The Noosa Electorate office has received the following information as part of a Ministerial response, regarding an enquiry in relation to rail and potential shuttle services between Gympie North and Brisbane as follows:
“Last year, the Australian Government committed funding of $550.8 million, with the Queensland Government committing an $160.8 million to upgrade 40 kilometres on the North Coast rail line between Beerburrum to Nambour. I am pleased to advise this upgrade will include duplicating the existing rail line between Beerburrum to Landsborough and, upgrades on the existing alignment between Landsborough and Nambour.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has commenced early works including environmental and survey works, land acquisition and detailed design including community consultation. Timing for the delivery and staging of construction works is due to be finalised. Please be assured this information will be confirmed and communicated at a later stage.
I am pleased to advise this project will benefit Sunshine Coast rail line customers by delivering increased service capacity for both freight and passenger services. As this section is currently serviced by a single track, this will allow an increased reliability of services and the potential for travel time saving for customers.
In the interim, Queensland Rail has been working to improve the reliability of services between Gympie North and Brisbane, which is the longest journey on the SEQ network travelling more than 170 kilometres over two hours and 52 minutes.
I am pleased to confirm that in 2018, there were 96 less delays and 22 less cancellations experienced on the Gympie North to Brisbane services compared with the year prior, and the average length of delay also decreased by 10 minutes.
Queensland Rail is in the process of modernising its signalling system between Brisbane and Gympie North and phasing out its older train units, including those used on the Gympie North to Brisbane services, and replacing them with newer trains to continue to deliver greater reliability and on-time running for customers on these services.
I am aware of the request by some stakeholders for a shuttle service between Gympie North and Nambour stations to be considered. While not in scope at this immediate stage, I am advised that Queensland Rail is happy to provide further consideration to the suggestion of a shuttle service between Gympie North and Nambour stations within future timetable developments.
Queensland Rail’s priority at this stage is on delivering reliable and on-time services across SEQ and is also on working to increase the frequency of services across the region, as soon as it can sustainably do so.
Thank you for taking the time to share this feedback with me. I can assure you Queensland Rail and TMR will continue to investigate and work on opportunities to further improve public transport services on the Sunshine Coast, including through the important future-proofing projects mentioned herein.”