Can the rail network support out of peak 4 tph? Discuss

[ozbob]

Do you think the rail network can support 4 tph out of peak?  If so how, if not, why not?

I really think that the Richlands trains can be extended through to Petrie. This would then mean a considerable benefit in terms of frequency improvements  to Petrie  with the opportunity of further changes to express patterns.

Why does SEQ have worst out of peak  train frequency of any comparable system?  Is it technical, cultural, or political?  Is it all three things?

Peak is good  overall IMHO.  The abrupt shift from peak to the poor off peak frequency is one issue.  Is it worthwhile to target shoulders for frequency upgrades first?

As it is, nothing has really happened to general off peak frequencies for a long long time ....

[somebody]

IPS, CAB, FYG, MNY, BDT and Coopers Plains could all sustain 15 minute frequencies all day, even with freight demands.

[Fares_Fair]

Do you think the rail network can support 4 tph out of peak?  If so how, if not, why not?
I really think that the Richlands trains can be extended through to Petrie. This would then mean a considerable benefit in terms of frequency improvements  to Petrie  with the opportunity of further changes to express patterns.

Why does SEQ have worst out of peak  train frequency of any comparable system?  Is it technical, cultural, or political?  Is it all three things?

Peak is good  overall IMHO.  The abrupt shift from peak to the poor off peak frequency is one issue.  Is it worthwhile to target shoulders for frequency upgrades first?

As it, nothing has really happened to general off peak frequencies for a long long time ....

I know you have heard it all before, but ...
Certainly cannot support it on the Sunshine Coast (Caboolture to Gympie North) due to the freight congestion and really, really long distance travel train services.
Freight congestion shown by the 13 daily buses southbound, that replace trains on our line between 6:57am and 8:13pm and the 13 daily buses northbound between 5:45am and 9:22pm.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[ozbob]

I am sure the Ipswich line can cope with the coal and freight trains as well as 4 pass/hour each way.  There are also a significant number of light engine/special train movements on the Ipswich line as well (Redbank).

I guess the Caboolture line is a little more complicated because of the additional passenger services, including travel train and the freights.  But the freights are not as frequent as the coal trains on the Ipswich line so should be achievable?

The other lines don't have the complications for non passenger services in the same way.  So if Caboolture - Ipswich can do it, surely the others?

[ozbob]

North of Beerburrum is a special case ...

[O_128]

Its been discussed to oblivion and where infrastructure allows it really seems to be a cultural/Political issue. There is nothing stopping 4tph to ipswich/ rich lands ( come on its quad track to darra if it can't run 8tph in each direction then lets just busway it) Ferny grove, manly, straphpine or petrie and coopers plains.

[SurfRail]

I think more really needs to be done to bring to the politicos just how bad things are compared to similar systems.  Most of us have some familiarity with Perth's network, colin has regular experience of European suburban running, and even a trip to Melbourne or sydney shows just how many trains can be shoved through if you have the inclination. 

Heck, even the Seaford line is going to have better off-peak headways than the Ipswich line when it opens, and the Ipswich line probably carries by itself the same patronage as most of Adelaide's entire network!

It's one thing to argue for improvements in isolation - it is another to show up our network repeatedly and time again and to put forward a cogent case that improvements are needed to save us from embarrassment.

[somebody]

It's one thing to argue for improvements in isolation - it is another to show up our network repeatedly and time again and to put forward a cogent case that improvements are needed to save us from embarrassment.

Good point.

This was exactly how the improvements re: Airtrain were won.

[mufreight]

Having recently sat at Darra Station and having seen two in service passenger services, two out of service EMU/SMU movements three empty coal trains, an empty grain train and a light engine movement all proceeding west in the period of one hour four trains per hour is obviously sustainable off peak allowing for freight and other movements.
I would think however that a total of ten, eleven or even twelve movements would be possible on a reliable basis but would make the operation of the freight services more demanding on the loco crews unless the Darra to Ipswich section had some infrastructure improvement to reduce the number of speed restricted curves.