Redcliffe Peninsula Line [was MBRL (Petrie to Kippa Ring)]

[red dragin]

QUOTE: "The Transport Minister said the problem would temporarily be fixed by turning to a manual signalling system and delaying the use of an automated one. He said additional staff would be brought onto the Queensland Rail signalling team to monitor the system."

I was right with the extra employees  just a bit off with the staff and ticket 

[BrizCommuter]

Its good people on the Caboolture line get free travel for a week for the inconvenience for line shut down, as reported by Channel 9 News.

No they won't. They still have to pay for Zillmere to destination.
Sunshine Coast commuters will have to pay for starting station to Elimbah, and Boondall to destination. ? could this could cost more as it would be 2 journeys.

7.5min frequency on the Shorncliffe Line will be entertaining. Actually, it won't be entertaining, as the invariably late running trains due to "operational" issues will delay Ferny Grove, Doomben, and Airport Line commuters. Thankfully, BrizCommuter will be in Sydney instead during this week!

[petey3801]

Quite likely that the extra Shorny services will use the main lines from Northgate to the City.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

11th August 2016

MBRL - track closure Zillmere - Caboolture September 2016

Good Morning,

Some very good news that finally progress with the railway to Kippa-Ring (Moreton Bay Rail Link). Thanks to all involved for working diligently towards a resolution.
[ Critical track closure date set for Moreton Bay Rail Link connection > http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2016/8/10/critical-track-closure-date-set-for-moreton-bay-rail-link-connection ]

Final works and integration will necessitate a track closure on the main northern line for suburban/interurban services between Zillmere and Caboolture stations from 9pm on Friday 16 September until 2am on Friday 23 September.

This is during the school holidays.  Advanced alternate transport planning has occurred and details are available at > http://translink.com.au/service-updates/78956

Being during the school holidays does mean less passengers travelling and bus availability is improved (no school runs).

We note that travel on the replacement bus services will be free.  Passengers simply touch off when leaving a railway station and touch on when entering a railway station - do not touch on on the rail replacement buses.

Recently, the Frankston line in Melbourne was closed for 37 days straight, apart from other night and weekend closures, associated with major level crossing separation works at Ormond, McKinnon and Bentleigh.

A complex rail replacement bus operation was put in place to move passengers.  There are challenges with rail replacement by bus but providing bus numbers are adequate and there is good clear communication it works out.  It is not chaos as some media outlets are suggesting - it is a planned disruption to services. I visited Melbourne during the Frankston line closure and travelled on the rail replacement services to see how it worked and it was not chaos!  It was clearly a well planned and successfully executed operation. If Victoria can manage a 37 day closure on a major railway line I am sure we can manage a 6 day closure here in SEQ.

However journey times when rail replacement bus services are operating are normally longer than the normal time for the equivalent rail only journeys.  For time critical appointments and the like it is best to factor in an additional hour to the normal journey time.

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Latest: MBRL - track closure Zillmere - Caboolture September 2016
> https://t.co/NHNYtow1gO#qldpol pic.twitter.com/I5jmPUPqM2

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) August 10, 2016

[achiruel]

I wonder what the plan is for the Rocky/Bundy tilts during the closure? Commence from Caboolture?

Also: where on earth are all these buses coming from? Usual trackwork is done on weekend when most buses are less busy.

[SurfRail]

Planned disruptions are easier to manage in terms of capacity than ad-hoc.  Shouldn't be an issue.

[ozbob]

I wonder what the plan is for the Rocky/Bundy tilts during the closure? Commence from Caboolture?

Also: where on earth are all these buses coming from? Usual trackwork is done on weekend when most buses are less busy.

Non-electric trains - long distance passenger and freight will continue to run.

In the case of the ETT I expect DEL + carriages replacement. (Now, they could run steam but I digress from 'sanity' .. lol )

Buses not an issue - school holidays which improves bus availability.

[BrizCommuter]

I wonder what the plan is for the Rocky/Bundy tilts during the closure? Commence from Caboolture?

Also: where on earth are all these buses coming from? Usual trackwork is done on weekend when most buses are less busy.

Buses not being used on school runs for starters!

[ozbob]

. @brisbanetimes >> https://t.co/NHNYtow1gO #qldpol #youarewelcome

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) August 10, 2016

[tazzer9]

Its good people on the Caboolture line get free travel for a week for the inconvenience for line shut down, as reported by Channel 9 News.

No they won't. They still have to pay for Zillmere to destination.
Sunshine Coast commuters will have to pay for starting station to Elimbah, and Boondall to destination. ? could this could cost more as it would be 2 journeys.

7.5min frequency on the Shorncliffe Line will be entertaining. Actually, it won't be entertaining, as the invariably late running trains due to "operational" issues will delay Ferny Grove, Doomben, and Airport Line commuters. Thankfully, BrizCommuter will be in Sydney instead during this week!

i'm curious how far the 7.5 min frequency will get to on the shornclifee line, i saw recently they removed the electrified siding just north of sandgate station.
Will certainly see a bit of extra shunting moves around shornclifee.

[tazzer9]

At least they are also starting to have some common decency and not charge for the rail replacement buses.
It is disgusting in qld how we make people pay for rail replacement buses, despite them often running at the same frequency and stopping pattern (all stops) as the train itself.

[petey3801]

Siding at Sandgate wasn't electrified.
7.5min frequency to Shorncliffe shouldn't be a problem as long as everything keeps to timetable. 2mins SGE-SHC, 2mins to turn back (turn back crew), 2mins SHC-SGE, still 1.5mins flexibility. The crossover at Sandgate has been upgraded to 50km/h recently, so it is much quicker on the inbound run than what it was.

[HappyTrainGuy]

I wonder what the plan is for the Rocky/Bundy tilts during the closure? Commence from Caboolture?

Also: where on earth are all these buses coming from? Usual trackwork is done on weekend when most buses are less busy.

Thompsons/KBL would be providing the majority of buses I would imagine considering all the buses that they use for school runs won't be running. I can also bet my bottom dollar that the double deckers would be doing the big haul express trips to/from Caboolture.

[red dragin]

Given the whole state in on school holidays, you could pull buses from anywhere. It would go to the contracted shut down providers first I'd imagine.

[nathandavid88]

It is disgusting in qld how we make people pay for rail replacement buses, despite them often running at the same frequency and stopping pattern (all stops) as the train itself.

They say that we are supposed to pay when using Rail Replacement buses, but I personally cannot remember ever having paid to use one – it has never been enforced on any of the buses I have used.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Moreton Bay Rail Link: Mixed signals over track project

TRANSPORT Minister Stirling Hinchliffe was still insisting the troubled Moreton Bay Rail Link project was "progressing well" in March, despite initial pre-commissioning works having already been postponed multiple times.

Right to Information documents show the works were originally supposed to occur during the end-of-year holiday period last year.

"The initial pre-commissioning integration works were planned over the Christmas-New Year period," one Queensland Rail briefing document stated.

"However, outstanding concerns in relation to the signalling system's performance forced the postponement of these works to February, and again to March (Easter) and then again to April."

The Government announced in May that the project would be put on hold due to serious concerns about the signalling system and the safety risk to passengers.

On March 16, Mr Hinchliffe issued a statement that said: "Queensland Rail's extensive commissioning program was progressing well.

The Transport Minister yesterday said briefings he received from the Department of Transport and Main Roads, "particularly throughout March and April, were consistent with advice that the project was on track".

"When I was appointed to the portfolio in December I was aware there had been some work undertaken at a department level in relation to planned closures for pre-commissioning works in December, however this closure was ultimately postponed," he said.

"The TMR project team may have been working on multiple options, including over Easter and April, but these never reached a point where the department were confident about proceeding with a closure." ...

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Hansard

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2016/2016_08_17_DAILY.pdf

Questions Without Notice

Moreton Bay Rail Link

Mr POWELL: My question is to the Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games. I table
a Queensland Rail briefing note dated 15 May 2016.

Tabled paper: Briefing Note from Queensland Rail to the Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games, Hon. Stirling
Hinchliffe, regarding Moreton Bay Rail Link signalling.

I refer to the briefing note and the contract with Ansaldo STS, which requires the new signalling
system to interface with the ETCS. I ask: what is the minister doing to protect taxpayers and enforce
the contract with Ansaldo STS?

Mr HINCHLIFFE: I thank the member for the question. The Moreton Bay Rail Link is a vital piece
of transport and economic infrastructure for the growing Moreton Bay region. It consists of a
12.6 kilometre dual track passenger rail line between Petrie and Kippa Ring and includes six new rail
stations, at Kallangur, Murrumba Downs, Mango Hill, Mango Hill East, Rothwell and Kippa Ring. As the
member is very well aware, in May I announced that further work was needed to be completed prior to
the commissioning of the new rail line, due to advice I received from QR regarding the signalling system.

The member's question goes to the very heart of what will be occurring into the future with the
replacement and how we will deal with the shortcomings of the signalling system that was installed by
the contractors under the arrangement with Ansaldo. It was important to get to the heart of and
understand the reasons behind the decision making process and the decisions that were made that
resulted in the installation of what has turned out to be an inferior product that would not provide
integration with our universal train control system across the rest of the Queensland Rail network in
South-East Queensland. That system had been installed. It was discovered and identified, as has since
been confirmed by independent audit, that it would fail to deliver the 26 signalling instances that would
need to occur at one given time, but would only deliver 15. As a consequence, it was identified that the
system would not deliver the level of safety and reliability that we expect and that we want to see on
this fantastic piece of infrastructure that will deliver for the people of the Moreton Bay region and the
people of Queensland.

The member's question comes to the issue of ensuring that we do not lose out for Queenslanders
as a result of the error that has been made. That is a very key part of the ongoing consideration of the
independent audit that was received by the Department of Premier and Cabinet and is being further
considered by the Department of Transport and Main Roads and QR, to ensure that we get the best
possible outcome into the future. That clearly involves some commercial issues that need to be dealt
with on the basis of negotiation with the contract delivery agent. That is why I look forward to ensuring
that the independent audit—

(Time expired)

[bladesplace]

I'm reading that and I can't for the life of me see that Mr Hinchliffe actually answered Mr Powell's question. It all looks like waffle to me.

[tazzer9]

Just a standard political response.  Not answering the question but say enough words to get people to stop asking.

[ozbob]

^ & ^^  Yope!   

[Stillwater]

Mr Speaker, I move that the Honourable Member be granted more time to complete his incomplete answer ..... 

[achiruel]

Sunshine Coast commuters will have to pay for starting station to Elimbah, and Boondall to destination. ? could this could cost more as it would be 2 journeys.

It seems they won't, from https://translink.com.au/service-updates/78956

You can also board trains between Gympie North and Caboolture without touching on or off.

[bladesplace]

QUOTE: "The Transport Minister said the problem would temporarily be fixed by turning to a manual signalling system and delaying the use of an automated one. He said additional staff would be brought onto the Queensland Rail signalling team to monitor the system."

Sorry to ask such a stupid question, but what IS manual signalling? Is this where staff monitor and operate the signals manually from a control room?

[ozbob]

Yes.  As I understand it there will be staff at the Control Centre to manually control trains through Petri and on/off the Kippa-Ring branch.

[bladesplace]

Ah I see.

So the branch itself will be automatic but the junction that caused all the problems will be manual?

[ozbob]

Ah I see.

So the branch itself will be automatic but the junction that caused all the problems will be manual?

Yes, I think that is exactly it.  In time I am sure they will ease over to system operation as for the rest of the network.

[verbatim9]

Vote on the best name for the MBRL
http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/what-will-the-new-moreton-bay-rail-link-be-called-when-it-opens/news-story/a595173824096bcb4e99f43667bfcd3e

[ozbob]

LOL - had to laugh at some of the ' comments ' on the article at the CM.

Must be a slow news day in beat up land ...  proper name is Kippa-Ring.  The line doesn't go to Redcliffe. MBRL could be used and wouldn't phase me.  I think we should rename the Springfield line the Ripley line though 

[bladesplace]

Don't the draft timetables refer to it as they Kippa Ring line making this a moot point anyway? I'm sure the he EMUs had that programmed in as an option on the old flip-dot displays.

Hmm, after reading the comments, I'm even more perplexed - how are Caboolture line passengers losing out? Doesn't all-day express trains make it a bonus?  :conf

[#Metro]

Raily McRailLine is my guess! 

[SurfRail]

Hmm, after reading the comments, I'm even more perplexed - how are Caboolture line passengers losing out? Doesn't all-day express trains make it a bonus?  :conf

No doubt one of the handful of people who will have to change trains at Petrie is my guess.

Comments on online articles tend to be good for a larf, and not much else.

I also see our friend Colette has shown up...

[red dragin]

You want to get on there and correct them, but then realise it's pointless.

People so one eyed towards a certain political party are the reason politics gets its grubby fingers involved with projects like these and makes a mess. Both major parties are guilty of this.

[verbatim9]

I voted Moreton bay line  came in Second though

[bladesplace]

I'm not sure if anyone has noticed, but Platforms 4 and 5 at Petrie station - the new MBRL platforms - have a new type of PID display screen on them. The photos I've seen of a few other of the new stations have them too. They're like the normal LCD displays in the CBD stations with one crucial difference, they're half as tall as the others. Same width, just half the height.

Interestingly, the PIDs on Platform 5 (but not Platform 4) are switched on. They're displaying the usual "No trains are scheduled to depart" that you see off peak at Toowong on the not in use platforms - cut off halfway of course. Here's the funny part - you can make out it saying Platform FOUR when thr screens are on Platform FIVE. 

[HappyTrainGuy]

Its Kippa Ring. It won't be anythign else.

[tazzer9]

I'm not sure if anyone has noticed, but Platforms 4 and 5 at Petrie station - the new MBRL platforms - have a new type of PID display screen on them. The photos I've seen of a few other of the new stations have them too. They're like the normal LCD displays in the CBD stations with one crucial difference, they're half as tall as the others. Same width, just half the height.

Interestingly, the PIDs on Platform 5 (but not Platform 4) are switched on. They're displaying the usual "No trains are scheduled to depart" that you see off peak at Toowong on the not in use platforms - cut off halfway of course. Here's the funny part - you can make out it saying Platform FOUR when thr screens are on Platform FIVE. 

Nothing can currently use platform 4 as it hasn't been connected to the mainline.  That is probably why

[Golliwog]

No .pdf timetables that I've seen yet for the 6 day shut down, but it looks like if you use the online timetables and change to the dates of the shut down, that they've added in the rail bus services.

[red dragin]

My wife's work has accepted her suggestion to let her show up when she gets there, do her 8 hours, and then go home. They aren't going to enforce 9 till 5 for anyone affected by the shut down.

[tazzer9]

No .pdf timetables that I've seen yet for the 6 day shut down, but it looks like if you use the online timetables and change to the dates of the shut down, that they've added in the rail bus services.

While they will have to publish the off-peak timetables for the trains and busesat the minimum.   Peak will likely be just a turn up and go.