Toowoomba passenger rail: How we could improve public transport right now
People might be satisfied that there is some plan for a rail line in Toowoomba, but it remains very tenuous. Here’s what we could do right now to improve public transport accessibility.
Opinion
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If passenger rail is in Toowoomba’s future, the feasibility report released by the state government doesn’t paint a confident picture.
Train optimists will be satisfied that any plan seems to be in motion, but to say it is tenuous is putting it lightly.
The best option, according to the report, is to rely on the construction of the Inland Rail.
Anyone who has followed the debacle that is the Inland Rail would be wary to hitch their wagon on that controversial project.
Even if the line is built in its current configuration, its predicted completion is sometime next decade.
This is without an economic feasibility assessment of the proposal, which has been initially described as having a low cost-to-benefit ratio.
What is also clear is the idea of a fast rail proposal, and the council’s talked-up “45-minute region”, are dead in the water.
Based on the report, I’m not sure it was ever seriously on the cards.
It’s vital we improve public transport outcomes, but there is little point in waiting around for a passenger line that may never get built, and is slower than current options right now.
If we’re not improving travel times, what is the advantage of a passenger rail line?
Out of peak hour times, the current coach services can arrive in Toowoomba in just under two hours.
Much like the state government has subsidised public transport across its TransLink network, it’s time they explored similar subsidies to our coach services.
While in reality it’s totally unknown what the state government would charge for commuter trains to Brisbane, there’s no doubt that the current price of the coach service would put it out of reach for some.
Currently you can travel distances greater than Toowoomba to Brisbane on the TransLink network for 50c.
Bringing down the price barrier for coaches and increasing service numbers would greatly improve accessibility to public transport, and most importantly, could be implemented quickly.
The Warrego Highway is simply not hamstrung by the same congestion issues that make rail a more attractive option in areas like the Sunshine and Gold Coast.
Aspirational thinking is vital when it comes to creating a vision for the region.
But the council needs to jump off its fanciful dreams of bullet trains and advocate for practical solutions.
It’s time they work with the state government on making our current transport options more accessible for our residents and visitors.
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