The Redcliffe Peninsula Line (formerly known as Moreton Bay Rail Link) is a 12.6km double-track rail line to be built between Petrie and Kippa-Ring in the Moreton Bay region of Queensland, Australia. The USD 1.15 billion project is being jointly developed by the Australian Government (USD 742 million), Queensland Government (USD 300 million) and Moreton Bay Regional Council (USD 105 million). Opened for rail passenger transport in October 2016, the project is expected to provide a safe and reliable transport network, ease congestion and reduce travel time in to Brisbane’s central business district (CBD).
Transport in the Moreton Bay region is heavily geared towards cars. More than half the region’s population departs the area everyday to travel to work with the vast majority (83%) using a private vehicle for their journey. In addition, the region is not yet served by any public transport system making the population heavily dependent on private vehicles.
The Moreton Bay Rail Link will significantly improve public transport in the area providing an incentive for people to switch from private vehicles to public transport. This will in turn free up capacity on the road network for journeys that can’t be made using public transport.
The Moreton Bay region is a rapidly growing area of Queensland, with a population of more than 375,000. As the district continues to grow, the population is estimated to exceed 500,000 by 2031. The travel time from Kippa Ring to Brisbane’s CBD is expected to be 45 minutes, while the same takes more than one hour by car. Nearly 6,000 people are expected to use the service daily.
The project includes the construction of six new rail stations at Kallangur, Murrumba Downs, Mango Hill, Kinsellas Road, Rothwell and Kippa-Ring. All stations will include 175m long side platforms, walkways, ticket offices, waiting facilities, park and ride facilities, security cameras and bus / train interchange facilities.
The new railway link will provide a more reliable, economical, and faster alternative to driving to Brisbane’s Central Business District during peak hours. It will also provide sustainable and active transport options that reduce carbon emissions—every full train on the new line will take about 600 cars off the roads, as statistics issued by the Department of Transport and Main Roads show.
The Redcliffe Peninsula Line will provide a focal point for the local community, and will include a number of features, including 14km of double track rail from Lawnton to Kippa-Ring, separated rail connection to the Caboolture line, 22 bridge structures to provide grade separation of road and rail, including over the Bruce Highway, 6 new rail stations including bus interchanges and bike storage and a 3 meters wide concrete shared path for cyclists and pedestrians along the entire length of the corridor.
The Redcliffe Peninsula Line project is nearing completion as it progresses in the testing and commissioning phase. Stations are constructed and the finishing touches on landscaping and access roads are being carried out. Track and rail work has finished along the new 14km corridor from Lawton to Kippa-Ring.
by Elena Ilie
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