Rail Revolution at centre of Queensland’s 20 year transport plan

Australian Premier Anna Bligh has set out plans for a rail revolution in south east Queensland with the Cross River Rail project as the lynchpin of a world class network.

South East Queensland’s passenger rail capacity will nearly triple by 2031 under the State Government’s $123 billion transport blueprint, released today.

Ms Bligh said Connecting SEQ 2031: An Integrated Regional Transport Plan for South East Queensland mapped a clear way forward for our transport networks.

“Connecting SEQ 2031 is a clear statement of intent. The next 20 years will see a concentration on new railways and new services to manage growth in our region,” she said.

“This plan for a rail revolution in SEQ is the next stage of our journey towards an absolutely world class public transport system.

“When we published our first integrated plan in 1997 to build dedicated busways in SEQ there wasn’t a single kilometre of dedicated busway in the State.

“Today we have 24 km of busway in Brisbane, more than any other city in Australia and more under construction right now.

“This new plan is visionary, but I believe our experience with the busways shows that when you have a clear plan for the future you can make it happen.”

The 20 year plan outlines 207km of new railway lines including:

• 15km rail line between Alderley and Strathpine using the predominantly government-owned North West Transport Corridor
• Extensions to Maroochydore (38km), Coolangatta (17km), Moreton Bay Rail Link (12.6km), Springfield (16.5km), Ripley (13.5km) and Flagstone (31.5km)
• Extending the Gold Coast Rapid Transit project on the Gold Coast to Coolangatta.
• A 8km Brisbane subway from Toowong to West End to Newstead/Bowen Hills, with extensions to Hamilton Northshore/Airport Village and Bulimba possible in the longer term.

Ms Bligh said the plan also outlined revolutionary new services including:

• UrbanLink with more frequent services and higher capacity trains operating inbound of Darra, Strathpine, Loganlea, Ferny Grove, Manly, Springfield, Shorncliffe and the Airport

• ExpressLink with high speed express services from Ipswich, Cleveland, Ormeau and Caboolture

• CoastLink rail from Brisbane to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast with high speed European style trains.

“The Cross River Rail project, now undergoing a $25 million feasibility study, is a vital lynchpin for the future of rail travel here,” said the Premier.

“Cross River Rail will transform south east Queensland’s rail network by providing essential capacity at the core of the network that could double the number of train services from the suburbs to the city.

“It will allow us to provide higher frequency and improved reliability on all lines, making it possible for the rail network to move up to 240,000 people into the inner city during the two-hour morning peak, compared to the current 54,000.

“And the subway system we flagged in November last year will support the overall rail revolution, helping move commuters and enabling the city centre to be a place for people.”

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said a fully loaded suburban train carries more than 700 people, taking about 600 cars off the road, which is equal to a line of cars stretching more than four kilometres.

“With a rail revolution, we can increase that capacity by deploying new trains that can carry more than 1000 people each and under this plan our numbers of three car trains would increase from 200 now to 400 by 2031.”

Ms Nolan said other important initiatives in Connecting SEQ 2031: An Integrated Regional Transport Plan for South East Queensland included:

• Ambitious targets for cycling in south east Queensland including a 3000 km network of cycleway by 2031 including new bikeways and walkways within a 5km radius of urban centres.
• Plans to remove heavy vehicles from suburban roads and provide a ‘ring road’ system to navigate around Brisbane – including the new north-south connection between Toowong and Everton Park.
• Continuing the busway network with construction of the Northern and Eastern Busways to Bracken Ridge and Capalaba.
• Major freight investment to support the economy, including the full development of Acacia Ridge freight terminal, a dedicated dual gauge freight line from Acacia Ridge to Port of Brisbane in the existing rail corridor.
• Introducing new technology to better manage road and public transport movements (such as information on travel options, real time management of motorway flows and improved railway signalling).

“Consultation on the draft plan is now open and it’s important everyone has their say,” said Ms Nolan.

“I encourage every South East Queenslander to carefully consider the draft plan – after all, it’s about our future and the future of our families.”