The Queensland Government’s 2023-24 Budget has confirmed an ongoing pipeline of rail infrastructure investment to continue delivering more frequent, reliable, and accessible rail journeys across the state.
The investment is part of the $32.1 billion Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program (QTRIP): 2023-24 to 2026-27, which will invest $9.6b towards rail infrastructure and continue to support an average of 25,200 jobs.
Transport minister Mark Bailey said it continued to deliver on key priorities set out in SEQ Rail Connect – the Queensland Government’s blueprint for preparing the South East Queensland (SEQ) rail network for the future.
It will deliver new trains and new stations and lay the foundations for a modernised network, including critical track upgrades, signalling improvements, and station upgrades.
“The Queensland Budget investment in rail will continue to drive our economic recovery, supporting jobs and delivering on previous project commitments while promoting economic confidence and responsible project delivery,” Bailey said.
The QTRIP 2023-24 to 2026-27 includes rail infrastructure investments such as:
- $4.869b Queensland Train Manufacturing Program
- $2.598b towards Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail (jointly funded with the Australian Government)
- $550.8 million Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade (Stage 1) (jointly funded with the Australian Government)
- $500m New Gold Coast Stations (Pimpama, Hope Island, Merrimac)
The program also features a $4.3b investment led by Queensland Rail, including close to $300m towards the SE Queensland Station Accessibility Upgrade Program.
Banyo, Bundamba, Burpengary, Lindum and Morningside stations will each be upgraded to enhance access for customers with disabilities, seniors and parents travelling with young children.
All stations will have lifts installed to help with boarding as well as hearing augmentation loops, new tactile services to better navigate the stations and active transport enclosures to enable customers to ride to and safely store their bikes or scooters at each station.
The QTRIP encompasses a range of infrastructure investment including road, rail, passenger transport, active transport and maritime projects, which will all contribute to enhancing connectivity, improving safety, and supporting economic growth across the state.
“With Queensland continuing to be the state of choice, our population is booming and rail is a sensible and environmentally sustainable solution for moving lots of people around efficiently,” Bailey said.
“Cross River Rail will establish a second river crossing, unlocking a key bottleneck in our rail network.
“Our investments demonstrate we are not just building Cross River Rail, we are building a new network.”
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