South Brisbane station closure

[Mr X]

All I can say is- tough titties! 9 BUZ AND a shuttle bus, there is NOTHING more that I can see that Translink/QR can physically do to appease these people. I guess they'd rather a sh%t station than a 5min inconvenience for 6 weeks?

[Set in train]

The complete shut down will be good. The transfer to bus from South Bank either on the street or across at the busway is effortless. Of late, I have transferred from bus to train here and the connection impresses me (painted pedestrian crossing linking the stations would improve it further).

With trains not stopping and their interminable dwell time (the URL to the TV report of the Caboolture line opening and its trip duration as an example), will this speed up travel times while the station is closed or will it mean more frittering of time in the same spot or elsewhere along the lines?

[HappyTrainGuy]

Not really. Inbound trains will be held a little longer at Southbank as extra passengers load/unload. Some might get held at South Brisbane but that would only be because of a back log of trains across the bridge and into Roma Street. Really the only trains that might get a faster journey would be the Bowen Hills terminators through the city as Ferny Grove/Shorncliffe/Doomben trains still have to keep to their assigned timetables. Outbound trains would be held at Southbank longer for the extra influx of passengers boarding but they should all still roughly leave the station on time.

[david]

Won't there be a speed restriction through South Brisbane as part of their Zero Harm? That will probably negate any time saved by skipping the station.

[Golliwog]

I don't remember much, if any speed restriction when they did Fortitude Valley.

[ozbob]

http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/AboutUs/MediaCentre/MediaReleases/Pages/SOUTHBRISBANERAILWAYSTATIONTEMPORARYCLOSURENEXTWEEK.aspx

SOUTH BRISBANE RAILWAY STATION TEMPORARY CLOSURE NEXT WEEK

28/10/2011

Queensland Rail is reminding customers who use South Brisbane railway station to plan alternative arrangements in preparation for the six-week station closure beginning Monday, October 31.

South Brisbane station will undergo a $10 million makeover as part of the State Government's City Network Station Upgrade Program.

Queensland Rail Chief Executive Officer Paul Scurrah said the station would re-open to customers on December 10, but the station closure would only affect customers wanting to disembark at South Brisbane, not those travelling through to other destinations.

"Commuters can access regular bus services on the nearby South East Busway at the Cultural Centre and South Bank busway stations," Mr Scurrah said.

"Affected customers travelling on a valid fare can also utilise the shuttle bus service that will run approximately every ten minutes between South Brisbane and South Bank stations."

"We are working with TransLink to minimise any disruptions for customers and apologise for the inconvenience while we undertake this essential work."

Shuttle bus stops can be found opposite South Brisbane station on Grey Street, at the Queensland Art Gallery on Stanley Street, and outside South Bank station on Tribune Street.

Go card customers should touch on and off at the start and finish of their journey, as per normal.  Passengers with paper tickets should also purchase their ticket, as they would for a normal trip.

Mr Scurrah said the work includes the restoration and preservation of the historic rail landmark, including structural maintenance, improving access for people with a disability, and upgrading general facilities.

"South Brisbane station is 120 years old and an important part of Brisbane's heritage."

"The project will include restoration work on heritage furniture, fascias and awnings, as well as the façade of the building.

"In a few weeks' time, customers will also find a new, accessible ticket office window, refurbished toilets, electronic passenger information display screens, and an upgraded subway.

The bulk of the project will be carried out during the six-week closure.  Some ongoing works will also occur in 2012, but the station will remain open to customers throughout the next phase of work.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Won't there be a speed restriction through South Brisbane as part of their Zero Harm? That will probably negate any time saved by skipping the station.

Depends on the work being done at the time.

[SurfRail]

Well, today was day 1 of the shutdown. 

As usual, arrival into South Bank was around 4 minutes ahead of timetabled departure at 8:00am.  We departed on time but crawled through South Brisbane at what I would guess was around 20-25kph, then continued on at normal speed.  Temporary speed boards were in evidence on all tracks.

Plenty of activity already happening - prior to the shutdown, electrical and services conduits had already been chalked out for some time, and now they are getting stuck into the facade and platform canopies.

All platform announcements and PIDs have been configured to show the shut-down (in case anybody wants to get pictures of a next 6 trains PID showing off-peak expresses to Beenleigh and Cleveland  ).  The peak hour announcement for GC trains is "...[E]xpress from Beenleigh to Roma Street, stopping only at South Bank..."

Unfortunately, the VAS was not updated, so we were treated to a "Please ignore the robot voice" explanation from the guard after departing South Bank.

I will have to duck over and see how the shuttle bus is working out during the week.

[ozbob]

Thanks for the report!

[Golliwog]

The 'robot' voice was fine on my trip home to FG from Park Rd. It didn't announce South Brisbane, just went straight to Roma St.

[SurfRail]

The 'robot' voice was fine on my trip home to FG from Park Rd. It didn't announce South Brisbane, just went straight to Roma St.

The suburban VAS tends only to say "The next station is [blah]" and "[blah] Station". 

Gold Coast trains will always give the entire "This is a Brisbane City and Brisbane Airport train, running express..." screed, so it wouldn't surprise me to find these are still announcing South Brisbane when the closure is only for 6 weeks.

[Arnz]

The retrofitted VAS on the older IMUs/SMUs on the Nambour runs seems to have GPS issues with Beerburrum and Elimbah (it's still set to their old pre-2009 locations).  It drops off after Caboolture and VAS doesn't pick up again until Glasshouse Mountains (and vice-versa for dropping after "The next station is Beerburrum" after leaving Glasshouse heading south and doesn't pick up until Caboolture).  Some staff manually press a switch for the VAS to announce Beerburrum and Elimbah.

The VAS on the newer units work fine on the Nambour runs however (GPS on all newer units set to the newer locations).

So I'll just assume the VAS announces "next station is South Brisbane", but picks up again at "Roma Street".

[ozbob]

Travelled Buranda, Ormiston, South Bank, Buranda earlier this morning.

All working well at South Bank.  Well signed, announcements and shuttles buses seem to frequent.  Asked around, reasonable numbers of pax using the shuttles as well!

[SurfRail]

The retrofitted VAS on the older IMUs/SMUs on the Nambour runs seems to have GPS issues with Beerburrum and Elimbah (it's still set to their old pre-2009 locations).  It drops off after Caboolture and VAS doesn't pick up again until Glasshouse Mountains (and vice-versa for dropping after "The next station is Beerburrum" after leaving Glasshouse heading south and doesn't pick up until Caboolture).  Some staff manually press a switch for the VAS to announce Beerburrum and Elimbah.

The VAS on the newer units work fine on the Nambour runs however (GPS on all newer units set to the newer locations).

So I'll just assume the VAS announces "next station is South Brisbane", but picks up again at "Roma Street".

Is it actually GPS?  Always thought it was activated by track circuits.

[ozbob]

Travelled Buranda, Ormiston, Southbank, Buranda earlier this morning.

All working well at South Bank.  Well signed, announcements and shuttles buses seem to frequent.  Asked around, reasonable numbers of pax using the shuttles as well!

South Bank



















Photographs R Dow 3rd November 2011

[Derwan]

QR has put up some photos on their Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.303946629623704.83353.139321872752848&type=3

[O_128]

2/3 are getting raised right?

[SurfRail]

2/3 are getting raised right?

Yes.  As of the past few days, high level platform edges were being installed on 3, with 2 to follow.

[HappyTrainGuy]

And people wanted to know why they had to close the whole station. Just look at that airborn dust haha.

[Golliwog]

The awning on platform 2/3 has been re-set in it's raised position. As of this morning, they appeared to be putting the sheeting back on the roof there. Noticed one of the workers going at the frame with a pressure cleaner yesterday.

[p858snake]

The awning on platform 2/3 has been re-set in it's raised position. As of this morning, they appeared to be putting the sheeting back on the roof there. Noticed one of the workers going at the frame with a pressure cleaner yesterday.

Based on the FB album the other day, the paint on it was very bubbling so it looks like they are stripping it so they can give it a proper repaint.

[ozbob]

--> http://t.co/yOQXoU17

More photographs added ...

[O_128]

can we make sure the platforms are paved. A city station deserves better than bitumen

[Golliwog]

can we make sure the platforms are paved. A city station deserves better than bitumen

Not paved like Roma St please! I would go for tiled like the busways.

[Gazza]

Why not just do stencilled brick?

[Mr X]

Is it reopening tomorrow or Saturday?

[mufreight]

Have the platforms been fully raised?

[somebody]

Have the platforms been fully raised?

Seem to be from travelling past here.

[SurfRail]

Have the platforms been fully raised?

Yes.

Expect some more pleasant surprises with the next few upgrades too!

[ozbob]

I would like to thank mufreight, who has for years challenged the bureaucracy about platform heights, being possible or not possible.

mu inspired me to take photos at Central, Indooroopilly, Bowen Hills and some other locations that escape me at the moment, to show that full height platforms are possible, even with 3'6" and tight curves.

Do you know about the clandestine moment at Indooroopilly when certain pieces of rolling stock were gauged against the platforms, in the wee hours of the morning one night?  We pretended that we didn't know about it.  Ha!

Thanks mufreight.  You are a champion ..

[Jonno]

The station is looking fantastic

[ozbob]

The station is looking fantastic

It opens on Monday, I think,  there is no notice yet on TL, but who is surprised about that ... LOLOL

Officially it is meant to open on the 10th, Saturday.   I would have thought a positive statement from up above would have been in order ..

[ozbob]

And Airtrain goes to 10pm from Monday (12th)  anyone seen a timetable yet?

[Jonno]

Just a daily tweet counting down the days

[Golliwog]

The station is looking fantastic

It opens on Monday, I think,  there is no notice yet on TL, but who is surprised about that ... LOLOL

Officially it is meant to open on the 10th, Saturday.   I would have thought a positive statement from up above would have been in order ..

http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/NetworkServices/ConstructionUpgrades/CityNetworkStationUpgrades/Pages/SouthBrisbaneStationUpgrade.aspx

South Brisbane station reopens this Saturday the 10th of December.

The station will return to normal operations, however minor works will continue into the New Year.

Ongoing activities will include tiling, painting, masonry restoration, and the beautification of the Grey Street plaza area in 2012. For your safety, please be alert to any changed conditions during works.

Queensland Rail thanks you for your continued patience as we build a better station.

[ozbob]

Thanks Golli ...

http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/NetworkServices/ConstructionUpgrades/CityNetworkStationUpgrades/Pages/SouthBrisbaneStationUpgrade.aspx

[Gazza]

I would like to thank mufreight, who has for years challenged the bureaucracy about platform heights, being possible or not possible.

mu inspired me to take photos at Central, Indooroopilly, Bowen Hills and some other locations that escape me at the moment, to show that full height platforms are possible, even with 3'6" and tight curves.

Do you know about the clandestine moment at Indooroopilly when certain pieces of rolling stock were gauged against the platforms, in the wee hours of the morning one night?  We pretended that we didn't know about it.  Ha!

Thanks mufreight.  You are a champion ..

Interesting story, can you give more details (Or Private Message, or post in a certain place?)

[ozbob]

No.

Use the tools, use the tools .. 

--> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3762.0

[O_128]

Bit of a non event. The station closed, there was no apocalypse. The elderly and disabled still managed to make it there and we get a new station. South bank will most likely be closed when the new suncorp building goes up for renovations but no big deal really.

[Gazza]

No.

Use the tools, use the tools .. 

--> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3762.0

I wouldn't have known what to put as a search term, given I didn't know the event you were referring to.