Toowoomba to Brisbane Passenger Rail
The Australian and Queensland governments have worked together to deliver the Toowoomba to Brisbane Passenger Rail Strategic Business Case.
Toowoomba is Australia's second largest inland city and is located around 125km from Brisbane's central business district. Existing passenger rail services between Toowoomba and Brisbane and through the Lockyer Valley are limited.
We have worked with the Australian Government’s Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts to determine the needs, merits and timing for improved passenger service connections in the Toowoomba to Brisbane corridor.
Benefits
- Improves safety
- Increases capacity
- Improves network efficiency
- Reduces peak hour congestion
- Accessibility
- Reduces travel time
- Contributes to economy
- Contributes to regional growth
- Better active transport
Current status
The Australian and Queensland governments have finalised the Strategic Business Case which included the first 2 stages of the Queensland Government's Project Assessment Framework, namely the Strategic Assessment of Service Requirements and Preliminary Evaluation.
The Toowoomba to Brisbane Passenger Rail Summary Report outlines the finding of the Strategic Business Case and next steps.
Next steps
The Strategic Business Case found the future delivery of Inland Rail in Queensland provides an opportunity to integrate better passenger rail services with future freight operations on Inland Rail infrastructure.
The next stage of planning, which may include preparing a detailed business case, will be undertaken closer to the time of Inland Rail delivery in Queensland.
Funding
On 29 November 2019, the Australian and Queensland governments signed the Inland Rail Bilateral Agreement enabling the delivery of Inland Rail in Queensland and the development of rail studies, including the Toowoomba to Brisbane Passenger Rail Strategic Business Case, to enhance the benefits it offers the state.
The Australian Government committed up to $15 million towards the business case, with the Queensland Government providing an in-kind contribution, through the Department of Transport and Main Roads.