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FAST RAIL: NORTH COAST CONNECT

– Fast rail from BRISBANE TO MORETON BAY AND THE SUNSHINE COAST - 

**NEWS FLASH**

On 28 March 2022, the Federal Government committed $1.6 billion to this project. Read the announcement HERE.

The North Coast Connect Consortium of SMEC, Stockland, Urbis and KPMG explored upgrades to the North Coast Rail connection to facilitate faster passenger rail services between Brisbane and the regions of Moreton Bay and the Sunshine Coast.

The North Coast Connect business case steering committee included representatives from the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, Sunshine Coast Council, Morton Bay Council and Brisbane City Council.

The business case included the assessment of the following:

  • upgrade of 64.5km of the North Coast Line from Brisbane to Beerburum through curve easing, level crossings removal and systems upgrade.

  • upgrade of 40km of the North Coast Line from Beerburum to Nambour through curve easing, level crossings removal and systems upgrade.  

  • a new passenger rail service comprising a rail line with 40km of new track from Beerwah to Maroochydore and including several new stations.

Benefits of fast rail to the sunshine coast

  • Maximise safety for the travelling public on both rail and road including the Bruce Highway.

  • Improve connectivity to the surrounding region through integrating public transport services with improved rail.

  • Unlock housing supply and job growth between Brisbane and the regions of Moreton Bay and the Sunshine Coast; the third most populated region and the fastest growing region in Australia.

  • Improve travel time reliability (from two hours to approximately 60 minutes) and increase capacity.

  • Increase comfort and amenity at stations and on new trains capable of reaching speeds in excess of 160km/hr, with new stations created on the Beerwah to Maroochydore line.

  • Revitalise historic railway towns.

  • Minimise adverse impacts of transport on the environment.

The completed business case was reviewed by the National Faster Rail Authority and assessed by Infrastructure Australia.

On 12 March 2021, Infrastructure Australia released their assessment of the business case and chose not to support the project at this time, due primarily due to lack of support from the Queensland State Government. You can read their full assessment HERE.

Infrastructure Australia’s assessment of North Coast Connect showed that there is a need for fast rail in South East Queensland and Ted O’Brien MP, Member for Fairfax, will continue his campaign to bring fast rail to the Sunshine Coast.

On 10 November 2021, Ted O’Brien MP called on all stakeholders to unite for immediate action on faster rail connecting Beerwah to the Maroochydore CBD. Read more HERE.

Show your support for fast rail by signing the petition HERE.


NORTH COAST RAIL: TRACK DUPLICATION

The Beerburrum to Nambour Rail upgrade project, as identified by Infrastructure Australia as a priority initiative for Australia (read more HERE), incorporates 39kms of the North Coast Rail Line.

The Federal Government has committed $390 million to this upgrade project as announced in the 2018/19 budget (see HERE).

The project currently consists of two stages as detailed below; stage 1: the duplication of 20kms of rail line from Beerburrum to Landsborough; and stage 2: extending existing passing loops between Landsborough and Nambour, route realignments, level crossing removals, station improvements, and supporting works.

This campaign calls for a different stage 2, as the current design only improves stations and passing loops north of Landsborough. What the people of the Hinterland, and especially Nambour, deserve is full two-track duplication along the entire stretch.

In response, on 10 May 2021, the Federal Government committed $5 million to assess this full duplication solution; with a design that will also accommodate the possibility of a fast rail solution to Nambour in the future - see HERE.

stage 1

Stage 1 design commenced in July 2020 – details HERE - and includes:

  • Full rail duplication (two new tracks) on an improved alignment between Beerburrum and Glass House Mountains.

  • Rail duplication of the section between Glass House Mountains and Landsborough within the existing rail corridor.

  • realignment of a 1km section of Steve Irwin Way between Nursery Road and Moffatt Road to accommodate the new rail corridor and track infrastructure

  • Beerburrum Road and Steve Irwin Way intersection upgrade including a new road overpass on Beerburrum Road

  • expansion of the park ‘n’ ride facility on the northern side of Beerburrum station

  • replacement of the Barrs Road level crossing in Glass House Mountains with a new road overpass connecting Barrs Road to Moffatt Road

  • replacement of the Burgess Street road-over-rail bridge with a new road overpass

  • construction of a new bus interchange at Landsborough

  • a new park 'n' ride facility on the eastern side of Landsborough station

  • expansion of the park ‘n’ ride facility on the eastern side of Nambour station.

The project will address capacity constraints on this section of the corridor by nearly doubling the capacity for freight paths and increasing the frequency and reliability of passenger services, easing pressure on the Bruce Highway. 

stage 2

We are now campaigning for a different stage 2 to include a full duplication of the North Coast Rail Line to Nambour. The Federal Government has now announced $5 million to assess this full duplication solution; with a design that will also accommodate the possibility of a fast rail solution to Nambour in the future.

We are now waiting on matching funding from the Queensland State Government.

Join our campaign by taking action – HERE.