Those temporary platform extensions built 2009/2010

[Fares_Fair]

Agreed SW.
I am unaware of the status of the other platforms, I was shown a photo of upturned (appeared to be about 5cm high) swollen plywood decking at Woombye station.
Presenter was unable to remember the date of the picture, so I cannot confirm its current state.

There also remain 2 sections along Palmwoods platform edge, the most dangerous section for this to occur, of rot that has not been replaced or repaired at this time.
I have reported this to the station attendant.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

Given that it is at the edge of the platform where the most footwear would occur, this should be a concern.  One would hope this matter would receive more prompt attention, given QR's oft stated policy of 'safety first'.  Again, proactive versus reactive.

[Fares_Fair]

Stop the rot, duplicate the Sunshine Coast rail line.

Pictures dated 11 February, 2012
These are in front of the yellow line, along the edge of the Palmwoods platform.

EDIT: The plywood under the white paint is just mush (and that is NOT a pun).

I asked about the temporary platforms this morning.
I received word that the rotted plywood sections of Palmwoods platforms (photographed above) are to be replaced, work begins tomorrow.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[#Metro]

Stop the rot, duplicate the Sunshine Coast rail line.

That's a nice, catchy slogan!

[Mr X]

My gosh, eww!

[Arnz]

Or the dilapidated grot growing out of the old Waltons building.

[Fares_Fair]

Stop the rot, duplicate the Sunshine Coast rail line

I asked about the temporary platform repairs this morning.
I received word that the rotted plywood sections of Palmwoods platforms (photographed 4 posts above) are to be replaced, work begins tomorrow.

Thank you to Queenland Rail  

No word on what the solution to this situation is, talks were being held between QR and TransLink in December 2009 to resolve the issue and provide permanent structures.
It appears these talks are still just that, talks - but over 2 years on.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

Doesn't the saying go something like this - 'A rotting fish rots from the head down.'  Stop the rot must involve tactics to overcome a reluctance in political echelons to spend anything more than the bare minimum on this line (despite public announcements about track duplication and CAMCOS, now forgotten).  One contigency must be to consider bringing forward the case for a SCL upgrade to a new minister in a new government that currently holds the seats of Gympie, Noosa, Maroochdore, Buderim, Kawana, Caloundra and Glass House.

[Fares_Fair]

If the state is headed for a surplus in 2014, then why can't they afford to fix these temporary platfoms with a permanent solution as mentioned in the Ministerial Briefing note of 4 December, 2009?
Why no results to the talks, reported by the brief as being held back then?
It's been 2 years!
That's a lot of expensive talking for $5600 per week + maintenance and inspections.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

Perhaps the next time those officials file into a meeting room to ponder the plight of the SCL, someone should lock the door and run the show like the election of a new pope -- no one comes out until there is a decision.  The longest conclave of cardinals to elect a new pope ran from November 1268 to September 1, 1271.  It resulted in the election of Pope Gregory X, but not before three cardinals died and one resigned.

So, those officials have about another 10 months of deliberations to match that record.  Will they exceed it?

When they do make up their mind, perhaps long-suffering SCL commuters could gather in Anzac Square so that an official could open a window at the end of the meeting to release the stale cigarette fog, thus sending heavenwards a puff of white smoke to reveal a resolution of the matter.

[Fares_Fair]

Work begins today (subject to the weather) to replace approx. 20 plywood floor sheets at Palmwood's temporary rail platform.  

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Fares_Fair]

Perhaps the next time those officials file into a meeting room to ponder the plight of the SCL, someone should lock the door and run the show like the election of a new pope -- no one comes out until there is a decision.  The longest conclave of cardinals to elect a new pope ran from November 1268 to September 1, 1271.  It resulted in the election of Pope Gregory X, but not before three cardinals died and one resigned.

So, those officials have about another 10 months of deliberations to match that record.  Will they exceed it?

When they do make up their mind, perhaps long-suffering SCL commuters could gather in Anzac Square so that an official could open a window at the end of the meeting to release the stale cigarette fog, thus sending heavenwards a puff of white smoke to reveal a resolution of the matter.

[Mr X]

We'd break the record by 50 years then 

[mufreight]

At least on present indications.

[Fares_Fair]

Work begins today (subject to the weather) to replace approx. 20 plywood floor sheets at Palmwood's temporary rail platform.  

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

Work completed this afternoon on Palmwoods temporary platform repairs and plywood deck replacement.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[ozbob]

Good news.  Thanks all ...

[Fares_Fair]

No word yet on the talks being held for a permanent solution to these temporary platforms, maybe that won't happen until after the election since we are in caretaker mode.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Fares_Fair]

Article: Campaign puts a stop to rot over platforms
Courier-Mail Quest News, p3
Friday February 24, 2012
by Matt Johnston

[Stillwater]

The Pomona station platform, one of seven stations with a temporary platform on the Sunshine Coast Line, has been ripped up following flooding through the town last week.  The floodwaters undermined the foundations and left the platform twisted.  A QR work crew was completing the demolition task this afternoon.  It would appear that QR plans to replace like with like.  Half of the new temporary platform will be in place by Wednesday, unless bad weather dictates otherwise.  The rest of the platform will follow.  Passengers travelling to and from Pomona are required to catch a shuttle bus that, depending on their direction of travel, runs between Cooran and Nambour.

Fences at the boundary of railway land either side of the station were either flattened by the flood, or have been cut down by the work crew so their vehicles can access the track.  I wonder when the fences will be replaced?

[HappyTrainGuy]

Well, we know where to get free 'mushrooms' from now..... 

[Fares_Fair]

Major works to the temporary platforms located at Woombye and Palmwoods stations were observed to have been undertaken this week.
A large number of plywood flooring sections have been replaced and proud sections screwed down.

The new deck sections have been repainted, the white platform edging repainted and yellow lines and train stop markings have been added.

Palmwoods station evidence --> pic.twitter.com/B58g2Tpo   ..that's my bike locker behind the pink rubbish pile 

Woombye station evidence --> pic.twitter.com/3donsJKV

[Stillwater]

Perhaps the next time those officials file into a meeting room to ponder the plight of the SCL, someone should lock the door and run the show like the election of a new pope -- no one comes out until there is a decision.  The longest conclave of cardinals to elect a new pope ran from November 1268 to September 1, 1271.  It resulted in the election of Pope Gregory X, but not before three cardinals died and one resigned.

So, those officials have about another 10 months of deliberations to match that record.  Will they exceed it?

When they do make up their mind, perhaps long-suffering SCL commuters could gather in Anzac Square so that an official could open a window at the end of the meeting to release the stale cigarette fog, thus sending heavenwards a puff of white smoke to reveal a resolution of the matter.

Finding a fix for the SCL has now gone on longer than the longest conclave to elect a pope.

[Fares_Fair]

Yep...

Jeff Addison @Jeffrey_Addison     April 20, 2014   
#SunshineCoast temporary rail platforms
MRDadvice 14/1/10
"should be replaced with permanent in 12-18 months pic.twitter.com/So84o1Cohb
#2tracks

Incidentally, there has been no decision made regarding these "temporary" platforms ...

I am contacting Guinness to see what the world record is for a temporary structure. 

[Stillwater]

 

Permanent temporary status would appear to be the solution.

[Fares_Fair]

For the record, Ministerial Briefing Note dated December 2009
I received these under a Right to Information request and documents were received April 2011 .. most of the information provided to me was useless, and about noise barriers - unbelievable really. Think they were trying to send me a message. 

But there were a few gems .. this was one.
Temporary Platforms are only supposed to be 'Temporary.'

[Stillwater]

Lol @ "The provision of temporary platforms will reduce passenger loading times and alleviate overcrowding on the platforms."

Here is the nonsense of the briefing note, dated 4 December 2009:  "These temporary platforms will ultimately be replaced with permanent platforms within a period of 12 to 18 months."

In the media issues section, QR seemed to be concerned about adverse publicity locals may generate concerning the costs of maintaining the temporary platforms -- proof the government is sensitive to the lack of action.  Time has proven the prediction correct, as the temporary platforms have been in place much longer than the 18 months anticipated.

Why is it that all of the planning for the NCL goes haywire?  Another example, planned DDA conversion for Nambour shelved at the last minute.

[Fares_Fair]

As we enter 2016, now 6 years later...

the seven temporary rail platforms located at Mooloolah, Eudlo, Palmwoods, Woombye, Eumundi, Pomona and Cooran along the Sunshine Coast line are still temporary steel scaffold structures with plywood painted decks.. subject to weathering and uneven edges.
At one stage mould eating fungi were enjoying the timber floor fare.

By 30 June 2011 they were all to be replaced with permanent structures!
See Main Roads Department advice dated 14/1/10 in (Twitter) pic below.
"should be replaced with permanent in 12-18 months: pic.twitter.com/So84o1Cohb
#2tracks

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

3rd January 2016

Temporary is permanent in Queensland - you're welcome

Good Morning,

To further highlight the sad situation on the Sunshine Coast Line.  Consider the temporary platform situation.

In December 2011, following a RTI request (see below), documents dated 2009 & 2010 indicated that  "These temporary platforms will ultimately be replaced with permanent platforms within a period of 12 to 18 months."

The seven temporary rail platforms located at Mooloolah, Eudlo, Palmwoods, Woombye, Eumundi, Pomona and Cooran along the Sunshine Coast line are still temporary steel scaffold structures with plywood painted decks.. subject to weathering and uneven edges.

At one stage mould eating fungi were enjoying the timber floor fare.

By 30 June 2011 they were all to be replaced with permanent structures!   It is now 2016.  Shocking the way the Sunshine Coast is treated.

More proof of the bungle that is politics and infrastructure policy in Queensland.

It is time that the this critical piece of infrastructure, namely the Sunshine Coast Line was upgraded. It will deliver major benefits for freight and passenger transport and the community.  The road systems are a fester of death, injury, congestion and cost.  It is time the failing road-obsessed transport paradigm was turned for real.

Best wishes

Robert

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

Reference:

RAIL Back On Track Forum: Those temporary platform extensions built 2009/2010  >  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7534.msg166256#msg166256

[Stillwater]

Today's Sunshine Coast Daily reports that work will start later this year on PERMANENT railway platforms at Eumundi, Pomona and Cooran.  However, the timing of replacement for the remaining 4 temporary railway station platforms south of Nambour is tied up with the preparation of a business case for the track duplication.  This won't be ready until next year (2017), the paper reports.  Actual track duplication won't occur, under current planning, until 2031 -- that is if the money is available,  And we won't know how much money is needed, because QR tells the paper that the business case comes first, then the cost evaluation.

It seems that only 11 of the properties needed for the track realignment are in government hands.

But the laugh of the moment is the reassurance from a QR spokesperson that the voluminous documentation prepared for the SCL duplication won't be wasted because it is able to be 'recycled' into the new business case.  We knew that all along!  Essentially the same report has been cut and pasted at least seven times.

Incidentally, the same newspaper report confirms that an extra 13,000 vpd will hit the Bruce Highway every day as a result of the Aura (Caloundra South) development.  Fiona Simpson is on her high horse calling on state Labor to duplicate the railway line.  Why is it that the Opposition MPs are so vocal on this subject when they are not occupying the Treasury benches, but silent when they are in charge of the purse strings?

Robert Dow and Jeff Addison, RailBOT spokespersons, are quoted in the main article and related articles.

[Gazza]

Were the opposition silent? At least they were going to do it
..

[Fares_Fair]

Sunshine Coast Daily
Temporary train platforms remain, six years on
By Bill Hoffman | 9th Jan 2016 5:00 AM

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/temporary-platforms-remain-six-years-on/2894184/

TAXPAYERS have forked out $1.728 million for temporary platforms at seven Sunshine Coast train stations which remain in place six years after being installed and more than four years after they were due to be replaced by permanent structures.

Queensland Rail has been renting the platforms at Mooloolah, Eudlo, Palmwoods, Woombye, Eumundi, Pomona and Cooran for a combined annual cost of $288,000 for what are steel scaffold structures topped with painted plywood decks.

The platforms are intended to make it easier for passengers to access every car of a six-car commuter train.

Eudlo is the only station where constraints mean only four cars can be accessed.

Advocacy group Rail Back on Track administrator Robert Dow said the fact the structures were still in use in 2016 was "more proof of the bungle that is politics and infrastructure policy in Queensland".

The group's Sunshine Coast spokesman Jeff Addison said a Right To Information request he had filed in 2011 revealed the platforms were meant to be replaced by permanent structures by June 30, 2011 - 12 to 18 months after they were installed.

"Six years on and they are still there," he said.

"It just shows no consideration for the people of the Sunshine Coast. The Government can act to get light rail and duplicated lines to the Gold Coast but ask it to do that for the Sunshine Coast and they don't try."

A Queensland Rail spokesperson said permanent platform extensions would be constructed at Pomona, Cooran and Eumundi stations with completion targeted for late this year at a cost of $3 million. The future of the remaining four temporary platforms, however, appear dependent on the eventual Beerburrum-to-Nambour rail duplication.

"The four extensions at Mooloolah, Eudlo, Palmwoods and Woombye will also be replaced with permanent platforms, but are being considered for construction alongside the business case for the Beerburrum-to-Nambour rail duplication," a Queensland Rail spokesperson said.

"Constructing permanent extensions at the remaining four stations as part of the rail duplication is expected to deliver significant savings and reduce construction impacts for local commuters.

"The temporary extensions were designed as a low-cost interim solution, while consideration was given to constructing permanent extensions as part of the Beerburrum-to-Nambour rail duplication."

[James]

The (LNP) opposition had actually committed money to Beerburrum - Landsborough duplication as part of the Strong Choices plan. A lot more than what was promised by Annastacia and co.

[Arnz]

Couldn't they just move Eudlo and Palmwoods to the identified new station sites on the proposed alignment? Primarily as new (long) passing loops for freights. 

Reason why I've picked those 2 stations in particular is because it replaces the shorter passing loop at the existing Palmwoods station location, and secondly it solves the Eudlo situation of being only able to fit 4-car platforms.

[Stillwater]

^^ A wonderfully sensible idea, very doable.  Let's hope that idea forms part of the mysterious North Coast Line Action Plan.

[Derwan]

The (LNP) opposition had actually committed money to Beerburrum - Landsborough duplication as part of the Strong Choices plan. A lot more than what was promised by Annastacia and co.

The LNP made plenty of promises before they won the first election and then broke them.  Empty promises and we'll never know if it would've happened.  Either way we can't deal in what "might have been".  Let's deal with the now.

[#Metro]

They are both really bad because of the 3-year term limit. And they have no money also, because they didn't collect it (because they don't want to upset anyone, because of the next election is coming soon).

I found the Sunshine Coast Line Action Plan, lol
http://www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStore.ashx?id=8bb347e2-75d5-4ff7-aa76-14ebc6ca16f4&subId=32230

[Fares_Fair]

Excerpt from Sunshine Coast Daily
Temporary train platforms remain, six years on
By Bill Hoffman | 9th Jan 2016 5:00 AM


"A Queensland Rail spokesperson said permanent platform extensions would be constructed at Pomona, Cooran and Eumundi stations with completion targeted for late this year at a cost of $3 million. The future of the remaining four temporary platforms, however, appear dependent on the eventual Beerburrum-to-Nambour rail duplication."

In summary: 3 temporary platforms to go at Pomona, Cooran and Eumundi (5 years late) and be replaced with permanent platform extension structures by (targeted) December 2016

[Stillwater]

QR spokesperson to be interviewed on ABC local radio at 5pm this afternoon (Tuesday) re the plan to replace the three temporary platforms at Eumundi, Pomona and Cooran.   

http://www.noosanews.com.au/news/questions-over-rail-upgrade-plan/2899102

QR provided statement to ABC local radio, main points being:

Confirmation that work will proceed on replacing temporary railway station platforms at Eumundi, Pomona and Cooran.  Work will start mid this year.  At present, QR is in the early preliminary design stages.  The project will include new shelters and seating in an architectural style in keeping with the character of these historic railway towns.  At Pomona, work will take account of flooding issues.  No decision has been made to close the mid-town pathway over the NCL at Pomona.  QR looks forward to consultation with the local communities involved.

[ozbob]

Noosa News --> Questions over rail upgrade plans

A POMONA property owner is looking for answers from Queensland Rail regarding $3 million proposed local station upgrades.

Brian O'Connor has sent QR 11 questions he wants answered, starting with confirmation of reports that the three temporary railway station platforms at Eumundi, Pomona and Cooran are finally being replaced with work to be completed by late this year.

Mr O'Connor is also seeking tender details on the project to see if the work is to be offered on the open market. The Sunshine Coast Daily last Saturday reported a Queensland Rail spokesperson saying permanent platform extensions would be constructed at the three locations for that cost figure.

"Does the scope of works include such things as new passenger shelters, seating, ticket machines, lighting and landscaping, or will what's there now stay?" Mr O'Connor asked

And he wants assurances from QR that if new passenger shelters are to be constructed, "will they be designed to suit the architectural style and character of these three hinterland villages?"

Mr O'Connor is also keen to find out if all three upgrades will proceed as one or what any priority will be.

"Will each station be closed while construction is under way, with passengers being transported by bus between stations either side, or will each station stay operations while construction proceeds?"

A major concern, which Mr O'Connor said was shared by other Pomona people, is whether the cross-town path will be retained to provide better access to that station from Factory and Station streets.

"Can QR give an assurance that it will continue to provide an at-grade cross-town path over the NCL (North Coast line) between the Pomona Hotel and the Majestic Theatre, or is it proposed that this crossing be closed?"

He also wants to know if the Pomona platform location be moved to take account of the flood situation?

Mr O'Connor said the present "temporary" station platform had to be rebuilt after a flood in 2012.

"If the new permanent platform will stay where the temporary one is currently, will it be built in a way on pylons perhaps that will allow floodwater to pass beneath for a short period of time during a major flood event?"

[Stillwater]

Government has gone silent on these temporary station upgrades.  If work is to be finished by the end of 2016, the promised public consultation should be occurring about now.  But, hey, this is Queensland.