The Queensland Government has proposed "The Wave" a multi-modal transit link to connect Beerwah and the Sunshine Coast, to be delivered over three stages. Stages One and Two include a 37.8-kilometre dual-track rail line between Beerwah and Maroochydore, with six new stations in Bells Creek, Caloundra, Aroona, Birtinya, Mountain Creek and Maroochydore.
- Stage One - Beerwah to Caloundra, which includes:
- a Greenfield package for the delivery of a 19-kilometre dual-rail track line between Beerwah and Caloundra and construction of Bells Creek and Caloundra Station, and
- a Brownfield package for an upgrade/rebuild of Beerwah Station.
- Stage Two - Caloundra to Birtinya, which includes:
- two new stations at Aroona and Birtinya, and
- approximately 7.7 kilometres of dual-track rail line between Caloundra and Birtinya, including a 1.3-kilometre tunnel between Caloundra and Aroona Stations
Stage Three - Birtinya to the Sunshine Coast Airport via Maroochydore CBD, will be delivered as a high-capacity bus rapid transit metro style service.
Key Dates
| Mar 2022 | Project Announcement |
| 2026 | Expected Construction Commencement |
Funding contributions
| Federal Government | |
| Queensland Government | |
The Federal and Queensland Government's are funding the project on a 50:50 basis. Each Government has made a $2.75 billion funding allocation for Stage One. A funding allocation of undisclosed value was made for planning of Stage Two and Three of the project in the 2025-26 Queensland Budget. |
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Procurement
| Procuring Agency: | Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads |
| Related contracts: |
PROJECT HISTORY
| Mar 2022 | The 2022-23 Federal Budget allocated $1.6 billion to Stage One of the project. |
| Feb 2024 | The Queensland Government announced their commitment of $2.75 billion to deliver Stage One of the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line project. The Queensland Government has stated that the project requires the Federal Government to match their funding allocation. |
| Mar 2024 | The Queensland Government released the business case summary for its proposed 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. Latter stages will eventually connect through to Maroochydore with Stage Two, between Caloundra and Birtinya, and Stage Three between Birtinya and Maroochydore. The business case has been provided to Infrastructure Australia for review. |
| May 2024 | The Federal Government announced additional funding of $1.15 billion for Stage One of the project, bringing their total investment to $2.75 billion. |
| May 2025 | The Queensland Government opened Expressions of Interest for four work packages, closing 5 June. The packages include a Technical Advisor, Financial and Commercial Advisor, Transaction Advisor and Operations and Maintenance Advisor. |
| Jul 2025 | The Queensland Government opened Request for Quotes for Communications Stakeholder Engagment Services, closing 29 July. |
| Aug 2025 | Mott MacDonald and Arup were appointed Technical Advisor for Stage Three of the project. |
