Maroochydore line
Overview
Websitequeenslandrail.com.au
Technical
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The Maroochydore railway line, also known as the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line[1] or CAMCOS (Caloundra and Maroochydore Corridor Options Study), is a proposed railway line on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.

Planning history

Initial public consultation was conducted in January 1999, with newsletters and displays of aerial photographs. On 31 March 1999, Minister for Transport & Main Roads Steve Bredhauer announced that a route from the existing North Coast line at Beerwah through to Maroochydore had been decided on.[2] The Queensland Government's Connecting SEQ2031 Infrastructure Plan, commits to the proposal, but doesn't state a proposed completion date.[3][4] Further documentation on the Qld Government Transport and Main Roads website in July 2022 indicates that planning is continuing.[5]

In July 2007, the City of Caloundra and Queensland Government commissioned a study into the realignment of the proposed corridor in Caloundra South. It is proposed the corridor be altered to run west of Golden Beach, and through the Caloundra Airport site.[6]

The construction of a new 14 kilometre double track alignment on the North Coast line from Caboolture to Beerburrum to improve capacity in 2009 was a key requirement for the project,[7][8] with the line scheduled to be duplicated through Beerwah to Landsborough by 2021.[9]

In the 2022 federal budget, the Morrison Government announced a commitment of $1.6 billion towards the construction rail line to improve connectivity for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. The federal government's funding was under the condition the project's budget would be under a 50:50 split with the Queensland Government.[10]

In 2023 a 37 km line allowing for 160 km/h speeds is being planned.[11]

In November 2023, Federal Transport Minister, Catherine King announced she would cut funding for the project, citing cost blowouts and a lack of demand. The project has been put on hold until the cost has been determined.[12]

Proposed stations

The 2009 proposal includes eight new stations, and one existing station:[13]

The 2023 proposal includes six new stations:[11]

2023 planned station upgrades as part of the project

References

  1. ^ https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/direct-sunshine-coast-rail-line-planning
  2. ^ "Sunshine Coast Rail Route Announced" Railway Digest May 1999 page 14
  3. ^ "Caloundra South CAMCOS Realignment study". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 13 August 2007. Retrieved 19 August 2007.
  4. ^ Connecting SEQ 2031 Archived 27 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine Queensland Government 2011
  5. ^ "Beerwah to Maroochydore rail extension, planning". Department of Transport and Main Road Qld. 19 July 2022. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Transport Planning on the Sunshine Coast, Caloundra South CAMCOS Realignment study" (PDF). Queensland Government. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 19 August 2007.
  7. ^ Landsborough station upgrade plans revealed Archived 5 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine Queensland Government 21 December 2006
  8. ^ Caboolture to Beerburrum Duplication Queensland Rail
  9. ^ Caboolture to Landsborough Rail Upgrade Study Archived 23 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine Department of Transport & Main Roads
  10. ^ Ministers for the Department of Infrastructure, Transport. "Heavy passenger rail on track for Sunshine Coast". Ministers for the Department of Infrastructure. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  11. ^ a b Taylor, Steele (7 August 2023). "160km/h trains, seven stations: direct rail line details revealed". Sunshine Coast News. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  12. ^ Jones, Ciara (16 November 2023). "Nine Queensland infrastructure projects cancelled, several others have federal funding paused". ABC News. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  13. ^ "Maroochydore Station Corridor Study" (PDF). November 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2020.

External links

Public transport in Queensland
Railway lines in Queensland
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