The much-vaunted $550.8 million Beerburrum to Nambour (B2N) rail upgrade is chugging to a standstill before it even gets close to Nambour, according to a rail expert. 

A joint media release from state and federal governments trumpeting the start of the long-awaited project has been mocked by Sunshine Coast Commuter Advocate and Gazette columnist Jeffrey Addison. 

Works aimed at increasing capacity and easing congestion are expected to start early next year and be completed by 2023.  

The Australian Government will provide $390 million and the Queensland Government $160.8 million. 

Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said early works would provide a shot in the arm for local jobs on the Sunshine Coast. 

Fisher MP Andrew Wallace said the early works was one of several projects planned to improve the freight and passenger connection between Brisbane and Cairns.

Fairfax MP Ted O’Brien said the $390 million commitment to rail upgrades between Beerburrum and Nambour was delivering the transport infrastructure the Sunshine Coast needed and deserved.

State Member for Nicklin Robert Skelton said the project would see park ‘n’ ride upgrades at Nambour and Landsborough stations. 

“The early works will increase the park ‘n’ ride capacity at Landsborough and Nambour stations, helping to manage parking pressures in the surrounding streets and suburbs,” Mr Skelton said. 

“For people in my community, the upgrade to the Nambour Station park ‘n’ ride facility will provide about 50 new parking spaces, boosting Nambour’s commuter car parking to more than 300 spaces.”

“It’s just useless”

But Mr Addison was less enthusiastic about the project considering the high expectations that have been hyped over the years. 

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” he said. “Nambour gets 50 extra car parks, and not one extra train. So, I mean, what does that tell you? It’s just useless,” he said. “And those car parks in Nambour aren’t needed until 2036 according to the business case. Building car parks with railroad money is just a bit of a furphy anyway. 

Lots more parking but no more trains. ‘What’s the point?’

“They should be footing the money to actually duplicate the rail to at least reach Landsborough at the absolute minimum, but they’re not even doing that. And that’s extraordinarily disappointing.

“My question to them would be, ‘What’s the point of providing more parking spaces if you haven’t provided any more trains, or have no plans to provide us with any more trains?

“We were promised nine extra daily trains by Jackie Trad in 2015 — 4 southbound and 5 northbound. We got two since then.

“They were meant to remove the rail buses throughout the day. So that was, historically a lie, I guess, in retrospect.”

Mr Addison said anyone expecting rail duplication to Nambour should not hold their breath despite Mr O’Brien’s recent push for one.

“It’s not even on the radar,” he said. “At least it’s not on the radar for the State Government. The bulk of the money is the Federal Government, so the bulk of our thanks goes to the Federal Government for funding it 70 percent. The state still only want to fund it 20 percent and then claim it’s a priority. 

“Ted O’Brien has pushed for that study into full rail duplication to Nambour. He put out the $5 million, but it has to be on a matching basis — $5 million from the state. But the state are only giving $1.25 million towards that study, which means I don’t think it’ll go ahead, because they’re not coming to the game for even just a study into the work. So that just shows you what they’re commitment level is. It’s not a commitment level.”

For more information, visit www.tmr.qld.gov.au and search for ‘Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade’.