Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line

We’re directly connecting the eastern communities of the Sunshine Coast to South East Queensland’s passenger rail network, making it easier to travel locally, and to and from the Sunshine Coast.

The Sunshine Coast is one of South East Queensland's fastest growing regions. It is also the largest urban area in Australia not directly connected to its nearest capital city via a direct passenger rail connection. A direct rail connection will improve local and regional connectivity as well as providing a reliable and competitive alternative transport to private vehicles.

The 37.8km dual-track Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line will run from the North Coast Line at Beerwah to Maroochydore, via Caloundra and Birtinya.

This new rail line will:

  • provide faster, more reliable and sustainable connections between the Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay and Brisbane regions
  • connect people to jobs, study, health services and key tourist destinations
  • reduce congestion on the road network and provide more accessible and inclusive travel options.

Delivery of this rail line will also help the Sunshine Coast to prepare for population growth by accelerating the delivery of more than 3,000 affordable and diverse homes around new rail stations over the coming decade.

Register for updates and learn more about station designs, the corridor location, the environmental referral, preliminary works and the Project Information Centre.

Delivery strategy

The Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line is proposed to be delivered progressively. This was a recommendation of the detailed business case due to the length of the line, construction impacts, market capacity and affordability.

Progressive delivery means that passengers can start using this rail line sooner, with major construction activities for the first stage of this new line expected to commence in 2026.

Stage 1 will include:

  • protecting the updated rail corridor to Maroochydore
  • delivering the dual-track rail line to Caloundra (19km rail line)
  • pre-delivery work and a commitment to working with industry to explore opportunities to accelerate delivery of the rail line to Birtinya
  • an enhanced bus network, to ensure communities around the Sunshine Coast have convenient and reliable connections to stations
  • new active travel options, meaning people can also choose to walk or ride to their nearest station.

It's expected that Stage 1 of the project will support 2,200 jobs in the region.

Benefits

  • Improves safety
  • Increases capacity
  • Improves network efficiency
  • Increases car parks
  • Accessibility
  • Reduces travel time
  • Contributes to economy
  • Contributes to regional growth
  • Better active transport
  • Reduces peak hour congestion

Key features

  • A 37.8km dual-track rail extension between Beerwah and Maroochydore to increase public transport opportunities.
  • New stations along the corridor.
  • Park 'n' rides and associated facilities to increase accessibility.
  • Active transport provisions along the corridor to improve safety and encourage these transport modes.
  • Maintenance access, stabling and operational facilities.
  • Staged delivery to enable people to use the rail line sooner.

Funding

The Australian and Queensland governments have committed $2.75 billion each in funding to deliver Stage 1 (Beerwah to Caloundra).

Stage 1 is expected to cost between $5.5 billion and $7 billion. The funding envelope takes into consideration learnings from local and international mega-projects and recognises that cost estimates for a project of this size and scale cannot be confirmed until further detailed investigations and industry engagement activities are undertaken. Investment ID 3024759.

Total investment
$5.5 billion
Australian Government
$2.75 billion
Queensland Government
$2.75 billion

Current status

Pre-delivery activities such as further site investigations, development of the reference design and preparing for procurement are now underway for Stage 1.

Interface with regional projects

The rail line is proposed to interchange with buses and the proposed Sunshine Coast Public Transport project at key locations to increase public transport opportunities for the growing Sunshine Coast community, as outlined in the Southern Sunshine Coast Public Transport Strategy.

The rail line also considers future-proofing for key road and rail interfaces along the proposed rail corridor, including the Kawana Motorway and Mooloolah River Interchange.

Sustainability

The sustainability principles will be linked to specific targets and objectives within the Infrastructure Sustainability Management Plan to optimise environmental, social, economic and governance outcomes.

The project will be using the Infrastructure Sustainability Council Rating Scheme Version 2.1 for both design and as built phases of construction.

Planning location map

Direct Sunshine Coast Rail corridor with proposed station locations
This map shows the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line Corridor along with proposed station locations.