Cleveland-Shorncliffe or Cleveland-Doomben?

[somebody]

Based on current timetables with a cross at Thorneside, a 7 minute dwell is needed at Doomben, and isn't this against the 8 minute requirement for a 6 car train?  Similarly a late running outbound train will necessarily delay an inbound train at Thorneside unless it is held at Lota and Wellington Point.  There is also a 32 minute dwell at Cleveland.  Finally, if a short working is added it can only reach Manly.

Moving the normal cross to Wellington Point and still continuing to Doomben shows the following timetable on current timings, which has two trains in the single track Eagle Junction to Doomben simultaneously, which makes half hourly frequency to Doomben unachievable on this option:

Doomben	:25		:55
Eagle Junction	:33		:03
Bowen Hills	:40		:10
Manly	:31		:01
Wellington Point	:44		:14
Cleveland	:50		:20
-
Cleveland	:08		:38
Wellington Point	:44		:14
Manly	:59		:29
Bowen Hills	:49		:19
Eagle Junction	:57		:27
Doomben	:04		:34

Cleveland-Shorncliffe with a cross at Thorneside is:

Shorncliffe	:12		:42
Sandgate	:14		:44
Bowen Hills	:40		:10
Manly	:31		:01
Wellington Point	:44		:14
Cleveland	:50		:20
-
Cleveland	:52		:22
Manly	:13		:43
Bowen Hills	:13		:33
Sandgate	:39		:09
Shorncliffe	:41		:11

Cleveland-Shorncliffe with a cross at Wellington Point is:

Shorncliffe	:12	:27	:42	:57
Sandgate	:14	:29	:44	:59
Bowen Hills	:40	:55	:10	:25
Manly	:31	:46	:01	:16
Lota	:34	:49	:04	:19
Wellington Point	:44		:14
Cleveland	:50		:20
-
Cleveland	:08		:38
Wellington Point	:44		:14
Lota	:56	:11	:26	:41
Manly	:59	:14	:29	:44
Bowen Hills	:49	:04	:19	:34
Sandgate	:15	:30	:45	:00
Shorncliffe	:17	:32	:47	:02

I think the last option is the best by far.

[BrizCommuter]

15 minute off-peak? Glad to see someone is still optimistic.

[somebody]

15 minute off-peak? Glad to see someone is still optimistic.

No point in posting here if we are capitulating.

[HappyTrainGuy]

This is just me but I think its pointless trying to get 15 min frequencies on lines when there is not enough rollingstock to support it with multiple single track and poor alignment when there are other lines that have a high speed/larger passenger numbers. Not to mention on a line that has to use that pesky bridge  I'd rather see the lines getting duplicated in combination with the NGR then throwing rollingstock at it.

[Gazza]

Re rolling stock, at the end of the AM peak why not split some 6 car sets (The ones that can)
Then, prior to the PM peak, couple them back together.

[somebody]

This is just me but I think its pointless trying to get 15 min frequencies on lines when there is not enough rollingstock to support it with multiple single track and poor alignment when there are other lines that have a high speed/larger passenger numbers. Not to mention on a line that has to use that pesky bridge  I'd rather see the lines getting duplicated in combination with the NGR then throwing rollingstock at it.

Deep sigh at that comment!

Why do you need more rollingstock to support higher off peak frequencies?

What's the issue with the "pesky bridge"?  Is that the Merivale one or the Manly-Lota one?

The "let's do less with more" culture is thriving.

[Stillwater]

While still insisting that 15 minute frequency is the ultimate goal, could not working on a 20 minute frequency as an interim measure be prudent?

[somebody]

While still insisting that 15 minute frequency is the ultimate goal, could not working on a 20 minute frequency as an interim measure be prudent?

Last I checked, that would really play havoc with the crossing constraints and single track. Unless you are thinking of a 40 minute frequency beyond Lota.

[colinw]

Melbourne did (or does?) the 20 / 40 minute thing on some lines (Upfield springs to mind, Hurstbridge as well).  Didn't lead to an easy to remember timetable when it went to 40 minute frequency.

Would use of the loop at Ascot help with 30 minutes to Doomben?

[HappyTrainGuy]

Why do you need more rollingstock to support higher off peak frequencies?

What's the issue with the "pesky bridge"?  Is that the Merivale one or the Manly-Lota one?

The "let's do less with more" culture is thriving.

Sorry, I meant crews in combination with rollingstock and then throwing more running trains at the line once its duplicated to ensure a more reliable/frequent service and preventing bottlenecks/follow on delays for that line and multiple lines. I was also referring to the Merivale bridge.

[somebody]

Melbourne did (or does?) the 20 / 40 minute thing on some lines (Upfield springs to mind, Hurstbridge as well).  Didn't lead to an easy to remember timetable when it went to 40 minute frequency.

Would use of the loop at Ascot help with 30 minutes to Doomben?

Not sure but it couldn't be paired with Cleveland and the points are clipped.  I think STB posted that there are some issues with the platform with this particular option also.

[HappyTrainGuy]

The buildings are also unsafe hence why they and the platform are both fenced off.

[STB]

Melbourne did (or does?) the 20 / 40 minute thing on some lines (Upfield springs to mind, Hurstbridge as well).  Didn't lead to an easy to remember timetable when it went to 40 minute frequency.

Would use of the loop at Ascot help with 30 minutes to Doomben?

Not sure but it couldn't be paired with Cleveland and the points are clipped.  I think STB posted that there are some issues with the platform with this particular option also.

The Doomben line is currently treated as a single line with the crossover to occur at Eagle Junction.  Points at Doomben have to be manually operated by station staff.

[somebody]

The buildings are also unsafe hence why they and the platform are both fenced off.

So it is just a matter of demolishing the buildings, restoring the points to operational status and installing some Go Card readers.  What would that cost, $10-20m?  Let's do it.

[HappyTrainGuy]

IIRC there's something heritage listed/related to it.

[SurfRail]

IIRC there's something heritage listed/related to it.

There's nothing that would stop them restoring it in line with the original design (which would include taking out the asbestos or whatever lovely surprises may be buried there at the moment).  Without a reason to do so, it will just continue to sit in its current state with all traffic using the other platform.

[somebody]

Google reveals a wheels on steel thread here: http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CCUQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wheelsonsteel.com.au%2Fshowthread.php%3Ftid%3D2777%26page%3D2&rct=j&q=ascot%20station%20building%20restoration%20queensland&ei=Fo2STvvhNeqtiAeXvbjlDQ&usg=AFQjCNFrV-IZanw2mbPM8tXc_-Im6KXIhw&cad=rja

However, it's a bit short on info.  Apparently they started fixing it then stopped, in about 2008.  I'd expect google to know more if that was true.