Over the past week, both the South Australian and Queensland Government’s have released their respective State Budgets for 2024-25. Outlined below are the key rail funding highlights. 

Queensland 

  • Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line: The Queensland Government is providing additional funding of $2.75 billion over eight years for the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line Project, which includes protection of the updated rail alignment all the way to Maroochydore. The Federal Government is providing $2.75 billion, bringing total funding for the project to $5.5 billion. 
  • Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade Stage 1 Project: The government will provide increased funding of $226.7 million over four years for the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade Stage 1 project. Funding includes $616.7 million funded by the Federal Government and $387.5 million from the State Government, bringing total funding for the project to more than $1 billion. 
  • European Train Control System (ETCS) future phases – The government has committed $554 million to expand the rollout of ETCS south from the Cross River Rail tunnel to Moorooka, as well as for the planned expansion of services direct to the Sunshine Coast. This brings the total funding commitment to $1.32 billion. 
  • Other major ongoing projects include: 
  • $5.75 billion for Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail (jointly funded with the Federal Government) 
  • $1 billion funding commitment for Inland Freight Route – Charters Towers to Mungindi (jointly funded with the Federal Government) 

South Australia 

  • Port Dock rail services: $10.8 million over five years to commence operations of the Port Dock railway line to provide a 30-minute service on weekdays and weekends, and bus connectivity to the new Port Dock bus and rail interchange, supporting the delivery of the state government’s election commitment. 
  • Adelaide and regional rail network extensions – planning: $10 million over two years towards planning for outer metropolitan and regional passenger rail service extensions. 
  • Adelaide metropolitan rail fleet decarbonisation – planning: $2 million in 2024-25 to deliver planning studies to identify solutions to support transition to a zero-emissions public transport rail fleet.