| Springfield line | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Overview | |||
| Website | queenslandrail.com.au | ||
| Technical | |||
| Track length | 16.0 km (9.9 mi) | ||
| Number of tracks | Quadruple to Darra, double track to Springfield Central | ||
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) | ||
| Electrification | 2013 | ||
| Operating speed | 140 km/h (87 mph) | ||
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Springfield railway line is a 13.6 km (8.5 mi)[1]suburbanrailway line inBrisbane, Australia that branches from theIpswich/Rosewood line afterDarra railway station. Construction of the line started on5 July 2010, and it opened on 2 December 2013.[2] The line was developed along with the widening of the nearbyCentenary Motorway.
The line speed is rated for speeds of up to 140 km/h (87 mph) in most sections. However, only theinterurban multiple unit 100 and 120 series andNew Generation Rollingstock trains can run at the full speed of the line. The current timetable is based on a top speed of 120 km/h (75 mph) betweenRichlands andSpringfield stations, which is faster than the Centenary Motorway that runs alongside.
Services on this line are the busiest on the Brisbane network.[3]
Construction of the first stage of the line, to Richlands, started on5 July 2010, with the first sleeper being laid atDarra on the Ipswich line.[4] The line was developed along with the widening of the nearby Centenary Motorway from two to four lanes from Darra through to theLogan Motorway.[5] The original completion date was for 2015.[6] However this was bought forward to 2013.
Construction of the first station on the line, Richlands, started on1 July 2008 (2008-07-01),[7] and the line was due to begin service on23 January 2011 (2011-01-23) without service from Darra to the City due to scheduled maintenance works on the Ipswich line.[1]
The opening was brought forward to17 January 2011 (2011-01-17) to assist travellers from further west who could not use the Ipswich line, which was out of service due toQueensland floods.[8]
On23 October 2011 (2011-10-23), work started on the second stage of the line to Springfield. The station originally proposed as Springfield Lakes station was renamedSpringfield, and the one proposed as Springfield station renamedSpringfield Central.[9]
The extension to Springfield Central began service on 2 December 2013.
A proposal exists to extend the line from its present terminus at Springfield Central to Redbank Plains,[10] Ripley Valley, Yamanto, andIpswich station.[11]
Passengers would change for or from theIpswich andRosewood lines at Darra;Beenleigh,Gold Coast andCleveland lines at Roma Street; and all other lines at Central.
The route crosses the interchange between the Logan Motorway and Centenary Motorway on a two-trackviaduct more than 800 metres (2,600 ft) long. The viaduct has been designed so that its piers do not obstruct planned expansions of both roads.[12]
Springfield railway line showing distance from Central and ticket zone | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Extensions proposed in the Connecting SEQ 2031 plan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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In the Connecting SEQ 2031 Plan, the QLD Government has listed anUrbanLink high frequency (15min) service running fromDarra toSpringfield, and on to Redbank Plains via Augustine Heights, as an extension to the existing Springfield Line. It also talks about anExpressLink (30min frequency) between Ipswich andRipley, viaUQ Ipswich (nowUSQ Ipswich), Churchill, Yamanto and Deebing Heights; with the vital corridor between Ripley and Redbank plains being reserved for a later time after 2031. In 2019, the City of Ipswich completed an overview of the Ipswich Central to Springfield Central public transport corridor with a focus on the proposed extension.[13]
The lines are shown in the map below.[14]
