The Sunshine Coast Case : Rail duplication Beerburrum to Nambour

[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily 27th March 2014 page 18

Letters to the Editor

Upgrade priority

[ozbob]

Media release 28th March 2014



SEQ: Unstoppable momentum for Sunshine Coast Line duplication

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org), a web-based community support group for rail and public transport, and an advocate for public transport passengers, has called on the state government to make money available in the 2014-15 Budget for a start on the Beerburrum-Nambour rail track duplication.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"It's official. In the past week, all Sunshine Coast state MPs  except one, have declared the Sunshine Coast Line (SCL) duplication from Beerburrum to Nambour as being a top priority, or the number one priority infrastructure project for the Coast (1). The state government is obliged to follow through by including in the 2014-15 state Budget funds for the next stage – from Beerburrum to Landsborough."

"It has been extraordinary to see the LNP have a conversation with itself through the media, after Premier Campbell Newman said he did not know what the priorities were for the Sunshine Coast, despite having five Ministers and the Speaker of the Parliament representing the region. The Sunshine Coast Council Mayor, Cr Mark Jamieson said 'I personally outlined our economic development strategy to the Premier,' and said he had met with the Local Government Minister to outline the region's priorities. The media pursued them to do their job, and all but the Attorney-General and member for Kawana, Jarrod Bleijie, fell into line, supporting the duplication. He did not express an opinion. The Member for Noosa, Glen Elmes, even called for work to proceed north of Nambour. Peter Wellington MP (Ind.), whose Nicklin electorate includes Nambour, has long been a supporter of duplication."

"Sunshine Coast residents were incensed that a week earlier, Treasurer Tim Nicholls suggested the SCL duplication may have to be delayed until 2039 unless the government sold major assets, but then refused to commit the proceeds of those sales to the extra track. Jeff Addison, a local commuter advocate and Sunshine Coast Region spokesman for Rail Back on Track, described it as 'political blackmail.' (2)."

"The result has been a galvanising of community resolve, resulting in Sunshine Coast MPs being pressured to do their job. Hopefully they will follow through and work as a team to make the wish a reality. The possibility of federal co-operation, via funding from the Australian Rail Track Corporation, must be supported by state dollars going to this very worthwhile project."

"The state must act to bring forward, not push back, this essential infrastructure, particularly as it is driving the settlement of 50,000 people at Caloundra South and now wants to have the option of developing the Halls Creek area against the wishes of locals."

"Jobs for those who move to Caloundra South can't be found locally. They will have to seek employment in Brisbane, making the SCL duplication an absolute necessity. His MPs finally having spoken, the Premier must act."

References:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6647.msg140448#msg140448
2. Article: Anger over assets sales 'blackmail' Sunshine Coast Daily, Friday 14 March 2014, p18.

Contacts:

Jeff Addison
Sunshine Coast Region Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[Derwan]

I realise this is "a priority for the Sunshine Coast" - but I have to question.... is it a priority for the rail network in general?

How many grade separation projects could you complete.... how many high-speed turn-outs could you construct... how much more duplication could you do on the Cleveland Line - or triplication on the Beenleigh Line could you do.... all on the Brisbane network.... for the same price as duplication of Beerburrum to Nambour?

If we want a truly efficient rail network in Brisbane, we have to prioritise the city/suburban areas - rather than spending hundreds of millions on providing a suburban-style rail service between Brisbane and another city, which then ends up being highly subsidised by the government and city/suburban passengers.

If people want a city/suburban rail service - they should move to the city or one of the suburbs in Brisbane - not just demand that it be offered to their area simply because they refuse to give up their current lifestyle.

My personal opinion is that duplication beyond Beerburrum should occur as part of construction of the Sunshine Coast line (to Maroochydore).  If that still hasn't happened in 20 years, let's reconsider it then - AFTER improvements are made to the city/suburban network.

[ozbob]

Very significant benefits for the national freight network apart from passenger services.  This will be the driver ..

[ozbob]

Sunshine coast deserves frequent passenger rail as much as the Gold Coast does.  Infrastructure Australia has funded massive investment in the Regional Rail Link for Victoria which is improving significantly interurban services, is that not warranted?

Everyone cannot and should not live in the suburbs of Brisbane.  There are priorities all over.

[#Metro]

Never fear, Tim Nicholls (Treasurer) will sell a power station to fund the Sunshine Coast Rail Upgrade. Isn't that right Mr Nicholls? 

[Fares_Fair]

As ozbob has said, freight is the key and primary reason for rail duplication to occur.

Potential improvement in passenger services is merely 'collateral advantage.'

[Derwan]

Very significant benefits for the national freight network apart from passenger services.  This will be the driver ..

Thanks Bob.  Would you give this a higher priority than suburban improvements?  Just curious. 

[ozbob]

No, not necessarily.  All are needed.  Support now for the SCL is critical for a number of reasons.  There is a potential funding pipeline which if successful will actually allow more investment in the suburban network. This is the Federal framework we are now under.  Victoria were successful in getting billions of fed funding for RRL essentially for passenger only.  Here is a timely opportunity to get funding for SCL which has very significant cost benefits.

A national priority is new the national rail freight network.  I have little doubt that ARTC will extend the national freight network to include the NCL, which the SCL is a critical component.  More freight trains and passenger services will be achievable once SCL sorted.

Lobbing work has been going on for a number of years now.  I had a meeting at Cooroy late last year which was a further planning  and strategy meeting for the SCL.   All starting to come together ..

Improvements in the suburban network are essential.  Melbourne is interesting, thanks to the Federal funding for RRL, the state has now moved to do a significant upgrade on the Dandenong line, including LX removal which were a problem in the 1950s when I was there.

[Arnz]

Also the freight network on the QR network (ie traffic on the Ipswich, Ekka Loop and NCL), in part indirectly subsidises the other lines through track access revenue from the freight operators.  Therefore, the lines carrying freight and passenger (ie Ipswich/Rosewood, parts of inner-Beenleigh line via Tennyson, and NCL) should take priority over the other passenger lines, as they have a maximum chance of return on investment.  Passenger benefits from the upgrades of those lines are passed down as a advantage.

An increase of capacity on the NCL will enable more revenue into the state through increased freight services, as well as the key to upgrading the other lines through increased revenue and a maximum chance of return on investment through freight traffic (as opposed to upgrading a passenger only line with very minimal return on investment). 

A Sandgate-Shorncliffe or Manly-Cleveland duplication, whilst both may be important for those lines, would have very minimal return for investment (overall) as opposed to any track upgrades on the NCL or Ipswich/Rosewood lines, which benefits the entire state.

The NCL duplication would be the second most important upgrade, as it benefits the entire state overall, below the BaT, but should be above all other lines.

[Derwan]

So... would you support the duplication for freight purposes if it meant no increase in the number of passenger services?

[Arnz]

So... would you support the duplication for freight purposes if it meant no increase in the number of passenger services?

With the ARTC proposal to take over the NCL, any potential federal funded NCL realignment/duplication would also require partial funding by the state (to relocate the stations) under Abbott's "Public Transport is a responsibility of the states" line.  The SCRC would probably be funding a bit of the upgrades on the passenger side (via the PT levy/rates) if asked by the state.

I am aware (after taking the NGR rollingstock fleet into consideration) it may lead to minimal increases at best, though the passenger benefits such as increased reliability and timetable readjustments to remove the timetabled crossings would save a few minutes for passengers across all services.  Last I've heard on the grapevine QR are planning to keep a handful of EMUs around (they will not phase the entire EMU fleet out) after the NGR is delivered.

[Stillwater]

It is critical we stay on key here.  The line has been that SCL/NCL has an important freight carrying capacity and that needs to be addressed from a statewide economic perspective.  We have had a win there.  Due to that focus, state and feds are now in discussion for ARTC to come on board and manage these lines, probably under a 99-lease deal.  That way the state can say it has not 'sold' the lines.

Passenger train services will benefit from any duplication or realignment.  The 'dance of the trains' will be eliminated, delays due to trains waiting for crossovers would be gone, there will be faster train journeys  -- more efficient use of rolling stock.  The ARTC is not going to invest exclusively in passenger rail lines.

The B-N project has a BCR of 2.25.  For every dollar spent, more than $2 is returned to the community in lower transport costs and other benefits over the lifetime of the asset.  Would Cleveland, Beenleigh line works have a higher BCR?  I doubt it, for reasons Arnz has stated.  Works on the Ipswich-Rosewood-Toowoomba line and SCL will drag in a greater economic return than suburban train lines that do not carry freight.

Whatever the state does not pay because the ARTC will step into the breach, is money dislodged to spend on purely suburban rail lines, to the extent that there is a need there.

[Arnz]

Exactly Stillwater, even if the passenger increases are minimal at best, existing passenger services will benefit from increased reliability and the removal of scheduled, and unscheduled passenger crossings.  The passengers that even catch the peak hour "slow express" trains, ie the 9 stations skipped expresses, will save a few minutes at best from the removal of the above mentioned crossings.

As was outlined, the upgrades of lines that carry freight+rail (Ipswich/Rosewood, NCL, etc) have a greater benefit of return over upgrading passenger only lines (which have minimal returns).  With the potential of the ARTC (federal government) funding the NCL upgrades (and therefore the state only would have to fund the passenger component such as relocating the stations), most of the money that would've gone towards that gets sent to the other lines for other projects.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Last I've heard on the grapevine QR are planning to keep a handful of EMUs around (they will not phase the entire EMU fleet out) after the NGR is delivered.

Correct. Not all EMUs are to be removed in one go. That might change (timeline wise) depending on other things such as NGR delays/changes in railway lines ie bat.

Phase 01A: Additional new rollingstock acquirement (Stage 1 of first NGR order)
Phase 01B: Phase out of EMU rollingstock (Stage 2 of first NGR order)
Phase 02: Remaining phase out of EMU rollingstock (second NGR order)

[Derwan]

Exactly Stillwater, even if the passenger increases are minimal at best, existing passenger services will benefit from increased reliability and the removal of scheduled, and unscheduled passenger crossings.  The passengers that even catch the peak hour "slow express" trains, ie the 9 stations skipped expresses, will save a few minutes at best from the removal of the above mentioned crossings.

Thanks to all for clarifying that this is primarily a freight issue - with "minimal" benefits to passenger services.  (The increased reliability would definitely be useful!)

With the way the media is portraying this, do you think that Sunshine Coast residents will have an unrealistic expectation that the duplication (if it goes ahead) will mean an increased number of passenger services?  It's even suggested in our own media release:

"Jobs for those who move to Caloundra South can't be found locally. They will have to seek employment in Brisbane, making the SCL duplication an absolute necessity. His MPs finally having spoken, the Premier must act."

If improvements to passenger services are indeed "minimal", how is duplication important for people living in Caloundra and wanting to work in Brisbane?

[ozbob]

More rail services passenger are needed for the Sunshine Coast.  It is incremental, it is not as though it is 15 minutes etc. but as population surges frequency will increase.  Also local travel, which is growing as well. 

I don't think there is any unrealistic expectations re services. 

Beerburrum to Landsborough would have been in place now if there wasn't the drought, and things would have been much better.  I have been up front in an ICE between Caboolture and Beerburrum on the new alignment,  it is the best bit of railway track in Queensland .. pity it is so short!   

[Arnz]

Exactly Stillwater, even if the passenger increases are minimal at best, existing passenger services will benefit from increased reliability and the removal of scheduled, and unscheduled passenger crossings.  The passengers that even catch the peak hour "slow express" trains, ie the 9 stations skipped expresses, will save a few minutes at best from the removal of the above mentioned crossings.

Thanks to all for clarifying that this is primarily a freight issue - with "minimal" benefits to passenger services.  (The increased reliability would definitely be useful!)

With the way the media is portraying this, do you think that Sunshine Coast residents will have an unrealistic expectation that the duplication (if it goes ahead) will mean an increased number of passenger services?  It's even suggested in our own media release:

"Jobs for those who move to Caloundra South can't be found locally. They will have to seek employment in Brisbane, making the SCL duplication an absolute necessity. His MPs finally having spoken, the Premier must act."

If improvements to passenger services are indeed "minimal", how is duplication important for people living in Caloundra and wanting to work in Brisbane?

The duplication is important for the state as a whole, not just the Sunshine Coast. 

Whilst some Brisbane people are quick to call people that commute intercity distances selfish, they are displaying the same behavior here by robbing the state of revenue by saying that a passenger lines that brings little to no revenue (and would only benefit those along the corridor) should get priority over lines that contribute to the state as a whole by carrying freight, which also passes benefits to other transport modes, such as reducing the amount of trucks along the highways by moving freight onto rail, as well as increased revenue through track access fees by the increased freight services.

People seem to forget, the whole state contributes to the operating costs of the PT network (including rail) in their taxes.  Whilst those travelling longer distance (such as the Coasts to City commuters) may arguably have a fair deal in regards to subsidy, the rest of Queensland (including those travelling only internally on Buses in the Sunshine and Gold Coast) subsidize the Brisbane network gets minimal in return (as evidenced by poor bus services in many areas, as well as the many cuts to bus services the Gold Coast, and a 'Rob Peter to pay Paul situation' on the Sunshine Coast)

While there are those in Brisbane are quick to point out why should Brisbane subsidise the coast, the same can be pointed out in reverse with the rest of the state by asking why should we (the rest of Queensland) subsidize a few suburban lines for little to no benefit when upgrading the main corridors (Ipswich/Rosewood/Toowoomba and the NCL) should benefit the entire state as a whole through the increased revenue and benefits it brings to the state for the reasons mentioned earlier.

More rail services passenger are needed for the Sunshine Coast.  It is incremental, it is not as though it is 15 minutes etc. but as population surges frequency will increase.  Also local travel, which is growing as well. 

I don't think there is any unrealistic expectations re services. 

Exactly.  While there are bloggers that "foam" way above expectations, there are those online bloggers that would be in favor of scrapping CAMCOS for upgrading the NCL in place, as well as putting in the CoastConnect bus lanes and busway to form a part of the SC's regional bus network, with bus lanes into Landsborough for occasional/regular PT users connecting to/from Brisbane to coastal destinations, as well as the local/internal bus commuters using the service.

[Gazza]

how much more duplication could you do on the Cleveland Line - or triplication on the Beenleigh Line could you do.... all on the Brisbane network.... for the same price as duplication of Beerburrum to Nambour?

The thing is, sector two timetables have shown that both Shorncliffe and Cleveland can operate with 15 min frequency in both directions so I don't think that duplications are that urgent on those lines at the moment.

At the moment, it's really just the Beenleigh and GC lines which have genuine capacity constraints.

As for how the Sunshine coast line sits in this, well I think it is reasonably well needed, it will do a lot for freight, and as a passenger operation the line is a real t%rd for a number of reasons, slow speeds and railbuses being the main things.

[Fares_Fair]

Exactly Stillwater, even if the passenger increases are minimal at best, existing passenger services will benefit from increased reliability and the removal of scheduled, and unscheduled passenger crossings.  The passengers that even catch the peak hour "slow express" trains, ie the 9 stations skipped expresses, will save a few minutes at best from the removal of the above mentioned crossings.

Thanks to all for clarifying that this is primarily a freight issue - with "minimal" benefits to passenger services.  (The increased reliability would definitely be useful!)

With the way the media is portraying this, do you think that Sunshine Coast residents will have an unrealistic expectation that the duplication (if it goes ahead) will mean an increased number of passenger services?  It's even suggested in our own media release:

"Jobs for those who move to Caloundra South can't be found locally. They will have to seek employment in Brisbane, making the SCL duplication an absolute necessity. His MPs finally having spoken, the Premier must act."

If improvements to passenger services are indeed "minimal", how is duplication important for people living in Caloundra and wanting to work in Brisbane?

Well said SW, Arnz and Ozbob,

I would not describe the potential passenger service increases as minimal at all.
Perhaps you are playing too much with semantics here and whatever 'minimal' may mean.

The reports I have read speak of the time savings, improvement in reliability and more services.
These are what pasengers need and will get with rail duplication.

[Stillwater]

If, as has been reported, Tim Nicholls has signed up to a Coalition deal to spend the money raised through sale of state assets on new infrastructure and NOT on paying down of 'Labor's big bad debt', the B-N duplication is in the box seat.  The BaT is not as nearly advanced in terms of the planning, while the SCL duplication has Coordinator-General sign-off for EIS to proceed immediately.

Not sure about detailed design drawings.

What is the status of land purchases for deviations, FF?

We may see something like a bring forward of the deviation at Woombye to proceed in conjunction with the train stabling facilities there.  I understand locals still opposed to the Woombye site, while Yandina folk would welcome such a facility in their town.

[Fares_Fair]

Detailed design drawings, for both 2 tracks and future 4 tracks are complete and have signed engineering certification by an RPEQ (Registered Professional Engineer Queensland).

I am not certain on the corridor land purchase status from Landsborough to Nambour.

Given that the works from Beerburrum to Landsborough were set to be built back in mid-2009, it would be a reasonable assumption that that land has already been acquired.

[Stillwater]

   so 'practically shovel-ready' then 

[Fares_Fair]

Yes, Queensland's Co-ordinator General gave go ahead for these works on 11 November 2011.
That approval will expire in November 2015.

[Fares_Fair]

Courtesy of 90.3 Coast FM ABC Sunshine Cost radio:

Interview with 4 Sunshine Coast MP's; Hon David Gibson (Gympie), Hon Glen Elmes (Noosa), Hon Fiona Simpson (Maroochydore), Hon Steve Dickson (Buderim) [statement read].

3 answered the questions below with #2tracks rail duplication as a key priority or top priority!

Hon Jarrod Bleijie was unavailable for comment on these issues.
Hon Andrew Powell has promised to send a statement.
Hon Mark McArdle was also unavailable for comment.
Peter Wellington MP was unavailable as he was at a Cooroy school function.

3 questions were asked.

What have you achieved for your electorate in the last 2 years?
What key priorities for the Coast have you reflected back to the Premier?
Where do you stand on the issue of development in the Halls Creek area?


Twitter: ‏@Annie_Gaffney
Member for Caloundra Mark McArdle lists duplication of north coast rail line as top priority for the Coast.

From Soundcloud, no log-in required.

https://m.soundcloud.com/abc-sunshine-coast/sunshine-coast-mps-on

[Stillwater]

After this ^ was broadcast, Peter Wellington phoned in and said duplication was his top priority.

[Fares_Fair]

Mr Wellington indeed has confirmed he is a staunch supporter of the duplication of the rail to Nambour.
He has put a number of QoN's (Questions on Notice) to Premier Campbell Newman.

Here are some of them for the record:

Question on Notice 
No. 117
Asked on 17 May 2012

MR WELLINGTON asked the Premier (MR NEWMAN)—

With respect to the plan to duplicate the railway line from Landsborough to Nambour— 
Has  the  Minister  raised  this  project  with the  Federal  Government  for  priority  funding
and if not, when will the Minister raise it for priority funding? 

ANSWER:

Since   the   election,   about   12   weeks   ago,   the   Government   has   not   raised   the
Landsborough to Nambour railway duplication with the Federal Government.

Likewise, the Member for Nicklin has not directly contacted me about this matter.

As the Member would be aware, the  former  Labor  government made many unfunded
promises.    The  former  government's  commitment  to  duplicate  the  rail  line  between
Beerburrum and Landsborough is just one example of Labor's unfunded promises.

The interim report of the Independent Commission of Audit, released last week, details
the alarming state of the Queensland's financial position, public sector service delivery
and infrastructure program.  It shows that State debt is now expected to top $100 billion
by 2018-19, unless something is done to bring the budget under control.   

The  interim  report  notes  that  since  2005-06,  the  State  has  been  "living  beyond  its
means", with expenses growth significantly outstripping revenue.   It states that public
debt interest has been the fastest growing expense of the Queensland Government over
the last decade; and that "...general government sector, gross debt has increased more
than tenfold in the past five years; and that interest costs to service this debt are running
at $3.5 billion in the total government sector in 2011-12, climbing to $5.3 billion or 9%
of revenue in 2015-16."

In a sober warning, the Commission notes that this debt situation "...will severely limit
Queensland's budgetary flexibility and divert scarce resources away from core service
delivery priorities."

As the person who initially helped to install Labor into office, the Member for Nicklin
must take a fair share of blame for this dire situation.

My Government is committed to delivering better infrastructure.  That is why we will
deal with Labor's debt and work to ensure Queensland's credit rating is not downgraded
further.

As the member knows, Queensland deserves its fair share of infrastructure funding from
Canberra.  That is why my Government would be happy to work with the Member for
Nicklin   to   secure   priority   funding   for   projects   across   the   State,   including   the
Beerburrum  to  Nambour  track  duplication.    We  would  also  been  keen  to  hear  any
suggestions the Honourable Member might have regarding savings that might be made
within the Queensland budget, to help fund this track duplication.

[Fares_Fair]

Asked on 12 September 2012

MR WELLINGTON asked the Premier (MR NEWMAN)—

With reference to the Premier's answer to my last question on notice about the need to
continue the upgrade of the railway line from Landsborough to Nambour— 
Will the Premier raise this project with the Prime Minister to see if new federal funding
may be made available to assist with the construction of this project?

ANSWER:

The Honourable Member continues to ask questions about this project, but has still not
raised this issue properly with the State Government.

This Government believes that the Federal Government needs to fund its fair share of
infrastructure  projects  in  Queensland  and  we  will  continue  to  push  the  case  for
increased funding to the Prime Minister.

As  a  key  supporter  of  the  former  Labor  government,  the  Member  for  Nicklin  must
accept his fair share of the blame for the debt and financial problems of the Queensland
Government.   Because  Labor  lost  the  State  Government's  AAA  credit  rating  and
amassed  a  debt  that  was  projected  to  reach  $100  billion  by  2018-19,  the  State
Government has been forced to allocate ever increasing amounts to paying interest on
its  debt.    The  interim  report  of  the  Queensland  Commission  of  Audit  indicated  that
"interest costs to service this debt are running at $3.5 billion in the Total Government
sector in 2011-12, climbing to $5.3 billion or 9% of revenue in 2015-16."   

The  interim  report  also  said  that  "in  recent  years,  the  Government  of  Queensland
embarked  on  an  unsustainable  level  of  spending  which  has  jeopardised  the  financial
position of the State.  Queensland has moved from a position of considerable financial
strength  just  six  years  ago  to  a  position  of  weakness  today.  Its  performance  has  been
worse than the other states over that period."

These are all issues, which the Government I lead has been elected to deal with and that
will require support from the Member for Nicklin to address.  Given his interest in the
Landsborough  to  Nambour  rail  upgrade  project,  I  trust  the  Honourable  Member  now
supports the hard decisions we have taken in the budget and will work with us to get
Queensland moving.

[Fares_Fair]

Question on Notice 
No. 55
Asked on 5 March 2013

MR WELLINGTON asked the Premier (MR NEWMAN)—

With  reference  to  the  Premier's  previous  answers  to  questions  I  have  asked  about
Commonwealth  Government  involvement  in  the  upgrade  of  the  railway  line  from
Brisbane to Nambour— 
Will the Premier table in parliament his letter to the Prime Minister seeking financial
support to complete the duplication of the railway line from Brisbane to Nambour?

ANSWER:

I have not written to the Prime Minister about this matter.

However,  in  October  2012,  the  Queensland  Government  made  a  submission  to  the
federal  Minister  for  Infrastructure  and  Transport,  the  Honourable  Anthony  Albanese
MP,  and  Infrastructure  Australia,  for  funding  under  the  five-year  Nation  Building  2
Program, which commences in 2014-15, to enable the Beerburrum to Landsborough rail
duplication project to be delivered at the earliest opportunity.

As  I  have  advised  the  Member  previously,  Queensland  deserves  its  fair  share  of
infrastructure funding from Canberra.

[Fares_Fair]

Question on Notice 
No. 612
Asked on 10 September 2013

MR WELLINGTON asked the Premier (MR NEWMAN)— 

With  reference  to  the  need  for  Federal  Government  funding  support  to  continue  the
duplication of the railway line from Brisbane to Nambour— 
Will the Premier raise this project with the new Prime Minister of Australia and if so,
when?

ANSWER:

I  will  continue  to  lobby  the  Federal  Government  to  fund  important  infrastructure  for
Queensland at every available opportunity.

[Fares_Fair]

Question on Notice 
No. 694
Asked on 15 October 2013

MR WELLINGTON asked the Premier (MR NEWMAN)— 

With reference to the Premier's answer to my Question on Notice No. 612 of 2013― 
When did the Premier raise the continuation of the duplication of the railway line from
Brisbane to Nambour funding request with the new Federal Government and if he has
not, when will he, and what incentive will he offer for the Federal Government to assist
in the funding of this project?

ANSWER:

I  will  continue  to  lobby  the  Federal  Government  to  fund  important  infrastructure  for
Queensland at every available opportunity.

[Stillwater]

The Premier says: "The Honourable Member continues to ask questions about this project, but has still not  raised this issue properly with the State Government."

Is not a Question asked in the proper course of business in the elected Legislature a proper course of action?  Maybe next time Mr Wellington should ask Mr Newman what the Premier considers to be the 'proper' way to go.

"I will continue to lobby the federal government to fund important infrastructure for Queensland at every available opportunity" dodges the question and, therefore, is not a 'proper' response to Mr Wellington's proper question.

'Important infrastructure' could include hospitals and roads.

The Premier continues to give a vague response, which probably is why Mr Wellington has to keep asking a legitimate question over and over.  Doesn't this government believe it is accountable on these things?

[#Metro]

As  a  key  supporter  of  the  former  Labor  government,  the  Member  for  Nicklin  must
accept his fair share of the blame for the debt and financial problems of the Queensland
Government.   Because  Labor  lost  the  State  Government's  AAA  credit  rating  and
amassed  a  debt  that  was  projected  to  reach  $100  billion  by  2018-19

I have to say it has been an absolute displeasure to see a new government corrupt itself so swiftly and lapse into the same malaise that characterised the administration that immediately preceded it, so quickly. The excessive pride, navel gazing, the spin, the alternative reality, government by media release, no wonder things have to be sold off - nothing would get done if politicians vacillated playing political football on it all day!!

SO SICK of hearing about Labor this Labor that! It is absolutely MIND NUMBING!! 

And what is this utter garbage about the Member for Nicklin accepting his fair share of blame. Let's see, what is this "fair share" 1 seat out of 89 = 1.12% "share".

Oh, and I will point out something very very inconvenient here. The LNP must accept their "fair share" for their role in making the previous administration win elections for such a long time because they were such an ineffective, out of touch, divided and internally brawling non-opposition!

So there!

[Stillwater]

Note that Andrew Powell MP is on record as saying he 'will do all in his power' to have Beerburrum-Landsborough duplication underway in 2014, which means it has to be an inclusion in the June State Budget.  Of course, 'all in his power' includes resigning if money for this project is not in the Budget.  It is the easiest power for him to exercise.

[dancingmongoose]

I must ask, once duplication is complete, what would be the max frequency possible with the capacity of the line, and also the max frequency with the demand for service?

[Fares_Fair]

Fair questions, I honestly do not know.

That would depend entirely on significant timetabling changes as Nambour would become the Terminus for trains, replacing (current) Caboolture terminus.

Perhaps Arnz may be better placed to answer this for you.

It really would be a question for Queensland Rail, and rather hypothetical at this point.

Kind regards,
Fares_Fair.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Fair questions, I honestly do not know.

That would depend entirely on significant timetabling changes as Nambour would become the Terminus for trains, replacing (current) Caboolture terminus.

Perhaps Arnz may be better placed to answer this for you.

It really would be a question for Queensland Rail, and rather hypothetical at this point.

Kind regards,
Fares_Fair.

It would also be interesting to know what running lines that would entail aswell ie merging Nambour into Caboolture services and then running them express Petrie-Northgate/Bowen Hills.

[Fares_Fair]

39km North Coast Line rail duplication from Beerburrum to Nambour.

Landsborough to Nambour rail duplication (capital cost $1.7 billion as at Nov 2011) will :
Generate $4.57 billion in output generation to the Queensland economy, over the 7 year construction period.
Create 2786 jobs on average at any one point in time.
Reduce freight transport costs by 2- 6%.

Landsborough to Nambour Rail project
Coordinator-General's report on the environmental impact statement

The Coordinator-General concludes that the project will deliver a range of direct
benefits to the local and regional communities in the form of efficient and timely
passenger services, as well as broader benefits to the state in the form of freight
transportation improvements and improved productivity, therefore, his
recommendation is that the Landsborough to Nambour Rail project should proceed.
-vii-
Keith Davies
Coordinator-General 
9 November 2011

[Stillwater]

Issues arising further north on the NCL:

http://www.qtlc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/NCL-Supply-Chain-Forum-Communique-0413.pdf

[Fares_Fair]

North Coast Line rail history... when the rail works and duplications were commissioned or constructed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Coast_line,_Queensland_chronological_opening_dates

It's been a while since the last one on 14 April 2009 (Caboolture to Beerburrum), which was started in 2007.
Before this it was 1995 when Gladstone-Rocklands duplication was completed, 19 years ago.

When I speak of neglect in the public arena, this is what I mean - in the context of rail infrastructure.