The Queensland Government has proposed 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. The project is being delivered across three stages.
- 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 Maroochydore.
Stages Three is subject to funding commitments for their delivery.
Key Dates
| Mar 2022 | Project Announcement |
| Nov 2024 | Procurement Commencement - Stage One |
| Apr 2025 | Procurement Commencement - Stage Two |
| 2026 | Expected Construction Commencement |
| 2032 | Expected Construction Completion - Stage One |
Funding contributions
| Federal Government | |
| Queensland Government |
Procurement
| Procuring Agency: | Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads |
PROJECT HISTORY
| Mar 2022 | The 2022-23 Federal Budget allocated $1.6 billion to the project. |
| Feb 2024 | The Queensland Government announced their commitment of $2.75 billion to deliver the Beerwah to Caloundra component 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. |
| Nov 2024 | The Queensland Government commenced a Registration of Interest (ROI) process for the delivery of Stage One, with ROI applications closing on 29 November and ROIs closing on 10 December. |
| May 2025 | The Queensland Government commenced a Registration of Interest (ROI) process for the delivery of Stage Two, with ROI applications closing on 26 May and ROIs closing on mid June. |
Estimated Total Cost
(2024)
Sector
Rail
Procurement approach
Traditional Procurement |
Location
Queensland |
Resources
