2018 Commonwealth Games

[tazzer9]

They should be scared.  Look what happened with brisbanes G20.  They urged everyone to stay out of the city centre, and they did.   

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Commonwealth Games 2018: Spectator buy-in crucial to avoiding traffic chaos on Gold Coast

AS few as a thousand spectators refusing to embrace public transport during the Commonwealth Games would be enough to cause traffic chaos, according to a leading transport expert.

Associate professor Matthew Burke, who heads Griffith University's Cities Research Institute, said while he did not expect "mass disaster" on the roads during the Games, the success of the event's transport plan relied on people "doing the right thing".

"I'm pretty confident (in the plan) ... (but) this is not a dictatorship," he said.

"We can't force people on to public transport but we will suffer quickly a death by a thousand cuts (if people don't change their habits).

"At some of these venues, it would take just 1000 people doing the wrong thing to push us into a position where things become a problem.

"There are going to be warnings and warnings for people to do the right thing but if a large percentage of people ignore that, we're in big trouble."

The warning comes after angry tradies criticised a Get Set for the Games advertisement that used an animated builder riding to work on a pink children's bike to highlight the need for locals to rethink how they travel during the event.

Hundreds of other residents posted online comments suggesting it was unreasonable to expect them to forgo their cars during the Games.

Get Set for the Games technical director Rose Macarthur, speaking at the launch of the advertising campaign on Monday, said residents were being urged to adapt a couple of car journeys a week to help "keep the Gold Coast moving".

"We're not asking people to bunker down every day (of the Games)," said Ms Macarthur, who had a similar role at the 2012 London Olympics and 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

"It's about working out the small changes you can make ... maybe adapt just a couple of journeys a week. Maybe walk to a local shop rather than drive to the supermarket. If you can do a 45-minute journey by bike, it's beautifully flat here and fantastic weather.

"We've never hosted a Commonwealth Games on the Coast so of course there's going to be that (feeling of) trepidation ... (but) we're in an absolutely brilliant place compared to the London Olympics or Glasgow Commonwealth Games."

Asked what would happen if a majority of people ignored the message, Ms Macarthur said: "I think their journeys will take longer and they will experience congestion where they perhaps haven't before.

"There will be temporary changes in road conditions as well so they might find their route is different ... and will find out very quickly that hosting the Games brings changes to the (road) network they may not have imagined."

A Transport and Main Roads spokeswoman said the GC2018 public transport timetables would be released in the next month, along with more information about the online Games Journey Planner.

[Stillwater]

"A Transport and Main Roads spokeswoman said the GC2018 public transport timetables would be released in the next month, along with more information about the online Games Journey Planner."

(Hoping for an AHRC decision on the DDA exemption within that timeframe?)

[ozbob]

The big news item .. 

https://twitter.com/7NewsGoldCoast/status/953498350422282240

[not_available]

^
I haven't seen the ad, but this whole story seems to be one big waste of time better spent questioning the SEQ transport network's capability of handling commuters etc. even when there isn't a major international event on.

Also I can very much imagine the "tradie on a pink bike" thing originating from a group of people in the government ad department, professionally seated around one of those meeting tables in one of those meeting rooms, desperately trying to out-do each other with outlandish ways different people around the GC could stay off the roads (you can never be too sure when it comes to how bored those people actually get in the QLD Government Advertising Department). Obviously someone had the idea of juxtaposing a tradie (a very stereotypically masculine occupation) with a light pink kid-sized bicycle (not commonly seen as very masculine).

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/953676294511718401

[Stillwater]

Bikes. Pink.

In the brainstorming sessions leading up to this advertising campaign being approved, didn't anyone raise the issue of bikes, the colour pink and the (former) Queensland Government's fixation with motor bike gangs and dressing them in pink jumpsuits in jail?  (Remember, we as taxpayers, bought truckloads of pink overalls to dress convicted crooks, then we had to give them away?)

In this campaign, it's the tradie who is relegated to a bicycle and life in the slow lane.  Hello!  Social stigma.

On so many fronts, there is a lack of forethought at TMR and QR and a pattern of seemingly unrelated and small decisions, often made within individual units, in isolation, that have a snowballing effect through these organisations resulting in perverse outcomes at the service delivery end.

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Commonwealth Games 2018: Gold Coasters increasingly turn focus to how road network will cope during sporting festival

THEY are the everyday Gold Coasters preparing for the greatest event the city has seen — and the road closures and expected traffic jams that will come with it.

With only 74 days until the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, the focus is increasingly turning towards how the city's road and public transport network will cope with moving hundreds of thousands of extra people, many of them more interested in work than sport.

"Transportation is my main concern," said Jean Min, who bought a small cafe in Southport seven months ago.

"I've heard they will close some roads and the main thing is will I be able to drive? I need my car."

Community concern about transport planning escalated this week when a Get Set for the Games campaign used a cartoon builder riding to work on a pink children's bike to promote the need for locals to rethink how they travel during the event.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk apologised to any tradies offended by the notion they should pedal their tools to work, with the inclusion of the bike-riding builder in the campaign under review.

Speaking from an overseas holiday, Mayor Tom Tate told the Bulletin he backed the Games transport plan but urged people to stagger their arrival and departure times when travelling to and from parts of the city to help prevent congestion.

"My advice is to stay calm," he said.

"We need to communicate to people now that they should come early and enjoy the highlights of the Games festival of culture rather than all arrive right as the Games are starting.

"There is going to be a lot of traffic but people should remain patient."

Ray White Surfers Paradise Group owner Andrew Bell, who employs about 250 people, said the council-led Get Set for the Games program had helped his staff prepare for what lay ahead — but there was only so much they could do.

"You can do all the modelling, look at previous Games and try to get lessons from them, but they're different cities," he said.

"We don't know how many people will leave town, how many are taking annual leave and how many businesses might close. At best there is an element of speculation."

A Transport and Main Roads spokeswoman this week said GC2018 public transport timetables would be released in the next month, along with more information about the online Games journey planner.

During the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, the residents of Rio de Janeiro expressed outrage on the first day of road closures when a delay of three hours was registered on routes that would normally take 30 minutes by car.

"People who live in this city have to suffer to please tourists and athletes," Marley Macedo wrote on Twitter. "This is absurd."

THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER

JEAN Min bought a small cafe in Southport seven months ago and has got used to people telling her she's bought at the right time.

"They always say 'You'll be quite busy (during the Games), heaps of people will be here'," said Jean, who moved to the Coast from Sydney. "But I don't know. Let's see."

And while the thought of dealing with busy days at the cafe is welcome, her major concern is how Games traffic will impact her and her business.

"I've heard they will close some roads and the main thing is will I be able to drive?" Jean said. "I need my car. I don't think there are buses where I live so transportation is my main concern now.

"This is very confusing so far." - Manuela Franceschini

THE BIG BUSINESS OWNER

ANDREW Bell might be one of GC2018's greatest supporters but he's also a business owner who employs almost 250 people.

"I'm a big advocate for the Games but we still have to operate," said the owner of real estate's Ray White Surfers Paradise Group.

"Every day of lost production is expensive so we're trying to get the balance between the benefits the Games brings the city and keeping our doors open.

"We have a responsibility for the people we are selling and renting houses for and we can't turn around and say 'The next two weeks nothing will happen'."

Instead Bell and his team have worked closely with council's Get Set for the Games team on concepts such as offering staff leave, staggered hours and revamped office locations.

"We're getting into the nitty-gritty as we get more information to be organised as humanly possible," he said.

"We still have to function despite the challenges." - Dwayne Grant

THE TRADIE

ANDREW Cocks figures there is one way to solve his Games traffic dilemma — get out of town.

"I am even considering going to Bali to escape," the Gold Coast tradie said.

"I still don't know exactly how traffic will be but we use the (Gold Coast) Highway and M1 a lot for work so if it's too busy, (I'll leave).

"I don't have tickets for the events. It's not interesting for me. I know a lot of people are willing to go but I'm not one of them."

Andrew, who lugs his tools to several houses a day, was among the tradies who didn't appreciate this week's Get Set for the Games campaign that features a builder riding a pink children's bicycle to work to avoid congestion.

"It was pretty ignorant in regards to what really happens to us," he said.

"It's OK for them (authorities and athletes) who can go in their cars on a closed lane but what about us? What should we do?" - Manuela Franceschini

THE MUM

DONNA Naylor knows some parents are worried about traffic during the Games. She's just not one of them.

"One mum was saying she wouldn't take the kids to swimming lessons that week — 'Can you imagine the traffic' — but the pool is only on the other side of the M1," the Varsity Lakes mother of two said.

"She was all panicky about the Games but I think it'll be all right ... I was in Sydney for the Olympics and there was panic about transport, but it was fine."

A career adviser at Bond University, Donna concedes she doesn't have to travel across the city for work but she is also prepared to plan ahead.

"I would say mid-February is when I'll start thinking about the impact it'll have on our family and what we need to do to navigate that," she said.

"I'm going to take a couple of days off and I'll probably cycle the days I do work ... maybe you can leave early for work or take a different route.

"I can't wait for the Games. I remember Sydney was just abuzz with energy and there was nowhere else I would have wanted to be." - Dwayne Grant

[BrizCommuter]

Difficult to "Get Set For The Games" when we don't have any timetables!
https://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2018/01/fares-increase-qrs-rail-fail-farce.html

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/GetSet2018/status/954577009241288704

[Stillwater]

But we just don't have the train timetable for you to plan your travel during the Commonwealth Games ..... QR and TransLink thank you for your patience.  And remember, you are our focus always.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/955111722917953537

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/957297572011388928

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/957660589815246849

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> People need to 'travel differently' during Commonwealth Games minister warns

People will need to travel "differently" during the Commonwealth Games, Transport Minister Mark Bailey has foreshadowed.

Games organisers are already encouraging people to "take advantage of walking, cycling and public transport" during the Games, to be held from April 4 to 15 on the Gold Coast.

Mr Bailey said the full transport plan for the Games - to begin in 65 days - would be released within weeks.

"Whether you're going to the Commonwealth Games, or not going to the Commonwealth Games, some people will choose not to, is to be informed about your transport options," he said.

"It will be different, let's be very clear, it will be very different in terms of transport for those two weeks or so.

"And we will be releasing a full transport plan in coming weeks and give people plenty of time to get their heads around what the changes will be.

"It might mean that people travel differently to how they normally would maybe for a week or two - depends on your individual circumstances."

Mr Bailey said he would catch public transport during the Games, rather than use designated lanes designed to ensure athletes and dignitaries were not late for events.

An independent review by German railway operator Deutsche Bahn, completed in August, argued 18 of the government's new trains, called New Generation Rollingstock, were required for the Commonwealth Games timetable.

There are now five NGR trains in service, and Mr Bailey said Queensland Rail expected to have at least eight trains to be in service by the Games.

The government has also applied for a temporary exemption to disability laws while it upgrades the NGR trains to make its toilets and pathways compliant - that could take 18 to 36 months.

Queensland's anti-discrimination commissioner Kevin Cocks has labelled the move to introduce the NGR trains before disability access was fixed as "reprehensible".

Mr Bailey said $150 million had been committed to fix the problems with the NGR, blaming the former Newman government for ordering the trains.

"The largest international event in Queensland's history is happening in two months' time on the Gold Coast - the Commonwealth Games - and it is essential that we have every bit of rollingstock, every staff member that we have out on the system transporting people to Games' venues and that's a reality we just have to do," he said.

Queensland Rail CEO Nick Easy has not revealed whether or not the NGR trains will stay on the tracks if its application to the Australian Humans Rights Commission is rejected.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/958385603455868928

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/958447013137281024

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/MarkBaileyMP/status/958469289073197056

[Stillwater]

'travelling differently'

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/959246263903539201

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Extra services for Gold Coast light rail during the 2018 Commonwealth Games

TRAMS will run along the Gold Coast line 24 hours a day as the central plank of the State Government's long-awaited transport plan for the Commonwealth Games.

The light rail's entire fleet will be put on the tracks to run all day and night during the 12-day event as the city's population briefly swells to more than 1 million people.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey will unveil the blueprint tomorrow for how the Gold Coast will keep moving during the Games. The light rail will be a key element.

A revamped timetable will come into effect in early April, increasing the frequency of trams arriving at stations to one every six minutes during peak periods in a bid to move more people across the 24km route.

"The trams will be running 24/7 throughout every day of the Games and it will connect a lot of key precincts," Mr Bailey said

"It will let people get on and off and get to the events and places they need to.

"There is going to be a massive influx of people during the Games, but we are confident we have done the planning to make sure this is an incredibly successful event."

Mr Bailey said he would base himself on the Gold Coast during the Games and would oversee the transport network personally.

Of the 18 available trams, 17 will be running on the network servicing customers at any one time, with the remaining tram on standby in case of a breakdown.

Mayor Tom Tate welcomed the news and said the increased services would make travel during the Games easier.

"It makes absolute sense for 24/7 light rail as the trams are the spine of our broader transport network," he said.

"During the Games we will be host to at least 670,000 new visitors, many from countries with modern transport systems.

"Let's make them feel welcome and give them the best Gold Coast experience they can have. All aboard."

The announcement comes on the back of new figures which show how busy the newly extended tram system was over the past six weeks.

Since launching on December 18, passenger trips recorded from the three new stations between Helensvale and the Gold Coast University Hospital had totalled 110,863 up until yesterday.

That was well up from the 78,000 trips announced by the Department of Transport and Main Roads just three weeks ago.

This increase has caused a 27 per cent spike in patronage across the entire system and Mr Bailey said it represented an extra 245,259 trips on the trams.

The 7.3km, 11-minute journey along stage 2 connects the light and heavy rails together at Helensvale and allows people to travel from Brisbane to the beach by rail for the first time in more than 50 years.

It is expected to be one of the major ways visitors from Brisbane will make their way to the city during the Games.

Mr Bailey will unveil the Commonwealth Games Transport Plan tomorrow.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/959461146569850881

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/959456750217805826

[ozbob]

3rd February 2018

Media Release
Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Mark Bailey

Light rail will run nonstop during games

The Gold Coast's light rail network will operate 24 hours a day, every day during the 2018 Commonwealth Games, ensuring demand for services is met during the event.

Speaking ahead of the GC2018 public transport timetable launch tomorrow (February 4) Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said trams would run every six minutes during peak event periods.

"This is just one of the ways the Palaszczuk Government is going above and beyond to keep people moving during the games," Mr Bailey said.

"There is going to be a massive influx of people during the games, but we are confident we have done the planning to make sure this is an incredibly successful event."

The announcement follows the successful launch of the Gold Coast Light Rail Stage Two in December, which has seamlessly connected the light rail network to the heavy rail network at Helensvale Station.

Mr Bailey said he could also release new patronage figures, which showed a staggering 110,863 trips had been made from stage 2 stations up to January 28.

"The overall increase in patronage across Gold Coast Light Rail since stage 2 opened, when compared with the same period last year, was 27 per cent or an extra 245,259 trips," Mr Bailey said.

Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones said 14 trams were now being used for standard peak periods, and that would increase to up to 17 trams during GC2018.

"The Gold Coast now has one of the most integrated public transport networks in the state with some of the most frequent services," she said.

"The Palaszczuk Government has done the work needed to make GC2018 one of the best games ever."

Further details of the GC2018 transport timetable will be released on Sunday, February 4.


Background:

Peak periods are between 7-10am and 4-10pm. Six minute frequency timetabling will continue past 10pm every Games day to maximise convenience.

ENDS

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Commonwealth Games snub for Gold Coast bus operator

Despite procurement policies for the $2 billion event supposedly favouring local suppliers, the shuttle bus tender to transport hundreds of thousands of Games athletes, officials, spectators, workers and media representatives has been awarded to a bus operator from Wangaratta, 250km east of Melbourne.

Sources say Gold Coast-based Transit Australia Group, which operates the Coast's major public and school bus line Surfside employing hundreds of staff, bid for the contract but missed out to a business called Games LinQ.

A Sunday Mail company search revealed Games LinQ's parent company, WCL Management Services Pty Ltd, was solely owned and directed by Wangaratta Coachlines operations manager Matthew Joyce.

Mr Joyce's family established Wangaratta Coachlines in the mid 1980s before selling the company to major Victorian bus operator, the Dyson Group in 2014.

The company operates about 40 buses compared with Surfside's 400.

Opposition Commonwealth Games spokesman John Paul-Langbroek slammed the decision to award the Gold Coast Games bus contract to Victoria as a "huge slap in the face" to locals.

"(Games Minister) Kate Jones and (organisers) GOLDOC are continually spouting about the hundreds of millions of dollars of Commonwealth Games contracts awarded to Coast and Queensland companies," Mr Langbroek said.

"Yet, here we have a proven, Gold Coast-based bus operator in Surfside, that knows the local market best and transports thousands of residents and tourists daily, being overlooked in favour of a Victorian company.

"Transport and security will be the two biggest issues at the Games, and Queenslanders deserve an assurance that giving the shuttle bus contract to an out-of-town company is the right call."

Transit Australia Group declined to comment when contacted by The Sunday Mail.

It's the latest contracts controversy to embroil the Games, after an outcry over decisions to award the opening and closing ceremonies to a US-based company, a major lighting tender to a British firm and to import 7000 Chinese mattresses for the athletes' village at Parklands.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said Games LinQ would source 60 per cent of its 1400 Games bus drivers from Queensland.

"We are excited to be working with Games LinQ and have drivers from across Australia help put our great state on the world stage," he said.

"The drivers will operate over 20 free shuttle services between Games venues, park 'n' rides and transport hubs, including heavy rail and light rail stations, moving nearly 150,000 passengers per day."

The long-awaited Games transport plan will be released today, with 24-hour tram services already revealed.

In December, Games chairman Peter Beattie said Gold Coast companies had been awarded more than 4100 contracts valued at $489 million for the April spectacular.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/959819174900936706

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> 2018 Commonwealth Games Transport plan: M1 speed limit dropped, public transport increased

TRAINS, trams and buses will run 24 hours a day with frequency drastically increased in peak periods during the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games but speed limits on the M1 will be reduced.

The State Government this morning unveiled the long-awaited Games transport plan, which reveals how locals and visitors will get around during the event.

More than six million extra trips will be made on public transport on the Gold Coast during the 12 days of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Trains, trams and buses will run 24 hours a day to cope with the extra 600,000 visitors to the city.

Trains will run every 10 minutes in both directions with frequency increased for events which are more popular and require higher demand.

On the roads, changes to the M1 will come into effect on March 1 as speeds are reduced from 110 to 100km/h between Logan and Gaven.

Speeds will also drop from 100km/h to 90km/h between the Gateway merge at Eight Mile Plains in Brisbane to Logan.

Department of Transport and Main Roads deputy director general Matthew Longland said planning for the Games transport network had been several years in the making.

"There will be unprecedented demand over a condensed period of time but we are ready and up for the challenges," he said.

"We all understand the inevitable challenges the M1 will face during the Games.

"We are ready and up for the challenges and the data for our model has come from ticket sales, commuter levels, spectator surveys and event schedules.

"We have worked hard to get the most out of all modes of transport and we believe we have developed a truly integrated transport network."

Traffic Management will come into effect on March 20 around the Commonwealth Games village with further restrictions coming into place on March 25.

During the Games, there will be 13 temporary park and ride car parks, eight transport hubs, 300km of designated road and traffic management areas, 20 dedicated bus routes and 27km of temporary Games lanes which will be open for athletes, officials, the Royal Family and a select few politicians, including premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Games Minister Kate Jones and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

There will be 475 buses operated by 665 drivers with frequency to increase to every 15 minutes or better.

[SurfRail]

Local bus services - improvements to 3 routes not currently on the high-frequency network (routes 745 and 760, and TX7 will be high-frequency full time instead of current set-up).

Routes will run to their weekday timetable on weekends.

No apparent service improvements for anything else, so we still have the joyous outcome of buses not running until 5pm on some routes.

These people have had years to fix this.  It is an utter shambles.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/959987592937684992

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/GCBulletin/status/960013175054786562

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2018/2/4/billion-dollar-infrastructure-spend-drives-247-commonwealth-games-rail-and-bus-services

Media Statements
JOINT STATEMENT

Minister for Innovation and Tourism Industry Development and Minister for the Commonwealth Games
The Honourable Kate Jones

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Mark Bailey

Sunday, February 04, 2018

Billion Dollar Infrastructure Spend Drives 24/7 Commonwealth Games Rail and Bus Services

The Palaszczuk Government has released the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Transport Plan, 2 months ahead of the start of the games, giving residents and spectators the time they need to plan for Queensland's largest ever international event.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey joined Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones to launch the integrated transport plan today, and said travellers would benefit from twenty-four hour heavy rail, light rail and bus shuttles throughout the games.

"This significant capacity increase on local routes, was made possible by extensive and detailed planning and substantial investment in infrastructure – almost $1 Billion - across the network," Mr Bailey said.

"The Palaszczuk Government is absolutely focussed on ensuring that more than one million spectators, around 6600 athletes and team officials, 50,000 workers and volunteers, 3500 accredited media representatives arrive safely and on time.

"We majority funded and built the $420 million Gold Coast Light Rail stage 2 in record time, delivered the $163m Gold Coast heavy rail  between Coomera and Helensvale to get more trains to the games and invested more than $160 million to upgrade key local road infrastructure in our first budget.

"The world is coming to the Gold Coast. We're expecting 6 million extra journeys on our transport network for the games, and these investments and the transport plan will help keep the Gold Coast moving between 4-15 April.

"These Palaszczuk Government infrastructure investments will also be a lasting Commonwealth Games legacy for Gold Coast residents, supporting continued economic development for decades to come.

"We now have a fully integrated transport system on the Gold Coast that offers a world class light rail service, 13 extra Park 'n' Rides, a duplicated heavy rail track, with high frequency shuttle buses and a massively expanded bus fleet getting most spectators to venues.

"Motorists should also be aware that the next round of Games traffic management initiatives on the M1 between Brisbane and the Gold Coast will commence in stages from 1 March."

Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones said that the transport plan was solid and put Gold Coast residents and visitors in a good position to keep moving.

"We want locals and spectators to familiarise themselves with how they can prepare and adapt their normal travel habits during the event," Ms Jones said.

"I'd encourage Gold Coast residents and visitors to consider their transport options by visiting getsetforthegames.com (external site), take time to plan ahead, and to re-check conditions on their day of travel.

"A dedicated Commonwealth Games Journey planner will also be released soon, which will include the details of event shuttles buses and special Commonwealth Games park and rides.

"There will be many different elements to the huge GC2018 event cities transport network, so a dedicated Transport Coordination Centre will be used to monitor and respond to real time activity 24/7."

City of Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said there had been extensive engagement across the Gold Coast to get businesses and individuals ready for the Games and that all the information is now available for them to make good travel choices.

"In the past 12 months we have engaged with more than 100,000 people across the city and also invested more than $100 million of transport upgrades to which will help accommodate capacity during GC2018. This includes investment in infrastructure that promotes active travel," Mr Tate said.

The City in partnership with TMR has also produced a series of interactive maps which can be used to gain visibility around which locations we expect to be busy at which times over the course of the ten days that GC2018 is on.

The maps work by modelling the selected date and time based on a complex data set including historical traffic monitoring, ticketing sales information and combining that with the event schedules. It can be found at getsetforthegames.com (external site).

Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) Chairman Peter Beattie AC said a robust public transport network was integral to a successful Commonwealth Games and he is confident that the large investment in infrastructure coupled with enhanced timetables would achieve this.

"The transport task on the Gold Coast is undoubtedly challenging, but we're up to it and I've been impressed by what has been achieved," Mr Beattie said.

"Demand on transport infrastructure is not an issue unique to the Gold Coast, it happens at every Commonwealth Games.

"It's vital that locals support GC2018 and that means travelling smart.

"The long term benefits that this once in a lifetime event will bring are huge and that includes the transport legacy we will enjoy long after the Games end."

An overview of timetable changes for each mode during GC2018 can be found below:

Heavy Rail

    The number of daily services operating on the Gold Coast line will be tripled, with trains operating 24/7
    Train services will run on average 10 minutes or better on the Gold Coast line for most of the day
    This equals 176 additional daily rail services on the gold coast line every single day of the games
    This is equal to an additional 130,087 weekly kilometres in train travel on the Gold Coast line
    Some adjustments to heavy rail services across the wider SEQ network will be experienced due to the unprecedented demand of this world class event

Light Rail

    Trams will operate 24 hours a day, every day during GC2018
    Services will be running every 6 minutes in peak event periods 7-10am and 4-10pm
    Light rail will deliver up to an additional 4,670 services during the games

Buses

    Uplift to 12 of the 56 existing TransLink bus routes that are considered key north-south or east-west connections on the Gold Coast
    All other routes will run a weekday timetable on weekends
    Average bus trips per day to increase from 49,000 to 141,000 during games time
    An additional 4000 daily services provided across the 12 existing bus routes

Shuttle Buses

    20 + dedicated event shuttle bus routes moving 147,000 passengers a day
    Route GC2018 will be a 24/7 event shuttle service operating between Helensvale Station and Nerang station connecting sport, accommodation and entertainment precincts

M1 Games Initiatives

The M1 management initiatives for the Games include:

    Reducing the speed in the 110km/h speed zone by 10km/h to 100km/h between the Logan Motorway Interchange (Exit 31) to Gaven (Exit 69), northbound and southbound from 1 March 2018
    Reducing the speed in the 100km/h zone by 10km/h to 90km/h from the M1/M3 merge at Eight Mile Plains to Logan Motorway Interchange, northbound and southbound from 1 March 2018
    Temporary ramp metering at the southbound Gold Coast Highway (Exit 62) and Smith Street (Exit 66) on-ramps to keep traffic moving at a constant pace as vehicles join the motorway, from mid-March 2018
    Additional Traffic Response Units and towing vehicles to ensure incidents are cleared from the M1 as quickly as possible. These will be deployed in stages from 31 March with all units deployed by 4 April 2018. The deployment will finish on the 15 April after the closing ceremony
    Allowing vehicles carrying athletes and officials to travel along the hard shoulder of the M1, under police escort where safe and at low speed, if there is severe congestion that may prevent them from arriving at an event on time. This will only occur between 4 April 2018 and 18 April 2018.
    Additional speed enforcement measures on the M1 including trailer mounted speed cameras, which are to be managed by Queensland Police Service (QPS).

In making the decision to temporarily reduce the speed limit on the M1 and introduce ramp management, Transport and Main Roads looked at national and international research. Research shows that speed reduction and ramp metering helps to increase motorway capacity, improve travel speeds during peak times and reduce the number of crashes.

For further information:

For Games travel information, visit getsetforthegames.com (external site)

For all other travel and timetable information, including elsewhere on the SEQ transport network, visit translink.com.au (external site) or call 13 12 30 anytime.

ENDS

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/960061696126566400

[matlock]

List of stations being stopped at during the Commonwealth Games on the Beenleigh line (as found here:  https://translink.com.au/service-updates/166881) suggests that the following stations will be stopped at by Gold Coast services:


    Beenleigh
    Loganlea
    Woodridge
    Altandi
    Coopers Plains
    Yeronga



What reason does Translink have for stopping trains at Yeronga when Yerongpilly is literally one station away, and, unlike Yeronga, has full disability access and been recently renovated? Yeronga cannot take wheelchairs and has not been touched since at least the 1980s.

[ozbob]

Very good question.  See what we can find out ..

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Games transport plan: Avoid the M1 at all costs

SLASHED speed limits on the M1 will allow more vehicles to use the under-pressure motorway during the Commonwealth Games as one of the key planks of the event's transport plan.

Speeds will be cut by 10km/h from Eight Mile Plains in Brisbane to Gaven and temporary 'ramp metering' will be put into place at two major M1 off-ramps to keep traffic moving and avoid gridlock.

According to Games maps, the worst timeto travel on the M1 will be from 3pm-7pm during peak hour.

But the state's peak transport body says motorists should "avoid the M1 at all costs' during the Games.

"Obviously rush hour on the M1 right now is difficult but at all costs, avoid the M1 during the Games and rule it out if you both in the morning at afternoon," said RACQ chief communications officer Paul Turner

"The key during the Games is to reduce or eliminate as much as possible the number of crashes on the M1.

"Crashes are extremely disruptive and can cause massive congestion so the more we can do as motorists to either avoid the M1 during that time the better."

The State Government yesterday unveiled its transport for the Games, with much of its focusing on how to keep the M1 clear.

Strategies in place include:

• Speed limits being cut from 110km/h to 100km/h between the Logan Motorway and Gaven while speeds will drop from 100km/h to 90km/h from Eight Mile Plains to Logan. Both com into effect on March 1.

•Ramp metering on the southbound Exit 62 (Helensvale) and Exit 66 (Smith Street) beginning in mid-March.

• Extra traffic response units and towing vehicles will be deployed on the M1 gradually from March 31, with all units operation by April and running until April 15 after the Closing ceremony.

•Vehicles carrying athletes, officials and some political leaders will be allowed to travel along the hard shoulder of the M1 under police escort where safe and at low speed if there is congestion preventing them from arriving at their events.

•Police will roll out extra speed cameras and units during the Games to crack down on speeding.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said reducing the speed limit on the M1 would reduce overall congestion.

"It massively reduces the risk of crashes when people are going at that speed and that is what we want to see during the Games," he said

"Generally lower speeds more it can actually carry more volumes.

Depending on speeds, when people make different choices about how much buffer they need in front or behind car so if you are at a slower speed, people will bunch up more.

"It is not massive difference but it does help."

Mr Bailey said the rapid response and towing feel would reduce the chance of the entire motorway grinding to a halt.

"Much more than usual, they will be onto any incident very quickly and clear the roads quickly," he said.

"The best way to avoid traffic on the M1 is to take public transport."
M1 GRIDLOCK HOTPOTS:

Beenleigh to Coomera

The M1 will be busy Between Exit 34 to Exit 54 from 6am to midnight, travelling both directions.

Coomera and Oxenford

The M1 between Exit 54 and 57 from 6am to midnight, in both directions.

The same exists are expected to be significantly busier than usual 8am to 6pm.

Helensvale

Exit 62 is expected to be busier than usual all day.

The M1 from Exit 62 will be busier from 6-9am and 4pm-midnight, in both directions.

Southport

Exit 66 near Smith Street is expected to be congested every day.

Robina

The M1 in both directions around Exit 82 will be congested from 9am to midday "on most days" and be busier than usual between 3-8pm every day.

Currumbin

The M1 southbound near Exit 95 will be congested from 3pm-midnight for the entire Games.

Northbound it will be gridlocked between 6-11am and 2-7pm.

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Massive Commonwealth Games investment to pay off

As a Minister at the cabinet table when we decided we would bid for the twenty-first Commonwealth Games 10 years ago, there were plenty of critics who said it should not be on the Gold Coast.

They said the city wasn't ready and did not have the public transport system to deliver the Games.

Here we are with 58 Days to go and more than $1 billion in new rail, light rail, bus, station and road upgrades complete.

It is a huge investment in the Gold Coast that has transformed the city.

And that is exactly why we bid for the Games on the Gold Coast.

The legacy that transport infrastructure will leave will endure well after the last athlete waves good bye.

There will be an extra six million trips on the Gold Coast transport network during the Games. Some Gold Coasters will be using public transport locally for the first time.

I'm proud that we made the decision to see this investment as an opportunity to invest in the Gold Coast and grow Australia's sixth largest city.

Kate Jones is the Commonwealth Games Minister

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Commonwealth Games bosses urge Gold Coast residents to be across transport plans

PREVENTING gridlock during the 2018 Commonwealth Games is in the hands of the Gold Coast's motorists, according to event boss Peter Beattie.

Trams, buses and trains will run 24 hours a day, speeds will be reduced on the M1 and Games-only shuttle buses will be introduced to keep the city moving for the 12 days when its population will rise to more than 1 million people.

The Commonwealth Games transport plan, released to the public yesterday, will see road restrictions come into effect weeks before the event begins, in anticipation of more than six million extra trips being made on the city's net, causing fears of a 'traffic-gheddon'.

But Mr Beattie, the former premier turned GOLDOC boss has issued a warning to the entire Gold Coast population saying they have the power to keep the city moving.

"I don't think there is any doubt the biggest challenge facing the Games is transport and we have come up with a comprehensive plan to deliver a Games which will make all of Australia proud," he said.

"The only way this will fail is if people do not buy into it. That's the only way it will fail.

"This is why we need everyone in the community to be a part of this with us, work with us, look at the website and appreciate the magnitude of the challenge and how they can participate and change their behaviour."

Mr Beattie's comments come after a survey of more than 1200 people conducted by the Bulletin revealed 65 per cent of people declaring they have no plans to stay off the road

According to maps and data released yesterday by the State Government, some of the city's busiest arterial roads will become virtual no-go zones which will experience the worst traffic including:

• 6AM-11AM: M1, Napper Road, Smith Street, Southport Nerang Road, Ross St, Bermuda Street (between Broadbeach and down to Markeri Street), Gold Coast Highway between Broadbeach and Labrador), High Street, Southport, Queen Street, Southport, Olsen Avenue, Parkwood, Gold Coast Highway, Coolangatta and Burleigh, Gold Coast Highway, Helensvale.

• 3PM-6PM: M1, Smith Street, Ross Street, Carrara, Bermuda Street, Olsen Avenue, Parkwood, Queen Street Southport, Gold Coast Highway, Helensvale, Gold Coast Highway between Broadbeach and Labrador, Stevens Street, Southport, Southport-Nerang Road, Kumbari Ave, Christine Ave, Miami.

To cope with extra visitors and bring more people to the Coast without using the M1, trains will run every 10 minutes in both directions with frequency increased for events which are more popular and require higher demand.

Traffic Management will come into effect on March 20 around the Commonwealth Games village with further restrictions coming into place on March 25.

During the Games, there will be 13 temporary park and ride car parks, eight transport hubs, 300km of designated road and traffic management areas, 20 dedicated bus routes and 27km of temporary Games lanes which will be open for athletes, officials, the Royal Family and a select few politicians, including premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Games Minister Kate Jones and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

There will be 475 buses operated by 665 drivers with frequency to increase to every 15 minutes or better.

Ms Jones said urged everyone to get involved and prepared for the event.

"We want locals and spectators to familiarise themselves with how they can prepare and adapt their normal travel habits during the event," she said.

"We always knew we would have to cater for a huge increase of traffic during the Games but we have worked for many years to maximise the opportunity for people during the Games to use our strong transport network."

[SteelPan]

I understand the Qld Govt has advised that BUSES are to take the brunt of moving Commonwealth Games crowds, from Brisbane to Beenleigh  to connect at Beenleigh with GC rail services.   

The catch now for the State Govt is of course, in doing this, it has acknowledged that the existing Brisbane/Beenleigh RAIL corridor is well and truly sub-par and what's done to avoid in the short-term games embarrassment, will become an even more glaringly obvious daily-problem for locals and tourists over the next few years.

The existing Brisbane/Beenleigh RAIL corridor is about a 100yr old relic suitable only for "local train" operations.

I'd encourage BOT members to not let this one slip through the cracks, the GC and stations between Beenleigh and ultimately one day the Tweed region are major economic drivers, if we are intent on marketing them to the world, as a High Quality Tourist Destination, we need to quickly set a 10yr plan, based to a large measure on CRR as a foundation to develop a NEW LIMITED STOP Brisbane/Beenleigh Corridor.

In fact, a NEW LIMITED STOP Brisbane/Beenleigh Corridor, would make CRR a VASTLY even more appealing proposition.

The State - the Feds and the Private Sector need to be encouraged to get their heads together.....the day after the Games is over, the first ACTION Meeting should be held!

No more hiding for the State......the existing corridor needs to be returned to local train only duties and a NEW state-of-the-art Brisbane/Beenleigh Corridor needs to be be put on the development short-list - empower CRR with it!

Lest you have any doubts, as to what's at stake in getting the northern half of Brisbane/GC rail right, because the WAVE of demand is only going to get BIGGER and quickly: The following videos are two I'm aware of, random in nature and shown here for ONLY General Information Purposes - they in NO WAY represent any commercial intent on my part - I have ZERO financial affiliation with ANY activity discussed or shown here!

[SurfRail]

The most appealing concept to me has been the staged route worked up by Gazza and others:

- After CRR is built, build an extension to Upper Mt Gravatt as stage 1 (tunnel the whole way, no stations en route)
- Stage 2 is a cross-country connection to the Beenleigh line, at which point outer Beenleigh and Gold Coast trains run via Upper Mt Gravatt and Kuraby becomes the terminus for the old line.  This could mostly be done above ground.
- Stage 3 is to progressively extend south from Garden City until you connect to Beenleigh at which point Gold Coast trains run that way, and you have short-working services from the city to Beenleigh.  (I've swung back towards putting the connection point at Beenleigh instead of a parkway station down the road given it is likely to be cheaper and probably more useful.)

[matlock]

The most appealing concept to me has been the staged route worked up by Gazza and others:

- After CRR is built, build an extension to Upper Mt Gravatt as stage 1 (tunnel the whole way, no stations en route)
- Stage 2 is a cross-country connection to the Beenleigh line, at which point outer Beenleigh and Gold Coast trains run via Upper Mt Gravatt and Kuraby becomes the terminus for the old line.  This could mostly be done above ground.
- Stage 3 is to progressively extend south from Garden City until you connect to Beenleigh at which point Gold Coast trains run that way, and you have short-working services from the city to Beenleigh.  (I've swung back towards putting the connection point at Beenleigh instead of a parkway station down the road given it is likely to be cheaper and probably more useful.)

A train tunnel to My Gravatt would never get greenlit considering by then Brisbane Metro will be running there, and My Gravatt is well serviced by that.

Once again high speed rail is ignored as an option. Commuter rail between Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast is adequate but will never be enough to entice people to ditch the M1.

We need to look at the ICE system in Germany, with high speed lines connecting major centres and essentially replacing the family car.

If we're going to build a second Gold Coast line down the M1, make it completely separate from the commuter rail network. Use actual high speed rail trains on dedicated tracks and stations rather than dinky EMUs. Import all the designs from Europe rather than relying on whatever boffin dreamt up the NGR. We cannot continue to think that intercity travel with commuter rail will work as an alternative to the M1.