Almost pointless sadly. Curve radii isn’t even the biggest limiting factor, it’s the distance between stops (12km, 6km, 3.5km, 4.5km) on Stage 1 and 2 that’s the problem.
The first 12km section will allow trains to run at max line speed (160) for much of the journey but by the time a HSR train gets up to 320, it’ll have to start slowing again. For the other 3 legs of the trip I doubt our current sets will even sit at max speed for long.
Yep, 100-160kph on this line will be sufficient and help produce a decent journey time. Hopefully it will run express from Caboolture to the city with just the regular couple stops along the way.
Even if the line is built for 160-180 it won’t matter because QTMP and NGR fleets are only able to run at 140km/h max. Yeah, TMR downgraded the max speed of the new fleet.
That’s very disappointing about a lower top design speed. Although, as is the same story with the high speed rail proposal, I’m sure it wouldn’t make too much of a difference in the grand scheme of the project.
What about a tilt train super express? It might save tens of minutes and could be very popular.
Tell me I’m dreamin’, though, its okay.
A bit of ambition goes a long way. If it’s getting built then it should be built with the future in mind. Targeting even 200km/h as an express service would provide such an appealing offering for non regular PT users.
Has there been offical word that this is the case regarding max operating speed being down to 140kph?
What would this add to the longest run between stations do you think?
The difference between 140km/h and 160km/h is negligible in the context of a train that stops every few kilometres. The trains that came in in the late 90s (120 series?) was geared lower for a faster acceleration but lower top speed of 140km/h because it turns out you can have a faster overall journey speed even on a line like the Gold Coast with those design parameters.
We were told this during the QTMP mockup visit last year.
Rightly or wrongly, the LinkedIn job update post is a fixture of modern working life.
Announcing two new gigs at the same time is less common – particularly if they involve the public sector.
But that was exactly the recent news shared by two outgoing Cross River Rail Delivery Authority figures: strategic commercial management director Ted Williams, and senior commercial manager David Kalinowski.
Jumping from a relatively near-completion project to become commercial directors of “The Wave” building up on the Sunshine Coast was unremarkable enough.
What raised eyebrows in public sector circles was the second bit: an infrastructure consultancy.
“At the same time, I’m excited to announce the launch of Nexus Infrastructure Partners,” Williams informed his connections, “founded with my partners Shaun Gallagher and David Kalinowski.
“Nexus has been established with a clear purpose: to provide senior, hands-on commercial leadership to complex infrastructure programs, without the friction, overhead or dilution that can come with broader advisory models”.
Kalinowski – who corporate records show is a shareholder director and secretary – flagged the move in a similar post. Williams is listed as the firm’s only other director.
How they might find time to juggle both is an obvious question. How they got the nod for a second hat is another.
Simple! The partial answer, via a Department of Transport and Main Roads spokesperson, is the pair – and two others – are not government employees at all.
“Four commercial directors for The Wave (Rail) have been appointed to their respective roles as contractors through an open market tender process,” the spokesperson told Circus.
“They are not TMR employees and as such, there is no conflict of interest.”
Further questions to the department managed to extract the additional detail that, yes, Williams and Kalinowski were engaged on The Wave by the department via their shiny new firm, said to be standard practice.
We can’t help thinking this might partly explain why the big Crisafulli crackdown on consultants and contractors to save coin and build up the public sector is not going so well.
Curiously, the Nexus’ “our people” website section is yet to feature any names, though the portfolio portion does clearly talk up their delivery authority work – and more.
We sang out to Williams and Kalinowski, who Circus is not suggesting to have engaged in any wrongdoing, but are yet to hear back.
There might not be any heavy rail by 2032 but seems like the gravy train is rolling!
Next stop - Westpac station…
Or should I say, “Now arriving at Westpac station. Passengers for the gravy train, please disembark here. Please note that due to extended closures, real trains are not running. Please look for the railbus that may or may not run. Please note the exit buttons are located in the middle of the doors…”
Don’t forget that Queensland Rail reminds you to take all personal possessions when you leave the train!
It seems we can expect an offical announcement later today as I have just seen a post that the Premier and Deputy Premier are at Parkland Blvd making a public transport announcement.
Well that is the first step. lol.
They’ve dug a hole alright, Stage 2 & 3 are not funded, and Stage 1 & 2 won’t be completed before 2032.
..finally, a train line all the way to the Sunshine Coast airport…
Say what?!
The attached video in the post contains the usual Metro Wave fluff…
So reading it together…
BTQ should welcome this confirmation that the bus rapid transit from Birtyna will not utilise the intended heavy rail corridor - and that the Government intends on delivering both as part of an integrated public transport network for the Sunshine Coast that will truly bust congestion!
Stage 2 & 3 will both be funded in the upcoming budgets (State and Federal) and they have enough time to get this built if they don’t f@&k about and start awarding contracts now!
Watched some clips from the media conference - the amount of chat about their ‘congestion busting plan’ (which is a series of road upgrades) was gross.
Really makes you wonder if this was an actual stuff up or if his media team really have no clue what Stage 3 actually is. I still see a surprising amount of people who think it’s rail all the way to the airport.
Ah yes - “political spin”
Can we call this out for just plain misleading the public
I had a closer look at the alignment maps and realise The Wave stage 1 goes right next to Australia Zoo. It makes a sharp turn at Irwin Rd adjacent to the Warrior restaurant.
I assumed it turned off just after the Beerwah Golf Club but its further up. I now wonder why take that route but have no station at Australia Zoo?
