(AUS)The train station with no trains

[Pakenhamtrain]

From the Brisbane Times

The train station with no trains

Daniel Hurst

January 6, 2011

Southeast Queensland's newest railway station won't have any train services when it opens to the public later this month, due to a track maintenance clash.

 

Queensland Rail will officially open the $40 million Richlands station on Sunday, January 23, on the same weekend major upkeep is scheduled for the Ipswich Rosewood line.

 

Train services between Corinda and Rosewood – including Darra station, which will connect to the new Richlands facility – are to be replaced by buses on January 22 and 23.

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Queensland Rail's executive general manager for corporate and external affairs, Martin Ryan, yesterday confirmed the open day would clash with the wider track maintenance.

 

“The train station, people will be able to go and have a look at it, but there won't be train services operating,” he told brisbanetimes.com.au.

 

The prospect of a train station with no running trains evokes memories of an episode from the satirical series Yes, Prime Minister, when character Jim Hacker tours a hospital with no patients.

 

Mr Ryan said while “it would be nice to have trains operating”, he pointed out the Gateway Bridge and Clem7 tunnel were opened to walkers before traffic was able to use them.

 

He said he still expected lots of people to come to check out the long-awaited station, which was part of the first stage of the Darra to Springfield transport project.

 

Mr Ryan said on the opening day, shuttle buses would take people to the Richlands station from key locations in the local area, including shopping centres.

 

“We actually expect quite a few thousand to turn up,” he said.

 

When Queensland Rail opened the Varsity Lakes railway station on the Gold Coast in December 2009, it ran regular train services to and from Robina station so locals could try out the new line.

 

Normal timetabled services began the following day.

 

The first service from the new Richlands station is due to leave at 5.40am the following day after final testing of the new railway points system.

 

Stage one of the Darra to Springfield transport project included construction of a new 3.6 kilometre railway line and train station at Richlands, along with an adjoining bus interchange and park and ride facilities.

 

The project also included Centenary Highway upgrades.

 

The $646 million second stage will see the railway line extended 10 kilometres from Richlands to a new station at Springfield by 2013.

 

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/the-train-station-with-no-trains-20110105-19g54.html

That's a bit of a stuff up if I've seen one. Where else but Queensland!

[Pakenhamtrain]

Due to the flooding in Brisbane the decision was made to open Richlands Station open early:

From Bigpond News

Rail link opens early to Brisbane's west

 

Sunday, January 16, 2011 » 12:49pm

 

The Queensland government has decided to bring forward the opening of a new rail line to Brisbane's west to help with the flood recovery efforts.

 

Premier Anna Bligh says Ipswich and the western suburbs are some of the worst hit by flooding, and opening the new station at Richlands and the rail link to Darra will assist recovery efforts.

 

Trains will start running from Richlands station on Monday, one week earlier than previously planned, with a link into the city.

 

'The station is finished and the drivers have been trained,' Ms Bligh said in a statement.

 

'As flood waters begin to subside, our focus turns to the mammoth task of rebuilding and recovery,' she said.

 

'That's one of the reasons we're providing free public transport to the residents of South East Queensland and why we're opening this station early.

 

'Many residents in this area of Brisbane have lost everything and our public transport network is vital in getting them back on their feet again.'

 

While most of the rail lines are now operating normally, there's a lot more work to be done on the Ipswich line, with the Goodna and Gailes Stations badly affected by flooding.

 

The Richlands project includes 4.5 kilometres of new rail line between Darra and Richlands plus the new Richlands station.

 

The new station also includes a bus interchange and parking for 650 cars which the government is hoping will keep non-essential car travel to the city to a minimum while clean-up work in the CBD continues.

 

http://bigpondnews.com/articles/Finance/2011/01/16/Rail_link_opens_early_to_Brisbanes_west_564992.html

Pitty about the picture. That's a Gonninan S set. From Sydney.