(Foam) Toowoomba light rail proposal

[colinw]

Some amusing foam in the Toowoomba Chronicle.    Click here ...

As an aside, a Toowoomba tramway was proposed in the early part of the 20th century, around the time Rockhampton got its steam trams. Didn't get very far ...

TOOWOOMBA train enthusiast Robert Ketton is urging Toowoomba Regional Council to seriously consider alternative options regarding the future of the city's current rail corridor. 

Mr Ketton, the public relations officer for DownsSteam Tourist Railway and Museum has suggested using the line as a light rail transport system. 

He said the tram-like system would connect the major traffic areas of Toowoomba and boost the city's public transport system. 

His idea comes after Toowoomba Region Mayor Paul Antonio said it was time to relocate the line as it had "reached its use-by date." 

"Just about everywhere that has closed a railway line has come to regret it,' Mr Ketton said. 

"We are absolutely wedded to the motor car and we need a cultural shift." 

His plan is for the light rail system to use the current line as a transportation route between the city's railway station, through the central shopping district to the Toowoomba Hospital and on to the University. 

He also suggested the possibility of it continuing on to service existing stations at Clifton, Wyreema and Nobby. 

Member for Toowoomba North Trevor Watts said he would begin a "conversation" regarding what the future holds for the rail corridor. 

"I'm starting a process of conversation to see how we're going to get bulk haulage trains out of the Toowoomba CBD," he said. 

"We need to see what people want to replace the line and take it from there." 

[#Metro]

Asphalt it over and then BUSWAY!! and cycleway!

[colinw]

Toowoomba doesn't and, will probably never need even so much as a busway. There is no public transport problem in Toowoomba that requires more than the odd bus lane or bus priority measure.

The entire idea of removing the railway is utter bollocks until such time as the new range crossing is built, at which point re-routing the Southern line via the original Gowrie Junction to Wyreema route will become more sensible than the current (1915) "Drayton Deviation" route through Toowoomba.

The rail route south through Toowoomba doesn't run where you would want a rapid transit route anyway, other than the hospital it manages to avoid just about anything of consequence.  It would make a nice walking path or bikeway 'though.

Not every legacy alignment is of value for rapid transit.

P.S. In my opinion, the centrally located Toowoomba station should be retained for eventual re-use as an inter-urban terminus for services from Brisbane, assuming a new range crossing gets built.

If/when that range crossing happens, I think the following assumptions will hold true:

• The range crossing will emerge with a west facing tunnel portal somewhere down the Gowrie Creek valley toward the sites of Pengarry Junction (former Crows Nest branch) & Gowrie Junction (original Southern Line route west of Toowoomba)
• Trains to the west (toward Dalby) will proceed directly without going near Toowoomba
• Trains to the south (toward Warwick) will travel via the original Southern line alignment from Gowrie Jct to Wyreema. The re-opened original Southern Line will also serve a major new yard at Charlton.
• The section of line from where the new range crossing joins the Western line back to Toowoomba station and the Toowoomba (Willowburn) yards will be retained
• Electrification, if it occurs, will be to the old Toowoomba station
• The "Drayton Deviation" route from Toowoomba Station to Wyreema will close and be removed
• The original range crossing from Toowoomba to Murphy's Creek & Helidon will close, but part of it MAY be retained as a tourist railway, otherwise it will make a spectacular rail trail
• Don't hold your breath for any of the above ...

[#Metro]

It would make a nice cycleway and that would preserve the alignment for RT in the future. Just asphalt over the tracks.

[colinw]

For the most part that would work, although there's a couple of rail over road wooden trestle bridges to deal with as well.