Use of new QR SMUs

[Colin Weaver <colingw@my-dejanews.com>]

Does anyone know what the 30 new 3-car SMUs currently being built
for CityTrain are to be used for?  The current fleet of EMUs, SMUs,
IMUs seems adequate for the current level of suburban service,
especially with the recent release of ICE sets from the Brisbane
to Rockhampton service now that the Tilt has gone into service.

With the current timetable, the only effect I can see the new
SMUs having is to eliminate entirely the use of locomotive
hauled SX sets during peak hours.  It seems wasteful to build
30 new trains just for peak hour use, so perhaps QR are planning:

A)  More frequent off-peak services.

or

B)  Construction of one of the proposed new lines (Salisbury
    to Greenbank via the standard gauge corridor, Oxley/Darra to
    Springfield, Petrie to Kippa-Ring, or electrification west
    of Rosewood).

Option B seems very unlikely - can anyone shed any light on this?

Colin Weaver

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