BRISBANE» MASS TRANSIT - Thread

[Brissy4]

Those Tram-Trains look amazing!!

This Smart City Master Plan is a great plan, and I'm sure with some tweeking and adjusting it will be able to be implemented with positive public opinion and feedback. Community consultation and some research surveys will be key in the decision making and policy cycle.

I like this plan in that it allows for growth, change and development. Also it doesn't impact too much on our city, while making the CBD and surrounds more accessible.

[metro4brisbane]

i say that they can have their nostalgia, but keep it to a free city loop that facilitates the hop on hop off inter-office and tourist trips like the fantastic melbourne free loop. i am a strong proponent of a metro system for brisbane (as my ID suggests) but i think it should be a tram-train system. Why? Cheaper rollingstock, smaller/lower platforms for cheaper construction, run up to 110 km/h can run on existing citytrain rails, can run underground like a metro system, greater acceptance (no class divide). I think a multi functional tram/subway system in Brisbane would be phenomenal - simple, integrated and extremely functional.

[metro4brisbane]

If you combine the functionality of the Alicante system with the simple design of the Rotterdam Metro underground stations (dutch efficiency - my favourite metro system ) it think you could create something amazing for Brisbane


Rotterdam Underground Station (standard across most stations - simple non-flamboyant design -im a bit concern about the KG Square Busway entrances)

[SoulVision]

Bloody fantastic!! Gotta love Anna

Underground for inner city
Article from: The Courier-Mail | link


John McCarthy
August 09, 2007 12:00am

AN underground rail system for central Brisbane is being investigated by the State Government to help cope with the city's massive growth.

Infrastructure Minister Anna Bligh last night revealed at the Our Future, Your Say forum that a feasibility study was currently being done to investigate another river crossing for trains.

The Grey St bridge was set to reach capacity within a decade.

Ms Bligh said the proposal would mean a train line going underground at Kangaroo Point, with the possibility of providing a new underground station at the QUT campus at Gardens Point and the line then linking to either Roma Street or Central Station.

There could also be an opportunity for stations at either the Myer Centre or near the Riverside Centre.

"It's early days. This is a 10 or 20-year project," Ms Bligh said.

"That's in the planning stages now and is a very important part of our thinking about managing growth."

She agreed that such a scheme would cost billions and would possibly require Federal Government funding.

The plan would coincide with another scheme to develop light rail in the inner city to link West End with the City, Fortitude Valley and Newstead.

Ms Bligh said congestion was one of the pains of growth in southeast Queensland and people loved their cars. However, without traffic measures there would be an extra 7 billion kilometres travelled on Brisbane roads by 2020.

Other speakers at last night's Customs House forum included actor and former Brisbane resident William McInnes, Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale and Lend Lease general manager of affordable housing and sustainability Guy Gibson.

Mr Gibson said a major plan to buy greenspace was needed to provide balance to the urban expansion.

The forum What price growth was the first in a series throughout Brisbane examining the impact of growth on our city.

[SoulVision]

Where is the current Exhibition line?? Does that run to the RNA show grounds?

Trains to travel under the river
Article from: The Sunday Mail (Qld) | link

By Darrell Giles
August 26, 2007 12:00am

BRISBANE could have two under-the-river rail tunnels and a new rail bridge in a bold State Government public transport plan.

There could be major new train stations at Woolloongabba, Gardens Point and the "financial district" at Eagle St, and a redeveloped Exhibition line for year-round use.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Paul Lucas will today unveil details of a $5 million feasibility study to develop options for connecting the rail network north and south of the Brisbane River.

Last month, The Sunday Mail revealed the Government's Smart Cities: Rethinking the City Centre concept, which included five pedestrian and cycle bridges.

Premier Peter Beattie said his "visionary" 10-to-15-year plan aimed to keep cars and trucks out of the Brisbane CBD and make vast areas pedestrian-friendly.

Mr Lucas said southeast Queensland's booming population – which increases by more than 1000 a week – meant trains and buses were close to capacity.

"We need to plan now to ensure public transport will continue to be affordable and convenient in Brisbane into the future," he said yesterday.

"We already know that by around 2016 we'll face congestion on the Merivale Bridge because of the massive number of new services we're putting on.

"But rather than simply deciding to put up another rail bridge right next to it, I want to look at options that will provide smart solutions for the next 50 years and beyond." He said that could mean going underground.

The Inner City Rail Capacity Study by consultants Maunsell Parsons Brinkerhoff is expected to be completed late next year.

The Government's public transport plan would be separate from the Brisbane City Council's TransApex project, which includes four road tunnels and a bridge.

It would be funded by the Government, with a request for Commonwealth assistance. The city council would not be expected to contribute.

"The study is not likely to recommend an underground City (rail) loop because of the small size of the CBD, plus technical and operational constraints," Mr Lucas said.

"But it will consider other potential crossings, including bridges adjacent to existing road and rail connections."

Experts predicted that Citytrain patronage could increase between 39 per cent and 98 per cent in the next decade.

"That's on top of the extra 40 million trips being taken on public transport every year now compared with 2004," Mr Lucas said.

"The inner-city network . . . limits how many extra trains we can run on lines servicing the Gold Coast, Ipswich, Cleveland, Caboolture and the Sunshine Coast."

Mr Lucas said that under the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan, the Government had committed more than $7 billion in the next 20 years to rail upgrades, new lines to Springfield and on the Gold Coast, and new trains.

He said a new station at the Gabba would help AFL crowds – about 80 per cent of Suncorp Stadium fans used public transport.