Railway_Digest__February_2018

TM
Queensland
QR CEO says no plans to
close Shorncliffe line during
Commonwealth Games
Queensland Rail’s chief executive Nick Easy denies there are plans
to close a north Brisbane rail line to meet demand during this year’s
Commonwealth Games but says the timetable is yet to be finalised.
Mr Easy repeatedly said on Sunday 31 December that there were
“no plans” to close any line, following media reports all services on the
Shorncliffe line would be diverted to the Gold Coast, though he would
not categorically rule it out. (The Shorncliffe line is an 11 kilometre
commuter line that runs from the junction station of Northgate,
situated 9.9 kilometres from Brisbane Central station, to the northern
Brisbane suburb of Shorncliffe.)
“There are no plans to close services on the Shorncliffe line,” he said.
“However, there will be an adjustment in services given this is a large,
international-scale event where there’ll be a significant increase in
demand on the Gold Coast”.
“Mr Easy said commuters across south-east Queensland would still
have access to QR services, but there would be changes to the regular
timetable. “We haven’t set the final timetable that will be released well
ahead of the Commonwealth Games,” he said. “What you’ll see is buses
playing a very important role, as will the trains, which will provide
services”.
QR will also endeavour to put more of its New Generation
Rollingstock (NGR) trains in service ahead of April’s major sporting
event. Mr Easy said there were currently three being used, but he
expected more to be deployed in January and February (see December
2017 RD, page 16). “We will be putting those trains that are in service
from NGR into the Commonwealth Games timetable,” he said.
Despite Mr Easy’s confidence there is still concern in some sectors
that Translink may not be able to handle the Commonwealth Games
passenger task. In August 2017 an independent review by German
railway operator Deutsche Bahn, argued that 18 NGR trains will be
required for the Commonwealth Games timetable.
Some rail advocates, including Rail Back on Track spokesperson
Robert Dow, believe that travelling by rail during the Games would be
“a nightmare” and QR would “strip other lines” to service the event.
He was also critical of the late release of the public timetable for rail
services.
Another informed source said that while the Shorncliffe line may be
safe, it would be no surprise if services were suspended on the short
and relatively lightly used Doomben line. Services on this line usually
operate Monday to Saturday, with no services run on Sundays and
public holidays.
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March 2019 Delhi, India's capital, Agra, for the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort and Jaipur, the Pink City.
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FEBRUARY 2018
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