QUEENSLAND RAIL CLOSES BRIDGE IN IPSWICH

[ozbob]

Media release

14 June, 2012

QUEENSLAND RAIL CLOSES BRIDGE IN IPSWICH

Queensland Rail has closed a timber road-over-rail bridge in Sadliers Crossing due to safety
concerns.

An inspection last year revealed structural concerns with the Herbert Street Bridge, which crosses the
railway line west of Ipswich railway station.

After that inspection, Queensland Rail worked with Ipswich City Council to place load limits on the
bridge until further inspections could be carried out.

Queensland Rail Chief Network Officer John Pistak said it has now been determined it is necessary to
conduct an immediate, detailed engineering assessment of the bridge in order to establish whether it
remains safe to operate.

In the meantime, Queensland Rail has no choice but to close the bridge to vehicular traffic with
immediate effect. Pedestrians and cyclists will still have access across the bridge.

"Safety is the number one priority at Queensland Rail, and it is the sole reason behind our decision to
close the Herbert Street Bridge," Mr Pistak said.

"We need to ensure the structural integrity of the bridge and we have closed it for inspection so we
can guarantee the safety of both motorists and people travelling on our trains.

"Traffic management officers will be on site to direct motorists to alternative routes."

An expert, independent engineering inspection will be carried out next week to determine the future of
the bridge.

"The report will give us an independent engineering assessment of the structural capacity of the
bridge, the suitability of the current load limit and the remaining service life of the bridge," Mr Pistak
said.

"We will endeavour to have the inspection carried out as soon as possible, but it will require the
Western line to close between 9.00am-2.30pm on Monday and Tuesday, west of Ipswich railway
station.

"While this will not affect customers using our City network to travel to Ipswich, it will affect those
travelling to stations between Ipswich and Rosewood, as well as our freight partners. Buses will
replace train services as required."

Queensland Rail apologises for any inconvenience caused by this necessary closure.

ENDS

[ozbob]

View Larger Map

[ozbob]

http://jp.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/details/1339720319

Ipswich to Rosewood track closure

Last updated: 3.40pm Friday 15 June 2012

From 9.30am to 2.30pm on Tuesday 19 June, tracks will be closed between Ipswich and Rosewood.

Please plan your journey in advance and allow for extra travel time (approximately 60 minutes).

The last available trains before this closure are:

    Rosewood to Ipswich train departing Rosewood at 9.05am
    Ipswich to Rosewood train departing Ipswich at 8.35am.

The first trains available after this closure are:

    Rosewood to Ipswich trains departing Rosewood at 3.05pm
    Ipswich to Rosewood trains departing Ipswich at 2.35pm.

Bus replacement services

During this time, buses will replace trains in both directions between Ipswich and Rosewood.

Affected stations

    Ipswich
    Thomas Street
    Wulkuraka
    Karrabin
    Walloon
    Thagoona
    Rosewood.

[ozbob]

Hmmmm ...

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

Twitter

TransLink SEQ ‏@TransLinkSEQ

Buses replace trains between Ipswich/Rosewood Mon 18 & Tues 19 June – details here http://bit.ly/MM9mGh

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

I have alerted TransLink to the fact that their notice http://bit.ly/MM9mGh is  currently showing only a Tuesday closure ...

[Golliwog]

Hmmmm ...

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

Twitter

TransLink SEQ ‏@TransLinkSEQ

Buses replace trains between Ipswich/Rosewood Mon 18 & Tues 19 June – details here http://bit.ly/MM9mGh

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

I have alerted TransLink to the fact that their notice http://bit.ly/MM9mGh is  currently showing only a Tuesday closure ...

Do they give you a good response? I notified them in the week before the previous FG closure that they were listing the last services wrong. They had the last service from Roma St and the last service from Ferny Grove right, but they had the last service from Beenleigh leaving Beenleigh at 6.20pm when no such service existed. It was meant to say that 6.20pm was the last service through Park Rd that went through to Ferny Grove. Lo and behold, it's happened again. 

[ozbob]

Nil response so far ...

[ozbob]

Found a separate notice for Monday 18th at http://jp.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/details/1339719868, but not linked in to their tweet ...

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

Ipswich to Rosewood track closure

Last updated: 4.03pm Friday 15 June 2012

From 9.30am to 2.30pm on Monday 18 June, tracks will be closed between Ipswich and Rosewood.

Please plan your journey in advance and allow for extra travel time (approximately 60 minutes).

The last available trains before this closure are:

    Rosewood to Ipswich train departing Rosewood at 9.05am
    Ipswich to Rosewood train departing Ipswich at 8.35am.

The first trains available after this closure are:

    Rosewood to Ipswich train departing Rosewood at 3.05pm
    Ipswich to Rosewood train departing Ipswich at 2.35pm.

Bus replacement services

During this time, buses will replace trains in both directions between Ipswich and Rosewood.

    Ipswich
    Thomas Street
    Wulkuraka
    Karrabin
    Walloon
    Thagoona
    Rosewood

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

Unless there are funds found, I expect this road bridge to remain closed to vehicles, but pedestrians and bicycles permitted.

[Golliwog]

So similar outcome as the two overbridges at Alderley then. As I recall, one of those was closed to all traffic bar pedestrians and cyclists, the other had a load limit placed on it, can't remember what the limit was though.

[HappyTrainGuy]

4t.