20 Dec 2010: SEQ: Potential funding sources for improvements ...

[ozbob]

Media release 20 December 2010

SEQ: Potential funding sources for improvements to the Sunshine Coast Line?

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters would like to suggest that Federal funding for improvements for freight and passenger services could be used to part finance upgrade sections of the Sunshine Coast line.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"It is no secret that the Sunshine Coast line really isn't meeting passenger expectations, and this is in part due to single track sections and the interaction with freight and long distance passenger rail services. Sunshine Coast commuters have brought their grievances to RAIL Back on Track and as a commuter advocate, we have of course, have been highlighting this. (1)"

"RAIL Back on Track notes that a study titled '2007 Brisbane-Cairns Corridor Strategy; authored by Queensland Transport and AusLink identifies rail congestion between Brisbane and Nambour as a key constraint on the Sunshine Coast line for passengers, freight and long distance passenger rail services. (2,3).

"For example, page 9 states:

'The Queensland Government has medium to long-term plans to improve road and rail access for commuter use between the Sunshine Coast and other parts of South East Queensland and to provide improved rail freight access to and through Brisbane. The aim is to maintain freight capacity over the next ten years as commuter rail services increase. Projects include the duplication and realignment of the NCL from Caboolture to Beerburrum, followed by Beerburrum to Landsborough and then Landsborough to Nambour as well as projects to improve rail freight access through metropolitan Brisbane.'

"RAIL Back on Track would like to suggest that the Queensland Government investigate the feasibility of upgrading the Sunshine Coast line for freight potentially using funds from Infrastructure Australia. The Sunshine Coast line is part of a larger network which allows freight to reach state wide and indirectly the nation, and improvement to the line for freight purposes would have improvements for commuter rail services as well, which would solve two problems at once."

"There is plenty of scope today to increase off peak rail passenger services between Nambour and Brisbane particularly, and the failure to move ahead with timely track upgrades is not an excuse to not improve passenger rail services."

References:

1.  New Timetable leaves Sunshine Coast Commuters behind http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4899.0

2.  http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/transport/publications/files/Brisbane_Urban_Corridor_Strategy.pdf

3.  http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/transport/publications/files/Bris_Cairns_Corridor_Strategy.pdf

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5101.0