Objective 5Rail infrastructure

Contents

• Gold Coast Light Rail – Stage 2
• Redcliffe Peninsula Line (Moreton Bay Rail Link)
• Coomera to Helensvale track duplication
• Passenger Transport Facilities Program
• Investment in park 'n' ride facilities

Gold Coast Light Rail - Stage 2

In July 2016, works commenced on Stage 2 of the Gold Coast Light Rail, which will connect the existing light rail system at Southport to heavy rail at the Helensvale station.

The 7.3 kilometre route runs from Helensvale heavy rail station adjacent to the Gold Coast line, then adjacent to the Smith Street Motorway to connect with Stage 1 at the Gold Coast University Hospital light rail station.

The preferred alignment provides a cost-effective solution by efficiently using existing road and rail corridors, therefore reducing impacts on the community and the environment.

The $420 million project is jointly funded by state and federal government, and the City of Gold Coast. Stage 2 is expected to be complete and fully operational by February 2018, weather permitting.

Redcliffe Peninsula Line (Moreton Bay Rail Link)

The Redcliffe Peninsula Line officially opened in October 2016 and is a 12.6 kilometre dual track passenger rail line between Petrie and Kippa-Ring, including six rail stations at Kallangur, Murrumba Downs, Mango Hill, Mango Hill East, Rothwell and Kippa-Ring.

The Redcliffe Peninsula Line provides a reliable, economical and faster alternative to driving to Brisbane's CBD during peak periods. It also reduces congestion on the road network, including the Bruce Highway and provides better access to major employment centres both within and outside the Moreton Bay Region.

The new rail line is part of a $1.2 billion program of public transport improvements for the Moreton Bay Region, funded by the federal government, state government and Moreton Bay Regional Council. The program includes the rail line, Petrie to Lawnton track duplication and the Rothwell Intersection Upgrade.

Coomera to Helensvale track duplication

Queensland Rail is duplicating the final section of single track on the Gold Coast rail line, between Coomera and Helensvale stations.

This project will allow for improvements to Gold Coast rail line services for GC2018 and beyond construction including:

• the duplication project involves constructing 8.2 kilometres of track and eight rail bridges, installing overhead electrification and signalling systems and replacing 3.8 kilometres of timber barrier screening
• construction of the rail formation and eight duplicated rail bridges (ranging from 15 metres to 860 metres in length) was completed this year
• current works include laying ballast and track, and installing overhead line equipment and signalling systems.

The $163 million project is scheduled for completion in late-2017, weather and construction conditions permitting.

Passenger Transport Facilities Program

The Passenger Transport Facilities Program delivers critical enabling infrastructure to support the provision of a reliable, safe, accessible, and integrated passenger transport network. The program funds capital investment for passenger transport infrastructure that delivers value-for-money, supports growth in demand, improves network legibility and ensures equitable access.

Investments include:

• park 'n' ride facilities and improved multi-modal interchanges between bus and rail
• signage and wayfinding improvements (network legibility)
• public transport priority and Intelligent Transport Systems to improve travel time reliability for customers
• leveraging technology to improve equitable access to information
• marine infrastructure that connects passengers to other transport modes, including ferry facilities in southeast Queensland.

Investment in park 'n' ride facilities

Park 'n' ride facilities serve a critical role in connecting people to public transport. These facilities are an effective means of providing greater access to public transport, and can assist in reducing congestion on our roads.

Investment in park 'n' ride facilities during the year included:

• Thorneside Station park 'n' ride upgrade – In November 2016, we constructed a second Park 'n' Ride facility for customers at Thorneside Station. The parking capacity at the station has increased from 134 to 180 spaces, providing more options for customers along the Cleveland rail line.
• Murarrie Station park 'n' ride upgrade – In May 2017, the department commenced construction of the Murarrie Station park 'n' ride upgrade. This project will provide more capacity for commuter parking at this location and contribute to reducing congestion and alleviating park 'n' ride demand at other facilities to the west, by providing customers with more parking options closer to the origin of their journey. The upgrade at Murarrie will be completed in two stages. Stage One is underway and on completion will more than double the capacity of the southern carpark to 98 spaces. Planning for Stage Two (the northern carpark) will continue in 201718.
• Nundah Station park 'n' ride upgrade – In June 2017, we reconfigured the Nundah Station park 'n' ride to assist in alleviating commuter parking pressure in the area. The reconfiguration was a sustainable and cost effective approach to optimising capacity and has increased the number of carparks from 223 to 243 spaces.
• Mains Road park 'n' ride upgrade – We are funding the construction of a new multi-storey park 'n' ride facility at Mains Road Mt Gravatt, being delivered in conjunction with the state government's new State Netball Centre. The current facility is one of south east Queensland's best performing park 'n' rides due to its access to high frequency bus services on the South East Busway and strategic location for intercepting drivers from the surrounding major road network. This park 'n' ride upgrade will provide commuters with access to 680 carparks. Construction began in April 2017 and is due to be completed by mid-2018.
• Cannon Hill Station park 'n' ride upgrade – Detailed planning commenced for expanding the park 'n' ride at Cannon Hill train station in a cost-effective way that would maximise use of existing land. Working with QR, the department will progress the upgrade project to design and delivery in 2017–18 and 2018–19.

The new Thorneside park 'n' ride facilities have provided much needed additional car parking spaces for commuters