Theres a video of Marina Bay South in Singapore on train rotations and man its much tighter than what compared to Shorncliffe
But it’s a metro, not a heavy rail.
But PLEASE tell me that this can work on the Shorncliffe line too. Because of @Bretto82 is right about turnback times not improving, then I’ll never understand what happiness is ever again (unless they duplicate the Shorncliffe line).
I’m not sure about the logistics, but it really frustrates me that they won’t do such a simple and low cost project that will have a big benefit for the network as a whole. They won’t even add a basic second platform at Shorncliffe while it’s closed for a supposed upgrade…
Question out of curiosity and hoping someone with more knowledge would know the answer.
We all know the issues with the single track between Manly and Cleveland. I’m not saying this is what I would want (I want a full duplication), but currently Birkdale and Ormiston stations are single platform with dual platforms and passing loops at the remaining stations. If Birkdale and Ormiston were upgraded to dual platforms so that all stations have passing loops, would this make it possible to reliably run 15 minute all day services?
If I understand the peak hour timetable right, there’s crosses ~ every second station - at Manly, at Thorneside, just outbound of Wellington Point, and effectively at Cleveland. Off peak, it’s at Wellington Point.
So yes, duplicating at the other two stations is useful (now in the event of a delay, one train only has to wait up to 4 minutes instead of 7.5).
I figure the outbound train (having travelled further) is a lot more likely to be delayed than the inbound train. As such duplicating on the west side of stations seems like it’d be higher return than on the east side. Annoyingly, Thorneside has the creek and WP has the Main Rd bridge.
Yeah - although I believe the Main Road bridge has space underneath for a second track to be added.
Looking on Google Earth, it looks like that bridge would have to be rebuilt to make room for a second track.
Granted it’s been a while since I lived in Wellington Point, but I thought the bridge has space that can be dug out for the second track, but I’m happy to stand corrected and I’m not an engineer so I’m not sure if that would affect the structural integrity of the existing bridge. I know there are some other parts of the line that have more obvious provision for a second track. I guess if that wasn’t the case then rebuilding the bridle would be part of the scope of a full duplication.
I’m a local, doing up that bridge would cause everyone a LOT of pain. Used for school runs on weekdays and plenty of residents use it. Would cause a bit of pushback I’d imagine.
But yes, Birkdale has ample room to be done up - Ormiston might if they can convince the billboard to be removed on the far side of the track - so there is scope for it but I’m not sure if its worth the $$$ without a full dupe.
Is it a single span bridge, or does it have an intermediate pier?
If it’s a single span, it may be feasible to cut back the spill-through abutments to have vertical faces. Then you might be able to squeeze through dual tracks underneath.
An alternative replacement/duplication looks to be too tight, unless there are property resumptions.
Single span bridge - there’s no pillar
Digitised plans uploaded by Vivien Fleming I came across. I knew these documents existed in the Queensland Archives, but have never seen them myself. An idea of what could have been- but also a reminder that we can still achieve high-capacity transport for the Southern Redlands.
Cleveland to Redland Bay, 1890.
Inquire into and Report upon a Proposed Extension of the Belmont Tramway to Mount Cotton; the Proposed Construction of a Branch Railway from Sunnybank to Mount Cotton; and other alternative routes, Report, 1922.
