In-principle support for review of passenger rail business case

Lockyer Valley’s civic leaders have given their in-principle support to a review of the Toowoomba to Brisbane passenger rail business case that would also consider extending the current Rosewood Line to Withcott.

Mayor Tanya Milligan said she and Deputy Mayor Chris Wilson agree in principle to a high-level review of the study undertaken by Transport and Main Roads (TMR), but said Council is unable to officially commit until costings are known.

“Council can’t commit to commissioning the review until we have clear costings and have taken it to a full Council Meeting,” she said.

“Ipswich City Council and Mayor Teresa Harding also need to be involved in any potential review given a portion of the proposed rail line, and some of the benefits, will go through their region.”

The push for a new high-level study was one of the outcomes of yesterday’s Rail Round Table in Toowoomba.

Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley will write to Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg seeking he release the full data contained in the report, which was commissioned in 2019 and released in September 2024.

The review aims to revise the Toowoomba to Brisbane business case to include new population targets, the significantly higher numbers of motorists using the Warrego Highway due to the growth of the western corridor, and the impact of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

Mayor Milligan said Council was disappointed the $15 million business case did not properly consider the Rosewood to Withcott option.

“Lockyer Valley initiated a passenger rail alliance with Toowoomba and Ipswich councils in 2019, and in 2021, former Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio and I pushed for the Withcott scenario,” Mayor Milligan said.

“We did media at Withcott calling for the State Government to start planning to extend the passenger rail network to Withcott, with a Park and Ride option from there to Toowoomba.

“We are disappointed that the business case undertaken by TMR chose not to even look properly at the Rosewood to Withcott option, showing a lack of commitment to find practical solutions to the growth of SEQ and the impact on the road network.”

Mayor Milligan said passenger rail wasn’t just about getting people to and from Brisbane.

“For us, it’s also about getting people to and from Ipswich and Toowoomba, which will be a far more common scenario,” she said.

“Passenger rail along the western corridor is a solution for the State and the nation, it will improve productivity, growth, the economy, liveability and safety along the Warrego Highway.

“The growth being experienced west of Brisbane is extraordinary and means passenger rail is not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’.

“There are many other regions across the nation that have had access to regular passenger rail services for decades, many of whom are located a similar distance from a capital city, and even further away than us.

“We are simply asking for the same – for our people to be able to jump on a train and easily get to work or a medical appointment.

“We are committed to advocating for this critical piece of infrastructure and now is the time to make it happen ahead of Brisbane 2032.”