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Maroochydore railway line

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This article is about the proposed railway line to Maroochydore, Queensland. For the current Queensland Rail City network service, see Sunshine Coast railway line.

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

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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]

In February 2024, the Queensland government announced funding of $3 billion for the first stage of the project from Beerwah to Caloundra. Construction could start in 2026 for completion by 2032 if the federal government matches funds.[13] In May 2024, the federal government announced its contribution of $2.75 billion for the first stage to Caloundra.[14]

Proposed stations

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The 2009 proposal includes eight new stations, and one existing station:[15]

The 2023 proposal includes six new stations:[11]

2023 planned station upgrades as part of the project

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  • Beerwah (under planning)
  • Glass House Mountains (under planning)
  • Caboolture (under planning)
  • Morayfield (under planning)
  • Burpengary (upgrade to commence in 2024)
  • Dakabin (Upgrade Completed in 2022)
  • Strathpine (Upgrade Completed 2021)
  • Wooloowin (under planning)
  • Albion (under planning)
  • Bowen Hills (under planning)

References

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  1. ^ "Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line, planning (Department of Transport and Main Roads)". Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  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. ^ "'Mega project': Biggest passenger rail line announced for Sunshine Coast". ABC News. 25 February 2024. Archived from the original on 9 June 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  14. ^ Jacques, Owen; Easton, Alex; Howells, Sarah (13 May 2024). "Brisbane-to-Sunshine Coast rail link locked in for Olympics with $5.5b funding". ABC News. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  15. ^ "Maroochydore Station Corridor Study" (PDF). November 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
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