicated rail to Landsborough to improve services. It is high cost but the cost benefit analysis figure for it is 2.285, something that Hon Warren Truss said was very good, when I met him last April. The 2011 report by the Co-ordinator General stated that the economic benefit to the SEQ region was $4.57 billion. Ours is the most congested single line track and a 2007 report states that THE major problem in the 1668km between Brisbane and Cairns is from Caboolture to Nambour. Our 26 daily rail buses comprising 42% of our services, are testament to that. Let me leave you with this quote from the Landsborough to Nambour - Initial Advice Statement (2007), under Section 2.3.2.1. "Do nothing" Option;
"It is likely that the region would experience adverse socio-economic effects should the NCL between Landsborough and Nambour not be upgraded."
"Increases in demand are likely to significantly challenge the ability of the current infrastructure to support an acceptable level of rail service in the future."
That future has arrived.

[HappyTrainGuy]

The Brisbane Valley Rail Line is now a cycling/horse riding trail. Hence it now being called The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Its painfully slow, tight, twisty and alot of the serious infrastructure is missing ie bridges. A few of the heritage listed bridges were actually washed away during the 2011 floods. All the track has been ripped up aswell. Might as well spend the money upgrading both lines and spend it on duplicating and realigning the NCL for the second time

Brisbane Valley Rail Trail - http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/bvrt-homepage.html

[red dragin]

I believe that the nanango section and bris valley line connection was never made so more work there.

[Fares_Fair]

Thank you HTG and red dragin for the clarifications, clearly why it has never been mentioned or considered as an option (to my knowledge).

[red dragin]

If you have Google Earth you can download "Hairylegs" overlay.

This person(s) has put together almost all the lines ever built Australia wide and overlaid it quite accurately onto the maps. It shows how close they got to joining these lines but never quite made it.

Also shows the old line to Boonah and the spur they started on towards Warwick (the "via recta" I think it is called).

Many an hour wasted going through that. You can also get a pluggin from the QLD Gov that gives higher resolution images for QLD - I think someone else mentioned that on here somewhere.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Do you have the links or do we have to google search it?

[Stillwater]

Some quotes to store for the future:
Port of Brisbane CEO Russell Smith believes the logical place to start is with the (Inland railway) line from Brisbane to Toowoomba.

"Southern Queensland has a major freight logistics problem that is growing worse every year. We have a current truck-focused logistics task which I would call archaic, expensive, dangerous to the public, and environmentally damaging.  Our agricultural product was around 85 per cent on rail 10 to 15 years ago. It's now 85 per cent on road. It means we need an efficient freight rail system for Southern Queensland and northern NSW."

[SurfRail]

Do you have the links or do we have to google search it?

This is the link for Queensland Globe - http://www.dnrm.qld.gov.au/mapping-data/queensland-globe

Recently replaced an online (and inferior) version.

[Jonno]

Some quotes to store for the future:
Port of Brisbane CEO Russell Smith believes the logical place to start is with the (Inland railway) line from Brisbane to Toowoomba.

"Southern Queensland has a major freight logistics problem that is growing worse every year. We have a current truck-focused logistics task which I would call archaic, expensive, dangerous to the public, and environmentally damaging.  Our agricultural product was around 85 per cent on rail 10 to 15 years ago. It's now 85 per cent on road. It means we need an efficient freight rail system for Southern Queensland and northern NSW."

pity it is not the Tansport Minister we are quoting.  According to the ARA research we are all paying (taxes) 2.3x more than we need to attempt to fix our transport problems.  Why is the Treasury not screaming for blood!!

[Fares_Fair]

FREIGHT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE KEY TO NORTH COAST LINE RAIL DUPLICATION ...

NCL may join ARTC...

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10567.msg139478;topicseen#msg139478

[ozbob]

Media release 27th February 2014



SEQ: Bring forward Beerburrum-Nambour track duplication

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, says the Queensland Government should bring forward plans for duplicating the Sunshine Coast Line between Beerburrum and Nambour in the light of news that the state and federal governments are actively exploring a takeover of Queensland's east coast rail track corridor by the Australian Rail Track Corporation, a corporate entity owned entirely by the Commonwealth (1).

"The most pressing need for improving rail freight efficiency on the North Coast Line (NCL) serving Queensland's eastern seaboard is a requirement to duplicate the single track line north of Beerburrum to Nambour in order to untangle the mess created by freight and passenger trains sharing the corridor, while the poor alignment limits the length of freight trains and requires them to travel at an average speed of less than 70 kph."

"ARTC management of mainline track interstate, has resulted in a multi-million investment in 'below-rail' improvements, such as installing heavy duty railway track capable of supporting the heavier axle loads of more efficient freight trains. Better on-board signalling, minor deviations and GPS tracking of trains are among other efficiencies expected to flow should the ARTC deal go through. Of course, there will be spin-off benefits for passenger rail."

"Passenger rail is hopelessly compromised on the Sunshine Coast where more than 40 per cent of so-called train services are carried out by buses."

"Any works program flowing from an ARTC takeover of the line management would have to include duplication of the track through the Sunshine Coast for freight purposes, while the state could be expected to contribute to the cost of stations and car parks consistent with the Federal Government's position that it does not fund 'urban rail'."

"The fact that the Newman Government might have to contribute some of the costs associated with passenger rail operations on the Sunshine Coast should not impede it putting forward plans for track upgrades supporting faster, longer and more efficient freight trains serving Queensland's major coastal cities."

"The need is greatest on the section of track through the Sunshine Coast, that is where the money should go, and it is where planning attention must focus. Where the track duplication plans have not been completed, they should be advanced. Where land on which new track deviations has not been purchased, it should be bought up."

"Mr Emerson should bring this project to 'shovel ready' status, awaiting federal funding, and end the paralysis resulting from the Newman Government decision not to complete duplication to Nambour until 2031."

Reference:

1. http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2014/2/25/joint-statement-artc-to-investigate-incorporating-queensland-into-the-national-rail-network

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

[achiruel]

I know this is not an ideal solution, but would it help at all if at least Beerburrum-Landsborough and Palmwoods sections were completed? Would this help with capacity at all?

AIUI, by far the most expensive part of this project would be the Landsborough-Eudlo section, because of the extensive tunnelling required.

[mufreight]

The Landsbrough Eudlo section would provide the greatest benefit given the running times and the gradients over that section at present, the most expensive to do, no doubt but in terms of result for the line overall the most productive, then Beerburrum to Glasshouse, the loop at Nambour could also be extended to provide a passing lane rather than a loop.
These works would make it possible to operate trains of 1800m between Beerburrum and Nambour and allow faster transit times.

[Stillwater]

Story extract, CM site:

SOUTHEAST Queensland may have to sacrifice its "sacred cows" to accommodate a projected population increase of more than two million over the next 30 years. By 2041, southeast Queensland's population could reach 5.5 million.

Senior infrastructure planners believe the region will require 480,000 houses above the already projected 750,000 to built by 2040 to accommodate the influx.

Any new greenfield areas have to be accessible in some way to the centre of the region by road and public transport.  The huge cost of developing public transport infrastructure means it is important to locate new greenfield areas along existing or planned road and rail corridors.

State forests, pineapple farms, canefields and sensitive coastal zones, such as Pumicestone Passage, may be needed as the region looks to accommodate an extra one million-plus dwellings, or 34,000 new houses a year.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/realestate/news/previously-offlimits-areas-of-southeast-queensland-may-need-developing-due-to-population-explosion/story-fnihpu6h-1226848543173

So does that mean duplication of Beerburrum-Nambour before 2031, or more 'railbus' journeys.  Perhaps all those new houses to be built along the Pumicestone Passage will have a berth for a tinnie at the bottom of the garden -- for everyone to access Brisbane by water.  They sure won't be catching the train, given the current level of service to SC commuters!

[ozbob]

Over length test train at Palmwoods  8th March 2014.  Train was 907 metres in length, normally restricted to < 650 metres.

--> http://www.flickr.com/photos/47626638@N02/13007723293/

[Stillwater]

The Treasurer, Tim Nicholls is on the Sunshine Coast as part of his 'listening tour' about asset sales and has stated that without people agreeing to government asset sales, Queensland won't be able to afford the Beerburrum-Nambour track duplication for another 25 years!  That puts this project back to 2040.

Jeff Addison interviewed on ABC local radio today correctly called this blackmail.  Clearly, Mr Nicholls, far from listening, is going to go around the state telling people that the project they need for their region - a hospital, or a new school etc - can't be provided unless the state sells off a port or two, or electricity generating companies.

But it is the sheer audacity of the government re the Sunshine Coast Line and its timed upgrade that is most galling.  The LNP berated Labor for not building the duplicated track.  Local members wrung their hands in faked frustration that the work could not occur 'immediately' (back in 2010).  They tabled petitions (plural) calling for an immediate start on works.

After the state election that installed the LNP in power, Andrew Powell, a senior Minister, changed his tune and said the government would do whatever it could to meet the ALP timetable for building the realigned and duplicated track (2031).  That was a significant backslide.  And now the buggers want to add another eight or nine years delay on top of that!

The other mischief the LNP is up to locally is badmouthing the Independent Member for Nicklin, Peter Wellington, saying that 'he has achieved nothing' for his electorate.  The LNP wants his seat.  The thing is that the LNP is not giving Mr Wellington anything, and even cancelled the DDA upgrade works for the Nambour Railway Station after tenders had been let.

This is the political bastardisation of the highest order.  Extortion and blackmail are now tools in the LNP political kitbag - and being used against loyal LNP supporters on the Sunshine Coast.

Jeff Addison rightly pointed out that an investment in the SCL south of Nambour to overcome congestion would have positive economic spin-offs for the state of Queensland.  Government financial support for the works would be an investment, not a cost.

Meanwhile, there is no curtailment of the bread and circus that is the Commonwealth Games for the Gold Coast, or the expenses associated with the G20 meeting.

SCD link: http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/treasurer-warns-sell-assets-or-miss-rail-project/2197442/

[ozbob]

The Newman LNP government has turned out to be a major failure on many levels, rivaling the Bligh Government in sheer incompetence and lack of honesty in my opinion.

The masses attention span being what it is means that the LNP are now in likely to be seriously belted in the forthcoming state election.  I would not be surprised if they lost Government.

[#Metro]

It didn't take long for them to catch QFever did it? In my opinion, this is characterised as Laziness, incompetence, bumbling, high spin levels, lame distractions, lame excuses, vacillating etc etc. Ugh! All this Labor this, Labor that, blah blah blah, makes my blood boil!

I think the parliamentary term should be extended to a set four year term so that we are subjected to less lame and populist policies and frankly, political harassment in letterboxes etc and more time to get proper work done.

[Stillwater]

The electors are waking up to the game ... this comment from John Fogarty, of Caloundra, on the SCD website:

"The proposed rail duplication and forgotten CAMCOS line run through safe electorates so will never be built . Debt has nothing to do with it."

Whatever money the LNP government makes from asset sales will go to offering trinkets, axes, mirrors and blankets to voters in marginal electorates.  The seats across the Sunshine Coast are not marginal.

[Arnz]

A shame Beerburrum to Palmwoods isn't in Fairfax (Palmwoods being near the border of the Division of Fairfax).  Considering that is that most marginal federal seat in the Country.

[ozbob]

[SurfRail]

^ Not quite - for that one to work it would have to be something like "One does not simply duplicate the North Coast Line".

[Stillwater]

Perhaps the acid test should be applied to Mr Nicholls.  He tells us that unless Queenslanders agree to the sale of government-owned assets, the Beerburrum-Nambour duplication won't be built until 2039.

The question Nicholls/Newman is not answering is this: 'If the Queensland Government sold off all the assets it has identified as being saleable, would sufficient revenue be raised for a start to be made on the SCL duplication before 2031?'

How about tweeting that question to the Premier in Texas!

As far as life under the LNP is concerned 2039 is the new 2031.

If Mr Nicholls is truly listening, and not just preaching and telling, the informed Queenslander pondering the assets sales question would need to know the answer to this question:

"The SCL duplication has a healthy benefit-to-cost ratio.  It's construction would reap economic benefits for Queensland twice its cost over the lifetime of the asset.  What is the difference between the accrued interest on borrowings to build it soon (in 2016 dollars) and the foregone economic benefits of not having the line delivering on its identified benefits over the years, say, 2022 to 2039."

Of course, a duplication project carried out in the 2030s would cost much more than a duplication carried out in the 2020s, even allowing for additional interest rate payments.

If Mr Nicholls can't answer these questions, but only tells us that he can build the extra track in 2039, then he is not on a listening tour; it is a scaremongering tour.

[ozbob]

The LNP are happy to continue the fare fail commenced by the ALP to force people off public transport onto roads.  This is actually costing a lot more than fixing the fare fail, but hey, they don't really care too much.  As evidenced by the bus review capitulations and the emasculation of TransLink and the promotion of blue mates in the BCC.

Looking forward to election 2015 ...

[ozbob]

It is no surprise then that the LNP have abandoned the Sunny Coasters.  They are wallowing in the leather of largesse ....

[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily 14th March 2014 page 18

Anger over assets sale ' blackmail '

[Stillwater]

Mr Addison asks why all those wall to wall Ministerial pollies on the Sunshine Coast can't do anything about bringing forward the SCL duplication from its revised deadline of 2039.  I think it is up to voters to do something - make all their seats marginal.

Anyway, Fiona Simpson is feeling the heat (just a little):
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/simpson-urges-infrastructure-guarantee/2198759/

[Stillwater]

The government's insincerity on this matter is illustrated by the following:

The Transport Minister, Mr Emerson and the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Truss, announce a examination of the feasibility of handing over Queensland rail track to the ARTC, including the NCL. Therefore, the financial responsibility for duplicating the Beerburrum-Nambour track passes to the ARTC, a private company wholly-owned by the Commonwealth.

The Treasurer, Mr Nicholls comes along, saying that unless Queensland flogs off everything in one giant asset sale, the Beerburrum-Nambour duplication can't be completed until 2039.

If Queensland makes a motsa from the sell-off, Mr Nicholls intends that none of that money goes to the SCL duplication, because that responsibility will pass to the ARTC under the state government's plan.

It is just illogical to say that the state government needs money that could be put to the SCL duplication, because the timing of the duplication would be determined by the cashflows and commercial interests of the ARTC, not the state government.

Mr Nicholls is asking the people of the Sunshine Coast to agree to asset sell-offs to fund a project that will become an ARTC responsibility by virtue of the planned handover of track management.

His argument is false.  Queensland has NO intention of putting money into the duplicated track, track that Mr Nicholls intends to hand to a private company.  In fact, by handing the track to the ARTC, the handover, in effect, is privatisation of a public asset.  The handover probably would be in the form of a 99-year lease, so that Queensland, technically will own the asset, but merely lease it -- or so Mr Nicholls would argue.

So, on the one hand, he is planning to privatise the SCL and non-urban rail to the ARTC (a private company) while claiming he won't hand over public assets to private enterprise without consultation.

[Arnz]

^

ARTC is a government owned corporation.  A responsibility of the federal government.  This is not privatisation, but more of palming off responsibility of the Queensland NCL to the Feds.

This is similar to Campbell Newman's proposal of handing over BT to the state government back when he was Mayor of Brisbane.

Handing government assets to another level of government (from State to Federal and vice-versa) in my opinion, should not considered as privatisation.

Weak? (By running away from responsibilities) Perhaps. 

This would mean the federal government would be responsible for any NCL duplication, however the PT infrastructure (such as stations) would have to fall under the state government by default under Abbott's (small minded) view of "The Federal Government doesn't fund Urban Public Transport and that is the responsibility of the states."

[#Metro]

Sunshine Coast Line
Delivery: 3030
Cost: Ten Bazillion

Kweensland Government

[Stillwater]

You are correct, Arnz.  What we are seeing is policy on the run, and it is not a good thing.  We are seeing no co-ordination between the Transport Minister's office and the Treasurer's office.  It is a game of how quickly government can run from its responsibilities.  In the game of government musical chairs, Mr Nicholls and Mr Emerson want to be seated when the music stops, with Mr Truss left standing.  Hardly a way to run a country.

[#Metro]

I think NCL going to the feds would be a beneficial thing. State Governments are in a permanent state of not having money.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

17th March 2014

Bring forward Beerburrum-Nambour track duplication

Greetings,

Growing concerns with the Sunshine Coast Line.  Fast becoming a ' political football ' of sorts.  Oil prices are on the way up for the longer term. Now is the time to prepare with sustainable transport options for the future - freight and passenger.  Time is fast running out.

From the Sunshine Coast Daily 14th March 2014 page 18   Anger over assets sale ' blackmail ' 



Best wishes
Robert

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

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


Media release 27th February 2014 re-released 17th March 2014



SEQ: Bring forward Beerburrum-Nambour track duplication

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, says the Queensland Government should bring forward plans for duplicating the Sunshine Coast Line between Beerburrum and Nambour in the light of news that the state and federal governments are actively exploring a takeover of Queensland's east coast rail track corridor by the Australian Rail Track Corporation, a corporate entity owned entirely by the Commonwealth (1).

"The most pressing need for improving rail freight efficiency on the North Coast Line (NCL) serving Queensland's eastern seaboard is a requirement to duplicate the single track line north of Beerburrum to Nambour in order to untangle the mess created by freight and passenger trains sharing the corridor, while the poor alignment limits the length of freight trains and requires them to travel at an average speed of less than 70 kph."

"ARTC management of mainline track interstate, has resulted in a multi-million investment in 'below-rail' improvements, such as installing heavy duty railway track capable of supporting the heavier axle loads of more efficient freight trains. Better on-board signalling, minor deviations and GPS tracking of trains are among other efficiencies expected to flow should the ARTC deal go through. Of course, there will be spin-off benefits for passenger rail."

"Passenger rail is hopelessly compromised on the Sunshine Coast where more than 40 per cent of so-called train services are carried out by buses."

"Any works program flowing from an ARTC takeover of the line management would have to include duplication of the track through the Sunshine Coast for freight purposes, while the state could be expected to contribute to the cost of stations and car parks consistent with the Federal Government's position that it does not fund 'urban rail'."

"The fact that the Newman Government might have to contribute some of the costs associated with passenger rail operations on the Sunshine Coast should not impede it putting forward plans for track upgrades supporting faster, longer and more efficient freight trains serving Queensland's major coastal cities."

"The need is greatest on the section of track through the Sunshine Coast, that is where the money should go, and it is where planning attention must focus. Where the track duplication plans have not been completed, they should be advanced. Where land on which new track deviations has not been purchased, it should be bought up."

"Mr Emerson should bring this project to 'shovel ready' status, awaiting federal funding, and end the paralysis resulting from the Newman Government decision not to complete duplication to Nambour until 2031."

Reference:

1. http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2014/2/25/joint-statement-artc-to-investigate-incorporating-queensland-into-the-national-rail-network

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

[SurfRail]

Went up to Gympie North on the ICE yesterday.  Astonishingly it was on time in both directions, in fact slightly early into Caboolture on the way north.

Very healthy loadings coming back, including north of Nambour.  Only had to shunt out of the way on one occasion at Mooloolah northbound.

[Fares_Fair]

Live interview with Annie Gaffney from Sunshine Coast ABC radio, 90.3 Coast FM.
Thursday 13th March, 2014.

ABC Sunshine Coast Mornings - Jeff Addison On Asset Sales And Train Services

https://soundcloud.com/abc-sunshine-coast/mornings-jeff-addison-on-asset

Thank you to Annie Gaffney and ABC Sunshine Coast Radio 90.3 Coast FM.