Nine years on, commuters waiting on 20km line duplication promised by government

THE train to the Sunshine Coast is running late – by a decade — and exasperated public transport campaigners say the ongoing failure to duplicate a section of the line will be an election issue.

Nine years later, travellers are still waiting for the work to start and neither Labor nor the LNP has committed any money to the 20-kilometre corridor.

THE promise to long-suffering public transport commuters could not have been any more explicit.

A public notice by the Bligh Labor government in 2008, announcing the duplication of the Sunshine Coast rail line between Beerburrum and Landsborough, trumpeted: “It’s happening now – operational by 2012.’’

Sunshine Coast Rail flyer released in 2008.

Nine years later, travellers are still waiting for the work to start and neither Labor nor the LNP has committed any money to the 20km corridor.

The latest disappointment came this week when hopes that the Palaszczuk Government would use its Cabinet meeting on the Coast to announce the $780 million project would finally go ahead were dashed with silence.

One Nation, whose state leader Steve Dickson holds the electorate of Buderim, is the only party to promise to build the duplication so far.

But the long wait could soon be over, with both major parties expected to back the project in the upcoming state election campaign as a potential vote-winner in the seat of Glasshouse, which is currently held by the LNP’s Andrew Powell.

Public transport advocates, the RACQ and Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson predict it will be a major factor in how fed-up locals vote.

“It will be a big issue, there is no doubt about that,” Mr Jamieson said.

“To have a single track on a 1890s alignment to the Sunshine Coast is just ridiculous.

“People on the Sunshine Coast have largely lost faith in the rail network and all that does is put more cars on the road network. The Bruce Highway is painful and, in bad weather or when there is an accident, it’s a disaster.’’

The rail duplication tops Building Queensland’s infrastructure pipeline which says a detailed business case has been completed and the project is ready for Government investment consideration.

It says the single-track configuration from Beerburrum north means there is insufficient capacity for future freight and passenger demand. Competition between the two means only three peak-direction services (and one contra-peak) are possible per hour. Without the duplication, freight will have to switch to road from 2023, it warns.

Fungus is growing on ‘temporary’ platforms at Palmwoods and Woombye stations on the Sunshine Coast line.

Jeff Addison, local spokesman for the RAIL Back on Track commuter lobby group, said: “Sunshine Coast workers are being turned down for jobs in Brisbane because employers don’t want them being regularly late for work.”

The ongoing neglect of transport needs in one of the country’s fastest-growing regions was “a huge shemozzle and a national disgrace”, he said.

Nearly 30 per cent of all “train’’ services between Nambour and Caboolture are actually on buses.

And “temporary’’ platforms built at seven stations in late 2009 and 2010 are still there – despite a 2009 Queensland Rail ministerial briefing paper, obtained under Right to Information laws, stating they would be replaced with permanent structures within 12 to 18 months.

Mr Addison, said Sunshine Coast residents were at the end of their tether and rail would “absolutely’’ be a deciding factor in how people vote.

RACQ spokesman Paul Turner said: “Both sides of politics need to commit to delivering Sunshine Coast residents the rail infrastructure they deserve. Congestion and a lack of good quality public transport are huge issues for Sunshine Coast residents and these will be at the front of the minds of voters in the lead up to the election.”

Infrastructure Minister Jackie Trad said the rail duplication was critical and the business case had been submitted to the Federal Government seeking funding.

But she said a second Sunshine Coast line could not be completed until Cross River Rail was under construction, allowing more trains in and out of Brisbane.

If the Turnbull Government brought forward funding, work could start next year.

An LNP spokesman said more than 1000 people had signed the party’s “Two Tracks’’ petition demanding duplication. “Sunshine Coast residents will be able to judge the LNP’s fully funded infrastructure commitments before the upcoming election.”