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

[somebody]

Lifts break down....the trains themselves break down too!

A fair point.  Although if you've ever worked in a multi story office building and seen how often someone is working on a lift you might change your tune.

[ozbob]

No, Cardinia Road track is flat on the ground.  Both Elimbah and Beerburrum were built greenfield.

See -->

I think in the future some savings could be made in meeting DDA requirements by doing a similar approach.

[Gazza]

A fair point.  Although if you've ever worked in a multi story office building and seen how often someone is working on a lift you might change your tune.

I never once saw a lift out of service (We had 4 of them) in the building I was working in. The car park lift got flooded though in the Jan 2011 floods (Happened before we moved to this building) but that doesn't really count.

I think that Cardinia Rd solution is a decent one from a CPTED....It's like they've done a nice park around the station and put a generous walkway (seems to be 3 times as wide as the Oxley underpass for instance).
If Cardinia rd had an island platform it wouldn't have been as effective IMO because then you'd have the stairs/ramp leading up to the platform obscured from sightlines.

http://www.nearmap.com/?ll=-38.058041,145.249587&z=20&t=k&nmd=20120412

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail Quest click here!

Bridge to be part of Moreton Bay Rail Link stage one

Bridge to be part of Moreton Bay Rail Link stage one

    by: Glenn Roberts, Northern Times
    From: Quest Newspapers
    June 21, 2012 1:58PM

The first stage of work on the Moreton Bay Rail Link will start next month, with a road-over-rail bridge being built at Mango Hill.

The first stage of work on the Moreton Bay Rail Link will start next month, with a road-over-rail bridge being built at Mango Hill.

McIlwain Civil, the same company tasked with the AJ Wyllie Bridge reconstruction, has been awarded the contract to build the bridge at Kinsellas Rd East.

A spokesman for Transport and Main Roads said the bridge was important to ease congestion around the area once the rail line was  open.

"The Moreton Bay Rail Link will cross Kinsellas Rd East near the future Kinsellas Road Station,'' the spokesman said.

"In order to maintain connectivity in the road network, a road-over-rail bridge will be built at Kinsellas Rd East, slightly to the east of the current alignment.
"The new bridge is scheduled for completion by mid-2013, weather permitting.''

The tender process for the Kinsellas Rd bridge and another connecting Goodfellows and Dohles Rocks roads at Kallangur were opened in January.

Moreton Bay Rail Link project director Bob Atkinson said the second tender was for the design and construction of the Dohles Rocks Rd realignment, the construction of a new bridge between School Rd and Russell St, and a new bridge along Goodfellows Rd, which will also be aligned so it connects with Dohles Rocks Rd at Russell St.

He said in January that the tender should be awarded in late July, with 18 months for design and construction.

Once complete, the 12.6km track will include six stations - Kallangur, Murrumba Downs, Mango Hill, Kinsellas Rd, Rothwell and Kippa-Ring.

TIMELINE

Construction begins on Kinsellas Road East bridge: July 2012

Concept designs for six new stations will be available: mid 2012

Tender process for rail design and construction begins: mid 2012

Construction begins on Dohles Rocks Road and Goodfellows Road bridges: mid 2012

Kinsellas Road East bridge to be completed: mid 2013

Rail corridor work begins (track, structures and stations): mid 2013

Rail corridor work complete: late 2016

[O_128]

talk about stretching the project out, lines up perfectly to federal election cycle.

[mufreight]

talk about stretching the project out, lines up perfectly to federal election cycle.

And no operational capacity for the MBRL services to operate through the CBD untill CRR comes into service.

[somebody]

Well, to be fair you could just extend the existing Petrie terminators.  Seems the most likely plan even if I hate it.

CRRlite will do nothing for the north.

[HappyTrainGuy]

talk about stretching the project out, lines up perfectly to federal election cycle.

And no operational capacity for the MBRL services to operate through the CBD untill CRR comes into service.

Sigh. That simply isn't true FYI.

[mufreight]

Well, to be fair you could just extend the existing Petrie terminators.  Seems the most likely plan even if I hate it.

CRRlite will do nothing for the north.

And your next complaint will be that those services are overcrowded.
The Richlands line services in peak which are effectively only extensions of the old Corinda turnbacks with effectively only one additional station at present (Richlands) yet MBRL will have under your proposal no additional services but four additional stations as its catchment.

Translink standard of transport planning being exhibited here, do it on the cheap, charge the maximum and if the service is below par then the commuters can walk, fly, travel by bus or as the majority will use their car then use the less than optimal uptake of the service to justify higher fares.

[somebody]

AM peak boardings from the 2011q3 survey
Virginia-Lawnton = 3199.
Petrie-Caboolture = 7219

I am assuming that everyone getting on at Petrie uses the faster services which will overtake an all stations service.  Reverse that and you get:
Virginia-Petrie = 4912
Dakabin-Caboolture = 5506

I think it just isn't true that there is no capacity on the all stopping services.  What is true is that extending the all stopping services will offer a mediocre service to Kippa-Ring.

[BrizCommuter]

Is it possible to run three service patterns at 9-10 min frequencies each (totalling 18-20tph)? Caboolture/Sunshine Coast express, Kippa-Ring express, Petrie all stations. Would probably require a reversing siding north of Petrie to not be an operational disaster.


Extending existing Petrie all stations services to Kippa-Ring would also work and be less complex to operate, but will be somewhat crowded during the peak (and overcrowded on some peak of the peak services).

[somebody]

I don't see why you need the reversing siding or even any additional platforms at Petrie!  You do however need the missing crossover.

9 minute turnarounds are within the standard, but then you do have to ignore the roll-out roll-in time which is surely above 1 minute for such services.  So crew swaps would be needed, I guess.

Not sure what you mean about all stations to Kippa-Ring peak services being crowded.  Seems like the stats I posted above debunk this.

[BrizCommuter]

I don't see why you need the reversing siding or even any additional platforms at Petrie!  You do however need the missing crossover.

9 minute turnarounds are within the standard, but then you do have to ignore the roll-out roll-in time which is surely above 1 minute for such services.  So crew swaps would be needed, I guess.

If you are running inbound services every 12 mins, the slotting in a reversing service within in that 12 minutes would be tad difficult. You could reverse in the outbound platform where you may have 15 mins (or 30mins if QLD is still in the dark-ages) but this can still add scheduling issues depending on the timing of the outbound services. Reversing in main running line platforms at intermediate reversing points should be avoided at all costs on any modern rail system. A reversing siding only costs approx. $10m.

Not sure what you mean about all stations to Kippa-Ring peak services being crowded.  Seems like the stats I posted above debunk this.

Have you added projected patronage from MBRL into those figures?

[somebody]

If you are running inbound services every 12 mins, the slotting in a reversing service within in that 12 minutes would be tad difficult. You could reverse in the outbound platform where you may have 15 mins (or 30mins if QLD is still in the dark-ages) but this can still add scheduling issues depending on the timing of the outbound services. Reversing in main running line platforms at intermediate reversing points should be avoided at all costs on any modern rail system. A reversing siding only costs approx. $10m.

What's difficult about reversing in 12 minutes?  However the requirement is 9 minutes which is a little harder.  And why should Petrie platform 2 be a main running line platform at all?

Have you added projected patronage from MBRL into those figures?

No, but if they are to exceed 4000 combined in peak then they would be some of the busiest stations  on the network.  Indooroopilly is only around 1400 OTOH.  Do you have any figures?  I suppose you can't assume standees getting on at Virginia are OK by the 20 minute standard though - it's 21 minutes from Central.

[BrizCommuter]

Have you added projected patronage from MBRL into those figures?

No, but if they are to exceed 4000 combined in peak then they would be some of the busiest stations  on the network.  Indooroopilly is only around 1400 OTOH.  Do you have any figures?  I suppose you can't assume standees getting on at Virginia are OK by the 20 minute standard though - it's 21 minutes from Central.

I don't have the figures, but they are in the public domain (unusually).
I think the 20 minute standing rule is not sustainable for SE Queensland's extensive urban sprawl - it needs to be extended considerably.

[somebody]

Found the forecasts.  2016 forecast is 9606 all day boardings.  So nearly 50% of them would have to be occurring in peak, and also not taking from Petrie patronage to for this to be a problem.

I never once saw a lift out of service (We had 4 of them) in the building I was working in. The car park lift got flooded though in the Jan 2011 floods (Happened before we moved to this building) but that doesn't really count.

Yeah, well when I worked on the top floor I saw it all the time.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Calm down people.

Currently:
Yes, there is still capacity onboard trains due to the areas served along the line. Lawnton has a few school kids that get off. Bray Park has a large high school near by along with shops and stores. Strathpine has workers for the council/centrelink/Westfield that get off. Bald Hills is a short walk to a primary school. Carseldine doesn't see many people getting off but there are two schools near by. Zillmere has 4 schools that use its station - Aspley Primary, Aspley High, Zillmere Primary, St Dimpa. Geebung has alot of the workers that work near by. Sunshine has some workers that bail (mostly early morning ie before 7-7.30). Virginia is next to the school. The last two don't have that many people getting off. Trains only start to get really packed in once they reach the Toombul area. The centre of the trains are crowded before that but the front usually has plenty of space (Seems most of the Northgate-Brunswick Street folk know how to find this space at the front of trains).

Yes, there is still capacity available to run more trains during morning peak hour. Problem is allocating rollingstock for those runs along with the current Petrie constraints.

Yes, there is a possiblilty if all current Petrie starters were shifted to Start/terminate at Kippa Ring there would be overcrowding more so towards the city. However that's not happening as there are other plans in place, under investigation or in the pipeline.

Kippa Ring services will be Springfield extension services. In peak hour there will mostly be Kippa Ring starters but at select times there will also be a couple Petrie starters/terminators retained. Those times might change depending on the loads experienced/after passengers settle into a pattern. Running patterns are not final yet due to other issues.

[BrizCommuter]

Yes, there is still capacity available to run more trains during morning peak hour.

There is already a train every 3 minutes on the mains between 7:34 and 8:22am (southbound Bowen Hills arrivals). Please tell me how you can run more trains during this period?

[somebody]

Agree with BC on that point.  Although I disagree that Nundah/Toombul/Albion/Wooloowin should remain on the Caboolture line.

[HappyTrainGuy]

As I said just after the part you quoted. The restraint relates to rollingstock numbers and other constraints. Northgate-Bowen Hills can handle 20tph. Combine that with the subs with Shorncliffe/Doomben/Airport lines to get even more capacity. There are also other infrastructure projects that are being looked at around the network. These seem to be the biggest delayes relating to the timetable modifications as they play a critical/fundamental part.

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail Quest click here!

State Government moves to guarantee Moreton Bay Rail Link

State Government moves to guarantee Moreton Bay Rail Link

    by: Kay Picton, Redcliffe & Bayside Herald
    From: Quest Newspapers
    July 11, 2012 5:10PM

The State Government gave a guarantee this afternoon the Moreton Bay Rail Link will go ahead in its current form putting an end to speculation the project was being reviewed.

In a joint statement, State Minister for Transport Scott Emerson and Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese confirmed the project would go ahead as a project under the transport department.

"I met with Minister Anthony Albanese this morning and confirmed the Queensland Government is committed to this project to be delivered in partnership with the Federal Government and Moreton Bay Regional Council,'' Mr Emerson said.

"An industry briefing will be held soon to give members of the construction industry a chance to find out more about delivery of the project.

"A Request for Proposal will also be released in the near future to shortlist proponents to submit tenders for the delivery of the project.''

The rail component is scheduled for delivery in 2016 and work is set to start on the road-over-rail bridge at Kinsellas Rd East in weeks.

The statement comes after the Redcliffe & Bayside Herald questioned the future of the project and Mr Emerson refused to give an iron-clad guarantee it would proceed in its current form.

Nearly 700 people responded in less than 24 hours to an online poll, with 80 per cent agreeing they wanted the rail link to go ahead as is.

Mr Emerson would not answer specific questions about the project yesterday, but said in a statement: ``We are committed to delivering this project, however given the level of state debt and the Labor government's financial mess we need to ensure we also deliver the best value for taxpayers.''

A spokesman for Mr Emerson said he could not answer the questions because he did not have the answers.

Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Allan Sutherland said it was his understanding the State Government was reviewing all projects promised by the previous government.

Quest contacted Premier Campbell Newman but did not get a response.

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson
11/07/2012

Simpler procurement for Moreton Bay Rail... JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT

Simpler procurement on the Moreton Bay Rail Link will see improved outcomes for the local community while delivering vital infrastructure for the Moreton Bay region.

Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Scott Emerson said the Queensland Government would bring the delivery of the project under a single entity with the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads as the Principal for the contract.

"I met with Minister Anthony Albanese this morning and confirmed the Queensland Government is committed to this project to be delivered in partnership with the Federal Government and Moreton Bay Regional Council," Mr Emerson said.

"Previously, the delivery of the project was split between the Department of Transport and Main Roads and Queensland Rail," he said.

"By bringing the project under one agency I am looking for better more innovation and savings for the funding partners and the people of Queensland.

"An industry briefing will be held soon to give members of the construction industry a chance to find out more about delivery of the project.

"A Request for Proposal will also be released in the near future to shortlist proponents to submit tenders for the delivery of the project."

The rail component is scheduled for delivery in 2016.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese said that work would soon start on the next road component of the Moreton Bay Rail Link.

"Works will start on the road-over-rail bridge at Kinsellas Road East in a matter of weeks and is expected to be completed by mid 2013," said Mr Albanese.

"This region is growing fast and is currently forced to be largely car-dependent, so it is important that we build sustainable transport options now before traffic becomes untenable.

"The Moreton Bay Rail Link is a prime example of all three levels of government coming together to develop the infrastructure required for a region's long term development."

The $1.147 billion project is jointly funded by the Australian Government ($742 million), Queensland Government ($300 million plus land) and Moreton Bay Regional Council ($105 million).

[ENDS] 11 July 2012

[#Metro]

Will minister Emerson guarantee the FREQUENCY and SPAN as being better than 30 minutes?

[somebody]

Good to hear this is going ahead.

[Jonno]

So what is TMR's rail construction track record?  Zero! Nothing! Nada!

Political interference? I think so!

[O_128]

Will minister Emerson guarantee the FREQUENCY and SPAN as being better than 30 minutes?

we should ask him, frame it around why we would spend 1 billion for 2 trains an hour.

[ozbob]

Good to hear this is going ahead.

+1  Frequency can be addressed later.  You have to have a railway first ...

[somebody]

I think you need both.  At least Kippa-Ring will address the frequency as far as Petrie by default.

I still think we need to keep pressure on for frequency on the current infrastructure where possible.

[colinw]

Ok, so now this project has been taken off QueenslandRail and given to a ROAD agency. What exactly is their expertise in delivering railway projects?

This Government is behaving like a bull in a China shop. Decisions for the sake of changing things.

Not impressed. Seriously.

Why not put the project to an alliance like Springfield and Caboolture - Beerburrum? The reason why alliance projects work well is because they have a commercial incentive to come in on time & budget, and find solutions to problems. My own employer dealt with both those alliance projects, and one of the most noticeable differences compared to working directly with State agencies was that you could actually get them to make decisions and respond to things in a reasonable amount of time. Until a few years ago, the old QR was like that as well, but after the split it became like talking to a brick wall, if you could even identify exactly who the responsible person was at all.

Although I wonder if this means that the smouldering remnants of QR are about to vanish into the maw of the all conquering Main Roads department, there to be pillaged by Caltabiano and his LNP crony buddies?

What a shambles. I'm sure that the people who wanted to be rid of Anna and Boy Wonder weren't looking to replace it with this kind of errant nonsense. This Government was elected to set things right, not compound Labor's errors with a whole bunch of rookie mistakes.

Meanwhile in the real world:
http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/alliance-cuts-cost-of-paisley-canal-line-electrification.html

[mufreight]

Ok, so now this project has been taken off QueenslandRail and given to a ROAD agency. What exactly is their expertise in delivering railway projects?

This Government is behaving like a bull in a China shop. Decisions for the sake of changing things.

Not impressed. Seriously.

Why not put the project to an alliance like Springfield and Caboolture - Beerburrum? The reason why alliance projects work well is because they have a commercial incentive to come in on time & budget, and find solutions to problems. My own employer dealt with both those alliance projects, and one of the most noticeable differences compared to working directly with State agencies was that you could actually get them to make decisions and respond to things in a reasonable amount of time. Until a few years ago, the old QR was like that as well, but after the split it became like talking to a brick wall, if you could even identify exactly who the responsible person was at all.

Although I wonder if this means that the smouldering remnants of QR are about to vanish into the maw of the all conquering Main Roads department, there to be pillaged by Caltabiano and his LNP crony buddies?

What a shambles. I'm sure that the people who wanted to be rid of Anna and Boy Wonder weren't looking to replace it with this kind of errant nonsense. This Government was elected to set things right, not compound Labor's errors with a whole bunch of rookie mistakes.

Meanwhile in the real world:
http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/alliance-cuts-cost-of-paisley-canal-line-electrification.html

Nicely put

[ozbob]

As I understand it TMR has always been running the projects overall.  This is just a streamline for contract matters, Queensland Rail will still be involved at all levels no doubt.

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

Redcliffe rail link blowout a threat to LNP savings drive

Redcliffe rail link blowout a threat to LNP savings drive

    by: Robyn Ironside, Steven Scott
    From: The Courier-Mail
    August 21, 2012 12:00AM

MORE than 20 per cent of the State Government's hard-fought savings could be blown on the controversial Redcliffe rail link.

As Premier Campbell Newman searches for ways to save $3 billion over the next three years, his government is facing a bill of at least $650 million for the rail link - well in excess of the $300 million budgeted when the project became a hot topic at the 2010 federal election.

The news comes as Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan threatens to redirect funding earmarked for Queensland if the Newman Government cuts any joint-funded projects, such as the rail link, Gold Coast Rapid Transit and Townsville Ring Road.

While I am concerned that Queenslanders should get the quality infrastructure and services they deserve, if the Queensland Government pulls its funding from these projects then of course the Commonwealth share will also need to be redirected to alternative projects in other jurisdictions," Mr Swan has written in a letter to Mr Newman.

Mr Newman responded that all the projects would be funded.

But it is understood the State Government looked at pulling out of the rail link because of the cost blowout.

While the Government would not confirm this, Transport Minister Scott Emerson admitted that a review of the rail link was conducted shortly after the March state election.

Mr Emerson said the Government was now trying to ensure the project was delivered as efficiently as possible.

As a result, Queensland Rail has been excluded from bidding for the construction contract despite being part of an alliance building the Richlands to Springfield line.

Under a deal done by the Bligh government with Canberra, Queensland will have to bear the risk of any cost overruns on the rail link connecting Petrie and Kippa-Ring.

The Commission of Audit report has warned that as well as Queensland's $300 million contribution, the state faces an extra $300 million to connect the 12.6km line with the existing network plus $50 million in annual operating costs.

The state could also end up paying much of the Federal Government's $742 million contribution through reduced GST funding.

"While the Australian Government has approved funding for this infrastructure project, its contribution will be subject to assessment by the Commonwealth Grants Commission and will result in a reduction of Queensland's share of GST funding," said the report by former federal treasurer Peter Costello, Dr Doug McTaggart and Professor Sandra Harding. "As such there is a risk that a major portion of the Australian Government's share will in fact be met by the state."

Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Allan Sutherland said he understood the project was on target for completion in 2016.

[ozbob]

This article is a beat up.  The Government has indicated that this project is to proceed.  However, by excluding QR from the construction alliance they are cutting off their nose to spite their face.  Trackstar has completed a number of projects, with considerable savings.  The corporate knowledge will be lost.

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson
21/08/2012

Industry on board for Moreton Bay Rail Link

More than 300 business representatives have attended the Moreton Bay Rail Link's first industry briefing.

Transport and Main Road Minister Scott Emerson said the briefing outlined the government's plan to release the Request for Proposals to industry on August 24.

"The level of interest from the construction industry ensures there'll be healthy competition between the proponents," Mr Emerson said.

"The Request for Proposals will involve companies submitting options for the design and construction of the project.

"It's an opportunity for companies to show that they have the innovation and capability to build and design a project of this size and complexity."

The Newman Government recently undertook a review of the project to ensure it provided the best financial and transport outcomes for Queensland.

This review determined Transport and Main Roads was best placed to deliver the whole project, rather than splitting responsibilities with Queensland Rail.

The project will be delivered by private industry, allowing Queensland Rail to focus on its core business of maintaining the rail network and running passenger services.

"The deal done by the former Queensland Labor government allowed the Federal Government to cap their contribution, but left Queensland taxpayers exposed to any cost overruns," Mr Emerson said.

"We now need to ensure that this project is delivered as efficiently as possible."

Following receipt of proposals, three to four proponents will be selected to investigate the best value for money design and construction for the project.

Each proponent's designs will then be evaluated and the contract will be awarded in the second half of 2013.

The $1.147 billion required for the project is being provided jointly by the Australian Government ($742 million), Queensland Government ($300 million plus land) and Moreton Bay Regional Council ($105 million).

The Request for Proposals will be available on the eTender website, (https://secure.publicworks.qld.gov.au/etender/index.do ) from 24 August 2012.

Information about the Industry briefing is available now on the Moreton Bay Rail Link project website, www.moretonbayrail.qld.gov.au

[ENDS] 21 August 2012

[somebody]

Mr Emerson said the Government was now trying to ensure the project was delivered as efficiently as possible.

Petrie grade separation and amplification Lawnton-Petrie are presumably in the firing line.

[ozbob]

Yes, another half baked solution, the cost spiral continues ....

Queenslander!

[ozbob]

A flat junction is probably manageable but not optimal for the future, lack of track amplification south from Petrie though would be a problem ...

I think there are some savings that can be made with the stations themselves. 

[#Metro]

Yes, another half baked solution, the cost spiral continues ....

Queenslander!

Yes, this is the fashion in queensland. Do bare minimum and then the end result is a network riddled with bottlenecks and low capacity so bad that frequency is bad too which means fewer trains which leads us to a high maintenance, high subsidy, low frequency, low patronage network. Did I mention HIGH SUBSIDY??

[somebody]

What annoys me most of all is that they build these projects but they don't put in the appropriate crossovers  ARGH!.

If CRR is to be knackered by lacking the northern connection, the lack of the bridge amplification doesn't restrict capacity.

HIGH SUBSIDY??

Low patronage = high subsidy.  QR is lower patronage per service-km than anywhere in Australia or NZ, and only Auckland is behind (just) in passenger-km per service-km.

I wonder what the reasons are? /sarcasm

[colinw]

This article is a beat up.  The Government has indicated that this project is to proceed.  However, by excluding QR from the construction alliance they are cutting off their nose to spite their face.  Trackstar has completed a number of projects, with considerable savings.  The corporate knowledge will be lost.

If they think that killing off the collective expertise that has been built up by very successful alliance projects like TrackStar, Aspect3, etc., then they are deluding themselves. Destroy Queensland Rail's remaining capability and they will find that in a year or two the prices will blow out massively with no way to control them by getting their own agency to compete.

Emerson knows better than that. Collectively this Government appears determined to behave like a bunch of complete bloody fools.

Looking more & more like a one-term wonder every day that passes.

The view I am getting from inside the industry is one of dysfunction starting when Bligh & Fraser split QR & QRN, now accelerating to a state of complete paralysis. This will start affecting private sector jobs in the rail industry as well, already one of our competitors is winding down the Brisbane office & transferring the focus of their Australian operations to Perth. With that a significant local signalling & onboard systems capability in Brisbane is being destroyed. I wonder how long until we follow, although in our case a pull-out to Melbourne & Singapore seems more likely. I believe I have now worked on my last job for a Queensland customer, the focus is shifting elsewhere because the work here has dried up over the last 6 months.

This Government is shaping up as an unmitigated disaster for the people of Queensland.