The Sunshine Coast Case : Rail duplication Beerburrum to Nambour

[Old Northern Road]

It does seem that Queensland is starting to turn against the ALP ... no real surprise.

In some ways the arrogant  decline of the Blight Govt is now being repeated ...

Queensland is a real basket case, the last three Governments are and were completely out of touch with reality ...

Looks increasingly certain that LNP will get back.  I hope they have learned their lessons ...  we can only hope. 

For the Sunshine Coast Line it might well be the best outcome.

And we should not be at all surprised. Anna2 and Trad have no clue and will go down as the worst state government in QLD history. Newman for all his faults at least had a plan and got some projects started with the money they had.

The sooner this government collapses the better for the economy of this great state.

Yeah not really

[Stillwater]

Andrew Powell MP plays the politics of the SCL duplication, perhaps not realising that his new shadow ministry responsibilities put him in the box seat to deliver this project under an LNP Government:

http://www.andrewpowell.com.au/tag/north-coast-rail-duplication

Let's hope Mr Powell makes representations to Canberra to have funding for the SCL duplication, Beerburrum to Landsborough North announced during the federal election campaign.  That would be real progress on this issue.  People are sick of media releases and endless delays.  A business case and revised EIS are required as pre-requisites.  No mention of those in Mr Powell's media statement.

[newbris]

..
And we should not be at all surprised. Anna2 and Trad have no clue and will go down as the worst state government in QLD history. Newman for all his faults at least had a plan and got some projects started with the money they had.
...

I thought Newman had many negative actions so a govt that plods along is still far better than his imo. And Newman doesn't qualify for worst ever...we've had some shockers full of corrupt backward nasty men.

[Fares_Fair]

No mention by the Queensland Government of any rail duplication of the North Coast Line between Beerburrum - where the single track starts (17km south of Landsborough)  and Landsborough or Nambour in public statements - why is this?

No mention by the Australian Government, either by PM Malcolm Turnbull or OL Bill Shorten of any rail duplication of the North Coast Line between Beerburrum - where the single track starts (17km south of Landsborough)  and Landsborough or Nambour (39km distance from Beerburrum) in public statements - why is this?

Instead we hear bleating about a sports stadium in Townsville where the Qld State Govt cries out for $100 million from the Feds and promises to match it with $100 million.
Problem with that is the Stadium cost was reported as $250 million.

This is Queensland, a national joke.
This is the Sunshine Coast, a national land of the 'never never' when it comes to funding critical infrastructure.
Mayor Mark Jamieson told me (paraphrased) that we are the 9th largest region in the nation and we don't get the equivalent share of the infrastructure kitty.
He's right.

[Stillwater]

With its EIS now approved, the Sunshine Coast Airport expansion could eclipse SCL duplication as the 'sexy' project to receive federal funding pledges before 2 July.  It is cheaper than the SCL Beerburrum-Landsborough North project , but offers high profile for the party that agrees to fund it.

SCC is seeking $180m from the feds.  A business case has been put to IA; unlike the SCL duplication -- a project whose business case won't be lodged until June 2017, the State Government informs us.  Construction of the new airport runway could start before the end of the year if fed funding is confirmed during the current election campaign.  That is an immediate economic stimulus and more construction jobs for the Sunshine Coast.

As for the SCL duplication business case?  This foolish Queensland Government continues to attempt to game the system by denying IA business cases for worthwhile projects such as CRR and SCL upgrade and putting forward poor projects, such as the Townsville Stadium, which have a negative BCR.  And then it cries when worthwhile infrastructure projects in other states get up before Queensland ones. 

[ozbob]

Sunday Mail 22nd May 2016 page 18

FIX RAIL OR FACE BRUCE CRISIS

FIX RAIL OR FACE BRUCE CRISIS

ANTHONY TEMPLETON

MORE trucks carrying huge volumes of freight could be forced on to the Bruce Highway unless $2.5 billion is found to upgrade the railway line between Brisbane and Cairns.

An independent report – obtained under Right to Information laws – into the North Coast Line found upgrades including repairing 61 ageing timber bridges, floodproofing works and duplicating key sections of track were needed to ensure the line remained a viable freight route.

"There is no DO NOTHING investment strategy for the North Coast Line if it is to stay open, and provide a meaningful role in the freight logistics task," the report by Ranbury consultants said.

It also found a failure to invest in the line would reduce it "to irrelevance in the contestable freight market" and more cargo would be delivered using trucks.

The report recommends $2.5 billion be spent on improving the line over a 10-year period.

It also states about 3 million tonnes of freight was put on the line, travelling both north and south, in the 2013-14 financial year.

Queensland infrastructure spokesman for Engineers Australia Chris Warnock said a "huge numbers of trucks" would be funnelled on to the Bruce Highway unless more was invested in the railway.

"It's already one of the more dangerous roads in Australia so by moving all that freight on to it is only going to make it worse," he said.

"The North Coast Line also plays a crucial role in connecting regional Queensland because places like Rockhampton regularly get cut off by road because of flooding but supplies on rail can often still get through," he said.

"This rail line is absolutely vital to Queensland and we need to make sure it receives investment, particularly to improve some of the poor alignments and repair many of the old bridges."

State Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the department was developing an action plan for the key freight and passenger rail line.

"This will provide an overview and approach around how to guide future development and operational enhancements along more than 1600km of track between Nambour and Cairns," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"Currently all trains must travel through a congested single four-track corridor in the CBD and if we don't build Cross River Rail ... we will be unable to run any extra trains on the North Coast Line even if we duplicate the track between Beerburrum and Landsborough."

The Opposition's transport spokesman and Glass House MP Andrew Powell said more trucks would be forced to use the already congested Bruce Highway unless major upgrades to the North Coast line were completed.

"We need to invest in both rail and road infrastructure to make sure our transport network works more effeciently and we reduce congestion on our major highways like the Bruce," he said.

[ozbob]

" ... "Currently all trains must travel through a congested single four-track corridor in the CBD and if we don't build Cross River Rail ... we will be unable to run any extra trains on the North Coast Line even if we duplicate the track between Beerburrum and Landsborough."   ... "

Errr not quite Minister.

Improvements (track duplication) Beerburrum <> Landsborough North with passing loop upgrades to Nambour for a start will allow longer freight trains = more train paths.

More passenger trains are forecast with the introduction of the new northern Sector 1 timetable when Kippa-Ring finally opens - already timetabled.

Importantly will also improve train service reliability, helping to reduce the number of ' waltzes ' currently done at single line stations.

Simply hiding behind your Government's and Governments' past re Cross River Rail fail is not an excuse IMHO !

The Beerburrum <> Landsborough North upgrade should be commenced immediately - it was going to built in 2009 until petty polyticks by Labor stopped it.

[ozbob]

Perfect opportunity for the Turnbull camp to trump Labor now on this.  LNP want the line upgraded, Labor are looking for excuses.

Malcolm ?

What an embarrassment the Queensland Government is ..

[#Metro]

State Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the department was developing an action plan for the key freight and passenger rail line.

"Form a Committee"

 

[ozbob]

 

' ACTION PLAN '  to add to the hundreds of already existing   ' plans '  ... 

Hope we get an animated video hey?   

[Fares_Fair]

" ... "Currently all trains must travel through a congested single four-track corridor in the CBD and if we don't build Cross River Rail ... we will be unable to run any extra trains on the North Coast Line even if we duplicate the track between Beerburrum and Landsborough."   ... "

Errr not quite Minister.

Improvements (track duplication) Beerburrum <> Landsborough North with passing loop upgrades to Nambour for a start will allow longer freight trains = more train paths.

More passenger trains are forecast with the introduction of the new northern Sector 1 timetable when Kippa-Ring finally opens - already timetabled.

Importantly will also improve train service reliability, helping to reduce the number of ' waltzes ' currently done at single line stations.

Simply hiding behind your Government's and Governments' past re Cross River Rail fail is not an excuse IMHO !

The Beerburrum <> Landsborough North upgrade should be commenced immediately - it was going to built in 2009 until petty polyticks by Labor stopped it.

Spot on, sadly for the Sunshine Coast 

[ozbob]

An appalling situation for the Sunshine Coast.  The sooner the Palaszczuk  Government is history the better.

Labor just loves the pressers with the new developments on the Sunny Coast - transport poor car centric transport ghettos of the future!

IDIOTS!

[James]

An appalling situation for the Sunshine Coast.  The sooner the Palaszczuk  Government is history the better.

Labor just loves the pressers with the new developments on the Sunny Coast - transport poor car centric transport ghettos of the future!

IDIOTS!

Perhaps with the new runway it will be faster to fly from Noosa to Brisbane than drive or catch PT, even after factoring in going through security etc.

"Currently all trains must travel through a congested single four-track corridor in the CBD and if we don't build Cross River Rail ... we will be unable to run any extra trains on the North Coast Line even if we duplicate the track between Beerburrum and Landsborough."

It is not about peak hour and it is not about inner-city capacity. Rail freight is the main benefit, and right now they're excluded from the peaks and rail freight avoids the core Roma St - Bowen Hills anyway. It is very obvious that Mr Hinchliffe (and his staffers) have never gone for a trip on the Sunshine Coast Line! Perhaps it is time they got an invite to come on a trip with RBoT so they understand the shambles first hand?

[Arnz]

The existing runway at Sunshine Coast Airport is also underutilised and is heavily low cost focused (primarily Jetstar) with limited Business demand.  Hence only there is only 1 QantasLink business-class equipped 717 jet service to/from SYD per day (QantasLink is also taking on additional costs to park the QantasLink jet overnight at Sunshine Coast Airport for the first flight early next morning for the small business market out of MCY).

Extending the runway doesn't necessarily mean a barrage of passenger demand.  Brisbane West Wellcamp is one example, with twice-daily QantasLink turbo-prop flights to SYD, and the AirNorth regional jet flights to MEL and CNS.  Wellcamp primarily has a focus on General Aviation and the seasonal overseas freighter (such as the Cathay Pacific jumbo freighter earlier this year).

[Arnz]

It is not about peak hour and it is not about inner-city capacity. Rail freight is the main benefit, and right now they're excluded from the peaks and rail freight avoids the core Roma St - Bowen Hills anyway. It is very obvious that Mr Hinchliffe (and his staffers) have never gone for a trip on the Sunshine Coast Line! Perhaps it is time they got an invite to come on a trip with RBoT so they understand the shambles first hand?

I'm not sure if they are aware there's freight running at all  .  They might not even know about Pacific National after their sell-off of Aurizon (QR National) a few years ago.

[Stillwater]

Mr Hinchliffe seems to be saying that pressure won't come on the Sunshine Coast line until the extra trains from CRR need to run there.  Clearly he does not know about the 'dance of the trains' the existing constraints for rail freight and short freight train lengths and, of course, the rail buses that run between stations because there is no room for additional passenger rail services during the day.  Perhaps he needs yet another task force to gather the data, yet again.

As to all these 'action plans', what's missing is the action.  Action planning is what you do when you are doing nothing.  And 'doing nothing' on the SCL, we are told, will result in it becoming an irrelevancy as far as rail freight is concerned, with the slack being taken up by even more trucks on the Bruce Highway.

Under Mr Abbott, the former PM, emphasis was on federal funding for roads.  That suited the Queensland Government, because the alternative to attracting federal funding for the Bruce Highway was the state spending money it does not have on the North Coast Line.

Perhaps, during an election campaign, Mr Turnbull might want to distinguish himself from the Abbott policies and era by switching emphasis to funding rail along the East Coast, with the priority given to Beerburrum-Nambour.  Only then will the state government move from just planning to actually building.  (It would be good to conduct a BCR comparison of a $1b investment in the Bruce Highway versus a $1b investment in the SCL-NCL .)

We should be grateful that, at the snail's pace that governments work, Mr Hinchliffe and his public servants have moved from just planning to planning with action.   

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

22nd May 2016

FIX RAIL OR FACE BRUCE CRISIS - comment

Greetings,

I refer to Minister Hinchliffe's quoted comments in the article in today's Brisbane Sunday Mail ' FIX RAIL OR FACE BRUCE CRISIS ' page 18 which relates to the North Coast railway line, a critical piece of infrastructure for Queensland.

Minister Hinchliffe is quoted as " ... Currently all trains must travel through a congested single four-track corridor in the CBD and if we don't build Cross River Rail ... we will be unable to run any extra trains on the North Coast Line even if we duplicate the track between Beerburrum and Landsborough."

I disagree.  It is important that the section from Beerburrum to Landsborough North be duplicated now.  This was in fact going to be constructed in 2009 but was stopped by the then incoming Labor State Government.

Improvements (track duplication) for Beerburrum <> Landsborough North with passing loop upgrades to Nambour for a start will allow longer freight trains = more train paths.

More passenger trains are forecast for the Sunshine Coast with the introduction of the new northern Sector 1 timetable when Kippa-Ring railway (Moreton Bay Rail Link) finally opens - and are already timetabled.

Importantly the track duplication will also improve train service reliability, helping to reduce the number of ' waltzes* ' currently done at single line stations.

For freight is not about peak hour and it is not about inner-capacity rail capacity. Rail freight will benefit significantly from the upgrade.  Rail freight is generally excluded from the peaks and rail freight avoids the core Roma Street <> Bowen Hills generally anyway.

We do agree with Minister Hinchliffe that Cross River Rail is an essential project but to deny the Sunshine Coast and Queensland improved freight and passenger rail outcomes (which are in part independent of Cross River Rail) is a very backward proposition.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

* ' Waltz ' of trains - brief explanation

This is when say a northbound passenger train on the single railway line north of Beerburrum encounters a southbound passenger train at a station (generally the only place they can pass). There are couple of variations but essentially the first train at the station arrives at the platform to allow passengers to get on or off.  The train in the opposite direction enters and sits in the passing loop. The first train then heads off the second train then by a series of movements which includes a reversing move ( the 'waltz ) gains entry to the station to allow passengers on and off.  I have on occasion noted very confused passengers on Sunshine Coast line services as the ' waltz ' is done.  I tell them " In Queensland, we have to go backwards to go forwards ".  This situation slows down journey times and is a throwback from the 19th Century.  It is beyond farce that the Sunshine Coast Line trains have to do this.

[kram0]

An appalling situation for the Sunshine Coast.  The sooner the Palaszczuk  Government is history the better.

Labor just loves the pressers with the new developments on the Sunny Coast - transport poor car centric transport ghettos of the future!

IDIOTS!

Agree 100%, the sooner this useless government are moved on the better. Worst government this state has ever had.

[ozbob]

For passengers stuck on train on the Sunny Coast doing a ' waltz ' enjoy this vid 

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow 24 minutes ago Brisbane, Queensland

Latest: ' FIX RAIL OR FACE BRUCE CRISIS - comment '

> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6647.msg174383#msg174383 ... #qldpol #ausvotes

[Fares_Fair]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow 24 minutes ago Brisbane, Queensland

Latest: ' FIX RAIL OR FACE BRUCE CRISIS - comment '

> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6647.msg174383#msg174383 ... #qldpol #ausvotes

March 2012 Media Conferences: Nambour and Cooroy.. still the struggle for #2tracks crucial rail to/from #SunshineCoast continues.

[Stillwater]

Time to dust off the 'fix the bottleneck' T-shirts!

[tazzer9]

All the two major parties want is for the other party to fully fund the duplication but for the government of the time to take all the credit.   

[Stillwater]

Everyone from the Minister down is probably confused by myriad investigations and reports into the capacity problems on both the SCL and the NCL.  Mr Hinchliffe refers to an 'action plan' for the line.  Is that the same as the "North Coast Line Investment Plan" currently underway? 

The North Coast Line Capacity Improvement Project (Ranbury Report) spelled out the issues in the most stark manner possible, advising government that a 'do nothing approach' is not an option.

This echoes the findings of a Parliamentary Committee report chaired by Howard Hobbs MP who used those same words.  The former Member for Warrego chaired the Transport, Housing and Local Government Committee investigation into rail freight use by the agriculture and livestock industries (Report No.45).  That report dates from 2014.  We have moved on two years from that report, the chair of which said 'doing nothing is not an option' back then.

The North Coast Line Capacity Improvement study, again, reminds government that doing nothing is not an option.  The NCLCI project was a joint project between the Rail Infrastructure and Operations Team (Translink Division), Freight Policy Team (Policy Planning and Investment Division) and Queensland Rail.

From top to toe, for the organisations that manage transport in this state, the issue is well-known.  These organisations advise the minister.  So what is this 'action plan' referred to by Mr Hinchliffe?  Is it his name for the NCL Investment Plan, or something separate?
There seems to be a fair amount of planning going on, very little action.

Informed by the various plans are we able to say with confidence that a 'do nothing' government – acting that way to the contrary of all formal advice – is acting irresponsibility and not in the best interests of Queenslanders or the state economy?

[ozbob]

Clearly some of the advice the Minister is receiving is very biased and off the mark

This > http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6647.msg174383#msg174383

I find it appalling that some are trying to justify not doing anything for the Sunny Coast Line because Cross River Rail is stalled.

We have shown that proposition is a nonsense.

I have lost confidence in the mob on George St.  Ramshackle outfit.

[kram0]

I'm surprised anyone had confidence in them to start with. Sunshine Coast line duplication is priority now, not when CRR finally starts construction. It is a vital link for freight and passenger services.

[ozbob]

Always happy to let an administration have time demonstrate its stuff.  They have had long enough.  It's time ... bye bye!

[Stillwater]

This government is not fair-dinkum about the SCL and North Coast Line.

Mr Hinchliffe says an 'action plan' is being drawn up for the NCL.  His departmental website says differently, here:

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/About-us/Corporate-information/Publications/Annual-report/Annual-Report-2014-2015/Our-performance/Objective-2/2-1.aspx

The site contains a chart (Figure 11) – Key activities delivered in 2014-15

The listed action is: "Identify with industry rail freight and broader supply chain requirements to inform rail planning and development for the North Coast Line ...."

Reporting against that objective, the department says: "Final report and Action Plan have been delivered for the North Coast Line Capacity Improvement Study"

The delivery date was March 2015!

An action plan has been delivered.  When will the government act upon it?  Why is the Minister seeking a further 'action plan'?

[#Metro]

Mr Hinchliffe says an 'action plan' is being drawn up for the NCL.  His departmental website says differently, here:

Reporting against that objective, the department says: "Final report and Action Plan have been delivered for the North Coast Line Capacity Improvement Study"

Clearly they need an action on the action plan, like how to act on the action plan.

OMG, this is a scandal! SW, I encourage you write a MR in the MR section for this!

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

24th May 2016

Re: FIX RAIL OR FACE BRUCE CRISIS - comment

Good Morning,

Members at RAIL Back On Track are perplexed, as must be the media and the public generally concerning the never ending cycle of ' plans ' for the Sunshine Coast Line.

Consider this.

Is the State  Government really fair-dinkum about the SCL and North Coast Line?

Mr Hinchliffe says an 'action plan' is being drawn up for the NCL.  His departmental website says differently, here:

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/About-us/Corporate-information/Publications/Annual-report/Annual-Report-2014-2015/Our-performance/Objective-2/2-1.aspx

The site contains a chart (Figure 11) – Key activities delivered in 2014-15

The listed action is: " Identify with industry rail freight and broader supply chain requirements to inform rail planning and development for the North Coast Line ...."

Reporting against that objective, the department says: "Final report and Action Plan have been delivered for the North Coast Line Capacity Improvement Study"

The delivery date was March 2015!

An action plan has been delivered.  When will the government act upon it?  Why is the Minister seeking a further 'action plan'?

Confusing.  The upgrade of the Sunshine Coast Line from Beerburrum to Landsborough North is a project that should be supported by both the Federal Government (significant freight implications) and the State.

Why is the Sunshine Coast being neglected?

We have clearly shown that the proposition an upgrade of the Sunshine Coast Line is dependent on Cross River Rail as nonsensical.

The Sunshine Coast Line upgrade is an achievable project today, not a pipe-dream as Cross River Rail and the ' Brisbane Metro ' are.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

22nd May 2016

FIX RAIL OR FACE BRUCE CRISIS - comment

Greetings,

I refer to Minister Hinchliffe's quoted comments in the article in today's Brisbane Sunday Mail ' FIX RAIL OR FACE BRUCE CRISIS ' page 18 which relates to the North Coast railway line, a critical piece of infrastructure for Queensland.

Minister Hinchliffe is quoted as " ... Currently all trains must travel through a congested single four-track corridor in the CBD and if we don't build Cross River Rail ... we will be unable to run any extra trains on the North Coast Line even if we duplicate the track between Beerburrum and Landsborough."

I disagree.  It is important that the section from Beerburrum to Landsborough North be duplicated now.  This was in fact going to be constructed in 2009 but was stopped by the then incoming Labor State Government.

Improvements (track duplication) for Beerburrum <> Landsborough North with passing loop upgrades to Nambour for a start will allow longer freight trains = more train paths.

More passenger trains are forecast for the Sunshine Coast with the introduction of the new northern Sector 1 timetable when Kippa-Ring railway (Moreton Bay Rail Link) finally opens - and are already timetabled.

Importantly the track duplication will also improve train service reliability, helping to reduce the number of ' waltzes* ' currently done at single line stations.

For freight is not about peak hour and it is not about inner-capacity rail capacity. Rail freight will benefit significantly from the upgrade.  Rail freight is generally excluded from the peaks and rail freight avoids the core Roma Street <> Bowen Hills generally anyway.

We do agree with Minister Hinchliffe that Cross River Rail is an essential project but to deny the Sunshine Coast and Queensland improved freight and passenger rail outcomes (which are in part independent of Cross River Rail) is a very backward proposition.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

* ' Waltz ' of trains - brief explanation

This is when say a northbound passenger train on the single railway line north of Beerburrum encounters a southbound passenger train at a station (generally the only place they can pass). There are couple of variations but essentially the first train at the station arrives at the platform to allow passengers to get on or off.  The train in the opposite direction enters and sits in the passing loop. The first train then heads off the second train then by a series of movements which includes a reversing move ( the 'waltz ) gains entry to the station to allow passengers on and off.  I have on occasion noted very confused passengers on Sunshine Coast line services as the ' waltz ' is done.  I tell them " In Queensland, we have to go backwards to go forwards ".  This situation slows down journey times and is a throwback from the 19th Century.  It is beyond farce that the Sunshine Coast Line trains have to do this.

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Coast v Brisbane: Have we been set up to fail in rail bid?

UPDATE 1.50pm: Infrastructure Australia, the nation's peak infrastructure investment advisory body, has confirmed the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade isn't even being considered.

While the business case for Brisbane's plans of another river crossing, the Cross River Rail, is being fast-tracked with the aim of coming before Infrastructure Australia by next month and potentially into Federal Election calculations before July 2, the Coast's rail upgrade hopes are languishing.

"Infrastructure Australia hasn't yet received a business case on the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade Project," an Infrastructure Australia spokeswoman said.

"Infrastructure Australia will assess the project once we receive a business case."

The Beerburrum to Nambour upgrade project has been progressed then pulled back since 2009 with the latest advice from the State Government advising the upgrades were a priority of the Palaszczuk Government.

Despite their priority listing, a business case for the crucial upgrades is still being "developed" by Building Queensland, with no decision set to be made until at least 2017.

Earlier:

THE 'PRIORITY' being given to our region's rail network is nothing more than lip service according to one long-time campaigner for upgrades to Coast rail services.

Sunshine Coast RAIL Back on Track spokesman Jeff Addison said the State Government's declarations the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade project was a priority were not being reflected.

"They're (State Government) getting the business case for the Cross River Rail returned by June, but the Coast's business case isn't due back until mid-next year," Mr Addison said.

He said the vocal public support of federal support for Cross River Rail funding was not being reciprocated for either the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade or the North Coast Line upgrade projects.

"They give it lip service, they say it's a priority but everything they do (indicates otherwise)," Mr Addison said.

He was also frustrated that the Beerburrum to Nambour Upgrade, a critical piece of infrastructure listed on Infrastructure Australia's priority list, had to compete with a sporting stadium (Townsville Stadium project) for crucial Federal and State support.

Queensland Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the duplication of the Sunshine Coast rail line was "one of the Palaszczuk Government's priority infrastructure projects for federal funding".

He confirmed it was one of 12 priority projects submitted to Infrastructure Australia for federal funding, although the business case for the project is yet to be completed by Building Queensland, with no decision to be made until at least 2017.

The Cross River Rail project is being fast-tracked through Building Queensland, with a business case set to be returned to the State Government by June, meaning that project could be before Infrastructure Australia prior to the July 2 Federal Election.

"The Palaszczuk Government will continue to fight for federal government funding for critical public transport infrastructure for Queensland," Mr Hinchliffe said.

While the Beerburrum to Nambour project appears to have been leapfrogged in priority by the Cross River Rail, Mr Hinchliffe said the Palaszczuk Government "understands the importance of the North Coast rail line" (which runs from Nambour to Cairns) as a key freight and passenger rail corridor for Queensland.

He said a detailed North Coast Line Action Plan was being prepared by the Department of Transport and Main Roads, with engineering consultants sought to progress the detailed plan that included analysis of existing bridged, floodways and other existing infrastructure, "to improve reliability and efficiency".

The development of that Action Plan comes despite the Department's website showing a "Final report and Action Plan have been delivered for the North Coast Line Capacity Improvement Study" in March 2015, although the Daily understands the State Government considered that plan simply a summary of the North Coast Line Capacity Improvement Study, and the more detailed Action Plan being developed would draw on the findings in that Improvement Study.

"Is the State Government really fair-dinkum about the SCL and North Coast Line?" RAIL Back on Track's Robert Dow asked in an email to the Daily.

"Why is the Sunshine Coast being neglected?"

A DTMR spokesman said there would be no capacity to increase services on parts of the rail network during busiest peak periods, and the network would be at its limits, if the Cross River Rail was not built by 2021.

"Sunshine Coast line trains travelling to Brisbane city stations will be impacted by this capacity constraint," the spokesman said.

"Currently, the capacity of the overall rail network in South East Queensland is constrained by limited inner-city capacity as all services must run through the single four-track corridor in the Brisbane CBD.

"Cross River rail would address this by providing an alternate route through the city with several new stations including Albert Street and a new underground station beneath the existing Roma Street station. Freeing up inner-city capacity would allow more services to access the Brisbane CBD from across the region."

The spokesman said the full capacity-benefit of investment in rail projects on the broader network, such as Landsborough to Nambour, would not be realised until investment was made in the Cross River Rail.

"An efficient freight rail network will reduce the competition for scarce capacity on rail networks and the reliance on road transport. Freight trains generally operate outside peak periods," the spokesman said.

"Without targeted investment, growth in demand for passenger services and an increase in off-peak frequencies over time will leave fewer paths for freight services in the future."

Meanwhile RACQ spokeswoman Renee Smith called for the duplication of the Beerburrum to Nambour stretch to made a priority in the upcoming Federal Election.

"We've been calling for the duplication of the North Coast Rail Line for years and it is time action is taken," Ms Smith said.

"Sunshine Coast commuters are being forced to sit in traffic on the Bruce Highway, in part due to the inconsistency and inadequacy of the rail services the region.

"We believe a duplication of the North Coast Rail Line on an improved alignment initially between Beerburrum and Landsborough, and then further to Nambour will help make rail a viable option for commuters.

"There needs to be a focus on infrastructure this federal election, and this is a perfect example of how one project could better the daily experience of thousands of Queenslanders."

The Daily has also put questions to Infrastructure Australia this morning seeking an update on where its assessment of the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade is at.

[ozbob]

^  what a cop out.

You know where you stand Sunny Coast.  Turn against these fools ..

[ozbob]

Updated comment:

http://sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/coast-v-brisbane-will-we-get-rail-upgrades-or-does/3033447/

...  Shadow Transport Minister and Member for Glass House Andrew Powell said both the Coast upgrades and the Cross River Rail were important projects, but he felt Brisbane's needs were being prioritised "too highly" over the North Coast region.

He said it appeared the Sunshine Coast was in for yet more delays in action to improve the Beerburrum to Nambour or North Coast lines.

Mr Powell said the State Government had a "hand-out mentality" to the Federal Government and said they were using the business case process as a delay tactic.

He said it was hard to understand the delays with the business case on the Beerburrum to Nambour upgrades, given so much work had already been undertaken and feared further delays would heap pressure on the Bruce Hwy, while raising questions over how the Palaszczuk Government would fund future state infrastructure. ...

[Stillwater]

The Queensland Government is eeking out the flow of business cases going to Infrastructure Australia for its assessment in an attempt to influence the order in which project funding is allocated by the federal government.  Townsville Stadium is the No. 1 priority.  Go figure. The interesting words from Mr Hinchliffe are these:  The duplication of the Sunshine Coast rail line is "one of the Palaszczuk Government's priority infrastructure projects for federal funding".

Edit: The local media are onto this:

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/were-beaten-again/3034880

[Fares_Fair]

Extraordinarily disappointing that #2tracks to/from #SunshineCoast (public transport rail network) being totally ignored by major party candidates in the upcoming federal election.
We as a region are taken for granted.
I'd love for someone to prove my statement wrong BY ANNOUNCING WORKS ON THIS CRITICAL ARTERY.

Our rail network is unbelievable, antiquated and full of rail slowing 's' bends.
Journalists often laugh when I tell them that 42% of our trains, servicing a region of 335k people, are literally rubber wheeled buses that drive in and out of each station from Caboolture to Nambour.
26 of them every single day of the week.
They laugh because it is unbelievable, but it is absolutely true.

Then there is the freight debacle.. with short freight trains of just 650m plying the line from Brisbane to Cairns because of predominant single track and short passing loops.
The latest report notes that freight is at risk due to what is says is 'severe undercapitalisation' of the north coast line.
Freight is being pushed off rail and onto the highway as 'b' double trucks.

The fact that these circumstances remain today, in May 2016 AD, is astonishing.

[#Metro]

Extraordinarily disappointing that #2tracks to/from #SunshineCoast (public transport rail network) being totally ignored by major party candidates in the upcoming federal election.
We as a region are taken for granted.
I'd love for someone to prove my statement wrong BY ANNOUNCING WORKS ON THIS CRITICAL ARTERY.

Our rail network is unbelievable, antiquated and full of rail slowing 's' bends.
Journalists often laugh when I tell them that 42% of our trains, servicing a region of 335k people, are literally rubber wheeled buses that drive in and out of each station from Caboolture to Nambour.
26 of them every single day of the week.
They laugh because it is unbelievable, but it is absolutely true.

Then there is the freight debacle.. with short freight trains of just 650m plying the line from Brisbane to Cairns because of predominant single track and short passing loops.
The latest report notes that freight is at risk due to what is says is 'severe undercapitalisation' of the north coast line.
Freight is being pushed off rail and onto the highway as 'b' double trucks.

The fact that these circumstances remain today, in May 2016 AD, is astonishing.

I agree with you that rail to the SC needs to be high quality for it to be competitive.

I have my own thoughts on improvements.

Regional rapid rail http://tiny.cc/SEQHSR would take advantage of both the motorway capacity limitations and speed limitations (100 km/hr) of cars. Brisbane to Noosa would be possible within an hour.

In any case FF, I politely suggest that you think about running for Queensland Parliament as an independent. Perhaps Liz Cunningham can give you some tips. Nothing seems to be moving in that area, and provided that the Parliament is close to hung or whatnot, you might end up on the crossbench with the balance of power.

Early election is also likely with AP. It won't be long until the next election, so consider early preparation if you choose to go down that path.

 

[Stillwater]

It is depressing that we have to rely on the political process for economically-sound good infrastructure projects such as the SCL duplication.  By delaying the timing of the preparation of the business case until June 2017, the ALP has 'parked' this issue for the time being.  Mr Hinchliffe is wrong when he says that it is no use upgrading the SCL until CRR allows more trains to run there. Wrong.  He has a distorted narrow view of passenger rail needs only, but totally ignores the pleas of the rail freight sector.

But, if the pollies see the politics in this, the interest (from a rail perspective) becomes the seat of Capricornia, held by Michelle Landry, LNP.  Based on Rockhampton, this is a traditional Labor seat. 

When the subsidies dried up following the sell-off of QR National to Aurizon, Aurizon reacted by shutting down all rail freight yards south of Bundaberg.  Rail could not compete over the Bundaberg-Brisbane leg against trucks on the Bruce Highway.

The Ranbury Report (the most recent report into the operation of the SCL and NCL) reveals that Rockhampton marks the point at which it is now cheaper to send freight back and forth to Brisbane by road.  North of there, rail is holding its own.  Ranbury tells us that, in a couple of years, road's competitiveness for freight will move to a point at Mackay, due to a lack of investment in the NCL.  Ranbury also warns that the NCL will become an 'irrelevancy' as far as rail freight is concerned unless there is considerable investment in the track, including in the bottleneck on the SCL between Beerburrum and Nambour.

In order to improve rail freight's viability at Rockhampton and Mackay, money needs to be spent on the track south of Nambour.  It is not the case that taxpayer dollars have to be spent within the geographic confines of an electorate in order to benefit that electorate.  Paul Pisisale recognises this by welcoming investment in the Ipswich Motorway between Darra and Rocklea (in Brisbane) because, ultimately, it will benefit his City of Ipswich.

It would be good to see a political bunfight erupt in the marginal seat of Capricornia during this federal election campaign, and possibly in Dawson too, informing voters that Rockhampton and Mackay won't be served by rail freight in a couple of years time.  Capricornia is the marginal seat.  LNP could argue that Labor has 'sold out' the voters in Capricornia and announce that it will put money into a rail upgrade.

Labor (at a state and federal level)  should be able to see that an investment in east coast rail in Queensland (but especially on the SCL) benefits all state and federal seats up and down the coast to Cairns.  To repeat, the point at which rail freight is competitive with road is Rockhampton, soon to be Mackay.  Must it then become Bowen, then Townsville before the pollies will act?

The latest advice to government, consistent with previous advice, is that DOING NOTHING IS NOT AN OPTION on the NCL.

[ozbob]

It is even worse when one considers construction had actually commenced for the upgrade Beerburrum <> Landsborough in  2009  but the Labor Government stopped it because of petulant politics.  Nothing to do with CRR at all.   I call bullsh%t ...

[tazzer9]

The duplication won't fully fix the train length problem, it will just shift it from 600m to 800m, not too much improvement there, but it will fix the travel time and fuel and maintenance cost problem.   

If the qld government had any brains they would simply start the earthworks and basics until more funding comes in.  Start procuring sleepers etc.

[Fares_Fair]

I have been invited to meet with Hon Darren Chester MP, member for Gippsland (Victoria).
He became the Coalition's Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport on 18 February 2016.

It's an opportunity to put forward the Federal case for funding #Sunshine Coast rail duplication and its significant freight and collateral passenger benefits.

#2tracks ✔
#auspol
#qldpol