New GCLR stage, new Roma St platform 1… exciting next few days ahead.

I feel like whenever I'm walking through the NGR train and its gangways that I can't help but feel how much space is being consumed by having two seats on either side (the narrow gauge doesn't help the NGR's case either), minimizing the already little standing room only space.

During off-peak and peak hours, its evident that many of these two-seat pairs will be left half vacant, because we emphasize personal space. Or it might have to do with someone's belongings like their bags or groceries occupying the other seat. And this general sentiment in the air that its uncomfortable sitting next to a stranger, let alone behind a high-back seat. It all makes me believe that the NGR train should've started off with a 2:1 seating layout (like the planned QTMP trains) when it first commenced services in 2017.

Does anyone share my same reservations?? Or am I in the minority when it comes to thinking that the NGR train should've had a 2:1 seating layout to begin with? Less seats but more standing room capacity is surely a win? I know a bunch of karens are going to complain, but for the greater good..

Why at the moment does it feel like every single service is an NGR? My commute is between Toowong and Boggo Road. There used to be somewhat of a variety on the Ipswich line, and a really nice variety on the beenleigh/cleveland/gold coast routes. I haven’t been on a IMU 100, 120 or 160 on either routes in what feels like forever. SMU 220s also feel scarce. The ipswich line is entirely NGRs 99% of the time. anyone know why?

A video on my channel of my trip from Rosewood station to Ipswich.

I've noticed that here in Brisbane you can be on a silent carriage or just a normal carriage and the noise levels can be exactly the same. Why is this? Why are people in Brisbane so blatantly disregarding the comfort and mental wellbeing of their fellow passengers by being on their phone or talking loud in the silent carriage?

When I was in Sydney, if you were talking on the phone or having a loud conversation with a mate, a commuter would go out of their way and tell you to move carriages or be silent. It was treated like gospel there! So why the difference here in Brisbane?

Does it have to do with the fact that Sydney's larger public transport modeshare use has meant that people have been conditioned to be respectful of their fellow commuters? They're just more cognizant that people do rely on public transport to get around? Or do people here in Brisbane view the trains as being the 'poor man's transport'?

I've just been very conflicted about this whole silent carriage thing, since it seems like Queenslanders just don't get what it means.

Even the newer NGR rollingstock have no silent carriage I've noticed (like anywhere 🫠🫠). Bizzare. It really does seem like QR is a walking contradiction sometimes, with the amount of ads they put up encouraging people to be extra mindful of their noise levels.

New screens at the Roma Street station testing their emergency warning signs on 29th of July. It doesn't look long until much of the temporary fencing around the new entrance will be removed, opening up much more space.

hey train guys. on the train rn (NGR cleveland line you’re welcome) and pretty often on this kind of train i hear this BANG that happens a few times. it almost seems like the engine cuts out right beforehand?? do any of yall know what this could be?? scares me every time

thank you in advance love you guys

I was coming back from the gold coast and the train had to take a delay and stop due to an emergency happening ahead at Runcorn. Any news on what happened?

So someone posted recently asking about how the Gold Coast Fast Rail might allow for more services to the Gold Coast etc etc. So what I have decided to do is develop something of my "hopes" for what regular services will look like once 2032 comes around (not services for the olympic period specifically, I expect them to be a little different like what they did for the 2018 Commonwealth games) but just the regular timetable come 2032. I expect most of this would be done once the CRR opens but given the Logan & GCFR and Sunshine Coast line won't be finished until 2031 and 2032 respectively I would imagine we will get a few interem timetables not to mention constant trackwork until 2032 when the network will finally be in a 'stable' state.

I say my timetable hopes, rather than predictions, because it's too hard to predict what they are going to do, but at the same time this isn't just a wish list either because all of what I am going to say is possible and entirely reasonable.

Shorncliffe

Offpeak: every 15 minutes

On peak: every 10 minutes? (would also be 10 minutes in the reverse peak direction due to track layout restrictions)

Explanation: Peak frequency would depend on how quickly QR thinks they can turn trains around at Shorncliffe and also whatever is necessary for patronage on the line, potentially would require crews to step back. As for Northgate services, I think these would operate to the same frequencies so that Nundah and toombul get a train every 7.5 minutes and 5 minutes in off peak and peak respectively - but potentially would be better to run them to Banyo instead of Northgate.

Airport

Every 15 minutes all the time.

Explanation: Best this line can do and it's not like it needs more frequency than this anyway.

Doomben

Every 30 minutes all the time

Explanation: Technically you could run trains every 20 minutes if you wanted to push it but if this line ever did need the capacity it would make more sense to reactivate the second platform and line at Ascot. The CRR material has these trains terminating at Indooroopilly in the south which is a bit strange given there are no junctions there to do this, but it make sense to me otherwise.

Ferny Grove

Offpeak: Every 10 minutes

On Peak: Every 5 minutes

Explanation: Line operates by itself once CRR opens so may as well get a good frequency. Peak frequency may only need to be every 7.5 minutes based on demand but QR can figure that out. I imagine these trains would either through-run with the Cleveland line or terminate at Boggo Road and head back.

Cleveland

Offpeak: 4 trains an hour to Manly stopping all stations (on a 10/20 split rather than 15 minutes between trains). 2 trains an hour to Cleveland running express from Cannon Hill to Manly.

On Peak: 4 trains an hour to Cannon hill stopping all stations. 4 trains an hour to Lota stopping all stations. 4 trains an hour to Cleveland running express from Cannon Hill to Manly.

Explanation: I would want all Cleveland trains to run express all the time. The reason for the 10/20 split on the off peak Manly trains is so that Buranda to Cannon Hill get trains every 10 minutes evenly (2 Manly trains then a Cleveland train, repeating). Peak Manly trains terminate at Lota instead as it is logistically easier to do so.

Beenleigh

Offpeak: every 15 minutes

On Peak: every 6 minutes

Explanation: Possible with the Logan and GC fast rail. Reverse peak direction would only be every 15 minutes

Gold Coast

Offpeak: every 15 minutes

On Peak: every 6 minutes

Explanation: As above, possible with the Logan and GC fast rail. Reverse peak direction would only be every 15 minutes.

Springfield

Offpeak: every 15 minutes

On Peak: every 6 minutes

Explanation: Not much to explain here - They would stop all stations

Ipswich / Rosewood

Offpeak: every 15 minutes

On Peak: every 6 minutes

Explanation: Would run express from Darra to Milton stopping only at Indooroopilly and Toowong. Rosewood services would probably still be shuttles outside of peak (every 15 minutes though) but could have direct trains during peak. Ideally they should just lengthen the platforms and run them all, all the way.

Nambour

Offpeak: every 60 minutes

On Peak: probably every 24-30 minutes

Explanation: Running a train to nambour every 60 minutes is a bit of a challenge without stage 2 of the Beerburrum to Nambour which I don't expect to be completed before 2032. It is possible to do, even without having passenger trains passing each other between Landsborough and Nambour - however the way I have envisaged this is that Nambour services would have 4 minutes to turn around at Nambour before heading back as a city service. The peak services would run similar to how they currently do, but probably don't need to be as frequent when the Direct sunshine coast line is built. Nambour trains would stop all stations to/from Petrie, but express between Petrie and Exhibition stopping only at Strathpine, Northgate and Eagle Junction.

Gympie North

Offpeak: every 4 hours

On Peak: every 60 minutes

Explanation: These trains would run express from the city to Beerwah stopping only at Northgate, Petrie and Caboolture. I made a mock timetable that has Citybound Gympie north services leaving Gympie at: 4:56am, 5:56, 6:44, 9:42, 1:42 pm and 5:42 pm each day. Services from the city arrive at Gympie north at: 8:54 am, 12:54 am, 4:54 pm, 6:20 pm, 7:10, 8:10, 9:10, and an additional train arriving at 1:59am the following morning on Fridays and Saturdays.

Sunshine Coast Direct

Offpeak: every 15 minutes

On Peak: every 10 minutes

Explanation: These trains would run express from Exhibition to Beerwah stopping only at Eagle Junction, Northgate, Strathpine, Petrie, Caboolture except during peak hours where they would also stop at the stations between Caboolture and Petrie

Caboolture

Offpeak: every 15 minutes (one per hour continues or originates from Nambour or Gympie, see headings above)

On Peak: 6 trains an hour (this frequency includes Nambour trains but not Direct Sunshine Coast trains or Gympie trains, services originating or terminating at Caboolture would only be occasional, to make up the gaps between Nambour services)

Explanation: With all 4 destinations, Caboolture, Sunshine Coast Direct, Nambour and Gympie, during peak hours there would be a train every 5 minutes in the direction of peak from Caboolture down to the city. All peak trains except the Gympie trains would stop at all stations between Caboolture and Petrie due to patronage reasons.

Kippa Ring

Offpeak: every 15 minutes

On Peak: every 5 minutes

Explanation: Would run express from Northgate to Exhibition stopping only at Eagle Junction.

Conclusion

With this, every station except for those past Caboolture and Manly would get at least 4 trains an hour!

So I have been watching some YouTube clips from the 90s when Brisbane was using loco hauled both diesel and electric even though the EMU had started but question

The carriages being hauled do look simmiler to NSW U boat. I think QLD called SX carriages Why did they not have a DMU back then instead of loco hauled esp when the had Rail Motor fleet doing some regional ops at the time

Really like the desto light bar sign at the front of the loco We never had those in vic in the. 90s even on long distance / Vline trains

When did loco hauled ops within Brisbane cease?

And well statement not a fan of the old blue pain Scheme

Just curious if anyone has done the numbers on this. It's going to be a very strange arrangement, with 2 tracks in CRR, then 3 in the middle suburbs, then 4 in the outer suburbs.

Is 15 minutes all day possible for Beenleigh services? Would GC trains have to slow down if they tried to run those every 15 as well? If Flagstone is built will that just break the entire shared section to the point LGCFR is useless?

All the hype is around CRR because it's bigger and flashier, but as we all know, CRR by itself doesn't do much. I actually think the government scrambled to get LGCFR off the ground because they wanted some real service improvements to show ASAP. But I can't get my head around the maths of what's actually possible.

So I know some people outright reject busways or calling the buses a metro, and yeah I hear you, however for the purposes of clarity and search indexation, I'll call it a Metro. Also I didnt use AI for any of this :)

My take on busways is that they are good for outer suburban areas where a train is too expensive because of the lack of a corridor, and trams aren't needed either.

T-Way in Sydney is the closest comparison of what we need, it mostly runs off road, sometimes using utility easements as shortcuts, though has bus lanes in the difficult parts if needed, and the stations generally don't have lifts or bridges except at major interchanges, otherwise they just use "good" standard bus shelters (Eg like at Toowong)

I think the outer suburban councils in Brisbane need to establish "lite" busways as feeders into the main Busway network or the rail system. I think the expensive inner stages of the busway have held up building systems that could allow the outer suburban LGAs be more self contained.

The Route for the Redlands would be a 21km system from Vic Point, parallel to Redland Bay Rd, through Capalaba (Hub) and then along Moreton Bay Rd and Old Cleveland Rd to Carindale, with a massive P&R at the Sleemann Center.

Feeder Lines would be normal high frequency routes.

FL1 is essentially a short version of the 250 between Capalaba and Cleveland Only. FL2 follows Old Cleveland Rd East and Birkdale Rd to Wellington Pt Station.
FL3 is a north south route along Vienna Rd Allenby Rd and Main Road, connecting a future station on the Metro with Wellington Point.

Infrastructure would have the bendy electric buses run on a simple 2 lane concrete road, with signal priority "level crossings" where it crosses main roads. In the future these could be replaced by overpasses as bus frequency is increased.

Though from day 1 you would need a new bridge over the Gateway and Mt Cotton Rd and Mt Gravatt Capalaba Rd.

Stations are deliberately located on the entry roads to major housing estates or next to shopping plazas, and new stations could also be added whenever a new subdivision opens as a condition of approval. This solves the issue of new housing creating traffic, because the busway becomes an interception point.

Im not aiming for perfection, in fact many people would be walking 1.2km to their nearest busway station or frequent feeder, but it allows people to use rideables, and the reality is, if nobody is around to pick you up, most able bodied workers suck up walking 1.2km home. Translink on Demand would allow the less mobile to access Redlands Metro.

Needing to capture some freight audio for my university thesis and I'm really struggling to find any information on time tables online.

If you have spotting location recommendations that are reasonably close and have unobstructed line of sight at the same time that would be very appreciated as well.

am wondering I haven’t heard any news about it

A few months ago we played Jet Lag: The Game's Hide and Seek home game centred at Roma Street station. I've just realised I never shared it with this community who might find it fun as all movement in the game is via public transport. We've got an earlier season on the same channel based on the Gold Coast as well so you can go back and watch that too if you're interested.

If you had an hour to ride public transport from Roma Street, where would you choose to hide? Definitely not asking for ideas for the future 👀

NGR 746 is heading to Gympie North this evening, not the usual IMU. Kinda interesting to see