Fast Train Project – Rockhampton linking with Gladstone

[ozbob]

http://www.capricornenterprise.com.au/2012/03/fast-train-project-%E2%80%93-rockhampton-linking-with-gladstone/

Fast Train Project – Rockhampton linking with Gladstone

Capricorn Enterprise is undertaking a pre-feasibility study for a fast rail service between the key strategic locations of Rockhampton – Gladstone and Bundaberg.

More --> here!

[April is approaching]

[Fares_Fair]

What is a fast train, don't think I've ever seen one?    

[SurfRail]

If it was worth running somebody would have done it by now.  Best bet is to push for another electric tilt set or 2 to provide more and more reliable return trips and lock the overhead in for the foreseeable future.

[O_128]

A fast train from yerongpilly to the CBD would be good 

[Jonas Jade]

Hmmm I'd even settle for fast from South Bank to Central?

[colinw]

What is a fast train, don't think I've ever seen one?    

The Westlander!  Fastest average speed out of Brisbane.  

I'd settle for restoration of the suburban train speeds of the late 1980s. Brisbane was once the fastest electric train service in the country, with Caboolture as the fastest all stops line of them all.

[Fares_Fair]

 

[Arnz]

42 mins

But keep in mind there was less stations on the NCL suburban line at the time.  No Carseldine for starters.

[Gazza]

I also doubt they would have had to stop for a single disabled passenger, because I don't think any had lifts.

[HappyTrainGuy]

with Caboolture as the fastest all stops line of them all.

Track speed wise it still is. The line itself is capable of 100kph+ running in sections and the 80kph restrictions could easily be raised. Just a shame that the majority of the rollingstock can't go above 100kph to maximise it.

Bray Park was another non existent station on a 100kph stretch of track. Don't forget the door closure procedures could cut arms off when they closed

[Arnz]

Shame they lowered Narangba to Burpengary from 120km/h to 100km/h.  The 160/260 units would've done well on that stretch.  The Older IMUs and ICEs, along with the old HS modified 220 units went 120k on that stretch a long while back

[colinw]

Thanks for confirming that. I was sure I could remember flying through the suburbs at 120 on an ICE to Rockhampton back around 1992. I think it was on the way to Rocky to catch the Longreach centenary steam tour (BB18 1/4 from Rocky to Winton).

[HappyTrainGuy]

They never lowered the speed limit in a true sense. The section has always been 100kph for most rollingstock with the 120kph diamond boards for the ICE/express services. They simply removed the boards when the tilts were introduced full time to replace the ICE services to have a unified speed board without having to put up boards for different rollingstock ie diamond boards, circle boards and square boards. ICE were still in service on selected routes and capable of 120kph running. At the time a large percentage of the fleet was limited to 100-110kph. IMUs could run it at 120kph if it was assigned an express route but most were used on the Gold Coast line. The modded 220s caused more problems than benefits when they pushed the speedo and the Tilts have their own problems when running between Caboolture-Roma Street resulting in a 100kph limit.

[somebody]

They never lowered the speed limit in a true sense. The section has always been 100kph for most rollingstock with the 120kph diamond boards for the ICE/express services. They simply removed the boards when the tilts were introduced full time to replace the ICE services to have a unified speed board without having to put up boards for different rollingstock ie diamond boards, circle boards and square boards. ICE were still in service on selected routes and capable of 120kph running. At the time a large percentage of the fleet was limited to 100-110kph. IMUs could run it at 120kph if it was assigned an express route but most were used on the Gold Coast line. The modded 220s caused more problems than benefits when they pushed the speedo and the Tilts have their own problems when running between Caboolture-Roma Street resulting in a 100kph limit.

I'm confused about why the other rolling stock can't do the 120km/h in that section and just have one board at 120km/h

[HappyTrainGuy]

At the time the only rollingstock that was capable of meeting those specs were IMU100/120, ICE sets and the few software modded SMU220s. EMU/ICE Hybrids were speed limited. EMUs can only just reach 100kph. SMU200-220s are in a similar boat that goes a tad bit faster. IMU/modded SMU220s were usually used on the Gold Coast line but that didn't mean that some saw some running along the Caboolture/Nambour lines. ICE sets were being withdrawn from service and used elsewhere across the network before being reasigned back to the NCL. TiltTrains are speed limited Caboolture-Roma Street due to its tilting system in a non ATP area. With a small fraction of the network capable of reaching those speeds 100kph boards were justified. Yes, some rollingstock now might be able to hit those speeds but a decade ago only a select few actually could.

[ozbob]

What is a fast train, don't think I've ever seen one?    

Me neither FF, other than some fading footage of the Spirit of Progress being hauled by one of those magnificent S class locomotives.



It is no doubt a global conspiracy.  The youtube clips of fast trains are doctored.

Look at this one:

The yellow lines on the platforms are too narrow!  Clearly doctored stuff ...  

[SteelPan]

This idea's actually been around for a number of years, the idea being Rocky and Bundaberg will become a dormitory cities for a booming Gladstone - worthy general concept, however the numbers really adding up is another matter - maybe in another 10yrs from now - it will certainly need some major state/fed funding and I'm not sure if that's going to happen any time soon!

This type of kite flying reminds me of old "Compton" (remember him?) he was going to build a standard gauge high-speed train north/south across Australia - with private backers all set to roll on it - last I heard, he was hoping to build a coal railway (like that's a real vision) in Central Qld to milk something from the mining boom - and even that's a few years back!

Mining booms, low density populations and high-speed railways do not a viable combination make.   

[colinw]

Compton is still around and still pushing his barrow. He may actually even succeed in getting the Surat Basin Rail up & running, but the rest of it is just foam.

http://www.ateclimited.com.au/surat-basin-rail

[ozbob]

From The Bulletin click here!

Fast rail link idea picks up speed

Fast rail link idea picks up speed

Adrian Taylor | 25th April 2012 5:30 AM

BRAD Carter says a project to create a fast train link between Rockhampton, Gladstone and Bundaberg is gaining momentum.

He believes if a commuter express could be established it would enable workers on Gladstone's fast-expanding LNG plants to set up home in the Rockhampton region.

"This could reduce costs of projects, keep cars off highways and reduce the accident and death toll," he said.

Cr Carter said if he were re-elected he would be pushing the concept and said he believed there was now a enough momentum for trial services to test demand.

"With the roadworks on the Bruce Hwy, and increased congestion caused by the number of travelling workers, it can take as much as three hours to drive from Rockhampton to Gladstone at times," Cr Carter said.

"Against that, 40 or 50 minutes on the train - maybe from a station somewhere like Gracemere, starts to look very attractive," he said.

"There are those who say that the tracks are so busy with coal trains that it can't be done.

"But if we are looking at a couple of services a day, in my view it is very do-able.

"The track infrastructure is already there and some of the resources companies are already convinced it should happen."

A pre-feasibility study is under way and Cr Carter says there should be political support for the idea.

"It's already five years overdue in my opinion, and a far better option than having large accommodation camps on Curtis Island."

[colinw]

But how are they going to handle the fact that Gladstone station isn't near any of the major employers?

For this to work, you would also have to set up a whole network of station shuttle buses at the Gladstone end.

This is all very silly. If anywhere in regional QLD ever gets commuter rail back again, it will be Cairns.

[SurfRail]

Long term I would love to see:

- Completion of main-line electrification from Rockhampton to Cairns, and electrification of the Goonyella-Newlands line
- Encourage QRN and PN to purchase more electric locos and buy several 9-car electric tilt sets
- Run 3 daily return electric tilt services - 2 to Cairns (Sunlander), 1 to Emerald (Spirit of Capricorn)
- Run the diesel tilts on the Mt-Isa to Townsville line
- Run V/Locity or Prospector style fast DMUs between Longreach and Emerald (Spirit of the Outback) and between Brisbane and Charleville (Westlander) a few days per week
- Progressive updates to realign track to 160kph or better standard and to bypass town centres where sensible to do so (eg Denison St in Rockhampton)
- Update minimum passing loop length to 1,500m
- Duplicated track Brisbane to Gympie
- Complete Gowrie to Grandchester upgrade and introduce IMU services to Toowoomba under the TransLink fare scale
- Provision for local/suburban electric services in Townsville and Cairns

Chance of any of this happening?

[somebody]

I thought Mt Isa - Townsville was already electrified.

[SurfRail]

I thought Mt Isa - Townsville was already electrified.

Nope.  Furthest north it goes is Hay Point just south of Mackay (but only as an extension of the Goonyella system - the main line electrification ends at Rockhampton.

The diagram linked below is a bit out of date (eg does not reflect line closures for Kingaroy, Dirranbandi etc) but the extent of the electrification outside SEQ and the existing mine systems has not really changed since the time this would have been accurate:

http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/NetworkServices/Documents/Electrified%20network%20-%20electrification%20diagram.pdf

[colinw]

In 1989 the State Government announced extension of mainline electrification from Ipswich to Toowoomba, and Rockhampton to Townsville, following on from the recently completed Nambour to Gladstone main line electrification which linked the electrified Brisbane Suburban Area to the existing electrification from Gladstone to Emerald and Goonyella system.  Prior to Nambour to Gladstone going live, Queensland had two separate electrified areas.

The Townsville electrification was to be the next stage in the wires reaching Cairns.  The new Cairns station, opened in the 1990s, is designed to accommodate 25KV electrification (clearances, etc.).

After the 1989 General Election, electrification to Toowoomba and Townsville was cancelled within weeks by the new Goss Government.

The only extensions of electrification that occurred under that Government were 20km or so from Ipswich to Rosewood (through Transport Minister David Hamill's electorate), and construction of Beenleigh to Helensvale as electrified line.

I believe electrification from the Goonyella system to Abbott Point via Newlands (new recently opened "Southern Missing Link") is planned when the tonnage carried by the new linking line reaches a certain level.  Present traffic levels are insufficient to justify electrification.

Electrification from Newlands to Abbott Point was planned back in the 1980s, but deferred for lack of tonnage.  The recent direct linking of the line to the main coal system may change those economics.

[colinw]

I wouldn't read too much into that, just fleet renewal.  The 3100/3200 class are over 25 years old, and are old DC traction technology. Some have been rebuilt into 3700 class with AC traction, allowing 3 for 5 replacement on former 3100/3200 duties, but my understanding is that not all 3100s will get that treatment.

Both QRN & Pacific National have invested recently in new AC traction electric locos (QRN 3800 class & PNQ 7100 class, made by Siemens), so electric traction isn't going away on the coalfields any time soon.

I don't think we'll ever see electrification on the Moura system and its southward extension to Wandoan, but electrification of the line via Newlands still might occur.

The coalfields electrifications would not happen in today's climate. They happened just before some major advances in the efficiency of diesel electric locos that would have made the entire project unnecessary. At the time, however, oil prices were heading north and electrification seemed like the way to handle the big tonnages on offer.

Arguably the mainline electrification went at least two phases too far. Phases 1 (Blackwater) and 2 (Goonyella) have proved their worth. Phase 3 (Emerald) was a political sop, and never justified its existence, hence its early mothballing with the withdrawal & 3551 conversion of the 3900s.

Phase 4 was originally meant to be Newlands to Abbott Point, but was politically changed to Nambour to Gladstone and the 3900 classes were ordered. I would contend that this phase also never justified its existence, and the money would have been better off spent on deviations and crossing loop extensions.  As it was, we spent a significant amount of money in the late 1980s electrifying woefully bad mainline alignments, only to pull those masts & wires down and relocate them a few years later when the Goss Government built the NCL deviations in the early 90s. Typical politically driven Government mismanagement of a railway.

The electrification that the short lived National Party Cooper Government authorised to Toowoomba in 1989 would have been even worse, as they were going to drop the floor on some tunnels, daylight others, and electrify the existing range crossings.  I'm glad it was cancelled as it would have locked in the current Little Liverpool Range & Toowoomba Range crossings for another 50+ years.

[HappyTrainGuy]

The 31's have their own problems with the biggest one being their high loco utilisation. Another of the reasons why the majority of the 32's underwent total rebuilds back in 04/05ish was to provide spare parts while providing more locos that were similar to the 38 class. Remember the only thing that carried over during the rebuild was the trains shell. And then there's the 35/36 class with some of the 39's rebuilt as 35's along with the 33/34's now being used as slave units (Although I can't remember if they just assigned them as slaves or fixed the problems with the 33's).

[HappyTrainGuy]

Well, there was the order of 30 odd brand new 38's aswell At the time the 33's had problems with the drivers cabs containing coal dust or some other issue (I can't remember if it was poor insulation or if the AC units were sucking it in) so they might have kept a few to use as lead locos/backups/treating the 33's as slaves like the 34's until such time that those problems could be fixed/rollout of the 37's and 38's (Also remember that the 38's were banned as lead locos because they weren't up noise safety standards).

If you go back to 2000 the things that have changed are more mines, mining technology has evolved ie they don't throw as much away as they once did, locomotive/track performance has increased, demand has increased along with competition from other compinies such as Pacific National Queensland.

[colinw]

There's more diesel haulage of coal under the wires than in past years, due to some new mines opening up in non electric areas.  The Minerva mine on the Springsure branch for one, and also the mine(s) on the Rolleston branch.

What class normally operates to Rolleston - 4100?

[Golliwog]

Wasn't Rolleston the one that was funded by a mining company so instead of building to a Q100 flood level it was built to a Q20, and subsequently got stuffed by the 2011 floods?

[colinw]

Wasn't Rolleston the one that was funded by a mining company so instead of building to a Q100 flood level it was built to a Q20, and subsequently got stuffed by the 2011 floods?

http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=35846

Minister for Transport & Main Roads
The Honourable Paul Lucas

Tuesday, June 15, 2004

BUDGET PROVIDES FOR RAIL EXPANSION IN CQ

The State Budget has provided almost $195 million to support Queensland Rail's expansion of coal haulage in Central Queensland, Transport and Main Roads Minister Paul Lucas announced today.

Mr Lucas said the Bauhinia Rail project would generate railings of eight million tonnes of coal annually from the Rolleston mine by 2008.

"The mine's operator, Xstrata, selected QR to supply rail construction and haulage for the development in an open tender process against private sector competition," Mr Lucas said.

"The new 110km branch line will run from the mine to Kinrola, which is south of Blackwater.

"QR will haul 150 million tonnes of coal from the mine to the Port of Gladstone under a 20-year contract."

Mr Lucas said the project would provide a major boost to the Central Queensland economy.

"Up to 400 people will be employed during construction, many of them locals," Mr Lucas said.

"As a result of this growth in coal traffic, mainline track on the Blackwater system will also need to be duplicated.

"That will be about 24 kilometres of track that will be duplicated between Wallaroo and Dingo, east of Blackwater."

Mr Lucas said QR's haulage of coal on the Blackwater system was expected to jump to 49 million tonnes in 2005-06, compared with 39 million tonnes this financial year.

Statewide, QR is expecting coal railings to increase significantly over the next few years from the expected figure of 143 million tonnes in 2004-05.

[somebody]

There's already more freight under wires than there is locos for it AIUI.  So putting up wires would be pointless without expanding the electric loco fleet to soak up that capacity first then the mines' capacity.

[ozbob]

From The Observer click here!

Fast rail coming?

Fast rail coming?

Rebecca Davis | 8th June 2012 5:00 AM

GLADSTONE might soon be on the fast track to the rest of Central Queensland.

Capricorn Enterprise has been investigating the possibility of a high-speed rail service connecting Bundaberg, Gladstone and Rockhampton.

Mayor Gail Sellers believes the proposed "fast train" could be a solution to Gladstone's rental crisis.

Workers would be able to live in Bundaberg - where the price of living is much cheaper - while being able to easily travel to work in Gladstone.

The flow-on effect could be lower demand in Gladstone, thus cheaper rental prices.

"We already have commuters from Bundaberg and Rockhampton."

Tanner Consulting recently prepared a pre-feasibility study of behalf of Capricorn Enterprise, the draft final report was presented last week and the results are mostly positive.

Neil Lethlean from Capricorn Enterprise said there was high demand for the train from the three regional areas but it seemed to be a matter of infrastructure provision and timetabling issues.

He said the final report, due to be presented to Capricorn Enterprise and QR Rail Travel in two weeks, would be subject to technical scrutiny.

[O_128]

wow imagine if aus first HSR was this, 

[WTN]

wow imagine if aus first HSR was this, 

It'd probably be souped-up tilt trains on upgraded track. Single line most of the length.

[beauyboy]

The thing is the existing tilts plus some new extras could do it if the line was upgraded removing the last few bends and double tracked with passing loops. As it is the ETT can easily exceed 160kmph we just need the track alignment for them to be openned up on.

Donald

[WTN]

Unfortunately it got knocked back by DTMR (how typical): http://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/story/2012/09/03/fast-train-not-viable/

Report here: http://www.capricornenterprise.com.au/2012/08/fast-rail-commuter-service-connecting-rocky-gladstone-and-bundaberg/

[#Metro]

Useful information:

In  2006,  the  economic  cost  of  a  fatal  crash  in  Australia  was  estimated  at  $2.67
 million.

 The  cost  of  a   hospitalised  injury  crash  was  approximately  $266,000  and  the  cost  of  a
 non-­‐hospitalised  injury  crash   was   about   $14,700.

  Based   on   2006   data,   the   average   cost   of   a   property-­‐only   crash   was  
approximately  $9,950  (DITRDLG,  2011).

    

[#Metro]

There is a synopsis, but where is the actual report?

[ozbob]

From Queensland Telegraph, Rockhampton 15 Sep 2012, page 6 - 8
by John Mikkelsen

BUILD it and they will come.

BUILD it and they will come.

It's a catch-line from Field of Dreams - a movie about one man's vision to turn a corn field into a thriving baseball stadium in America's mid-west - a long way removed from Central Queensland's industrial boom.

But according to a Gladstone regional councillor, the same visionary foresight could get a fast train service linking major CQ centres up on the rails, despite some opposition and negativity.

The Queensland Telegraph last week revealed that businessman and entrepreneur Tony Gambling was willing to roll the dice and take a chance on a fast train service between Rockhampton and Gladstone councillor wants fast train fast-tracked Gladstone to transport up to 480 workers daily each way. With business interests stretching from Hervey Bay to Bundaberg, Gladstone Rockhampton and Emerald, he is mainly interested in the Rockhampton to Gladstone return run initially to service the port city's booming industries and scarce housing, but would consider extending the fast train to Bundaberg if the first link proved profitable.

Rockhampton Mayor Margaret Strelow is one high-profile local politician who does not think there would be sufficient demand to get the proposal on track. She told the Telegraph last Saturday: "I am just calling a spade a spade. The reality is it just isn't going to stack up in the current climate with our current populations."

Gladstone Regional Councillor Ren Lanzon disagrees and can see the advantages in a service stretching to Bundaberg. "There would be great benefits to having a fast train service to the three cities.

"I'm sure all of us would be pleased to have such a service, which would facilitate travel between the three centres separated by this tyr anny of distance and crowded highway.

"Occasional shopping trips between the centres would be welcomed by all, although Gladstone retailers may have cause to fear loss of sales to the larger shopping centres of Rockhampton and Bundaberg.

"If I could be confident that the LNP Government will not continue to ignore Gladstone as the previous government did, I would have no concern about the prospect of a fast train service. "But its recent insistence on maintaining a management control policy on Mt Larcom to prevent subdivisional development and freeze growth, indicates to me that maybe Gladstone's only worth to the new government is as a site for more and more industries, apparently of such toxic nature that people could not live near them," Cr Lanzon said.

The establishment of the fast rail link was one of the platforms he pushed during his successful council election campaign in April, but there were some notes of caution.

"I was concerned that such a service would tend to cement Gladstone's status as an industrial hub, with Rockhampton and Bundaberg being the dormitories supplying workers for Gladstone," Cr Lanzon said.

"At that time, I warned that medical and other services might continue to be diverted to Rockhampton and Bundaberg at the expense of Gladstone if they continued to be seen as the dormitory areas supplying workers for Gladstone.

"Places like the Boyne valley, Miriam Vale and Mount Larcom should be our dormitory centres. "I haven't changed my stance. Fast transport is always good, but these aspects also need to be considered and pre-empted if necessary."

Mr Gambling's proposal is for Queensland Rail to provide an engine, six carriages and staff, while he would undertake to sell the tickets and take the financial risk.

"The frustrating thing for me is that feasibility is not an issue. I fear all this prevarication will see the opportunity lost," he said. Capricorn Enterprise chief executive Mary Carroll said she was dismayed by some of the negative reaction to the recent feasibility report.

[ozbob]

Letter to the editor Morning Bulletin, Rockhampton,  22 September 2012, page 36

Po!lies brag but make no tracks

Po!lies brag but make no tracks

INTERESTING to note recent reports in our local paper ("Bruce takes centre stage" TMB online, 11/9; and "State urged to maintain transport" TMB 11/9) of the usual politicians doing the usual carry-on but not actually using any grey matter.

Having recently had to travel down to the Sunshine Coast and knowing full well what a mess the Bruce Hwy would be in, I thought I'd go by train: you know, sit back and use my time more efficiently, maybe even have a nap so I could arrive refreshed.

Yeah, right. Only catch is, the only tilt train service heading south leaves at 1.15am ...in the middle of the night. Gee, I thought we were in the middle of a mining boom. Gee, I thought that given all the road works and all the mine workers who have already paid with their lives as a consequence of the Beattie-Bligh government's gross incompetency, somebody might have twigged by now, there was an ideal way of spreading the benefits of this supposed boom at least as far as Rockhampton workers and in the process, give the workers a safer, more enjoyable journey.

Apparently, there has even been a study to look into the "viability" of increased rail services and the answer came up in the negative? I'd love to see what the assessment criteria were, what options were seriously canvassed. And funny how no one ever queries the "viability of a highway" especially one that is far more prone to flooding and costly maintenance, than the rail alternative.

Imagine if we decided to get serious about providing a genuinely "groovy" rail service. I'm thinking along the lines of Gam and 8am departure services that give you the options of coach, premium economy and business class, with full catering and office/sleeper cabins, that allowed all sorts of people, residents of Emerald, Gracemere and Rockhampton to visit friends on the Sunshine Coast or commute far more safely to work in the mining regions or Gladstone and safely have a nap along the way. And imagine how much more quickly highway upgrades would be completed without so much traffic on the road. What is so hard about all this?

Instead, politicians just like to brag about how much money they've been spending on local roads. Wouldn't it be far better if our politicians could actually pinpoint the ways they have made our lives better, safer, more prosperous?

Bernadette George, Emu Park