What Can Be Done to Get Rail/Public Transport AWAY from Politicians

[SteelPan]

Like many, I've been VERY disappointed with the lack of even long-term COMMITMENT by the QLD State Govt, to the bleedingly Obvious need for Quality, Inter-Urban 200kmh [approx] RAIL Connections, between the State Capital of Brisbane and the closeby Cities of Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba.

How bizarre, that the very state govt that should be leading the long-term planning and development of such critical missing pieces rail infrastructure, is always offering up, decade in-decade out, baseless excuses for doing nothing! The State Govt go out and get an OLYMPICS and then spend all their time, looking to get out of providing new RAIL infrastructure!!!!

State Govts have also taken a cook tours on CRR - where is the 2nd phase of CRR planning - why are we not like Singapore, one major project is completed, another begins....where are the clear plans to upgrade the Main Northern line, it too seems to always be scrapping any improvements made!

Politcians are only ever after short-term "Political BUZZ" - unless we can put RAIL projects into RAIL focused hands....rail will be forever in the go-slow/too hard basket!

What can be done???   :conf

[ozbob]

The best place to start is to establish a proper Public Transport Authority (similar to the PTA of WA).

Until that is done, there is not much hope for real progress.  It will remain piecemeal, always tempered by the politics of the day.

[Stillwater]

The major transport corridors to Toowoomba and the Sunshine Coast are funded 80 per cent (feds) and 20 per cent (state); Gold Coast (an urban corridor as opposed to a national interstate freight route) is a little different, with a mix of projects funded 80:20 and 50:50, depending on state-fed argy-bargy. When it comes to rail, the best funding deal on offer from Canberra is 50:50 and the fed investment is on the basis that the railway line carries freight -- the Gold Coast Line doesn't. This has to do with that section of the Constitution that states the federal government shall facilitate interstate trade and commerce.

Under the Constitution, the states have specific responsibility for rail. When Gough Whitlam offered a federal deal to take over rail from the states, only SA and Tasmania agreed, leading to the formation of Australian National. The more recent ARTC model involves a company-like structure where the federal government is the sole shareholder. ARTC can raise and carry debt off the Federal Budget books.

It benefits the state to devise road-based transport solutions where the federal government picks up 80 per cent of the tab versus, at best, only meets half the cost of a rail-based solution. The shenanigans of transport planning is to direct traffic away from state roads to those roads where the feds pay 80 per cent of the congestion solution thus created, even if that is not the most ideal traffic solution. Federally-funded projects must meet IA's benefit-cost analysis. CRR (latest design) didn't.

Paul Keating used to say no-one should stand between Premiers and a bucket of federal money. The reality is that for inter-regional faster rail to happen, the feds need to kick off a (say) five-year regional rail program and put in at least $5 billion, then call for submissions from the states. Make it a 50:50 dollar-for-dollar split. So, all up, it would be $10 billion. In the normal carve-up of a federal funding package, Queensland could reasonably expect to receive 19 per cent of the pot, Victoria about 20 per cent and NSW 33 per cent.

Under a joint $10 billion program, that means $2 billion for new rail infrastructure in Queensland. That is not much in the scheme of things -- pay for the Flagstone/Beaudesert passenger rail perhaps, or Springfield Line extension to Ripley.

[ozbob]

^ that discourse withstanding Mr Stillwater, the fact remains the other States viz. WA, SA, Vic & NSW are getting many billions of $ for rail, Queensland is not in the hunt.  Why?

Mediocre business cases, with dumb politics too.

Until we get a dedicated agency Queensland will continue to miss out on the major moolah!

And other States are also getting funding from the Feds without any fuking business cases!!

Example: Melbourne Airport Rail Link

https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/projects/ProjectDetails.aspx?Project_id=097140-17VIC-OFF

" .. The Australian Government has committed up to $5 billion towards construction of a rail link to Melbourne Airport. Over $70 million from this commitment will be used for the completion of the business case. This funding is in addition to the $30 million committed by the Australian Government to develop the business case. .. "

IA, the Federal Government, are all scumbags.  I detest them ...

Why is taxpayers money being used for an Airport railway?  Queensland (Brisbane) was done by BOOT.    All a bit screwy ...

[SurfRail]

The Constitution does not in fact stop Canberra spending as much as it likes on intrastate rail as long as the relevant state agrees.

[#Metro]

Rail will be attractive again when it can offer competitive speeds and travel times consistent with the generalised travel cost equation.

I don't understand why we build 100 km/hr railways when the design and vehicles clearly can go faster. Is it custom? Then we add too many stops so the whole thing travels at 50 km/hr average speed and then wonder why people don't use it outside peak hour.

For non-local services we need to look at average speeds of at least 150 km/hr and maximum speeds around 200 km/hr. Perth figured out out, now all we have to do is copy. The politicians there actually almost succeeded in closing the entire Perth train network, and all the low density, high car ownership, small population arguments apply in Perth.

Anything else is just a horse and cart upgrade. Stop building slow railways, the politics will resolve once they see voters using it.

[Stillwater]

Politics interferes bigtime, agree. A Public Transport Authority only way to go to get sense back into the equation.

Queensland is not good at business case preparation compared with other states.

The Constitution states: "The power of the Parliament to make laws with respect to trade and commerce extends to navigation and shipping, and to railways the property of any State." (Emphasis on facilitating trade and commerce as opposed to passenger rail.)

Then (1901) as now, states retain ownership of railways (and principal responsibility).

It is very interesting that not much mention in the Constitution about roads, yet they get a whack of money from the feds.

[Jonno]

The key is that our Transpirt Minister and Transport Department still believe that freeways and ever wider roads reduces congestion and benefits the economy...despite study after study after study showing the opposite.

I have had many a conversation with ALP and LNP party MP's and they just don't accept these facts over their belief! The key is to not elect people who don't believe in facts or are not willing to listen and change!

[SurfRail]

The Constitution states: "The power of the Parliament to make laws with respect to trade and commerce extends to navigation and shipping, and to railways the property of any State." (Emphasis on facilitating trade and commerce as opposed to passenger rail.)

Then (1901) as now, states retain ownership of railways (and principal responsibility).

Several subsections within section 51 make it clear that does not have to be the case - try sections 51(xxxii), (xxxiii) and (xxxiv) - especially the last one.  That is also ignoring more general powers to fund stuff eg under section 96.

It is only politics that stops the Commonwealth doing more in this space.

[SteelPan]

Suggestion
Second half of 2022, a public meeting to discuss the concept of a SEQld dedicated Public Transit Authority - empowered and resourced, to research, plan, develop and operate [themselves or under contract where appropriate] ALL road, rail and water based public transport in SEQld [Translink] area of operations.

Tip - NO invite to pollies [ they will only hijack with more hot air, they have a limitless supply  ] - nothing gives them chills like the people in action!!!!