Queensland Rail Heritage Assets

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Queensland Parliament

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2021/1009-2021.pdf

Question on Notice

No. 1009

Asked on 2 September 2021

MR A PERRETT ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (HON M BAILEY)

QUESTION:

With reference to Queensland Rail (QR) heritage assets—

Will the Minister advise (a) of any discussions, plans or recommendations to divest interest in QR
heritage assets and (b) which rail items will be provided to heritage groups with no ongoing
responsibility and cost to QR?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Gympie for the question.

The Palaszczuk Government and Queensland Rail acknowledge the importance of preserving
Queensland's rich rail history.

Queensland Rail is currently reviewing its heritage assets model and investigating opportunities
to ensure the future preservation and community benefit of these collections. As this matter is
under consideration, there is no further information at this time.

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https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2022/113-2022.pdf

Question on Notice
No. 113
Asked on 24 February 2022

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

QUESTION:

With reference to the Queensland Rail (QR) heritage operations based at the Ipswich
Workshop—

Will the Minister advise (a) how many heritage rail services QR has operated each financial year
since 2015–16, (b) the minimum and maximum number of staff employed at the Ipswich
Workshop each financial year for the last 5 financial years and (c) the minimum and maximum
number of QR train drivers accredited to operate steam engines in each financial year for the last
5 financial years?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Scenic Rim for the question.

Financial Year Number of Heritage Services
2015-16 113
2016-17 128
2017-18 82
2018-19 65
2019-20 35
2020-21 20
2021-22 (as at 1 March) 9 (plus four planned services)

Over the past five years, Queensland Rail has supported Heritage services from chartering
organisations, as well as Exhibition steam circular services and diesel hauled Toowoomba
Carnival of Flowers shuttle services. During 2017, 2018 and 2019 there were four main chartering
organisations utilising Queensland Rail Heritage services. In 2020, the only remaining chartering
organisation was Australian Railway Historical Society.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, steam operations have ceased due to driver cab
social distancing restrictions. Australian Railway Historical Society has, in turn, not requested any
regular charters as its customers prefer steam hauled Heritage train services.

Queensland Rail's Heritage fleet is stored and maintained at the Ipswich workshops. The
following table includes the number of staff employed at the Ipswich Workshop for the last five
financial years.

Financial Year Number of staff at Ipswich Workshops

2016-17 Min 28 Max 31
2017-18 Min 31 Max 33
2018-19 Min 29 Max 32
2019-20 Min 29 Max 32
2020-21 Min 24 Max 30

Over the last five financial years, Queensland Rail has maintained an adequate supply of train
drivers to run heritage services. The following table includes the number of Queensland Rail
accredited train drivers to operate steam engine for the last five financial years.

Financial Year Number of Steam Drivers

2016-2017 4
2017-2018 2
2018-2019 6
2019-2020 7
2020-2021 5