Historical QR Projects

Research and Articles
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Thread for historical QR projects not featured elsewhere.

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History of the Redcliffe Line and problems associated with it.

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Interesting point in the video that training QR Train Drivers takes 18 months, which is significantly longer than either Melbourne or Sydney, which have much more complex and extensive rail networks.

Perth takes at least 6 months; it might be longer than advertised as it’s not clear how long the supervised driving experience is after that.

Any thoughts?

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I think it’s a QR culture thing. My experience with them trying to get anything done as part of SDSR’s heritage operations is that their culture is one of extreme risk aversion and an extraordinary amount of siloed bureaucracy.

Put those together, and it takes an age to get anything done.

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I hope this situation won’t happen for the opening of CRR - from my understanding it will lead to network-wide increases in service, so new drivers and rolling stock will be needed

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After the embarassment of Rail Fail, I would hope that QR are smart enough to learn from that.

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From discussions we’ve had with QR, I am quite confident that the timetable post CRR will pose no issue from a crew resourcing perspective. My main concern is rollingstock…

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It was stated during Estimates by the CEO QR that they have enough trains.
See https://forum.bettertransportqueensland.org/t/when-will-revenue-services-commence-in-cross-river-rail/706/24?u=ozbob

Mr MELLISH: Ms Stapleton, do you have enough rolling stock at present 
to operate Cross River Rail services without the addition of 
65 new train sets to be built at Torbanlea as part of QTMP?


Ms Stapleton: I do not have the exact numbers in front of me but 
from recollection for the preparation timetable, the soft opening 
timetable and then three-car operations the required rolling stock 
was going to increase from 114.5 to 119.5 to 122, roughly. 
Now, Queensland Rail, as I mentioned, has access to 75 NGIs 
as well as 60 six-car sets or 120 three-car sets of its own fleet 
so that is 135 to operate the required timetable.

Estimates https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/com/SDIWC-1AF9/C20252026-4826/Proof%20-%20Public%20Hearing%20held%20on%2031%20July%202025.pdf page 103

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