Toowoomba leaders push for fast passenger rail link to Brisbane as analysis shows service compared to regional centres

Toowoomba leaders have demanded a proper passenger rail connection to Brisbane, as new analysis reveals the city endures some of Australia's slowest regional train services.

Toowoomba could become Queensland’s version of Ballarat or the Blue Mountains by being connected to Brisbane by passenger rail — instead of being stuck some of the slowest trains in the country.

Local leaders have started ramping up their advocacy for expanding Brisbane’s city network to the Garden City ahead of a major rail summit on Thursday, hosted by The Chronicle and Toowoomba Regional Council.

It comes as new analysis has revealed how poorly-serviced Toowoomba is for rail compared to other regional centres that are similarly-distanced from their capitals.

Katoomba in the Blue Mountains gets nearly 400 train services to and from Sydney every week, while the entire line services more than seven million passengers a year.

A Blue Mountains resident can get from Sydney’s Central Station to Katoomba in two hours, which includes about 20 stops in between.

In comparison, Toowoomba’s only regular train service, the tourist-oriented Westlander, takes four hours and 40 minutes — at an average speed of 34km per hour.

The Westlander train is Toowoomba’s only passenger rail service. Photo Graham Osborne / The Western Times

“In FY25, Queensland Rail welcomed 4459 customers on-board the Westlander service compared to 4445 customers in FY24,” Queensland Rail acting regional head Wayne Prosser said, which is an average of about 85 people per week.

“We are currently providing two for the price of one rail fare, to assist customers heading west.”

A one-way trip to Katoomba also costs just $10.33, while a ticket on the Westlander to Toowoomba usually exceeds $30 (although the price varies).

Katoomba train station in the Blue Mountains sees more than 700,000 passengers a year. pic John Grainger

Adding the region to Brisbane’s passenger network would also give it access to the government’s 50c fare offer, meaning some could travel to and from Brisbane for work for just $1 a day.

Mayor Geoff McDonald, highlighted the growth in travel between Melbourne and Ballarat as another key inspiration.

Pre-2000, there were very limited daily services that would travel our there and now any given week there’s over 400 trains that service between Melbourne and Ballarat,” he said.

“The population of Ballarat is similar to our population of the Toowoomba urban area of about 121,000 people and the distance between Melbourne and Ballarat’s very similar by road, about 116 kilometres.

“We can use that as an example, we can also use the Sydney to Blue Mountains as well.”

Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill says passenger rail is essential to connecting the region to Sydney.

Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill, who is a vocal advocate of rail travel, said the connection between his region and the Sydney had stimulated a range of benefits over the decades.

“Passenger rail delivers significant benefits to the Blue Mountains community — connecting residents and visitors, supporting local businesses, and protecting the environment,” he said.

“Reliable train services provide equitable access to jobs, education, and essential services, while offering a low-emissions alternative to car travel that helps ease congestion on the Great Western Highway and supports the city’s climate goals.

“Passenger rail underpins the region’s tourism economy by bringing visitors directly to village centres, sustaining local shops, cafes, and accommodation.

“It also enhances liveability by offering a safe and sustainable way to travel through the Blue Mountains and beyond, helping to preserve the character and environmental integrity of this World Heritage-listed region.”