The Sunshine Coast Case : Rail duplication Beerburrum to Nambour

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> ONE NATION GOES ON ATTACK OVER RAIL LINE

ONE Nation Leader Steve Dickson has rubbished the LNP's commitment to build the Sunshine Coast rail duplication, claiming it would pay for one third of the project at best.

Mr Dickson said it was "deluded" of LNP Leader Tim Nicholls to believe his $300 million pledge less than four weeks before the election would fool locals.

He said One Nation instead wanted the Cross River Rail project dumped, and $850 million of its money to be rediverted to the Sunshine Coast line.

"There is no doubt the resurgence in the support for One Nation is what forced the LNP to finally look at doing something for rail commuters, no matter how half-hearted and under-funded the announcement has been," he said.

LNP PLEDGES $600M FOR RAIL DUPLICATION

THE LNP will spend $600 million on the long-delayed Nambour rail line duplication as it launches a fight back against a One Nation incursion on the Sunshine Coast.

The 17km line duplication between Landsborough and Beerburrum is intended to ease traffic on the Bruce Highway and governments delaying constriction has been a bugbear for residents.

The Sunshine Coast region is expected to record a high One Nation vote.

This morning Opposition leader Tim Nicholls said an LNP Government would fund half the project while they would seek the remaining $300 million from the Federal Government's Rail Infrastructure Fund.

He said the construction would employ 1800 people and the duplication would increase capacity by 25 per cent in peak times.

"This is an opportunity for jobs, an opportunity for people to be able to get to work quicker and get home quicker, not to be sitting in traffic in the roads and not to be wondering when the next train is coming along," he said.

The long-delayed rail line duplication was announced in 2008 by the Bligh Government was intended to be complete by 2012.

Work never started, but Sunshine Coast mayor Mark Jamieson has previously said the project would be a vote winner in the area.

The LNP promised the duplication in the 2015 campaign.

Since then both major parties have shied away from committing funds to the expensive project, but One Nation's Steve Dickson has promised the duplication.

It is through the seat of Caloundra as well as Glass House, held by Andrew Powell with a notional 0.9 per cent margin after the redistribution and is considered at risk from One Nation.

It also impacts on Buderim, held by Mr Dickson who defected from the LNP, and Nicklin held by independent Peter Wellington.

Nine years on, commuters still waiting

The duplication tops Build Queensland's list of priorities.

Stage 1,which the LNP committed to this morning is 17km, and requires no resumptions. Work would start immediately and construction be completed in the first term of government.

The LNP would start planning the second stage, extending a further 23km to Nambour.

Robert Dow, spokesman for public transport advocates Rail Back on Track welcomed the announcement.

"The upgrade is many years overdue and will enhance passenger and rail freight services.

"We understand the initial commitment is for stage 1 - Beerburrum to Landsborough North. It is important that with the further stages and improvements north of Landsborough that these be on the new alignment rather than just passing loops on the present 19th Century track alignment."

[Stillwater]

Following redistribution, the seat of Glass House requires about 300 voters to change sides in order for Andrew Powell to lose.

[ozbob]

The Australian --> Sunshine Coast rail duplication a 'long time coming'

Sunshine Coast rail advocates say the Liberal National Party's commitment to duplicate the rail line between Beerburrum and Landsborough will slash commute times, get cars and trucks off the road and decrease the cost of freight.

Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls travelled to Landsborough in the seat of Caloundra this morning to announce that the LNP would chip in $300 million to the project, with the rest expected to come from the federal government.

Rail Back on Track Sunshine Coast spokesman Jeff Addison said the upgrade would give people in the region the "reliable public network they've never had".

"It was promised to be duplicated by Labor in 2006, they said it would be finished by 2012," Mr Addison said.

"In 2009 when the LNP won the seat of Glasshouse and Labor were in power all work stopped on the rail duplication and no work happened since.

"Today has been a long time coming.

"It will mean car that travel on the Bruce Highway that don't need to be there can take alternative transport."

Mr Addison said that by completing just one stage of the duplication, travel times between Nambour to Brisbane – sometimes three hours – could be cut in half.

Citing a government report, he said freight trains travelling north to Cairns were stymied by the bottleneck and freight costs could drop by 2 or 3 per cent if the 17km stretch was duplicated.

"It's a national issue because nowhere in Australia has a rail situation like the Sunshine Coast," he said.

It is understood Mr Nicholls has raised the project previously with his federal counterparts and received a favourable response.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/couriermail/status/925880888415711234

[ozbob]

[Fares_Fair]

https://twitter.com/Jeffrey_Addison/status/926695433669185537

[Fares_Fair]

Will our 9 year campaign come to an end with the next state government?
We'll find out on 25 November.

Here's hoping.. 
I'd much prefer to avoid a 10th anniversary.


oops, too late.
see post below.

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Rail is not all about Brisbane says advocacy group



Rail advocates Jeff Addison (left) and Robert Dow of the Rail Back On Track group have been advocating for improved rail services to the Sunshine Coast for more than a decade.

FEDERAL backing for the LNP's $300m commitment to deliver rail duplication to the Sunshine Coast may not be guaranteed but its a promise that has the support of key commuter advocacy group Rail Back On Track.

The LNP would only say it was "very confident" the Turnbull Government would fund its share of the Beerburrum to Landsborough North duplication because it was vital to the Sunshine Coast.

However Federal Transport Minister Darren Chester has gone no further than saying he acknowledged the LNP's support for the project and that he stood "ready to further discuss the project, following assessment of the business case by Infrastructure Australia".

Any federal funding would come from the Turnbull Government's $10 billion National Rail program announced in its 2017-18 Budget for priority rail proposals.

To date no money from that program has been allocated to Queensland.

Deputy Premier and Palaszczuk Government Minister for Transport Jackie Trad said LNP state leader Tim Nicholls needed to explain how he would fund the commitment.

"Last time this project was announced by the LNP in 2015 he said the only way to build it was to sell our assets," Ms Trad said.

"This clearly shows asset sales are on his mind. What will Mr Nicholls cut to fund this project? Who will he sack?

"In three years of government the Newman-Nicholls government did not progress this project at all.

"It is the Palaszczuk Government that did the business case and submitted it to Infrastructure Australia in July and we have heard nothing from the federal government."

Ms Trad said the LNP's commitment of $300m was $500m short of what was required. She said the National Rail Fund contained only $200m to distribute across Australia through to 2020.

"But this duplication is pointless without Cross River Rail which the LNP will not commit to building," she said.

"You can't add 150 extra services on the Sunshine Coast line when there isn't capacity for the trains to get into Brisbane, it will just mean commuters are sitting waiting on trains because our network is at capacity."

That's a claim Robert Dow of Rail Back On Track has rubbished saying rail services were not all about Brisbane.

Mr Dow said duplication of rail completed between Caboolture and Beerburrum had improved reliability and travel times as would duplication to Landsborough North.

"Cross River Rail would allow more express services into Brisbane," he said.

"An upgrade to Landsborough North would reduce journey times and increase reliability. You don't have more services to Brisbane but you could extend services that now terminate at Caboolture to Landsborough North."

Mr Dow said Cross River Rail was not needed to turn Landsborough North into a major public transport hub for the Sunshine Coast with bus services connecting rail commuters into the region's more densely urbanised areas.

He said Cross River Rail had not been thought about when a Labor Government first committed to the link.

"Now its Cross River Rail because Jackie Trad's survival depends on it," Mr Dow said.

He said Labor may have done the business case for the duplication project but had then sat on it for six months before handing it on to Infrastructure Australia for assessment.

Meanwhile the RACQ has said both sides of politics needed to commit to duplication to Nambour to Nambour - a $1.7bn project - to "future proof " the Sunshine Coast and take strain off the Bruce Highway.

The peak motoring body wants six-laning of the highway between Pine Rivers and Caboolture, rail duplication to Nambour, an upgrade to the Steve Irwin Way as well as improvements to Mons and Maroochydore roads.

[Fares_Fair]

Very well said Robert.
Hit the nail on the head. 

[ozbob]

Thanks.  If it was good enough to build in 2008 without CRR condition, it is certainly so today IOHO (in our humble opinions)  .. 

[Fares_Fair]

Concur.

Their own reports say that the freight and passenger bottleneck is at the Nambour end of the line.
My home town of Palmwoods has the shortest passing loop in the 1669km from Brisbane to Cairns according to a 2007 report.
It's 682m long and can only accommodate a freight train of 650m long.

Incidentally, freight won't even go through Cross River Rail.

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> No more time for pollies' games, give us what we need



SC RAIL Back on Track spokesman Jeff Addison is hopeful of some success looking with rail duplication, with both LNP and One Nation committing to funding the project, after nearly 10 years of fighting by Jeff and others for duplication.

SCHOOLS nearing their limits, a road network choked by the smallest of crashes and a train line languishing decades behind demand.

Now is the time for politicians to deliver projects of substance for the Sunshine Coast, with the upcoming state election coinciding with the region's journey to the precipice of major change.

With 200,000 more people set to call the Coast home by 2041, the growing frustration with decades of neglect from major parties has reached fever pitch.

The warning is clear.

Act now, deliver the infrastructure and services we need, or face the wrath of a community not content with playing poor cousins to our metropolitan neighbours any longer.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson has made clear the six critical infrastructure needs of this region the next State Government must address.

Chief among them is our North Coast Rail Line, a stretch Sunshine Coast Rail Back on Track advocate Jeff Addison describes as a national disgrace.

Since 2010 he's been fighting for duplication of the rail line to improve services for freight and passenger trains, taking pressure off the already-dire Bruce Highway.

For about six years he spent every moment of his commute to Brisbane and back researching, tweeting and lobbying for the upgrades dumped to be resurrected and rolled out.

He said the price of the project had doubled in 11 years, rubbishing claims Brisbane's Cross River Rail project had to be completed first, and was hopeful the time had come where the next State Government had no choice but to deliver.

"It's in the bag I think (if One Nation holds the balance of power)," Mr Addison said.

"At the moment it's now a two in three chance of something happening. I'm quite optimistic.

"If Labor wins it's back to square one."

He said commuter frustration remained high, and believed it was an issue plenty were passionate enough to decide their vote over, after studies were first carried out on the project back in 2009.

"If anyone promised it and didn't do it in the first term, that would be political suicide," he said.

"It seems to be in the forefront of everyone's minds."

Cr Jamieson warned the Coast's transport network was at risk of failing if the neglect continued.

"The underinvestment in infrastructure demonstrates that for many years, under successive governments, other regions including those smaller than the Sunshine Coast, have had more funding attention," he said.

"Government infrastructure investment has not kept pace with growth and our infrastructure and facilities cannot respond to the needs of the existing, let alone the future, population."

Cr Jamieson also called on funding for the Sunshine Coast Light Rail project, Mooloolah River Interchange, an entertainment/convention centre, subsea internet cable and university stadium expansion.

He was also seeking commitments to relocate public servants to the region, maintain current local government boundaries, greater transparency in taxation revenue generated by the Coast and a more accurate match up between State Government capital works spend and local government areas.

Cr Jamieson warned the major parties should "take note" of the threat being posed by One Nation, who last week launched a $1.5 billion cash splash in the next term on the Sunshine Coast if elected to government or holding the balance of power on November 25.

Among the commitments made by Buderim MP and One Nation state leader Steve Dickson was $850 million to the Beerburrum-Nambour rail duplication and millions in funding to local schools including Brightwater and Mountain Creek.

"LNP safe seats have resulted in the region's long standing needs being overlooked by successive governments for decades," Cr Jamieson said.

"Marginal seats, where the parties have to fight for our vote, would result in the infrastructure spend our residents deserve.

"Hung parliaments do not allow a government to govern, to make the hard decisions which will take this State forward so it can reach its true potential. Nor do they provide business confidence."

Mr Addison said the most disappointing part of his long fight to rectify the Coast's rail fail was that it had become such a political football.

He admitted he'd been bitterly disappointed in retiring Nicklin MP Peter Wellington, who as Independent in 2015, handed the Palaszczuk Government power and assumed the Speaker's chair.

Mr Addison said it had been a golden opportunity to secure a commitment to rail duplication which went begging.

"He's a lovely guy," Mr Addison said.

"But I think we could've achieved a lot more if he had've been for it... but he chose not (to push for the project).

"It's certainly been a long journey. It (North Coast Line) really is the laughing stock of Australia."

Even the state's peak motoring body, the RACQ, has come out and demanded North Coast Rail Line duplication.

Head of public policy Rebecca Michael said the time was right to progress the Coast's rail network, as it would ease pressure on the already-struggling Bruce Highway.

She said reliability of services was a must on an improved rail line, and supported investment in improvements to Coast bus services, as well as a light rail network, provided studies showed enough support from the public to shift to that mode of transport.

The LNP pledged $300 million towards the duplication if elected and would seek a $300 million commitment from the Federal Government to match the pledge.

The Palaszczuk Government has stated Brisbane's Cross River Rail would need to be completed before the North Coast Rail Line was upgraded.

Former state Treasurer, Deputy Premier and LNP Member for Caloundra Joan Sheldon, who retired in 2004, said the new hospital had been important, but she felt the region had been neglected over the past decade or so.

"I think some of our real needs haven't been met," she said.

"I think we do need as a growing city a lot more of that transport infrastructure."

She said the Coast's numerous safe LNP seats shouldn't disqualify it from a fair share of funding.

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Coast commuter says better rail will boost job opportunities

QUEENSLAND Health worker Bernadette Morris-Smith moved up from Sydney three years ago to Hunchy, near Palmwoods, and commutes to Brisbane 2-3 times a week.

She said a usual trip to Central station takes about an hour and a half, up to an hour and 40 minutes.

Ms Morris-Smith said duplication of the North Coast Line would "totally" speed up the service and she believed if travel time could be slashed to an hour or less it would open up the service to many more passengers.

"The service is actually every 20 minutes which is brilliant in the morning, I just want the speed a little faster," she said.

She said the Gold Coast was well-connected with the city, and it was important the Sunshine Coast enjoyed similarly good connections with the Queensland capital.

"You want the Sunshine Coast running efficiently into Central," she said.

Ms Morris-Smith said the service was "totally" underutilised at the moment, and added the connection to Brisbane had opened up more job opportunities, and would for others when the line improved.

"It's certainly not putting me off," she said, having commuted for a year.

Civil engineer Shakiba Ghasemi moved to the Sunshine Coast five months ago and has been a regular commuter to Brisbane from Nambour.

She was headed to Roma St station yesterday at 7am with about a dozen others.

She travels twice a week to the city, spending about two hours each way on the train, and was hoping the service would be improved.

"I hope (it gets faster) because I think that's (two-hour trip) too long," she said.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/SEQMayors/status/929885905694814208

[Fares_Fair]

One of the greatest achievements of the campaign is when the facts of the Sunshine Coast Railway are touted by a well-informed public, State MP's, Political party leaders, the RACQ and the SEQ Council of Mayors.

It was Abraham Lincoln who famously said:
"I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts, and beer."

I've never (yet) had to hand out beer...

[Stillwater]

Maybe we can look forward to a political promise for SCL duplication in 2020.  :conf

[Fares_Fair]

Next election is due on Saturday 31 October 2020, then after that it's fixed 4 year terms.

Re Sunshine Coast Line rail upgrade, we'll have to wait and see.
Labor promised nothing for it up here, and got nothing (no seats) in response.

[James]

Maybe we can look forward to a political promise for SCL duplication in 2020.  :conf

The SCL really hasn't done well over the past decade. Duplication scrapped in 2009, promised in 2015 & 2017, and fallen over on both occasions.

The wait continues...

[ozbob]

26th November 2017

Let's get cracking ...

Greetings,

Well done Premier Palaszczuk and the ALP team.

Now it is time to deliver.  Cross River Rail will now proceed.

We noted during the election campaign that the Deputy Premier and Transport Minister was quite supportive of the call for a proper statutory authority or similar to take over the administration and delivery of public transport in Queensland e.g. Public Transport Queensland.  We wait for the Citytrain Response Unit's recommendations to this regard. It is essential that public transport be removed from DTMR.

The Sunshine Coast Line upgrade was not an explicit policy position for Labor in the election campaign.  However, Labor do support this as the business case for the first stage of the line upgrade from Beerburrum to Landsborough was submitted by Government mid year 2017.  This project stacks up and we have no doubt will receive Federal funding.  There is no reason why the Sunshine Coast Line upgrade cannot proceed now, particularly as Cross River Rail will continue.

It is time that the incoming Government commits to a Commission of Inquiry into the botched New Generation Rollingstock train project.  The LNP are hiding the truth. The scale of the blunder of this project must never be repeated.  It is essential that all facts are brought out into the clear light of day to guard against failure in the future.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

25th November 2017

Bumbling along ...

Greetings,

The reality is both the ALP and the LNP have handled the public transport portfolio poorly since 2009.

Unless we have complete structural re-organisation along the lines of a proper statutory authority, we suggest Public Transport Queensland ( https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12341.0 ), with the transport authorities and operators being truly held to account,  the band-aid bumble failing approach will continue to deliver mediocrity.

The 2017 election does not really offer much hope without a committment to fixing the root problems. Just more ongoing bumble seems the likely outcome.

We will continue to press for proper reform.

Vote early, but do not vote often!

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

23rd November 2017

RAIL Back On Track - Policy position assessment for #qldvotes

Greetings,

Here is a visual assessment of the possible public transport policy positions we put forward at the commencement of the election period.

There are many issues that could be addressed, even at this late stage.

Without Cross River Rail, SEQ will face transport collapse.  Labor did mention the possibility of a proper statutory authority - Public Transport Queensland, but has not committed to that as policy.  The botched New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) train project needs a full and comprehensive examination into all the circumstances that lead to this monumental failure.  No major political parties have the courage to commit to that. Might expose their failure.

There are of course other issues, but these are the main ones we believe should be addressed now.

Policy assessment


Best wishes,
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

29th October 2017

The public transport crisis in SEQ and the November state election

Good Morning,

According to media the Premier will call the Queensland State election for 25th November 2017.

The mess that public transport is in SEQ is going to be a big issue I have little doubt.  The majority of seats are in SEQ after all.  Rail fail and the botched New Generation Train project will no doubt hurt.  Countering this is the fact that Labor has introduced a much better fare structure for SEQ.  Also considerable progress with Gold Coast Light Rail and completion of the duplication of heavy rail Coomera <> Helensvale.  Redcliffe Peninsula Line was botched however, but at least it is now in operation.

Our non negotiable policy positions:

1. Cross River Rail - this project must proceed after constant dumb partisan games for the last 10 years.

2. Upgrade of the Sunshine Coast Line, first stage Beerburrum to Landsborough North.

3. Extension of Springfield Central line to Redbank Plains south.

4. Bus network reform - for all regions including Brisbane. Support for the ' Brisbane bi-articulated bus Metro ' project.

5. Full rail service timetable for SEQ, sooner than later.  Continuing service reductions are having a disastrous impact on our public transport network.

6. Formation of Public Transport Queensland -  a proper statutory authority to administer and deliver all aspects of public transport in Queensland.  TransLink, and the Department of Transport and Main Road are dysfunctional under the present organisational structures.  They have failed Queensland.

7. A Commission of Inquiry into the botched New Generation Rollingstock - NGR (a.k.a. Not Going Right) train project. This is an outrage this bungled project.

8. Support for the roll out of Automatic Train Protection (European Train Control System) on the SEQ suburban and interurban rail network.

9.  Continued upgrade of all stations to meet DDA requirements.

10.  Public transport fare freeze for all of Queensland for at least two years (2018 and 2019).

Additional Vote-winners:

1. A policy to remove all advertising and other wraps from the windows of public transport vehicles.  Windows are provided in public transport vehicles for people to see into and out of the vehicles.  They are not built as windowless tin cans. Blocked window vision is a potential major security risk as well.

2.  All door bus boarding on all high frequency / busway bus routes.

3.  A level-crossing removal program.

4.  A review into ' bridge strikes '.  This constant scourge must be brought under control.

5.  Acceleration of the Next Generation Ticketing project.

There is more but just concentrate on the issues listed for now.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

=================================


Sent to all outlets:

27th November 2017

Cross River Rail must proceed now

Good Morning

We note the KAP is still insisting the Cross River Rail be scrapped as a condition of support for an incoming government.
[ Katter's Australian Party would want to scrap Cross River Rail in any Labor deal > https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland-election-2017/katter-s-australian-party-would-want-to-scrap-cross-river-rail-20171126-p4yx86.html ]

Cross River Rail (CRR) is supported strongly by Labor of course and the Greens.  CRR is an enabler for the rail network for SEQ and will open up more train paths for freight trains to and from regional Queensland, as well enable future extensions and frequency and capacity increases.  Without CRR the transport system will collapse in SEQ causing a massive drain on the state's finances for more and more traffic congestion inducing roads.  It will in time mean less investment in regional Queensland.

Cross River Rail is also a key enabler for Regional Rapid Rail to the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coasts, and in time other places such as Toowoomba.

We would suggest if the KAP want to make conditions a good one would be that an incoming Government commit to the upgrade of the Sunshine Coast Line between Beerburrum and Landsborough North (stage one) and then further upgrades to Nambour.  This will have a big benefit for the Northern Queensland as more freight train paths would be opened up.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ Attached: https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12341.msg200931#msg200931 ]

[ozbob]

Queensland Times 27th November 2017 page 19

Let's get cracking on promises

[Stillwater]

Mark Jamieson, the Mayor of the Sunshine Coast, on ABC local radio this morning, pointing out that the Federal Government has a $10b bucket of money sitting there for major rail projects.  He wants a slice of it for SCL duplication.

[Stillwater]

There's speculation in an article in today's Sunshine Coast Daily that Labor's failure to commit to the SCL duplication during the election cost the party votes in the seats of Glass House and Caloundra, allowing the LNP to retain those divisions.  The LNP committed funding to the duplication project between Beerburrum and Landsborough North.

[ozbob]

Big mistake by Labor .. one does not need to be Nostradamus hey?

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/919967215260073984

^

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 28th November 2017 page 15

Cross River Rail must proceed now

WE NOTE the Katter Australian Party still insists that the Cross River Rail be scrapped as a condition of support for an incoming government.

Cross River Rail (CRR) is supported strongly by Labor and the Greens.

CRR is an enabler for the rail network for southeast Queenland and will open up more train paths for freight trains to and from regional Queensland, as well enable future extensions and frequency and capacity increases.

Without CRR, the transport system will collapse in south-east Queensland, causing a massive drain on the state's finances for more and more traffic-congestion-inducing roads. It will in time mean less investment in regional Queensland.

CRR is also a key enabler for Regional Rapid Rail to the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coasts, and in time other places such as Toowoomba.

We would suggest future governments commit to the upgrade of the Sunshine Coast line between Beerburrum and Landsborough North (stage one) and then further upgrades to Nambour.

This will have a big benefit for northern Queensland as more freight train paths would open up.

— ROBERT DOW Rail Back On Track

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Lack of rail commitment hurt Labor

HIGH hopes of upsets for Labor in Caloundra and Glass House had been dashed because of its lack of commitment on rail duplication according to on of the party's campaign manager.

Brent Hampstead, Labor's hard working candidate in Glass House, actually went backwards on the primary vote count failing to narrow a 0.9% margin despite a swing to the Palaszczuk Government across the south east.

In Caloundra, Jason Hunt again closed the gap on the LNP's Mark McArdle but not sufficiently to overcome a strong preference flow from One Nation to the incumbent.

Mr Hunt on 28.88% of the primary vote and Mr Hampstead with 26.65% were Labor's best performing Sunshine Coast candidates but those numbers were never going to be enough to roll entrenched LNP incumbents.

Mr Hunt's campaign manager, Michael Hallam said the lack of commitment on rail duplication had hurt.

He said it could have been packaged with Cross River Rail as part of a decent public transport policy for the south east.

Mr Hallam said the Gold Coast, Redcliffe and Toowoomba all had seen money spent on rail transport.

"That's hurt us," he said. "That was more so in Glass House where there was a high One Nation protest vote in Beerwah.

"There are a lot of families and new homes where people are driving to Brisbane to work who would love to catch a train."

Mr Hallam said the infrastructure was needed and the issue was not political saying the community would benefit from any sort of upgrade to the rail link.

"To just say it (the proposal) had been sent to Turnbull (for assessment) was a kick in the guts," he said.

Mr Hampstead said his primary vote had gone backwards with voters definitely wanting to hear there would be action on the rail line.

Mr Hunt praised his campaign volunteers who he said had worked slavishly throughout the contest securing all the gains made in Caloundra in 2015 and adding a booth win and a further 1% swing to Labor.

Mr Hunt said Caloundra and Maroochydore were two Sunshine Coast seats where 2015 swings had continued to Labor and was a trend he predicted would not slow down.

[ozbob]

Hey Labor, but we did hey?   

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/935256903881342976

===================

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/932731422221115393

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/935261590185586688

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/932731422221115393

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/935261851603972101

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Jeffrey_Addison/status/935426918903554048

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsSC/status/935429964488249349

[Mr X]

If it's $850mil, can they get the Feds to cough up some of the cost and get it built?

[Fares_Fair]

Beerburrum to Landsborough
It was $300m in 2006 when announced by ALP.
It was, $532m in January 2015, when LNP announced it.
It is now around $600m when announced in November 2017.
LNP contribute $300m, with the Feds to hopefully provide another $300m.

The $850m of which you speak, is what One Nation promised if they gained the balance of power (and they didn't).
It also relied upon an equal Feds contribution.
Their plan was to build it all in one hit, from Beerburrum.to Nambour for $1.7b.

[Fares_Fair]

Stunned...

My analysis of #SunshineCoast 's spectacular #RailFail from Monday 18 December

27% cuts to our services 😱

35% cuts since 2014

City to Gympie North : 118 trains/week
Gympie North to City : 117 trains/week

Total : 235 trains/week

Currently : 320 trains and buses/week

[Fares_Fair]

Next state election due (unless something politically catastrophic happens) on Saturday 31 October 2020.

Until then..

[Stillwater]

Maybe federal election in 2018.  LNP could cause mischief by putting money on the table, provided it is matched by state government.  This is the project that scores 100 per cent for political gamesmanship.  How to promise rail duplication without really delivering an outcome.

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Sunshine Coast Daily

5th January 2018

CAMCOS far preferable to council's light rail project

Through your pages I would like to offer some observations on a recent letter (January 1) from your reader Irene Sunn and the further reader comments that were prompted by the contents of Ms Sunn's letter.

Ms Sunn rues the fact the council's light rail project does not seem to be any closer to development, in which case she is not able to take advantage of a "fast, light rail service to Brisbane".

As has been commented by other readers, unfortunately should the council's proposal go ahead (which by no means is a given), Ms Sunn will still not have access to the service to Brisbane that she desires.

The council's light rail project is planned to connect Maroochydore to Caloundra along a coastal route only.

The estimated capital cost of the announced light rail project is in excess of $2 billion, a major reason why its future is in some doubt and why successive state governments have clearly indicated that it is not a priority.

The service that would satisfy Ms Sunn's requirements would be delivered by the CAMCOS project, which has been on the books of a series of state governments since the mid-1990s.

A company with which I am associated - American Maglev Technology, Inc. (AMT) - has proposed to the State Government the development of the CAMCOS connection from Maroochydore to Beerwah employing the company's proven maglev rail technology, to date without eliciting any encouragement or support.

This is notwithstanding that the company's proposal was that the project would be entirely private sector funded with no requirement for the contribution of capital funding from the public sector.

In late 2014, in direct meetings and in correspondence, the then treasurer advised the company he had concluded that there was no "need" for improved public transport service, including rail, in the Sunshine Coast region.

Following the change of government in early 2015 further formal proposals for the development of a maglev CAMCOS system were put to the then government.

After extensive discussions and meetings, its response, in summary, was that there was no compelling case for the development of the CAMCOS service in the face of other competing priorities.

The company intends to continue to press the incoming State Government on the matter.

It is to be hoped the needs of the Sunshine Coast will be accorded a higher priority by the new administration.

I will not extend this commentary by detailing at length the advantages of maglev technology for the CAMCOS rail application, except to say that it has the potential for fast, flexible service with minimal disruption to other vehicle and pedestrian traffic while operating with virtually zero emissions and relatively low drain on the public power grid.

It would make a major contribution to meeting Ms Sunn's highly desirable objective of getting more cars off the road.

R.J. (DICK) ROWE

[Stillwater]

QUOTE:
"In late 2014, in direct meetings and in correspondence, the then treasurer advised the company he had concluded that there was no "need" for improved public transport service, including rail, in the Sunshine Coast region.

Following the change of government in early 2015 further formal proposals for the development of a maglev CAMCOS system were put to the then government.

After extensive discussions and meetings, its response, in summary, was that there was no compelling case for the development of the CAMCOS service in the face of other competing priorities.


This would be encouraging if the 'competing priority' was duplication between Beerburrum and Landsborough North.  Alas, it seems that not even that is on the table.  Sunshine Coast is off the agenda as far as Labor is concerned.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Plan for supercharged 45-minute trip on Sunshine Coast rail line

SUPERCHARGED fast rail that rockets passengers between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast in 45 minutes is being evaluated by the Federal Government, after a consortium of planning giants developed the confidential plan.

North Coast Connect will create up to 200km of fast rail, saving passengers about two hours in a return trip, and for the first time link Brisbane to Maroochydore by rail.

The project, submitted by Stockland, Smec, Urbis and KPMG, has the backing of "Team Queensland", the Coalition's 26 federal parliamentarians, who are demanding the Prime Minister give Queensland a majority slice of $10 billion set aside under its National Rail Program.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the project has been short-listed by the Government.

Team Queensland's unashamed call for extra cash is on top of its bid for Land 400, a multibillion-dollar defence investment that will be announced within weeks.

North Coast Connect will not only transform southeast Queensland but likely provide the passenger numbers needed for Infrastructure Australia to tick off on Cross River Rail.

The new bid, which will also create jobs for the state, was one of 26 rail projects submitted for three business cases that the Commonwealth will consider funding.

Ten other projects have been short-listed but North Coast Connect is the only Queensland fast-rail project that made the cut.

The winning three projects that share in $20 million in business case funding are likely to be announced next month.

Australia does not use fast rail. The fastest passenger rail services travel about 80km. China, Japan, Korea, France, the UK and the US use fast rail.

Under the plan, the project has three key parts, including:

● An upgrade of the existing North Coast Line section from Brisbane to Beerburrum, to facilitate faster rail through curve easing, level crossing removals and system upgrades;

● The Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade Project, which includes new rail and an upgrade of existing rail and rejuvenating railway towns into the hinterland; and

● A new passenger rail service branching off the North Coast Line at Beerwah via a 40km spur-line connecting Beerwah East, Aura, Caloundra, Birtinya, Mooloolaba and Maroochydore to Brisbane.

Member for Fairfax Ted O'Brien, who has been driving the project on behalf of the LNP, said Team Queensland "are going after this one hard".

"With $10 billion available from the Turnbull Government, we need to be advocating for billions, not millions,'' Mr O'Brien said.

"Fast rail means people can live, work and play where they want, without the stress of excessive commuting times.

"It will expand job and study options, enable more lifestyle choice and build an economically strong and user-friendly southeast corner.

"If we can get fast rail, as opposed to standard 100-year-old rail, we'll see people wake up in Nambour at 7 o'clock and be at their desk in Brisbane by 8 o'clock.

"We'll also see Brisbane residents knock off from work at 5 o'clock and be sitting at the Big Pineapple for a concert at 6 o'clock, then be tucked into bed back home in Brisbane by 10 o'clock."

Frontbencher Peter Dutton said that the plan could relieve pressure on the Bruce Highway.

"The regions between Brisbane and the north coast are developing rapidly and we need to plan now for those new communities under development,'' he said.

Petrie MP Luke Howarth said the plan would provide further infrastructure for Australia's third biggest council in the Moreton Bay region.

Fisher MP Andrew Wallace said investment in roads was not enough.

"After having received a record $1.6 billion in funding for the Bruce Highway upgrades, Sunshine Coast federal LNP members understand that our transport woes will not be cured by simply adding lanes to the highway," Mr Wallace said.

Student Myah Bahloo Chambers, 18, said she regularly used the Sunshine Coast line to visit family and friends and would love to see a lightning fast rail built.

"I think it would be very helpful," she said.

"It usually takes me about an hour and a half to travel from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane, so I would love to be able to do it in 45 minutes."

[Stillwater]

Yet another plan. The dotpoints include "an upgrade of the existing North Coast Line section from Brisbane to Beerburrum, to facilitate faster rail through curve easing, level crossing removals and system upgrades."  Fast/rapid rail to the SC won't work without new rail along the Trouts Road North-West Transportation Corridor alignment.  Just imagine, 'fast train' from the SC line encounters EMU with 'mechanical issues' on track through Brisbane northern suburbs.

More information pls - will these fast trains operate on a dedicated track through Brisbane suburbs? Private sector operates them maybe?  Let's hope any new rolling stock is DDA/DSAPT compliant.

On the plus side, it is good to see transport and land use planning coming together in someone's thinking -- utilising the potential of the railway towns to offer good lifestyle and good transport links to Brisbane.

What happens if, when the feds offer a bucketload of money for SCL upgrade, and nothing for CRR (which the state says it will fund alone), Queensland argues it won't advance the plan?  State says CRR is a priority, feds threaten to divert the money to Canberra-Sydney High Speed Train.

A lot of political tears and snot, and very little advancement for the hapless tradie riding his bicycle down the Bruce Highway, or the harried worker travelling between work and home.

More information:

"Mr O'Brien said if successful, the Federal Government would fund 50% of the project with State Government, the Sunshine Coast Council and the private sector to fill the gap. But the business case could take anywhere from 18 months to two years to finish and up to 10 years for the full project to completed. However, Mr O'Brien said the fast rail from Brisbane to Nambour would be built within five years."

https://www.qt.com.au/news/fast-rail-travel-from-the-coast-to-brisbane-in-45-/3312862

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Plan for supercharged 45-minute trip on Sunshine Coast rail line

SUPERCHARGED fast rail that rockets passengers between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast in 45 minutes is being evaluated by the Federal Government, after a consortium of planning giants developed the confidential plan.

North Coast Connect will create up to 200km of fast rail, saving passengers about two hours in a return trip, and for the first time link Brisbane to Maroochydore by rail.

The project, submitted by Stockland, Smec, Urbis and KPMG, has the backing of "Team Queensland", the Coalition's 26 federal parliamentarians, who are demanding the Prime Minister give Queensland a majority slice of $10 billion set aside under its National Rail Program.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the project has been short-listed by the Government.

Team Queensland's unashamed call for extra cash is on top of its bid for Land 400, a multibillion-dollar defence investment that will be announced within weeks.

North Coast Connect will not only transform southeast Queensland but likely provide the passenger numbers needed for Infrastructure Australia to tick off on Cross River Rail.

The new bid, which will also create jobs for the state, was one of 26 rail projects submitted for three business cases that the Commonwealth will consider funding.

Ten other projects have been short-listed but North Coast Connect is the only Queensland fast-rail project that made the cut.

The winning three projects that share in $20 million in business case funding are likely to be announced next month.

Australia does not use fast rail. The fastest passenger rail services travel about 80km. China, Japan, Korea, France, the UK and the US use fast rail.

Under the plan, the project has three key parts, including:

● An upgrade of the existing North Coast Line section from Brisbane to Beerburrum, to facilitate faster rail through curve easing, level crossing removals and system upgrades;

● The Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade Project, which includes new rail and an upgrade of existing rail and rejuvenating railway towns into the hinterland; and

● A new passenger rail service branching off the North Coast Line at Beerwah via a 40km spur-line connecting Beerwah East, Aura, Caloundra, Birtinya, Mooloolaba and Maroochydore to Brisbane.

Member for Fairfax Ted O'Brien, who has been driving the project on behalf of the LNP, said Team Queensland "are going after this one hard".

"With $10 billion available from the Turnbull Government, we need to be advocating for billions, not millions,'' Mr O'Brien said.

"Fast rail means people can live, work and play where they want, without the stress of excessive commuting times.

"It will expand job and study options, enable more lifestyle choice and build an economically strong and user-friendly southeast corner.

"If we can get fast rail, as opposed to standard 100-year-old rail, we'll see people wake up in Nambour at 7 o'clock and be at their desk in Brisbane by 8 o'clock.

"We'll also see Brisbane residents knock off from work at 5 o'clock and be sitting at the Big Pineapple for a concert at 6 o'clock, then be tucked into bed back home in Brisbane by 10 o'clock."

Frontbencher Peter Dutton said that the plan could relieve pressure on the Bruce Highway.

"The regions between Brisbane and the north coast are developing rapidly and we need to plan now for those new communities under development,'' he said.

Petrie MP Luke Howarth said the plan would provide further infrastructure for Australia's third biggest council in the Moreton Bay region.

Fisher MP Andrew Wallace said investment in roads was not enough.

"After having received a record $1.6 billion in funding for the Bruce Highway upgrades, Sunshine Coast federal LNP members understand that our transport woes will not be cured by simply adding lanes to the highway," Mr Wallace said.

Student Myah Bahloo Chambers, 18, said she regularly used the Sunshine Coast line to visit family and friends and would love to see a lightning fast rail built.

"I think it would be very helpful," she said.

"It usually takes me about an hour and a half to travel from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane, so I would love to be able to do it in 45 minutes."

This latest proposal actually is quite sound.  Not based on mag lev or hyper loop but proper Regional Rapid Rail.  All achievable.

The North West Transport Corridor will have to come into play though.