2018 Commonwealth Games

[BrizCommuter]

Is this a foam party? Trouts Rd should be higher priority than a straighter Gold Coast Line.

[SurfRail]

Is this a foam party? Trouts Rd should be higher priority than a straighter Gold Coast Line.

Leaving aside that this is a Commonwealth Games / Gold Coast thread in any event - is it actually?

The population is significantly greater south of Brisbane than it is to the north.  The M1 south of Brisbane is busier by far than north of Brisbane.  Buses carry a much greater proportion of the patronage for most of south and east Brisbane, especially from the further southern suburbs and into Logan, because railways don't exist.  This is simply the southside equivalent of what Trouts Road is aimed at, but with the advantage of serving 3 major regional centres en route (there are no equivalents on the Trouts Rd corridor, it is basically an express lane with some park and ride).

Trouts Rd also needs doing and will be needed sooner due to saturation of the existing alignment, but the Gold Coast situation is far from satisfactory.

For that matter, "fast" rail is an abject waste of time over only 100km.  MSR with suitably located stations is going to do a lot more for patronage than funnelling everybody to some arbitrary spot in a city as linear as the Gold Coast.  HSR is there to kill planes, not cars.

[matlock]

Fair enough, MSR will do. Mandurah line speeds would suffice, but the track should be future proof in case interstate HSR becomes a reality. 

It just needs to avoid becoming another commuter line. It needs to be a line suitable for the daily commute, for Brisbane residents wanting a quick daytrip to the beach, and for tourists coming from interstate and overseas. As it stands now I would never catch the train for a daytrip to the Gold Coast.

[aldonius]

The latest 'official' HSR plan roughly parallels the interstate line corridor with a spur to the Gold Coast at Beaudesert. And it's not planned to arrive here for many decades anyway.

As SurfRail said, HSR is to replace planes; the GC line solution is blatantly obviously MSR on the motorway corridor. Beenleigh, Loganlea, Springwood, Mt Gravatt, Boggo Rd and into CRR.

[Stillwater]

For those who drive back and forth between Brisbane and the Gold Coast for work or whatever, contemplate this: The CSIRO has predicted revenue coming from fuel excise will drop by almost half by 2050.

So, you say? At that point, or long before, the roads funding model will have broken.  Governments now are looking at a distance travelled model for funding roads.  So, if you live in the boonies or on the Gold Coast and work in Brisbane, you will be charged for the highway travel you do -- using transponders and GPS tracking.

Your friend, who lives in the inner-city and can catch a train to work, or cycle, or has a bus past the door every 15 minutes does not pay, or pays less.

At that point, watch the revolution of people in outer suburbs demanding better and faster public transport from governments.

[#Metro]

^^  I think that prediction is a bit off. All predictions are a bit off, but I think it will be faster that that.

The general experience is that government doesn't do anything until something reaches crisis point. So the revenue would have to drop quite a bit for them to take notice.

[Stillwater]

Well, thank goodness we have the CSIRO looking beyond the end of the current parliamentary sitting period.

[matlock]

At that point, watch the revolution of people in outer suburbs demanding better and faster public transport from governments.

And therein lies the great problem with urban sprawl and endless suburbia. Spreading your population out over a greater area means more base costs to provide decent coverage of health and education services. Now without the automobile watch the great myth of the Australian dream collapse.

[SurfRail]

^ This is why I still can't fathom Yarrabilba.  Places on the periphery or interurban edge like Flagstone, Ripley, Aura etc at least include planning for rail that is more than purely fanciful - Yarrabilba doesn't even get that.  It's almost as far south from Brisbane as Coomera.

[verbatim9]

The good thing about the Commonwealth Games timetable is there won't be any scheduled track work at that time. There has been so much lately.

[dancingmongoose]

The good thing about the Commonwealth Games timetable is there won't be any scheduled track work at that time. There has been so much lately.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/965982315653427200

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/966533828100501505

[Golliwog]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/966533828100501505

Anyone have much of a play with the CG JP? I find the part where it directs you to park n ride stations interesting if you tell it you want to drive part way. Opportunity to merge into the Translink JP afterwards?

[ozbob]

Been suggested Golliwog that this Games JP is actually going to be the final TL JP.  Not 100% sure about that but nevertheless we can always live in hope.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Planning drive: Games ticket holders urged to pre-book park 'n' ride spots

You will need to pre-book one of the 10,000 parking spaces at the 13 new park-n-ride stations at the Gold Coast if you are driving to the 2018 Commonwealth Games in April.

That was one of the tips offered on Thursday when the Commonwealth Games organisers revealed the 2018 Commonwealth Games Journey Planner ahead of the event being held April 4-15.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said people travelling to the Commonwealth Games in April needed to become familiar with the Games' Journey Planner and book their car park.

"Park 'n' ride travel is free for spectators on the day of their ticketed event," Mr Bailey said.

"However they must be pre booked and the 2018 Commonwealth Games Journey Planner is the place to do that."

Mr Bailey described the 2018 Games Journey Planner, which is part of the free downloadable 2018 Commonwealth Games app, as the "go-to tool" for people travelling to the Games.

"It has information on the train, tram, bus and shuttle services, as well as walking and cycling options," he said.

"It also helps make public and active transport the easiest and best way to get around during the Commonwealth Games."

Mr Bailey said the Journey Planner also included travel to events in Brisbane, Cairns and Townsville, as well as the events on the Gold Coast.

"The event cities of Brisbane, Cairns and Townsville will also benefit from the technology, with the planner being custom built to include these regions," he said.

How to use the 2018 Commonwealth Games Journey Planner.

1. Download the app.

2. Enter where you are travelling from and the event and session time you want to attend.

3. The app will determine which transport stop is closest to that venue and the different options to get there, including public and active transport.

4. It will provide updates to the travel services during the Games.

Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) Chairman Peter Beattie AC said the Journey Planner app has already been downloaded more than 10,000 times.

"We are encouraging everyone to have a look at what tickets they have and the transport options available to them now and start planning their Games journeys with plenty of time before games time," Mr Beattie said.

The free 2018 Commonwealth Games app includes details on all the sports, venues, Queen's Baton Relay and the Games' Festival 2018 arts program.

It can be downloaded from www.gc2018.com

[ozbob]

To download the app just go to the Google Play store or the Apple equivalent and search for Gold Coast Commonwealth 2018 Games.
Make sure you have the official one.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Fears drivers' app may not be ready for Games

A SMARTPHONE app built to show the drivers of Commonwealth Games VIPs and athletes how to navigate the Gold Coast is yet to materialise, raising fears it will not be ready in time.

About 1500 volunteers have been given the job of ferrying athletes and officials between venues to make sure they make it to their events on time.

But The Sunday Mail can ­reveal the volunteers are still waiting on an app designed to act as a virtual nerve centre for the fleet of drivers.

The app's functions include dispatching driving jobs, giving directions about where athletes are to be picked up, communicating with drivers about when events finish and GPS mapping.

A Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation spokesman yesterday said the app was one of a number of tools to support drivers and would be released shortly.

She said volunteer drivers had been undergoing training on the app "resulting in constructive feedback about the functionality of the app".

"This feedback has been incorporated into the latest version of the app, which will be released shortly."

She said drivers also had a hard copy "map book" of routes to venues.

But one volunteer said yesterday that a recent training session was forced to rely on screenshots of the app because it was not ready.

The volunteer, who asked to remain anonymous due to restrictions on making comment, said the training session was told it could be at least two weeks until the app is finished. That would push the rollout date to mid-March – weeks from the April 4 opening.

Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek said he was concerned it wouldn't be ready for when operations begin to ramp up in late March with the arrival of teams and officials.

"The two biggest issues associates with these Games are transport and security," he said. "It's cutting it fine to train 1500 volunteers who have to acquaint themselves with the app," he said.

"We've had a number of transport concerns already, whether it's to do with the M1, road closures or speed limits, and it's disappointing to now see there's another query about a transport issue."

Meanwhile, the Government will today announce a special Games-inspired "Go West" rail sale in which long distance train fares will be dramatically slashed to entice tourists to head to the Outback.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said it would use the Games as an opportunity to showcase the state by slashing economy rail fares by 60 per cent on all services to western Queensland.

This includes travel on The Inlander, The Westlander and the Spirit of the Outback.

"Other major Australian and international cities have seen tourism boosted by at least 12 per cent as a result of hosting the Games, so we are taking the opportunity to promote travel right across Queensland, during and after the event, to ensure these benefits are felt in every region," she said.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/969125963505127425

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/SmartState1/status/970377562852478976

[Fares_Fair]

Couriermail --> Fears drivers' app may not be ready for Games

A SMARTPHONE app built to show the drivers of Commonwealth Games VIPs and athletes how to navigate the Gold Coast is yet to materialise, raising fears it will not be ready in time.

About 1500 volunteers have been given the job of ferrying athletes and officials between venues to make sure they make it to their events on time.

But The Sunday Mail can ­reveal the volunteers are still waiting on an app designed to act as a virtual nerve centre for the fleet of drivers.

The app's functions include dispatching driving jobs, giving directions about where athletes are to be picked up, communicating with drivers about when events finish and GPS mapping.

A Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation spokesman yesterday said the app was one of a number of tools to support drivers and would be released shortly.

She said volunteer drivers had been undergoing training on the app "resulting in constructive feedback about the functionality of the app".

"This feedback has been incorporated into the latest version of the app, which will be released shortly."

She said drivers also had a hard copy "map book" of routes to venues.

But one volunteer said yesterday that a recent training session was forced to rely on screenshots of the app because it was not ready.

The volunteer, who asked to remain anonymous due to restrictions on making comment, said the training session was told it could be at least two weeks until the app is finished. That would push the rollout date to mid-March – weeks from the April 4 opening.

Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek said he was concerned it wouldn't be ready for when operations begin to ramp up in late March with the arrival of teams and officials.

"The two biggest issues associates with these Games are transport and security," he said. "It's cutting it fine to train 1500 volunteers who have to acquaint themselves with the app," he said.

"We've had a number of transport concerns already, whether it's to do with the M1, road closures or speed limits, and it's disappointing to now see there's another query about a transport issue."

Meanwhile, the Government will today announce a special Games-inspired "Go West" rail sale in which long distance train fares will be dramatically slashed to entice tourists to head to the Outback.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said it would use the Games as an opportunity to showcase the state by slashing economy rail fares by 60 per cent on all services to western Queensland.

This includes travel on The Inlander, The Westlander and the Spirit of the Outback.

"Other major Australian and international cities have seen tourism boosted by at least 12 per cent as a result of hosting the Games, so we are taking the opportunity to promote travel right across Queensland, during and after the event, to ensure these benefits are felt in every region," she said.

That final sentence is simply galling.
Try getting to or from the Sunshine Coast.

Trains every 2 hours on weekends and public holidays.. yeah, sure tourists would love that - NOT.
Our services have been massacred (by 35%) since Labor came to power, in 2015.

DATE           SERVICES / WEEK
Feb 2015 = 359 / week
Jan 2017 = 320 / week. 11% reduction
Dec 2017 = 235 / week.  another 27% reduction

Total reduction in services = 35% (from 30 March to 20 April, 2018)
Seriously ?

[ozbob]

Trains every 2 hours on weekends and public holidays.. yeah, sure tourists would love that - NOT.
Our services have been massacred (by 35%) since Labor came to power, in 2015.

DATE           SERVICES / WEEK
Feb 2015 = 359 / week
Jan 2017 = 320 / week. 11% reduction
Dec 2017 = 235 / week.  another 27% reduction

Total reduction in services = 35% (from 30 March to 20 April, 2018)
Seriously ?

This is a very sad outcome. 

[#Metro]

A SMARTPHONE app built to show the drivers of Commonwealth Games VIPs and athletes how to navigate the Gold Coast is yet to materialise, raising fears it will not be ready in time.

About 1500 volunteers have been given the job of ferrying athletes and officials between venues to make sure they make it to their events on time.

But The Sunday Mail can ­reveal the volunteers are still waiting on an app designed to act as a virtual nerve centre for the fleet of drivers.

The app's functions include dispatching driving jobs, giving directions about where athletes are to be picked up, communicating with drivers about when events finish and GPS mapping.

Why didn't they just contract Uber to handle this? It sounds a lot like re-inventing the wheel.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/973112195419488256

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/gclightrail/status/975879582829068288

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/976125040998604800

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Hansard
https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2018/2018_03_21_DAILY.pdf

Ministerial Statements

Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Transport

Hon. MC BAILEY (Miller—ALP) (Minister for Transport and Main Roads) (9.52 am): The 2018
Commonwealth Games is going to be the biggest sporting event in the nation in more than a decade
and the Palaszczuk government is determined to offer spectators the best experience possible at
Queensland's largest ever sporting event. With 670,000 visitors arriving next month there is no doubt
that travel around the Gold Coast is going to be very different in the lead up to and during the event. To
aid with the extra demand, three new light rail stations located at Parkwood, Parkwood East and
Helensvale are now open and in operation—thanks to the Palaszczuk government—and fast becoming
commuter favourites. Last week after public safety checks, the new footbridge at Parkwood opened.
There have been 510,000 more trips on the Gold Coast light rail network since stage 2 was
launched in December and a total of 2.37 million trips have been taken on the network since paid trips
started. This is a 27 per cent increase in patronage since December because of the Gold Coast light
rail stage 2. During the games trams will operate 24 hours a day with services running every six minutes
at peak event times. We also have 24-hour train services, a tripling of services, and 24-hour bus
services on the bus line linking key venues and precincts.

As well as responding to the anticipated extra demand on the public transport system, last year
we announced a suite of initiatives to reduce congestion and improve reliability and safety on the M1.
The trucks use left lane initiative has been in place since last August. An independent assessment by
the Australian Road Research Board found that the risk associated with speed variability and lane
changing is down 68 per cent and traffic flow has improved markedly and compliance is now up to
96 per cent by trucks in terms of the left-lane initiative—a huge boost to safety on the M1. Speed limit
restrictions between the Gateway merge and Gaven have also proven successful. I am pleased to
report that in the first week of March, out of a total of 750,000 trips taken during that time, there were
only 213 speeding infringements issued. I say a big thank you to all those M1 motorists who have
complied with the new provisions and increased safety on the M1 in the lead-up to the games.
While still being refined, early data from the trial is also showing a promising 50 per cent reduction
in total recorded crashes on the M1 and a reduction of recorded incident length, down from about an
hour to just 17 minutes, with more traffic flow as a result! A comprehensive review into the effectiveness
and performance of all M1 management initiatives will take place at the completion of the games. Speed
limits will return to normal after the games on Tuesday, 17 April.

Following the launch of the Commonwealth Games Journey Planner I encourage ticketholders
to plan ahead in terms of their travel to the games and to use the free public transport available to them.
It will be the easiest way to get to the games and I am sure it will be a good experience for many. The
games journey planner will provide a seamless end-to-end journey including public transport, shuttle
service locations and event schedules, cycling, walking and it will also help to locate park and ride
locations and enable commuters to book a park. I note that thousands of spectators have already done
so and they can continue to do so as the games get closer. There have been more than 3,300 bookings
already and there are still more than 100,000 bookings available at our park and rides for those people
who do need to drive.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/976501273359822848

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/976501011920519168

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Hansard
https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2018/2018_03_22_DAILY.pdf

Ministerial Statements

Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Transport

Hon. MC BAILEY (Miller—ALP) (Minister for Transport and Main Roads) (9.50 am): The
Commonwealth Games are only 13 days away and what an exciting time it will be. When the Palaszczuk
government came to office in 2015 one of our key challenges, identified early in the piece, was the lack
of infrastructure planning and funding for the Gold Coast leading up to the Commonwealth Games. This
was the void the LNP left us only three years from the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.
Honourable members interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: Order, members! Minister for the Commonwealth Games, I know this is
something you and Deputy Leader of the Opposition are very passionate about, but I will not tolerate
this cross-chamber firing that we have been seeing.

Mr BAILEY: With a tight time frame, with only three years to the opening ceremony, we acted on
these infrastructure issues to ensure that the 670,000 visitors coming for the games will get there. In
our first term as a minority government we secured funding and built stage 2 of the light rail project
worth $420 million, the majority of which came from the state government. It was built in 18 months flat
and links the heavy rail at Helensvale with the first stage of the light rail at the Gold Coast University
Hospital, seamlessly linking Broadbeach with Brisbane by rail. We acted quickly to duplicate the heavy
rail line between Coomera and Helensvale without which we would not be able to triple the trains for
the games and run up to eight trains per hour.

Gold Coast roads also got a massive $353 million injection by Labor, including upgrades to the
Gooding Drive roundabout, Olsen Avenue, Southport-Burleigh Road, Nerang-Broadbeach Road and
the Smith Street Motorway, and we started and finished the $74 million upgrade of the Coomera
interchange at exit 54. Almost $1 billion worth of infrastructure investment has been delivered on the
Gold Coast by this Labor government, not just for the games, but as a lasting legacy for Gold Coast
residents for decades to come.

We have also started the early M1 works between Mudgeeraba and Varsity Lakes and at the
Gateway merge. Given the long lead-in times and build times that are required for these huge projects,
the decision by the previous LNP government to not spend a single new dollar on the M1 was a major
betrayal of Gold Coast residents. There is no doubt that travel around the Gold Coast for the games is
going to be very different in the lead-up and during the games.
Opposition members interjected.

Mr BAILEY: Mr Speaker, too many interjections from an opposition that has not supported the
games.

Mr SPEAKER: Minister, I will not take instruction from the floor. I remind all honourable members
that this is a time to listen to matters of government policy and public affairs but it is not a time for
debate. If there are questions to be asked of the government it will happen during question time.
Mr BAILEY: The key is being well informed in terms of preparing for the games, planning ahead
and giving yourself extra travel time due to the number of visitors in the area. Now is the time to get
online and check out what is happening. Whether you are going to the games or not, travel is going to
be very different for the fortnight of the Commonwealth Games. It will be an exciting and a memorable
time in the Gold Coast's history with 24-hour bus, 24-hour light rail and 24-hour heavy rail services as
well as a huge free cultural program as part of the biggest sporting event in the nation in a decade.

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Hansard
https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2018/2018_03_22_DAILY.pdf

Questions without notice

Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Journey Planning

Mr KING: My question is to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads. Will the minister inform
the House about how spectators can travel to the Commonwealth Games?

Mr BAILEY: I thank the member for Kurwongbah for his ongoing interest in transport issues. The
most important thing is the use of the games journey planner. For the benefit of the House today, I am
going to become a real-life journey planner and outline the best way to get to the opening ceremony on
Wednesday, the first day of the games. The opening ceremony starts at 7 pm so I know I need to get
there by 6 pm to enjoy the atmosphere and the entertainment around the precinct.
I will head straight down from work and go to Central Station as my starting point. With just a
touch on my games journey planner app on my smart phone, I have a bunch of options to choose from
straight up. I could hop on the train at 3.52, 3.59, 4.14, 4.22 or 4.29 because we have tripled the trains
to the Gold Coast. The list goes on. There are so many services.

Honourable members interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: Members to my left and some to my right also, I am having a difficult time hearing
the minister. I would like to hear the answer.

Mr BAILEY: There is no need to top up my go card because I know that public transport will be
free for everybody with a games ticket. The train departs on time at 4.29 from the recently refurbished
Central Station, refurbished with $6.3 million worth of investment by the Palaszczuk government. It is
looking great for all our games visitors with so many friendly staff helping people along as we go.
We are picking up more excited games spectators along the way at South Brisbane, South Bank,
Park Road, Yeronga, and we are off to the Gold Coast via a few express stops. We will go, for instance,
through Banoon in the member for Toohey's electorate where one of our rapid response maintenance
hubs is located which will house special teams that are ready to deploy quickly and respond to any
issues that might occur.

As we proceed south we are now on the rail line duplication from Coomera to Helensvale
delivered by the Palaszczuk government. There is no which way we would get eight trains to the Gold
Coast without it—a $163 million investment for the Gold Coast and the Commonwealth Games. Here
we are at Helensvale. While it is not my stop to get off, I can see the bus interchange and light rail—
lots of choices there—a seamless connection delivered by Labor.

Now I have arrived at Nerang. I can either hop on an event shuttle bus or choose to walk to the
stadium where there are heaps of event shuttles leaving all the time. The weather is so great I think I
might walk because I will see all sorts of entertainment in the biggest festival in Queensland's history
as part of the biggest sporting event ever in this state. It is going to be an exciting time for the Gold
Coast and an exciting time for this state. I, like all Queenslanders, am looking forward to it. It will be a
historic event.

[Cazza]

It will be a historic event.

It will definitely be one for the record books. We will just have to see whether the entry will be a positive one or not...

[#Metro]

OMG, Mark Bailey standing up in Parliament boasting about how perfect the transport arrangements will be with a hypothetical narration of a trip from Central to the Gold Coast.

Setting himself for a massive fall if anything is less than perfect is what a bravado statement like that does. I'm guessing he won't be minister for much longer? Maybe he needs to drop in some uninvited lines about Cross River Rail too.

[brissypete]

Maybe the transport minister should position himself at stations such as Fairfield (in his electorate) during the morning peak on 5th April to explain to any commuters who realise at the last minute that they can't catch a train for 10 days.

Sent from my G8141 using Tapatalk

[burgo]

Overheard QR (office staf in office clothesf) at Park Road being trained on customer service roles for the games period. It sounds like it's all hands on deck for QR.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/977830282031083520

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/SmartState1/status/977993463798013952

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsGoldCoast/status/978525627635478529

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/978547807983251456

[SurfRail]

TfNSW has some information up at:

https://transportnsw.info/events/2018/04/gold-coast-2018-commonwealth-games