Department of Transport and Main Roads South East Queensland's Rail Horizon Foreword The Queensland Government is All levels of government must work We will roll out 75 new generation committed to revitalising and together to fund critical infrastructure six-car trains from late 2016 to transforming the South East projects such as Cross River Rail. We boost the number of trains by 30 per must deliver the right projects at the Queensland (SEQ) rail network cent, and timetable and signalling right time to ensure efficient use of so it can meet the challenges improvements will improve capacity public funds. and access by allowing more trains of a growing population and to move more quickly through the provide customers a high Investment in the rail network network. A taskforce is reviewing fare performing rail service. will give people better access to structures to improve affordability their places of work and connect and introducing practical measures Delivering an accessible, safe businesses and communities. It will to make public transport more and reliable transport system in support our economic growth and accessible for everyone. Queensland is a priority. By 2036, the generate jobs. population of SEQ is forecast to reach As demand continues to grow, there around 4.9 million people, placing South East Queensland’s (SEQ's) will come a time when new inner- increasing pressure on our transport Rail Horizon highlights the need for city capacity is needed. By around system, particularly in growth a better rail system to keep pace 2021 there will not be any capacity corridors and where the system with growth and provide a better to increase services on parts of converges in the Brisbane CBD. experience for customers, with the network during our busiest more seats on more trains, more peak periods. The network will be The passenger rail network is stations, shorter journey times and operating at its limits. reaching the limits of its capacity more efficient services. It puts the and if we fail to tackle the challenges customer at the heart of the decisions The core of our long-term strategy for ahead, we will face a transport crisis we make to deliver on our rail network the rail network is the new Cross River in the southeast corner. An efficient vision. Rail project. With over 100 design and and integrated transport network alignment options investigated, this is essential to ease congestion and We are already addressing rail project design responds to feedback improve accessibility and liveability network challenges outside Brisbane from transport experts and the in the region. by delivering projects such as community. Combined with existing Moreton Bay Rail Link, due for rail infrastructure and new service The average travel time budget is completion in 2016, and the Coomera initiatives, Cross River Rail will make about one hour, per person, per day. to Helensvale Duplication, due for it possible to move up to 240,000 SEQ's Rail Horizon outlines network completion in 2017. These projects people by rail into the inner-city solutions to ensure more residents will improve access, reliability and during the two hour peak. in the Brisbane metropolitan region increase service frequency across the can reach their place of work, study passenger network. Stirling Hinchliffe MP or recreation within 30 minutes on Minister for Transport public transport. and the Commonwealth Games 2 South East Queensland's Rail Horizon Contents Introduction 4 Putting the customer first 6 The challenges 8 Community consultation 13 The solutions 14 Cross River Rail 22 Next steps 24 3 Introduction The region’s population is doubling every 30 years, with a Moving more people by train forecast population of around 4.9 million by 2036.¹ While most residential growth is expected to be outside Brisbane in areas such as the Gold Coast, Moreton Bay, Ipswich and the 9-carriage train capacity: 6-carriage train capacity: Standard light rail capacity: Sunshine Coast, almost half of total 1125 people 750 people 250 people jobs growth will remain in Brisbane. Jobs in the Brisbane area are forecast to grow by almost 450,000 by 2031.¹ This means more people travelling to and from work in Brisbane each day. The Infrastructure Australia Audit Ferry capacity: Articulated bus capacity: Standard bus capacity: Private car capacity: states that unless transport capacity 165 people 95 people 65 people 5 people is improved, congestion on the Brisbane–Gold Coast– Sunshine FIGURE 1 Coast transport network will cost the economy around $9 billion a year by 2031.2 The closer we get to network capacity, Investment in the rail network shapes the greater the impact on customers, a city and improves the quality of life Public transport plays a key role with less reliable rail services and for its residents. Rail infrastructure in alleviating urban congestion by increased overcrowding. Ultimately, has a life span of over 100 years and providing alternative travel options this means reduced access to jobs in that time the majority of a city’s and moving more people more and education and lower productivity. buildings will be built, demolished efficiently. Without investment and built again two to three times in critical rail infrastructure, the Rail is one of the most efficient and over. Rail infrastructure is therefore a network will be unable to expand its sustainable forms of mass transit. frame around which a city grows and reach, trains will be over capacity and Figure 1 illustrates the contrasting evolves. there will be more people standing, capacity of a private car, bus, ferry more often and for longer periods of and train. time. 1 Queensland Government population projections, 2013 edition 2 Infrastructure Australia Audit Report, May 2015 4 South East Queensland's Rail Horizon SEQ's Rail Horizon outlines the develop a transport system that can A new generation signalling system, strategic priorities for the region’s rail realise the region’s potential for the European Train Control System network, which include optimising the liveable, connected communities (ETCS), will be put in place in the core existing network, upgrading services by providing easy access to jobs, of the network where capacity, safety and infrastructure and delivering services and attractions. and reliability is needed the most. critical new infrastructure. It Cross River Rail will unlock inner-city identifies the key capacity challenges SEQ's Rail Horizon will assist rail network capacity, triggering a facing the rail network and solutions Building Queensland, Queensland’s transformation of the entire regional to address them. independent infrastructure transport network and providing advisory body, to develop a a platform for regional growth, SEQ's Rail Horizon aligns with the pipeline of priority projects to help development and prosperity. Longer Queensland Government’s desired ensure the government invests trains will also be used on parts of outcomes for the community and the in value for-money infrastructure the network to significantly boost objectives of the State Infrastructure projects that provide long-term capacity and provide more seats to Plan (2016): community benefits. contribute to the government’s vision for a modern, high-capacity rail • Improving prosperity Many enhancements to the rail system. and liveability network are underway or have been completed recently. Initiatives such The growth driving the projected • Infrastructure that leads and as those illustrated in Figure 3 means increase in demand for public supports growth and productivity the network continues to modernise transport will also drive increased • Infrastructure that connects and meet community needs. However, demand for freight transport. As our communities and markets increasing the reach of the network the regional and interstate freight and adding more services will task grows, there will be increasing • Providing sustainability ultimately depend on addressing pressure on freight capacity in SEQ. and resilience. constraints through the inner-city. Initiatives such as the Melbourne It also adopts key rail elements of SEQ's Rail Horizon responds to to Brisbane Inland Rail will improve Connecting SEQ 2031: An Integrated key challenges facing the SEQ rail rail freight access between Brisbane Regional Transport Plan for South East network by identifying the key and the rest of Australia, while Queensland. A long-term strategy initiatives needed to unlock network new terminal sites will reduce the for all major transport modes, capacity. competition for scarce capacity on Connecting SEQ 2031 outlines the inner-city rail networks and the government’s vision to continue to reliance on long-haul road transport. Cross River Rail, combined with existing rail infrastructure and new service initiatives, will make it possible to move up to 240,000 people by rail into the inner city during the two hour morning peak. 5 Putting the customer first By 2036, there will be nearly 1.2 million daily passenger What rail customers want transport trips in the Brisbane More frequent services, Better interchange metropolitan region.³ less waiting time at with buses stations The quality of the SEQ transport system affects residents, visitors More reliable, on-time Stations closer to key and businesses. Individuals not services activity hubs only benefit in economic terms from effective public transport but also through social connections which Safety and security Services that are contribute to their quality of life. competitive with other modes (cost and time) SEQ's Rail Horizon focuses on Access to seats on delivering a better experience for trains customers, with more seats on more trains, more stations, more frequent and reliable services, and shorter journey times – all in a safe, modern environment. Figure 2 illustrates the most important factors influencing customer satisfaction for TransLink public transport users. Expanding rail 1.2 million into growth areas and modernising passenger transport the network will ensure rail can trips per day in 2036 respond to the growing transport task and customer needs.