Work is under way to preserve the rail corridor between Sailsbury and Beaudesert, after a study found a passenger rail line was the best way to service the area.
Federal Transport Minister Catherine King said the Federal and Queensland governments would plan to protect the future rail corridor, south of Brisbane, following the Salisbury to Beaudesert Passenger Rail study, which explored the long-term passenger and freight needs in the corridor.
Minister King said the study recommended heavy rail as the best way to address forecast passenger demand in the corridor which ran through some of the fastest growing areas in south-east Queensland.
State Transport Minister Bart Mellish said growth areas, such as the Greater Flagstone Priority Development Area, would play a critical role in the future shape of the region and needed to be supported by a high quality, safe and reliable public transport network.
Minister Mellish said heavy rail was identified as the optimal transport mode to address forecast demand in the corridor.
“It would provide a high capacity, attractive public transport journey with competitive travel times, keeping people and goods moving efficiently,” he said.
Minister Mellish said with current phase of the study finalised, the next phase would involve protecting the corridor, including conducting a corridor protection study.
He said this would refine the project’s design and land requirements and would also see community consultation begin on the identified corridor in 2025.
“The outcomes of community consultation will help to preserve a corridor and inform future planning.”
