BRISBANE» MASS TRANSIT - Thread

[SoulVision]

I'm sort of a bit annoyed at this... there has been about three studies done so far... each costing more than the other. If this isn't started soon the cost will spiral out of control. 14 billion dollars isn't cheap. The only positive thing is that this hopefully will push the government over the edge to act.

Budget funding will fuel cross-river rail study: Nolan
Tony Moore | May 14, 2009 - 6:24AM | Brisbane Times

A project manager will be appointed soon for Brisbane's cross-river rail project, Queensland Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said yesterday.

The Federal Governmment allocated $20 million in last night's Federal Budget to develop a detailed feasibility study for the project.

Projected rail passenger figures show the project is critical, with Citytrain services needing to double by 2016 to cope.

Ms Nolan yesterday welcomed the Budget funding.

"This is a small but important first step for this major project, which is so significant that it will remain a national priority for years to come," she said.

There are two suggested stages to the project, which aims to build several underground rail stations and a second path across the Brisbane River.

The cross-river feasibility study must finish next year and importantly identify how to fund the project, get it started by 2011 and have stage one running by 2016.

Stage One is an $8.2 billion rail link between the Gold Coast and Beenleigh lines and the North Coast line running through Caboolture.

Last year's Inner City Rail Capacity Study offered three sample routes coming into a large underground CBD station.

The study also produced the figures showing rail patronage figures accelerating.

Early morning Citytrain commuters will rise from between 52,000 and 53,000 today to between 70,000 and 80,000 people by 2016, and between 105,000 and 130,000 by 2026.

However, Queensland's Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek yesterday questioned whether the project would start in 2011.

"It is hard to see that happening when the only funding pledge in the Federal Budget was for a study," he said.

Mr Langbroek said he was concerned regional Queensland had missed out in the Federal Budget and questioned the lack of assistance for the state's ports.

"Our recovery from the financial crisis will be led by exports as demand for our resources increases globally, but there is no commitment from the State and Federal Labor Governments to address the bottlenecks and capacity issues that have long plagued Queensland," Mr Langbroek said.

"The future of the Abbot Point stage three upgrade, doubling export capacity to 50 million tonnes, remains in doubt as the vital Northern Missing Link rail project continues to be delayed and ignored by both State and Federal Labor Governments," he said.

[SoulVision]

"Brisbane is becoming too big to rely only on a suburban rail network and busway system"

Lets get this freaking thing rolling!!!

From this weeks City News.

[sam]

yeah we need it. good ol' phil having his two cents as usual. They really like consulting him on these issues. I liked him when i studied under him, and think he knows what he's talking about, but generally, i always like to hear from the private sector. I find they are generally more experienced.

[spider]

Originally Posted by sam

yeah we need it. good ol' phil having his two cents as usual. They really like consulting him on these issues. I liked him when i studied under him, and think he knows what he's talking about, but generally, i always like to hear from the private sector. I find they are generally more experienced.

This type of attitude strikes me as quite banal and - pompous

[Marty_]

Following a bit of research on this, the government has done a fair bit of planning on the CBD metro already. The preferred option (taken straight from the pre-feasability report with station names added by me) is this one:



In my opinion, this would be an incredible outcome if built.