Rail has received roughly $1 billion in Queensland’s State Budget, with Queensland Rail’s Rail Network Infrastructure Program earning a $568.4 million commitment from the government on Tuesday.
The funding assignment includes money to construct the Lawnton to Petrie upgrade project, which will create additional capacity on the Caboolture line. The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads identified the project earlier this year as necessary to improve passenger and freight transport operations on the line.
The Budget also includes funding for 75 new trains under the New Generation Rollingstock project, new stabling facilities, as well as the completion of the Moreton Bay Rail Link.
The spending is among more than $18 billion in commitments made for the next four years under the state government’s Queensland Transport and Road Investment Program (QTRIP).
QTRIP includes planned spending on roads, rail, marine, public transport and ‘active transport’ infrastructure, and the government says it will sustain almost 15,000 jobs over the four-year stretch.
A joint statement between infrastructure and transport minister Jackie Trad, and roads and ports minister Mark Bailey, said public transport project highlights for the 2015/16 State Budget delivered under QTRIP include:
- $568.4 million to continue rail network improvements, including building a third track between Lawnton and Petrie stations, commencing the duplication of the Gold Coast line between Coomera and Helensvale station
- $304.6 million for 75 new trains, including new maintenance and stabling facilities by December 2018
- $136.8 million in 2015-16 to complete the construction of the Moreton Bay Rail Link, at a total cost of $988 million
“The Palaszczuk Government is investing in our state’s roads and public transport network to reduce congestion and improve safety, services and infrastructure for all Queenslanders,” Trad said.