Gold Coast (Robina) Line Upgrade and Extension

From the city news (August 4, Issue 100)

I have to type it all out....

Rail rage on coast line

Reports of frayed tempers on the gold coast (Robina) line - known as the Bombay Express - are growing as patronage increases due to the high number of coast residents who work in the Brisbane CBD.

Translink Figures reveal there has been a 250,500 increase in patronage during the past 4 years.

It has added weight to the CBD workers' calls for an immediate increase in peak hour services with many complaining of jostling and pushing as passengers try to secure a seat.

They say an average of 25 commuters in every carriage are forced to stand or sit on the floor for a journey, which takes up to one hour and 15 minutes.
And with the gold coast being the second fastest growing rgion in Australia, there are fears the situation will worsen before the state governments slated boost to rail services begins in early 2007.

CBD worker Cheryl, who has complained to Queensland Rail three times about the over-crowding, said the service should run every 15 minutes during peak times.

She said South Bank station on the return journey was a hot-spot for pushing and shoving among passengers.

"you can see why people get brassed off" she said.
"I dont think ive sat down in the morning since Christmas time" said one commuter.
"It puts you in a foul mood" said another.

Opposition Transport spokesman Bruce Flegg backed the call for an immediate upgrade claiming the State Government hadnt adequetly planned for growth.

"Its (The Gold Coast) got the infrastructure to service a country town and its one of Australias largest cities" mr Flegg said.

Member for Surfers paradise John-Paul Langbroek has recieved many complains.

"If you get on past Nerang you cant get a seat," Mr Langbroek said.

Translink general manger Luke Franzmann said there was no spare rolling stock that could be applied to the Gold Coast line.
"It is an ongoing concern," he said.
"There was an added service put on in October last year at 5:59am that has gone some way to addressing the need."

The State Govt. has previously announced an upgrade to two weekday period train sevices in 2006/07 from three-carriage trains to six-carriage trains. There would also be three additional six carriage peak period services after 2006/07. Long term the line between helensvale and Robina, will be duplicated.


Coast Growth:
The Gold Coast is growing at the rate of 254 new residents per week, with the northern suburbs - those directly serviced by the gold coast line - among the fastest growing areas.
Figures compiled by PRD Nationwide show, in the year ending June 2004, the Gold Coast ranked second behind Brisbane for the highest population frowth in the country.
During the smae period 1740 peple moved to Robina.
Real Estate Institute of QLD Research Manager Fiona Bergin said a major growth driver was the ihgh number of Gold Coast residents who work in Brisbane.

Passenger Growth on the Gold Coast Line
2000-01: 2,813,629
2001-02: 3,006,756
2002-03: 3,038,398
2003-04: 3,064,138
2004-05: unknown




Thats about that. That was alot of typing

Seems that peak hour that there aren't enough services provided. Seems rediculous that they operate 3-car sets in peak hour instead of 6-car sets. Also seems that they operate at 30 minute frequency which is pretty aweful.

The following are Central and Domestic Airport bound trains that depart from Nerang during/around morning peak, followed by period between previous train, and stopping pattern:
5:29 Express Beenleigh-South Bank, Bowen Hills-Eagle Junction
6:04 35 min Express Beenleigh-South Bank, terminates at Bowen Hills
6:29 25 min Express Beenleigh-Loganlea-South Bank, Bowen Hills-Eagle Junction
7:00 31 min Express Beenleigh-South Bank, Bowen Hills-Eagle Junction
7:25 25 min Express Beenleigh-South Bank, Bowen Hills-Eagle Junction
8:05 40 min Express Beenleigh-South Bank, Bowen Hills-Eagle Junction
8:51 46 min Express Beenleigh-South Bank, Bowen Hills-Eagle Junction
9:23 31 min Express Beenleigh-Loganlea-Yeerongpilly-South Bank, Bowen Hills-Eagle Junction

Interpeak seems to have the opposite problem. Between 9:30am and 3:30pm trains operate at 24 minutes and 54 minutes past each hour, half hour frequency, which is more than most of the peak hour services! And all of the interpeak services are 6-car trains. They all are marginally slower than peak hour services though, since they all stop at Loganlea and Yeerongpilly between Beenleigh and South Bank.