Article: End of line for rail route

[ozbob]

From the Chronicle click here!

End of line for rail route

End of line for rail route

Adam Davies and Adam Davies | 18th June 2012 5:00 AM

TOOWOOMBA Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio believes the current rail corridor that winds through the city has reached its use-by date.

Cr Antonio said it was time for council, in conjunction with the private sector, to start exploring the possibility of relocating the rail corridor away from the CBD area.

"Toowoomba has reached a stage where we have to consider the appropriateness of the rail line that runs through our city.

"We need to look at the alternatives and start planning for the future.

"There is no doubt that the current rail corridor has reached its use-by date," Cr Antonio said.

The Mayor said the proposal would ensure trains carrying freight through CBD streets would be a thing of the past.

"By relocating the rail corridor it would open up a range of possibilities, allowing council to beautify the city further.

"The proposal would ensure that trains carrying freight do not wander through the city anymore.

"In John McVeigh's maiden speech to parliament he made some very clear messages about the lack of investment in rail infrastructure from Toowoomba to Brisbane.

"I would imagine there would not be too much opposition in the community to the proposal," Cr Antonio said.

However, Cr Antonio said with the state's coffers all but empty, the proposal would need the backing of private investment in order for the proposal to become a reality.

"There is an enormous amount of money locked in superannuation funds around the country, and that is an avenue that council needs to investigate further.

"With the current financial situation the State Government is facing, the private sector will be responsible for delivering essential infrastructure for this city.

"As a council we need to start looking at being innovative.

"We need to look outside the tradition box in the way we chase infrastructure funding," Cr Antonio said.

Member for Toowoomba North Trevor Watts said the proposal would not happen overnight.

"The most important thing is we start the conversation about Toowoomba's future.

"If you take the train line out of the heart of the city, then you have the opportunity to develop a green space precinct all the way to Drayton.

"No doubt the proposal will be extremely expensive, but let's start the discussion so when money does become available we are ready to act," Mr Watts said.

[colinw]

Back to 1915 eh?  Re-instate Gowrie Jct  - Wyreema and send 'em round via the west?

Tell him he's dreaming.

Its not as if the South Western Line is that busy anyway.  The only major level crossing in Toowoomba that is blocked for a significant amount of time is Bridge St, because it gets the Western Line coalies.

[#Metro]

BUSWAY!

[colinw]

BUSWAY!

Have you actually been to Toowoomba?

The line they are talking about has no conceivable use as a public transport route within Toowoomba, and after leaving Toowoomba Station neatly avoids anywhere useful (like the USQ campus, more than adequately served by buses direct along West St).

It would make a nice cycle path.

Or how about we cut the crap and leave it as an operating railway, perfectly suitable for the seasonal grain traffic it carries, and spend money on something that is actually of value to the State?

[somebody]

Or how about we cut the cr%p and leave it as an operating railway, perfectly suitable for the seasonal grain traffic it carries, and spend money on something that is actually of value to the State?

Hear here!