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Maroochydore railway line

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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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