The Government of Queensland has unveiled the plan for Sunshine Coast railway, a direct connection between Sunshine Coast and Brisbane delivering a 45 minute-trip faster than a car between the two cities.
The proposed 37.8 km direct Sunshine Coast railway line would expand the South East Queensland rail network through a proposed spur line from the North Coast Line at Beerwah to Maroochydore.
The first stage of the project is estimated at AUD 5.5 billion – AUD 7 billion with a AUD 2.75 billion initial commitment of the government for the Stage 1 which includes protection of the updated rail alignment all the way to Maroochydore. The first stage will see a 19 km double track built from Beerwah to Caloundra, the longest spur line in the south-east passenger network.
Staged delivery will see the line ultimately run to Birtinya and Maroochydore. This will deliver faster rail to the Sunshine Coast, with trains able to reach speeds of 140 km per hour on some sections of the track.
The Beerwah to Caloundra stage could be operational in time for Brisbane 2032, subject to a matched funding agreement from the Federal Government.
The Sunshine Coast is one of the fastest growing regions in the state and is forecast to be home to 600,000 people by 2046. Modelling shows most of the population growth will be concentrated along the first stage of the rail line, around Caloundra South (Aura).
Stage 1 of the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line will be a significant enabler for new housing, including supply for 50,000 people at Caloundra South and up to 100,000 people at Beerwah East.
It’s expected the initial stage of the project will accelerate the delivery of more than 3,000 affordable and diverse homes already planned within the region.
“A direct rail connection to the Sunshine Coast will unlock thousands of homes in the growing Sunshine Coast region and accelerate the release of new, affordable developments. Without the rail line, that development would bring an unmanageable level of congestion to the local road network, making this connection essential for new housing to be brought forward,” Premier Steven Miles said.
Share on:
