Triplication NOW QUADRUPLICATION Corinda to Darra - Oxley precinct

[ozbob]

The CWA Hall has been positioned onto a trailer and ready for the move tonight.






















New Sign at Oxley



Photographs R Dow 29th March 2009

[wbj]

IIRC, the CWA Hall was previously in the area now occupied by the south western carpark.  That's about 30 years ago.

[ozbob]

The move of the hall went ahead as planned overnight.

Last evening before the move



This morning at Oxley, changed railway-scape ..





Cawonga Park, the new home for the hall











Photographs R Dow 29th and 30th March 2009

[ozbob]

Area where the hall was has been cleared rapidly.  Work will start on the retaining wall behind the bus station and which in time will be a support for the track and a possible platform 4 ...





Photographs R Dow 31st March 2009

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times 1st April 2009 page 3

Hall preserved after line upgrade threat

Hall preserved after line upgrade threat

THE Oxley CWA hall has been given a second chance after the Ipswich line upgrades threatened the existence of the 1950s building.

The hall was removed under police escort to a local Oxley park on Sunday to make way for track expansion taking place between Darra and Corinda.

RAIL Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said community groups would continue to use the hall.

"It is pleasing to see that in the midst of this huge project, small, but significant pieces of local history can be preserved with a bit of vision." Mr Dow said.

[ozbob]

Work going on for the 4th line formation behind the bus station. 





Photographs R Dow 4th April 2009

[ozbob]

Looking UP and Down from platform 1 Oxley






Bus Stop B (Ardoyne)



Photographs R Dow 8th April 2009

[ozbob]

Western end of platform 3 is almost complete

Second down service for Good Friday arriving at Platform 3




Excavation behind the bus stop is on in earnest, a supporting wall for the forth track and possible forth platform to be constructed





Photographs R Dow 10th April 2009


Down grain train



Photograph R Dow 9th April 2009

[ozbob]

Platform 3 is getting close to completion, work continuing on the formations for the up and freight line.



Can you spot the ramp which now forms part of the platform?


Subway access ramp with apparent alignment for the new platform
The structure seen is actually the 'roof' of the ramp underneath down to the subway.



Photograph R Dow 11 May 2008









Photographs R Dow 18th April 2009

[david]

The past and present images of Oxley are excellent and it's great to see the platform almost complete! I have one criticism however - the roof of the ramp that sticks up on platform 3 which has been fenced off, has made that area of the platform fairly unsafe to stand, due to the narrowness. If they had made the platform carriage height for the straight section of the platform (similar to Roma St), the raised area would've been covered over, and that area of the platform the same width as the rest of the platform.

Oxley now looks a little odd, with a brand new platform sitting next to a rather shabby looking platform. Are they going to paint platform 3 to match up the colour tones, or are they going to replace the roof on the main platform?

[O_128]

I honestly cant believe they didn't make the train platform height. I am always helping woman with prams and the elderly trying to get on and off trains it is not fair on them

[mufreight]

The problem here with platform heights is SEQIP and Translink attempting to cut costs, obviously none of their planners use public transport nor do they have children, wives parents or any person in their families who is physically disabled who use public transport.
The new Transport Minister has made a good start by sampling rail and then following up on some of what she experienced so at this time this Minister wielding a new broom gives some grounds for hope for better more passenger friendly public transport.

[O_128]

The problem here with platform heights is SEQIP and Translink attempting to cut costs, obviously none of their planners use public transport nor do they have children, wives parents or any person in their families who is physically disabled who use public transport.
The new Transport Minister has made a good start by sampling rail and then following up on some of what she experienced so at this time this Minister wielding a new broom gives some grounds for hope for better more passenger friendly public transport.

If translink though built all platform tot he right height then the nead for guards would be eliminated instead you have an attendant at all stations you would save millions then train all the guards as drivers

[Arnz]

The problem here with platform heights is SEQIP and Translink attempting to cut costs, obviously none of their planners use public transport nor do they have children, wives parents or any person in their families who is physically disabled who use public transport.
The new Transport Minister has made a good start by sampling rail and then following up on some of what she experienced so at this time this Minister wielding a new broom gives some grounds for hope for better more passenger friendly public transport.

If translink though built all platform tot he right height then the nead for guards would be eliminated instead you have an attendant at all stations you would save millions then train all the guards as drivers

Problem is the costs of raising every platform on the network.  Not to mention the on-going costs of paying the attendant/s.

[david]

Yes...cost is a massive issue for upgrading platforms, not to mention platform closures that would cause havoc for many lines (i'm thinking Cleveland/Shorncliffe/Ferny Grove). Increases in platform height should be incorporated into future refurbishments or new stations such as Richlands, Buranda and Darra (i think Varsity Lakes will be built at carriage height, but i'm not too sure...can anyone confirm?)

And with the discussion about guards...I thought that guards are already train drivers, as I see the "guard" switching to the drivers cab when a train terminates and becomes a new service. Why does everyone keep going on about training guards as train drivers?

[ozbob]

Guards are not drivers David.  Guards do have training for emergency control of a train I believe.  If you watch carefully drivers change ends when trains terminate.  I think why people mention it is that it is potentially a pool of personnel who could one day become drivers.  However, driver only operation is not on the agenda as far as I am aware.  There are many advantages to having guards on the Citytrain services IMHO.

[ozbob]

A spectacular rainbow over Oxley last afternoon/early evening.  Photographs don't quite capture the effect as it was ..










The subway exterior is now exposed southern side as work proceeds for supports for the new line



Photographs R Dow 22nd April 2009

[ozbob]

Eastern end of platform 3 looks almost ready, as is the footbridge.  Go card readers not yet activated.
Some bicycle lockers in position eastern end of platform 3 entrance.

Can't be too far way now the opening for much improved access.

[ozbob]

The go card reader on the eastern end of platform 3 is on, although still not active for touch.

Bicycle lockers in position.  Seems the opening of the eastern access of platform 3 is very soon!

Not sure about the footbridge, although it looks ready.







Photographs R Dow 1st May 2009

[ozbob]

The eastern end of platform 3 is now open for access.  The go reader is still red however, and footbridge not yet in use.

Still, it is a start .. 

Looks good.







Photographs R Dow 1st May 2009

[ozbob]

Some more photographs early this morning.













Photographs R Dow 2nd May 2009

[ozbob]

Steam engine at Oxley Railway Station, January 1876

The station buildings are all constructed from wood. Passengers and railway staff can be seen on the platform.

[ozbob]

Remember the old foot bridge?

--> http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1016.0



Photographs R Dow 14 June 2008, about 10.30am.

[ozbob]

A supporting 'wall' will be constructed immediately behind the bus station, support for the 4th line and hopefully one day the 4th platform!  The subway structure is exposed for the time being.







Photographs R Dow 3rd May 2009

[ozbob]

Media Release 4 May 2009

SEQ:  Oxley foot bridge - a bridge to nowhere

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has called for an acceleration in the commissioning of the new Oxley foot bridge.  Months late, residents and commuters are becoming frustrated with ongoing issues which delay its opening.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The Oxley footbridge is a necessary local thoroughfare connecting the local Oxley community and for use by rail commuters.  Oxley is a very busy station."

"Initial community consultation indicated the old footbridge would be decommissioned in June 2008 and the new one commissioned by December 2008 (1)"

"In an apparent attempt to ease some local concerns, access from the street and new car park to the eastern end platform 3 at Oxley was finally given on 1st May 2009.  However the go card reader at the eastern entrance was not operating (and still is not operating as of 6.30am May 4), although the reader next to the northern footbridge stairs is but it is behind barriers and not accessible!  Commuters still have to track down to the other end of platform 3 to touch on or off.  Why is the travelling public treated in such an offhand manner?"

"RAIL Back On Track calls for an explanation from the Minister as to why the bridge is not open,  and when can we expect a functioning go card reader and bridge opening?"

"Oxley residents and rail commuters have been very patient!"

Reference:

1.
http://www.trackstar.com.au/images/stories/cons_notices/COD/remqr_con_up_fb_closure_13_june_2008.pdf

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
0412255927
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

The following response has been received from the Minister for Transport's office via the Member for Mt Ommaney Mrs Attwood.

Thank you for the information, which is published with permission.

"Oxley Station Footbridge

Construction of the Oxley Station footbridge has been affected by significant rain events in late 2008 and early 2009.

Additional delays arose in the procurement of project materials and when new safety rules were introduced by QR when working close to high voltage wires.

This meant lighting and CCTV testing on the footbridge needed to be undertaken under rail isolations.

Bridge opening

The Oxley Station footbridge is nearing completion. Finishing works are currently underway with the painting of handrails and surface finishes.

QR will undertake a final inspection in the next few days, prior to the footbridge opening later this week.  (Shrouds to minimise lighting spillage will be fitted to lights on the footbridge in about two weeks).

Go Card Readers

Two operational go card readers were in place at the station on Tuesday evening.

More information is available from the Tranlink website  www.translink.com.au "

[mufreight]

The saga of the Oxley pedestrian overbridge is further reason why with hindsight a subway would have been a preferable option.
A subway with ramps rather than stairs would have provided full disability access without the need for lifts and would have been less visualy intrusive.
A bit late for Oxley but worth considering for new stations such as Richlands

[ozbob]

Looks as though the foot bridge will be opening shortly!

Work proceeding on activating both go card readers at the foot of stairs platform 3 and platforms 1 and 2 early this morning (6.20am).





Photographs R Dow 8th May 2009

[ozbob]

Heading home on EMU50 (4.23pm Ipswich from Roma St)  footbridge might be open!  In the last carriage  ...


PS first test of my mobile internet, and seems to be going fine!

[ozbob]

The footbridge opened at 4pm.

Some photographs shortly after opened for use.  Very impressive foot bridge!



















Photographs R Dow 8th may 2009

[david]

it's a bit odd how they placed a go card reader near the footbridge on platform 3. i can't possibly see its usefulness, considering that there is already a reader very close to it. perhaps they should relocate the reader to the stairs at platform 1/2?

[ozbob]

The only reason I can think of is down the track, there might be up trains from the City during peaks using that platform.

[ozbob]

Some early morning photographs as the day dawns ...













Photographs R Dow 9th May 2009

[ozbob]

Works behind the bus station (stop A) for the supports for 4th line and eventual platform (one day!).








Near Susannah Street Oxley, works proceeding to straighten out the alignment for the new lines.
(Photograph from train).



Photographs mufreight 8th May 2009

[ozbob]

Work behind the bus station proceeds









Photographs R Dow 17th May 2009

[ozbob]

Track closure this weekend between Sherwood and Rosewood.

Trackstar in possession of Oxley station. Light rain falling but work proceeding on platform 3 and the other projects.

BBL buses in service.

Platforms open.  Hope the punters read the signs!   

[ozbob]

No trains this weekend!






Photograph R Dow 24th May 2009

[ozbob]

On board EMU 173 late running 6.25 am ex Oxley.  Tutor drivers taking trains through new road changes ( points / signals ) Corinda/Sherwood. Still on the mains to Indro. 1737/1769D  went through earlier heading a container freight train!  Interesting times! 

[ozbob]

Progress continues at Oxley with preparations for the 3rd and 4th lines.

Formation behind bus station taking shape.  Concrete wall finished for support behind the bus station.  Subway buried once more.











Photographs R Dow 14th June 2009

[ozbob]

Busy weekend at Oxley.  Further work on platform 3.  Note GO card equipment will not be functioning on platform 3 until Tuesday. 







Photographs R Dow 20th June 2009