Queensland Government is planning to connect its growing communities with more frequent and reliable train services between Brisbane, Logan and the Gold Coast.
South East Queensland (SEQ) has experienced significant growth over the last 2 decades. This growth is expected to continue with an extra 1.2 million people living in the region by 2036. To harness this growth and support our region’s thriving communities we must keep evolving the rail network so that it plays a bigger role in moving people around SEQ.
To support growing population and rail patronage demand between Brisbane, Logan and the Gold Coast, Queensland Government need to double the number of Beenleigh and Gold Coast train services over the next 20 years. The rail line between Kuraby and Beenleigh is a key capacity bottleneck on the rail corridor.
The Queensland Government, together with the Australian Government, is planning to increase the number of tracks between Kuraby and Beenleigh from 2 to 4 tracks, with modernised rail systems, station upgrades and level crossing removals. Currently, trains between Kuraby and Beenleigh share a single track in each direction, limiting the number of peak services that can run. All-stop Beenleigh trains need to be held to 1 side for approximately 4 minutes to allow Gold Coast express trains to pass through during peak periods.
Additional tracks will require a wider corridor and track straightening in some areas.
Benefits
Key features
Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail will deliver:
- double the capacity of the Gold Coast Rail Line
- approximately 20km of new tracks and rail systems between Kuraby Station and Beenleigh Station, increasing the corridor from 2 tracks to 4 tracks
- new train signalling technology between Salisbury and Varsity Lakes
- 7 station upgrades and 2 station relocations to improve accessibility, safety and amenity, including platform straightening, and new pedestrian bridges
- a new Loganlea Station will be delivered as a part of the Loganlea Station Relocation and Park ‘n’ Ride Expansion project
- a new Trinder Park Station relocated to the straightened section of track to improve train speeds and connectivity to the rail network
- 5 level crossing removals at Kuraby, Woodridge, Bethania, Holmview and Beenleigh
- Park ‘n’ Ride upgrades, including a new multi-story Park ‘n’ Ride at Beenleigh Station with an integrated bus interchange
- extension of the cattle siding at Holmview
- duplication of the rail tunnel under Beenleigh Town Square
- dedicated active transport facilities and paths along the corridor.
Funding
The Australian Government and Queensland Government are funding preconstruction.
A plan for faster rail
Delivering the Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail Project will increase capacity and reliability, allowing express trains to pass all-stop trains. Widening and straightening the corridor will also enable more faster rail services in the future.
Connect growing communities
Most trips in the Logan area are made by car. To increase public transport use, we need more turn up and go all-stops train services between Kuraby and Beenleigh. The project will enable frequent and flexible connections for local communities.
Support local jobs
Transport is an essential element of Queensland’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan. The project will enable better access to employment through faster journey times, more peak period services, more accessible stations and less time waiting at level crossings.
Make accessibility easy
Queensland Government is making rail more accessible for everyone, through station upgrades and relocations, improvements to pedestrian and cycling access, changes to local roads, and improvements to parking. Any station upgrades will be designed and constructed in compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act (1992) to provide improve accessibility for all users.
Improve amenity and safety
Upgraded train stations will include more lighting and CCTV, and better connections to local facilities to improve amenity and safety for people using stations and surrounding areas.
Manage impacts and changes
Queensland Government is undertaking investigations to identify sensitive areas and understand more about the existing conditions and environment. Feedback from the community will assist to understand potential impacts and develop management strategies.
Community feedback sessions
The project team will host feedback sessions to provide information and answer questions about the project.
Attendance is limited at these sessions due to COVID-19. Please visit our consultation hub to register at your preferred session or call the project team on 1800 957 066.
If you have questions regarding your property, please contact the project team for more information.
More information
The project covers a large section of the rail corridor between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and we understand that communities near the rail line may be affected. In order to gain a greater understanding of community needs, the area between Kuraby Station and Beenleigh Station has been divided into 4 areas.
Area 1: Kuraby Station to Wembley Road
Features for this area include:
- potential track straightening in some areas between Kuraby and Woodridge to enable faster and more reliable services
- potential upgrade at Kuraby Station to increase accessibility, safety and amenity, including platform straightening and a new pedestrian bridge. Some parking may need to be removed to allow for an improved station design
- potential relocation of Trinder Park Station further north on a new alignment, so it is more centrally located on a straightened section of track between Kuraby and Woodridge stations. A proposed Park ‘n’ Ride expansion at the new Trinder Park Station will include an additional 30 car parks
- potential upgrade at Woodridge Station to improve accessibility, safety and amenity, including platform straightening and a new pedestrian bridge. A potential Park ‘n’ Ride expansion at Woodridge Station will include an additional 50 car parks
- potential removal of the level crossing at Beenleigh Road with a new road-over-rail bridge proposed
- potential removal of the level crossing at Trinder Park with a new road-over-rail bridge proposed further north at Smith Road
- proposed new rail-over-road bridge over Compton Road
- proposed new rail-over-road bridge over Wembley Road.
Area 2: Wembley Road to the Logan River
Features for this area include:
- proposed new rail-over-road bridge over Wembley Road
- potential upgrade at Kingston Station to improve accessibility, safety and amenity, including platform straightening and new pedestrian bridges. A proposed Park ‘n’ Ride expansion at Kingston Station will include an additional 45 car parks and a dedicated Kiss ‘n’ Ride facility
- relocation of Loganlea Station as part of the Loganlea Station Relocation and Park ‘n’ Ride Expansion
- proposed upgrade of the road-over-rail bridge at Kingston Road to allow additional tracks underneath
- proposed second rail bridge over the Logan River to accommodate the additional tracks.
Area 3: Logan River to Holmview Road
Features for this area include:
- proposed second rail bridge over the Logan River to accommodate the additional tracks
- potential upgrade at Bethania and Edens Landing stations to improve accessibility, safety and amenity, including platform straightening and new pedestrian bridges
- proposed Park ‘n’ Ride expansion at Bethania Station to include an additional 18 car parks and a dedicated Kiss ‘n’ Ride facility
- potential removal of the level crossing at Station Road with a new road-over-rail bridge proposed connecting to Holzheimer Road
- potential closure of the Holmview Road level crossing.
Area 4: Holmview Road to Beenleigh Station
Features for this area include:
- potential upgrade to Holmview and Beenleigh stations to improve accessibility, safety and amenity, including platform straightening and new pedestrian bridges
- proposed Park ‘n’ Ride expansion at Holmview Station to include an additional 50 car parks and dedicated Kiss ‘n’ Ride facility
- proposed multi-storey Park ‘n’ Ride expansion at Beenleigh Station to include over 400 additional car parks and dedicated Kiss ‘n’ Ride facility
- potential closure of the Holmview Road level crossing
- investigations into the potential upgrade or closure of the Spanns Road level crossing
- potential changes to Hammel Street and Syria Street and around Beenleigh Town Centre between James Street and Alamein Street
- investigations into the relocation of the stabling yard at Beenleigh.
Next steps
Final stages of the Business Case are being completed to determine the proposed improvements for the Gold Coast and Beenleigh rail lines. The Business Case is part of the Queensland Government’s planning process which ensure the costs, benefits and risks of the project are considered. The Business Case includes detailed economic, social and environmental assessments, and identifies opportunities to deliver the project in stages.
The Australian Government and Queensland Government will decide on further funding and delivery timeframes once the Business Case is completed in late-2021. TMR will also begin corridor preservation in late 2021, to ensure land around the rail corridor is protected for future construction.
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