Article: Bligh's $14.2 billion plan for Brisbane subway on track

[ozbob]

From Brisbane Mx via Courier Mail click here!

Bligh's $14.2 billion plan for Brisbane subway on track

Bligh's $14.2 billion plan for Brisbane subway on track
Article from: MX

Ursula Heger of MX

December 19, 2008 01:00pm

QUEENSLAND Premier Anna Bligh's dream of building a subway under central Brisbane as a solution to transport woes is officially on track.
The $14.2 billion plan was included this morning on a Federal Government shortlist of infrastructure projects to potentially be paid for by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's "nation building" fund.

The shortlist sets the medium-term agenda for nation building, with the process continuing until March when concrete decisions will be made about the order in which they are constructed.

The proposed subway would be constructed in two stages and eventually have tunnels linking the north to the west and south directly under the CBD.

It would include a number of new rail stations up to 45m underground.

Bligh has declared the initiative part of a "coming of age" for Brisbane, but conceded that without federal funding her proposed timetable would have to be reviewed.

Other projects in the southeast included on the shortlist were an upgrade to the Port of Brisbane Motorway, the Gold Coast rapid-transit project, the Darra to Springfield road and rail link, and stages two and three of the Eastern Busway.

[ozbob]

All worthwhile initiatives, time will tell ...

[mufreight]

Might be thinking a little out of the square but perhaps on the Darra - Springwood road and rail link better results would be achieved by concentrating on the rail link rather than making the road the priority, by providing a decent rail link there would be less demand for the road link and more use of a high standard rail commuter line with commuters then being detered to a minor extent from using road and encouraged to use the rail.
I would be most interested in members thoughts and comments on this one.

[Dean Quick]

Could not have put it better myself mufreight. I would like to see more emphasis put on building rail infrastructure and less on the road building
frenzy that we have witnessed now for decades. This new subway is a great start !! Lets hope that it gets built..

[Markus]

Same here. Im all for getting it built, however, since im not one for wasting money,
I do want to know exactly what she means.  i.e. Where to where, Metro or Heavy rail, fully integrated ?

May be commonsense, however, sometimes it goes walkabout. 

We are watching you Anna & Co.   

[mufreight]

If Premier Bligh is serious and not just spouting whatever she thinks might enhance her sinking chances of relection then she would have funded the preliminaries to actual construction works, such as gelogical surveys, community consultation and initial project planning from the present budget.
In the absence of any such actions one must question the level of commitment of this Premier and Government to this project.

[stephenk]

What is the likelyhood for the federal funding for the new rail tunnel to come through just before the election?

[mufreight]

Would not be surprised, but on that basis we might also get an announcement on the Kippa Ring line, the line to Maroochydore, and a continuation of the work on Beerburrum - Landsborough duplication, completion of the Springfield line, a third track from Darra to Ipswich and the extension of electrification to Gatton.
Might get all the promises before the election but the day after they get re-elected they will discover that they dont have the money to afford it all having spent it all on pre election media releases to try to retain power.