AUSTRALIA: The ActivUs consortium of Acciona, CPB Contractors, UGL, SMEC and WSP has begun the design and construction phase of the major works package for Queensland’s Logan & Gold Coast Faster Rail project.
Jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments, the A$5·75bn project aims to improve the efficiency and frequency of public transport between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. This is to support long term growth along the corridor and to meet the expected high demand for travel during the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The 20 km section of line between Kuraby and Beenleigh is currently a critical bottleneck on the network, with Brisbane suburban services calling at all stations getting in the way of the faster express trains to and from Gold Coast. The project will increase the number of tracks along this section from two to four, and include enabling works for ETCS.
The stations at Kuraby, Trinder Park, Woodridge, Kingston, Loganlea, Bethania, Edens Landing, Holmview and Beenleigh are to be upgraded, while level crossings at Kuraby, Woodridge, Bethania, Holmview and Beenleigh will be eliminated. The project will also improve pedestrian and cycling connections as well as park-and-ride facilities.
The upgrading work is being undertaken under a project alliance agreement between Queensland’s Department of Transport & Main Roads, Queensland Rail and ActivUs, which SMEC said had been designed as a ‘collaborative, integrated delivery model tailored to the project’s unique challenges’.
Early works are planned for the first half of this year, ahead of the start of major construction works in 2027.
Glenn McIlroy, Executive General Manager QLD, WA, SA & NT at CPB Contractors, said ‘we’re proud to be laying the tracks to deliver increased rail network capacity, improved train service reliability and reduced end to end journey times’.
