A thread for international research and practice
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Switzerland
Zurich S-Bahn
The Zurich S-Bahn system is really relevant as it deals with a city that is compact set within a region of other cities that are separated by long tracts of farmland and large distances.
With voters rejecting proposals for a metro, an alternative regional-based rail project was devised instead that blended elements of metro, commuter rail and regional rail together on common sections of track.
It has direct relevance for SEQ, which has a similar regional ânetwork of citiesâ setup. A key part of the system design are regional express services that omit almost all city stations before servicing stops at regional cities.
Large sections of express running are key to improving PT in SEQ as the distance between cities is large (e.g. Brisbane <> Ipswich, Brisbane <> Sunshine Coast, Brisbane <> Gold Coast).
Cluster-based project approach: Similar to the Sydney Clearways project in 2000, Swiss transport authorities decided to undertake a large number of small projects all around the network rather than one single megaproject.
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Better than Sydney Clearways in that Zurich continually improves its network. Instead of major projects they continue to make improvements that reduce conflicting movements, increase network efficiencies etc. The clearways project but without an end.
Plus much much better approach to scheduling so that interchanges almost always work effectively between services and modes.
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Zurich also has a substantial tram network and is dense in the inner city, so not that comparable to Brisbane unforunately.
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Not everything can be taken away as there are genuine differences.
That said, the key takeaway that trains need large sections of express running if cities are spread across a region is really relevant for SEQ.
Meanwhile, in Qld, we canât duplicate 1.3 km of track from Sandgate to Shorncliffe. 
I also wonder how much more we could get out of the Beenleigh line with a few more crossovers and signalling between Moorooka and Kuraby.
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We need a QR that is empowered to continuously look for and implement improvements (passing loops, turnbacks, straightening segments, removing level crossings etc) separately from major projects.
We also need an agency that works with QR in identifying these improvements and integrates services.
I believe with Zurichâs system the bus and rail services are timed to ensure even infrequent services enable quick transfers.
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