Ipswich region

[ozbob]

Queensland Times 16th January pages 1 & 3

Running Late

[#Metro]

^ This is the usual tactic of horizon pushing by the qld gov't.

New rail lines are expensive, so perhaps a rocket bus option like we had for the Springfield line could be a temporary fix.

[ozbob]

' The Ripley Rocket ' ...   

The argument that CRR is needed before the extension is rot of course.  It means no additional trains through the core at all per se.

I am hopeful that with support from ICC this will happen a lot sooner than 2024!

2018 is underway, belt up troops! It will be a bouncy ride ...   

[Stillwater]

It is very hard to accept this 'no new lines / duplication until after CRR' nonsense.  Is the government really saying 'every brass razoo we have for rail infrastructure upgrades is going to CRR and there is not a penny to spare until after that is built'?

[ozbob]

Feds have this urban rail fund.  The State Govt should be going in hard for the Sunny Coast Line and Springfield rail extension, as well as capacity improvements on the Southern line.  We do not want a repeat of the last 3 years of inaction largely. 

[achiruel]

Feds have this urban rail fund.  The State Govt should be going in hard for the Sunny Coast Line and Springfield rail extension, as well as capacity improvements on the Southern line.  We do not want a repeat of the last 3 years of inaction largely.

What improvements would you like to see on the southern line? Is there much sense in it without CRR. I guess you could quad Park Rd-Kuraby but what happens inbound of Park Rd?
Extending the triplication to Kingston/Loganlea might help somewhat with being able to run more counter-peak services to Beenleigh/GC, I guess.

[ozbob]

^ Yep

[Stillwater]

That is the point.  The 'nothing happens until 2024 (except for CRR) policy' means that no-one (or very few) within TMR and QR are working on other projects.  There are no ready-to-go plans in the bottom drawer (apart from feasibility studies) should the Feds come along and say 'here's a billion dollars, what can you do with that'?

The answer is put it to CRR.  Because that is the only game in town as far as this state government is concerned.

It would appear that the Queensland Government is reluctant to put anything more on the transport projects smorgasbord table in case the feds stick their fork into the wrong offering -- like the Sunshine Coast Line for instance. 

Whether motivated by common sense or political bastardry, the feds should offer a billion for SCL duplication (in LNP heartland), to be matched dollar-for-dollar, and watch as State Labor squirms, protests and sends delegations to Canberra pleading that the Commonwealth money be diverted to CRR, even though that is a project Labor now says it will fund 100 per cent using state money.

Labor would do everything to reject or redirect the $1 billion on offer, thereby revealing their political motivations.  I suspect that Redbank Plains is in the Bundamba electorate of Joanne Miller, so Labor probably is thinking why they should be doing her a favour.

[SurfRail]

Moot point because the feds will not offer any money for the SCL project.

We will hit an infrastructure funding sweet spot if the ALP takes control federally in 2019 and the ALP survives for a third term up here.  Even if the ALP loses government here, there would be something like 18 months to lock stuff in.

[achiruel]

That is the point.  The 'nothing happens until 2024 (except for CRR) policy' means that no-one (or very few) within TMR and QR are working on other projects.  There are no ready-to-go plans in the bottom drawer (apart from feasibility studies) should the Feds come along and say 'here's a billion dollars, what can you do with that'?

Ripley extension? Kuraby-Loganlea triplication? Gold Coast line extension? GCLR Stage 3? NCL duplication? Order 25 new trainsets, hopefully not built to the same spec as the failed NGRs. Maybe we could piggy-back of Perth's C-Set design? So many things, and none of them (really) rely on CRR being built, althought it would *enhance* the viability of works on the southern line.

I suspect that Redbank Plains is in the Bundamba electorate of Joanne Miller, so Labor probably is thinking why they should be doing her a favour.

You would be correct (about her electorate at least - Labor's motivations are beyond me  :conf )

[aldonius]

Question: is the peak capacity actually there on current Springfield line services to handle the additional patronage? Or is this more an exercise in shifting where people get on the train?

I thought the mains (Central p5/6) were also pretty close to capacity and that the bulk of the Western line increases (aside from signalling upgrades) would be coming from putting some services on the suburbans.

(Post-CRR, Ipswich and Springfield logically pair with Shorncliffe and Airport. This plays merry hell with the sectorisation we have now, though.)

[InclusionMoves]

What Stillwater said

That is the point.  The 'nothing happens until 2024 (except for CRR) policy' means that no-one (or very few) within TMR and QR are working on other projects.  There are no ready-to-go plans in the bottom drawer (apart from feasibility studies) should the Feds come along and say 'here's a billion dollars, what can you do with that'?

The answer is put it to CRR.  Because that is the only game in town as far as this state government is concerned.

It would appear that the Queensland Government is reluctant to put anything more on the transport projects smorgasbord table in case the feds stick their fork into the wrong offering -- like the Sunshine Coast Line for instance. 

Whether motivated by common sense or political bastardry, the feds should offer a billion for SCL duplication (in LNP heartland), to be matched dollar-for-dollar, and watch as State Labor squirms, protests and sends delegations to Canberra pleading that the Commonwealth money be diverted to CRR, even though that is a project Labor now says it will fund 100 per cent using state money.

Labor would do everything to reject or redirect the $1 billion on offer, thereby revealing their political motivations.  I suspect that Redbank Plains is in the Bundamba electorate of Joanne Miller, so Labor probably is thinking why they should be doing her a favour.

[SurfRail]

Question: is the peak capacity actually there on current Springfield line services to handle the additional patronage? Or is this more an exercise in shifting where people get on the train?

I thought the mains (Central p5/6) were also pretty close to capacity and that the bulk of the Western line increases (aside from signalling upgrades) would be coming from putting some services on the suburbans.

(Post-CRR, Ipswich and Springfield logically pair with Shorncliffe and Airport. This plays merry hell with the sectorisation we have now, though.)

There are a bundle of 3-car sets still running, eliminating those will bulk up capacity.

We should be aiming for something like 10-11 trains on both lines, which should be perfectly manageable even without ETCS L2.  With that in place, we should be able to do better.

[ozbob]

Ipswich First --> Councillors seek action on public transport issues

Ipswich Mayor Andrew Antoniolli is leading a charge to encourage faster action on public transport. There are issues with traffic congestion, rail and bus services, and councillors say Redbank Plains is one area which needs immediate attention.

Cr David Morrison who is the chair of the council's Planning, Development and Heritage Committee, sparked the conversation in a council meeting on Tuesday when he held up an article on the front page of the Queensland Times, titled Running Late.

Cr Morrison said the article, if correct, indicated it would take at least six years before a rail line commenced construction from Springfield Central to Redbank Plains. This was a long time to wait, he said.

Mayor Antoniolli said there was too much uncertainty around public transport in Ipswich, and isolated some key flow-on issues which would cause the city to suffer if current issues were ignored:

    Housing development would slow:  If developers weren't able to tell potential buyers when there would be train station or sufficient bus services, they'd turn to external solutions, he said. One of these solutions could be to return public transport management into the hands of the Council.
    Affordable housing solutions would become more difficult: Cr Antoniolli said there needed to be a good public transport system to support affordable housing.
    Traffic snarls would worsen: Redbank Plains, Collingwood Park, Augustine Heights, Ripley, Redbank and other surrounding suburbs will in the near future house more than 100,000 people. This meant if public transport deficiencies were not addressed, there would be hundreds more cars on the road every day.
    Poor habits would develop: Cr Antoniolli said public transport needed to be an option for people as soon as they moved into a new area, otherwise they would fall into the bad habit of driving wherever they needed to go, including schools and work.
    Education would suffer: USQ is a fast-growing university with campuses at Springfield and in the city, Cr Antoniolli said. If there was not the right public transport in place, students – whether to university or schools – would not have the right support they need to undertake quality studies.

Cr Antoniolli, Cr Morrison, Cr Sheila Ireland and Cr Kerry Silver all joined discussion in Tuesday's council meeting. They said buses needed to be improved immediately, and the Redbank Plains rail line needed to be supported by a commitment of funding.

Cr Silver said she had already written to Minister for Transport Mark Bailey to voice her concerns, particularly for the fast-growing Ripley Valley area. All councillors, including the Mayor, said they would welcome discussions with state government ministers and officials to help highlight areas of key interest.

A state government "Shaping SEQ" background paper already highlights an Ipswich to Springfield Public Transport Corridor (including the extension of the public transport corridor to Ripley Valley) as an infrastructure priority in the next 25 years.

The report states the corridor would see increased take-up of public transport, particularly in areas near planned rail stations. It would also ease demand on the Ipswich Motorway.

"I will be calling the relevant state representatives in coming days and weeks to share our concerns," Cr Antoniolli said. "We have a great relationship with local members, and ministers of the state government, so I'm sure those conversations will be well received."

[curator49]

The trouble is the State Government puts all these public transport extensions on the "back-burner" as the report said it is a 25 year priority seeming to think they don't have to build it for another 25 years. Recently the news highlighted the huge increase in population growth through what was called the green belt through Logan - Yarrabilba and the like to Beaudesert and likewise there is the significant housing development through Redbank Plains and the Ripley Valley.
People building now will think as they have no public transport then the two adults in the family will each need a car and as their children grow up they will all need a car. This adds to the congestion on the Mount Lindsay Highway and the Ipswich Motorway leading to more demands for more roads, more roads.
These suburban rail lines need to be started now not in 25 years time.

[James]

The issue is two-fold.

For a high-frequency service to work, it must allow for high frequency access to the Brisbane CBD. If you're in Bardon or Yeronga, this is easy to do (just add BUZ), but a BUZ isn't going to work if you run one all the way to Augustine Heights from Brisbane. And so, the bus needs to feed the railway line. Sadly, the railway line is on 30 minute frequency, effectively killing off any opportunity for high frequency.

This is why rollingstock, and drivers, above all else, are far more important than additional rolling stock. There is no reason why Springfield Line trains cannot run every 15 minutes interpeak, aside from this.

The second issue is the way housing is developed in newer communities. Housing is located in pockets, with access to the main arterial road restricted to several key junction points - if at all. The collector street is then filled with traffic calming, made unnecessarily narrow and generally painful to use, and because the arterial is pedestrian unfriendly & inaccessible, the bus is forced to run down the collector street.

This, combined with some unnecessarily windy & poorly located arterial roads, makes running a bus route efficiently difficult at the best of times. For an example of this, look at the 522. Goes down too many side streets. Dilly-dallies everywhere. And of course, we know which favourite council is sopping up all the bus funding for public transport...

[ozbob]

Queensland Times 3rd February 2018 pages 1, 4 & 5

BOTTLENECK CITY

BOOMING IPSWICH LOCKED IN CONGESTION CATCH-UP

❝ This cannot happen without Cross River Rail. Charis Mullen, Jordan MP
"We will build the rail extension to Redbank Plains and Ripley" Charis Mullen, Jordan MP
"Rail will lessen congestion and supply safe transport" Robert Dow, Rail Back On Track
"The extension through to Redbank Plains and Ripley Valley should be instigated as soon as practicable to cater for the growth" Jo-Ann Miller, Bundamba MP.

THE time has come for state pollies to give Ipswich residents a guarantee on public transport.

For years vague promises have been made about future rail projects.

For years Ipswich residents have sat in bumper to bumper traffic, where reaching 38km/h in a 100km zone is a good day.

Now as the city faces unprecedented growth, community leaders have called on the State Government to name a date when it will provide the basic transport needed to relieve mass congestion and prepare for the future. IT'S already too late for Ipswich.

Our roads are badly congested, our soon-to-be-built Springfield Station carpark will likely be full as soon as it's finished and residents in the state's fastestgrowing suburb have no reasonable access to public transport.

By the time the State Government commits money to extending the rail lines to Ipswich's boom suburbs of Redbank Plains and Ripley, the city's transport infrastructure needs will have passed the point of crisis.

Those were the fears expressed this week by some of Ipswich's civic leaders during the year's first council meeting.

There were nods of agreement from around the chamber as Ipswich Mayor Andrew Antoniolli referenced the QT's front page from January 16 – with the headline Running Late, revealing the State Government had no plans to carry out the rail line extensions until 2024, at the earliest.

"(The QT) could have easily substituted that for the headline Too Late," Cr Antoniolli told the chamber.

"The State Government needs to move as quickly as possible to address public transport needs in the fastest growing area of southeast Queensland.

"If we wait six more years to start, there will likely already be an additional 30,000 people living in those suburbs.

"Every train trip translates to hundreds of cars off the roads."

The State Government has refused to make concrete plans to provide reasonable transport options by extending the rail lines but maintains it is "committed to the extensions".

No date has been set and no budget allocated, however, the land for a future passenger line has been preserved since 2009.

At the Labor Party conference last year, two motions which outlined specific time frames on the extensions of the Ipswich rail lines were rejected and never made it to the floor for discussion.

Instead, the party accepted two vague motions that, without explanation, tie the fate of Ipswich residents' transport option to the inner-city Cross River Rail project.

Labor MP for the new seat of Jordan, covering Springfield and bordering Redbank Plains, Charis Mullen repeated Deputy Premier Jackie Trad's comments from last year, saying the Government had consistently said it would build the rail extension to Redbank Plains and Ripley.

"This cannot happen without Cross River Rail unclogging the bottleneck in the city, allowing construction of vital connections and delivering extra services," Ms Mullen said.

"Cross River Rail is the catalyst for expansion of the rail network."

The QT has asked for a detailed explanation on how the inner-city Cross River Rail project impacts the extension of the existing Ipswich lines.

The State Government has not responded.

Vocal rail advocate Robert Dow has dismissed the Government's claim, saying the rail extensions could and should go ahead before the completion of Cross River Rail.

LNP leader Deb Frecklington said the Government should get on with building Cross River Rail and stop using it "as an excuse not to consider any other projects".

[ozbob]

Queensland Times 3rd February 2018 pages 1, 4 & 5

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/959470036686577664

[#Metro]

"This cannot happen without Cross River Rail unclogging the bottleneck in the city, allowing construction of vital connections and delivering extra services," Ms Mullen said.

I don't believe this is correct.

The ideal stopping pattern is Express from the City to Darra, then all stops to Ipswich (maybe a stop at I'pilly), all day.

That would leave the Springfield line as the line to have services doubled on it (train every 15 min) all day.

Secondly, in the last major timetable review, I remember that the timetable planners kept a regular pattern so that slots were available

to put new services in during peak hour on the Ipswich/Springfield line.

[matlock]

Yes, I figure that because the Ipswich line doesn't use the Merivale, that it can pretty much upgrade frequency whenever is necessary? Is that correct?

[ozbob]

Yes, I figure that because the Ipswich line doesn't use the Merivale, that it can pretty much upgrade frequency whenever is necessary? Is that correct?

Yes, to a degree.  There are some slots for additional services in the peak sector one timetables.

The argument that Springfield Central cannot be done until CRR is a very flawed argument.  An extension to Redbank Plains (even Ripley) is not going to directly increase the number of trains running through the core.  It is simply the same trains just running a slightly longer journey.  An increase to 15 minutes out of peak is of course entirely manageable with the present infrastructure.

[matlock]

Yes, I figure that because the Ipswich line doesn't use the Merivale, that it can pretty much upgrade frequency whenever is necessary? Is that correct?

Yes, to a degree.  There are some slots for additional services in the peak sector one timetables.

The argument that Springfield Central cannot be done until CRR is a very flawed argument.  An extension to Redbank Plains (even Ripley) is not going to directly increase the number of trains running through the core.  It is simply the same trains just running a slightly longer journey.  An increase to 15 minutes out of peak is of course entirely manageable with the present infrastructure.

Thanks, hopefully they do put more services in.

I suspect the argument for not expanding to Redbank is that CRR is sucking up all the funds. I would wager that since CRR is going to be finished in 2024, that the Govt should start on another extension and put forward a business case to the feds. At least then Queensland gets some money off Infrastructure Australia.

[ozbob]

My Comment:  Queensland Times 3rd February 2018 page 18

How bad does it have to be?

THE lack of transport infrastructure in Ipswich is a deadset joke.

How can it be that the fastest growing community in the whole of Queensland doesn't have direct access to rail services?

Worse still, there are no concrete plans to provide it?

The State Government has repeatedly said it is committed to extending the rail line which is wonderful.

But promises won't get people to work. Promises won't reduce road congestion or pollution. I understand money doesn't grow on trees and there are priorities.

It seems Ipswich rarely ranks among those priorities.

When was the last time any of the people making these decisions travelled down the Centenary or Ipswich Mwys during peak hour traffic?

Imagine the frustration you'd feel stuck in that gridlock, every morning and every afternoon. That's three hours of your life lost, every single day.

An effective public transport network would go a long way to reducing that traffic.

The longer we wait, the more people become conditioned to driving.

How bad does it need to be before the government will commit money, not just words? — Helen Spelitis

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/959542978346860544

[#Metro]

An extended railway line will not increase trains though the core, but it will increase staff labour consumption and possibly require extra vehicles if run during peak hour. These two things QR do not have right now, and possibly not until 2020 (or wherever rail fail ends).

This is probably why we constantly hear repeated lines about "but CRR first". That's the public stand in excuse because saying " because Rail fail" is negative.

[ozbob]

An extended railway line will not increase trains though the core, but it will increase staff labour consumption and possibly require extra vehicles if run during peak hour. These two things QR do not have right now, and possibly not until 2020 (or wherever rail fail ends).

This is probably why we constantly hear repeated lines about "but CRR first". That's the public stand in excuse because saying " because Rail fail" is negative.

Even if started to tomorrow the ext from Springfield Central it would not be complete until 2021 or thereabouts.   

This push from Ipswich and ICC is well overdue.  Time we got real with future transport needs.  Enough of the bullsh%t!

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Believe it or not, Ripley will get a train line ... eventually

RIPLEY residents need access to effective and affordable transport, sooner rather than later.

That's the message from Sekisui House, developer of major residential precinct Ecco Ripley, which has joined calls from civic leaders for work to start on Ipswich's rail line expansion now.

The Queensland Times reports the State Labor Government maintains it will build the promised extensions to the rail network, including two new stations at Ripley; Ripley North and Ripley Town Centre.

No date has been set and no budget allocated, however, the land for a future passenger line has been preserved since 2009.

Ripley is among the fastest growing suburbs in the state and in 2013 was designated by the State Government as a priority area for development, destined to be home to 120,000 people in the next 20 years.

Ripley Town Centre development manager Taku Hashimoto said Ripley and the surrounding area was on the cusp of some of the most significant projected population growth in Queensland and even Australia.

"The corridor between Ipswich and Springfield is already experiencing a rapid pace of growth and that will only continue well into the future, so this will require a focus on public transport solutions, including rail transport, in a timely manner," Mr Hashimoto said.

"The Queensland Government has specifically highlighted the Ripley region as a priority development area and is forecasting an ultimate population of 120,000 people over next 20 years.

"Early provision of rail line service in this area is critical to support the growth agenda in the Ripley region.

"As the Ecco Ripley community continues to develop, and as future stages of Ripley Town Centre come to fruition, we want the community to have affordable transport choices that improve people's access to services, employment and avoid social isolation, particularly for youth, seniors and other non-drivers."

According to Ipswich City Council's annual planning and development report, the top five areas for residential development in 2017 included Springfield Lakes, South Ripley, Ripley and Bellbird Park where a total of 1229 new homes were built.

Those suburbs also rank in the council's top five suburbs for new lots created and new lots approved.

In 2020, two new schools will open in the Ripley Valley, according to a Labor election promise, catering for population growth. A third school will be built in Springfield.

But the corresponding transport infrastructure has not been prioritised by the State Government which says the extensions to the rail line, including adding stations at Ripley, Flagstone and Redbank Plains, won't be built until after 2024, once the inner city Cross River Rail project has been finished.

Already more than 500 homes have been built in the Ecco Ripley community.

Last year, 183 new homes were built in Ripley housing 545 people, according to Ipswich City Council's Planning and Development Annual Report Card. A further 301 homes were built in South Ripley, housing 956 people.

The $1.5 billion Ripley Town Centre will be the beating heart of the $500 million Ecco Ripley community.

Developer Sekisui House has proposed to build a state-of-the-art transit hub in its town centre.

Without a shift in government long-term planning, that won't include a rail line until 2031.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/965859103221231616

[achiruel]

Why would the Ripley Valley extension require CRR? Just a smokescreen AFAIAC.

[red dragin]

Why aren't the developers building everything but the actual rail infrastructure, they've profited from dumping all these houses out there.

We have a similar problem with Henry Rd, Griffin. The developers contracted dump trucks have destroyed the road. The North South Arterial will replace the road, but Council has no hurried plans to build it, so the old road just falls to pieces and struggles with the traffic volumes created. Should be part of the DA.

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> 'Transport needs overhaul': Rail extension a must

RAIL services need to be extended to cater for major population growth in the state's fastest growing state, a transport advocate says.

Ipswich advocate Robert Dow from RAIL Back On Track said Ipswich's transport network needed major improvements in bus services, car parking, bicycle and pedestrian access, and access to rail.

Mr Dow has raised the issue of limited transport options time and time again, along with various Ipswich politicians but to date no firm commitment on an extension to the rail line has been made.

The extension to the Ipswich rail network, including connecting Ipswich to Springfield and Redbank Plains, has been repeatedly promised by the Labor State Government.

Earlier this year it was confirmed works won't start until after 2024, with the Government claiming "the extension(s) rely on the completion of Cross River Rail".

Every day the Western Fwy is gridlocked and that traffic is likely to continue given Ipswich is the fastest growing city in the state.

Ripley and Redbank Plains are experiencing rapid development with both named 'growth hot spots' in Ipswich City Council's latest Planning and Development Quarterly Report.

In the three months between December and March, 354 people moved into Redbank Plains and 127 new homes were built, according to the report.

Last year, 183 new homes were built in Ripley housing 545 people, according to Ipswich City Council's Planning and Development Annual Report Card.

A further 301 homes were built in South Ripley, housing 956 people.

"The whole Western region needs transport improvements and rail is key," Mr Dow said.

"You only have to drive out there to see the area is undergoing massive residential development. You can see what is going to happen - we need to get that rail in fast, including getting it out to Ripley."

The Labor Government has previously assured Ipswich residents it is committed to extending the line.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1004096507740483584

[Cazza]

The only way the government can show they're committed is by actually building the dam thing. You can be committed to something, but that doesn't mean it's going to happen now. I am aware they govern the whole state of Queensland and have to share the money around but infrastructure like this should be a very high priority.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1006991072218607619

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1006991772927447040

[SteelPan]

WHY in SEQ given talk of Ipswich boom and longer-term Brisbane/Toowoomba inter-urban are we not Quad'ing the remainder of the Brisbane/Ipswich corridor?

Again, this is a long overdue and very doable project that is a mystery why hasn't or at least now isn't well and truly underway!

have zero confidence in Qld Govt these days.....

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 17th October 2018 page 17

Suburbs have been neglected

[ozbob]

Little aussie battler makes the Ipswich's Top 50 Most Influential list at #14

Queensland Times 14 Dec 2018 page 15

[achiruel]

Good job ozbob! 

[ozbob]

Good job ozbob! 

Thanks, the locals appreciate our efforts.