Corridor (route)
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The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) is planning for the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line – a proposed new 37 kilometre passenger rail line connecting the Sunshine Coast community between Beerwah, Caloundra and Maroochydore to Moreton Bay, Brisbane and beyond.
The new rail line will tie in with the Sunshine Coast Public Transport project to increase public transport opportunities for the growing Sunshine Coast community, as outlined in the Southern Sunshine Coast Public Transport Strategy. The rail line is proposed to link longer and medium distance trips with local trips provided for by the Sunshine Coast Public Transport project.
TMR is undertaking investment planning for the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line.
This project builds on planning completed in 2001 by the Caboolture to Maroochydore Corridor Study (CAMCOS). As part of that planning, a corridor (route) was determined and land preserved (protected from development).
TMR is now reviewing the preserved corridor, considering refinements to the alignment and station locations and evaluating potential staging plans for construction to meet passenger demand and land use outcomes within the region. This planning will include a detailed analysis of design, risks, financials, economics, environmental impacts, community impacts and utilities.
Construction dates and stages will be determined as part of the detailed design phase, following allocation of funding for detailed design and construction, which will be subject to future funding availability in consideration of competing statewide priorities.
Community feedback provides important input for the project team during this current investment planning phase and in future stages such as detailed design.
Some aspects of the project must be determined by the existing project corridor, technical considerations relating to geotechnical and hydraulic investigations, as well as rail operations, maintenance and safety.
Consultation closed on 20 August 2023. The community will be invited to view further details and have their say in future phases of the project.
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Active transport connections are being planned to ensure people can walk and ride to stations and to other destinations.
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Tell us in a few words how and why you would use this new rail line (max 140 characters).
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15 September, 2023
Luke23 says:
Taking a high speed train to Brisbane would be perfect and is long overdue. Needs plenty of last mile transport and park & ride.
15 September, 2023
btforrest20 says:
I would use this 4 times a week to get to Brisbane.
It would be even better if it connected to the airport, both Brisbane and Sunny Coast.
12 September, 2023
Deafaussie says:
Please make train stations in the city of Sunshine Coast. Helps avoid traffic congestion on the highway
7 September, 2023
inkstorm says:
I live near Coolum, work in Brisbane. Currently public transport takes me almost 4 hrs each way. Why so slow? Need fast train to Sunny Coast
1 September, 2023
TomS says:
The train fare to Brisbane would be less than the cost of the petrol I use, and I could relax on the way.
26 August, 2023
Mykenlisa says:
Gosh build it already. This is way overdue. Having railway access through the Coast and on to Brisbane to avoid the highway would be amazing
21 August, 2023
MarkStanley says:
Would also provide a great intra-region transport option within the Sunshine Coast..get some cars off the (now cluttered) local roads.
21 August, 2023
MarkStanley says:
Safe, reliable, efficient, cost effective access to Brisbane for workers and Uni students. Great for tourists too..need before 2032 Olympics
21 August, 2023
BenVee_12 says:
It is about time, this needs to be delivered as soon as possible
20 August, 2023
RachB says:
Faster rail from Brisbane to Caloundra would be a game changer. Then BRT Callies to Mdore via Kawana Way to the uni. Elec bus on coastal rd
20 August, 2023
Ridingwithkids says:
The DSC rail line needs to be competitive with car trips. Make the rail fast, and discourage car travel to even the playing field.
20 August, 2023
Ridingwithkids says:
Bike ride from my house to Birtinya Station, then rail to Maroochydore for work. Also, bike to Birtinya, rail to Brisbane to visit family.
Planning is following the Caboolture to Maroochydore Corridor Study (CAMCOS) corridor, which was preserved in 2001. This corridor travels from Beerwah, through Caloundra South (Aura), Pelican Waters, Meridan Plains and Birtinya, towards Maroochydore.
The Southern Sunshine Coast Public Transport Strategy sets out the proposed vision for public transport for the southern Sunshine Coast. Planning for the future network includes a western corridor (the North Coast Rail Line), a centre corridor (Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line), a coastal corridor (Sunshine Coast Public Transport project) and the key connectors (connections between the 3 corridors).
The proposed Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line would provide medium and longer distance trips, including to/from the Sunshine Coast and between the region's economic centres. The Sunshine Coast Public Transport project would provide local travel (shorter distance trips).
The proposed Sunshine Coast Public Transport project would provide an accessible, more sustainable travel option for residents and visitors making intra-regional journeys between Maroochydore and Caloundra. It would help reduce the high reliance on private vehicles for shorter trips, leading to eased congestion on the road network and reduced travel times.
Together, the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line and the Sunshine Coast Public Transport would make travelling by public transport to, from and within the region more convenient, affordable and reliable.
The 2 projects will share key transport hubs to make it easy for passengers to transfer between them or connect on to other supporting public transport services.
The detailed business case for the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line is expected to be completed in late 2023.
All major infrastructure projects are required to go through this planning phase to determine:
This planning will inform project costs, government consideration of funding and timeframes for construction.
Beerwah Station is proposed to be upgraded, with new stations proposed at Nirimba (Aura), Caloundra, Aroona, Birtinya, Mountain Creek and Maroochydore as part of the current planning.
TMR will inform and consult the community on the proposed station locations in 2023.
The station locations are being carefully planned to ensure the community has easy and convenient access to the new rail line and ensure the new train services are efficient (more stations mean slower train services as the trains need to slow down and speed up at stations).
Station locations are determined to position them within the preserved CAMCOS corridor where possible. Modelling has been undertaken to determine forecast station patronage and travel times, and technical evaluations considered the rail geometry on either side of the station to help determine the location. This is to achieve straight rail track connecting to the stations, to future-proof for longer trains and meet accessibility requirements. The surrounding environment, including ground type and environmental impacts, are also considered.
Investment planning follows the Queensland Treasury Project Assessment Framework. The detailed business case planning considers the following:
These considerations will be used to confirm a detailed cost estimate for construction (how much it will cost to build) and develop a preliminary design.
TMR is undertaking a detailed business case to determine the requirements of building and operating a new rail line to Maroochydore to inform a government investment decision.
This business case will update previously completed work as part of the 2001 CAMCOS study. It will confirm and provide more detail on various elements of the rail design, rail operation and stabling, construction, land use, environment and waterways, and community to ensure a new rail line could be successfully delivered and operated at this location.
The new rail line would likely involve require construction of:
Specific details about construction methods would be determined in future phases of the project.
Once construction impacts are identified, TMR will notify stakeholders and work with people in the community who may be impacted by construction. TMR will notify impacted community members as early as possible of potential impacts and disruptions.
The planning is considering how the rail line interfaces with nearby projects including the Mooloolah River Interchange and Kawana Motorway. The respective project teams are working closely together to determine how these designs would work together to provide safe and efficient road, rail and active travel.
TMR is committed to managing transport projects in a manner that optimises environmental outcomes for natural, social and built environments. The department uses a range of environmental expertise to develop detailed management plans to ensure all of its projects are environmentally sustainable.
An Environmental Impact Assessment will be undertaken during the planning stages. At the construction stage, an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) is developed and implemented by the contractor to address aspects such as the management of native flora and fauna, as well as measures to minimise construction impacts, such as noise and dust. This plan ensures that contractors comply with current environmental legislation and industry best practice.
Technical studies being undertaken include flood modelling, geological studies and studies for ecology (flora, fauna and water quality), cultural heritage, noise and vibration and air quality.
Some property owners will be impacted by property acquisitions required for the project. Once the corridor realignments are confirmed and these properties are determined, TMR will liaise directly with those property owners to ensure they are well-informed of the project, in line with TMR's acquisition process.
TMR will engage with the community, including residents, during this planning process. We encourage all interested community members to register for future project updates to receive information as the project progresses. Register on this page in the top right corner.
Staging is being considered as part of the current planning. It is possible that not all stations will be constructed at the same time, as this amount of construction would create high levels of disruptions for the Sunshine Coast community and would place pressure on industry. This needs to be carefully considered due to the volume of infrastructure projects being planned for the Sunshine Coast and for South East Queensland in the coming years.
TMR uses Queensland Treasury's Project Assessment Framework to assess projects at critical stages. From the initial assessment of the service required, through to business case and delivery, a project's progress and quality is assessed via a series of reviews by independent tehcnical experts from across Australia to ensure it meets strategic objectives and achieves value for money. For more information about the process, click here.
The DSC Rail Line project is guided by long-term planning for South East Queensland.
TMR has a blueprint, SEQ Rail Connect, for shaping the rail network to meet the future needs of the growing South East Queensland region. This blueprint outlines how we are preparing the network to be ready for Cross River Rail, which will transform the way our rail network operates and how customers travel by train in SEQ. The DSC Rail Line is identified as a key initiative.
For more project information on what's happening in your region visit www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects
Other Queensland Government consultations can also be found at www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au
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