Rail network in South East Queensland

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The Queensland Rail City network spans South East Queensland

Queensland Rail operates ten suburban lines and three interurban lines. Centring in the Brisbane City, it extends as far as Gympie in the north, Varsity Lakes in the south, Rosewood in the west, and Cleveland in the east to Moreton Bay.[1]

Each line is ascribed a colour and name on all Queensland Rail signage and marketing collateral including timetables, posters and maps. There are 153 stations in the Queensland Rail City network.[1]

Rail lines[]

North of Brisbane[]

Airport line – between Brisbane City and Brisbane Airport
Branches from the Caboolture, Redcliffe Peninsula, Shorncliffe and Sunshine Coast lines after Eagle Junction to the Brisbane Airport. This line is operated by Queensland Rail and Airtrain Citylink. The line is a part of the TransLink network, but higher fares apply travelling to and from Airtrain airport stations.
Caboolture line – between Brisbane City and Caboolture
Terminates along the Sunshine Coast line. Caboolture line services run express from Bowen Hills to Petrie, stopping only at Eagle Junction and Northgate. The express runs of the Caboolture and Sunshine Coast lines were extended to Petrie after the Redcliffe Peninsula line opened in October 2016, as the Virginia, Sunshine, Geebung, Zillmere, Carseldine, Bald Hills, Strathpine, Bray Park are Lawnton stations are instead serviced by the Redcliffe Peninsula line. This line is operated by Queensland Rail.
Doomben line – between Brisbane City and Doomben
Branches from the Airport, Caboolture, Redcliffe Peninsula, Shorncliffe and Sunshine Coast lines after Eagle Junction. This line is operated by Queensland Rail.
Ferny Grove line – between Brisbane City and Ferny Grove
Branches from all northbound lines after Bowen Hills. This line is operated by Queensland Rail.
Redcliffe Peninsula line – between Brisbane City and Kippa-Ring
Branches from the Caboolture and Sunshine Coast lines after Petrie. Redcliffe Peninsula line services run express from Bowen Hills to Northgate, stopping only at Eagle Junction. This line is operated by Queensland Rail.
Shorncliffe line – between Brisbane City and Shorncliffe
Branches from the Caboolture, Redcliffe Peninsula and Sunshine Coast lines after Northgate. This line is operated by Queensland Rail.
Sunshine Coast line – between Brisbane City and Gympie
Continues north from the Caboolture line to Nambour and Gympie North. Sunshine Coast line services typically run express from Bowen Hills to Petrie, stopping only at Eagle Junction and Northgate. The express runs of the Caboolture and Sunshine Coast lines were extended to Petrie after the Redcliffe Peninsula line opened in October 2016, as the Virginia, Sunshine, Geebung, Zillmere, Carseldine, Bald Hills, Strathpine, Bray Park are Lawnton stations are instead serviced by the Redcliffe Peninsula line. Services to Gympie North and peak-hour services to Nambour also skip Eagle Junction and run express from Petrie to Caboolture, meaning that the Dakabin, Narangba, Burpengary and Morayfield stations are only serviced by non-peak-hour services to Nambour, along with the Caboolture line. This line is operated by Queensland Rail.

South of Brisbane[]

Beenleigh line – between Brisbane City and Beenleigh
Terminates along the Gold Coast line. Some services terminate at intermediate stations Coopers Plains and Kuraby. This line is operated by Queensland Rail.
Cleveland line – between Brisbane City and Cleveland
Branches from the Beenleigh and Gold Coast lines after Park Road. Peak-hour services run express from Morningside to Manly. Some services terminate at intermediate stations Cannon Hill and Manly. This line is operated by Queensland Rail.
Gold Coast line – between Brisbane City and Varsity Lakes
Continues south from the Beenleigh line to Varsity Lakes. Gold Coast line services run express from Park Road to Beenleigh, stopping only at Altandi and Loganlea. This line is operated by Queensland Rail.
Ipswich/Rosewood line – between Brisbane City and Rosewood
Continues south to Ipswich and Rosewood after the Springfield line branches off at Darra. Peak-hour services run express from Milton to Darra, stopping only at Indooroopilly. Services to Rosewood are typically a small connection from Ipswich, however some peak-hour services travel to Rosewood along the full line from Central. This line is operated by Queensland Rail.
Springfield line – between Brisbane City and Springfield
Branches from the Ipswich/Rosewood line after Darra. This line is operated by Queensland Rail.

Inner Brisbane[]

Exhibition line – loop line between Brisbane City and the Exhibition Ground
This line is operated by Queensland Rail. Services run during special events only on this line.

Closed lines[]

Railbus services[]

TransLink operates several bus routes along corridors on behalf of QR where the railway line has been closed to passenger traffic or supplements low-patronage lines at specific times of the day.[2]

Improvements[]

Citytrain passenger journey growth between the 1997/1998 to 2007/2008 financial years

The Brisbane and south east corner of Queensland has experienced significant population growth, with approximately one million more people living in the area over the last 20 years[3] and a forecast population of more than 3.8 million by 2026.[4] This growth has placed an unprecedented demand on public transport and its infrastructure; Citytrain has reported successive patronage increases of 9% in both the 2005–2006[5] and 2006–2007[6] financial years, and a 6.6% increase in the 2007–2008 financial year.[7]

To respond to this demand, the Government of Queensland created the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program to manage the investment in new transport infrastructure, amongst other areas. QR, in response, created the SEQIPRAIL office to manage and deliver rail components of the plan.

Increased capacity[]

Beenleigh line[]

A third track was laid between Salisbury and Kuraby stations, a length of 9.5 km (5.9 mi). Previously two tracks, the added capacity allows Gold Coast line services to operate with less chance of delays. Seven railway stations along the section were significantly upgraded. The project was commissioned on 2 March 2008.[8]

Ferny Grove line[]

A second track was laid between Mitchelton and Keperra railway station, including an upgrade to the intermediate stations, Oxford Park and Grovely. Upgraded with two platforms, this upgrade allows additional services to operate on the line during peak hour, and will also remove waiting times outbound from Mitchelton and inbound from Keperra. Other improvements include lifts and footbridges, to meet the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport, and new, modern station buildings.[9] The further duplication of the railway between Keperra and Ferny Grove stations, plus an additional platform and parking at Ferny Grove has been completed.

Gold Coast line[]

The line between Ormeau and Coomera stations, 6.7 km (4.2 mi) in length, was duplicated in October 2006, allowing for additional capacity.[10] Similarly, the 16.6 km (10.3 mi) length between Helensvale and Robina stations was duplicated in July 2008, removing the need for a four-minute layover at Helensvale for Robina services to wait for the Brisbane service due to the single track either side of the station.[11]

Ipswich line[]

5.2 km (3.2 mi) of track between Corinda and Darra stations was quadruplicated. Previously four tracks to Corinda then two to Ipswich, the quadruplication allowed for greater capacity, especially with the Springfield railway line branching from Darra station.

Sunshine Coast line[]

13.7 km (8.5 mi) of track north of Caboolture station to Beerburrum station has been duplicated and re-aligned, along with the construction of stations at Elimbah and Beerburrum. Construction work began in 2007, and the project was commissioned on 14 April 2009.[12]

From Beerburrum station, 17 km (11 mi) of track to Landsborough is proposed to be similarly duplicated and re-aligned. This project is in planning stage, with construction scheduled to begin in 2020.[13]

New lines[]

Gold Coast line[]

A 4.1 km (2.5 mi) extension of the Gold Coast railway line from Robina to Varsity Lakes is completed. This is the first stage of the proposed progressive extension of the line to the Gold Coast Airport. Further extension of the line including proposed stations at Tallebudgera, Elanora and Tugun is expected to be constructed after the completion of the Cross River Rail project.[14]

Maroochydore line[]

The Maroochydore railway line (or CAMCOS, Caloundra and Maroochydore Corridor Options Study), is a proposed single track line that was initially due for construction and progressive completion in stages between 2015 and 2020. However, with the launch of the Connecting SEQ 2031, a regional plan for the future of transportation in South East Queensland, the project was postponed to start in 2031, or even after.[15] It will branch from the existing Sunshine Coast line after Beerwah railway station to Caloundra and Maroochydore in Sunshine Coast.[16]

Springfield line[]

The Springfield railway line is a line extending from Darra railway station on the Ipswich line to the Springfield area. The 26 km (16 mi)[17] extension of the network had a total cost of $475 million and was completed in December 2013.[18]

Redcliffe Peninsula line[]

The Redcliffe Peninsula railway line (previously known as the Moreton Bay Rail link) is a suburban railway line extending 27.5 km (17.1 mi) north-northwest from Brisbane central business district (approximately 40.1 km (24.9 mi) from Central station. The line is part of the QR Citytrain network, branching from the existing Caboolture line immediately after Petrie railway station, and extend to the Redcliffe peninsula. It was more seriously identified and anticipated in the 1970s, and the land was purchased in the 1980s although the line was not built. Construction commenced in 2013 and the line was opened to passengers on 4 October 2016.

CBD underground access[]

On 26 August 2007 the then-Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Paul Lucas, announced the Inner City Rail Capacity Study to look at underground rail access under the Brisbane central business district. Dismissing a City Loop-style scenario similar to Melbourne, citing the relatively small size of the CBD and "technical and operational constraints", Lucas imagined an underground line from Park Road station to Woolloongabba, then across the Brisbane River to connect with the Exhibition railway line, with major new stations at Woolloongabba, Gardens Point/QUT, and in the CBD. The study will also investigate the feasibility of the Exhibition line operating all year with new stations, and the upgrading of existing lines with additional tracks. Lucas allocated A$5 million to the study and appointed AECOM and Parsons Brinckerhoff as consultants to "look at options for boosting rail capacity in the city centre, including potential for an underground tunnel".[19] This project, Cross River Rail, is now under construction and due to open in 2024.

References[]

  1. ^ a b "QR Citytrain Network Map". Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
  2. ^ "History of regional planning in South East Qld". Queensland Government Department of Infrastructure and Planning, Office of Urban Management. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2008.
  3. ^ Office of Economic and Statistical Research (2006). "Queensland Government, Population Projections to 2051: Queensland and Statistical Divisions" (PDF). 2nd edition. Queensland Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2008. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^ QR Limited (2006). "QR Annual Report 2005/06" (PDF). QR Limited. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2008. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. ^ QR Limited (2007). "Meeting Challenges – Annual Report 2006/07" (PDF). QR Limited. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2008. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ QR Limited (2008). "QR Annual Report 2007/08" (PDF). QR Limited. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2008. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. ^ "Salisbury to Kuraby Third Track". SEQIPRail. QR Limited. 11 January 2008. Retrieved 15 January 2008.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "Mitchelton to Keperra Duplication". SEQIPRail. QR Limited. 30 November 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2008.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Ormeau to Coomera Duplication". SEQIPRail. QR Limited. 29 November 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2008.[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ "Helensvale to Robina Duplication". SEQIPRail. QR Limited. 30 November 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2008.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ "Caboolture to Beerburrum Doubling". SEQIPRail. QR Limited. 14 January 2008. Archived from the original on 24 October 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2008.
  12. ^ "Beerburrum to Landsborough Track Doubling". SEQIPRail. QR Limited. 29 December 2007. Archived from the original on 24 October 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2008.
  13. ^ Department of Transport and Main Roads (5 February 2019). "Robina to Tugun Rail Impact Assessment Study". www.tmr.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  14. ^ «Maroochydore train hope derailed». Sunshine Coast Daily
  15. ^ "Caloundra South CAMCOS Realignment study". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 13 August 2007. Retrieved 19 August 2007.
  16. ^ "SEQIPRAIL - Darra to Springfield Transport Corridor - Overview". SEQIPRail. QR Limited. 10 November 2007. Archived from the original on 17 June 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2008.
  17. ^ "Fast track to growth: Springfield train line is opened". The Queensland Times. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  18. ^ "Future rail connection in study's sights" (Press release). Government of Queensland. 26 August 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2008.

External links[]

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