Ministerial Statement: Labor failed to improve station access

[Gazza]

Graceville/Sherwood are close to me and they all seem like they'd be fairly simple to do...No different to Nundah station really....Have ramps on the outside, then lifts from the subway up to the platform:
http://goo.gl/maps/4dV1b

In fact at Graceville there already are ramps on the outside and it'd just be a case of jackhammering up the bottom of the ramp and doing a little bit of excavation to make the ramp longer so that it is a 1:14 gradient.
http://goo.gl/maps/0pwk3

At Sherwood one entrance already is at street level: http://goo.gl/maps/ZzPmQ

Chelmer has the terrain to its advantage...
Have ramps from the honour Ave side since it's only a short vertical rise http://goo.gl/maps/yQytk
Same goes for the Halsbury st side: http://goo.gl/maps/KAcd8

Chelmer should just be done as a prefab steel oveebridge that gets built in the car park and craned into place. Have a lift down to platform 1/2, but 3/4 , due to its narrowness and less frequent use, should just have a ramp that loops under the bridge and down to platform level.

[ozbob]

^ good thinking Gazza.  I was down at Cardina Road when in Melbourne recently and was reminded that we don't always need lifts to be DDA compliant.

[Old Northern Road]

Sherwood/ Graceville/ Chelmer would only need lifts to one of the platforms wouldn't they?

Also with Sherwood they might be waiting to see what's going to happen with the level crossing before bothering to upgrade the station.

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament E-petition

Universal access at Graceville, Chelmer and Sherwood railway stations

--> http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/apps/Epetitions_QLD/CurrentEPetition.aspx?PetNum=2161&lIndex=-1

[ozbob]

612 ABC Brisbane Breakfast with Spencer Howson

Petition calls for better access to train stations

03 October 2013 , 8:06 AM by Spencer Howson

Caught the train recently? Find it easy to get to the platform? After struggling with a pram at her local station, one Brisbane mother discovered that even the stations in the surrounding area had "stairs only" access.

Now Samantha Kennedy has started a petition calling on the State Government to upgrade the Graceville, Chelmer and Sherwood railway stations to allow universal access.

Scott Emerson is Transport Minister:

Click --> here!

[p858snake]

Couriermail Quest --> A Brisbane mum's plea for universal access at train stations

"Auchenflower: Steep ramp, assistance from support worker may be required"

There is the subway access at the other end, although the hill down on the outside to access is probably only marginally better, Unless you need Platform 4.

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Crowded Dinmore station target of railway upgrade

[ozbob]

Minister Emerson has just announced on 612 ABC Brisbane radio that Graceville is also to be upgraded with lift access.

[somebody]

Minister Emerson has just announced on 612 ABC Brisbane radio that Graceville is also to be upgraded with lift access.

That's good news.  But not Sherwood?  I can understand Chelmer being a low priority.

[ozbob]

612 ABC Brisbane Breakfast with Spencer Howson

Graceville and Dinmore stations to be upgraded (disability/pram access)

08 October 2013 , 9:11 AM by Spencer Howson

Last Thursday you may have heard Samantha Kennedy on 612 Breakfast talking about a lack of wheelchair and pram access at a number of train stations - including, near her place, three stations in a row, namely Chelmer, Graceville and Sherwood.

Transport Minister Scott Emerson then came on to say there would be an announcement within a month - and that he was concerned when he heard about three stations in a row where you have to use the stairs.

Minister Emerson has come back to us this morning to make an announcement brexclusively on 612:

Click --> here!

[Gazza]

Minister Emerson has just announced on 612 ABC Brisbane radio that Graceville is also to be upgraded with lift access.

That's good news.  But not Sherwood?  I can understand Chelmer being a low priority.

Sherwood is pretty close to Corinda though. Im guessing they decided to go smack in the middle at Graceville (Though it does lack the commercial activity of Sherwood)

[petey3801]

Dinmore? Crowded?!? Two words I didn't think i'd hear in the same sentence... Probably same as doing Graceville, it's the middle station of a few without lift/ramp access. But crowded?!?

[Gazza]

None of the 'peninsular' stations are that busy, however Graceville gets more peak hour usage than Sherwood (And anecdotally, Graceville seems slightly busier anyway)

As for Dinmore, it's a pretty big for park and ride these days right? Again, out of those four stations in a row, it's about three times as busy as the other options.

In terms of other stations to get done on the Ipswich line, I reckon Auchenflower (For the hospital) and Bundamba (For the TAFE) need to be up next.

Taringa deserves it for the patronage (Though there is a BUZ nearby) but it's going to be a big and messy job. Sherwood I think I'd like to wait to see what they plan to do with the level crossing.

[STB]

Just as a little side note history to Dinmore station.

Many years ago, when I was still at TL, we were looking at putting in peak hour only routes from Yamanto, Amberley and Raceview to feed into Dinmore station (and return), as the research that was done was that there were people driving straight up the highway to Dinmore station and park and riding from those areas we wanted to put in a bus in.  IIRC the proposed route number was '518'.  We were also looking at implementing the same peak hour only bus service idea from Karalee and Mt Crosby areas to Ipswich station, which IIRC the proposed route number was '514'.

From what I vaguely remember, the routes were drawn up and tested but for some reason they never went beyond the planning stage, and for the life of me I can't remember why, simply because my memories at TL are starting to fade away given that it's been a number of years now.

[SurfRail]

I assume this project will occur without provision being made for platform raising...

[Gazza]

Just on the topic of station access...What do people think of the idea of shifting Strathpine say about 400m north of it's current location, to Hall St, rather than spending any money renovating for access at its current location.

This would make it that bit more convenient for Westfield and local residential areas, and move it further away from the LX & Industrial areas on South Pine Rd.

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson

Ipswich line stations to be upgraded

Two of the Ipswich line's busiest stations will be upgraded under a Newman Government plan to target disability black spots across the train network.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said Graceville and Dinmore were priority locations for improved access across the City network, for passengers who needed help with mobility or a disability.

"Early planning and design to improve these two stations is now underway," Mr Emerson said.

"Concept designs for both stations are expected to be available in early 2014 with construction to also begin next year.

"This is a great result, particularly for Graceville station which had crucial funding withdrawn by Labor in 2011, reneging on promises for an upgrade."

There are 31 stations across the network that have stairs-only access.

Mr Emerson said Labor failed to meet their previous disability targets, preferring to spend $200 million on a beautification program rather than improving access.

"We need to be smarter and target key areas, particularly where there are sections of the network with several stations in a row that aren't accessible," he said.

"We also need to avoid the situation where Labor spent $15 million upgrading a station at Beerburrum with 60 peak passengers while stations like Graceville with 1100 peak passengers and Dinmore with 1000 peak passengers were overlooked."

These upgrades will include lifts and allow access to platforms for passengers travelling with prams, small children or luggage, as well as improve safety.

[SurfRail]

Need to push for platform height upgrades, actually getting onto the platform is only half the story.

[somebody]

Need to push for platform height upgrades, actually getting onto the platform is only half the story.

The bit between platform and train the guard can assist with.  The bit between platform and station exit he/she can't assist with.

[Golliwog]

Need to push for platform height upgrades, actually getting onto the platform is only half the story.

The bit between platform and train the guard can assist with.  The bit between platform and station exit he/she can't assist with.

I'm a big fan of "in for a penny, in for a pound."

Do it properly the first time around rather than having to come back later to raise the platform level.

Wasn't that half the reason why Beerburrum was done? They were working on it as part of the duplication works or something and it made sense to just do the whole thing (though I do somewhat agree that the scale they did it to was OTT).

[ozbob]

^ Yo, the Minister's media release is a bit too political and vindictive as usual.  Both Beerburrum and Elimbah had to be rebuilt completely for the new duplicated track alignment.  The lifts etc. were an overkill however, they should have been built with a simple subway (or level ped X) and access ramps (Cardina Road on the Pakenham line - much busier station than Beerburrum and Elimabah was done that way.).

[ozbob]

Twitter

Scott Emerson ‏@scottemersonmp 9h

Ipswich line stations to be upgraded http://tinyurl.com/o5w4fhn

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

^

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow 3h

@scottemersonmp G'day Minister. Good stuff, will platforms be raised as well. Platform heights is an issue that will need sorting. Cheers!

[techblitz]

Petitions 

South-west news 09.10.13

[ozbob]

The Minister responded very quickly because it got up on the radio.

In actual fact the plan was well underway as flagged by the Minister earlier this year.  But always looks good to ' respond '  promptly .. lol

[techblitz]

Salisbury station `tsk tsk`

[Gazza]

Yo, the Minister's media release is a bit too political and vindictive as usual.

In this instance, I'm entirely with the minister on this one, and his tone is entirely justified.

Labor represents itself as the champion of the underdog, so why did they p%ss so much money up by spreading the money thinly across such a large number of stations, or waste it on vanity projects like Eagle Junction.

$200 Million should have meant we got 10-14 stations upgraded for step free access, simple as that.
In the end we got  only Sandgate, Narangba, and South Brisbane (to an extent since it got raised platforms) with the Alderley project seemingly missing in action.
The rest of the money was spent in dribs and drabs of $1-$2 million or so...not enough to do anything really.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Just on the topic of station access...What do people think of the idea of shifting Strathpine say about 400m north of it's current location, to Hall St, rather than spending any money renovating for access at its current location.

This would make it that bit more convenient for Westfield and local residential areas, and move it further away from the LX & Industrial areas on South Pine Rd.

That was planned years ago as part of the Stratphine railway station/interchange upgrade works, redevelopment of the council facilities and turning the local area into a TOD.

[ozbob]

^ Gazza.  The snide dig at Beerburrum failed to recognise the fact that it had to be rebuilt.  My comments stand.

Agree though a lot of money was wasted generally, and the platform height issue remains.  Although I have been told previously around 6 months ago that all new upgrades etc. platform heights are to be raised, or if not possible some other arrangement done.

I can also vaguely recall that both Beerburrum and Elimbah are future medium to high density residential development areas.  Building both stations full height and length was prudent, but the as I stated the rest was a waste of money (lifts etc.)

[Gazza]

Ah True about Beerburrum, but even so the designs they did at Beerburrum and Elimbah were a bit over the top:

Elimbah clearly sits on a natural embankment so no reason they couldn't have just stuck a subway straight through.
Even sillier when you consider that for all intents and purposes, Elimbah is basically a greenfield station (track alignment is 30m east of the old one) so they could have dropped in a precast culvert for the subway without any disruption to the running line.
http://goo.gl/maps/7bnkM

[ozbob]

Yo,  could have been done with full height full length a lot cheaper and cost effective DDA compliance as well.   Hopefully they have learnt from that gold plating ..

[Gazza]

Yo,  could have been done with full height full length a lot cheaper

Do Beerburrum and Elimbah only have camel humps?

[petey3801]

Forgot about this thread... With my comments earlier, don't get me wrong, I don't think Dinmore shoudn't be upgraded. It will be a good project (as long as it's done right), it just makes me laugh when Dinmore is called 'crowded'

[Arnz]

Yo,  could have been done with full height full length a lot cheaper

Do Beerburrum and Elimbah only have camel humps?

Both stations are 2 side platforms with door-level platform height (like the Gold Coast Line). 

I do agree that they could've done 1 island platform for Elimbah and Beerburrum saving a few $$$.

[ozbob]

Yo,  could have been done with full height full length a lot cheaper

Do Beerburrum and Elimbah only have camel humps?

Beerburrum and Elimbah are full height, slightly mixed up comment from me.  What I was saying was that Elimbah and Beeburrum could have still been built full height and length but without the frills for a lot less $.

[ozbob]

^ Petey.  Indeed, Goodna is the busiest station west of Darra, and we are happy with our lot.  Even have lifts     Proximity to RSL and pub is just a bonus really ...   

It was a struggle though post floods without said lifts for months and months.  The natives used to carry prams whatever up and down the stairs.  But hey, Goodna folks are not easily put off their train travel ... 

[Gazza]

Yo, another Strathpine question....Why is the station listed as inacessible when it appear to have maze access from the LX?

http://goo.gl/maps/0oAUi

Ramp too narrow or something?

[ozbob]

Some photographs etc. of Elimbah and Beerburrum from days gone bye ... --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2059.msg10170#msg10170

&

--> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2059.msg10149#msg10149

[petey3801]

Yo, another Strathpine question....Why is the station listed as inacessible when it appear to have maze access from the LX?

http://goo.gl/maps/0oAUi

Ramp too narrow or something?

I'd say it's something to do with the maze and ramp. It is fairly narrow up on to that island platform, especially getting from the maze and on to the ramp.

[Gazza]

Story in todays Mx about disability upgrades.
Budget is $40 mil and has been widened to include Alderley and Newmarket in addition to Graceville and Dinmore, though Alderley is really just a re announcement.

[Stillwater]

Where is the scheduled Nambour station upgrade on the list, I wonder.