The transformation of Darra railway station and precinct

[ozbob]

Control panel bottom left of flash files

The transformation of Darra railway station and precinct - Part one

Large flash files

Part One 7.5MB  Photographs R Dow and mufreight

http://backontrack.org/images/darra/trans/trans.swf

[ozbob]

The transformation of Darra railway station and precinct - Part two

Large flash file 3.5MB

Photographs R Dow and mufreight

http://backontrack.org/images/darra/trans2/trans.swf

[ozbob]

The transformation of Darra railway station and precinct - Part three

Large flash file 3.3MB

Photographs R Dow and mufreight

http://backontrack.org/images/darra/trans3/trans.swf

[daryl]

It was certainly a well realised redevelopment of the station itself , but what about the car park . Did they do anything at all Simply removing the gardens and remarking the spaces would have gained plenty of extra spaces , and the driveway in and out pleeeeaase . Instead of setting up our public transport the way it is being done now , why don`t those responsible take a look around and set it up so people can use it the way they want to use it ?

[ozbob]

G'day Daryl,

Welcome.  The photographs are interesting, but to be honest Darra was and still is a fairly major botch.  The construction alliance did exactly what they were asked, no beef there.  The failure is higher up and it was a planning failure.

To be blunt, the station should have been two island platforms.

Bus interchange could have been done a lot better.

The new footbridge was not originally spec'd for the upgrade would you believe.  It was only when well into the project it was realised the old footbridge was not legally safe with respect to supports etc.   

Even platform heights could have been raised.

I like to think Darra was the last of the major failures ... lol  Am I being optimistic?

Agree Richlands is not perfect either ...

Still, it was interesting watching the progress over the years as documented in the pics.  We used to spend a bit of time there discussing how it should have been done with all and sundry ... lol

Onwards!

[Gazza]

Darra wasn't the last major failure. ...You forget Eagle Junction.

[ozbob]

Darra wasn't the last major failure. ...You forget Eagle Junction.

Oopps, yes sadly ...

[somebody]

To be blunt, the station should have been two island platforms.

If it's up-down-up-down, what's the difference?

[ozbob]

Moving around the station facilitated.  Cost savings which could have been used for better amenity, interchanges, parks and the like.  Platform raising.  Track layout a little more straightforward, no need for the 'up sub loop'  all lines would have been better sound proofed as well.

Changing from 4 to 1 or vice versa is a mess.  You ever done it at Darra?  Quite difficult for mobility impaired to make connections at times.

Even engineers I spoke to there agreed  ....

[somebody]

You've lost me.  Perhaps you're talking about an up-up-down-down arrangement?  Otherwise you still need the up sub loop, or something similar.  You still have to use an overbridge to effect a Goodna to Richlands trip in that scenario, so if the change from 4 to 1 is poorly executed, it still could be in that scenario.  No I haven't done that myself.

I think a lot of the issues came about because of changing the project mid stream from a triplication to a quad.

[ozbob]

Go out an have a good look.  Well worth it.  You will then see clearly the issues.

Subs and mains continue straight down to Darra West.  Branch comes off the subs, subs and mains are behind the embankment. No loop needed.

[somebody]

Go out an have a good look.  Well worth it.  You will then see clearly the issues.

Subs and mains continue straight down to Darra West.  Branch comes off the subs, subs and mains are behind the embankment. No loop needed.

What, and a conflicting move at Milton?

[ozbob]

Go out an have a good look.  Well worth it.  You will then see clearly the issues.

Subs and mains continue straight down to Darra West.  Branch comes off the subs, subs and mains are behind the embankment. No loop needed.

What, and a conflicting move at Milton?

Subs just join the mains at Darra West as for now ...   go out and have a look, nothing to do with Milton.

Presently the Up sub (loop) joins the Down sub which then joins the Up Main.  A further cross over allows down main trains to cross to the up main and onto the subs ...

[ozbob]

I think a lot of the issues came about because of changing the project mid stream from a triplication to a quad.

Darra was always planned as it is for the initial triple. Darra was always going to have full pairs of subs and mains. The additional quad track Darra to Oxley was actually only from the Pannard to Corinda.   This is the non electrified line.  The Up sub is electrified from Pannard into Darra as originally planned.

[somebody]

I agree to disagree.

[ozbob]

I agree to disagree.

I observed the project constantly for three years during a complex brown field construction.

Undertook a couple of official tours in the corridor.  Spent hours and hours talking to staff.

Took thousands of photographs.

Simon, sometimes you need to accept you don't know it all. You haven't  even walked from platform 4 to platform one. Have you ever been to Darra?

[somebody]

What I mean is this conversation isn't going anywhere, and I'm going to leave it at that.

[ozbob]

This is the initial concept.  The only real change was the the 4th line (up sub) Pannard to Corinda was actually built but not electrified.

=========================

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=225.msg3869#msg3869

An information leaflet (Newsletter Corinda to Darra Upgrade)  was in my mail box when I got home tonight.

This is the layout of the works between Corinda and Darra.
From the Newsletter No 1 May 2008

[mufreight]

What I mean is this conversation isn't going anywhere, and I'm going to leave it at that.

And a good thing too, the more you post the more I am convinced that you simply blow smoke for the sake of posting,  once again I would question if you have any actual knowledge of the subject, have you ever been to Darra, detrained and walked around the station, might I suggest that you do.
As for the failures of Darra, Trackstar did what TMR dictated which in many cases was contrary to the advice from Trackstar engineering staff who provided advice on how the project could have been modified to provide better operational outcomes.
The key failings of the Corinda - Darra track amplification were the failure to provide a connection between the up suburban and the fourth line at Corinda, the failure to electrify the fourth line which would then have become the up suburban, the failure to provide the fourth platform at Oxley, the construction of platform 1 below carriage floor height, the failure to provide a facing crossover between the down and up subs at Corinda ( although both lines are bi directional the down sub has no connection with the up sub to enable freight (coal) movements to cross from the down sub to the presently unwired freight line east of the Pannard St trailing crossover which prevents the down sub from being utilised to minimise moise to residents at Darra). , the reconstruction of platforms 2&3 at Darra below carriage floor height and the consrtuction of platforms 1 & 4 below carriage floor height, the layout of the platforms which should have been two island platforms which would have improved access and so it continues.
Might one suggest that before posting you at the very least know what you are blowing smoke about.

[somebody]

 

Thanks for that.  You just posted a lot of unsupported assertions which have already been posted before.  But with regard to this:

the failure to provide a facing crossover between the down and up subs at Corinda ( although both lines are bi directional the down sub has no connection with the up sub to enable freight (coal) movements to cross from the down sub to the presently unwired freight line east of the Pannard St trailing crossover which prevents the down sub from being utilised to minimise moise to residents at Darra).

Where are you saying that the crossover is missing?  There's a crossover from the down sub to the Tennyson line at Corinda, as shown in the schematic ozbob posted above.  Perhaps it's incorrect. 

[mufreight]

Thanks for that.  You just posted a lot of unsupported assertions which have already been posted before.  But with regard to this:

the failure to provide a facing crossover between the down and up subs at Corinda ( although both lines are bi directional the down sub has no connection with the up sub to enable freight (coal) movements to cross from the down sub to the presently unwired freight line east of the Pannard St trailing crossover which prevents the down sub from being utilised to minimise moise to residents at Darra).

Where are you saying that the crossover is missing?  There's a crossover from the down sub to the Tennyson line at Corinda, as shown in the schematic ozbob posted above.  Perhaps it's incorrect. 

Perhaps when you give some indication that you have some knowledge of what you are talking about you might be taken seriously but once again with your latest post you have again demonstrated not only your lack of knowledge but also your lack of understanding, might I again suggest that you read the post that you have quoted as even blind freddie would be able to comprehend where the missing crossover should have been located from the information provided.
You should with your I know it all attitude and total disregard for factual information apply for a position as a liasion officer or planner at TMR.

[somebody]