Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line (was CAMCOS, North Coast Connect)

[red dragin]

^This

The biggest barrier in my mind to increasing public transport use is the fact it's a 19km drive or bus ride from Caloundra to Landsborough, to even get on a train in the first place.

To put in perspective, that would be like if the current line finished at Mooloolah Valley, everyone was kicked off and they had to drive the remaining distance into Nambour.

19km driving towards Brisbane, from the centre of Caloundra gets you to the Roy's Rd overpass, which is a fair head start over the bus/train (before interchange).

[ozbob]

TMR  Caboolture to Maroochydore Corridor Study

>>> https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/caboolture-to-maroochydore-corridor-study

Location

Caboolture, Caloundra, Mooloolaba, Maroochydore

Timing

The study was completed in 2001. Track upgrading and duplication from Caboolture to Beerburrum was completed in 2009, as works for the preparation of a new line to Caloundra and Maroochydore.

Status
Completed

Last updated: 10 March 2021

[ozbob]

Newsletter from Websites above.

[Arnz]

Here's an image which I hope helps illustrate the geography of the issue.

The red blob is the main built up area of Ipswich.
The larger orange blob is the main built up area of the Sunshine Coast (And this doesn't include Aura yet!)

Now imagine if QR wasn't born in Ipswich, and the entire town of Ipswich had to drive 19km to Darra to access rail. Would be a disaster.

This is the daily reality for the orange blob of the Sunshine Coast.
It's about time this issue started getting some attention, you cant tell me with a straight face that a 19km bus trip to a station is an appropriate solution in the long term.

Totally agree with what's been said by both Gazza and Metro. In my opinion, the next most logical stage of rail upgrades to the Sunshine Coast after the duplication to Beerwah is the first stage of the spur line, with a single station at Caloundra. You would definitely need a great big Park 'n' Ride there, but it would be nice to also see some TOD-style density around the station too.

Once Aura is a bit more built up you would then add the station there as infill.

There's a second station at Pelican Waters per the previous reports.  The only exception was the images Ozbob posted up by the former Caloundra City Council re-alignment, which was ultimately rejected in favor if the initial alignment into Caloundra.

Saying that, if they (Qld Government) really want to 'save money' and build only the Caloundra Station, they'd build the CAMCOS spur as 'single track' past the Bruce Highway, similar to when the Gold Coast Line was built to Helensvale (single track past Ormeau).

[Stillwater]

Love this from the 2007 newsletter: "The Queensland Government is committed to building a new railway line that will service the Sunshine Coast and provide a link to Brisbane. ... The Queensland Government has already identified and earmarked a route for a passenger train service from Beerwah to Maroochydore, reaching Caloundra in 2015 and Maroochydore by 2020."
Oh, it's 2021 -- I'll just mosey on down to Maroochydore Railway Station for a fast ride to Brisbane by train. NOT.

[ozbob]

^ shame the MagLev didn't get up . 

That would be an major attraction in its own right ... 

All Aboard!  The first service to Caloundra is about to depart in 2071!

[kram0]

2071, optimistic.

[Arnz]

With 'some' shred of optism, $10 that CAMCOS would be 'single track' to Caloundra with crossing loops at the Bruce Highway bridge and the Pelican Waters station site (station not built).  Baringa (Aura) station site built as Single Track.

Now that's saving some $$$$ 

On a slightly more serious note, the local ALP member for Caloundra is likely to be fighting for the proper deal to Caloundra, perhaps even pushing forward for Baringa (Aura) as well.

[Fares_Fair]

Surely it would require duplicated track to Maroochydore at the very least, with perhaps a single track from there to the Maroochy airport.
It's 36.9 km Maroochydore to Beerwah.

A single track to the 10th largest region in Australia?
Madness.
That said, it wouldn't be the first time.

[timh]

Surely it would require duplicated track to Maroochydore at the very least, with perhaps a single track from there to the Maroochy airport.
It's 36.9 km Maroochydore to Beerwah.

A single track to the 10 largest region in Australia?
Madness.
That said, it wouldn't be the first time.

I think Anrz means single track as a "Stage 1". Ultimately with the full corridor complete to the airport with all the infill stations yes certainly you'd need double track all the way

Sent from my SM-G780F using Tapatalk

[achiruel]

Remember how long the Gold Coast line was single track, Fares_Fair? What about the Ferny Grove line, where duplication was only completed a few years ago? How close we came to having a single track on the Springfield line? The fact that there's still significant single-track sections on the Cleveland line, and a little bit on the Shorncliffe line? Pretty clear the Qld Government doesn't understand that single track doesn't belong in commuter rail networks. You don't see NSW building new suburban lines as single track!

[Arnz]

Surely it would require duplicated track to Maroochydore at the very least, with perhaps a single track from there to the Maroochy airport.
It's 36.9 km Maroochydore to Beerwah.

A single track to the 10 largest region in Australia?
Madness.
That said, it wouldn't be the first time.

I think Anrz means single track as a "Stage 1". Ultimately with the full corridor complete to the airport with all the infill stations yes certainly you'd need double track all the way

Sent from my SM-G780F using Tapatalk

On a slightly serious note (steering away from single track from Beerwah to Caloundra and the Route 69 Maglev Bus),

IMO Can't see CAMCOS going north of Caloundra in the long term (if ever).  That is even taking into consideration the tunnelling and bridges that is required north of Caloundra.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Jeffrey_Addison/status/1371947171658956801

[Stillwater]

 

[ozbob]

Nice article.

Yes, I think it is finished.  The State Government has to support it, and it is clear they don't.

No mention on the latest TMR SEQ Transport Plan which has a horizon to 2041.   

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Olympics bid team not deterred by rejection of $5.3b Fast Rail plan for SEQ

Queensland's Olympics bid team will push ahead with plans for Fast Rail connectivity for the region, despite a proposed $5.3 billion link between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast being rejected by Infrastructure Australia as costly and inefficient.

The North Coast Connect Fast Rail project was developed with a consortium of large developers, including SMEC, Stockland, Urbis and KPMG, and representatives from the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, Sunshine Coast Council, Moreton Bay Council and Brisbane City Council.

The idea was to have trains travelling at 150km/h between Brisbane and Nambour in 45 minutes.

It proposed a new rail track along the existing North Coast Line between Brisbane and Beerwah, and a new rail corridor to connect coastal centres such as Maroochydore, Kawana and Caloundra.

However, it was not supported by the Queensland government, which did not believe the proposal fit its own rail and road project priorities on the Sunshine Coast, including a link from Caloundra to Maroochydore. ...

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast News --> Your say

What happened to the promised rail network?

"The train arriving at Maroochydore station on platform 2 is the express service to Brisbane. First stop Mooloolaba, then Kawana, Caloundra, Caloundra South, Beerwah then all stations to Caboolture."

It's a phrase that I hope to hear in my lifetime, but I'm afraid will not happen, due to inept successive governments failing to deliver on countless proposals, studies and announcements about a Sunshine Coast Rail network since the mid-1990s.

The original Caboolture to Maroochydore Corridor Study (CAMCOS) was a proposal in 1999 for a passenger train service for the Sunshine Coast, which would also provide travellers with a fast link to Brisbane.  It included an upgrade of the North Coast rail line from Caboolture to Landsborough and a new line from Beerwah to Maroochydore. Over 25 years later we are still talking about it without a single sleeper being layed towards Caloundra and Maroochydore.

In 2005, a $480 million project was announced by the Queensland Government, to boost northern rail services and provide the vital first link in the CAMCOS high speed service to the Sunshine Coast. It was launched by Transport and Main Roads Minister, Paul Lucas. He said the project would give the green light to the Beattie Government's commitment of a high speed rail service between Brisbane, Caloundra and Maroochydore. He also said, "We will establish the line from Beerwah to Caloundra by 2015, and up the coast to Maroochydore by 2020, bringing rail to the Sunshine Coast." ...

[ozbob]

Dreams ... 

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Heavy vs light rail: MP argues Coast can't have both  $

Sunshine Coast MPs have warned a $2.6 billion light rail system between Maroochydore and Kawana could ruin chances of having heavy rail from Brisbane to the region.

Kawana MP Jarrod Bleijie and other Sunshine Coast MPs have called on the Sunshine Coast Council to prioritise heavy rail before throwing its support behind an expensive local public transport network.

The council has released a comprehensive report into several mass transit options costing between $881 million to $2.6 billion to connect Maroochydore and Kawana.

Residents have eight weeks to have their say on the draft options analysis report, including on what their preferred public transport would be.
"We're saying people should have their say but the priority of rail on the Sunshine Coast should be from Beerwah to Maroochydore," Mr Bleijie said. ...

[verbatim9]

Camcos has the support of the Federal Government, so I think this will likely to proceed first then LRT shortly after.

[Fares_Fair]

My definition of support is with funding.

There is no argument for an 80/20 funding split (or 50/50 for that matter) for CAMCOS.

Feds are under no obligation to fund it and rail is clearly not a part of Queensland's bid for the SEQ 2032 Olympics as per the Premier's "it's not in the bid, it's not in the bid" comments in February 2021.

It's 40km from Beerwah to Maroochydore.
That makes it around a $2 - $2.5 billion project in my guesstimation.
I can't see a state government funding it any time soon.
Yes, it would probably be staged with the first leg to Caloundra.
The Opposition statements are note-worthy as they may win the next state election and these rail comments will need to be backed up by big bucks.

The Gold Coast got the heavy rail line before it got the light-rail.

I understand the Opposition statements in that they can't see govt funding two majorly expensive projects, CAMCOS and Mass Transit concurrently.

[Stillwater]

It was revealed tonight that this week's federal budget includes $9 billion in uncommitted funding, the suggestion being that the Coalition at a federal level is keeping a bit of a war chest in reserve for the next election campaign .... or maybe that is a contingency to cover SEQ City Deal and/or Olympic Games. The Qld State Government usually pretty hopeless at estimating the cost of big projects.  They tend to estimate lower, to get the feds on the hook with the 50-50 split or an 80-20 split, then when the Commonwealth commits, they announce a higher price and demand that the feds pay 50 or 80 per cent of the higher cost (probably the real cost).  The feds respond by saying their dollars were capped at the original estimate and any cost overrun should be met by Queensland for getting it wrong. Usually, at that stage, all Queensland Ministers march down to the Tweed, stand on the northern bank and scream in the general direction of Canberra: "We have been dudded again, give us our money!" Seems to be that the pattern repeats pretty regularly.

[HappyTrainGuy]

It's 40km from Beerwah to Maroochydore.
That makes it around a $2 - $2.5 billion project in my guesstimation.
I can't see a state government funding it any time soon.
Yes, it would probably be staged with the first leg to Caloundra.

I don't see the Caloundra spur operational until 9 car trains are running to be honest just to cover off the inner city constraints and to market faster travel times on a reduced frequency with capacity to boot (potentially running limited express to beerwah stopping Beerwah exp caboolture exp Petrie (if they choose to extend) with extended Caboolture services to beerwah running as the infill stoppers. But also in saying that I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Beaudesert is operational before due to locked in federal funding and minimal resumptions which would also allow existing caboolture services to run to Beaudesert instead of terminating early.

But hey. The network can be run in so many different ways and once again it all comes down to funding, who is planning everything (someone that knows railway ops or someone in tmr outsourcing planning on a budget) and what infrastructure is built. Which really should have been properly addressed in the crr planning that clearly hasn't been done.

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament E-Petition

Heavy rail on the CAMCOS corridor

TO: The Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland
Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House the lack of public transport linking Brisbane to Maroochydore.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to do all in its power to ensure that the State Government urgently commits to funding heavy passenger rail (preferably fast rail) from Beerwah to Maroochydore along the CAMCOS Corridor via Caloundra, Kawana, and through to Maroochydore.

>> https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/petition-details?id=3537

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2021/535-2021.pdf

Question on Notice
No. 535
Asked on 11 May 2021

MR J BLEIJIE ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (HON M BAILEY)

QUESTION:

With reference to Queensland's bid for the 2032 Olympic Games—

Will the Minister advise if the State Government will support heavy passenger rail on the Sunshine
Coast from Beerwah to Maroochydore?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Kawana for the question.

As the Member would be aware, it was the Morrison Government, through Infrastructure
Australia, that rejected the business case for Sunshine Coast rail. In contrast, the Palaszczuk
Government has got rail upgrades moving on the Sunshine Coast. The Beerburrum to Nambour
Upgrade project is now underway that will improve Sunshine Coast passenger services and
support freight movements along the North Coast line.

The Palaszczuk Government has locked in $550.8 million in joint investment with the Australian
Government towards the initial stage of the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade on the
Sunshine Coast after the previous Newman Government ignored it while it was in office. The
Palaszczuk Government also provided the Beerburrum to Nambour upgrade business case to
the North Coast Connect Consortium as an in-kind contribution—worth $5 million—to assist the
development of its business case.

Relevantly, the Palaszczuk Government is also delivering the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project
that provides a second river crossing in Brisbane, unblocking the current bottle neck and therefore
allowing more trains to run more often and is an important first step towards other network
expansions including the extension of the rail line on the Sunshine Coast to Caloundra and
Maroochydore. That is a necessary first step in facilitating faster rail to the Sunshine Coast.

It is also relevant to contrast this investment approach to that of the previous LNP Government,
which cancelled the Cross River Rail project, and cut $1.6 billion from roads and transport
funding, making the state-wide allocation of funding for competing priorities, including rail
upgrades, more challenging.

====

" ... faster rail ... " < 

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2021/552-2021.pdf

Question on Notice
No. 552
Asked on 12 May 2021

MS F SIMPSON ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (HON M BAILEY)

QUESTION:

With reference to the recently released 2021 Regional Transport Plan, which does not provide
any timelines for construction of heavy rail on the Caloundra and Maroochydore Corridor Options
Study (CAMCOS) corridor from Beerwah to the employment hub of Maroochydore —

Will the Minister advise what the Minister is doing to bring this project forward and when will it
happen?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Maroochydore for the question and refer the Member to my answer to
Question on Notice 535.

As the Member would be aware, it was the Morrison Government—through Infrastructure
Australia—that rejected the business case for Sunshine Coast rail. In contrast, the Palaszczuk
Government has got rail upgrades moving on the Sunshine Coast. The Beerburrum to Nambour
Upgrade project, that will improve Sunshine Coast passenger services and support freight
movements along the North Coast line, is now underway.

The Palaszczuk Government has locked in $550.8 million in joint investment with the Australian
Government towards the initial stage of the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade on the
Sunshine Coast after the previous Newman Government ignored it while they were in office. We
also provided the Beerburrum to Nambour upgrade business case to the North Coast Connect
Consortium as an in-kind contribution—worth $5 million—to assist the development of their
business case.

Relevantly, the Palaszczuk Government is also delivering the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project,
that provides a second river crossing in Brisbane, unblocking the current bottle neck and therefore
allowing more trains to run more often and is an important first step towards other network
expansions including the extension of the rail line on the Sunshine Coast to Caloundra and
Maroochydore. That is a necessary first step in facilitating faster rail to the Sunshine Coast.
It is also relevant to contrast this investment approach to that of the previous LNP Government,
which cancelled the Cross River Rail project, and cut $1.6 billion from roads and transport
funding, making the state-wide allocation of funding for competing priorities, including rail
upgrades, more challenging.

[ozbob]

There are no timelines because it is not going to get built anytime soon folks.

[Stillwater]

Tired old words:

"The Palaszczuk Government is also delivering the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project
that provides a second river crossing in Brisbane, unblocking the current bottle neck and therefore
allowing more trains to run more often and is an important first step towards other network
expansions including the extension of the rail line on the Sunshine Coast to Caloundra and
Maroochydore. That is a necessary first step in facilitating faster rail to the Sunshine Coast."

[achiruel]

Second river crossing? How do trains get from Chelmer to Indooroopilly, then?

As for faster, 1 minute faster is still faster, right? 

[Stillwater]

Chelmer must be in the boonies. Still it should be on the government's radar - ALP seat.

[ozbob]

Tired old words:

"The Palaszczuk Government is also delivering the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project
that provides a second river crossing in Brisbane, unblocking the current bottle neck and therefore
allowing more trains to run more often and is an important first step towards other network
expansions including the extension of the rail line on the Sunshine Coast to Caloundra and
Maroochydore. That is a necessary first step in facilitating faster rail to the Sunshine Coast."

Very tired.  I think Mr Bailey's staffers need to start writing better and more accurate responses for the Minister.

Track capacity increase on the Sunshine Coast line is necessary first step for FASTER RAIL (FAST rail is NOT mentioned now of course), Faster rail could be achieved by not having to reverse trains at single face station platforms to pass hey?

And to increase services need to have enough trains.  This is seriously in doubt now.

We are tired of the bullsh%t Lurkers

On. it.

There are two rail bridges (double track) across the Brisbane River at Chelmer/Indooroopilly of course.  4 tracks total!  Our transport planners and Governments from earlier times actually had some vision.   Sadly lacking in today's world.

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> MP calls for heavy rail unity as mass transit debate rages $

A high-profile fast rail proponent says the region needs to unite in a bid to secure heavy rail improvements while debate rages about a smaller-scale coastal transport system.

Fairfax MP Ted O'Brien said it was obvious from the ongoing mass transit community consultation that there was an "enormous amount of community division" being created by the mass transit scheme.

He said despite the differing ideas on the best system to service the coastal stretch there was one idea everybody was in support of and that was "heavy rail using the CAMCOS corridor between Beerwah and the Maroochydore CBD". ...

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2021/815-2021.pdf

Question on Notice

No. 815

Asked on 16 June 2021

MS F SIMPSON ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (HON M BAILEY)

QUESTION:
With reference to the answer to Question on Notice No. 552 asked on 12 May 2021 and the
Minister's claim that the Federal Government through Infrastructure Australia had rejected the
business case for North Coast Connect which incorporates the CAMCOS heavy rail link into
Maroochydore—

Will the Minister advise if (a) the Minister is aware that Infrastructure Australia stated one of the
reasons the North Coast Connect project wasn't prioritised was it 'is not currently identified in
Queensland's transport strategy' and that the Queensland Government had not confirmed who
will be responsible for delivery and that 'this contributes to project delivery risks' and (b) if the
Queensland Government will take ownership of the project and include it in current Queensland
Government transport strategies to allow it to progress?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Maroochydore for the question.

The Palaszczuk Government is committed to delivering a single integrated transport network that
is accessible to everyone and is proud of its record investment in South East Queenslandʼs rail
network.

To this end, we have fully funded and are delivering the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project,
which will unlock the bottleneck at the core of our rail network, deliver new stations and revitalise
precincts. New generation signalling will allow more trains to run more safely and the Palaszczuk
Government is investing over $600 million in new trains to be built locally in Queensland. While
Smart Ticketing will make choosing public transport even easier, customers will also benefit from
a significant program of station upgrades, level crossing removals, park ʻnʼ ride expansions, and
better active transport and bus connections.

I would again point out the contrasting investment approach to that of the previous LNP
Government, which cancelled the Cross River Rail project—not once but twice
—ordered nondisability compliant trains from overseas, and cut $1.6 billion from roads and transport funding,
making the state-wide allocation of funding for competing priorities, including rail upgrades, more challenging.

As mentioned in my response to Question on Notice 552 tabled on 11 June 2021, the North Coast
rail line is a priority for the Palaszczuk Government. This is why the $550.8 million Beerburrum to
Nambour Upgrade project is now underway to improve Sunshine Coast passenger services and
support freight movements. The Queensland and Australian governments have also committed
$6.25 million as part of 2021–22 Federal and State Budgets towards the Beerburrum to Nambour
Rail Upgrade Duplication Study Stage 2.

The Caloundra to Maroochydore Corridor is an important part of the Queensland Governmentʼs
long-term vision for public transport on the Sunshine Coast and the corridor has been preserved
since 2001. Track upgrades and duplication from Caboolture to Beerburrum were completed in
2009, as was the elimination of the open level crossing at Beerwah. This ultimately provides for
a future branch line to the East Coast.

It is important to unlock the capacity of the existing network prior to building new capacity.
The Palaszczuk Government is working in collaboration with the National Faster Rail Agency to
review the findings of the North Coast Connect Business Case in line with network priorities.
Further investment in rail for the Sunshine Coast will be dependent on, and staged in line with,
highest priorities across the network to meet population growth and demand.

Given the many competing investment pressures across Queensland, it is important that the
Palaszczuk Government's economic plan focuses on uniting and recovering post-COVID-19 and
delivering the infrastructure that Queenslanders need, while also planning for high-capacity
transport access to potential Olympic venues.

[Fares_Fair]

Still sprouting the false $5.4 billion figure for Cross River Rail.
Budget reveals it to be $6.9 billion.

This part is very interesting..
"The Queensland and Australian governments have also committed
$6.25 million as part of 2021–22 Federal and State Budgets towards the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade Duplication Study Stage 2."

The Federal Govt budget offered a $5 million contribution towards a study into Stage 2 full rail duplication from Beerwah to Nambour, and to be matched by the state.
Does this mean the Qld State Govt are only offering $1.25m in return?

[Stillwater]

It is interesting, agree. It would appear to be Queensland sticking to its guns over the 80:20 cost split.

If the feds put in XXX to the Sunshine Coast Line, the state will put in only one-fifth of that.

They seem to think that if they match the fed contribution dollar-for-dollar, that becomes a 'gotcha' moment for the feds to claim Qld has caved into a fifty-fifty funding split for duplication construction costs.

It's just the usual madness and politicking. We'll get only a $6.5 million planning job and not a $10 million job, so the planning will be deficient and the estimated costs, as a consequence, will be a bit rubbery and there will be more argy-bargy over who should pay what, or what share.

The feds would be mad to agree to a percentage contribution to 'whatever the cost', but, rather, to fix their dollar contribution. That way, there is an incentive for the Qld Govt to get the costings right (something it is not good at).

Here's Ted O'Brien's take:

[ozbob]

Quote: " The rail service between ' Brisbane and Nambour ' is woeful ... "

Yes, it is.

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Heavy rail discussions back on the agenda as Sunshine Coast Business Council looks for solutions $

As Southeast Queensland is gearing up to host the 2032 Olympics, businesses are pushing to see heavy rail built to better connect the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane.

Sunshine Coast Business Council chair Sandy Zubrinich said the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games provided the region with an economic and social boost but planning needed to start now.

Ms Zubrinich said creating better connectivity within the region needed to be a priority, including the development of heavy rail projects. ...

[Stillwater]

Now there is prospect of considerable funding associated with the Olympic Games and the SEQ City Deal, the penny has dropped finally at Noosa Council whose Mayor, Cr Clare Stewart, has announced that her council will be rejoining the SEQ Council of Mayors.  While Cr Stewart might be looking for crumbs from the table for Noosa, she will be another vote in the room and would form a bloc with the Sunshine Coast Council when it comes time to show hands in resolutions. Noosa would be a good friend to SC in such circumstances.

[kram0]

Mooloolah River Interchange: Concerns grow Maroochydore CBD has been left off heavy rail map with latest plans
Concerns are growing that Maroochydore may set to be snubbed for a major transport upgrade with heavy rail links 'missing' in $320m road upgrade plans.

https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/sunshine-coast/mooloolah-river-interchange-concerns-grow-maroochydore-cbd-has-been-left-off-heavy-rail-map-with-latest-plans/news-story/9f5e3bdedbd715fc07e6b9c2ff03a385

[ozbob]

Couriermail Sunshine Coast --> Mooloolah River Interchange: Concerns grow Maroochydore CBD has been left off heavy rail map with latest plans $

Questions have been raised about the prospect of a heavy rail line ever making it to Maroochydore as planning rolls on for a $320m major road upgrade.

Recent vision released as part of the latest modelling for the long-awaited Mooloolah River Interchange appeared not to reference a heavy rail link along the Caboolture to Maroochydore Corridor Study (Camcos) alignment.

The Camcos study was finished in 2001 and the corridor had been preserved as part of a long-term vision to link the urban heart of the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane. ...