$14b Subway System for Brisbane Announced
7 October 08An underground railway system for Brisbane could be up and running as early as 2020, premier Anna Bligh has told State Parliament today. Ms Bligh said the $14.2 billion underground rail system would feature new tracks along two lines, from the southern Gold Coast and the western Ipswich lines, extending to the north of Brisbane. It would feature underground tunnels up to 13km long, and stations at Spring Hill, Woolloongabba, the CBD, the RNA showgrounds and West End, that would be up to 45 metres underground. We live in the fastest growing part of Australia. The fast-growing city needed world-class trains.
The project would be part-funded by the federal government's $20 billion Building Australia fund. Last week, state and federal leaders at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting agreed to fast track big-ticket infrastructure spending to help shield the economy from continuing global financial turmoil.
Ms Bligh said the massive projects were likely to cost up to $14 billion, but with federal government's funding the first stage could begin by late 2012. The project would be delivered in two stages over the next 15 to 20 years.
"We are talking about the largest single public transport project ever undertaken in Queensland, more than matching our investment in busways," Ms Bligh told state parliament. "We live in the fastest growing part of Australia. The fast-growing city needed world-class trains.
Source: The Courier Mail