BRISBANE» MASS TRANSIT - Thread

[SoulVision]

Now this is what I'm talking about! Agreed! Route A would be very good.

Courier Mail take:

$14b subway system for Brisbane announced by Anna Bligh
Steve Wardill and Rosemary Odgers | October 07, 2008 10:19am | cm

AN underground railway system for Brisbane could be up and running as early as 2020, premier Anna Bligh has told State Parliament today.

Ms Bligh said the $14.2 billion underground rail system would feature new tracks along two lines, from the southern Gold Coast and the western Ipswich lines, extending to the north of Brisbane.

It would feature underground tunnels up to 13km long, and stations at Spring Hill, Woolloongabba, the CBD, the RNA showgrounds and West End, that would be up to 45 metres underground.

Pineapple Politics: Don't get carried away
Map: MX shows you where the subway will go
The project would be part-funded by the federal government's $20 billion Building Australia fund.

Last week, state and federal leaders at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting agreed to fast track big-ticket infrastructure spending to help shield the economy from continuing global financial turmoil.

Ms Bligh said the massive projects were likely to cost up to $14 billion, but with federal government's funding the first stage could begin by late 2012.

The project would be delivered in two stages over the next 15 to 20 years, she said.

"We are talking about the largest single public transport project ever undertaken in Queensland, more than matching our investment in busways," Ms Bligh told state parliament.

A detailed feasibility study would now be undertaken.

Ms Bligh said "visionary solutions" could be considered when the federal government worked with the states.

She said the fast-growing city needed world-class trains.

"The rail study released today is a vision of the future that, with federal government help, can transform public transport services here for generations to come," Ms Bligh said.

"We live in the fastest growing part of Australia.

"We are a city that is coming of age, and we need to reflect this in our public transport infrastructure."

Other projects the state has put forward for potential federal funding are: the Bruce Highway upgrade; Darra to Springfield road and rail link; Brisbane's Eastern Busway project; the Gateway Motorway north and south upgrades; Port of Brisbane motorway; Gold Coast rapid transit project; Abbot Point multi-use harbour; Mount Isa rail corridor and the Toowoomba bypass.

Legislation to pass the Building Australia Fund is due to go before federal parliament during the next session, starting next week.

with AAP

[SoulVision]

Realistically, fed money is needed otherwise Anna would bankrupt the state. If i were her, I would be on the phone to Kev every day asking for funds.



Thanks to QUT News:

[kiwivision]

How is Brisbane going in regards to introducing Light Rail?

[SoulVision]

Light rail is on the drawing board, however knowing the BCC they will just go with more buses... the cheaper option.


A map showing one of the proposed routes for an underground rail network in Brisbane.

Brisbane subway proposal 'too late'
Tony Moore | October 8, 2008 | brisbanetimes

A rail lobby group has welcomed the government's proposal of an underground rail network for Brisbane, but said the upgrade is needed more urgently than planned.

Rali: Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said 30 per cent growth in patronage on Brisbane's Citytrain network in the past three years was proof rail transport was popular if good service was provided.

Mr Dow welcomed the underground proposal, but said the existing network would reach "capacity constraints" in 2012-13.

"We think 2016 is too far out, based on the present passenger loading increases," he said.

"I mean they have had 30 per cent in the last three years, so it is just going up and up."

An extra 44 trains are being added to the Citytrain network and a further 58 three-car units have been ordered.

"Now that is going to give them - theoretically - a 70 per cent increase in capacity by 2012," he said.

Mr Dow said he supported the option that takes in Park Road and Woolloongabba before going underground to a new Brisbane CBD station.

"Of the first phase plans we have a leaning towards Route A, because it provides rail services to ares that don't have rail services, like Woolloongabba," he said.

He said new developments were being planned around transport infrastructure and the city had to meet demand.

He also supported a proposed link to the Exhibition Grounds because it would provide better rail service to Royal Brisbane Hospital and the growing inner-city redevelopment of Bowen Hills.

"We think that is also very smart because it is also a new transit development and commercial development and importantly it provides better access to the Royal Brisbane Hospital and the Herston medical precinct."

Meanwhile the State Opposition called on the Government to provide more detail on the proposal, to help secure federal funding.

Liberal National Party infrastructure and transport spokeswoman Fiona Simpson said the announcement proved the Government had failed to undertake the necessary planning it promised to do in 2005.

"If (Anna) Bligh's team had done the work Peter Beattie promised three years ago then they would have a properly finalised, budgeted and scoped project to submit for federal funding," Ms Simpson said.

The $14 billion rail project is one of 10 infrastructure projects being considered by Infrastructure Australia.

The LNP supports an underground rail system for inner-city Brisbane, but said yesterday's announcement put Queensland behind the eight-ball as it applied for funds.

"The other states have submitted fully-costed projects for the federal infrastructure funding, while all Anna Bligh can do is announce another study," Ms Simpson said.

"This whole announcement is lacking in professionalism. It is an embarrassment if this is the best the (Government) team can do when there is an opportunity to lodge bids in competition with other states who have done their homework."

[SoulVision]

Underground rail network to cost $10b less
John McCarthy and Jeremy Pierce | October 12, 2008 11:00pm | CM

AN underground rail network could be built for about $10 billion less than the Government's planned scheme and still provide a high level of service, according to a transport consultant.

The big savings would be made by not having such an extensive and costly tunnel network but with the added benefit of also linking with a light rail and bus.

It would also bypass Bowen Hills, which consultant Justin Wells said had become a choke point for the rail system. That would allow more services from Caboolture.

The network would stretch from Woolloongabba to the CBD at the QUT campus and then on to Central and Kelvin Grove. It would rejoin the existing network at Newmarket.

"The rail tunnel would cost less than the North South Bypass Tunnel as it does not need ventilation if it only has electric trains . . . so our estimate of costs to date is in the order of $3.5 to $4 billion," Mr Wells said. "This would include new stations and integrating busways as well as property resumptions at the Princess Alexandra and Newmarket area. I cannot see why the state has gone so grand."

Premier Anna Bligh said it was far too early in the process to commit to any one proposal.

"We've still got a long way to go before we get to a point where we have decided routes and costings," she said.

"So if there are better or more cost-effective engineering solutions we will certainly look at them."

Public transport lobbyist Robert Dow said Brisbane's train network was facing meltdown and the promised underground inner city rail line needed to be brought forward by at least two years.

The first stage of the Government's $14 billion plan was not expected to be completed until 2016 with three options being considered.

Mr Dow said the rail system was already experiencing "latent demand", or overcrowding to the point where no more travellers could board the train.

He said trains on the Ipswich line were often running well over capacity and demand was only going get worse.

QR passenger executive general manager Paul Scurrah said QR did not maintain statistics on the number of people left behind but was aware that some people choose not to board services during peak hour because of crowding.

But Mr Dow said passenger numbers were easily exceeding Government estimates during peak periods.

"There are 1200 people on trains designed for 800," Mr Dow said.

The Urban Design Alliance chairman James Coutts said the underground system would be a huge benefit for the city, but he said there would be more commuter stress until the scheme was built.

However, he said the Government needed time to do the job properly.

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New Green Ronan Lee backs light-rail system

THE Queensland Greens yesterday called for a tram-style light rail system in Brisbane and in centres such as Redcliffe, Ipswich, Pine Rivers and Logan.

State Labor-turned-Greens MP Ronan Lee urged southeast Queenslanders to access the Greens' e-petition calling for such a system.

"Our intention is to show there is strong support for a sustainable light rail system," he said.

Mr Lee said the Greens proposed an above-ground system but also supported the concept of underground light rail.

The aim was to feed into existing rail and bus systems.

Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlum called on the State Government to urge Federal powers for sustainable light-rail funding.

Mr Lee was yesterday endorsed as the Greens candidate for the seat of Indooroopilly at the next state election.

Additional reporting by Elizabeth Allen