17 May 2008: SEQ: Ramp up rail now!

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Media Release 17 May 2008

SEQ:  Ramp up rail now!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport users has called for the immediate construction of the railway line to Springfield with the additional stations at Ellen Grove and Springfield Lakes, the construction of  railway line from Petrie to Kippa Ring, and the upgrade to a quadruplication of the present rail triplication works between Corinda and Darra.  The main western line from Darra to Ipswich should be upgraded to a quadruplication urgently.

The money for these projects should be redirected from the flawed road and road tunnel projects that will only compound the public transport crisis in south-east Queensland as oil shortages and fuel prices impact severely.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

?RAIL Back On Track has consistently highlighted the need to put in place sustainable mass transit and freight transport now.?

?The huge bias to road funding is completely misplaced.  We need more rail infrastructure, urban, interurban and national.  QR needs another 50 three car trains additional to the 44 presently being rolled out, now! This will give some of the capacity that is so desperately needed now let alone for future demands.?

?The Queensland Sustainability Minister McNamara yesterday warned of looming oil shortages and the need to prepare now. The nation and the state are wasting billions of dollars on roads, bridges and tunnels which will become useless as peak oil shortages hit.?

?Stop messing around governments. Build the railway line from Petrie to Kippa Ring whilst we still can. The line from Darra to Richlands has started, stop messing around and push it through to Springfield now rather than wait till 2015. The railway stations at Ellen Grove and Springfield lakes must be built from the outset too.?

?Build the present triplication/quadruplication between Darra and Corinda as a full quadruplication right from the outset. The main western line needs capacity, a quadruplication project from Darra to Ipswich will give that capacity.?

?Translink (and government) are transfixed on buses.  It isn?t working now and won't work when the fuel escalates greatly in costs either.  A 30% increase in passenger numbers across the system in the last three years is a harbinger of future shock.?

?Time we got with it Queensland and Australia!?

?We congratulate Minister McNamara for his vision.?

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org