
Road chaos predicted as Caboolture Rail line closure to test signalling for new Redcliffe Penninsula Line
Transport and Main Roads (TMR) are advising people to be aware that the roads and highways will have higher then normal volume of vehicles during the mornings from the Sunshine Coast, Caboolture and Northern Suburbs to Brisbane and vise vera from Brisbane during the evenings.
This is due to the 6 day closure of rail links between Zillmere and Caboolture so that final testing of signalling can be performed before the opening of the new Redcliffe Peninsula Rail line on October 4.
TMR advise that roads that will be impacted by the higher volume of traffic inclide the Gympie Road and the Bruce Highway from Friday September 16 to September 23
While there are few alternatives to these two main arterial roads that link Caboolture and further north to Brisbane city and this will be especially evident during the peak active hours of the day and will be noticed in both directions.
One day prior to the opening of the line on October 4 Translink has conformed a special rail service will operate one day before the official opening on October 4.
The new Redcliffe Rail Line which will open October 4 heralding a new era in public transport for the region ever since it was first proposed way back in 1895.
The then Queensland Government's Minister for Railways, Mr Hon Robert Philp, had considered three proposals, one preferred route via North Pine or today's Petrie.
It is understood that Translink will allocate 230 seats reserved for VIPs and people aged 100 years or more.
The scramble to be among the first to have the chance to enter a ballot for 230 seats on the first train to hit the tracks a day prior to the official opening during a special promotion run on the new line.
Translink also confirmed there will a website http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/moretonbayrail for this new rail line describing its history timeline and whats new.
Registrations for the community open day will open at 9am on Monday 12 September 2016. A free train shuttle service between Kippa-Ring and Petrie will be operating from 10am until 3pm.
A summary of the line:
14km of double track rail from Lawnton to Kippa-Ring
grade separated rail connection to the Caboolture line
22 bridge structures to provide grade separation of road and rail, including over the Bruce Highway
6 new rail stations including bus interchanges and bike storage
2,850 carparks
stabling (including train crew facilities) for 10 6-car trains in the vicinity of Kippa-Ring Station
3m wide concrete shared path for cyclists and pedestrians along the entire length of the corridor.