1 Mar 2012: SEQ: Cross River Rail is ready to proceed

[ozbob]

1 March 2012

SEQ: Cross River Rail is ready to proceed

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has welcomed confirmation that Cross River Rail has now reached the 'ready to proceed' status as assessed by Infrastructure Australia (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track congratulates the Cross River Rail project development team on the confirmation that the project is now at the ready to proceed threshold."

"As we have long argued, Cross River Rail is a critical project for Queensland and Australia.  It will transform the rail network and provide the opportunity for capacity and frequency improvements on all lines, and improve redundancy on the rail network."

"As we saw with last Tuesday's total transport meltdown, when the train system can't cope, people flood buses which then fill, and that spills over to the road network bringing more congestion. The problem is that the present geometry of the network where all lines come together and are funnelled through a single core -  Roma Street, Central, Fortitude Valley and Bowen Hills - makes the network fault intolerant and vulnerable to cascading failures. Cross River Rail is the ultimate fix for this, as it will allow trains to bypass the critical four core stations."

"Cross River Rail is a state-building project. It will unlock the entire network and allow the region to have frequent services like Perth, WA already has, and to grow and new developments for affordable housing in places like Yarrabilba to have public transport."

"RAIL Back On Track members are wary of 'too good to be true' schemes such as the 'Cleveland Solution', which dissapointingly engaged in what we have come to call 'cost-only analysis', which unlike reputable and proper cost-benefit analysis, is based purely on comparing costs and ignoring any comparative appraisal of the benefits. Not only do we believe the Cleveland Solution to be undercosted, but even if it were cheaper, it would also have lower benefits too."

"Bipartisan support for Cross River Rail is now needed (2). Cross River Rail will deliver a positive economic and transport future for Queensland.  Even the RACQ the peak motoring body in Queensland acknowledges the importance of Cross River Rail (3)."

References:

1.  http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/state-election-2012/bigticket-rail-project-ready-to-proceed-20120229-1u3c0.html

2.  Cross River Rail bipartisan support is the way forward  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7523.0

3.  http://www.racq.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/86150/RACQ_Motoring_Matters_V5.pdf  page 6

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2034.msg89155#msg89155

[Stillwater]

While IA's declaration that CRR is 'ready to proceed' is welcome news, a careful examination of comments by LNP personnel indicates an LNP Government won't build the project to the specifications as prepared during the past five years and now given IA's stamp of approval.

The election of an LNP Government would result in still further negotiation between the state and federal governments concerning this important infrastructure project for SEQ.

The evidence is in these two statements contained in the brisbanetimes article.

Quote: "LNP transport spokesman, Scott Emerson, said his party had believed the project was 'unaffordable and overpriced' and would look at cross-river rail and alternatives if it formed government."

Quote (from Campbell Newman):   "I guarantee to them (IA) and to the people of Queensland, indeed taxpayers across Australia that an LNP government under my leadership will spend what's needed to fix the rail capacity issue,"

Mr Newman is NOT committed to CRR, merely a cross-river rail solution.  He is saying he will spend only what's needed to fix the rail capacity issue.  Mr Emerson confirms this.  He says the LNP will reopen examination of alternatives to CRR upon election of an LNP government.

Any federal money for CRR would be provided on the basis that the project, as submitted, had IA's approval.  In circumstances where an LNP government would want to build an (undefined) alternative, a cross river rail solution but not the CRR project as we know it, would take several more years to work up.

It is time the LNP outlined its alternative proposal and the transport policies that hang off it.  Journos should ask Mr Newman: "If the money were available from the federal government, would a government that you lead build CRR to the current specifications, unaltered?"  The follow-up question is: "What is your alternative plan that the LNP keeps referring to?"  Then: "How does this alternative rail capacity project fit in with the LNP's overall thinking for transport planning generally across SEQ and will this be outlined in the release of an LNP transport policy before March 24?"

[#Metro]

The LNP have three weeks to get the cat out of the bag and show it around.

WHAT IS THEIR ALTERNATIVE PLAN?!

[Stillwater]

Mr Deegan, IA's National Transport Coordinator, understands the significance of CRR.  

Quote: "This project has the potential to transform the development of Brisbane and South East Queensland.  It could be the catalyst for balanced development in the region for some decades to come."

It would appear that IA understands the transforming and widespread benefits that CRR would bring to the entire SEQ region and its transport network.  Heavens!  Even the RACQ can see that an investment in CRR has positive spin-offs for road congestion.

It would also appear that Mr Newman still has his Lord Mayor thinking hat on.  His concern is moving commuters from one side of the river to the other without understanding that CRR opens up rail capacity improvements outside the BCC boundary, and even for better rail freight handling.

[ozbob]

1 March 2012 re-released 4 March 2012

SEQ: Cross River Rail is ready to proceed

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has welcomed confirmation that Cross River Rail has now reached the 'ready to proceed' status as assessed by Infrastructure Australia (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track congratulates the Cross River Rail project development team on the confirmation that the project is now at the ready to proceed threshold."

"As we have long argued, Cross River Rail is a critical project for Queensland and Australia.  It will transform the rail network and provide the opportunity for capacity and frequency improvements on all lines, and improve redundancy on the rail network."

"As we saw with last Tuesday's total transport meltdown, when the train system can't cope, people flood buses which then fill, and that spills over to the road network bringing more congestion. The problem is that the present geometry of the network where all lines come together and are funnelled through a single core -  Roma Street, Central, Fortitude Valley and Bowen Hills - makes the network fault intolerant and vulnerable to cascading failures. Cross River Rail is the ultimate fix for this, as it will allow trains to bypass the critical four core stations."

"Cross River Rail is a state-building project. It will unlock the entire network and allow the region to have frequent services like Perth, WA already has, and to grow and new developments for affordable housing in places like Yarrabilba to have public transport."

"RAIL Back On Track members are wary of 'too good to be true' schemes such as the 'Cleveland Solution', which dissapointingly engaged in what we have come to call 'cost-only analysis', which unlike reputable and proper cost-benefit analysis, is based purely on comparing costs and ignoring any comparative appraisal of the benefits. Not only do we believe the Cleveland Solution to be undercosted, but even if it were cheaper, it would also have lower benefits too."

"Bipartisan support for Cross River Rail is now needed (2). Cross River Rail will deliver a positive economic and transport future for Queensland.  Even the RACQ the peak motoring body in Queensland acknowledges the importance of Cross River Rail (3)."

References:

1.  http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/state-election-2012/bigticket-rail-project-ready-to-proceed-20120229-1u3c0.html

2.  Cross River Rail bipartisan support is the way forward  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7523.0

3.  http://www.racq.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/86150/RACQ_Motoring_Matters_V5.pdf  page 6

Contact:

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