The Wave - Stage One will see delivery of a 19-kilometre dual-track heavy rail network between Beerwah and Caloundra and is being delivered across three packages:
- Greenfield package
- a Brownfield package, and
- ECTS and Digital Radio Systems
The scope of the Greenfield Package comprises:
- new dual-track heavy railway east of Steve Irwin Way
- construction of new stations at Bells Creek (Aura) and Caloundra
- 7-kilometre viaduct structure connecting the new stations
- grade separations at Forestry Road and Aura Boulevard, and
- active transport alignment.
Key Dates
| Mar 2022 | Project Announcement |
| Nov 2024 | ROIs Open |
| Dec 2024 | ROIs Close |
| Jan 2025 | EOIs Open |
| May 2026 | Preferred Bidder Selection |
| 2027 | Expected Construction Commencement |
| 2031 | Expected Construction Completion |
Funding contributions
|
Stage One is expected to cost $5.5 billion and is funded on a 50:50 basis between the Federal and Queensland Governments. |
Procurement
| Procuring Agency: | Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads |
| Successful Tenderer: | CoastalTraX - a consortium of ACCIONA, Georgiou, Mott MacDonald, Aurecon and DT Infrastructure |
| Procurement note: | The project is being delivered using a pre-construction design and construct model, with the consortium selected for the pre-construction contract to be awarded a main works Alliance contract subject to pre-construction performance. The model is closely aligned to the model being used on the Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail–Rail Package. |
PROJECT HISTORY
| Mar 2022 | The 2022 Federal Budget allocated $1.6 billion to Stage One of the Wave (formerly known as the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line). |
| Feb 2024 | The Queensland Government announced it would provide funding of $2.75 billion to deliver the Beerwah to Caloundra component of the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line project. |
| Mar 2024 | The Queensland Government released the business case summary for the 39-kilometre Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line. The first stage between Beerwah and Caloundra had an estimated BCR of 0.29 at a four per cent discount rate, and 0.15 at a seven per cent discount rate. The summary document recommends a staged approach to delivery to enable half of the rail line to be complete and opened before 2032. |
| May 2024 | The Federal Government announced additional funding of $1.15 billion for Stage One of the project, bringing its total investment to $2.75 billion and matching the Queensland Government's contribution. |
| Nov 2024 | The Queensland Government commenced a joint Registration of Interest (ROI) process for the delivery of Greenfield and Brownfield packages, closing 10 December. |
| Jun 2025 | The 2025-26 QLD Budget repackaged the project from Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line Stage One to Rail Infrastructure Improvements – North Coast. $140 million was allocated to the project in FY2025-26. |
| Jun 2026 | A design and pre-construction contract was awarded to the CoastalTraX consortium comprising ACCIONA, Georgiou, Mott MacDonald, Aurecon and DT Infrastructure. |
Sector
Rail
Procurement approach
Alliance |
Location
Queensland |
Resources
