Re-timetabling XPT

[ozbob]

Discussion on ' Timetabling the XPT away from the morning peak to create two extra train paths for Gold Coast or Beenleigh services '.

[somebody]

Who said this couldn't be done!  Seems to be happening now, which is good.

[SurfRail]

Who said this couldn't be done!  Seems to be happening now, which is good.

The issue is more NSW and how much rejigging they would have to do.  When I spoke to Dan the Timetable Man he wasn't aware of any movement on the issue, but I got the impression it would be easy to fix if NSW/ARTC were willing to come to the table - just that it would be above his pay grade to get it started.

[ozbob]

Was going to be done as part of phase 2 timetable stuff.  Where are you phase 2?

[HappyTrainGuy]

Still waiting on the other plans relating to running/positioning trains for phase 2

[colinw]

What about swapping the Casino & Brisbane XPTs?

Currently the Casino XPT is a day train terminating at Casino at about 6:45PM, then returning to Brisbane as a night train.

The Brisbane XPT is a night train terminating at Roma St just before 7AM, and returning at 7:30AM as a day train.

I wonder if there is scope to rejig things so that the Casino XPT runs overnight from Sydney, and the Brisbane XPT is a day train terminating in Brisbane in the evening (probably around 9PM), before returning to Sydney as an overnight service.

The problem is that this will probably cause "knock on" effects which will require retiming of the Melbourne, Grafton & Dubbo XPTs, due to the very tight turnarounds and high utilisation of the XPT.  It is impossible to do a Sydney - Brisbane - Sydney turn in under 24 hours, so the train returning from Brisbane then operates onward (I think to Melbourne, but open to correction). Change which service it is runs right through to Brisbane and the timing of the Melbourne train in particular also has to change.

I am also of the opinion that Casino is a bit of a daft place to terminate an XPT service, and would rather see the Casino XPT continue either to Brisbane, or onwards to at least Lismore on the branch line. Byron Bay might also be an option. I definitely do not advocate re-opening right through to Murwillumbah, but I think it is very silly that it doesn't go at least as far as Lismore.

Thoughts?

[somebody]

I think double daily Brisbane XPT and remove the Casino one.  Surely that would be better than the coach link.  Reduce Dubbo, Griffith or Grafton XPTs to free up XPTs for the service?

[colinw]

Split discussion about the Murwillumbah branch to its own thread: click here

[somebody]

Current non-daylight saving issues (as I read them) are:
6:33am ex-Varsity Lakes train can't use DG from Yeerongpilly to South Bank - I'd swap there to overtake the 6:58am ex-Beenleigh.
6:48am ex-Varsity Lakes struggles to get in front of the 7:14am ex-Beenleigh at Coopers Plains
7:04am ex-Varsity Lakes struggles to get in front of the 7:28am ex-Beenleigh at Coopers Plains (not 100% sure if this is an issue if the XPT is on time)
7:20am ex-Varsity Lakes has no issues normally, unless the XPT is quite late.

Is that about right?

[HappyTrainGuy]

I'd press to get that Ferny Grove-Yeerongpilly terminator out of the way while the XPT discussion is up. The Gold Coaster following it always gets stuck behind it and is frequently (if not every day) held just outside the signal next to 7-11 at Yeronga. Its even more annoying as the Gold Coast service then has to put up with running yellows all the way to Coopers Plains as both trains run express (one exp to Coopers Plains the other exp to Kuraby).

[somebody]

I'd press to get that Ferny Grove-Yeerongpilly terminator out of the way while the XPT discussion is up. The Gold Coaster following it always gets stuck behind it and is frequently (if not every day) held just outside the signal next to 7-11 at Yeronga. Its even more annoying as the Gold Coast service then has to put up with running yellows all the way to Coopers Plains as both trains run express (one exp to Coopers Plains the other exp to Kuraby).

Do you mean a Mitchelton-YLY terminator?  A particular one or all of the YLY terminators?

[HappyTrainGuy]

Might actually be the first Yeerongpilly service; the Doomben-Yeerongpilly service. I'd have to double check.

Departure times at Bowen Hills.
Yeerongpilly 6.42
Gold Coast 6.46
The Gold Coast service has a longer dwell at Central to make it a 5 minute difference but the Gold Coast service still hunts it down after Park Road.