Plan for supercharged 45-minute trip on Sunshine Coast rail line
PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has poured cold water on hype about a potential very fast train between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, pointing to the huge cost and lack of consultation from the Federal Government.
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PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has poured cold water on hype about a potential very fast train between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast saying she hasn’t seen a proposal to date.
Addressing the Federal Government’s proposal, Ms Palaszczuk said such a project would cost “billions and billions and billions of dollars.”
With the State Government forced to go it alone to build the Cross River Rail due to a lack of interest from the Federal Government, Ms Palaszczuk questioned priorities.
“It’s the way the Federal Government works, trying to tell Queensland what is good for Queensland,” she said.
“If they want to do a multibillion-dollar fast train, I think Queenslanders deserve to see some details, they deserve to see details and the true cost of this project because we know when they are done in other countries such as China and Europe it costs a large amount of money.”
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The plan for supercharged fast rail which would shuttle passengers between Brisbane and Maroochydore in 45 minutes was revealed in The Courier-Mail today.
North Coast Connect will create up to 200km of fast rail, saving passengers about two hours in a return trip, and for the first time link Brisbane to Maroochydore by rail.
The project, submitted by Stockland, Smec, Urbis and KPMG, has the backing of “Team Queensland”, the Coalition’s 26 federal parliamentarians, who are demanding the Prime Minister give Queensland a majority slice of $10 billion set aside under its National Rail Program.
The Courier-Mail can reveal the project has been short-listed by the Government.
Queensland Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said the Government should be backing a project that could get people between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast in just 45 minutes.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government needs to get on board this train and embrace it too,” she said.
“What the fast train case is about is planning for the future.”
Ms Frecklington also urged the State Government to duplicate the existing Sunshine Coast line so people could “get off the Bruce and onto the trains”.
“The duplication of the rail line is something that can happen now,” she said.
“The business case is done, it’s shovel ready.”
Team Queensland’s unashamed call for extra cash is on top of its bid for Land 400, a multibillion-dollar defence investment that will be announced within weeks.
North Coast Connect will not only transform southeast Queensland but likely provide the passenger numbers needed for Infrastructure Australia to tick off on Cross River Rail.
The new bid, which will also create jobs for the state, was one of 26 rail projects submitted for three business cases that the Commonwealth will consider funding.
Ten other projects have been short-listed but North Coast Connect is the only Queensland fast-rail project that made the cut.
The winning three projects that share in $20 million in business case funding are likely to be announced next month.
Australia does not use fast rail. The fastest passenger rail services travel about 80km. China, Japan, Korea, France, the UK and the US use fast rail.
Under the plan, the project has three key parts, including:
● An upgrade of the existing North Coast Line section from Brisbane to Beerburrum, to facilitate faster rail through curve easing, level crossing removals and system upgrades;
● The Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade Project, which includes new rail and an upgrade of existing rail and rejuvenating railway towns into the hinterland; and
● A new passenger rail service branching off the North Coast Line at Beerwah via a 40km spur-line connecting Beerwah East, Aura, Caloundra, Birtinya, Mooloolaba and Maroochydore to Brisbane.
Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien, who has been driving the project on behalf of the LNP, said Team Queensland “are going after this one hard”.
“With $10 billion available from the Turnbull Government, we need to be advocating for billions, not millions,’’ Mr O’Brien said.
“Fast rail means people can live, work and play where they want, without the stress of excessive commuting times.
“It will expand job and study options, enable more lifestyle choice and build an economically strong and user-friendly southeast corner.
“If we can get fast rail, as opposed to standard 100-year-old rail, we’ll see people wake up in Nambour at 7 o’clock and be at their desk in Brisbane by 8 o’clock.
“We’ll also see Brisbane residents knock off from work at 5 o’clock and be sitting at the Big Pineapple for a concert at 6 o’clock, then be tucked into bed back home in Brisbane by 10 o’clock.”
Frontbencher Peter Dutton said that the plan could relieve pressure on the Bruce Highway.
“The regions between Brisbane and the north coast are developing rapidly and we need to plan now for those new communities under development,’’ he said.
Petrie MP Luke Howarth said the plan would provide further infrastructure for Australia’s third biggest council in the Moreton Bay region.
Fisher MP Andrew Wallace said investment in roads was not enough.
“After having received a record $1.6 billion in funding for the Bruce Highway upgrades, Sunshine Coast federal LNP members understand that our transport woes will not be cured by simply adding lanes to the highway,” Mr Wallace said.
Student Myah Bahloo Chambers, 18, said she regularly used the Sunshine Coast line to visit family and friends and would love to see a lightning fast rail built.
“I think it would be very helpful,” she said.
“It usually takes me about an hour and a half to travel from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane, so I would love to be able to do it in 45 minutes.”
Originally published as Plan for supercharged 45-minute trip on Sunshine Coast rail line
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