South Brisbane station closure

[Gazza]

Pics on the RBoT Facebook, hard to link in because I'm on mobile.

All good, all platforms are raised, didn't get to see a train on #3, which is the interesting one because it's curved.

But platform 2 is now higher than footplate height! Oops! I'm sure they can rectify it by adding ballast, but presently, each door has a mind the step stencil on the platform.
Hope they fix this!

[ozbob]

Good stuff ..

South Brisbane rail





Photographs mufreight 13th December 2011

Remember folks, ' they ' said we could not achieve this ... Ha!  Much better outcome for all our community ...  well done Queensland Rail and TransLink and TMR for listening to our point of view.

Thank you.

[Gazza]

[colinw]

   That is a good outcome.

What is the facade of the station looking like now?

[Gazza]

Still ongoing I guess. The bricks look like what you can already see.

I'm actually looking forward to the space in front of the station being turned into a nice plaza. Just an ugly car park and utility area at present.

[STB]

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.

Agreed, much ado about nothing.

I took a look at South Brisbane yesterday and it looked quite good, despite still being quite a bit of work happening around the front.

[ozbob]

Nice photographs Gazza, thanks for sharing them.

I remember South Brisbane in the 1960s with great fondness.  But, time marches on ..

[ozbob]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/statelibraryqueensland/4732518918/

[Stillwater]

Work still due to continue until February.  All the facade brickwork will be pointed with white mortar.  It will look a treat.

[Otto]

Still large teams of workmen at South Brisbane at night. I counted 15+ on the platforms at 11pm on Monday night.

[colinw]

Work still due to continue until February.  All the facade brickwork will be pointed with white mortar.  It will look a treat.

Is that HIGH FREQUENCY white mortar, or 2 TPH white mortar?

Actually, its nice to see South Brisbane getting a big facelift. Probably my favourite Brisbane station, although I regret no longer being able to catch the limited from the adjacent interstate station.

[Arnz]

Work still due to continue until February.  All the facade brickwork will be pointed with white mortar.  It will look a treat.

Is that HIGH FREQUENCY white mortar, or 2 TPH white mortar?

HIGH FREQUENCY White Mortar if you're going to South Bank or Park Road.  Beyond Park Road it's 2TPH White Mortar to your destinations.

[Mr X]

It's world class white mortar though!

[Golliwog]

Has anyone see a wheelchair use South Brisbane yet? Just wondering if they still put out the ramp or not.

[O_128]

Good stuff ..

South Brisbane rail





Photographs mufreight 13th December 2011

Remember folks, ' they ' said we could not achieve this ... Ha!  Much better outcome for all our community ...  well done Queensland Rail and TransLink and TMR for listening to our point of view.

Thank you.

MM look at that world class 24 min wait for the next cleveland train. At least you can look at the nice station 

[#Metro]

Is that LEVEL BOARDING I can see? No way!!! 

[petey3801]

Has anyone see a wheelchair use South Brisbane yet? Just wondering if they still put out the ramp or not.

Yeah, the ramp will still be used, although they should have a short ramp for use on high level platforms.

[Golliwog]

Has anyone see a wheelchair use South Brisbane yet? Just wondering if they still put out the ramp or not.

Yeah, the ramp will still be used, although they should have a short ramp for use on high level platforms.

Kk, well heres hoping that the higher platform helps speed up dwell times anyway.

[Gazza]

Am running a lunch time errand and have gone through south Brisbane again... It's just the last 2 carriages that are affected by the odd step down, the rest of the train is fine.
Standing at the city end, facing towards southbank, you can see the train 'rise up' a little bit as it comes in.
It's a minor fix needed I suppose, but at least disabled passengers can still board level near the guard.

[Set in train]

Remember folks, ' they ' said we could not achieve this ... Ha!  Much better outcome for all our community ...  well done Queensland Rail and TransLink and TMR for listening to our point of view.

Thank you.

Please don't take this as facetious, I came late to this board and particular discussion, what did 'they' say could not be achieved? Couldn't raise the platforms?

[ozbob]

Remember folks, ' they ' said we could not achieve this ... Ha!  Much better outcome for all our community ...  well done Queensland Rail and TransLink and TMR for listening to our point of view.

Thank you.

Please don't take this as facetious, I came late to this board and particular discussion, what did 'they' say could not be achieved? Couldn't raise the platforms?

Raising of platforms has been an issue we have pursued for years.  For a long time we were told it was not possible because of a variety of reasons.  It seems it is now possible ... 

[O_128]

Remember folks, ' they ' said we could not achieve this ... Ha!  Much better outcome for all our community ...  well done Queensland Rail and TransLink and TMR for listening to our point of view.

Thank you.

Please don't take this as facetious, I came late to this board and particular discussion, what did 'they' say could not be achieved? Couldn't raise the platforms?

Raising of platforms has been an issue we have pursued for years.  For a long time we were told it was not possible because of a variety of reasons.  It seems it is now possible ... 

Amazing Really isn't it, Seems they were just being lazy

[somebody]

I work in govt and someone the other day actually admitted that they had said that "It's not possible" because they didn't think it should be done.  Welcome to Qld.

[O_128]

I work in govt and someone the other day actually admitted that they had said that "It's not possible" because they didn't think it should be done.  Welcome to Qld.

I'm sorry what!, they think it shouldn't be done?  Ill assume this person is responsible for the third world frequency?

[Mr X]

So I gather 4tph to Ferny Grove isn't "possible" because some bureaucrat thinks it "shouldn't be done"?   Welcome to SimCity planning  :conf What about CRR? I guess it shouldn't be done either, Bruce Highway duplications and toll tunnels are more important. 

But a wasteful 30bph in peak down OCR is possible it seems. Someone of value must live there  

[somebody]

I work in govt and someone the other day actually admitted that they had said that "It's not possible" because they didn't think it should be done.  Welcome to Qld.

I'm sorry what!, they think it shouldn't be done?  Ill assume this person is responsible for the third world frequency?

It wasn't to do with transport.  Just mentioned it because I think it shows the culture.

But a wasteful 30bph in peak down OCR is possible it seems. Someone of value must live there 

Is that really wasteful?  There's a lot of demand along there isn't there?

[Mr X]

I don't know, but then again WE has 32bph and they are usually full so perhaps they are well used?. We can all agree there are too many expresses leaving different places in the CBD though.

Is there anything stopping us from having 4tph offpeak to Manly/Cleveland, Kuraby, Caboolture, Ferny Grove and Shorncliffe other than political will? Could some of these be air parcel services?  

[colinw]

Raising of platforms has been an issue we have pursued for years.  For a long time we were told it was not possible because of a variety of reasons.  It seems it is now possible ...  

Time to nominate the next "impossible" small improvements?

I'd like to nominate - "fix Park Road Platform #4 and get it into use".

What is the current situation at Indooroopilly?  Still unacceptable gaps?

[#Metro]

Is there anything stopping us from having 4tph offpeak to Manly/Cleveland, Kuraby, Caboolture, Ferny Grove and Shorncliffe other than political will? Could some of these be air parcel services?

I think this has been discussed in detail elsewhere. A few interesting responses when I posed the 'is it possible to have 15 minute frequency to Beenleigh".

Single track and flat junction conflicts are the problems.

That said though, many places could get 4tph

[somebody]

What is the current situation at Indooroopilly?  Still unacceptable gaps?

They lowered the rails a while back so it isn't as bad.

I'd like to nominate - "fix Park Road Platform #4 and get it into use".

I actually think that the peak GC trains need to get off the DG in a pre-CRR world, so I'm less worried about this one.

I don't know, but then again WE has 32bph and they are usually full so perhaps they are well used?. We can all agree there are too many expresses leaving different places in the CBD though.

Is there anything stopping us from having 4tph offpeak to Manly/Cleveland, Kuraby, Caboolture, Ferny Grove and Shorncliffe other than political will? Could some of these be air parcel services?  

Kuraby would cause slowing the Gold Coast trains in one direction.

10-12/hour over the Merivale bridge would make it challenging to run freight over it.

Political will in sufficient degree would overcome reluctance for the others though.  Shorncliffe *may* require a crew swap.

WE = weekend?
4/hour 200
4/hour 204
4/hour 222
1/hour 203
1/hour 250

[Mr X]

WE = west end, sorry. Too many acronyms
12bph 199, CG + 6bph 196 + 2bph 192 = 32bph

[O_128]

WE = west end, sorry. Too many acronyms
12bph 199, CG + 6bph 196 + 2bph 192 = 32bph

Thats still barely one train in capacity terms however.

[SurfRail]

WE = west end, sorry. Too many acronyms
12bph 199, CG + 6bph 196 + 2bph 192 = 32bph

Thats still barely one train in capacity terms however.

But admittedly going nowhere as far from town as any rail line, and through territory that for historical reasons is not that dense once you have gotten past the main drag on Boundary Street.

[O_128]

WE = west end, sorry. Too many acronyms
12bph 199, CG + 6bph 196 + 2bph 192 = 32bph

Thats still barely one train in capacity terms however.

But admittedly going nowhere as far from town as any rail line, and through territory that for historical reasons is not that dense once you have gotten past the main drag on Boundary Street.

Of course I would much rather 32 buses per hour than 2 trains per hour.

[Set in train]

Remember folks, ' they ' said we could not achieve this ... Ha!  Much better outcome for all our community ...  well done Queensland Rail and TransLink and TMR for listening to our point of view.

Thank you.

Please don't take this as facetious, I came late to this board and particular discussion, what did 'they' say could not be achieved? Couldn't raise the platforms?

Raising of platforms has been an issue we have pursued for years.  For a long time we were told it was not possible because of a variety of reasons.  It seems it is now possible ... 

Thanks for letting me know

[HappyTrainGuy]

Remember folks, ' they ' said we could not achieve this ... Ha!  Much better outcome for all our community ...  well done Queensland Rail and TransLink and TMR for listening to our point of view.

Thank you.

Please don't take this as facetious, I came late to this board and particular discussion, what did 'they' say could not be achieved? Couldn't raise the platforms?

Raising of platforms has been an issue we have pursued for years.  For a long time we were told it was not possible because of a variety of reasons.  It seems it is now possible ... 

Thanks for letting me know

[mufreight]

Has anyone see a wheelchair use South Brisbane yet? Just wondering if they still put out the ramp or not.

Well on Wednesday I made a point of stopping at South Brisbane for a look.
The horizontal gap between the carriage and the platform is noticably wider on platform 2 than it is on platform 1 but definitely not sufficently so as to pose any risk.
When I boarded the train from platform 2 for the run over to Roma Street for my trip to Ipswich there was a woman in a wheelchair who had been assisted up to the platform by station staff as the lift was not in operation who boarded the train unassisted into the trailing door of the fourth carriage then on arrival at Roma Street disembarked unassisted and despite the drop down to the platform from the carriage at platform 6.
The woman then made her way to platform 8 to catch the Ipswich service which she boarded through the leading door of the fourth carriage unassisted after informing the guard that she would be leaving the train at Darra.
On arrival at Darra she was assisted from the train by the guard using the ramp.
I for one would think that nothing more needs to be said in respect of the benefits of full height platforms and the glaring failure of those responsible for not constructing to the full height the new platforms 1 and 4 at Darra and not raising platforms 2 and 3 when these platforms were closed for the reconstruction.
It is obvious that this woman although confined to a wheelchair values her independence and finds that the full height platforms at South Brisbane and other locations improves her independence making her less dependent on others.   

[Golliwog]

I had a poke around South Brisbane station this afternoon as well. Looks pretty fantastic. Obvoiusly theres still a bit of work still to go around the place, but overall pretty brilliant. My only suggestion is regarding the on platform timetables. While they have them (or have the shells, waiting on the printout) there doesn't seem to be a place where all three timetables are in the one spot. Platform 2/3 has Doomben and Ferny Grove timetables back to back, and I'm assuming the Airport line one further along somewhere (I think this means that every 2nd ex-Cleveland service isn't on any of these timetables as they only run to Bowen Hills? Though they will show up on the PIDs). Platform 1 has the 3 timetable shells spread along the brick wall of the main building. I think for each direction they need to have the 3 applicable timetables alltogether somewhere obvious, so for platforms 2/3 that would be in the underpass tunnel or something like that.

Other than that, I couldn't find anything to fault with the redone station, good work QR.

[colinw]

Tomorrow I'll be using South Brisbane for the first time since re-opening. Looking forward to seeing the level boarding, and how the old girl has scrubbed up.

Because I'm starting at Kuraby, my journey will have level boarding at both ends. Should be more of it.

[SurfRail]

Tomorrow I'll be using South Brisbane for the first time since re-opening. Looking forward to seeing the level boarding, and how the old girl has scrubbed up.

Because I'm starting at Kuraby, my journey will have level boarding at both ends. Should be more of it.

As an interesting exercise, here is a list of the stations which can be considered to have full level boarding.  (I am including Fruitgrove, Runcorn and Altandi as no revenue services are supposed to stop at the low level third platform.)

There are 143 current and 11 future stations (CRR = 3, being Boggo Road, Gabba, Albert St, with the others replacing or being part of existing stations; MBRL = 6; Springfield extension = 2).

There would be 35 of 154 stations with 100% level boarding by the time CRR opens, or 23%.  This does not include any other full-raising upgrades which are being contemplated, and I know that several have been tentatively designed (eg Wooloowin).

•   Albert Street (CRR)
•   Alderley (2012)
•   Altandi
•   Beerburrum
•   Boggo Road (CRR)
•   Coomera
•   Coopers Plains
•   Domestic Airport
•   Eagle Junction (2012)
•   Ekka (CRR)
•   Elimbah
•   Ferny Grove (2012)
•   Fruitgrove
•   Gabba (CRR)
•   Helensvale
•   International Airport
•   Kallangur (2016)
•   Kinsellas Road (2016)
•   Kippa-Ring (2016)
•   Kuraby
•   Mango Hill (2016)
•   Murrumba Downs (2016)
•   Narangba (2012)
•   Nerang
•   Ormeau
•   Richlands
•   Robina
•   Rothwell (2016)
•   Runcorn
•   Sandgate (2012)
•   South Brisbane
•   Springfield (2013)
•   Springfield Central (2013)
•   Varsity Lakes
•   Yeerongpilly (CRR)

On top of this, the following 7 stations that I am aware of are partially full-level - feel free to add to this or the list above:

•   Bethania (all 3 platforms humped)
•   Bowen Hills (platforms 3 and 4 are high-level, platforms 1 and 2 are not)
•   Central (platforms 5 and 6 are high-level, platforms 1 to 4 are not)
•   Fortitude Valley (all 4 platforms humped)
•   Grovely (both platforms are raised at one end)
•   Petrie (all 3 platforms humped)
•   Roma Street (some platforms partially raised)