But what about GCLR S4, is that not a project that is important with keeping up with population growth? And the renewable energy projects? Easing the strain of population growth doesn’t seem like it is an aim of this government.
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You are giving too much credit to the LNP, in my biased opinion. Time and time again they have showed they can be in fact quite dumb 
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I 100% agree the GCLR S4 is very much needed and as a part time Burleigh resident I am pi$$ed off at this short sighted decision. But this was nothing more than a political decision as they did not want Palm Beach looking like a construction site, at the next State election.
The GC faster rail will have minimal impact on the operation of train services (other than weekend and holiday shut downs) and is nowhere near as in your face as the construction of the GCLR.
I would also argue GC faster rail is more important than GCLR S4, due to the population that will benefit.
The other thing is the State budget is already very stretched, as is the workforce to build all of this infrastructure. I believe it will absolutely get built, but will not start works until after 2032.
Heavy rail extension to GC Airport is also a must do. I do not know why Labor did not except the contractors offer to build at the same time as the M1 upgrade to Tugan. Yet again, another dumb politician, making a stupid decision.
As for for the renewable energy projects, I need more information on these as so far Albo and Bowen have sold us out. Both are incompetent individuals IMO.
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I think your opinion is quite valid. We have seen over time in Qld, when it comes to public transport, Labor bad, LNP worse.
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The Coorparoo crossing is a challenge but it has to happen. The government claims they are working on removing level crossings. But are they the critical ones?
EG as part of the north coast rail duplication there is an overpass to be built across Steve Irwin Way and the level crossing on Barrs Rd will be removed. Money spent on an overpass that could have been used toward a real problem like Coorparoo. Barrs Rd carries local traffic and the crossing is closed for a few minutes every hour.
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I am sure vast % of the Gold Coast would disagree. Not saying Faster Rail is not important but S4 was equally if not more important to the people in the GC.
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Reports of some people in “remove level crossings” tshirts in the CBD today.
Good to see widespread community support for this!
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I’d like to see them work methodically from Central outwards on all lines.
First level crossing on each line from Central…
- Ferny Grove Line - after Newmarket Station (6.52km from Central), Wilston Road
- Cleveland Line - after Coorparoo Station (7.87km from Central), Cavendish Road
- Doomben Line - after Hendra Station (8.00km from Central), Zillman Road
- North Coast Line (Redcliffe, Nambour, Gympie North) - after Northgate Station (9.90km from Central), Northgate Road
- Main Line (Springfield, Ipswich/Rosewood) - after Sherwood Station (10.69km from Central), Sherwood Road
- South Coast Line (Beenleigh, Gold Coast) - after Rocklea Station (11.54km from Central), Railway Parade
- Shorncliffe Line - before Banyo Station (12.05km from Central), Saint Vincents Road (oh dear…)
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They should include the Cavendish Road and Sherwood road as well since they are talking about higher frequency along those corridors as well post CRR.
Is Wilston road that busy to warrant a priority removal?
I don’t the the Doomed line will have a frequency upgrade.
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Based on this: (only looking into accidents occurring in SEQ) Railway accidents in Queensland - Wikipedia
It seems like there’s strong precedence for upgrades/removals of level crossings at:
- Trinder Crossing
- Lindum Station crossing (North Road/Kianawah Road)
- Banyo Station crossing (St Vincents Road)
- Bonemill road crossing
There definitely are more that have precedence than this, this is just from the wiki list
I also think, though not the removal of railway crossings, a heightening of so-called duck bridges would be useful in minimising accidents on railways, with the addition of allowing buses to pass underneath
Given that the LNP got a 63% 2PP vote in Burleigh last election I can’t think they’re too worried about it.
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It can be the crossings next to a station that are the more disruptive ones - the gates close as the train approaches the station, then waits for it to stop, passengers to disembark and embark, and then accelerate out of the station. Newmarket, Coorparoo, Hendra, Sherwood, and Banyo are all of this variety.
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I wonder if the Sherwood LX is just closed and upgrades made to the Quarry Road bridge to the south to increase the clearance to compensate. Given the complete lack of other LXs nearby and the junction / freight movements issues, I don’t think you would be skyrailing Chelmer to Corinda.
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Agreed that it is an easy close. As are some of the others on the ‘first level crossing on the line’ list. There has been some traffic calming around Quarry Road and neighbouring streets which may need to be revised. Long Street E to the north could be a better diversion as the east junction of it has traffic lights and it is a more developed strip.
I don’t think that businesses along Sherwood road would appreciate the closure unless convinced otherwise. It would ok if the whole street was residential but it’s not.
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There’s no doubt that level crossings in urban environments (like at Coorparoo) are higher priority for removal.
However, removing level crossings with existing rail projects is a great idea. When there is a large pot of money for a project, it’s best to advocate for as many improvements adjacent to the project as possible. If the Barrs Rd overpass was not included in the B2N Stage 1 project, there is zero chance money would have been diverted into another rail crossing removal.
In any case, this level crossing will be closed far more frequently once DSCL opens, and with any improvement in service frequency to the NCL. We should be looking at multi-decade timeframes for this kind of project improvements.
Barrs Rd is also the main access route to several glasshouse mountain hikes, so it is certainly not just a local access road.
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The traffic that goes through Sherwood Road is so small that I don’t know if I’d even bother removing it. I live a few streets away and use it all the time and have never once seen traffic bank up for more than one closing of the gates.
The other problem with closing it is that Great Circle line and rail replacement buses use it and Quarry Road can’t serve that purpose.
It’s also one of the only roads in that area that allows taller vehicles through. All the nearby bridges are too low so you’d have to work very hard to maintain access for trucks and the like