It remains to be seen how service volumes change with Cross River Rail. Critics have questioned whether the project could deliver more than 24 trains an hour after earlier, more expensive designs promised up to 30 trains an hour.
The Cross River Rail Delivery Authority, the semi-government agency delivering the project, insists the long-awaited upgrade will provide much-needed flexibility for south-east Queensland.
South East Queensland’s current rail network.
In October, the government delivered on a 2020 promise to build an extra 65 trains to Maryborough. The first 20 will be required by Cross River Rail.
Bailey said all new services under Cross River Rail would travel via Roma Street, either through the existing station or via underground platforms.
“This will be a big change for some customers,” he said.
“But it presents a lot of opportunity, especially when you consider the huge level of investment and the good jobs that will be supported.”
loading
The Gold Coast to Sunshine Coast line will serve the new Boggo Road, Woolloongabba and Albert Street stations, also passing through the upgraded Roma Street and Exhibition stations.
The line, which will have three inner city tracks but only two outer tracks, is also subject to proposed extensions to the south (Salisbury to Beaudesert line) and north (Beerwah to Caloundra and Maroochydore).
The Ipswich line acknowledged the proposed extension beyond Springfield, where a 25km loop into central Ipswich through the fast-growing Ripley Valley is now being assessed. It will have three tracks between Indooroopilly and Eagle Junction.
The announcement comes as Brisbane City Council reviews its bus routes. Connectivity between the two transport modes will be crucial to cater for ongoing population growth in the region, and new transport hubs are expected to support more residential development.
loading
Bailey said Cross River Rail would employ 1,700 Queensland subcontractors providing 7,700 jobs by mid-2025.
He said $7.2 billion in transportation funding over the next four years included planning for rail extensions.
“The Rail Connect plan is spearheaded by projects including the doubling of tracks from Beerburrum to Nambour and Kuraby to Beenleigh, the third stage of the Gold Coast Light Rail, station upgrades in Queensland and the manufacture of 65 new trains at Maryborough,” he to say.