Regional Fast Rail discussion

[red dragin]

Another project that will get glossy brochures and no real action........oh how wonderful

Hey, it's great news if collection brochures is your thing 

[not_available]

Friendly reminder to all those involved that the Sunshine Coast still exists.

[ozbob]

Been booked for interview 4BC Drive today ~2.10pm on regional fast rail.

Sunny Coast is in the frame. North Coast Connect business case is already underway, should be finished around June July.

😎

[ozbob]

Been booked for interview 4BC Drive today ~2.10pm on regional fast rail.

Sunny Coast is in the frame. North Coast Connect business case is already underway, should be finished around June July.

😎

Interview completed.  Hopefully might be able to extract it later.  Regional Rapid Rail is sound, Very Fast Rail (VFR) Brisbane - Sydney - Melbourne is not in my view.   Cost around $200B for the VFR and would have to compete with already cheap, fast, frequent public transport on those routes viz, aeroplanes. 

RRR  ideal routes:

Sunshine Coast  to Brisbane to Gold Coast

Brisbane to Toowoomba

Sydney to Newcastle

Sydney to Canberra

Melbourne to Geelong.   Consideration should also be given for Ballarat, Bendigo, Sale, and Shepparton.

[verbatim9]

Liberal or Labor Plan?


Brisbane Times-------------------------->https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/the-duelling-rail-plans-for-south-east-queensland-20190321-p5166r.html

The duelling rail plans for south-east Queensland



By Lydia Lynch

March 22, 2019 — 6.25am


Brisbane commuters will be able to catch a bullet train to either the Sunshine Coast or Melbourne — depending on who wins the next federal election.

Labor has reignited the decades-long dream to build a high-speed train from Brisbane to Melbourne, promising to appoint a High Speed Rail Authority if elected.

Labor has indicated it would create a rail authority and start buying the land.CREDIT:AP

The authority would be in charge of securing land along the proposed corridor, at a cost of $2.8 billion.

"High speed rail would revolutionise interstate travel, allowing people to travel between capital cities in as little as three hours at speeds of up to 350km/h," Labor infrastructure spokesman Anthony Albanese said.

[verbatim9]

Liberal or Labor Plan?


Brisbane Times-------------------------->https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/the-duelling-rail-plans-for-south-east-queensland-20190321-p5166r.html

Regional Rapid rail has its advantages.

Addresses the shortfall of fast public transport in South East Queensland
Can be built and in operation quicker than HSR by (2030?)
Has been signed by all 3 tiers of Government as an intent.
Can be expanded upon to connect with HSR in the future.
As per what Bob stated. It doesn't compete with flight traffic just road traffic, which is justified to combat regional congestion.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1109001634619654145

[verbatim9]

7 News reports stating it will take 20-30 years to build a rapid rail link to the Gold Coast


https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1109005059780562945

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Queenslanders will not know if Fast Train is viable until after poll

Queenslanders will not know whether or not a Fast Train concept in south-east Queensland is viable until after the 2019 federal election.

A business case for a Gold Coast version of a Fast Train concept was revealed on Friday, plus very general plans to extend the heavy rail line to the Gold Coast Airport at Coolangatta.

On the Sunshine Coast, however, former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull had announced money in January 2018 for a business case for Fast Train concept to the Sunshine Coast, from Nambour to Brisbane.

"I am expecting the business case to come back in July," Sunshine Coast federal MP Ted O'Brien said on Friday. "From there it goes to Infrastructure Australia."

The federal election is expected to be held in May 2019.

Infrastructure Australia is the peak body prioritising infrastructure projects around Australia for additional federal funding.

The idea is to have trains run at 150kmh and travel between Brisbane and Nambour in 45 minutes.

The Sunshine Coast stretch alone of a Fast Train concept would cost "billions of dollars", Mr O'Brien said.

The Sunshine Coast Fast Train bid is being prepared by a Sunshine Coast business consortium called North Coast Connect, which includes Stocklands – who are building the Aura residential development at Caloundra South – and engineers and planners SMEC, Urbis and KPMG.

The business case will work out where the Fast Train can work with the existing rail lines and where new rail lines for Fast Trains would be needed.

It will also identify a range of routes to Nambour and includes testing of the side rail line through the Aura residential complex to Maroochydore. This segment has been identified for three decades as the CAMCOS (Caboolture to Maroochydore) corridor study.

Mr O'Brien said he believed the Fast Train concept remains viable.

"While there will always be challenges, it remains viable," he said.

Mr O'Brien said he was not yet in a position to reveal exact dollar amounts or track options, because that work was now being done by the business consortium.

"But I anticipate the business case identifying routes because ultimately it is based on those route options that the costings are done.

"So you are looking at using a mix of existing Sunshine Coast rail corridors as well as the CAMCOS corridors."

A Queensland's Department of Transport and Main Roads spokesman confirmed the Sunshine Coast business case was still being evaluated.

"This means operational, technical, financial and environmental impacts of the project are yet to be determined," a departmental spokesman said.

"Any proposal for fast rail would need to complement the existing network, appropriately address future network requirements and include consideration of staging and integration with related network enhancements," he said.

"Rolling stock, resourcing and (train) stabling requirements are also critical."

On a separate rail project, the federal government has already promised to contribute $390 million to add a $780 million second rail line – duplicating the track – between Beerburrum and Landsborough.

The Queensland Government believes the federal government should contribute more than 50 per cent of the funds for this work.

However, this stretch of rail is within the Sunshine Coast Fast Train Brisbane to Nambour concept.

Federal Labor on Wednesday promised to set up a High Speed Rail Authority to evaluate the various high-speed-rail projects if it wins the May 2019 election.

Meanwhile, the Federal MP for the Gold Coast seat of Moncrieff, Karen Andrews, on Friday said people should not be sceptical about a Gold Coast Fast Train concept announced so close to a federal election in May.

That concept promises a trip between Brisbane and the Gold Coast in 35 minutes, but no planning has been done.

It follows work on the City Deal for South East Queensland, where fast train travel is key.

"What the Liberal National Government has committed to is to fund a business case; $8 million to fund a business case to look at fast rail between the Gold Coast and Brisbane," Ms Andrews said.

"Also we are looking at extending the rail line south from Varsity Lakes through to the Gold Coast Airport."

[ozbob]

Been booked for interview 4BC Drive today ~2.10pm on regional fast rail.

Sunny Coast is in the frame. North Coast Connect business case is already underway, should be finished around June July.

😎

Interview completed.  Hopefully might be able to extract it later.  Regional Rapid Rail is sound, Very Fast Rail (VFR) Brisbane - Sydney - Melbourne is not in my view.   Cost around $200B for the VFR and would have to compete with already cheap, fast, frequent public transport on those routes viz, aeroplanes. 

RRR  ideal routes:

Sunshine Coast  to Brisbane to Gold Coast

Brisbane to Toowoomba

Sydney to Newcastle

Sydney to Canberra

Melbourne to Geelong.   Consideration should also be given for Ballarat, Bendigo, Sale, and Shepparton.

https://www.4bc.com.au/podcast/brisbane-to-gold-coast-fast-rail-to-be-explored/

4bc

Brisbane to Gold Coast fast rail to be explored

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has promised money in next month's federal budget to work up a business case for a fast-rail link between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

He says it's part of a wider program of easing population pressures on our capital cities by making easier for people to live in satellite cities.

Robert Dow from Rail Back On Track welcomes the initiative and tells Mark the numbers should stack up.

Download this podcast here

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1109123891190882304

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

23rd March 2019

Regional Rapid (Fast) Rail

Greetings,

RAIL Back On Track has long advocated for regional rapid (fast) rail to connect the Sunshine Coast, the Gold Coast and Toowoomba to Brisbane ( https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12393.0 ).

Fast rail is running trains at 160 - 200 km/h. A business case is presently underway for the Sunshine Coast fast rail, known as North Coast Connect ( https://www.fastrail.com.au ). Business case is expected to be made available in July this year.

There has been a lot of media interest of late as the Prime Minister has recently outlined in concept a number of regional fast rail projects, including Gold Coast fast rail.

I was invited to participate in an interview yesterday on 4BC Drive with host Mark Braybrook on the topic of regional fast rail.

The interview can be found at 4BC. See > https://www.4bc.com.au/podcast/brisbane-to-gold-coast-fast-rail-to-be-explored/

" Brisbane to Gold Coast fast rail to be explored

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has promised money in next month's federal budget to work up a business case for a fast-rail link between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

He says it's part of a wider program of easing population pressures on our capital cities by making easier for people to live in satellite cities.

Robert Dow from Rail Back On Track welcomes the initiative and tells Mark the numbers should stack up.

Download this podcast here > https://omnystudio.com/d/clips/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/538aa79a-027e-4559-81a4-a6f10016d6b3/2d331e9f-f7db-469e-a63f-aa18006afb44/audio.mp3 "


The Federal ALP have proposed High Speed Rail (Very Fast Rail) from Brisbane to Sydney to Melbourne. We support regional fast rail long before any such proposal.

There is considerable doubt about the sustainability, and the cost of the high speed east coast project (est. to be at least $200 billion) is not really achievable, particularly when air is already cheap, fast and in place. This is an interesting article by Alan Davies ' Why is east coast High Speed Rail still being taken seriously? https://blogs.crikey.com.au/theurbanist/2019/03/16/why-is-east-coast-high-speed-rail-still-being-taken-seriously/ '

Best wishes,

Robert

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

[ozbob]

Facebook ...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1109179146909835264

[James]

While it is only a business case (see: glossy brochures, consultants and cardboard models of the rolling stock), this will hopefully lead to the reserving, or some notion of, an alignment to be used and the anticipated cost of such a project.

As it is we have no info on this (and no fancy video with good music either! ), so it's needed. Good to see attention going on a reasonable project like RRR, not the usual garbage of "hyperloops" or "bullet train with 20 minute trips from Sydney to Wagga".

[ozbob]

Facebook ...

This post is getting a lot of attention at FB ...

[ozbob]

 

[verbatim9]

^^The Government will have to reserve a new alignment from Boggo Road to Beenleigh and it will involve property resumptions and tunneling no doubt.

Does anyone reckon they can get it done and operational by 2030?

There was talk of a 10 year time frame?

I know they are keen in extending the line to OOL, it was mentioned in the media along with the regional rapid rail hysteria.

[verbatim9]

Been booked for interview 4BC Drive today ~2.10pm on regional fast rail.

Sunny Coast is in the frame. North Coast Connect business case is already underway, should be finished around June July.

Interview completed.  Hopefully might be able to extract it later.  Regional Rapid Rail is sound, Very Fast Rail (VFR) Brisbane - Sydney - Melbourne is not in my view.   Cost around $200B for the VFR and would have to compete with already cheap, fast, frequent public transport on those routes viz, aeroplanes. 

RRR  ideal routes:

Sunshine Coast  to Brisbane to Gold Coast

Brisbane to Toowoomba

Sydney to Newcastle

Sydney to Canberra

Melbourne to Geelong.   Consideration should also be given for Ballarat, Bendigo, Sale, and Shepparton.

https://www.4bc.com.au/podcast/brisbane-to-gold-coast-fast-rail-to-be-explored/

4bc

Brisbane to Gold Coast fast rail to be explored

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has promised money in next month's federal budget to work up a business case for a fast-rail link between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

He says it's part of a wider program of easing population pressures on our capital cities by making easier for people to live in satellite cities.

Robert Dow from Rail Back On Track welcomes the initiative and tells Mark the numbers should stack up.

Download this podcast here

Great interview there. All challenging questions from the interviewer were answered. I hope the powers to be will download a copy for TMR officials to listen to.

[ozbob]

Thanks!   

[verbatim9]

Faster Electric Rail


Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development----------------------->https://infrastructure.gov.au/rail/trains/faster_rail/

Faster rail

20-Year plan for a Faster Rail Network
The Australian Government has developed a 20-Year plan for a Faster Rail Network (the plan) PDF: 5790 KB ReadSpeaker to boost our major regional centres and take pressure off our largest cities.

As a first step towards this plan, the Government invested $20 million in faster rail business cases for Sydney to Newcastle, Melbourne to Greater Shepparton and Brisbane to the regions of Moreton Bay and the Sunshine Coast. These business cases are due to be completed in mid-2019 and will then be considered by the Government.

Building on this first step, the Government has committed $2 billion to help deliver faster rail between Geelong and Melbourne.

The Government will fund an additional five business cases for faster rail between Sydney and Wollongong, Sydney and Parkes (via Bathurst and Orange), Melbourne and Albury-Wodonga, Melbourne and Traralgon, and Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

A National Faster Rail Agency, supported by an Expert Panel, will be established to progress the plan. The Agency will work in close partnership with state and territory governments and private industry. It will also provide advice to the Government on future faster rail opportunities around Australia, including for high speed rail.

Investigating faster rail linkages between our cities and surrounding regional areas
The 2017 Budget included a commitment by the Australian Government to investigate improvements to the rail connections between our cities and surrounding regional areas through $20 million in funding to support the development of up to three faster rail business cases.

This measure supports the continued economic success of cities and their surrounding regions by investigating options for faster travel times through rail upgrades and/or new rail infrastructure.

The Faster Rail Prospectus (the Prospectus) PDF: 2771 KB ReadSpeaker was released on 20 September 2017.

The Prospectus outlined a three stage process for proponents to submit proposals for consideration and for these proposals to be refined down to three that will be subject to further analysis as part of a business case.

Stage 1 project proposal outlines closed 13 October 2017.
Stage 2 detailed project proposals closed 8 December 2017.
Stage 3 business cases are expected to be developed and submitted by mid-2019

[verbatim9]

Toowoomba Regional Electric Rapid Rail

Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development------------------------------------>https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/projects/ProjectDetails.aspx?Project_id=097134-17QLD-NRP

Project Description
The project will involve the development of a business case to determine passenger rail requirements in the Toowoomba to Brisbane corridor. The business case will investigate a range of route options, including but not limited to:

upgrades to the existing rail line to enable regular commuter passenger rail services and integrating passenger services in freight corridors
route staging and timing of construction
type of rolling stock
Benefits
Regular passenger rail services have the potential to not only improve access to jobs, health services and affordable housing, but also to boost tourism and increase development throughout the region. A passenger rail line would also benefit the Toowoomba and wider Lockyer Valley area with increased tourism access.

Funding
The Australian Government will contribute up to $15 million to the project.

Timetable
The Australian Government is working to finalise implementation arrangements for the project with the Queensland Government.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsSC/status/1113364774778048512

[ozbob]

COUNCIL OF MAYORS (SEQ) – MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday 13 June 2019

Sunshine Coast on board with fast rail network

More than 85 percent of Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay residents support the introduction of a regional fast rail network to significantly reduce travel times for commuters and tourists, according to the latest ReachTel poll commissioned by the Council of Mayors (SEQ).

A region-wide poll of more than 2,200 respondents showed strong Sunshine Coast support for the concept of a South East Queensland (SEQ) fast rail network between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, and widespread agreement that the current delivery of transport infrastructure was not keeping up with the growth of the region.

Seventy-three percent of Sunshine Coast respondents also believed that if SEQ hosted the 2032 Olympic Games, this could accelerate the delivery of transport infrastructure. Subsequently, 68 percent of respondents were either extremely likely or likely to support an SEQ Games if it delivered major transport upgrades.

These results came off the back of the SEQ People Mass Movement Study, released by the Council of Mayors (SEQ) earlier this year, which showed that all major road corridors in SEQ would be over capacity by 2041 – even if every currently planned and funded project was delivered.

Council of Mayors (SEQ) Chair and Brisbane Lord Mayor, Cr Adrian Schrinner, said it was no surprise to see that commuters were ready to take advantage of an SEQ fast rail network that could slash travel times between the region's cities to under 45 minutes.

"The SEQ Mayors embarked on an investigation of an Olympic Games with the belief that it would catalyse all levels of government to address the lack of transport investment in the region, and create a firm deadline to ensure it's delivered," said Cr Schrinner.

"Even at this early stage, we can see the Mayors' vision for fast rail taking shape with the North Coast Connect business case due for completion later this year, the establishment of a national faster rail agency and funding commitments to investigate rail solutions for the southern and western corridors.

"Being able to move between our cities in approximately 45 minutes, even in peak times, makes SEQ a more liveable region for our residents and a more attractive destination for tourists. The economic uplift generated by the introduction of an SEQ fast rail network would be considerable.

"The Council of Mayors (SEQ) is supportive of an Olympic Games only on the basis it delivers regional connectivity for the residents, businesses and visitors of SEQ. Both the SEQ Mayors and the community believe fast rail is key to fixing the region's transport and congestion issues."

Sunshine Coast Acting Mayor, Cr Tim Dwyer, added that public transport options for Sunshine Coast residents and visitors were so limited that they transfer the pressure on the already heavily congested Bruce Highway.

"A fast rail connection between Sunshine Coast to Brisbane would unlock significant connectivity for our region with the broader SEQ, help relieve the pressure on major highways and motorways and make the Sunshine Coast far more accessible to visitors from South East Queensland," Cr Dwyer said.

"Advocating stronger public transport connections for the Sunshine Coast are a top priority for Council and improved services are critical if we want to ensure the liveability of our region is maintained in the decades to come and if we are to continue to enjoy strong economic growth.

"While inter region connectivity is vital, we can't forget about connectivity within the Sunshine Coast region. Our intra regional public transport infrastructure and scheduling to travel around the Sunshine Coast is important too."

An SEQ fast rail network has the potential to reduce travel times from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast by 48 percent, to the Gold Coast by 52 percent and to Ipswich by 66 percent. The maximum operating speed (depending on the technology and solution selected) is anticipated to be between 200 to 250km/h with an average running speed up to 150 to 160km/h.



https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1138836891279642624

[ozbob]

COUNCIL OF MAYORS (SEQ) – MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday 13 June 2019

Ipswich on board with fast rail network

More than 87 percent of Ipswich, Lockyer Valley and Toowoomba residents support the introduction of a regional fast rail network to significantly reduce travel times for commuters and tourists, according to the latest ReachTel poll commissioned by the Council of Mayors (SEQ).

A region-wide poll of more than 2,200 respondents showed strong Ipswich support for the concept of a South East Queensland (SEQ) fast rail network, and widespread agreement that the current delivery of transport infrastructure was not keeping up with the growth of the region.

More than 76 percent of local respondents also believed that if SEQ hosted the 2032 Olympic Games, this could accelerate the delivery of transport infrastructure. Subsequently, 77 percent of respondents were either extremely likely or likely to support an SEQ Games if it delivered major transport upgrades.

These results came off the back of the SEQ People Mass Movement Study, released by the Council of Mayors (SEQ) earlier this year, which showed that all major road corridors in SEQ would be over capacity by 2041 – even if every currently planned and funded project was delivered.

Council of Mayors (SEQ) Chair and Brisbane Lord Mayor, Cr Adrian Schrinner, said it was no surprise to see that commuters were ready to take advantage of an SEQ fast rail network that could slash travel times between the region's cities to under 45 minutes.

"The SEQ Mayors embarked on an investigation of an Olympic Games with the belief that it would catalyse all levels of government to address the lack of transport investment in the region, and create a firm deadline to ensure it's delivered," said Cr Schrinner.

"Even at this early stage, we can see the Mayors' vision for fast rail taking shape with the North Coast Connect business case due for completion later this year, the establishment of a national faster rail agency and funding commitments to investigate rail solutions for the southern and western corridors.

"Being able to move between our cities in under 45 minutes, even in peak times, makes SEQ a more liveable region for our residents and a more attractive destination for tourists. The economic uplift generated by the introduction of an SEQ fast rail network would be considerable.

"The Council of Mayors (SEQ) is supportive of an Olympic Games only on the basis it delivers regional connectivity for the residents, businesses and visitors of SEQ. Both the SEQ Mayors and the community believe fast rail is key to fixing the region's transport and congestion issues."

Ipswich City Council Interim Administrator, Mr Greg Chemello, said a fast rail connection between Brisbane and Ipswich would be deliver a massive boost to some of the region's fastest growing suburbs, slashing the commute time to Brisbane to just 20 minutes.

"Being able to travel between Ipswich and Brisbane in just 20 minutes would completely change how we move around this region. We'd see people leave their cars behind and embrace the speed and efficiency of fast rail.

"With the population of Ipswich moving towards 500,000 in the next 20 years, we need to be thinking now about how we can accommodate this growth effectively. Fast rail, partnered with an extension of the Springfield line, will be vital," said Mr Chemello.   

An SEQ fast rail network has the potential to reduce travel times from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast by 48 percent, to the Gold Coast by 52 percent and to Ipswich by 66 percent. The maximum operating speed is anticipated to be between 200 to 250km/h with an average running speed up to 150 to 160km/h.

- Ends –

[ozbob]

COUNCIL OF MAYORS (SEQ) – MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday 13 June 2019

Gold Coast on board with fast rail network

More than 82 percent of Gold Coast residents support the introduction of a regional fast rail network to significantly reduce travel times for commuters and tourists, according to the latest ReachTel poll commissioned by the Council of Mayors (SEQ).

A region-wide poll of more than 2,200 respondents showed strong Gold Coast support for the concept of a South East Queensland (SEQ) fast rail network, and widespread agreement that the current delivery of transport infrastructure was not keeping up with the growth of the region.

More than 74 percent of Gold Coast respondents also believed that if SEQ hosted the 2032 Olympic Games, this could accelerate the delivery of transport infrastructure. Subsequently, 75 percent of respondents were either extremely likely or likely to support an SEQ Games if it delivered major transport upgrades.

These results came off the back of the SEQ People Mass Movement Study, released by the Council of Mayors (SEQ) earlier this year, which showed that all major road corridors in SEQ would be over capacity by 2041 – even if every currently planned and funded project was delivered.

Council of Mayors (SEQ) Chair and Brisbane Lord Mayor, Cr Adrian Schrinner, said it was no surprise to see that commuters were ready to take advantage of an SEQ fast rail network that could slash travel times between the region's cities to under 45 minutes.

"The SEQ Mayors embarked on an investigation of an Olympic Games with the belief that it would catalyse all levels of government to address the lack of transport investment in the region, and create a firm deadline to ensure it's delivered," said Cr Schrinner.

"Even at this early stage, we can see the Mayors' vision for fast rail taking shape with the North Coast Connect business case due for completion later this year, the establishment of a national faster rail agency and funding commitments to investigate rail solutions for the southern and western corridors.

"Being able to move between our cities in under 45 minutes, even in peak times, makes SEQ a more liveable region for our residents and a more attractive destination for tourists. The economic uplift generated by the introduction of an SEQ fast rail network would be considerable.

"The Council of Mayors (SEQ) is supportive of an Olympic Games only on the basis it delivers regional connectivity for the residents, businesses and visitors of SEQ. Both the SEQ Mayors and the community believe fast rail is key to fixing the region's transport and congestion issues."

An SEQ fast rail network has the potential to reduce travel times from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast by 48 percent, to the Gold Coast by 52 percent and to Ipswich by 66 percent. The maximum operating speed is anticipated to be between 200 to 250km/h with an average running speed up to 150 to 160km/h.

- Ends –

[ozbob]

COUNCIL OF MAYORS (SEQ) – MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday 13 June 2019

South East Queensland on board with fast rail network

More than 83 percent of South East Queenslanders support the introduction of a regional fast rail network to significantly reduce travel times for commuters and tourists, according to the latest ReachTel poll commissioned by the Council of Mayors (SEQ).

A region-wide poll of more than 2,200 respondents showed strong support for the concept of a South East Queensland (SEQ) fast rail network, and widespread agreement that the current delivery of transport infrastructure was not keeping up with the growth of the region.

More than 74 percent of respondents also believed that if SEQ hosted the 2032 Olympic Games, this could accelerate the delivery of transport infrastructure across the region. Subsequently, 72 percent of respondents were either extremely likely or likely to support an SEQ Games if it delivered major transport upgrades.

These results came off the back of the SEQ People Mass Movement Study, released by the Council of Mayors (SEQ) earlier this year, which showed that all major road corridors in SEQ would be over capacity by 2041 – even if every currently planned and funded project was delivered.

Council of Mayors (SEQ) Chair and Brisbane Lord Mayor, Cr Adrian Schrinner, said it was no surprise to see that commuters were ready to take advantage of an SEQ fast rail network that could slash travel times between the region's cities to under 45 minutes.

"The SEQ Mayors embarked on an investigation of an Olympic Games with the belief that it would catalyse all levels of government to address the lack of transport investment in the region, and create a firm deadline to ensure it's delivered," said Cr Schrinner. 

"Even at this early stage, we can see the Mayors' vision for fast rail taking shape with the North Coast Connect business case due for completion later this year, the establishment of a national faster rail agency and funding commitments to investigate rail solutions for the southern and western corridors.

"Being able to move between our cities in under 45 minutes, even in peak times, makes SEQ a more liveable region for our residents and a more attractive destination for tourists. The economic uplift generated by the introduction of an SEQ fast rail network would be considerable.

"The Council of Mayors (SEQ) is supportive of an Olympic Games only on the basis it delivers regional connectivity for the residents, businesses and visitors of SEQ. Both the SEQ Mayors and the community believe fast rail is key to fixing the region's transport and congestion issues."

An SEQ fast rail network has the potential to reduce travel times from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast by 48 percent, to the Gold Coast by 52 percent and to Ipswich by 66 percent. The maximum operating speed is anticipated to be between 200 to 250km/h with an average running speed up to 150 to 160km/h.

- Ends -

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1138832560086106118


Couriermail --> Securing 2032 Olympic Games seen as key to fast rail

More than eight in 10 southeast Queenslanders want to see a fast rail network across the region, and the overwhelming majority think an Olympic Games bid is the way to make it happen.

MORE THAN eight in 10 southeast Queenslanders want to see a fast rail network across the region.

And the overwhelming majority think an Olympic Games bid is the way to make it happen.

A ReachTEL survey of more than 2,200 people across SEQ shows three-quarters believe the region's transport infrastructure is failing to keep up with demand from population growth.

The research, commissioned by the SEQ Council of Mayors, found 83 per cent support for the introduction of a fast rail service that would enable passengers to travel between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast or Toowoomba in under 45 minutes.

And 72 per cent say they would be likely or extremely likely to back a bid for the 2032 Olympic Games here if it brought major transport upgrades.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, who chairs the SEQ Council of Mayors, said there was strong public support for investment in mass transit transport like fast rail.

"As the region grows, this is critical – whether we have an Olympics or not."

But it was encouraging that people saw the Games as a catalyst for accelerating the delivery of infrastructure.

"In the past, the Olympics have been perceived as a cost. People now seem to be more focused on the benefits. It's evident the community is becoming more excited by the opportunities presented by an Olympic Games," Cr Schrinner said.

The fast rail routes – plus other infrastructure proposed by the mayors such as expanding light rail on the Gold Coast and a new light rail system on the Sunshine Coast – would link with the majority of likely Olympic venues across the region.

Trains would run at 200 to 250km/h – up to 90km/h faster than current services.

Travel time to Brisbane could be halved from the Sunshine and Gold Coasts and slashed by two-thirds from Ipswich.

"Being able to move between our cities in under 45 minutes, even in peak times, makes SEQ a more liveable region for our residents and a more attractive destination for tourists," Cr Schrinner said.

Rapid rail will be a key part of a City Deal agreement being developed between the federal and state governments and SEQ mayors to priorities and fund transport, technology, development and lifestyle initiatives over the next two decades. A City deal was the number one action point from The Courier-Mail's FutureSEQ campaign last year.

Meanwhile, Logan and Redland City Councils are each working on proposals that would create whitewater venues for Olympic events such as kayaking and rafting.

Logan is working with three-time Olympian, American kayaker and slalom canoeist Scott Shipley on a feasibility study for a world-class whitewater park which it says will be "a tourism game-changer".

The council is also doing a $3.1 rebuild of Doug Larsen Park to create Australia's premier BMX freestyle facility, again with an Olympic bid in mind. BMX will debut at next year's Tokyo Olympics.

Redland is in discussions with the International Canoe federation about a possible whitewater and kayaking centre which would double as a training facility for swift-water emergency rescue crews.

And Mayor Karen Williams says they are planning an Olympic class cross country mountain biking trail.

[ozbob]

Facebook ...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/SEQMayors/status/1138982703657701376

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Fast rail will cut commute to Brisbane by 66 per cent


ESSENTIAL PROJECT: RAIL Back On Track spokesman Robert Dow. Rob Williams

THE introduction of a regional fast rail network which would transport Ipswich commuters to Brisbane, Toowoomba and the coast at speeds of up to 250km/h needs to happen even if the Olympic Games don't come to south-east Queensland.

That is the opinion of RAIL Back On Track spokesman Robert Dow, who said the group had been advocating for a regional "rapid" rail for many years.

A poll commissioned by the Council of Mayors (SEQ) revealed more than 87 per cent of Ipswich, Lockyer Valley and Toowoomba residents surveyed supported the concept.

The network has the potential to reduce travel times from Brisbane to Ipswich by 66 per cent.

The SEQ Mayors are supporting an Olympic Games on the basis all levels of government are jolted into addressing the lack of transport investment in the region, with a vital part of this being a fast rail network.

A study released earlier this year found all major road corridors in south-east Queensland would be over capacity by 2041, even if every currently planned and funded project was delivered.

But Mr Dow said it should go ahead - no matter what happens with the Olympic bid.

"We think it can stand alone, by itself," he said.

"It's such a strong concept and an important thing to do. We don't think the Olympic Games are necessary to drive it although the Olympics Games will help drive it.

"It's something that is going to work very well."

Mr Dow said an insight of the cost of the project would be revealed with the release of the North Coast Connect business case investigating fast rail on the Sunshine Coast.

It is expected to be released in the next couple of months.

"There's going to be quite a lot of attention on that and the general concept," he said.

"As far as I'm aware the SEQ Council of Mayors don't have any real costings, it's more of just a concept.

"It obviously needs exploring in detail in terms of a business case and more options with regards to the existing rail corridor versus a new line and all those sort of things."

Although he believed a fast rail network between Australia's major cities was not cost effective - such as the Labor's mooted bullet train - one in south-east Queensland would be and work wonders to reduce pressure on our roads.

He said most of the framework for the A-line from Brisbane out to Toowoomba was there but some upgrades were needed.

SEQ Mayors chair and Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the economic uplift generated by the introduction of a fast rail network would be "considerable" and key to fixing congestion issues.

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> We need to ditch cars and get on board with fast rail


Ipswich City Council interim administrator Greg Chemello. Cordell Richardson

IPSWICH City Council interim administrator Greg Chemello hopes residents will ditch their cars and embrace the efficiency of fast rail if the project goes ahead.

He said a regional fast rail network in south east Queensland partnered with an extension of the Springfield line is "vital" to keeping things running smoothly in coming decades.

"With the population of Ipswich moving towards 500,000 in the next 20 years, we need to be thinking now about how we can accommodate this growth effectively," he said.

"Being able to travel between Ipswich and Brisbane in just 20 minutes would completely change how we move around this region."

"We'd see people leave their cars behind and embrace the speed and efficiency of fast rail."

A region-wide poll of more than 2,200 respondents showed strong Ipswich support for the concept of an SEQ fast rail network.

There was widespread agreement that the current delivery of transport infrastructure was not keeping up with the growth of the region.

Just under 15 per cent of those surveyed believed the delivery of transport infrastructure in south east Queensland is keeping up with the region's population growth.

Council of Mayors chair and Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the network that could slash travel times between the region's cities to under 45 minutes and he was was not surprised by the results of the poll.

"Being able to move between our cities in under 45 minutes, even in peak times, makes SEQ a more liveable region for our residents and a more attractive destination for tourists," he said.

"Even at this early stage, we can see the mayors' vision for fast rail taking shape with the North Coast Connect business case due for completion later this year, the establishment of a national faster rail agency and funding commitments to investigate rail solutions for the southern and western corridors.

"Both the SEQ Mayors and the community believe fast rail is key to fixing the region's transport and congestion issues."

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/TrainsHb/status/1138836989845942275

125  mph = 201 kph

[ozbob]

Hard copy  ...

Queensland Times 14th June 2019 page 8

Fast rail key for future

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Fast rail to unlock sport, tourism potential


KEY: Federal Member for Fairfax Ted O'Brien says fast rail could unlock potential in infrastructure like Sunshine Coast Stadium.

FAST rail advocate and Fairfax MP Ted O'Brien says a high-speed transport network in the southeast could be key to unlocking the potential of the region's sports and tourism infrastructure.

And it may take the world's largest sporting showcase, the Olympic Games, to deliver such a network.

Latest ReachTel polling commissioned by the Council of Mayors South East Queensland showed more than 85percent of the 2200 respondents region-wide supported a fast rail network to slash travel times for commuters and tourists.

Almost 78percent of respondents agreed the current delivery of transport infrastructure wasn't keeping up with the region's growth.

Seventy-threepercent of Sunshine Coast respondents also said that if southeast Queensland hosted the 2032 Olympic Games they believed it could accelerate the delivery of transport infrastructure.

As a result, 68percent of those surveyed said they were either extremely likely or likely to support an SEQ Games bid if it was to deliver major transport upgrades.

It comes after the SEQ People Mass Movement Study released earlier this year found all major road corridors in the southeast would be over capacity by 2041.

A business case is currently progressing on a fast-rail proposal which would link the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Mr O'Brien said the numbers spoke for themselves, and reflected optimism felt by residents right across southeast Queensland.

He saw the Olympic Games, SEQ City Deal and fast rail as three pieces of the puzzle that would come together to form the picture of the region's future.

He said fast rail "could be the spine" for the city deal and a "key enabler" of a southeast Queensland Olympic bid.

"We should unashamedly use the possibility of an Olympics to extract as much spend for improved and new infrastructure as we can," Mr O'Brien said.

He said part of the benefit of a high-speed rail connection would be the ability to unlock potential in tourism and sport infrastructure in the region, including the Sunshine Coast Stadium.

The stadium has been earmarked for potential upgrades, given the success of recent NRL trials and proper-season fixtures.

[verbatim9]

This electric train is capable of doing 160 mph 250 kph and is being rolled out in Tanzania now

https://twitter.com/cgtnafrica/status/1124593749575786502



Perfect train and tech for Se QLD electric fast rail Brisbane-Toowoomba, Brisbane-Caloundra/Maroochydore, Brisbane-Cooloongatta.

[kram0]

This electric train is capable of doing 160 mph 250 kph and is being rolled out in Tanzania now

https://twitter.com/cgtnafrica/status/1124593749575786502



Perfect train and tech for Se QLD electric fast rail Brisbane-Toowoomba, Brisbane-Caloundra/Maroochydore, Brisbane-Cooloongatta.

Remind me again which one of us is the 3rd world country........Unbelievable.

[SteelPan]

I'm ALL for faster regional rail....I'm just not buying that we need to treble-up on debt hosting the world's most overrated sports carnival to justify it.

[HappyTrainGuy]

The Etts are already capable of running at 200kph. And that's mid 90's tech. If the sunny coast wants higher tech trains running NWTC + CRR needs to be built first.

[ozbob]

Yo, Queensland Rail electric tilt holds the Oz rail speed record at 210 km/h 1999 ( some rumours might have even been a bit quicker than the official 210 km/h  )