The Queensland government plans to inject $ 3.5 billion into rail projects as part of the state budget, which Treasurer Cameron Dick will present in full this Tuesday.
The Treasurer on Sunday announced the budget teaser at the Woolloongabba site of Cross River Rail following the laying of the first section of track for the $ 5.4 billion underground project.
Conceptual images of the new Bowen Hills exhibition station as part of the Cross River Rail project.
The $ 3.5 billion will include $ 924 million for the third stage of the Gold Coast light rail, from Broadbeach South to Burleigh Heads; $ 876 million for the fastest upgrade of the Logan and Gold Coast Railroad from Kuraby to Beenleigh; and $ 489 million for the improvement of the Beerburrum to Nambour railway.
The package will also allocate $ 789 million to the next-generation rolling stock program, including new train signaling and control systems; $ 212 million for the Queensland train manufacturing program; $ 107 million to build three new Gold Coast stations: Pimpama, Hope Island and Merrimac; $ 92.5 million for the relocation of Loganlea train station; and $ 30 million for the upgrade of the Loganlea train station ‘n’ ride park.
Dick said these projects would create more than 5,000 jobs over their lifetime and would include the construction of 65 new trains in Maryborough.
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“Our investment in rail is not just for the South East, it’s for all of Queensland. In particular, it will support manufacturing jobs in regional parts of the state, especially Maryborough and Rockhampton,” he said.
“By making trains here in Queensland, it also supports the traditional manufacturing and skilled jobs of the many small and medium-sized businesses that are part of the supply chain.”
Dick’s announcement followed the placement of the first 50-meter section of track at Cross River Rail’s Albert Street station on Brisbane’s CBD, part of the 5.9-kilometer twin-tunnel project.