BaT - Bus and Train project (was UBAT, was no CRR)

[mufreight]

 With a highly probable change of government at the next election one would think that while the UBAT would still be built there would be changes such as an interchange station at Park Road and a full connection to the Exhibition loop with a station in the region of Bowen Bridge road which would serve both the exhibition, the hospital and the residential development that is taking place around the exhibition.

[techblitz]

With the new wave of budget cuts ( provided its passed)....will mean even less money for BaT

[ozbob]

BaT is de-coupled from this casino project,  ummm ... wonder why ... 

Brisbanetimes --> Revitalising 'birthplace of Brisbane' part of casino development: Deputy Premier

... Impact on BaT Tunnel under George Steet

He said the successful company would not be asked to help finance the Queensland Government's BaT Tunnel (Bus and Train project) to run underneath the project site.

Mr Seeney said while initially the government had considered linking the two projects financially, it had changed its mind.

"The BaT Tunnel proposes a station here at 63 George Street, so there will be an issue about the linkage or the interaction," he said.

"But the two projects themselves are now no longer linked." ...

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/revitalising-birthplace-of-brisbane-part-of-casino-development-deputy-premier-20140528-zrqly.html

[ozbob]

For information ...

Twitter

Dominique Loudon ‏@dominiqueloudon

Hundreds turn out to protest planned closure of Dutton Park Train Station to make way for BaT Tunnel @9NewsBrisbane
http://t.co/WJhBS5EaR7

[mufreight]

The closure of Dutton Park with no provision for an interchange at Park Road is shortsighted stupidity to the extreme.
It would be practical to have a walkway from the present Dutton Park station site to the southern end of Park Road with an interchange platform for the UBAT under the southern end of the existing Park Road station.
The down side is that about six houses would need to be resumed on the Dutton Park end of Fairfield station, but better to do the job properly rather than the half baked existing proposal, once built changes become extremely expensive and disruptive.

[dancingmongoose]

I'm ok with Dutton Park closing but only if there is a Park Road/Boggo Road station. From all reports the patronage at Dutton Park is low, and from what I can tell they are the closest two stations on the network, at least it is in the CBD anyway. Build the underground station where the car park is, railway only due to the bus station remaining, there will be probably no more than half a dozen resumptions.
I think it's time the BaT project dropped their 'no resumptions' policy, as admirable as it is (and resumptions should be avoided if and where possible), there seems to be more focus on image than there is on getting the infrastructure for the future right the first time.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Premier does the talking ahead of Treasurer's tough budget choices

As the government prepares to present its final budget to voters before the election, it was Premier Campbell Newman who did the talking.

Treasurer Tim Nicholls is predicted to make an announcement on Monday, outlining the basics of a budget which has no room for the usual pre-election sweeteners.

Instead, the government is counting on its draft action plan - what it could do if earmarked assets were sold - to win over voters.

But first it has to deal with a $600 million write down in coal royalties and a delay in natural disaster relief payments from the federal government, which will see the projected $664 million deficit blow out to $2.27 billion in the next financial year.

On Sunday, the Premier was looking to the future.

"In the next financial year [2015/16], we will be bringing the budget back into surplus for the first time in over a decade, so we have a lower deficit in the current financial year, the deficit this financial year will be lower than is projected, it will be a bit higher in the next financial year and the year after that, as we have been saying, it goes into surplus," Mr Newman said.

"It is the first time in over a decade that the Queensland government and the Queensland tax payers won't have to borrow money and it is a timing issue, it is mainly due to the timing of natural disaster relief payments from the Commonwealth government.

"So I don't see it as a budget deterioration, it is a timing issue."

Joe Hockey's first budget and its cuts has also dealt Queensland some difficult cards, but explaining that will be Mr Nicholls' job from Tuesday onwards.

"The federal budget certainly had impacts on ours and in some cases, the treasurer has made a call with my support, to actually absorb some of those things and in other cases he has had to pass on that impact," Mr Newman said.

"So you will have to wait and see this week."

As for the government's commitments – such as the underground bus and train tunnel, Mr Newman hinted that the state's "difficult decisions", to be laid out this week, may help those become a reality.

"We do have a very strong commitment to delivering the UBaT, it is about making sure that people can get home to their families on time, that they can get to work on time, that they can get around this city easily," he said.

"We have to deliver this over the next five and six years and the government is making a big commitment to that and that is part of the conversation that we are having about the strong choices we have."

With little room to move, the pre-budget announcements weren't as targeted as usual.  A $400 million commitment over the next five years to overhaul the child protection system, as recommended in the Carmody report following his Commission of Inquiry, was announced on Sunday.

Just over $6.5 million had been set aside in the budget to hire 70 child safety officers.

Another $25 million will be spent on child safety initiatives, such as more referral services, support for families to care for children at home instead of out-of-home care, and improved support for indigenous families.

-With AAP

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/premier-does-the-talking-ahead-of-treasurers-tough-budget-choices-20140601-zruc6.html

[ozbob]

I think it is obvious, BaT will be linked to asset sales ...  looks to me it is already being pushed back?

[ozbob]

Here the sell begins ..

Couriermail --> Newman Government to ask Queenslanders to swap old assets for new infrastructure

QUEENSLANDERS will be asked to swap port and power assets for vital new infrastructure, such as the Brisbane Bus and Train Tunnel, in the State Budget ...

... Mr Newman on Sunday linked the future of the $5 billion Bus and Train Tunnel, which would connect Dutton Park to Spring Hill with underground stations at Woolloongabba, George and Roma streets, with asset sales ...

[ozbob]

Nine News --> Dutton Park locals dealt train station blow

[STB]

I'm honestly not convinced that Dutton Park station is a major loss, given that Park Road station is less than 1km away and is linked in with high frequency bus services that also stop at the hospital, and that the Dutton Park area is serviced by route 196 in particular.  I do wonder why the residents aren't aware of that.

[ozbob]

The real issue is no U at Park/Boggo road ...

[STB]

The real issue is no U at Park/Boggo road ...

I 100% agree with that, and I'm worried that this is distracting the main issue with the lack of platforms at Park Road station.

[ozbob]

I don't blame local Members for supporting their community.

The reality is the big issue is Park Road/Boggo Road.  I and many others have made that point to the BaT team.

Their technical reasons for not doing are not likely to be overcome at present - the LNP government has taken a position re resumptions and that is that.

As expected the Queensland Budget tomorrow will no doubt lay out a plan for BaT financing based in part on an asset sale program. I guess ultimately BaT will depend on the outcome of the state election due 2015.

I personally am not going waste any more direct effort on this.  Little point until 2015 election is settled.  BaT and CRR may well be a key election issue.  This will trump Dutton Park station.

[#Metro]

In my opinion Jackie Trad MP is just taking advantage the situation for political profit at the polls, the same manouvre she used to blow up the TransLink bus review. Taking advantage of loss aversion responses. I guess that's a politician's job!

Yes it is true that there are other stations that have low patronage that are not being closed, but none of those stations are at the entrance to a $5BN tunnel are they? And then you have Tennyson and the Doomben Line stations which were closed due to low patronage as a precedent as well.

The real substance, as has been said, is the lack of BaT station at Park Road for the UQ, Cleveland and PA Hospital connections. Split running patterns of trains on the Beenleigh line have their own issues, such as frequency dilution.

[James]

Dutton Park station is 800m from Park Road station. Ergo, Dutton Park station's catchment area overlaps with Park Road's by about 33%, and in fact DP station is within Park Road's catchment area.

There is no sensible and rational argument to keep Dutton Park. 196 BUZ is nearby, Park Rd station is nearby, Annerley Rd bus services are nearby. The bigger issue is lack of Park Road station. And a big issue it is.

[ozbob]

Until the fudget in 2016, same bat time, same bat channel?

[Jonno]

Dutton Park station is 800m from Park Road station. Ergo, Dutton Park station's catchment area overlaps with Park Road's by about 33%, and in fact DP station is within Park Road's catchment area.

There is no sensible and rational argument to keep Dutton Park. 196 BUZ is nearby, Park Rd station is nearby, Annerley Rd bus services are nearby. The bigger issue is lack of Park Road station. And a big issue it is.

I think if there was an underground station at Park rd there would be an ironlad argument but as is I would be standing up for my station too!!  Can't give up one without the other

[ozbob]

Twitter

Shane Doherty ‏@ShaneDoherty9

Big changes to Brisbane's BaT tunnel @9NewsBrisbane at 6



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

  What's been going on in the bat cave? 

[dancingmongoose]

Rumour is they've saved Dutton Park station 

[ozbob]

No updates on http://www.qld.gov.au/transport/projects/bat/ yet ...

[ozbob]

Guess I will have to watch the news on 9.   

[dancingmongoose]

They could at least, you know, give it some funding, maybe?

[ozbob]

Twitter

Shane Doherty ‏@ShaneDoherty9

Holy change of plan! Premier engineers saved park and train station in BaT tunnel upgrade @9NewsBrisbane

[ozbob]

Dutton Park station to remain, changes at Victoria Park too.

Uploading vid now.

[STB]

So, nothing about Park Road station?

[ozbob]

Nine news 24th June 2014

[STB]

While this is a small win, I'm still strongly concerned about the lack of platforms at Park Road.  I'd also be interested to see if there has been any adjustments to the potential capacity of the tunnel and if there has been any adjustments to the track layouts or potential future track layouts, just so we don't end up with a second bottleneck.

[BrizCommuter]

So, nothing about Park Road station?

It's only a 10 minute walk from Dutton Park - it's called a power walk interchange! 

[James]

So, nothing about Park Road station?

No. Apparently the solution is making the tunnel even steeper - yet the project team have explicitly ruled that one out with regards to making it steeper as so to include Park Road station.

Either Campbell Newman didn't major in Civil Engineering or someone has been telling porkies.

It's only a 10 minute walk from Dutton Park - it's called a power walk interchange! 

I hear the plan is to have a Segway hire service to transfer between the two stations called CitySegway. It will take 5 years to be integrated with a go card, and when it is integrated you will be required to have a 200 point identity check and pay for a subscription to the service in half-baked items (such as cakes, Salisbury to Kuraby triplication etc.).

[ozbob]

It is obvious that the lack of Park Road/Boggo Road uBaT connection was made a lot worse by the the removal of Dutton Park station.

It is possible to change grades as members here pointed out with the the meeting with the BaT team.  The problems with Park Road/Boggo Road are such that they will not resume and there are issues with the other infrastructure in the area so it is not happening.

So folks, this is it for the BaT.

Lets see what is forthcoming with updates etc.

[ozbob]

[dancingmongoose]

I'm surprised, I thought the portals were as steep as they could be judging by the fact that only NGR trains could travel on that steep a grade.

Still doesn't solve the Cleveland connection issue. Unless we have some new service that runs Buranda to Dutton Park

[ozbob]

I think the pragmatic view has been taken. Short sections of steep grades are manageable when it is planned to approach at speed.  Going down is not an issue it is only coming up, and it will be at speed on approach to the steeper section.

[STB]

I'm surprised, I thought the portals were as steep as they could be judging by the fact that only NGR trains could travel on that steep a grade.

Still doesn't solve the Cleveland connection issue. Unless we have some new service that runs Buranda to Dutton Park

That's probably not a bad idea, all you'd need to do is run it to say Yeerongpilly and have the connections happen there perhaps?  Alternatively, perhaps look at setting up an inner city loop service that say runs from Bowen Hills, through to Tennyson via Park Road and then back to Bowen Hills with an available path.

[HappyTrainGuy]

hire service to transfer between the two stations called CitySegway

CitySegway. Powered by Maglev!

[dancingmongoose]

I'm surprised, I thought the portals were as steep as they could be judging by the fact that only NGR trains could travel on that steep a grade.

Still doesn't solve the Cleveland connection issue. Unless we have some new service that runs Buranda to Dutton Park

That's probably not a bad idea, all you'd need to do is run it to say Yeerongpilly and have the connections happen there perhaps?  Alternatively, perhaps look at setting up an inner city loop service that say runs from Bowen Hills, through to Tennyson via Park Road and then back to Bowen Hills with an available path.

I was thinking along a similar path, Bowen Hills to Manly via Tennyson, with BaT trains stopping at Yeerongpilly. Cleveland line won't support 15 minute frequency without duplication beyond Manly, and Northgate will have 15 minute frequency as the Kippa Ring line will run through, although it could be extended where needed on the north side (maybe to the Airport considering it's pairing with the Gold Coast line will end). My only issue is the cross at Yeerongpilly interfering with BaT paths. You'd also need 4 platforms at Yeerongpilly I assume, along with quad to Yeerongpilly (well we need that anyway, and probably all the way to Kuraby)

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> People power saves Dutton Park train station

People power has saved Dutton Park train station from being axed in the new $5 billion underground Bus and Train project.

Community consultation over the past six weeks has showed tremendous support from hospital nursing staff, residents and students to keep Dutton Park train station, beside the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

When the state government announced its decision to replace Labor's Cross River Rail tunnel with its own Bus and Train tunnel, axing Dutton Park station was one cost-saving measure.

The state government in November decided to close the station and replace it with a pedestrian bridge from the bottom end of the Princess Alexandra Hospital to Park Road train station.

Nurses and other staff at the Princess Alexandra Hospital simply hated the idea.

The state government has decided to keep the Dutton Park train station and upgrade it.

Premier Campbell Newman said the design changes answer concerns raised by the community as part of an extensive five-week consultation exercise.

"We are a government that listens and the design changes reflect feedback from the community while still delivering a world-class public transport solution," Mr Newman said.

The idea to build the pedestrian link to Park Road station has also been scrapped,

Instead a new pedestrian and cycle bridge will be constructed on the northern edge of the existing Annerley Road Bridge.

It is proposed that the new bridge will also include construction of a lift and stairs for direct access down to the Dutton Park Station platforms.

Transport Minister Scott Emerson said engineers changed the design so the length of the tunnel to the existing tracks can be shorter and slightly steeper.

The design is influenced by the newer rolling stock that will come into effect on the new tunnel.

That means Dutton Park train station can remain open without any surface property resumptions, he said.

There are other changes at the northern end of the BaT tunnel, preserving most of Victoria Park.

"Further changes to the design at the northern end of the tunnel will mean the majority of the project infrastructure will be contained within the existing transport corridor, preserving Victoria Park," Mr Emerson said.

Labor's proposed Cross River Rail route saw more than 100 homes overall resumed because their tunnel entry was further south.

It would have resumed 66 homes at Yeerongpilly.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the changes – keeping Dutton Park station and preserving most of Victoria Park – would make other infrastructure more effective.

The  BaT tunnel has a link to council's Legacy Way tunnel.

Member for Brisbane Central Robert Cavallucci welcomed the changes to the Victoria Park end of the project.

"This is a fantastic outcome for Spring Hill residents, as access for local families, pedestrians and cyclists will be maintained throughout Victoria Park," he said.

Brisbane's proposed five-kilometre underground Bus and Train project is still in the design phase.

An Environmental Impact Statement and the Final Reference Design are expected in the second half of 2014.

The BaT tunnel proposal runs between Dutton Park and Victoria Park near Spring Hill.

It includes three new underground stations at Woolloongabba, George Street and Roma Street.

The project is due to be completed in 2020 and operating in 2021.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/people-power-saves-dutton-park-train-station-20140624-zskkp.html

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Dutton Park railway station after Newman Government alters plan

[ozbob]

The changes to BaT do beg the question.  How rigorous is transport planning in Queensland and Australia?

CRR is presented as the solution, validated by rigorous years of work by Infrastructure Australia.

BaT is changed, from a former position of no changes possible.  One wonders ...

The lack of UBaT connection at Park Road/Boggo now will be locked in by the looks of things.

I think moves to block the fuel excise increase may well rebound on funding for the states.  Previous road money may well disappear which means that the states will probably now prioritise roads even more over PT.  As far as BaT goes ... show me the money!